The Chris Lepkowski Column: Everton V Chelsea proved to me Wembley has no soul
Yet John Terry looked like he was wandering off on to one of the concourses or executive boxes on Saturday.
There was no dignity or class to it.
Making it into a tiered stadium has also destroyed the new arena, not least as the middle section is full of people who regard football as a ‘rather jolly good day out, but all rather raucous for my liking, Tarquin’.
And the design is the main problem.
Because the fans are on top of the pitch, the slightest bit of sunshine ensures that most of it is masked in a giant shadow.
There was none of this with the old Wembley – where the fans were far enough from the pitch to ensure there were no unsightly stains on the field for those of us watching at home.
The cynics will claim that having supporters so close to the pitch generates a better atmosphere.
I don’t think so. Because if you’re lucky enough to see your club in a major cup final then you will generate plenty of noise – whether you’re sat one yard from the pitch or 15 yards away.
And, of course, building a good old-fashioned running track would have ensured that Wembley didn’t end up looking like every other stadium in the Premier League, which it currently does.
Best of all, we might have actually got to see the game properly as opposed to seeing players dart in and out of shadows throughout the whole afternoon.
Let’s hope they get it right when they finally get round to re-building it in another 90 years’ time.
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