Dark Munster

Oh shit, you mean we're still at it?

That's good isn't it?

Rule number with penalties: hit the bloody target. Even an embarrassing Panenka penalty which a goalkeeper gently catches is better than hitting row Z. If you miss the target you won't score against anyone, including my Gran who passed away decades ago.

I hope that's true. Source?

I can. SR's blithering incompetence.

Or maybe they are waiting for the outcome of our poll? 😉

The best polls are the ones that are close. 😉 Looks like a photo finish. If you haven't voted yet, get your finger out!

This is an important point. If the EFL try to bring up further charges of spying done by us last season, they need to prove it was done within the 72 hour window. Good luck with that. Unless Parsons/Saints are stupid enough to admit to it. Oh, wait.

First, let's look at the reality of the situation: Tonda appears to be largely responsible for the cheating "scandal", which primarily resulted in us being expelled from the playoffs. However, we need some perspective. The "cheating" amounted to scouting inside an arbitrary 72-hour window, an infraction against the rules, sure, but hardly the crime of the century when compared to the financial breaches of Manchester City and Leicester etc., or Italian clubs bribing referees. On the pitch, his impact is undeniable. He transformed us from relegation candidates into playoff contenders, a run that included an incredible 21-match unbeaten streak in the league. Without him we almost certainly wouldn't have made the playoffs. I doubt the "spying" made much difference in that regard. For me, the biggest underlying issue is that Sport Republic has proven to be beyond incompetent when it comes to finding decent managers. They essentially stumbled onto Tonda; he is the lone exception to a string of otherwise appalling hires. If he gets sacked, the chances of them finding anyone remotely as good are virtually zero. It is far more likely we will end up trapped with another disaster on the level of Will Still. While this is probably a moot point because he will likely be gone anyway, I've voted no to sacking him.

Title says it all. Seems opinions are split, from he's the devil incarnate, to a manager we don't want to lose committing a minor infraction resulting in a massively disproportionate penalty.

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.