MarkSFC

Downes and Jander were mainly first choice but Charles is as good. Bragg will become (probably) our best CM over the next 12-18 months. On that basis I would sell Charles and would expect 20-25m plus add-ons. We may not need to directly replace him, as hopefully Moses Sesay will be the Bragg of next season and come through nicely. I hope we sign a Number 10 and a striker soon. After that I expect a CB to replace THB, as it seems like he will be in demand. I would want 35-40m given his improvement and contract length.

I imagine we will try to loan a striker possibly capable of stepping up in the PL should we go up. Spend the money on a number 10 and CB to replace THB.

Coventry or Leeds is my guess.

Given what DS said the other day, we wont be buying another CB unless one of them goes.

He delivered. Someone else or others failed on the selection aspect!!

Im liking everything Dragon is saying right now. I just hope he backs his words up with action. His biggest mistake was originally thinking he could trust others at the beginning of his tenure. Now we are seeing the real character of the man, and its great. I take this latest bit of info as we will sell THB (for the right price, 40m+?) and Charles (similar). Edozie too (10-15m maybe). We will likely keep Jander and Scienza, Azaz and Fellows. I expect a new CB but Im curious as to whether Quashie can develop into a decent player, I think he has some great attributes. Him, Wood, Jack and a new one is likely more than good enough. A number 10 and a striker and all looks good. This might actually be a relatively quiet summer 😂

I always thoight JWP was used more defensively than attackingly and this hampered him a little. He is certainly no messing or hazard or that type, maybe not really even an Azaz. But if he was the player brought in to be more of an attacking CM (support for Azaz as stated by Dragon) then Id be happy. He obviously adds lots in dead ball scenarios, and his passing range is good. If he came in to be one of the two DCM then it would be a no from me. However, as 4th choice behind Downes, Bragg and Jander or Charles (as it seems likely one of those two will go) then it might be a decent signing.

I think theres a decent player there. He was suppressed ina lot of the season by being used as a wing back and more defensive duties and lately from the bench a bit. If hes used as an attacking player consistently and given the freedom to express himself Im sure he will be a big player for us. We have seen plenty of moments of his skills. A good player who could become a great player.

Im guessing that TE will get a suspended sentence.

What a great signing and start to the window. So far, Dragon living up to his recent promise...🙏😂 Bree next please. Larin too. Stewart as well. Then we worry about the one or two or three that might HAVE to be sold!!

The more comments and pieces I see on all these platforms the more I feel what Dragon and Tonda have said is great. The media are just making it up and delivering whatever agenda they see fit. I hope there are some libelous / slander cases in the pipeline issued by Dragon and the club. Our man did wrong. Context aside, absolute truth unknown, whats been said today by our two people is as honest, as pragmatic, and ultimately calculated as is probabaly possible, and also needed. Own up to everything and act guilty continuely, and sack everyone only plays to the media agenda against us. Lose. Deny everything, do nothing, and it plays to the media agenda against us. Lose. Do something in between, more honestly and more transparantly, and we get what we are today. Lose. Basically a no win scenario however ot was played. In any scenario, you need to look after number one and do everything g you can for self preservation (whilst also being able to look yourself in the mirror moving forward. Win. I hope this summer includes a Middlesboro team being ripped apart and a relegation battle for them next season😂 I hope we win over a 100 points, score a hundred goals and ruin the c**** season.

Don't you understand.....if we hadn't cheated theyd of beaten us in the Semi-final and their preparation for the final wouldn't of been affected by the press shit..... Everything that doesnt go their way from now until forever will be something to do with us...

I havnt listened to Talkshite this morning but JW and AC are masters at creating click bait. Their opinion is not based in logic very often if ever but all about generating comments (divisive "news" generates more commnets/interaction) which all they care about. F*** the (non-Saints) media. Siege mentality needed.

Fair play. There will continue to be those who support the club and those who do not, who will want him hung drawn and quartered. Talking like that (without script as he says it was) is brave in this media world. Clearly there were one or two cuts (hence the video inserts) but actually thats a good thing as it meams he was speaking unacripted. I take people as I find them. This looks genuine, contrite and sincere. The club are drawing lines, putting their perspectives and position out there, and making it clear without actually saying it that they are angry yet accepting. This should galvanise everyone with enough time. ALL the actions over the summer obviously need to come from the club, from the leaders in terms of securing a squad good enough to compete for the title. Dragon has said it. Now he must DO IT! UP THE SAINTS!!!

We've seen that having 4 CMs is very useful. Losing two of the current 4 is too many. I suspect Jander will go and Charles will stay. But either is fine. Bragg will be better and more able to play more, more regularly and perhaps Moses Sesay will be the Bragg of this season.

