So many posts on here that have obviously been put up without people reading other previous comments or links which had already cleared up those points. Keep repeating statements often enough and it eventually becomes the truth...no matter how wrong it is!
The club statement clearly blames the ground staff. If true, they should be punished severely
The statement could also be read to imply that what happened today was the result of a random judgement made by the referee, although all the evidence suggests that the pitch was in no fit state to allow play. I struggle to believe that yesterday anyone could look at that pitch and not have even some doubt about it being good for today's game. The decision not to accept an early inspection yesterday was clearly ridiculous and the lack of communication contemptible. Barnsley have every right to approach the Football League about what has happened. I suspect we have not heard the last of this one and I fear the consequences of further postponements as the weather inevitably worsens.
why ?
the ground staff have said quite clearly the pitch was in a comparable condition to the Brighton and Sheff weds game when the pitch was deemed playable and both games were played to conclusion
Its down to the refs that played those games, and todays ref seeing it different
My heartfelt thanks go to the club and the referee for the immense common sense they showed in deciding to hold the pitch inspection so late in the day. It is clear that to have done it yesterday would have been insanely early and that even to give adequate prior warning of its possibility, especially to fans who have long distances to travel, was quite unnecessary. So I appreciate it must have been so, so difficult to have looked at the pitch yesterday and, with the weather forecast of a lovely dry, sunny day to follow, even an intimation to fans then that there was likely to be a pitch inspection on match day was quite out of the question. So, as usual, I left my home at 09:15, arrived at a parking space in Anchor and Hope Lane at approximately 12:45, saw on Twitter at 12:50 that that was to be a pitch inspection at 13:00, and then learned at 13:10 that the game was off. Imagine my unalloyed joy at turning the car round and heading home, arriving at 17:00 after a round trip of 370 miles. It was such a privilege to get earlier than usual experience once again of the M25, M3 and A303 in all their winter glory. I shall be forever grateful to the club for the exceptionally high level, of communication, consideration and understanding it gives so regularly to its fans. What's more, I was able to use the toilet facilities of the Charlton Asda. Let's face it, life doesn't get much better than that!
The Dome was on all night and taken off this morning. Groundstaff thought it was better than the Sheff Wed game yesterday so they thought it was playable. That's all I know !
But the ref said there was standing water! Where has that come from if the dome has been on all week and protected the pitch from last night' s rain ??.
I don't think the ref has said anything about standing water, just that it was muddy:
The dome was brought in to protect the pitch from further rain how quickly the valley pitch can drain is subject to how much rain it had taken over the weeks without it.And of course the collapse of the drainage system hasn't helped. So although seemed ok there was sections of the pitch that were to boggy which would almost certainly cause injury to players if turning sharply. I'm afraid only time can heal our pitch this season until we can invest in it at the end of the campaign as others have suggested other referees may of deemed it playable as the ground staff thought.
Why do people keep saying they are embarrassed? Are you getting mixed up with 'annoyed'? I'm annoyed that the game's not on, but would rather that than another Doncaster. I get embarrassed if I trip over or if I have to stand up and talk in front of strangers. I don't get embarrassed if a referee calls my team's game off...I get annoyed.
We're embarrassed for the club! We've been ridiculed on Talksport
How have we been ridiculed on Talksport?
Every League One and Two game went ahead, every conference game went ahead - how can a Championship club not get the pitch playable! The club should be embarrassed!
Surely we're looking at fine from the league seeing as we cut costs at the beginning of the season rather than fix the issue? Especially after the state our pitch got in last season?
The club should be embarrassed, people look forward to the weekend and those poor Barnsley fans will have spent 8 hours in a coach for no reason!
The games were going ahead in Charlton Park ffs!
have you not read the numerous stories about the pitch? the drains are broken. when it rains there is nowhere for the water to go. it is irrelevant what happens on other pitches as the drains aren't broken there.
there is an issue of why the previous owners, who knew it was a problem, did nothing to rectify the situation. there is an issue about how today's abandonment was communicated because it could clearly have been been dealt with better. there is a big issue as to what can be done going forward and what remedial work can be carried out.
we might be embarrassed that this has happened but it isn't really a surprise. the only thing is the false hope that the dome gave us that the pitch would be playable. as it doesn't appear to have been over the pitch last night when it rained it is hardly surprising that the pitch is now back to where we were last weekend, given that nobody mended the drains.
the new regime need to get its communication sorted out quickly and whatever investment it will take to get us to end of season. i would have thought that a reasonable plan is to cancel tuesday's game, take whatever the consequence is of that, and then spend two weeks trying to get it sorted.
