Boro 0-0 Saints - Match Thread

[SaintsLoyal]

Poeple complaining about the media, theyre simply doing their job and its one of the consequences of a Saints staff member being caught watching Boro train. allegedly !

 

Edited 3 hours ago by SaintsLoyal

[Toadhall Saint]

34 minutes ago, CSA96 said:

Eckert walked out of the press conference apparently. Kept getting loads of questions on the spying investigation even after he'd addressed some previous questions. Club press officer told the media there's not much more to be said, Tonda has already addressed it, there's a club statement out and to move on and talk about today's game and Tuesday's game or they'd be leaving. Someone tried again and Tonda and the press officer left

Good.

[pimpin4rizeal]

I feel we gave them way too much respect in the first half.. we didn’t try to play football at all and it was just all long ball up the field and give possession back . As soon as the second half started we tried to get on the ball and get .our own game going it was much improved , and we had a couple of decent chances to win it ..

side note I don’t think you can really point fingers at the likes of azaz or larin . just hoofing it up to larin was pretty much our only attempt to play football in the first half and most of the time he’s got a defender pulling his shirt or making  niggling fouls on him 

[beatlesaint]

2 minutes ago, SaintsLoyal said:

Poeple complaining about the media, theyre simply doing their job and its one of the consequences of a Saints staff member being caught watching Boro train.

 

It is and I agree but right at the start of kick off the commentator said “right let’s concentrate on the football” Literally 5 seconds later he mentioned spygate again 🤣

[skintsaint]

The more i read the boro pages its apparent this was their big day...threw everything at it, home advantage etc...and still couldnt win. Think we will win by a couple on Tues. First half was a big wake up call for us.

[Sheaf Saint]

18 minutes ago, Patrick Bateman said:

Think the keeper had that corner covered anyway so had it been on target I think it would've been saved, THB's header was the best chance.

Had it been on target it would have hit the defender's foot before getting anywhere near the keeper.

[Stud mark of doom]

Reminded me of Ali’s famous “Ropa Dope” tactic. Suck ‘em in. Tire them out. Then hit them with a sucker punch when they are out on their feet. So close to a perfect finish! 

[Whitey Grandad]

26 minutes ago, SaintsLoyal said:

Poeple complaining about the media, theyre simply doing their job and its one of the consequences of a Saints staff member being caught watching Boro train.

 

Not you too!

He has not been identified. 

[Turkish]

1 hour ago, adrian lord said:

Went to plan. 

Exactly. Job done, rode our luck at times but clearly obvious how the game would play out. The only disappointment was not to nick it at the end. Managing the game not the occasion. Key to it all was not conceding early. The dinlows going on about just go for it 😂😂

perfectly set up for the second leg they need to score so can’t sit back, get an early goal and we’re laughing 

[badgerx16]

16 minutes ago, Whitey Grandad said:

Not you too!

He has not been identified. 

And the one name currently in circulation works for Aston Villa.

[James G]

I think how today happened was the plan. Just let them play first half, then try and snatch it at the end. A 0-0 is fine.

The club can say nothing was gained from spygate, and we have a clean start for Wednesday. Boro had their chances in the first half, so they will only have themselves to blame now if they don't go through 

[CanadaSaint]

37 minutes ago, pimpin4rizeal said:

I feel we gave them way too much respect in the first half.. we didn’t try to play football at all and it was just all long ball up the field and give possession back . As soon as the second half started we tried to get on the ball and get .our own game going it was much improved , and we had a couple of decent chances to win it ..

side note I don’t think you can really point fingers at the likes of azaz or larin . just hoofing it up to larin was pretty much our only attempt to play football in the first half and most of the time he’s got a defender pulling his shirt or making  niggling fouls on him 

I’m not sure it was giving them too much respect as much as not expecting such a relentless, multi-man high press (so much for the spying 😂). Boro worked their nuts off trying to get a half time lead, and that wasn’t sustainable. Countering their press meant that Larin was isolated, with nobody there for his 5-10 yard layoffs, so it kept coming right back at us. Second half, totally different story.

Fellows has plenty of skill but he seems too lightweight for games like this; there’s more to him than we’ve seen, but I prefer Matsuki.

