Saint86

Hopefully they've been given a view that it's not happening and needs to try and save face.

Blackmore making a tit of himself again here. Still doesn't know any facts (and if he does he should shut up anyway) and he's on social media calling the club morally repugnant... Meanwhile you have all and sundry in the game saying it's standard for analysts to be watching training, it's common throughout Europe and South America etc, and the premier league (the richest League in the world) doesn't even bother with a rule to stop it. Saints are the victims at this point. Any minor offence we may have commited pales in significance to the media witch hunt and national defmation that Boro have whipped up. Normally we deserved a slap on the wrist for the initial offence... We've even got some people acting like the equivalent of a £100M (sporting chance) to 200M fine (assuming we win) and points deduction is in some way justified FFS. The entire club is trying to stay professional, keep quiet, trying to let this wash past us and deal with the inquiry and prepare for the playoffs... And Blackmore is out there feeding the media storm and calling the club morally repugnant because it's aledged that a young lad from the club stood at a boundary fence with his mobile phone... aledged - still. The man is an idiot at times. He knows less than the telegraph journalist that said we had a spy hiding in the bushes with professional photography and sound equipment....

If Boro were confident of anything, the very simple and obvious fact is that we wouldn't be reading about it in the press... The reality is that if we are reading anything at this stage, it's being leaked by Boro to try and bias the hearing and panic Southampton... But it equally means that's their only hope of getting whatever lesser deal their after. They are probably trying to bully us into a payment. I hope solak tells Gibson where to go on principle tbh.

https://www.transfermarkt.com/jason-taylor/profil/trainer/126892 And also, Jason Taylor's linked in profile has been deleted, still shows up on Google searches but link to his profile or posts by his profile won't work. So clearly taken down recently. Busted sunshine.

My goodness, that is going to really set the Boro lot off.. the telegraph sports department will be lucky if they have any credibility left by the end of the week at this rate. I sincerely hope any Southampton fan with a telegraph subscription is cancelling it after their shockingly inaccurate and defamatory coverage of the club this week.

Simon Jordan is just another of Gibson's pet media contacts.

I think Gibson is determined to ruin our playoff hopes. Can you imagine how unsettling and off-putting all this is for the players, coaches, and Eckert? He's a slash and burn kinda guy is Gibson. Saints only recourse to 'beat' him, is to go to wembley and win, and then to do everything possible to defend the club and to try and go after Boro/Gibson with everything we've got after the fact.

If so, we were the ones stupid enough to get caught.

That text is 2days old and predate the Boro game?

The more they look like they're liable for some serious blow back from saints I would suggest.

Produced by the BBC? Sounds like a series of complaints may be required...

Agree with those points. But i wouldn't underestimate Hull. They are the silent assassins of these playoffs. Whilst the shit storm was going on with us an boro, they quite comfortably despatched Millwall, despite only just making the playoffs at the very end of the season. They're a very good counter attacking side and it will be tough.

His reaction to the ayling vs THB incident was interesting. First time I've seen him lose his control... Reading into it perhaps, but I saw it as he viewed it as one lie to many by Boro, and very nearly did let his anger and frustration out... But perhaps a snippet there that we can gleam something from. I.e., He very clearly viewed it as complete bullshit, and be was very clearly at his limit with tolerating Boro bullshit. Add to that his post match comments about wanting to speak but not being able, and I get the impression there is a bite back coming from the club. Although whether we'll just shut up and take a lesser punishment as part of a deal I don't know.

The saying, "Nice guys finish last" exists and is oft repeated for a reason. Is it time saints grew a bit of an edge in reality? Any offences are still alleged at this point regardless, but certainly the club's reaction was the only way to counter Boro's media with hunt, and ultimately it caused a full blown head loss (which was self inflicted) for Boro - and which contributed to them fluffing their lines tonight for sure.

There is clearly more to this than meets the eye. Hoping saints are able to bite back at Boro.