23rdSaint

🚨🤓 Southampton Spygate personal view: 1. Expect the breaches will be straightforward to establish (ie liability) and almost certainly admitted to try and get some sanction credit/discount 2. Expect aggravating factors such as other examples of Soton spying this year to be raised 3. Fundamental question of how serious a breach of rule 127 and good faith is will be key. We know good faith alone was £200k in the Leeds case. The new rule makes it worse and spying obviously seeks a sporting advantage - why else do it? So that does point to sporting sanction of some sort 4. Being thrown out of the Play Offs appears excessive especially given Southampton finished 7 points clear of 6th and 9 clear of 7th 5. A 3-0 in the first leg would have been an option again excessive retrospectively unless 2nd leg re-playable (not feasible) 6. More likely sanction is points deduction next season in the Championship as much as that won't help Middlesboro 7. Unlikely that the PL will take a points deduction recommendation from the EFL (no fixed rule) - doubt EFL will push for it, so would apply in first season back in Championship (when and if) 8. My best guess is SIX EFL points in first season in EFL and £500k-£1m fine 9. Boro compensation claim can be dealt with separately subject to any claim brought by Boro - difficult claim to establish due to causation issues

I don't think they're on sale. It's "enquiries only"

Complaint raised. Worth using ChatGPT or an equivalent to get the tone of the complaint right:

If this is the alleged spot in question, I'm waiting for my EFL charge for spying Boro's half time training routine from my seat last night ScreenRecording_05-13-2026 11-16-52_1.mov

@Fleetbeast – oops, shot your load for today. Come back tomorrow 😘

From the website: As the club prepares for Tuesday night’s Sky Bet Championship play-off semi-final second leg against Middlesbrough at St Mary’s, we would like to remind supporters that entering the pitch or bringing pyrotechnics into the stadium is strictly prohibited. St Mary’s has been at its very best this season, with the support of our fans playing a vital part in the team’s journey to this stage. With emotions understandably running high ahead of a huge night under the lights, we are asking supporters to help protect both the team and the club by remaining in the stands at the final whistle and not using flares, smoke bombs or other pyrotechnics inside or outside the stadium. Following the play-off fixture against West Bromwich Albion in 2024, we were heavily sanctioned by the EFL after supporters entered the pitch and used pyrotechnics both before and during the game. These resources would be better directed towards improving the club's infrastructure and playing squad. The EFL and relevant authorities will have officials in attendance at Tuesday’s match, and the club has a duty to ensure the safety and security of all supporters, players and staff. Possession or use of pyrotechnics, including flares and smoke devices, is a criminal offence and supporters are reminded that pitch incursions are illegal and could result in arrest, prosecution and club bans. Something we don’t want to see any Saints fan have to endure. Whatever the result on Tuesday, the players and staff want to show their appreciation to supporters after the game, but this can only happen if the pitch is clear and safe. Tuesday night promises to be a special atmosphere at St Mary’s. Please make sure it’s remembered for the right reasons by staying off the pitch and not bringing pyrotechnics to the stadium. Bring the noise, roar the players on from the stands and let’s create the atmosphere St Mary’s is famous for. We probably should have thought about "these resources" before we were caught spying, but we should also probably refrain from exacerbating the situation...

Love it @L1Minus10 😂 @TotalSaintsPod

We just need to reclaim the narrative, embrace the villainy and go all in. Anyone wanna magic this up for Tuesday?

Was it not?

I just hope we get a verified account of what actually happened. Someone standing in a public space trying to see Hayden Hackney train is different from the believed narrative that the club giving £100K+ surveillance equipment to an intern to hide in a bush and record Hellberg's conversations...

Jobi McAnuff is a Pompey sympathiser. He has family based there.

Adam Blackmore is such a bore

Eeesh, pretty damning from Adam Blackmore and Alfie House: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0nk63zn

From the Guardian's North East journo: https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/may/08/playoff-semi-final-efl-southampton-spying-middlesbrough Seems it could go to an independent tribunal, if found guilty, with possibility of fairly extreme punishment...

Just had the pleasure of listening to Matterface, Crook and Birmingham's smartest talk about it on talkSPORT. Crook whinging that we're an unlikeable team at the best of times 😂

😂

Fleet Services rammed with Saints fans 🟡🔵

It's happening

How's that different to 23/24 season?

Or... WBA have the threat of a 2-3 point deduction looming, so will want to get ahead of that. And Leicester are "free from their shackles" and will want to put themselves in the shop window... Or maybe I should stop putting the strong stuff in my morning coffee

Does anyone know where they'll be showing the Ipswich game around the Wembley area? If WBA do us a favour, that would boost what will already be an incredible atmosphere. It's a 12:30 kick-off, same time as Fulham vs. Villa, so have a feeling that will be the default game shown by venues.

Leading with elbow, not handbags