Boro vs Saints - Saturday 12.30pm - 1st leg

[Willo of Whiteley]

6 minutes ago, goodymatt said:

We should all just be getting excited for the big game this weekend, not debating any consequences for cheating. I hope this isn’t true but Athletic saying there is CCTV evidence. Just disappointing and dominates the build up to the biggest game of the season.

The Athletic has had a hard on against Saints for a few years now.

[Harry_SFC]

Imagine we will get a big fine but that's about it (if true of course)

[AlexLaw76]

Just now, Saint_clark said:

Yeah, massive overreaction all round, including on here. 

given how precious some of our fans are, we would be demanding a hanging if this was reversed.

Some of our fans get wound up offended when others sign a version of OWTSGMI

[Saint_clark]

1 minute ago, AlexLaw76 said:

given how precious some of our fans are, we would be demanding a hanging if this was reversed.

Some of our fans get wound up offended when others sign a version of OWTSGMI

Some might but personally I wouldn't give a shit. You aren't going to see anything in a training session you wouldn't pick up from the 46 matches that led up to this anyway. 

[AlexLaw76]

1 minute ago, Saint_clark said:

Some might but personally I wouldn't give a shit. You aren't going to see anything in a training session you wouldn't pick up from the 46 matches that led up to this anyway. 

yes you are, hence why clubs do this the world over

[Dr Who?]

We could just look a bit silly, and it does fuel their fans and players, but will add to the occasion. No matter what happens we still have the better team and will win over 2 games, watching their training or picking some shrubbery aside. 

[sfc4prem]

What is the adage about a lie travelling faster than truth? Applies here I reckon.

Boro fans look like a bunch of fucking Karen cockwombles. They need to get right in the bin.

[Disco Stu]

Saints playing a bit of theft and shrubbery!

Edited 4 hours ago by Disco Stu

[Saint NL]

30 minutes ago, SaintLondon said:

It is true. Who knew, I don't know but it was a Southampton analyst. 

Maybe it was a very overconfident Hull spy 👀

[LGTL]

2 minutes ago, sfc4prem said:

What is the adage about a lie travelling faster than truth? Applies here I reckon.

Boro fans look like a bunch of fucking Karen cockwombles. They need to get right in the bin.

That’s the biggest take from it. I couldn’t give a shit if Saints have done it or not, bit bloody stupid but whatever.

The reaction from Boro fans though is bordering on hysterical. Embarrassing. 

[Saint NL]

I can't be the only one that actually likes this? we've had a team of son-in-laws for years and finally someone is using some dark arts. There's definitely been an increase on the pitch, now Tonda is up to some tricks off the field 👍

[Football Special]

Anyone else planning on taking binoculars to the game now? 

[Dr Who?]

1 minute ago, Football Special said:

Anyone else planning on taking binoculars to the game now? 

Was just going to say this or a magnified glass and a hat and pipe 🕵️ 

[Appy]

1 minute ago, Football Special said:

Anyone else planning on taking binoculars to the game now? 

Dunno, feels a bit “Man City fan with Arsenal bottle”. 

[die Mannyschaft]

4 minutes ago, Dr Who? said:

Was just going to say this or a magnified glass and a hat and pipe 🕵️ 

Its ridiculous,  Saints have a problem spotting thier own players in the box only to pass back to keeper.  Its Saints players who need the binoculars.

[Winnersaint]

1 hour ago, Toussaint said:

I heard an allegation it was Saints Loyal, not spying, just doing something perverted. 

Turkish was it you? You’re up that way.

 

[Patrick Bateman]

51 minutes ago, Stripey McStripe Shirt said:

# In your hedge,

In your he-e-e-edge,

Finn Azaz, Finn Azaz, Finn Azaz, az, az #

 

I want to hear this now on Saturday, brilliant!

[obelisk]

Good grief! Opponent checks out opponent shock!! Whatever next eh? Get a grip please.

[Dark Munster]

22 minutes ago, Football Special said:

Anyone else planning on taking binoculars to the game now? 

And some shrubbery!

[hypochondriac]

23 minutes ago, Saint NL said:

I can't be the only one that actually likes this? we've had a team of son-in-laws for years and finally someone is using some dark arts. There's definitely been an increase on the pitch, now Tonda is up to some tricks off the field 👍

Well it's probably going to cost us hundreds of thousands of pounds at a minimum and likely to give our opponents a boost. Doesn't help us at all and makes it look like we can't win without cheating.

