Maggie May

Does anyone think there’s a possibility that Tonda’s analysed so many teams’ tactics over the past 14 years that he’s technically now a tactical mastermind?

@trousers you know I love a told you so post but you’re spot on asking this. At the weekend, I made a couple of posts suggesting this has to be more widespread. I refuse to believe we were naive to the rules. Again, I was shot down questioning the grey areas of the 72 hour ban and the reasons for Boro claiming to have more evidence from other clubs. We didn’t come up with this “genius” spying plan that’s ultimately got us the worst possible sanction. We’re bang to rights over the whole scenario but I’m interested to see what opens up as a result of this.

All I will say is we hired Nathan Jones a week after Villa hired Unai Emery. That sums up the past five years for me.

Oh well.

@Lord Duckhunter I have some humble pie for you. It was clear from the beginning we were in the sh*t big time. Every question I had surrounding the 72 hour ban and other teams had merit. Boro’s leaks suggesting there were other clubs we’d spied on had to be within the 72 hour period.

The oracle strikes again.

If these latest posts are to be believed, it means most of us don’t have a clue about this case against us. I asked about why Middlesbrough continued to push having evidence of other clubs coming forward, only to be shot down by rather arrogant posters saying we are only facing one charge of spying against Boro. Sounds like we’re f***ed.

Sack the sub-editor.

So why are there various reports of Boro suggesting so?

Sorry to keep bringing up the 72 hour rule. I’m reading that our charge only relates to spying on Middlesbrough within the banned limit. If that’s the case, why am I reading Middlesbrough may have evidence of us spying on other clubs? Surely that would be inadmissible during this probe?

Sorry Steve.

Sorry to sound like a broken record but my internal evaluation on the entire situation continues to focus on the grey areas surrounding the 72 hour ban. Apologies if I’ve misread but the stories surrounding Middlesbrough claiming they have evidence of Southampton spying on other clubs never seem to mention if this is outside the 72 hour period. If “spying” is allowed, and we’ve done it but adhered to the rules, then why the giant outcry? All speculation and my own views but this must be more widespread across the football world. The fact there isn’t a blanket ban on spying and has caveats instead will absolutely see clubs try and push it as far as they can. I bet Boro do it in some capacity. This is why, in my opinion, we’re not seeing other clubs come out against us. It’s too easy to become implicated. I fail to see the act of “spying” on other teams to gain an advantage is some genius, novel idea thought up by our analysts. It has to have been learned.

That’s technically not an admission of guilt. It means the club is leaving it down to the panel to decide based on the evidence provided to them. Everything the club is accused of are still allegations at this stage.

If we’d sent our lad Will to their training ground to shout pleasantries about Boro, Hellberg and Gibson, would we have been charged with a Salt and flattery?

The 72 hour rule is what creates so many grey areas for me. If spying is so frowned upon, just ban it outright.

EFL chief executive is ex Portsmouth administrator Trevor Birch.

Prejudicial to what? This isn’t involving a jury.

Publishing this actually could help prove this was a public space. If it was closed off and private, there’s an argument he’d be given a reasonable expectation of privacy.

Sigh.

Apparently Steve Gibson phones Simon Jordan at 3.30mins. SJ holds his phone up and SG’s name is visible when the video’s enhanced. Perhaps Southampton should make a complaint that Middlesbrough aren’t behaving in the fairness of the game, considering their owner appears to be feeding information to a presenter 😉

I refuse to believe this isn’t satire.

Interestingly, Crystal Palace has a new build block of flats called Maybrey Works overlooking their Copers Cope training ground. Literally anyone could hire it out and watch training if they wanted.

I'm confident they've used "whistleblower" in the incorrect context. The "other clubs" line was reported by the Guardian, claiming they'd gone to them: https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/may/10/southampton-spygate-middlesbrough-championship-playoffs

Yep…

In all fairness, do you have the faintest idea of what goes on behind closed doors at football clubs?