A-League Pitches Improve while Melbourne Leads the Way for Pitch Quality and Atmosphere
2ndBest2011-12-05 23:45:36The standard of play is not the only impressive part the A-League in 2011-12, with both the quality of the playing surfaces and the atmosphere in the terraces also improving according the to the PFA Stadium Rating System.
The PFA consults away captains after each A-League fixture for their ratings across several criteria associated with pitch quality.
After being awarded by the players the best
playing surface of season 2009/10 and 2010/11, Brisbane Roar�s Suncorp
Stadium remains one of the A-League�s best after 9 rounds in 2011/12,
but has been overtaken by Melbourne�s carpet-like AAMI Park surface and
equalled by Melbourne�s Etihad Stadium.
Pitch ratings are based on 3 criteria being the
smoothness, pace and hardness, plus an overall score, and have improved
overall compared to after the same number of rounds last year.
This year, away captains have also been asked to assess the grounds for their atmosphere. Before the start of this season the players overwhelmingly agreed that A-League fans should also be recognised for their contribution towards the atmosphere they generate at games.
As a result �atmosphere� was added as a criteria
for away captains to provide feedback on, and so far Etihad Stadium,
which is expecting another bumper crowd for the arrival of Beckham and
the LA Galaxy tomorrow night, has rated highest among the players.
Unfortunately, Gold Coast United has struggled to attract crowds to its
home matches and consequently has the poorest atmosphere rating of all
10 A-League clubs.
Adelaide�s Hindmarsh and the Sydney Football
Stadium round out the top 3 respectively, with AAMI Park rating strongly
in 4th place for fan noise, with its highest rating following Melbourne
Victory�s thrilling 3-2 win versus Gold Coast United.
The PFA will provide awards to the ground staff
and official fan group of the teams with the best pitch and atmosphere
respectively at the end of the season.
To view the stadium ratings please click here
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Meh. PFA = f**ksticks.
Tempted to delete the thread in honour of them f**king over the Kingz.
Tempted to delete the thread in honour of them f**king over the Kingz.
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Captains of away teams make the call.
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Feverish2011-12-05 23:57:40Founder
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Captains of away teams make the call.
Id love to see who scored us what, and after which result. They should make the 4th official vote, though the Victory wouldnt like that too much
AJ132011-12-06 06:21:57
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Central Hawkes Bay Nix
and tragic follower of Charlton Athletic
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Captains of away teams make the call.
which naturally means we are going to get 9 scores at the low end for atmosphere, cos they all hate travelling here.
theprof2011-12-06 09:33:18
Queenslander 3x a year.
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Well bollocks to them. I don't care about their stupid crappy game anyway.
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To be fair if you were an away captain you wouldn`t rate the Cake Tin as the greatest place to come and play
Thefore Phoenix Fans Job well done
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Not to fussed about the atmosphere, as it is subjective, and the pitch is a mile away from the crowd, but I am incredibly confused how our pitch can be rated 7th considering the carpet that it usually looks, and some of the sh*t that you see produced at EAS and other Aussie stadiums.
Edit:
Actually, hasn't Etihad been absolutely atrocious at times? lumpy, patchy and cutting up? Yet it came second?aitkenmike2011-12-06 10:23:25
Edit:
Actually, hasn't Etihad been absolutely atrocious at times? lumpy, patchy and cutting up? Yet it came second?aitkenmike2011-12-06 10:23:25
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This.
Terry McFlynn why did you lose?
"The pitch and the crowd. Also the ball wasn't pumped up properly and the goal posts were crooked."
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So are we the new GCU?
"Phoenix till they lose"
Posting 97% bollox, 8% lies and 3.658% genuine opinion.
Genuine opinion: FTFFA
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I dont understand why any captain of any side would give two shits about an away crowd? I wouldnt. Youre not there to listen to the Cove, youre there to play footy. If anything you try and block out the crowd
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It's pretty safe to say this whole rating system is horsesh*t.
Ricky and Andrew and co regularly tell us our surface is the best in the league. We renovate our pitch around the beginning of the A-League season which means it's at its best for that part of the year. We would be the first to admit it's not always in the best shape but there are times on our event calendar that busier than others which can provide challenges for turf staff. Even when that is the case and we have to change the pitch over night for example we usually get very positive feedback from the Phoenix. I think if every player and official were asked to rate the pitch the results might be different.
