Football Food For Thought / Dan Fitch / 11 August 2009 /

Dan 'The Betting Man' Fitch looks at the Premier League grounds that will cause sleepless nights for away teams this season.

I used to play for a pub pool team. By pub standards our table was pretty decent. The cloth was in good condition, there was plenty of room around it and you could place a spirit level on the surface without fear that it would slide off and fall on the floor.

The standard of tables when we played away games though, was another story. Some were too small, with pockets that seemed to be slightly narrower than the width of the balls. Others had torn cloths that had been glued back down, or were not at all level, leading to the balls bending as if they'd been hit from a Ronaldo free kick.

Worst of all was the pub where one end of the table was so near to the wall that the landlord provided a miniature cue, to use from that end of the table. Those snooker players that complain about the Crucible being cramped, don't know they're born.

On the face of it, playing away from home in football, should make no real difference. These days most pitches are immaculate. So with the playing conditions equal for both sides, why do so many teams struggle to get results away from home?

Players enjoy luxury accommodation and travel before away games, so it can't be put down to tiredness or lack of home comforts. You can only conclude then that these namby-pamby footballers tend to bottle it at certain stadiums, letting the occasion and the ferocity of the crowd get to them.

First there are the grounds where visiting teams fear to tread, because they know that they're up against a formidable side.

Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea all enjoy extremely good home records, in no small part due to the fact that the visitors arrive, half-expecting that their goalkeeper will be picking the ball out of his own net at some point during the first half. Chelsea are the current favourites to win the Premier League at [3.1], with United at [3.4] and Liverpool [4.8].

I don't include Arsenal in this section, mainly because they play in a new-build stadium. As we all know, new-build stadiums are soulless places that are about as intimidating as an all expenses paid trip to Disney Land. Arsenal are [10] to win the Premier League.

With every rule though, there is an exception. Stoke City managed to avoid relegation last season, due to their record at the Britannia Ground. Stoke's fans make a lot of noise, whilst the away support are kept quiet by the knowledge that as the stadium is in the middle of nowhere, they're reasonably likely to get punched when leaving the ground.

Stoke are [5.8] to be relegated and [17.5] to finish rock bottom. They will again be hoping that the intimidating atmosphere of their home ground, will compliment the intimidating sight of a Rory Delap throw in, homing in towards the head of James Beattie, like a heat seeking missile.

And don't listen to what the ladies say, because size definitely does matter. Playing in either very big or very small stadiums, tend to put the willies up visiting players.

Aside from Old Trafford, there aren't many really big stadiums in the Premier League, but there have been plenty of clubs that have used their diminutive stadia to their advantage.

For many years Southampton profited from the intimate surroundings of the Dell, where their fans were right on top of the action. When they left the ground, it wasn't too long before they also left the Premier League.

Last week I wrote about how Burnley's best hope of survival, will be to turn Turf Moor into a fortress. It's certainly small enough for their fans to create an intimidating atmosphere, but whether the team can be as intimidating on the field is another matter. Burnley are [3.4] to finish rock bottom and [1.67] to be relegated.

When you think of teams that were intimidating on the field, Wimbledon immediately come to mind. Slightly less thuggish, but nonetheless still able to handle themselves against a bunch of Southern softies, were Sam Allardyce's Bolton. These days Bolton aren't quite so intimidating and can be backed at [9.8] to be relegated, whilst Big Sam will be looking to toughen up Blackburn, who trade at [12.5].

But the most intimidating ground of all, for a footballer to visit, must be Hull's KC Stadium. The atmosphere isn't great, but the lingering fear that Phil Brown might do a deal to sign you, whilst you're on the pitch, is enough to scare any man.

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