Yes I have read the notes regarding the drains, which is why the club went out and purchased 'the dome' to protect the pitch only to take it off and put it in the West Stand car park despite rain being forecasted for overnight!
With rain forecast for the coming week, I don't see how they can sort it over the coming weeks...?
Like others have already said, I'd suggest we switch the game to Oxford, if (and I know it's a big if with our cup record) we beat Oxford, we're not at home again until the 8th Feb, hopefully that'll give us enough time to do something with the pitch... Just in time for the snow!!
The club statement clearly blames the ground staff. If true, they should be punished severely
The statement could also be read to imply that what happened today was the result of a random judgement made by the referee, although all the evidence suggests that the pitch was in no fit state to allow play. I struggle to believe that yesterday anyone could look at that pitch and not have even some doubt about it being good for today's game. The decision not to accept an early inspection yesterday was clearly ridiculous and the lack of communication contemptible. Barnsley have every right to approach the Football League about what has happened. I suspect we have not heard the last of this one and I fear the consequences of further postponements as the weather inevitably worsens.
why ?
the ground staff have said quite clearly the pitch was in a comparable condition to the Brighton and Sheff weds game when the pitch was deemed playable and both games were played to conclusion
Its down to the refs that played those games, and todays ref seeing it different
Well I hate to say it but that then clearly calls in to question the judgement of the ground staff, given the mess the pitch is in and the fact that both managers deemed it unfit for play and agreed with the referee. And even if it the decision to play is down to an inconsistent and random referee choice then the club surely needs to get that official to the ground in time to make a judgement that can be communicated as quickly as possible to fans before they travel?
Somehow, I think the new owner would have known about the state of the pitch before he bought the club. So none of this will be a surprise for him. All part of what he needs to fix. The immediate dome on the pitch was the first step. I don't think Paddy can be blamed. Just more signs and symptoms of no money being put in over the past 2 years.
Agreed that the late inspection and cancellation was a disgrace. What probably happened was the club had reported that, in their opinion, the pitch was playable so the ref only did his inspection today. It obviously is in a worse state than the club thought. Either that or the ref just wanted to have an easy Saturday.
Why do people keep saying they are embarrassed? Are you getting mixed up with 'annoyed'? I'm annoyed that the game's not on, but would rather that than another Doncaster. I get embarrassed if I trip over or if I have to stand up and talk in front of strangers. I don't get embarrassed if a referee calls my team's game off...I get annoyed.
We're embarrassed for the club! We've been ridiculed on Talksport
How have we been ridiculed on Talksport?
Every League One and Two game went ahead, every conference game went ahead - how can a Championship club not get the pitch playable! The club should be embarrassed!
Surely we're looking at fine from the league seeing as we cut costs at the beginning of the season rather than fix the issue? Especially after the state our pitch got in last season?
The club should be embarrassed, people look forward to the weekend and those poor Barnsley fans will have spent 8 hours in a coach for no reason!
The games were going ahead in Charlton Park ffs!
have you not read the numerous stories about the pitch? the drains are broken. when it rains there is nowhere for the water to go. it is irrelevant what happens on other pitches as the drains aren't broken there.
there is an issue of why the previous owners, who knew it was a problem, did nothing to rectify the situation. there is an issue about how today's abandonment was communicated because it could clearly have been been dealt with better. there is a big issue as to what can be done going forward and what remedial work can be carried out.
we might be embarrassed that this has happened but it isn't really a surprise. the only thing is the false hope that the dome gave us that the pitch would be playable. as it doesn't appear to have been over the pitch last night when it rained it is hardly surprising that the pitch is now back to where we were last weekend, given that nobody mended the drains.
the new regime need to get its communication sorted out quickly and whatever investment it will take to get us to end of season. i would have thought that a reasonable plan is to cancel tuesday's game, take whatever the consequence is of that, and then spend two weeks trying to get it sorted.
Yes I have read the notes regarding the drains, which is why the club went out and purchased 'the dome' to protect the pitch only to take it off and put it in the West Stand car park despite rain being forecasted for overnight
Why do people still think rhe dome was taken off last night? It was on until this morning.
Singling out ground staff on a statement is unprofessional. Not the most unprofessional thing that has happened today, but anyway. I've no idea but the impression is of a complete lack of any chain of command.
Sorry to any Barnsley reading.
Disgustingly unprofessional.
Definite arse covering and attempting to set Paddy up as the fall guy going on in my opinion.
Bradshaw (presumably) is the one who negotiated with the referee when he offered the Friday inspection so it is down to him.