As for the atmosphere...I have been on the pitch during games and it's pretty intimidating to say the least. I guess the away captains are just sticking it to us for all the "same old aussies..." type chants.TopLeft072011-12-06 13:51:35
Ricky and Andrew and co regularly tell us our surface is the best in the league. We renovate our pitch around the beginning of the A-League season which means it's at its best for that part of the year. We would be the first to admit it's not always in the best shape but there are times on our event calendar that busier than others which can provide challenges for turf staff. Even when that is the case and we have to change the pitch over night for example we usually get very positive feedback from the Phoenix. I think if every player and official were asked to rate the pitch the results might be different.
As for the atmosphere...I have been on the pitch during games and it's pretty intimidating to say the least. I guess the away captains are just sticking it to us for all the "same old aussies..." type chants.TopLeft072011-12-06 13:51:35
Fuck this stupid game
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Herbet is so over-rated! riding on the world cup success of his players and Ryan N notice when hes not there they get hammered? as for the phoenix sign some players, trial the better NZFC players do somthing other than sipping your whisky ricky
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Herbet is so over-rated! riding on the world cup success of his players and Ryan N notice when hes not there they get hammered? as for the phoenix sign some players, trial the better NZFC players do somthing other than sipping your whisky ricky
??????????????
" If you only have a hammer you tend to see every problem as a nail" - maslow
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Herbet is so over-rated! riding on the world cup success of his players and Ryan N notice when hes not there they get hammered? as for the phoenix sign some players, trial the better NZFC players do somthing other than sipping your whisky ricky
I agree, If Herbert was any good he would be rolling and watering the pitch himself to get it up to standard, and be up the back of the Fever Zone with a megaphone stirring up the crowd to create some atmosphere.
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It's pretty safe to say this whole rating system is horsesh*t.
Ricky and Andrew and co regularly tell us our surface is the best in the league. We renovate our pitch around the beginning of the A-League season which means it's at its best for that part of the year. We would be the first to admit it's not always in the best shape but there are times on our event calendar that busier than others which can provide challenges for turf staff. Even when that is the case and we have to change the pitch over night for example we usually get very positive feedback from the Phoenix. I think if every player and official were asked to rate the pitch the results might be different.
As for the atmosphere...I have been on the pitch during games and it's pretty intimidating to say the least. I guess the away captains are just sticking it to us for all the "same old aussies..." type chants.
Ricky and Andrew and co regularly tell us our surface is the best in the league. We renovate our pitch around the beginning of the A-League season which means it's at its best for that part of the year. We would be the first to admit it's not always in the best shape but there are times on our event calendar that busier than others which can provide challenges for turf staff. Even when that is the case and we have to change the pitch over night for example we usually get very positive feedback from the Phoenix. I think if every player and official were asked to rate the pitch the results might be different.
As for the atmosphere...I have been on the pitch during games and it's pretty intimidating to say the least. I guess the away captains are just sticking it to us for all the "same old aussies..." type chants.
Just wondering if it comes down to team preference, more teams seem to get the pitch watered before and during half time. Not something we do, or need to. Pitch always looks fantastic and extremely consistent.
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Sack TopLeft07
Fair call. Get rid of topright07 while we're at it.Fuck this stupid game
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Just wondering if it comes down to team preference, more teams seem to get the pitch watered before and during half time. Not something we do, or need to. Pitch always looks fantastic and extremely consistent.
Fuck this stupid game
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Herbet is so over-rated! riding on the world cup success of his players and Ryan N notice when hes not there they get hammered? as for the phoenix sign some players, trial the better NZFC players do somthing other than sipping your whisky ricky
Who`s on the Wiskey ?? 
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Wake up guys, they way the phoenix is being run atm is terrible for a pro team
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watching the phoenix will put you to sleep good point
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Phoenix - 2 Sydney 1.
The same Sydney hailed as giant killers for beating Brisbane on Sunday... but don't let the facts get in the way will you.
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Wake up guys, they way the Fever is being run atm is terrible
Fixed.
Incredible stamina. No shame. Yellow Fever.
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Actually, hasn't Etihad been absolutely atrocious at times? lumpy, patchy and cutting up? Yet it came second?
Fuck this stupid game
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Kasey Wehrman has a different opinion to the captains of these other teams.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/sport/5794299/Newcastle-player-praises-Phoenix-fan-base
http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/sport/5794299/Newcastle-player-praises-Phoenix-fan-base
Newcastle Jets midfielder Kasey Wehrman has lavished praise on Wellington Phoenix's fans, comparing their passion to football crowds in Europe.
The Phoenix have an enviable home record at Westpac Stadium, where they are now unbeaten in 28 of their last 30 matches.
And Newcastle must be considering defaulting on their next trip to Wellington; yesterday's 2-0 defeat means the Jets have now lost seven times at The Ring of Fire, with one draw.
