Dan Johnson

honestly, who gives a fuck now what everyone else thinks. everyone will hate us, everyone will try and put us down but I can already feel the siege mentality growing... On this forum, with fans i speak to, in dragons statements, in the clubs statements, with the signing of Peretz, in Peretz first interview... We have the chance to allow the biggest negative this club has experienced into a driving force behind success. The run we went on last season was real, the connection that team had with the fans was real, if we can harness that at the beginning of next season, under a siege mentality, with the squad we had last season, we will win the league

This is an absolutely massive statement from the club. Best keeper since Niemi, such a statement of intent and a real stake in the ground when it comes to next seasons expectations. Buzzing

Absolutely this, love his commentary, think his views are balanced and well thought through. Don’t always agree with him but I very much enjoy his input whether I agree or not. I hope he continues to cover Saints long into the future. going home with Adam and Jo, highlights with their commentary, and the Football Martin Channel for that matter, are now very much part of my post game enjoyment

Next season, we will take a huge amount of stick from opposition fans EG when we go 1-0, maybe from a controversial penalty, we're likely to get chants of "Same old Southampton, Always cheating" It would be great if we could have some responses... Some from me ----------------------------------- "You're just fucking shit, you're just fucking shiiiiit" "We're not cheating, you're just fucking shit!" ----------------------------------- "We've got Eckert, Tonda Eckert, I just don't think you understand" "He's got a camera phone, and a 4k drone" "we've got Tonda Eckert" ----------------------------------- "We hide behind trees, we hide behind treeeees" "We are Southampton, we hide behind trees" ----------------------------------- "All week, we've been watching you train all week, watching you train all weeeeeeek" ----------------------------------- "We know what you'll do" "We know what you'll do" "We've been watching you in training" "We know what you'll do" -----------------------------------

I voted yes on the basis of his position being untenable and thought he’d have lost the backing of the players. however yesterdays sun article would suggest he may not have been as heavily at fault as first suggested and seemingly the majority of players still back him. if that’s the case I’d change my vote to a No and would prefer he stays. allot to come out in the wash still and until we’ve definitely determined root causes, I’ll reserve judgment

My Summer predictions\hopes. Out of contract and leaving on a free Alex Mccarthy (GK) Oriol Romeu (MF) George Long (GK) Jamie Jones (GK) Joe Aribo (MF) Will Smallbone (MF) Charlie Taylor (DF) Out of contract players I hope signing new Deals James Bree (likely) Ross Stewart (not as sure on this but really hope so 🤞) Players That I think are most likely to leave depending on circumstances and estimated fees Shea Charles (£15m) Taylor Harwood Bellis (£25 - £30m) Casper Jander (£15 - £20m) Sam Edozie (£2m - 4m) Aaron Ramsdale (£15m but Maybe forced to stay if there's a keeper shortage) Cameron Archer (£7m) Juan Larios (nominal) Ben Brenton Diaz (£4m) Yuki Sugawara (£5m but Maybe forced to stay if Bree doesn't re-sign) 15% of Matty Fernandes profits from WHU Estimated Total In: £95 > £120m Players I think we will keep hold of but there will be interest Leo Scienza Flynn Downes (cant see us letting all 3 of our MF players go) Finn Azaz Players Likely to leave on season long Loans Gavin Bazunu Damion Downs Incoming Players required and fees Cyle Larin (if Tonda stays in charge) Required signings 1st Choice Keeper 2nd Choice keeper - Club may retain one or two of Jones\Long\McCarthy\Bazunu 3rd Choice keeper - Club may retain one of two of Jones\Long\McCarthy\Bazunu 1st Choice CB to replace THB 1st Choice MF to replace Jander 1st Choice MF to replace Charles - Club may already consider Bragg as ready made replacement 2nd Choice ST to play under Larin\Stewart - Downs maybe given his opportunity as he fits the same mould as Larin\Stewart 2nd Choice winger to replace Edozie - Club may give Jay Robinson a clearer path to the first team Realistic targets Abdul Fatawa - Leicester - if we lose Scienza Gustavo Hamer - if we lose Azaz Jordan James - Rennes - MF replacement Femi Azzez - Millwall - if we lose fellows Peretz - Another Season long loan or purchase

Just said the same exact thing to my mates

I think the situation is more complex to be honest. Although Tonda has been heavily implicated and involved, we're still unaware of when the practice of spying on other teams began and ultimately who is the main implementor of the practice. If the spying precedes Tonda and happened under Multiple previous managers and implemented at the sporting director level, then it becomes very difficult, legally, to sack Tonda on charges of gross misconduct if it was an intuitional problem, maybe it was forced on Tonda from a higher level? We see this in gross misconduct cases all the time, where an employee has been fired but then opens a counter claim against the organization where they explain their actions were in line with the systemic problems throughout that organization and that their being made a scape goat. I think the longer it goes on without personnel leaving or being fired probably indicates that the spying has gone on pre-Tonda and is much more deep rooted than we think, it doesn't mean he wont eventually leave, but it hopefully means we're ensuring their is no come back when we do eventually get rid of him. That may mean we have to wait for the robust internal investigation to be completed.

Reputation matters here. I think we need someone with huge sporting integrity, a Gerrard\Parker, to win over players, fans and any potential signings. Some obscure coach that no ones ever heard of wont cut it in this situation in my opinion.

Full statement here if anyone is looking for it https://www.efl.com/news/2026/may/21/efl-statement--written-reasons-relating-to-southampton-fc/ There's a link on that page that brings you to a pdf https://images.gc.eflservices.co.uk/0a0e87d0-5538-11f1-ab88-f930a57d19ce.pdf

Until we get the facts, we have to reserve judgement. Although there are whisperings and rumors that he's been involved, we still don't have definitive proof, until we get that we cant be reactive. The facts will determine the outcome, if he is involved he will be sacked or made to leave, that is inevitable as his position will be utterly untenable, regardless of feelings within the football club. I'd be gutted for the young man if so, he's obviously extremely talented and he's the first manager in a long time that has the universal backing of all the fans, which has gone a long long way to our on pitch recovery and performance.

I think losing in the final vs not playing in the final are two different things.

I disagree, I think the punishment can still be disproportionate to the offence regardless of our own admission\approach. The integrity of the game issue is address by our willingness to create a working group, "Contrition without change is hollow, and we intend to demonstrate change." it's brief, but it's addressed.

Legally speaking I just don’t know how any of this makes sense. Rule is spying 72 hours before a game, meaning only the first fixture would be in breach of the rules, not the second leg. why have Middlesbrough been reinstated over Millwall as part of OUR punishment? If we’re kicked out the playoffs then surely Wrexham as the next team in line should compete with Middlesbrough for that Wembley position? Do other teams who have broken rules, like financial fair play, also face the potential of being thrown out?

Couldn't agree more. I don't think I have ever looked forward to just getting back to the preparation of a game, more than I have this one!!! IF and it feels like a very big IF at the moment, I end up on my way to Wembley this weekend, talking with my brother and mates about the GAME, about the PLAYERs about the TACTICS, I'm going to enjoy that moment just as much as the game!! I'm normally impatiently waiting for kick off but I will definitely enjoy that half an hour or so before kick off, watching the players warm up, soaking in the atmosphere, more than I ever have in the past this weekend!