Dark Munster

He is a massive part why we made the playoffs in the first place. Happy to help.

And Rasmus (guilty or not).

I hate to piss on your chips, but with SR's track record the odds of his successor being absolute shit are about 95%.

PMSL! Absolutely brilliant. We needed a good laugh after the current shitshow. Mods this is one to recommend and pin!

Sigh. So you think an intern with an iPhone watching a Boro training session less than 72 hours before a match is comparable to what Leicester did? Jesus wept.

Of course it's relevant. If I get a 30 year sentence for driving sober with a clean record but 10 mph over the limit and no accident, my solicitor would point out to the judge someone who got the same sentence for manslaughter.

The same as Leicester PLUS a fine? Seriously? Anyone who thinks we what have allegedly done is comparable to what Leicester did needs to give their head a wobble.

Pony. It was a timing issue ONLY. If he had done it more than 72 hours before the match we would not have broken the rules.

.....

Sigh. No it's not. It's only against the rules if you do it less than 72 hours before the match. All the people, including some posters here, seem to imply we did something sleazy by sending out an employee to do spying. No we didn't, we messed up by going past an arbitrary window, maybe simply a cock up by not reminding the kid. And as for "if they find out we did it throughout the season we're in big trouble" ... good grief, spying on clubs outside the 72 hour window is allowed. Do you think they'll dig up that we spied inside the 72 hour exclusion? This thread be should renamed 72hourgate

Ok, let's summarise. Spying on another team's training is allowed as long as it's 72 hours or more before a match. An intern did it less than 72 hours before the match. That's f*cking it. It's like going 5 mph over the speed limit, not driving the wrong way on the motorway or driving blind drunk, FFS. We all agree expulsion is ludicrous, but some here are saying we can expect a fine and points deduction. I say fuck a points deduction, that could cost us dearly down the road. The maximum punishment should be a modest fine and slap on the wrist. Saints should appeal/sue if it's anything more, including any point(s) deduction.

This is very good point. If the rules stipulated points deduction or being kicked out of the playoffs no club would think of sending spies to training grounds even close to the 72 hour window.

Oh oh, that's a 6 match ban, surely?

Agreed. As an example, decades ago Leicester spent like drunken sailors and went into administration, without punishment. After that administration meant being docked 10 or more points, even though Leicester got away with it originally. That being said, the no spying rule with 72 hours doesn't specify the type of punishment (unlike administration), so any point deduction, or even worse awarding the tie to Boro, would result in the shit hitting the fan.

Why should the punishment be severe? It was a kid on a public hill with an iPhone FFS. If he’d been kitted out with some high tech electronics, hiding in bushes on their property, then maybe.

Good question. I think that would only be possible if they had been spying on our interns.

And some shrubbery!

That's a bit worrying interview. Too many smiles and not enough death stares for me. I hope he's not getting soft.

I don’t remember anyone complaining about him being interim manager. And his record during that time was incredible, win after win and night and day compared to Still. So when he was appointed permanently most considered that to be reasonable, even if some had doubts about his lack of experience. He had that bad patch before the January window when some turned on him.

I despise Spurs, not Chelsea. Chelsea have sold us a number of very good players over the years: Livramento, Romeu, Bertrand, Cork, Monkou, Beasant, along with some good loan signings Ugochukwu, and Broja. Lavia is a good player who went the other way, but we got good money and he seems to be made of glass. (Yes I know, Dixon and Speedie, but I blame that on Br*nf**t). Spurs on the other hand have sold us crap like Tommy Fourpast, and bought many of our top players: Højbjerg, Wanyama, Bale (they really took us to cleaners on him), Richards, and we also lost out on Toby Alderweireld to them.

I think many of them are overconfident because of their 4-0 thrashing of us earlier in the season. If so, they are probably in for a rude awakening.

Five at the back, no Bree, Larin or Ross. As you mentioned, a midget up front and that useless hologram in goal. On top of that we are on a 19 league match unbeaten run. Our current team would probably beat that team above 5-0.

Ludicrous possibility on the final round of matches in the PL. Brighton or Brentford could be in a position where they could qualify for the CL (in 6th place) only if they lose to their opponents (who are just above Villa in the table, Man Utd and Liverpool), but not if they draw or win! In short, if Villa win the Europa League and finish 5th, and only 5th, then 6th place gets an extra spot for the CL. https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/cpqp9eqwe72o

Almost perfect. Total perfection would be Millwall losing and us grabbing third place and getting Hull instead of Boro. But I'm not complaining!