Boro vs Saints - Saturday 12.30pm - 1st leg

[skintsaint]

Just now, die Mannyschaft said:

This eill lose us the game tomorrow.  Can you imagine the Boro atmosphere and their players doubling thier efforts. We struggle with corners let alone an attacking side. We struggle to concentrate during games as it is. 

The idiot who sanctioned this has lost us the play off final chance. 

[trousers]

1 minute ago, Britannia said:

Imagine the meltdown on here if Rasmus was involved.

It might well be a blessing in disguise if it was his 'bright idea'...  It could mean that he bypassed Tonda and the first team set up altogether, and if any information was gleaned from such a covert operation there are always ways of slipping "rumours" of opposition team selections into conversation with the first team manager without them suspecting anything suspicious.... All of which would make Rasmus's position untenable rather than Tonda's.

Again, other conspiracy theories are available!

[saintstowin]

This is very frustrating. So stupid. And it does taint us even though everyone, including rivals, knows it has little impact on gaining an unfair advantage. Which is part of the stupidity. Not that I wanted us to cheat, but to go through all this for a rubbish few minutes of a training session.

I do worry about punishment affecting the play offs but the only one I can see is being kicked out after getting to Wembley and Middlesbrough being reinstated. But that is fraught with complications including appeals and delaying the final. It is unlikely. 

The more likely is a fine, points deduction and a length of time being thought of us stupid. Which we are. Very.

 

[skintsaint]

Loads of old bollox all over the socials right now 😅

[James G]

These junior interns are usually university students who do their courses alongside doing some work for the club. These student then hope to go on and work for the club.

It might be someone at a university in the north east who has tried to get some intel to look good to his peers. It's probably something daft like that.

 

[bpsaint]

My concern with this, as much as Tonda will protect the squad etc, is if the players start questioning punishments, and whether their efforts tomorrow are potentially for nothing if the EFL did try and do something like make our result null and void.

Likely to be a points deduction and hefty fine I know, but if those thoughts do creep in we’re fucked on the pitch IMO.

[BallBoy]

I don't know what bothers me the most. The fact that we did it or the fact that we made such a mess of it. Amateur.

[trousers]

2 minutes ago, James G said:

These junior interns are usually university students who do their courses alongside doing some work for the club. These student then hope to go on and work for the club.

It might be someone at a university in the north east who has tried to get some intel to look good to his peers. It's probably something daft like that.

 

 

[Willo of Whiteley]

2 minutes ago, bpsaint said:

My concern with this, as much as Tonda will protect the squad etc, is if the players start questioning punishments, and whether their efforts tomorrow are potentially for nothing if the EFL did try and do something like make our result null and void.

Likely to be a points deduction and hefty fine I know, but if those thoughts do creep in we’re fucked on the pitch IMO.

You implying the players won’t bother trying on the off-chance the club are kicked out the play-offs?

Have a day off 😂

[hypochondriac]

24 minutes ago, Tom57 said:

I think the EFL are working out how not to piss off the highest number of people. People they can piss off:

Sky/other broadcasters if they give Middlesbrough a bye and don't let them televise these semi finals

Middlesbrough (obviously) if we win the semi final then get kicked out then they'll ask why they had play the two games in the first place if they were just going to get awarded a win anyway. Imagine if Hackney gets injured in the 70th minute of the second leg and he can't play in the final. Obviously if we go through then they'll say we only got there as we cheated and any fine pails in comparison to the premier League money 

Millwall/Hull will be annoyed if Middlesbrough just get a bye and they've had to play two tough competitive fixtures 

Wrexham will be annoyed if we get kicked out the playoffs and they never get their chance to replace us

They can't kick us out. There isn't enough time for due process and for any appeal. They could retrospectively kick us out but these two games are happening regardless.

[hypochondriac]

7 minutes ago, James G said:

These junior interns are usually university students who do their courses alongside doing some work for the club. These student then hope to go on and work for the club.

It might be someone at a university in the north east who has tried to get some intel to look good to his peers. It's probably something daft like that.