[Willo of Whiteley]

I couldn’t give a toss about this story.

Ans I’m pretty confident the players don’t either.

[RedArmy]

38 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

Bloody stupid thibg to do if true. Will have only succeeded in motivating their players. 

They couldn’t motivate themselves to stay in the top 2 but yes I’m sure a little bit of spying will suddenly motivate them to become world beaters. 

[sfc4prem]

2 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

Well it's probably going to cost us hundreds of thousands of pounds at a minimum and likely to give our opponents a boost. Doesn't help us at all and makes it look like we can't win without cheating.

You're very prone to worrying about stuff that is inconsequential. Apt username.

[obelisk]

4 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

Well it's probably going to cost us hundreds of thousands of pounds at a minimum and likely to give our opponents a boost. Doesn't help us at all and makes it look like we can't win without cheating.

Get a grip.

[The Wyvern]

1 hour ago, AlexLaw76 said:

https://fmttmboro.com/index.php?threads/southampton-spying-on-our-training.80808/

Ha, their supporters coming across like proper angry little men in that thread. Desperate for us to be kicked out and punished. 

[hypochondriac]

14 minutes ago, sfc4prem said:

You're very prone to worrying about stuff that is inconsequential. Apt username.

I'm not worrying just pointing out a fact. Like I said it's a stupid thing to do. Marginal gains are a real thing and if we did actually send someone down to their training ground to covertly spy on them then I think that's a stupid thing to do. Not the greatest crime in history but not something that I think is really good either.

Edited 4 hours ago by hypochondriac

[hypochondriac]

7 minutes ago, obelisk said:

Get a grip.

Shock horror my opinion differs from yours. I'd rather keep a semblance of fair play thanks. I thought the same thing when Leeds did it. 

[hypochondriac]

10 minutes ago, RedArmy said:

They couldn’t motivate themselves to stay in the top 2 but yes I’m sure a little bit of spying will suddenly motivate them to become world beaters. 

They don't have to be world beaters, they just have to beat a fellow championship team over two legs which they are obviously capable of doing. 

[RedArmy]

“This 19 game unbeaten run starting to look very suspicious” 

 

  
 

I guess by the same token every team they’ve played for the last couple of months must have been spying on them because they’ve only managed to beat a couple of shit ones.

 

 

[The Wyvern]

What is the actual offence here? Trespass onto their land?  If the training is viewable from public land, what is the issue?

[CSA96]

My first reaction when the story broke was to laugh because 'Saints staff caught hiding in bush' is so silly. Yes, I do think it's poor form and the club shouldn't have done it, but I'm not going to clutch pearls over it. It will fire their crowd up a bit more, I don't think it makes a big difference to the mindset of either group of players to be honest

That aside, I hope that we beat Middlesbrough over the two legs fair and square on the pitch, as our fans give Boro's away following the binoculars celebration as their season comes to an end at St Mary's while our support can sing about a second trip to Wembley this season 

A lot of the fallout / reaction online is pretty amusing and it's added some pantomime and spice to the fixture, which I really don't mind

Edited 4 hours ago by CSA96

[EssEffCee]

10 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

I'm not worrying just pointing out a fact. Like I said it's a stupid thing to do. Marginal gains are a real thing and if we did actually send someone down to their training ground to covertly spy on them then I think that's a stupid thing to do. Not the greatest crime in history but not something that I think is really good either.

I agree, it's daft and a bit shitty in my view. Plenty on here would just as raging as some of the Boro fans if it was the other way round.

We've got no choice but to own it now as fans during these two games but it's not a good look.

Definitely adds something to the games though which is good.

Edited 4 hours ago by EssEffCee

[RedArmy]

3 step guide to rattle some geordie wannabes. 
 

Step 1 - sign their “worst” player 

Step 2 - charge them more for tickets 

Step 3 - Spy on their training. 
 

 

 

[SambaMaverick]

How incredibly naff if it's something the club have actually endorsed

[Disco Stu]

20 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

Well it's probably going to cost us hundreds of thousands of pounds at a minimum and likely to give our opponents a boost. Doesn't help us at all and makes it look like we can't win without cheating.

 

10 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

I'm not worrying just pointing out a fact. Like I said it's a stupid thing to do. Marginal gains are a real thing and if we did actually send someone down to their training ground to covertly spy on them then I think that's a stupid thing to do. Not the greatest crime in history but not something that I think is really good either.

