ian1964 10,724 Posted March 31, 2016 Share Posted March 31, 2016 Celtic skipper Scott Brown slaughters Hampden pitch and warns: Rangers cup semi-final could be a LAUGHING STOCK 06:00, 31 Mar 2016 By Gary Ralston THE Scotland skipper was dismayed at the state of the playing surface at the national stadium, less than a month after it was re-laid for the League Cup final between Ross County and Hibs. SCOTT BROWN has slaughtered the Hampden pitch and declared it’s in danger of making the Old Firm’s Scottish Cup semi-final a laughing stock. The Scotland skipper was dismayed at the state of the playing surface at the national stadium, less than a month after it was re-laid for the League Cup final between Ross County and Hibs . Denmark prepared for this week’s friendly at Ibrox, rather than Hampden, and the new playing surface already looks brown and patchy after work began on ripping out the old surface on March 5. Celtic take on old foes Rangers on April 17, a day after Hibs face Dundee United in the other semi. Rangers will also take on Peterhead at Hampden on April 10 in the Petrofac Cup final and Queen’s Park host Stirling Albion this weekend. Brown has suggested Queen’s Park, in particular, think hard about their Third Division scheduling step because a poor playing surface will not help showcase Scottish football’s two biggest clubs in front of a worldwide television audience. Asked to assess the quality of the pitch against the Danes, Brown said: “It was bang average, as always. But that’s what happens when someone else plays on it week in, week out. “You don’t see that happening in England or anywhere else but that’s good old Scotia for you. “They say it takes four to six weeks to knit in and it has not had that time. It is always going to be slippy with a little bit of rain on it as well but it’s a lot better than it was at this time last year. “It probably won’t be the best for the cup semi-final, but you just accept that every time you come here. You think of the worst. If we played on what we did against Rangers last year we can play on anything. “The spectacle? That’s the thing, sometimes we’re a laughing stock when it comes to that. We can’t keep it in great nick all season round because of the weather here as well. We’ve got to take that on board, but it should be a lot better than it is.” Scottish Rugby Union bosses moved to rip up the pitch at Murrayfield two years ago after it suffered from a parasitic worm infestation that made it a threadbare eyesore for fans and cut up underfoot for players. They installed a hybrid pitch from Holland, part grass and part plastic, which won the seal of approval from Brown after Celtic played there in their Champions League qualifiers. Brown said: “Murrayfield is exceptional, so much better than that (Hampden). It’s flat and nice. When we played on it for the qualifiers it was unbelievable, one of the best pitches I’ve ever played on.” A spokesman for Hampden Park plc declined to comment. The SFA also declined to comment. Read more at http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/celtic-skipper-scott-brown-slaughters-7658722#rYQUvUzgCRm5UJxs.99 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ian1964 10,724 Posted March 31, 2016 Author Share Posted March 31, 2016 MW got slaughtered in the media for complaining about pitches!,I'm sure this clown will receive the same! 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uilleam 5,948 Posted March 31, 2016 Share Posted March 31, 2016 It seemed to me that Denmark managed to master the conditions, except in front of goal, but that was hardly the fault of the pitch. It did, however look, well, scabby. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frankie 8,570 Posted March 31, 2016 Share Posted March 31, 2016 It seemed to me that Denmark managed to master the conditions, except in front of goal, but that was hardly the fault of the pitch. It did, however look, well, scabby. We should have taken the chance to move from this tired relic of a stadium years ago. Apparently our next chance is in 2020 when the SFA lease from Queens Park is up. Clearly it would cost tens of millions to build something fit for purpose but it's an opportunity we must take. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cooponthewing 1,139 Posted March 31, 2016 Share Posted March 31, 2016 To be honest I switched back and forward between Wembley and Hampden between games, and in comparison to Wembley, Hampden is a cabbage patch! 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RANGERRAB 3,677 Posted March 31, 2016 Share Posted March 31, 2016 We should have taken the chance to move from this tired relic of a stadium years ago. Apparently our next chance is in 2020 when the SFA lease from Queens Park is up. Clearly it would cost tens of millions to build something fit for purpose but it's an opportunity we must take. Can't see where that sort of money would come from 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
calscot 0 Posted March 31, 2016 Share Posted March 31, 2016 We should have taken the chance to move from this tired relic of a stadium years ago. Apparently our next chance is in 2020 when the SFA lease from Queens Park is up. Clearly it would cost tens of millions to build something fit for purpose but it's an opportunity we must take. I've only sat in the north stand which seems ok but can see that the ends are far from the pitch but what is so badly wrong with it? Genuine question. The thing about moving is that we talk about preserving a tradition to sing the most anachronistic and inappropriate songs, but we have one of THE most historic football venues in the world and would dump it at the drop of a hat. Plus the fact that the likes of Wembley cost about a billion pounds and even Man City's ground cost about a quarter of that. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frankie 8,570 Posted March 31, 2016 Share Posted March 31, 2016 Can't see where that sort of money would come from As per Wembley and the Millenium Stadium, it would be up to the SFA to provide a decent amount along with public and private funding. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frankie 8,570 Posted March 31, 2016 Share Posted March 31, 2016 (edited) I've only sat in the north stand which seems ok but can see that the ends are far from the pitch but what is so badly wrong with it? Genuine question. The thing about moving is that we talk about preserving a tradition to sing the most anachronistic and inappropriate songs, but we have one of THE most historic football venues in the world and would dump it at the drop of a hat. Plus the fact that the likes of Wembley cost about a billion pounds and even Man City's ground cost about a quarter of that. The views are poor, the atmosphere poor, transport links poor, local facilities poor, the pitch is constantly poor and the whole leasing arrangement disagreeable. It's time to explore alternatives as, like you say, there's a different between tradition and misplaced sentimentality. Edited March 31, 2016 by Frankie 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
26th of foot 6,084 Posted March 31, 2016 Share Posted March 31, 2016 We will find out how accurate Brown's assessment is, when we play Peterhead next week in the final of the Petrofac. Further, I believe Hibs/Dundee United are on it the day before our match with the Yahoos? I note Brown, like team mates McKay-Stevens, Griffiths, Stokes, ....... etc is sporting a new fuller thatch. Perhaps, they can advise the Hampden ground staff on dealing with bare patches. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.