There were only 7623 in the stands for the Phoenix's first home game of the season but the experienced Wehrman said the noise from the Yellow Fever faithful made it feel like many more.
"I know there wasn't as much of a crowd here as what they had last year when I came ... but I think they're the most vocal and probably the most passionate crowd out of all of them that I've seen so far except probably Melbourne," Wehrman said.
"I played in Europe for 10 years and they get real vocal and they get into the game. That's actually a pleasing aspect about coming here, it's a real kind of European-type atmosphere, it's good."
But interim coach Craig Deans admitted there was nothing pleasing about Newcastle's performance.
The Jets shrugged off the dramatic sacking of coach Branko Culina to beat Melbourne Heart 3-2 in the opening round but they seemed to suffer from a mental let-down yesterday.
Wehrman had no excuses and congratulated the Phoenix, who have had their own share of off-field dramas but bossed the game from start to finish.
"Of course when you come away here, you know it's going to be difficult," Wehrman said.
"You know they're a good team, you've got to pay them the respect of that record that they do have here
"So we had it in our mind. But it's a difficult trip, we all know it, everybody talks about it the whole way through but it's just one of those things.
"It's a tough, tough place to come to and that's pretty much what you get at most away grounds. It's tough to win and New Zealand's probably one of the toughest ones."
The Phoenix have an enviable home record at Westpac Stadium, where they are now unbeaten in 28 of their last 30 matches.
And Newcastle must be considering defaulting on their next trip to Wellington; yesterday's 2-0 defeat means the Jets have now lost seven times at The Ring of Fire, with one draw.
There were only 7623 in the stands for the Phoenix's first home game of the season but the experienced Wehrman said the noise from the Yellow Fever faithful made it feel like many more.
"I know there wasn't as much of a crowd here as what they had last year when I came ... but I think they're the most vocal and probably the most passionate crowd out of all of them that I've seen so far except probably Melbourne," Wehrman said.
"I played in Europe for 10 years and they get real vocal and they get into the game. That's actually a pleasing aspect about coming here, it's a real kind of European-type atmosphere, it's good."
But interim coach Craig Deans admitted there was nothing pleasing about Newcastle's performance.
The Jets shrugged off the dramatic sacking of coach Branko Culina to beat Melbourne Heart 3-2 in the opening round but they seemed to suffer from a mental let-down yesterday.
Wehrman had no excuses and congratulated the Phoenix, who have had their own share of off-field dramas but bossed the game from start to finish.
"Of course when you come away here, you know it's going to be difficult," Wehrman said.
"You know they're a good team, you've got to pay them the respect of that record that they do have here
"So we had it in our mind. But it's a difficult trip, we all know it, everybody talks about it the whole way through but it's just one of those things.
"It's a tough, tough place to come to and that's pretty much what you get at most away grounds. It's tough to win and New Zealand's probably one of the toughest ones."
Fuck this stupid game
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Strange, Ive heard different on both cases.
ive heard reports of Westpac being one of the best pitch wise, and same with the atmosphere.
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Meh. PFA = f**ksticks.� Tempted to delete the thread in honour of them f**king over the Kingz.
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The pitch at Westpac always looks in great shape, so feck knows how it's rated 7th. Nonsense.
The fans were maybe rated after yet another failed rendition of "Stand up...". It's so ridiculously bad and out of tune it makes me want to sit down!
The fans were maybe rated after yet another failed rendition of "Stand up...". It's so ridiculously bad and out of tune it makes me want to sit down!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qe_B5CzbTJo - Caceres winning penalty v Perth - footage from the Fever Zone
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http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/sport/6096426/Westpac-stadium-ranks-poorly-with-players
Worthington takes the opportunity to take another crack. I'm sure he just scans the forums for stories.
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I think you are being harsh there. The story is news everywhere else in the league and I'm not sure he makes any unreasonable points himself.
The PFA are wrong.
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Sack TopLeft07
Fair call. Get rid of topright07 while we're at it.
I thought you guys might be brothers at first.
Three for me, and two for them.
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I think you are being harsh there. The story is news everywhere else in the league and I'm not sure he makes any unreasonable points himself.
It's the sub-editors work that is most questionable: "The players don't like pitch or atmosphere".
The players haven't actually said that. They have not rated Westpac as highly as some other grounds. However, it's possible that they simply think all the grounds are degrees of good, which would be great for the A-League.
That's something Sam the Sham could have found out - what are the actual scores and how far away is Westpac from the rest?
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PROVES ONE THING!!! Teams don't fancy coming here!! HUGE VOTE for us!!! Well done everyone!!!
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watching the phoenix will put you to sleep good point
Danny Hay?
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