Moving on the debate how realistic is the option of a 4G or similar pitch at the Valley.
Currently banned by the FL but allowed in the Champions league and Scotland.
RD has had one laid at his first Belguim club.
What are the variety of pitches like?, how do they play? How much to they cost to install and to maintain? Can you use them 24/7 and if so what for?
A sensible option worth going to battle with the football league over OR an unnecessary gimmick not suitable for a major club aspiring to the Premeirship.
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In all seriousness, artificial pitches at their current best are absolutely incomparable to the Astroturf of yore. I've played on some decent ones, as a goalie, and can assure you all that it's preferable to grass, with its muddy goalmouths and weird bobbles.
They are a million miles better than the old plastic pitches that QPR, Luton, etc,etc had back in the 80's. I think the FL should look into this again.
I can't believe the league voted against. There is a real opportunity here for many league clubs to install a pitch that needs minimal maintenance and can be used far more than a grass pitch, thus allowing clubs to get far more use (and therefore income) out of their stadia. Plus, in theory, you could simply sell off all or part of your training ground and use the pitch for training sessions.
Was it because those who had them/could afford them would have an unfair advantage against other clubs as they get 'used' to it?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18285716
Artificial pitches consultation finds widespread opposition to plans
By Paul Fletcher
BBC Sport
A return to artificial pitches in English football looks unlikely after a Football League consultation found widespread opposition to the idea.
The topic was discussed at the league's annual general meeting on Thursday.
And it emerged that the Premier League and Professional Footballers' Association were among the official bodies against their reintroduction.
There is no support for the idea in the Championship and just two clubs are keen on the idea in League One.
However, discussions at the meeting in Portugal on Thursday revealed a 13-11 majority in favour of artificial surfaces in League Two.
But that would not be enough to push through any change of regulations and there is not thought to be any realistic prospect of a club tabling an official proposal in the near future.
Artificial surfaces in England
QPR 1981-1988
Luton 1985-1991
Oldham 1986-1991
Preston 1986-1994
The 72 Football League clubs listened to a series of presentations on Thursday, including one from the Football Association's national facilities manager Mark Pover and another from Fifa's playing surfaces programme manager Stuart Parman.
They also heard the feedback from the consultation period, which ended in April and drew more than 1,700 individual responses from clubs, fans and official bodies.
The clubs then discussed the issue in their divisional meeting before returning with their conclusions on Friday.
Strong support had been anticipated from League One clubs. However, the potential cost of installing an artificial surface - in the region of £500,000 - combined with the likelihood that a club would have to replace it with real grass if they won promotion to the Championship are thought to have counted against the idea.
Artificial surfaces were banned by the FAD in 1988 and the last remaining one in the top four divisions - at Preston North End's Deepdale - was ripped up in 1994.
However, advances in technology, combined with possible financial and community benefits, had led to a rethink on the subject, which was discussed at several Football League meetings last season.
Clubs at the AGM in Portugal also voted unanimously to support a proposal by Exeter to encourage sportsmanship and curb gamesmanship during matches.
Clubs will tell their managers, coaches and players to avoid showing disrespect towards officials, and diving, time wasting and feigning injury will also be discouraged.
Referees will be instructed to take action against players obstructing the quick taking of free-kicks and stealing ground at throw-ins.
"As a collective of clubs, we have a responsibility to protect the image and long-term health of the game of football," said Football League chairman Greg Clarke.
"We will now use them as a platform from which to engage with those parties that can help us change our game for the better."
Would floating a nice green plastic pitch on top of it solve that?
pretty good for those who've had their natural kneecaps replaced with ones made from plastic
Doesn't that make this a meaningless debate :S
It is the way forward at all levels and the FA etc should leave it to clubs to make their own decisions on this - but set the minimum standard of plastic that can be used.
We need a level playing field ! Bring it on.
The Football League are against them, because the Premier League are so anti them, which in effect scares the conference into not allowing them
If most of the above were properly satisfied, and had been tested in all kinds of conditions, then I am afraid that artificial makes sense, especially for 'sweating the asset' of the stadium. Would love to have shedloads for the latest grass pitch with a personal grounds men/women to love a square foot each and tend each blade to the N'th degree.
However if Football can still be Football, without any risk to players, then it really does make sense.
Also believe the Players Union is against them as they can be quite hard wearing on joints (ankles, knees hips etc) therefore they don't want them installed as could lead to more players picking up longer term or possibly career ending problems. Ledley King played every other game on grass, I doubt he could play at all on a 4G surface.