Astroturf anyone?

it is said in Italy that lotto shoes are softer, but adidas more resistent

i think a pair like this one should be fine for the astroturf ---> http://www.shuhao.com/eng/products_list.php?id=55

Originally Posted by Giovanni

it is said in Italy that lotto shoes are softer, but adidas more resistent

i think a pair like this one should be fine for the astroturf ---> http://www.shuhao.com/eng/products_list.php?id=55

It is fine for the artificial turf and even the natural grass pitch. I have used it on mushy English pitches here and they work fine. The soft ground shoes only work in really soft pitches so if you play on a natural grass surface that is dry your heel might end up hurting. Firm Ground (rubber studs) work on most pitches except the 5 a side basketball type ones.

P.S. I haven't tried Lotto. Nike, I didn't like!

Looks like we have our answer
From www:channel4.com

Serie A welcomes artificial pitches Tuesday 25 January, 2005

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The Italian Football Federation has confirmed that Serie A clubs could be playing on synthetic pitches as early as next season, much to Milan’s delight.

“We have to ascertain whether the new generation of synthetic playing fields affect the environment and players’ performances,” explained FIGC chief Franco Carraro.


“Once that has been verified, I think an artificial pitch can be used in the top flight from next year without problems.”


The ban on so-called ‘plastic pitches’ has been lifted by UEFA for its international club competitions, opening the door for League football to use this type of ground.


Milan and Inter have long been calling for the chance to refurbish the troubled San Siro playing surface with one that would not require regular ‘refills’ with plots of grass flown in from Germany.


“The UEFA decision is bases on the notion that it is better to play on a good artificial pitch than a mediocre natural one,” added Carraro.


The Rossoneri were first to react after this announcement and pointed out this would be every bit a technical issue as an economic one.


“Playing on an artificial field means it is totally straight all the way through,” said Coach Carlo Ancelotti. “There are no holes and no bumps, so the ball runs quickly and true. It’s the perfect environment for technically gifted players who like to pass the ball around.”

A true grass pitch with all its pros and cons is the essence of football. The players have to adapt their game to different surfaces in different stadiums. That shows how talented a player is, not playing square passes on a flat and true astroturf pitch.

The problem with San Siro is not the grass, or the maintenance.

1) When they "upgraded" the stadium, added more seats and a sort of roof, the natural sunlight was prevented from reaching the grounds as it should.

2) Milan and Inter play in the vicinity of 70 games on this pitch between September and late May. It is very taxing for the groundskeepers. The only other stadium in Italy that is used as much is the Olympico, but they do not have the sunlight problem.

3) It is not proven that an artificial surface can withstand 70 games in nine months - after all, it is nothing but a green plastic carpet, and can deteriorate with use.

4) Despite claims to the contrary, playing on artificial turf will cause more injuries than natural turf. In the U.S., where they play baseball on natural grass or astroturf, there is a hard statistic proving natural grass is better on the legs, ankles and knees of a running player.

5) Football should be played on natural grounds - this is the tradition and essence of the game. In the future, they might play in a completely sterile, weather and rain protected, computer programmed environment. I do not care for that. Football is blood and guts, grass being uprooted, mud, rain, and the exhilaration of putting the ball in the opponents goal. It is a game of technique as well as endurance and succeeding despite the elements. Let us keep it that way and not make the sport too "comfortable".

Originally Posted by Josh

In the U.S., where they play baseball on natural grass or astroturf, there is a hard statistic proving natural grass is better on the legs, ankles and knees of a running player.

5) Football should be played on natural grounds - this is the tradition and essence of the game. In the future, they might play in a completely sterile, weather and rain protected, computer programmed environment. I do not care for that. Football is blood and guts, grass being uprooted, mud, rain, and the exhilaration of putting the ball in the opponents goal. It is a game of technique as well as endurance and succeeding despite the elements. Let us keep it that way and not make the sport too "comfortable".

The San Siro pitch has caused more injuries than an astroturf one can in 50 years..just remind the Crespo injury a couple of years ago, that could mean almost the end of his career.