Presumably then you still get the covid vaccine 🤦😂

I think its impossible to gues at who will stay, who eill go, and who we might bring in due to the complications surrounding Eckert and Spors. If TE is to stay we do not know if any of the first team squad genuinely and ongoingly have a new hate towards him. Equally, we do not know the opposite. If he stays will that make it harder to attract new players? Or will it actually help (due to his skills) or make no difference? The craving (from the fan base) for updates and clarity are completely understandable, but as it is becoming apparent, proving difficult. The complicated situation in many aspects means the club must take its time to make sure their next moves are well thought out. My hopes are that the vast majority stay of course. In reality I expect THB, Ramsdale, Charles OR Jander, and Leo to be sold. Azaz may be in demand too. I expect that Bree and Stewart will re-sign. I hope Peretz and Larin do too, but not expectant of either. Based on these happenings we will need a first choice GK, CB, and Striker. I expect Edozie, Robinson, Quashie, and Bragg to be more involved and important. I doubt much will happen for weeks so we will be in for a long summer of hoping for good oitcomes😂

Did he Cheat? Or did he simply break tbe rules? Or was it a combination of those things? As per regulation 127 observing another teams training session within 72 hoirs of a match with them is prohibited. Doing so outside of this time period is not specifically prohibited. Taking a throw-in and stepping over the touchline "breaks the rules". Is that cheating? Does that potentially have more of an impact than observation? Pulling someone's shirt is breaking the rules. Or is it cheating? Diving is breaking the rules. Is that cheating? Is that worse? Grabbing hold of opponents at a corner is breaking the rules. Is that cheating? Pulling soneone down very blatantly when they are through on goal is breaking the rules. Is it cheating? Normally it is regarded as so and a simple red card is normally advised. Is this worse? Most if not all managers and coaches, and players will break certain rules to attempt to gain an advantage on tbe field of play. Are any of them.worse than another? Is observing the worst of them all? Im not so sure it is. If the players can work with him then keep him. Hes the best we have had for quite a while. Other clubs will give us stick whoever the manager is so we may as well have one who has a good chance of getting us promoted.

Yeah very possible

My initial reaction was the sack the cheating c***. As the emotion has subsided and from reading this thread I may be coming round to the idea of keeping him. This is purely on a footballing basis, give the transformation he achieved. I do not and have never thoight that spying/observing other teams has much of an impact. Maybe it can do earlier in the season when teams are establishing formations ans systems of play and embedding new players. Halfway through the season and in the second half, I cant believe it has much impact at all. That doesnt make breaking a rule right but equally, its not the crime some are making it out to be. The question that needs to be answered - which perhaps we will never know in here - is what is the true character of Eckert. Is he intrinsically a cheat, pushing boundaries and stepping over boundaries in all his actions, or, was this cases of (very) poor judgement. I hope its the latter, and if it is, then there may well be a way he csn stay put. This may well be why he is currently still here; because the club know his real character. Football is a fickle sport most of the time and fans are certainly the same. If we win the first 5 games of next season all will be forgotten by our fans, most probabaly!! Other club fans will jeer us whoever is in charge!!

I expect others have already mentioned him but theres a guy called Pep who is apparently available and quite good, perhaps we should go for him? Hes also used to working at a club that has cheated along the way (alledgedly)...

I dont think that logic follows given that the expulsion is from the "Cup competition" outside the league season, and therefore Hull should win by default. The points deduction (presumably) is for the two incidents within the season. This does not permit Wrexham the 7th place team to enter the play-offs.

He was appointed on 4th January this year.

Well, its soaked in over night and now I feel calmer😂 My (less emotional) observations and thoughts about this whole situation and the actions ahead (fwiw) are this. Eckert smd all those involved are either outright cheats at worst or totally naive and guilty of ignorance and a lack of fully understanding the scope and rules of his role and football in this country. His time at Barnsley reduce this mitigation of not knowing the rules significantly, and there also meams that his boss has some culpability in not ensuring he knew a rule that is important. Internal Actions on personnel. Sack Spors for lack of control and for lack of ensuring his direct employee knew his job amd the rules. Sanction Eckert severely (final written warning if you like) if they truly believe he was unaware. Sack him immediately if they believe he deliberately broke the rules. Sack anyone else who was aware they or others were cheating. Having said that I find it very very difficult to believe that no one in the first team staff were unaware of the spying and also unaware of the rules. I find it extremely difficult to believe that Ben Garner (a former manager) was not aware. Moving forward, clear the decks of all those culpable. Employ a new manager and coaching team as quickly as possible. Secure the services of as many players as possible before the World Cup. This tournament always delays transfer business. I suspect though that these players will leave/not be signed; Peretz, Ramsdale, THB, Jander, Charles, Leo, Larin, and Azaz Others who knows. The club needs to provide the fans with as much goodwill and monetary pay back as it is possible to do. This should include at minimum - a discount for ST renewers - refunds for play-off tickets and travel costs to Boro away game - a refund or free tickets for those who went to any away game based on number - a refund or free tickets for those who went to any home game based on number These actions will take time to figure out and to action but should be of high priority. Dragon needs to remove Phil Parsons. He is ultimately responsible for the business as a whole on a day to day basis. Unwittingly perhaps he has been caught out by a employee (or group of employees) but also it seems acted poorly when faced with the situation and information. CEO positions come with high reward and also high responsibily. Also, there will be many people more capable out there. A fresh CEO, a fresh DoF, a fresh First Team Manager (and staff) is clearly a huge change all in a matter of weeks and summer break but I think this is the only way we can be seen to be taking this very seriously indeed and resetting the culture. Who knows who these people could be but I would go for DoF......Roy Hodgson (for a year or so) Manager....Scott Parker The summer will be very interesting (as it seems it always is recently) and at least we have the World Cup to distract us😂 Keep the faith. I love this club and always will even when things go very badly wrong!!

If Eckert and his fellow rule breakers are not sacked tonight or tomorrow morning at the latest, it will show even more weak leadership by the owner. Swift action is required to mitigate the damage which will take a long time to repair. After 4 exciting months, its all been ruined in a matter of days. Sad, gutted and angry.