[Wade Garrett]

1 hour ago, stknowle said:

Plus 1. He also played bloody well.

Was their best player, with Morris, and probably man of the match.

[ChristopheVAFC]

Lads, I didn’t watch the match, but judging by the score, I’d say it’s a positive result for us.

We needed to be solid and not let Boro’s onslaught get the better of us – they were absolutely determined to win today.

Given the circumstances, it’s a good draw.

We’ll need to be more determined and get the job done next week.

With You, Reds !

[Sardonic Squirrels]

I'd be content with the draw.   Not sure if away goals are applicable in these things anymore and taking a goal less draw back to Hampshire is risky if that still applies but would imagine the semi final battle went a long way to being won today by avoiding being beaten up there.

Middlesbrough are actually a good team at least when they choose to be.   Came to Portman Road a week or two back and really came at us, gave it a go and then some.   We were fortunate to get a point from it, assisted by a dubious penalty award but fact is that point went a long way as to why we've already made it up and Boro are in these play-off games.    I wouldn't assume this tie is a done deal by virtue of playing off a  0 - 0 draw in the home return game as once more they can cause problems on the day and actually fight to achieve something.

The unfortunate nonsense of the spying training ground issue left a shadow over this contest but it'll soon blow over and seems you weren't affected by it too much today.    It'll retract further into the distance once the second leg comes around and from a neural viewpoint this tie is still very much exciting and has something to offer.    Applaud any Saints fans making the arduous trip to the north east today.    Came away with an encouraging score from it too.  

[Turkish]

1 minute ago, ChristopheVAFC said:

Lads, I didn’t watch the match, but judging by the score, I’d say it’s a positive result for us.

We needed to be solid and not let Boro’s onslaught get the better of us – they were absolutely determined to win today.

Given the circumstances, it’s a good draw.

We’ll need to be more determined and get the job done next week.

With You, Reds !

You aren’t French are you

[bpsaint]

Just stopped at the services. Is it always that cold, grey and wet in Boro? That first half was one of the worst I’ve had the misfortune of watching, I’m glad they turned it around second half but you can see the spy bollocks had clearly unsettled the players.

Coming away with a draw after that definitely feels like a robbery, would have loved it if we’d nicked it just to see the Boro fans cry next to me.

Bring the WBA 2024 vibes to St Mary’s on Tuesday and I’ll think we’ll be ok.

Shout out to LND, changed the game when he came on, Larin was dogs.

Edited 4 hours ago by bpsaint

[Nordic Saint]

1 hour ago, SaintsLoyal said:

Poeple complaining about the media, theyre simply doing their job and its one of the consequences of a Saints staff member being caught watching Boro train.

 

Isn't the latest that he's currently employed by Aston Villa?

[Osvaldorama]

Can’t believe they’re still wanging on about it.
 

This spygate thing is clearly the most exciting thing that’s ever happened in Middlesbrough 

[disconnect]

13 minutes ago, Nordic Saint said:

Isn't the latest that he's currently employed by Aston Villa?

and that Villa have a long held interest in buying Middlesborough's star player, Hayden Hackney...

[TwinkleToes]

14 minutes ago, Nordic Saint said:

Isn't the latest that he's currently employed by Aston Villa?

I’m not sure that he is. There is no date on the article on the University of Derby website but from the references he makes to players breaking through into the first team (Dibling etc), I think it might have been written in 2024/25. So at that point he was in his third year at University and working for Aston Villa, having worked for Saints academy in the previous year.

His LinkedIn profile stated that he was working with the Saints 1st team from July 2025. So it is possible that he has graduated and come back to Southampton.

[karlb79]

3 hours ago, Saint NL said:

Luke Ayling is not an intelligent man

I could've told you that just looking at his haircut.

[karlb79]

3 hours ago, Saint NL said:

Luke Ayling is not an intelligent man

I could've told you that just looking at his haircut.