Plus, i don't see the romantic side of the natural pitches, i mean, the last generation astroturf can help to play better, esp with technical players, so it's hugely welcomed.
If this mean we can pass the ball and the opponents don't even see that, i think it'd mean a huge improvement for our game.

La palla corre veloce ma è facile l'infortunio.
Maggior quantità di ore di utilizzo e minimo costo di manutenzione. Ma c'è il rischio di malattie dermatologiche.

The ball is quicker but there's a risk of skin diseases. But the field can be used for more hours and with a ridiculous cost for maintenance

Quattrocentomila euro il costo per l’installazione completa. Un mese e mezzo il tempo necessario per trasformare un campo in erba naturale in sintetico: tre settimane per l’applicazione, altri 21 giorni per il drenaggio. Centotrentasette campi già omologati dalla Lega Dilettanti, altri centonove lo saranno a breve. La superficie del futuro - l’erba artificiale - è già presente per molte società calcistiche italiane. Quasi tutte dilettantistiche con l’aggiunta di Manfredonia ed Juve Stabia, che, dopo la promozione, hanno ottenuto la deroga per la serie C2. Ed anche alcuni club professionistici - a cominciare da Inter e Milan - hanno un campo di allenamento in sintetico. Ma quali sono i vantaggi? Maggior quantità di ore di utilizzo e minimo costo di manutenzione. Un campo con manto erboso può essere utilizzato 12 ore al giorno per 365 giorni l’anno.

400.000 euros for the installation, 1 month and half to change the natural field into the artificial one.
many clubs of the lower leagues are already using it, and some in C2 as well.
many top clubs already use astroturf pitches at their home training centers. it can be used 12 h per day, for 365 days per year.no limits

La manutenzione si aggira sui 3500 euro l’anno. Con un utilizzo medio (8 ore al giorno per 250 giorni) dura dieci anni prima di un fisiologico cambio. Le argomentazioni a contrario sono di natura ambientale e tecnica. Al momento per la superficie su cui viene posata l’erba sintetica si è utilizzata gomma riciclata dai pneumatici. Ma la sua potenziale capacità di sprigionare sostanze cancerogene renderà obbligatorio l’uso di prodotti ecocompatibili.

maintenance costs 3500 euros per year (!!!!)and it can be used without any limit.can last 10 years before a change is required. the porblem is due to the natural and medical impact. so far theyhave used pneumatics rubber as a basement but it's not so healthy cause these materials can cause cancer..new materials are required


Altri paletti normativi saranno posti per scongiurare anche il rischio di malattie dermatologiche, segnalato da alcuni studi medici. Alcuni campi in sintetico non sono, poi, ignifughi, conditio sine qua non per l’uso censurabile dei petardi da parte dei tifosi.

another problem is linked with the fire: these materials can burn and this is not compatible with the cannisters thrown into pitches as common use during serie a matches

Le rilevazioni del laboratorio tecnico di Coverciano hanno evidenziato che giocatori abituati all’erba naturale si adattano facilmente alla nuova superficie ma lamentano che vi si faccia male più facilmente. È allo studio un adeguamento del materiale tecnico. Una tutina potrebbe sostituire il classico pantaloncino per evitare abrasioni.

studies on the subject suggest that players easily adapt to the new pitches but complain about injuries. it is said that a possible solution to abrasions can be a sort of long tight trouser instead of the shorties (this is hilarious)

La palla corre, inoltre, più veloce ed ha un rimbalzo diverso. «È un gioco leggermene diverso - commenta Carlo Longhi, doppiamente esperto in materia, da ingegnere e da ex arbitro - ho avuto modo di arbitrare partite amichevoli su campi in erba artificiale. Si vede meglio e sono certo che rappresentano il futuro».

The ball go faster and has a difference bounce. Carlo Longhi , former referee, says the view for referee is better and that , as engeneer , it's the future for football.

Have to say I never even thought of the fire aspect. Considering how many flairs end up on pitches each year thats a real hazzard alright. But hows this for a solution, albeit a very expensive one. Change the roof on the San Siro!!! Can't they make a roof like blinds where it could fold back or flip on its side or something to allow sunlight in?