 

It's this bloke. We know it's him because his profile has now been deleted.

[Monk]

I’ve not gone back and read anything on here and nor will I. However, here is my two pence worth for anyone interested. 

Does this look great on the club? Obviously not, it’s not exactly spirit of the game. 

Yet, the outcry from Boro fans and calls for expulsion is simply odd and completely tin pot. If you have a training ground that effectively allows people to view training, restriction free then that’s your problem. Especially at this level. 
 

I do fear we’ve made a rod for our own back but I won’t lie… there’s a bit of me that hopes we have a complete shit house attitude towards it on Tuesday and play up to the pantomime villain.
 

Fans with binoculars, matching goal celebrations, full rendition of ‘he’s in your hedge’. Fuck it let’s embrace it. 

 

 

Edited 7 hours ago by Monk

[maxi_sopez]

I can’t believe the stupidity of it. The total distraction it is causing. Is it really worth the risk? Ffs.

also lets be honest… very unlucky to be caught the first time ever doing something like this…

[trousers]

6 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

It's this bloke. We know it's him because his profile has now been deleted.

Hmm... Bit of a twist maybe... Says here that he's already finished his industrial placement at Saints and is now working for Aston Villa.... Probably nothing to do with him afterall....? 

https://www.derby.ac.uk/undergraduate/sport-exercise-science-courses/wills-placement-year-is-key-to-success/

 

[SouthWalesSaints]

I’ve had it on good authority this isn’t the first time it’s happened. Tonda knows, lads in his manager of the month photos. 
 

Club has a choice. Throw the lad under the bus, or take the fine/points suspension. 

[Dragon_man]

52 minutes ago, trousers said:

Interesting that we don't deny the allegations. 

[die Mannyschaft]

45 minutes ago, LegalEagle said:

We have probably breached the rules. The question then for the EFL is did we or have we gained an unfair advantage in our matches against Boro. That will all come down to the extent of the evidence that Boro have collated. I assume that it’s minimal and therefore any penalty has to be commensurate with that. A fine for sure and at worst a small points deduction for the next time we’re 

This idiot on the hill has probably lost us the play offs

At least play golf at the golf club and wack the ball into Boro training  ground and ask can I havd my ball back and have a good look round. 

[bolo]

5 minutes ago, trousers said:

Hmm... Bit of a twist maybe... Says here that he's already finished his industrial placement at Saints and is now working for Aston Villa.... Probably nothing to do with him afterall....? 

https://www.derby.ac.uk/undergraduate/sport-exercise-science-courses/wills-placement-year-is-key-to-success/

 

Lol that is brilliant doesn't even work for saints now....

[trousers]

6 minutes ago, SouthWalesSaints said:

I’ve had it on good authority this isn’t the first time it’s happened. Tonda knows, lads in his manager of the month photos. 
 

Club has a choice. Throw the lad under the bus, or take the fine/points suspension. 

The analyst chap in the 'manager of the month' group photo is this fella on the OS I believe....?

https://www.southamptonfc.com/en/teams/profile/albert-jones

Edited 7 hours ago by trousers

[bpsaint]

16 minutes ago, Willo of Whiteley said:

You implying the players won’t bother trying on the off-chance the club are kicked out the play-offs?

Have a day off 😂

Not implying that at all. What I was implying was that this squad need to be fully focused on the task at hand, not worrying about the potential punishment that’s coming our way. As I said I’m sure Tonda will be trying to protect them from it, but you can bet this group of young lads will have seen the same shit we have online.

[Turkish]

16 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

It's this bloke. We know it's him because his profile has now been deleted.

Any bloke called Willy Salt is always going to be suspect. Jesus Wept 

[Willo of Whiteley]

1 minute ago, bpsaint said:

Not implying that at all. What I was implying was that this squad need to be fully focused on the task at hand, not worrying about the potential punishment that’s coming our way. As I said I’m sure Tonda will be trying to protect them from it, but you can bet this group of young lads will have seen the same shit we have online.

