No idea how that patch of wasteland is deemed valid by the FA. I fear for us going there. Might be worth sending a busload of workers from the new stadium to just rebuild Spotland. Disgraceful playing surface.
http://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/new...condition-of-the-pitch-at-the-crown-oil-arena please log in to view this image
Great... So we're not going to be able humiliate Millwall at The Den and now we have to go to a ground in which the pitch wouldn't even be fit for Sunday League.
They said they wouldn't play a league game on it in those conditions. They only played on it tonight as it was FA cup.
This is hopeful http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/43016880 Rochdale: Spotland pitch to be relaid prior to Tottenham FA Cup tie please log in to view this image The Spotland Stadium pitch was heavily-sanded before the tie against Millwall to ensure the game could go ahead Rochdale are to relay their much-criticised pitch prior to the FA Cup fifth-round tie against Tottenham. The League One side beat Millwall on a muddy, heavily sanded surface to set up an enticing tie with the Premier League team on Sunday, 18 February. Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino had said the pitch at the Crown Oil Arena was "a massive risk to players" and "not in a condition to play football". Dale's League One game against Fleetwood on Saturday was postponed. The match was called off because of a waterlogged pitch - the third league fixture in a row that has been postponed because of problems with the playing surface. A statement said the club shared the disappointment of supporters for the latest postponement. It continued: "Preparatory work had taken place prior to the scheduled Fleetwood fixture in the eventuality that the game should fall foul of the weather. Plans will now be put into action immediately. "Work will commence on Saturday evening and will be finished in time for next weekend's FA Cup fifth-round tie against Tottenham Hotspur."
I was thinking about this when the draw wad made. The cost of returfing a pitch is absolute peanuts to us. Progression to the next round and gate money if it is a home tie will vastly exceed the cost of putting some proper grass down. Could be a loan to Dale or even a goodwill gesture. I remember a few years back they were resurfacing the Wembley pitch after every rugby game for around £150k in total. Can't we just dock Rose 2 weeks of wages and pay for the damn thing ourselves? The pitch at Newport was a disgrace and one of the main reasons we almost crashed out. We don't want a repeat of that.
Rochdale didn't have a choice. Three games have been postponed in quick succession because torrential rain has meant there has been no chance of the condition of a badly churned up pitch improving; they need a spell of dry weather. The club can't afford to keep losing revenue through postponements - that's the bottom line. The pitch would be deemed playable had it been dry for a few days. The issue for the F.A would simply have been whether the playing surface was safe. Had it dried out a bit, it would be bare and would become rutted and bobbly very quickly during the game, but would be deemed safe. The continued bad weather has ensured that Spurs will be playing on a new, grassy pitch.
Swansea or Wednesday away. Tricky draw but at least we've avoided the big guns. Talking of which i notice how once again the big 4 left have mysteriously been kept separate ahead of what the men in the ivory towers no doubt hope will be another grandstand semi final.
You're surely not suggesting that the draw is rigged, are you? Bloody good draw for us. A S/F place is definitely in our hands. Just need to keep the right attitude.