Here are the boots that I wear (when I'm showing off my skills at the weekend) and I can tell you, they work magic on that rubber Astro that we train on.

http://www.uhlsport.com/scripts/defa...ge=en&landID=1

p.s. yes i have the same boots as Nedved but im afraid i just dont have the same skill

The pitch I played on didn't look like it would catch fire easily. But the again we are talking about flares and not cigarettes so I can't judge on that.

It would incorrect to compare the astroturf with that of hockey turfs which need constant water to keep them soft because as they dry up they become rough.

This artificial grass is really good to play one. I say it from experience. One must not forget that Milanello has had artificial turfs for quite some time and the Milan mgmt usually gets these technical decisions right. If the artificial turf was not acceptable then it would've been out of Milanello in a season.

For the San Siro this is the only plausible solution. I am firmly against leaving that stadium for a new one. That is Inter's job as they are guests in the San Siro, not us.

Tearing down the roof is another unacceptable solution. There are future plans to make the San Siro a 100,000 capacity stadium so if anything the sunlight will completely go away.

The San Siro is the holy shrine of world football. A football cathedral. It is UNIQUE and impressive. It is an architectural masterpiece as it stands out from the rest of the stadia.

The only thing it lacks is a superb surface. Give the turf a try. It will be awesome!

I dont know about these new turf ideas even with the technological breakthrough they have done. Seriously guys, nothing beats real grass. I know this has nothing to do with the pitch but would ya rather smoke synthetic weed or the real d@mn thing?

I think the interest in turf these days are really more of an economical choice than that of playability performance. Of course in places like Aberdeen, keeping a true grass pitch is harder to do than take Milan. But Milan climate is also grass unfriendly. And its not cheap to maintain.

Now in my opinion, nothing can outperform a well maintained natural grass pitch. I'm no expert on the mechanics or physics part of human impact falls, but I gotta tell ya grass is a good thing to fall on if compared to turf. Just my opinion thats all.

Any more news on this?I see that Dunfermline who play in the Scottish Premier league have been told to rip up their astro pitch and put down grass again.They had taken part in a UEFA experiment and apparently now had one of the best astro pitches available but it wasn't even good enough for our "quality" football in Scotland.

Haroon,

I agree with you about the historic importance of San Siro. But I need to ask you if have had the chance to attend a game there... if so, I will have to disagree with you about it being an architectural masterpiece.

It's not just old (many stadiums in Europe are), but it's very plain and simple... even uncomfortable... and hard to reach... for instance, from Fermata Lotto (Metropolitana)
you need to walk for about 25 minutes late at night to take the subway again...

they made the secondo anello for 1990 World Cup, and the dressing rooms are older
and uglier than the ones I had in my school team...

So astroturf is an investment they should consider after fixing the showers of the dressing rooms, and windows at biglietteria sud.

Originally Posted by SANT

Haroon,

I agree with you about the historic importance of San Siro. But I need to ask you if have had the chance to attend a game there... if so, I will have to disagree with you about it being an architectural masterpiece.

It's not just old (many stadiums in Europe are), but it's very plain and simple... even uncomfortable... and hard to reach... for instance, from Fermata Lotto (Metropolitana)
you need to walk for about 25 minutes late at night to take the subway again...

they made the secondo anello for 1990 World Cup, and the dressing rooms are older
and uglier than the ones I had in my school team...

So astroturf is an investment they should consider after fixing the showers of the dressing rooms, and windows at biglietteria sud.

I will both agree and disagree!
The walk from the Metro to the stadium ,IMO, adds to the atmosphere of the San Siro.
Yes it may be plain and simple but it has history.Both from the recent and distant past.
When I visited the stadium the most surprising thing to me was the dressing rooms.They are so basic!Yes they are like the public changing rooms we have all experienced-even the Killie changing facilities are around 3X the size and much better.Still I guess Milanello is rather better than most clubs training facilities?
Back to the main topic-when will we see Astroturf at the San Siro?

are we talking about the same type that is already covering the sidelines (in front of the benches) at San Siro?