hypochondriac

How is that a relevant strand? Just because spying is possibly easier to do at Middlesborough than other places has no relevance here other than the fact that we may have been in even more trouble had we tried to spy somewhere more secure.

If you think about it, Middlesborough should be bunging us a few quid for exposing some holes in their security system.

Interesting idea. Something like Peretz Bree THB Wood Manning Matsuki Jander Downes/Charles Scienza Archer Stewart

Nah. I'm sorry but no one who wasn't a fan of the accused team would be making that argument.

You could argue that the use of professional recording equipment- if that is what it is and not hyperbole- constitutes the same crime as breaking into the training ground. I agree though, if it's just an intern stood near the training ground with a mobile phone and clip on mic and that's the end of the matter then that's a different matter. It's not like Middlesborough is round the corner though, this will have had to have involved a fair bit of planning and logistic to pull off so it appears to be a bit more than being a touch opportunistic.

Indeed. If it was us, no one would be blaming the design of our training ground for making it easier to spy on. The only thing we can hope for is that there is sufficient mitigation or that the club and their lawyers can conjure up sufficient mitigation to restrict the punishment to a fine or a few points taken off next season at worst.

Use a more moderate example if you like. If we've sent someone to go and spy on their training then we are the ones at fault, not the victims who may have a more accessible training ground than others.

Not sure I agree with that. It's akin to someone nicking money from a charity donation bowl and then blaming the shop who left it there for making it easy to steal. Doesn't really make you less of a twat for doing it even if it's easier to do.

I mean it is cheating and someone has cheated- whether everyone at SFC knew about it or not.

The more I think abut it though it's incredibly unlikely that a young intern would be travelling all round the country (if that is what happened) surveilling our opponents with no one knowing. Maybe it was just an opportunistic thing because he was aware that the Boro training ground was exposed.

I agree it's unlikely but an intern wouldn't be like a full time emoyee.

It could be that the analysts direct boss knew but kept it quiet from other people in the club? It probably isn't the first time it's happened. I hope we don't have multiple instances where we've done it. Lots of unknowns at the moment and that imo will determine what the punishment will be.

Maybe you just had this one bright spark analyst who kept coming up with genius ideas for how to counter the opposition every week and no one questioned it? Seems pretty unlikely and much more likely that we did know but are playing down our involvement to try to avoid the most serious consequences but you never know.

I Again. Genuinely not sure how they would be able to. If we win on Tuesday they literally won't have time to expel us and then hear our appeal.

TBF though it wasn't during the bg the playoffs. Personally if I were them I'd just concentrate on beating us on Tuesday then none of this matters for them.

Not sure there is. If I had to put money on it then if we are actually bang to rights I think a points deduction and big fine is the most likely outcome.

You don't think someone would uncover a massive payment to the intern and not infer obvious guilt from that?

He's always been a grade A cunt. I hope we win and play the pantomime villain for the rest of this thing. Fuck it and fuck them.

If we beat Boro on Tuesday the meltdown from some of their pathetic fans will be very funny. I was as annoyed as anyone about this whole thing but the reactions from some of their fans is really pathetic. If they lose on Tuesday they can have no complaints given how wasteful they were today.

I'll be having a few beers, arrive about five minutes before kick off after a Jimmy riddle and then try to shout as loud as I can for 90 minutes. Hopefully that's sufficient.

Just watched a Boro post match reaction YouTube video calling for us to be kicked out of the playoffs. Bunch of twats I hope we smash them on Tuesday.

Bollocks. No one would be complaining if it had been Boro caught spying. We need to suck it up, take out medicine and beat them anyway.

And Charles.

Literally the only positive is that Boro didn't score. Other than that that's the poorest half I can remember.

No chance they do that. He could have been on the phone to anyone. Maybe they have a work and personal phone?