CanadaSaint

He's had the doubters most of his career, which accounts for his goal celebration. But we haven't really known much about him as a person. I posted this on the WC thread yesterday but it got lost in the game updates. Hope it works over there. https://www.tsn.ca/soccer/fifa-world-cup/video/2026/06/18/how-larin-finds-peace-at-the-racetrack/

Hope this works over there: https://www.tsn.ca/soccer/fifa-world-cup/video/2026/06/18/how-larin-finds-peace-at-the-racetrack/

Most of us are happy to concede that we screwed up badly and deserved a significant punishment. We also handled the matter very poorly, so - in some ways - we got what we deserved. We should take it on the chin and move on, chastened but looking forward. What I find much harder to accept is a mealy-mouthed, chicken shit, “tail between our legs” statement that glosses over the fact that the judge, jury and executioner had clear connections to the party that benefitted massively from the ruling. That’s a disgrace which warrants further follow-up. It would change nothing resulting from the ruling, but it would whistle bullshit on an organisation that’s okay with enforcing integrity and fairness principles but piss poor at following them.

I hear you, but any ruling they hand down from on high will almost certainly use those words. Quite what they had for evidence we don't know, but it clearly infuriated them, as part of Section 31 shows: It involved far more than innocent activity and a particularly deplorable approach in its use of junior members of staff to conduct the clandestine operations at the direction of senior personnel. It's almost as though we were hammered because we failed their "sniff test" (with their nostrils inflamed by Gibson's antics and a counsel who articulated those views), rather than because they had a sound legal basis for hammering us. It doesn't really matter any more, but it would be interesting to know how an appeal to a proper court would turn out. They might find that the decision was based more in umbrage than legality.

The EFL's reasons for the ruling suggested that the alleged bullying didn't factor into their determination of the punishment, but I suspect that the FA's focus on the integrity of the game might cause them to focus much more on it.

What are the thoughts on Garner? The dramatic turnaround happened after his arrival, and he must have been an integral part of the team selection, tactics and substitution decisions. Some of the names being suggested scare the shit out of me - especially if we'd like to keep playing the kind of attractive football we've seen since January.

All of this keep him/sack him/depends on what the players think stuff is academic if the question of whether he's available next season is in the hands of the FA. We don't know yet if he's going to be suspended, so the players don't know who their manager would be. It's a circular mess, and I'm not sure we have the credibility to ask the FA for some insight into where they might be headed.

Hope you’re right. But he’s got himself noticed with us, and he’s about the play in the biggest shop window in football.

What they do with Tonda might revolve around what they've found out about further vulnerability. If he’s “fessed up” about multiple other instances that could still come out, they might sack him to show that they’re determined to clean up the club. Waiting for the FA to do it doesn’t get us any brownie points. But it might not be about just that, or even how much the players like him. He might not have been entirely honest in claiming ignorance of the rule. The committee was highly critical of him supposedly pressuring young Will over his reluctance to “spy”, which suggests he knew it was illegal all along. That heightens the importance of the brownie points. As much as I’d like to keep Tonda for his tactical approach and player relationships, he might be carrying too much baggage.

I’m not clear on this. What was the proof that we spied on Oxford and Ipswich, other than our own admission?

I thought it showed he's still engaged enough to post something to give us a chuckle, and maybe hasn't "turned the page" yet. Wishful thinking maybe.

All the focus on this thread seems to be on cleaning house, and that's obviously the first step. But even more important is where we go from here. I'm intrigued by the fact that we haven't (to my knowledge) heard a whisper from Dragan, who's been in the city for three or four days. I wouldn’t rule out the possibility that he's going all-in on finding a top quality manager and keeping as much of the squad together as he can. We were by far the best side in the division (after that hideous start), and they really seemed to enjoy playing with eachother. It’s a big ask but he has the money to do it, and he has a shit ton to lose if he doesn’t. This post suggests that THB's not necessarily in "Screw it - I'm outta here" mode:

I’d be okay with that. As long as she declared it.

Agree 100%. This was a set up, and Boro also tapped into their help inside the EFL. If I was Hull I’d play under protest because these revelations mean that this things isn’t over. If I was Dragan’s I’d be on a two-track mission - sort out the pitiful incompetence inside the club but also explore further legal options against the EFL. Talksport dismantled the decision before they even knew about this stuff.

#WeStaggerOn