Former Hammer Don Hutchison claims Brad Friedel told him that West Ham allowed the grass to grow at the Boleyn Ground for the season opener in a attempt to slow down Spurs passing ability.
Hutchison writing in the Newcastle Chronicle said:
“Little tricks still go on at all levels. I was working with Brad Friedel the other week and we were talking about Tottenham’s performance – or lack of one – at West Ham on the opening day of the season. I couldn’t believe how bad they were, having tipped them for top four. Brad’s response was really interesting. He told me Sam Allardyce had let the grass on Upton Park grow an extra six inches and the Spurs players knew it from the first moment they walked out before the game. They couldn’t pass the ball properly because the grass was that bit longer and it was getting held up in the turf. They struggled all game because of it and were bailed out at the end with a last-minute winner.It’s crazy what goes on in football that you don’t see on TV.”
The full article can be found here
I was told last night at the match that a complaint was made to the Premier League about the length of grass at the Boleyn Ground but the Premier League measured it and found it to be within regulation length. You couldn’t make this stuff up could you?