[Stud mark of doom]

33 minutes ago, Sardonic Squirrels said:

I'd be content with the draw.   Not sure if away goals are applicable in these things anymore and taking a goal less draw back to Hampshire is risky if that still applies but would imagine the semi final battle went a long way to being won today by avoiding being beaten up 

No away goals - they were removed in the season we lost on penalties to Derby, when we would have won on away goals if it had been the previous season. 
 

iirc George Burley was particularly unlucky. The side he was managing the previous season lost on away goals in the play off - then he lost with us coz the rule had been changed! 

[VectisSaint]

1 hour ago, SaintsLoyal said:

Poeple complaining about the media, theyre simply doing their job and its one of the consequences of a Saints staff member being caught watching Boro train.

 

They are not 'doing their job'. What they are doing is what people these days think a sports journo should do. Gutter press mentality, no brains. A proper journo would have focused on things he knew could make a proper story. 

Also, you don't know a Saints staff member has been caught, you're just regurgitating the stuff the same gutter press wallies are feeding you. 

[hypochondriac]

30 minutes ago, VectisSaint said:

They are not 'doing their job'. What they are doing is what people these days think a sports journo should do. Gutter press mentality, no brains. A proper journo would have focused on things he knew could make a proper story. 

Also, you don't know a Saints staff member has been caught, you're just regurgitating the stuff the same gutter press wallies are feeding you. 

Bollocks. No one would be complaining if it had been Boro caught spying. We need to suck it up, take out medicine and beat them anyway.

[goodymatt]

 

[Gloucester Saint]

44 minutes ago, Osvaldorama said:

Can’t believe they’re still wanging on about it.
 

This spygate thing is clearly the most exciting thing that’s ever happened in Middlesbrough 

If you’ve ever been there, you’ll know how close to mark that is.

They’ll remain bitter until the next tranche of levelling up money. And then still moan.

[Saint_clark]

1 minute ago, goodymatt said:

 

I love British football banter. That's a fucking awful example of it. 

[Gloucester Saint]

1 minute ago, Saint_clark said:

I love British football banter. That's a fucking awful example of it. 

To be expected https://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/middlesbrough-children-lagging-behind-gcse-25472725

[Dr Who?]

Just back from the game. We got that sooooo wrong in the first half, nothing stuck, a long ball up to Larin, who was fouled a few times but the ref was giving nothing for that kind of foul all game to either side as it turned out we found out in the 2nd half. What was this reverting to fannying around at the back again? Once we stopped that we got a foothold in the game and we’re in control in the 2nd half and should have won. I cannot work out what we were trying to do in the first half and why we stuck with it for so long? Perhaps it was to say look, we were not spying! 
 

But 0-0 and the home game to go…. We would have taken that!

[lambtiss]

4 hours ago, James said:

That Morris guy for them seems like a bit of a p*ick.

Thought he was brilliant for them 

[Saint_clark]

Gameplan worked perfectly in the first half. That's all I can be bothered to say as so many people seem to think we should have been bursting forward in numbers leaving space for the fired up, highly motivated Boro places to run into behind us.

[Saint Gifford]

Exactly what some are saying, first half was the game plan. Second half went to plan apart from coming away with a goal or two. 
 

Boro 1st half were playing chaotic football that produced some incredible chances, but play like that in the Prem you will get destroyed. 
 

We played like we were Prem pedigree. If we go back up, I can’t see us repeating the last time. We on that grown up performance should comfortably stay in the Prem. 

[AlexLaw76]

1 minute ago, Saint_clark said:

Gameplan worked perfectly in the first half. That's all I can be bothered to say as so many people seem to think we should have been bursting forward in numbers leaving space for the fired up, highly motivated Boro places to run into behind us.

The game plan was to get battered and allow 16 shots

yeah, doubt it

[Dr Who?]

1 minute ago, lambtiss said:

Thought he was brilliant for them 

He was outstanding! 

[Whitey Grandad]

45 minutes ago, VectisSaint said:

They are not 'doing their job'. What they are doing is what people these days think a sports journo should do. Gutter press mentality, no brains. A proper journo would have focused on things he knew could make a proper story. 

Also, you don't know a Saints staff member has been caught, you're just regurgitating the stuff the same gutter press wallies are feeding you. 

Long experience has taught me that no report in the press is anywhere close to the truth. 

On a local topic I was once called by the local paper for my comments and my words were,

"Well, it doesn't help"

The banner headline that week quoted me as saying,

"NAIL IN THE COFFIN!"

