Sunglasses Ron

Like many I guess, I’m experiencing a mix of disbelief, sadness and anger at what’s happened over the last few weeks. Right now, I’m rueing the day that I chose to support Saints. That was in 1992 when we were a respected club with few blots against our name (the infamous 1972 “oh look at that” 7-0 defeat at Leeds being one). But that was more than made up for by the glorious FA Cup win, the magical Le Tissier era and those teams of the early Premier League seasons. I was always so proud to be a Saints fan, despite our lack of sporting achievements. However, fast forward 34 years and just look at the utter shite we have had to endure. Things that immediately spring to mind are: Ali Dia (an urban myth that will never go away) The Harry Redknapp saga League One minus 10 Saints 0 Leicester 9 Man Utd 9 Saints 0 Second worst team in Premier League history (by a hair) And now Spygate, which almost feels like all of the above combined. I mean WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK have we done to deserve all that? Genuine question, can any other club come close to rivalling this shameful collection of embarrassments? Like mugs though, we’ll probably all come back for another kick in the nuts next season (where we have -4 to look forward to straight off the bat). FFS!

You can only imagine what will happen if other whistleblowers start coming out of the cracks making substantiated claims of spying by other clubs. This could bring down all of English football based on the precedent set by our punishment.

Good points. The thing we are battling here (with no chance of winning) is that the act of 'spying' seems to be viewed by the masses as far worse than the act of cheating financially. James Bond aside, the former seems incredibly un-British even if it probably doesn't come close to someone gaining an advantage through financial foul-play. It's why we absolutely hate to see diving etc., whereas it's almost celebrated overseas.

Sadly, I don't think that level of rationale exists in the playground! 😅

I'm absolutely fuming like most, but I guess they are waiting for the outcome of the appeal before making a statement to the fans. I expect that to come today. I genuinely feel sorry for kids at school, I'm a grown adult but definitely wasn't looking forward to the conversations from people at work today.

Or do it like that event in Gladiators where a mystery one emerges out of some smoke at the last second. 😅

I read that as don't stop hoping not to receive a potentially severe penalty.

BBC using a flattering, out-of-date, image of the LND...

The problem the EFL have is that different clubs have different abilities to pay. They should probably go down the GDPR-style route and fine the club X% of turnover in the event of a breach in addition to a set sporting sanction (something like 6 points the following season).

Absolutely nothing.

Magnificent! I love how they’re in the reflection as well!

Any chance we could add a pair of binoculars for extra lolz?

Did it though? 😅

Yeah isn't Middlesbrough in a different time zone? Maybe 13:30 our time?

What happens if someone from the club is watching Sky? Should we declare an unintentional breach! 😅 Oh, actually, we're more than 72 hours away so no problem!

This made me laugh...

It doesn’t work that way in reality. As a minimum, I would say that the club would need to provide proof that he was provided with some kind of ethics training that specifically covered the requirement not to observe training less than 72 hours before a game. Even then, you have to question how logical it is that their Line Manager wouldn’t have been aware of a lengthy trip to Middlesbrough. If the above could be proved then there would be a fair argument to say that the club made all reasonable steps and that the employee effectively went rogue.

Remember Jamie Vardy's terrible, intentional, tackle that crocked van Dijk and cost him a place in the League Cup final (and I believe ultimately lead to him deciding he wanted to leave Saints)? That event was very costly for us, but again, it was impossible to prove the consequence of it (not that he got into any trouble for it).

This is very true. And the one thing they all seem to be missing is PERSPECTIVE! Currently, it’s like someone nicking a bag of sweets and demanding the death penalty in return.

That's enough internet for me today. I'm out.

Don’t forget the Van Dijk tapping up, something that had a very real consequence.

They’re all now focused on the imaginary playoff final that their team will start training for in a few days.

Haha take that you bunch of fucking fannies!

He certainly seems to have changed his tune since yesterday!

love this from a Middlesbrough fan: “That they do not retire from the play offs just shows how little regard they have for the industry they are in, which is supposed to still have sporting principles (though we all know it is totally money driven). Hopefully Boro will win tonight but if not Southampton should be fined a sum that negates the full financial benefit they derive from winning (including the millions they receive if they win the play off final).” So we should either pull out of the playoffs now, or accept a £200m+ fine.