Adams facing pitch battle
PORT VALE manager Micky Adams is considering making the Vale Park pitch smaller next season – to give his team an edge over their League Two rivals.
The Valiants traditionally have one of the biggest pitches in their division and Adams wants to discover whether that fact played a part in their miserable home form last season.
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Micky Adams
Vale lost a club record 11 home games last year on their way to finishing 18th in League Two.
Adams isn't suggesting the pitch size is an excuse for those results, but he is keen to assess his squad before deciding whether the big pitch suits them.
He said: "I want to look at the squad first. If they are a vibrant and energetic squad, then I will leave it as big as I can. If not, then we will bring it in.
"We don't want teams coming to our pitch and enjoying the wide open spaces."
Vale Park is 104x68m – the sixth largest in League Two last season, and considerably bigger than neighbours Stoke City's 100x64m playing surface.
Stoke made their pitch the smallest allowed in league rules to suit Rory Delap's long throws, but also their in-your-face style.
Meanwhile, Adams is hoping for patience from fans as he attempts to transform the club's fortunes with largely the same squad as last season.
Adams has won promotion from League Two with Brighton and Fulham and, although he has the same ambition for Vale, he sees that as a long-term job.
He added: "I went from 91st in the football pyramid with Fulham so things can be achieved, but we need time."
8 Comments
by Steve, Ottawa
Monday, June 29 2009, 4:43PM
“Hey Boz, are you one of the Stoke fans that took all the pies?
Bless em all !”
by Steve, Ottawa
Monday, June 29 2009, 4:31PM
“Hey Boz are you signing for the Pie's at Stoke!!! LOL”
by Boz, Stoke
Monday, June 29 2009, 3:55PM
“I almost forgot Vale were still in business.
I think they should make the pitch huge, they don't seem to use the firts 10 rows of the seats anyway.
Bless 'em.”
by big dave, bucknall
Monday, June 29 2009, 1:19PM
“it seems to have worked for the harlem globetrotters down the road, so give it a try Mickey”
by Dan, Biddulph
Monday, June 29 2009, 12:50PM
“Snow on the pitch, allows us to score after only 12 seconds too...”
by Paul, Stoke
Monday, June 29 2009, 12:22PM
“Water on the pitch also helps Mickey, usually in FA Cup matches.”
by Phil, Normacot
Monday, June 29 2009, 11:21AM
“Smaller pitch together with ear plugs and blinkers for the players should do the trick nicely.”
by Matt, Tunstall
Monday, June 29 2009, 10:05AM
“Do it - every little helps.”