I wonder whether a conversation along these lines took place on Friday?
Senior Manager: What's the pitch like under the dome Paddy?
Paddy: Not great boss
Senior Manager: How does it compare to Sheffield Wednesday and Brighton?
Paddy: Much the same. Like I say not great.
Senior Manager: Thanks Paddy.
I suggest that conversation (or similar) has been spun, once the hospitality assets have been fully sweated, as "Paddy said the pitch is alright."
Why do people keep saying they are embarrassed? Are you getting mixed up with 'annoyed'? I'm annoyed that the game's not on, but would rather that than another Doncaster. I get embarrassed if I trip over or if I have to stand up and talk in front of strangers. I don't get embarrassed if a referee calls my team's game off...I get annoyed.
We're embarrassed for the club! We've been ridiculed on Talksport
How have we been ridiculed on Talksport?
Every League One and Two game went ahead, every conference game went ahead - how can a Championship club not get the pitch playable! The club should be embarrassed!
Surely we're looking at fine from the league seeing as we cut costs at the beginning of the season rather than fix the issue? Especially after the state our pitch got in last season?
The club should be embarrassed, people look forward to the weekend and those poor Barnsley fans will have spent 8 hours in a coach for no reason!
The games were going ahead in Charlton Park ffs!
have you not read the numerous stories about the pitch? the drains are broken. when it rains there is nowhere for the water to go. it is irrelevant what happens on other pitches as the drains aren't broken there.
there is an issue of why the previous owners, who knew it was a problem, did nothing to rectify the situation. there is an issue about how today's abandonment was communicated because it could clearly have been been dealt with better. there is a big issue as to what can be done going forward and what remedial work can be carried out.
we might be embarrassed that this has happened but it isn't really a surprise. the only thing is the false hope that the dome gave us that the pitch would be playable. as it doesn't appear to have been over the pitch last night when it rained it is hardly surprising that the pitch is now back to where we were last weekend, given that nobody mended the drains.
the new regime need to get its communication sorted out quickly and whatever investment it will take to get us to end of season. i would have thought that a reasonable plan is to cancel tuesday's game, take whatever the consequence is of that, and then spend two weeks trying to get it sorted.
Yes I have read the notes regarding the drains, which is why the club went out and purchased 'the dome' to protect the pitch only to take it off and put it in the West Stand car park despite rain being forecasted for overnight!
Did you through read through the thread before posting?
It has been repeated severall times - including by a poster who clearly either is a member of the ground staff or close to them - that the Dome was on last night and only taken off this morning?
Singling out ground staff on a statement is unprofessional. Not the most unprofessional thing that has happened today, but anyway. I've no idea but the impression is of a complete lack of any chain of command.
Sorry to any Barnsley reading.
Disgustingly unprofessional.
Definite arse covering and attempting to set Paddy up as the fall guy going on in my opinion.
Bradshaw (presumably) is the one who negotiated with the referee when he offered the Friday inspection so it is down to him.
Absolutely agree. Hope that Paddy doesn't feel undermined by that statement from the club.
Why do people keep saying they are embarrassed? Are you getting mixed up with 'annoyed'? I'm annoyed that the game's not on, but would rather that than another Doncaster. I get embarrassed if I trip over or if I have to stand up and talk in front of strangers. I don't get embarrassed if a referee calls my team's game off...I get annoyed.
We're embarrassed for the club! We've been ridiculed on Talksport
How have we been ridiculed on Talksport?
Every League One and Two game went ahead, every conference game went ahead - how can a Championship club not get the pitch playable! The club should be embarrassed!
Surely we're looking at fine from the league seeing as we cut costs at the beginning of the season rather than fix the issue? Especially after the state our pitch got in last season?
The club should be embarrassed, people look forward to the weekend and those poor Barnsley fans will have spent 8 hours in a coach for no reason!
The games were going ahead in Charlton Park ffs!
have you not read the numerous stories about the pitch? the drains are broken. when it rains there is nowhere for the water to go. it is irrelevant what happens on other pitches as the drains aren't broken there.
there is an issue of why the previous owners, who knew it was a problem, did nothing to rectify the situation. there is an issue about how today's abandonment was communicated because it could clearly have been been dealt with better. there is a big issue as to what can be done going forward and what remedial work can be carried out.
we might be embarrassed that this has happened but it isn't really a surprise. the only thing is the false hope that the dome gave us that the pitch would be playable. as it doesn't appear to have been over the pitch last night when it rained it is hardly surprising that the pitch is now back to where we were last weekend, given that nobody mended the drains.
the new regime need to get its communication sorted out quickly and whatever investment it will take to get us to end of season. i would have thought that a reasonable plan is to cancel tuesday's game, take whatever the consequence is of that, and then spend two weeks trying to get it sorted.