As you say, marginal gains are a real thing. A fine will feel pretty insignificant and probably worth it if we get promoted. I don't like it, but I also don't think it's any worse than the cheating we see every week such as diving or time wasting that achieve marginal gains illegitimately.

[SNSUN]

Maybe it was Will Still trying to get tips on how to be a Football Manager. We're still paying him right? 😝

[hypochondriac]

4 minutes ago, Disco Stu said:

 

As you say, marginal gains are a real thing. A fine will feel pretty insignificant and probably worth it if we get promoted. I don't like it, but I also don't think it's any worse than the cheating we see every week such as diving or time wasting that achieve marginal gains illegitimately.

I just think it's unnecessary. We have the talent and skill to beat Boro fairly on the pitch. We are the favourites for a reason and I don't think we should be giving them motivation of this sort even if the chances of it affecting the outcome are small. Plus I just don't really like shitty things like that in football. It goes against the English sense of fair play which is probably why I always hated shit like the Hand of God. Leave the low level cheating to the South Americans.

[Disco Stu]

1 minute ago, hypochondriac said:

I just think it's unnecessary. We have the talent and skill to beat Boro fairly on the pitch. We are the favourites for a reason and I don't think we should be giving them motivation of this sort even if the chances of it affecting the outcome are small. Plus I just don't really like shitty things like that in football. It goes against the English sense of fair play which is probably why I always hated shit like the Hand of God. Leave the low level cheating to the South Americans.

I agree.

[Saint86]

I am surprised we felt the need to spy on their training session, and its pretty bloody incompetent if we have and got caught.

Worth noting that leeds got fined £200k only because Bielsa admitted he'd been doing it for the entire season. We'd get a slap on the wrist in comparison. Probably worth it just to see how wound up the boro fans have got 😄 

[Ted Bates Statue]

I always thought it's a bit like how countries occasionally throw their toys out of the pram over espionage, we all know everyone's at it but every now and then someone just has to take a stand to make a passive aggressive point to do with something unrelated.

I assume we'll stubbornly admit nothing in typical Tonda interview fashion and if it's @Pilchards up to his previous antics I don't think Boro will have much of a case.

If we were to make it to the final and face Millwall then good luck to them with preventing any outside observers, I drove past their current 'training facility' a few weeks ago and it's just a park in Bromley.

Edited 4 hours ago by Ted Bates Statue

[hypochondriac]

Plus if you're going to do it at least use someone not publically connected to the club for some plausible deniability for goodness sake.

Edited 4 hours ago by hypochondriac

[Graffito]

Not being funny but are their set pieces worth spying on?

[Saint86]

2 hours ago, Appy said:

That forum of theirs is full of crackpots. 
 

Someone wants us to be booted out of the playoffs and given a 12-point deduction next season. Bit OTT. 

In fairness, its a hard life being a boro fan 😄

[CanadaSaint]

Not happy about it, especially as we’re good enough to go through without crap like that.

But, in accordance with the league’s rules, we should allocate them 10% of a hedge at Staplewood for the second leg.

[Pilchards]

Just back from a long road trip.

What have I missed? 🤩 👀

Seriously I quit watching Saints training when Kelvin Davis caught me and chased me off site.

You can’t watch them anymore as they moved it to other areas which is surrounded by very high hedges.  I was told from someone I know in camp to help keep spies out plus to stop some of Damion Downs shots when he was with us.

[trousers]

2 hours ago, Disco Stu said:

Saints playing a bit of theft and shrubbery!

 

[Willo of Whiteley]

1 hour ago, Graffito said:

Not being funny but are their set pieces worth spying on?

It’ll be funny when we go 1-0 up at our first corner 😂

[DellBlockH]

3 hours ago, hypochondriac said:

Bloody stupid thibg to do if true. Will have only succeeded in motivating their players. 

Do you think that players (on either side) could be any more motivated than they already should be?

I'm also not sure that watching a training session could tell you much more than watching videos of their previous 46 matches.

[Saint Pete]

This just feels an unnecessary distraction from our point of view, I would expect us to be confident enough in our own abilities to beat the opposition over 2 games without needing to do this. Surely studying what Boro have done in previous games should be enough? 

[SNSUN]

The EFL have already made their verdict. Southampton FC to be awarded £2 million for having to watch a Middlesbrough training session. Award is to go towards the Analyst's rehabilitation.