At the research labs where I used to work we had copies of all the major newspapers and there was once an incident about which I had detailed knowledge. They all covered the incident but from different angles. None of them got it right.

[Lord Duckhunter]

What a load of old pony. “First half went to plan” 😂. If that’s the case it was a fucking stupid plan. “ Let’s keep giving the ball away, allowing crosses, let our centre forward be beaten in every physical battle and rely on their poor finishing to go in 0-0”. 
 

We got away with one there, and despite have 2 excellent efforts, could well have gone in 2 or 3 down. Completely different game then, and they’d have sat in and made it very very difficult. Probably edged the second half, but god the first half we were lucky they couldn’t finish. Larin was appalling, as was Fellows. Azaz anonymous up there again, and Leo was a long way from his best. Keeper did well again as did THB. 
 

Completely different game Tuesday and we must be slight favourites. However, if we play like we did first half, I don’t think we’ll get away with it again. 

[RedArmy]

39 minutes ago, Saint_clark said:

Gameplan worked perfectly in the first half. 

Fuck off  If they could hit a barn door we’d have a mountain to climb on Tuesday. 
 

 

[Saint_clark]

8 minutes ago, RedArmy said:

Fuck off  If they could hit a barn door we’d have a mountain to climb on Tuesday. 
 

 

But they couldn't, and we knew that, so we don't. 

[AlexLaw76]

1 minute ago, Saint_clark said:

But they couldn't, and we knew that, so we don't. 

Really? Scores 7 in their last 2 games before today.

we got away with it big time. It is ok to admit that 

[Mboto Gorge]

If the game plan was to be on the wrong side of the most one sided half of football I’ve ever seen without conceding, then yeah, absolutely nailed it. 

[Saint NL]

15 minutes ago, RedArmy said:

Fuck off  If they could hit a barn door we’d have a mountain to climb on Tuesday. 
 

 

Maybe the spy saw their shooting drills and this was the outcome 🤷

[LGTL]

Boro fans have convinced themselves that today’s result will be null and void and they’ll be heading into Tuesday with a 3-0 lead.

[Saint In Cornwall]

3 minutes ago, LGTL said:

Boro fans have convinced themselves that today’s result will be null and void and they’ll be heading into Tuesday with a 3-0 lead.

And if that doesn’t happen some fat northern bastard will start legal proceedings.

They really are deluded as well as uneducated and very smelly.

[Addict54]

Just back. It really is a long way back from Middlesbrough. 
As bad as we were first half (and why on earth did we spend the entire week working on a completely new game plan of getting Taylor to hoof it long to Larin???) some of the last-ditch defending was exceptional. As woeful as we were technically and tactically these players care and the passion and effort was there. That’s a good sign for the future whatever happens over the next few days 

[Gloucester Saint]

7 minutes ago, Addict54 said:

Just back. It really is a long way back from Middlesbrough. 
As bad as we were first half (and why on earth did we spend the entire week working on a completely new game plan of getting Taylor to hoof it long to Larin???) some of the last-ditch defending was exceptional. As woeful as we were technically and tactically these players care and the passion and effort was there. That’s a good sign for the future whatever happens over the next few days 

Was Middlesbrough as grotty as I remember it being during the 2010s?  

Edited 1 hour ago by Gloucester Saint

[CB Fry]

1 minute ago, Gloucester Saint said:

Was Middlesbrough as grotty as I remember being during the 2010s?  

I had a good wander about and basically it is as much of a shitehole as other English cities like, say, Southampton.

There are spots where they've put some infrastructure/investment in but a town with an empty Debenhams and an empty House of Fraser is always going to be run down. Amazon (and others) have fucking killed the British high street.

[Addict54]

It smells really weird 

[SotonianWill]

35 minutes ago, Saint In Cornwall said:

And if that doesn’t happen some fat northern bastard will start legal proceedings.

They really are deluded as well as uneducated and very smelly.

It was very telling that their manager before the game was fairly courteous, declaring it made little difference etc.

 

After the game however, having failed to win their home leg, we’re cheats blah blah blah. Biggest bunch of babies. Northerners.