Yes I have read the notes regarding the drains, which is why the club went out and purchased 'the dome' to protect the pitch only to take it off and put it in the West Stand car park despite rain being forecasted for overnight
Why do people still think rhe dome was taken off last night? It was on until this morning.
Just because its a fact does not mean we have to believe it :-)
They have the gall to tell us any tickets bought would be honoured for the rearranged fixture what a daft comment. I bet as far as the club are concerned they will draw a veil over it. I can't believe we have been treated this way. 3rd Rate performance by the admin there.
Not read the whole thread, but this is not only embarrassing but very, very unprofessional. All Barnsley ticket holders should be compensated in addition to having their tickets refunded - and offered free tickets for the rescheduled game. Disgraceful.
Why do people keep saying they are embarrassed? Are you getting mixed up with 'annoyed'? I'm annoyed that the game's not on, but would rather that than another Doncaster. I get embarrassed if I trip over or if I have to stand up and talk in front of strangers. I don't get embarrassed if a referee calls my team's game off...I get annoyed.
We're embarrassed for the club! We've been ridiculed on Talksport
How have we been ridiculed on Talksport?
Every League One and Two game went ahead, every conference game went ahead - how can a Championship club not get the pitch playable! The club should be embarrassed!
Surely we're looking at fine from the league seeing as we cut costs at the beginning of the season rather than fix the issue? Especially after the state our pitch got in last season?
The club should be embarrassed, people look forward to the weekend and those poor Barnsley fans will have spent 8 hours in a coach for no reason!
The games were going ahead in Charlton Park ffs!
have you not read the numerous stories about the pitch? the drains are broken. when it rains there is nowhere for the water to go. it is irrelevant what happens on other pitches as the drains aren't broken there.
there is an issue of why the previous owners, who knew it was a problem, did nothing to rectify the situation. there is an issue about how today's abandonment was communicated because it could clearly have been been dealt with better. there is a big issue as to what can be done going forward and what remedial work can be carried out.
we might be embarrassed that this has happened but it isn't really a surprise. the only thing is the false hope that the dome gave us that the pitch would be playable. as it doesn't appear to have been over the pitch last night when it rained it is hardly surprising that the pitch is now back to where we were last weekend, given that nobody mended the drains.
the new regime need to get its communication sorted out quickly and whatever investment it will take to get us to end of season. i would have thought that a reasonable plan is to cancel tuesday's game, take whatever the consequence is of that, and then spend two weeks trying to get it sorted.
Yes I have read the notes regarding the drains, which is why the club went out and purchased 'the dome' to protect the pitch only to take it off and put it in the West Stand car park despite rain being forecasted for overnight!
Did you through read through the thread before posting?
It has been repeated severall times - including by a poster who clearly either is a member of the ground staff or close to them - that the Dome was on last night and only taken off this morning?
I read through the first few pages!! I'm just a bit p@ssed off, I spent 2 hours in the car wasted money on petrol, four quid on the Dartford toll and when I get home all I get from the wife is 'I don't know why you bother!' - I'll be OK by the morning! :-)
I feel for the Barnely fans that made the trip down!
Who is this bradshaw prick and what's his history with Charlton. Paddy is, and will always be, a Valley legend for 40 years. It's not the ground staffs fault they were given 3 packets of grass seed and a second hand fork in pre season, so if this little tosser is blaming Colin and his staff he should do the decent thing and follow those other two clowns out the door and down the road.
The statement, which should have been forthcoming at least two hours earlier, is a disgrace.
"The ground staff this", "the ground staff that". Ultimately, senior management are responsible for whatever the ground staff say and do. And the ground staff are hardly responsible for communication, with Barnsley or supporters, whatever their view about the pitch.
If the club believes the ref was wrong, say that publicly and take the consequences. Otherwise accept that responsibility belongs at the top and goes with preening yourself in the directors box on matchdays.
If you listen to the Barnsley audio and watch the video, it's quite clear they thought the pitch wasn't playable and couldn't have been yesterday.
Given the recent history of the pitch any senior manager with any sense of responsibility would have been out there first thing this morning and satisfied himself that there weren't going to be any problems. Certainly PV and SK would have been, and they would have acted with caution both in the public messages and dealings with the ref.
I don't compare the current set-up with them, because the comparison would be completely laughable. And in fairness you get what you pay for, which in this case is not much. But blaming subordinates in anonymous public statements is simply contemptible in any organisation.
