Daft Kerplunk

Correct. Things that data cannot assess relate to the mental attributes such as desire, resilience, commitment to winning. Physical performance data alone is not, and should not drive decision making. It is useful but not the whole picture.

I guess we've been spoiled over the years with young players who have come in and looked like they were at the level they were playing, or showed they could play at that level quickly. I certainly wouldn't write anyone off quickly but I struggled to see anything today that suggested we've got a player who will have the impact we need if we want to go up. More than a whiff of Downs with that performance.

We are weak up front if Larin gets injured but should we be there or there or therabouts come January and Mumbama hasn't shown he can step up to the level of a promotion-chasing team, you'd hope that resources would be allocated to buy a decent CF. If we don't go up this year, it will be a long time before we are in a position to do so again given the nature of the game so we all have to hope there is a plan beyond the start of the season's squad.

I feel given the severity of the incident, the FA should at the very minimum recommend a custodial sentence, and possibly lobby for the return of the death penalty. That is the only justice Middlesborough, Henry Winter and so on should be prepared to accept. Off with Tonda's head.

Financially the problem for women's football (and an understand than silly Semmens completely misses) is that girls in the large are just not going to obsessively follow in the same way men and boys do, with all the commercial value that comes with that. There will be some girls who do, of course, and come international time, there will be decent crowds and interest, but it will be a minority following in the same way sports like rugby are where the main commercial interest is in the international team and the club game is far smaller, but women's club football will have even smaller crowds than rugby. It just needs to cut its cloth accordingly and be appropriately sized for the money it generates.

We can hope

I believe he can win 😂

Something like this...not going to happen but one can wish and hope 😇 Dear supporters, We understand your frustration with the actions of the football club that have damaged this 141 year old organisation's reputation in the game, but most importantly, with you, the fans and the city we call home. We are sorry to you above everything for tarnishing the name of the team you love, and support enthusiastically in times of difficulty and the wonderful moments we share. We have let you down. As a result, we are undertaking a root and branch review of all activity within the football club, and devising a plan that sees us become a benchmark for fair play, but also, one that is ambitious as a football club to produce teams that are able to compete consistently at the highest level. The best way for us to apologise to you is to be the best version of a football club possible; one driven by the needs of being as competitive as possible within the spirit of the game and where revenue is reinvested in the core football activity. This means we will sign and develop the best squads possible across all ages and levels, and give you something to believe in, and trust. By doing this, we believe that we can then also become commercially successful as the foundation of this is a first team that competes and wins more than it loses, and develops players who fans have a strong connection with. We acknowledge that we have not always been clear with you, we have hidden behind PR walls and have acted like we are above you. This has been a poor approach as without connected fans, we would cease to exist. Therefore, starting today, we are going to communicate our plans, be open with you by being more connected and answerable to you as fans. We will also remove any staff who do not share this vision of a new model for a football club. We cannot have people within this club who believe they can act as if they are more important than our purpose of becoming an example to others following our failings. We accept that we have not been good enough, and that the reality of the previous weeks presents us with an opportunity for radical change. Our actions will speak louder than words. Thank you and we want to regain your trust, All at Southampton FC.

Prize for ecellent reading of the room goes to this post

Why 10-14 days? Other refunds from anyone else can be processed quicker. Club just delaying processing the money. Come on Michael Fenn, do the right thing and process faster.

We are definitely up there. In order to move on, ther ereally does need to be a significant clear out of staff across the board. Unless this happens, and a big noise about it, there will be a stink about the place for years to come. It's already bad enough but if they were a political party, they'd be clearing out their desks now after a existential election defeat. A whole new way of running this club needs to be implemented, with new teams across all departments, and sharpish.

I am not sure the club realise the damage they have done. Kids have been getting bullied at school this morning for supporting Saints, the reputation of the club is at an all time low, fans have been let down and have to take the punishment more than anyone. And yet, absolutely nothing from this football club as an apology to the fans. Forget the legal process, where is the statement of apology to the fans and to the game that begins to repair the damage this whole episode has done to a 141 year old football club that they are lucky to be well-paid to work for? The reputation of the football club is in dire straits and the sheer stupidity of people who work at football clubs is clear, because they believe they can do what they want and get away with it. Not just from a cheating perspective but with them behaving like they can do anything they want because they know fans will be crazy enough to keep turning up because we aren't standard customers. The longer they stay silent to the fans, the more they show that they hold us in low regard and just people to milk for their money. Damaged.

The reaction of the club, and of Tonda's pre-match interview would suggest there is probably some truth in it. I am not one of these saps who think that everything we do is above board, always well intentioned and that we'd never do anything bad, and that every other team is bad, dirty etc. It would appear that the club has been stupid, it's okay to say this. Football is full of twats, why should we be any different. .

Spying on other teams is just rank stupidity from the club. Absolutely daft. Who thought it would be a good idea? There is no way the benefit of spying on opposition outweighs getting caught. We have motivated Boro, given up the idea that we win fairly and lost any neutral support. The EFL will absolutely want to make an example of us and for what? Knowing who might mark Scienza on a corner. FFS. Really fucking stupid from those at the football club.