A complete shambles, and bearing in mind the likely weather for the next few months, and the likelihood of more rain or snow, we will be struggling to play any home games at all unless the major drainage work is done! If we did that work, and effectively laid a new pitch on top (with heaters etc) how long would it take and how much would it cost? A lot presumably, and I imagine there's no guarantee the grass won't disintegrate.
What the fook is the ref on about in his interpretation of 'dangerous'? Just trying to cover his arse IMO.
He continued: “I have to decide whether the pitch is playable, and the answer is no. If you plant your feet you expect to be able to move them but when you turn they get stuck. And that's dangerous.”
Load of bollocks. If it's frozen and rock hard fair enough.
Another game my son will now miss out on due to the evening kick-off. I'm sure this will apply to many others too. Tempted to ask for a pro-rata refund on his season ticket, just to make a point to the Shufflers in charge.
Comments
why ?
the ground staff have said quite clearly the pitch was in a comparable condition to the Brighton and Sheff weds game when the pitch was deemed playable and both games were played to conclusion
Its down to the refs that played those games, and todays ref seeing it different
The club says something and people moan
So although seemed ok there was sections of the pitch that were to boggy which would almost certainly cause injury to players if turning sharply. I'm afraid only time can heal our pitch this season until we can invest in it at the end of the campaign as others have suggested other referees may of deemed it playable as the ground staff thought.
and we naff it up-------only game off in the south----------kids-----parks teams they can play but our ground is a bog so we cant.
dont really care whose fault it is-----------its the CLUBs-----------and its an embarrassment
im sure the new owner must be as overjoyed as all of us to see the state of the club he has just paid £20 million for.
Does anyone know if Roland had made the trip?
Everyone blaming everyone else.
With rain forecast for the coming week, I don't see how they can sort it over the coming weeks...?
Like others have already said, I'd suggest we switch the game to Oxford, if (and I know it's a big if with our cup record) we beat Oxford, we're not at home again until the 8th Feb, hopefully that'll give us enough time to do something with the pitch... Just in time for the snow!!
Agreed that the late inspection and cancellation was a disgrace. What probably happened was the club had reported that, in their opinion, the pitch was playable so the ref only did his inspection today. It obviously is in a worse state than the club thought. Either that or the ref just wanted to have an easy Saturday.
Definite arse covering and attempting to set Paddy up as the fall guy going on in my opinion.
Bradshaw (presumably) is the one who negotiated with the referee when he offered the Friday inspection so it is down to him.
I wonder whether a conversation along these lines took place on Friday?
Senior Manager: What's the pitch like under the dome Paddy?
Paddy: Not great boss
Senior Manager: How does it compare to Sheffield Wednesday and Brighton?
Paddy: Much the same. Like I say not great.
Senior Manager: Thanks Paddy.
I suggest that conversation (or similar) has been spun, once the hospitality assets have been fully sweated, as "Paddy said the pitch is alright."
It has been repeated severall times - including by a poster who clearly either is a member of the ground staff or close to them - that the Dome was on last night and only taken off this morning?
I bet as far as the club are concerned they will draw a veil over it. I can't believe we have been treated this way.
3rd Rate performance by the admin there.
Disgraceful.
I feel for the Barnely fans that made the trip down!
"The ground staff this", "the ground staff that". Ultimately, senior management are responsible for whatever the ground staff say and do. And the ground staff are hardly responsible for communication, with Barnsley or supporters, whatever their view about the pitch.
If the club believes the ref was wrong, say that publicly and take the consequences. Otherwise accept that responsibility belongs at the top and goes with preening yourself in the directors box on matchdays.
If you listen to the Barnsley audio and watch the video, it's quite clear they thought the pitch wasn't playable and couldn't have been yesterday.
Given the recent history of the pitch any senior manager with any sense of responsibility would have been out there first thing this morning and satisfied himself that there weren't going to be any problems. Certainly PV and SK would have been, and they would have acted with caution both in the public messages and dealings with the ref.
I don't compare the current set-up with them, because the comparison would be completely laughable. And in fairness you get what you pay for, which in this case is not much. But blaming subordinates in anonymous public statements is simply contemptible in any organisation.
He continued: “I have to decide whether the pitch is playable, and the answer is no. If you plant your feet you expect to be able to move them but when you turn they get stuck. And that's dangerous.”
Load of bollocks. If it's frozen and rock hard fair enough.
Tempted to ask for a pro-rata refund on his season ticket, just to make a point to the Shufflers in charge.