I’m pretty confident that a group of professional footballers will not give a toss 😊

[Turkish]

2 minutes ago, trousers said:

The chap in the 'manager of the month' group photo is this fella on the OS I believe....?

https://www.southamptonfc.com/en/teams/profile/albert-jones

That’s Albie Oak Tree Garden Centre Employee of the month runner up October 2023

[die Mannyschaft]

6 minutes ago, SouthWalesSaints said:

I’ve had it on good authority this isn’t the first time it’s happened. Tonda knows, lads in his manager of the month photos. 
 

Club has a choice. Throw the lad under the bus, or take the fine/points suspension. 

All this secret intelligence to provide sideways football I would sack the spy ! Or do we have a double agent. 

[Whitey Grandad]

9 minutes ago, Dragon_man said:

Interesting that we don't deny the allegations. 

We call them "alleged breaches"

[Whitey Grandad]

7 minutes ago, bolo said:

Lol that is brilliant doesn't even work for saints now....

Exactly.  And when did he actually leave us?

[Saint Fan CaM]

8 minutes ago, trousers said:

Hmm... Bit of a twist maybe... Says here that he's already finished his industrial placement at Saints and is now working for Aston Villa.... Probably nothing to do with him afterall....? 

https://www.derby.ac.uk/undergraduate/sport-exercise-science-courses/wills-placement-year-is-key-to-success/

 

Or perhaps it was him and Saints are keeping their powder dry in the full knowledge that he was actually not working on behalf of the club when he acted as a ‘spy’? Or perhaps they are able to state that he acted on his own and his actions were not sanctioned? Or perhaps it can be proved that he wilfully placed himself in the right (wrong) place at the right time to gain an advantage for Boro?

In short, I don’t think the EFL charging Saints is anything like the accusation being verified and until that time, I’m not going to worry about it. If it’s true then it’s stupidity of the highest order and whoever sanctioned it at the club should be sacked as a result. I can’t believe it’s Tonda.

[die Mannyschaft]

5 minutes ago, bpsaint said:

Not implying that at all. What I was implying was that this squad need to be fully focused on the task at hand, not worrying about the potential punishment that’s coming our way. As I said I’m sure Tonda will be trying to protect them from it, but you can bet this group of young lads will have seen the same shit we have online.

I think it will affect the team, can you imagine the first corner we need to defend and concentrate 100% with the Boro fans and thier players wound up for the game.

[Zorba]

10 minutes ago, die Mannyschaft said:

This idiot on the hill has probably lost us the play offs

Oh behave!! 

[Harry_SFC]

27 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

They can't kick us out. There isn't enough time for due process and for any appeal. They could retrospectively kick us out but these two games are happening regardless.

I'd imagine that would open up a huge can of worms and it could end up getting very messy for the EFL with legal battles etc. I very much doubt they would go down that route. 

[die Mannyschaft]

If the idiotic spy had bothered to wear tracksuit bottoms and top with face covering and ran to a car to steal it he wouldn't have got caught like you standard chav. Just say wasn't me gov and don't give your real name. 

[Lighthouse]

At least we can make something original out of that Zombie song…

 

He’s in your heeeeeedge

In your heeeeeedge

Will Salt, Will Salt, Will Salt Salt Salt

[die Mannyschaft]

10 minutes ago, Zorba said:

Oh behave!! 

Is that the cctv footage from crime watch? I wonder if there is a reward for any information like 3 points.

[bpsaint]

18 minutes ago, trousers said:

The analyst chap in the 'manager of the month' group photo is this fella on the OS I believe....?

https://www.southamptonfc.com/en/teams/profile/albert-jones

The one thing about this though is that the manager of the month award was only announced yesterday, which is when the spying apparently took place, so he can’t have have been in two places.

Of course the picture could have been taken on Wednesday when the nominees were announced but why not just announce the winner that day in that case.

[Polaroid Saint]

It will be fine.

And possibly, at worst:

It will be a fine.

We (and Boro fans) are in a little bubble here. It adds a little bit of spice to the games this week for sure, but it will not 'run and run'.

To compare this to the actual game, this is equivalent 'cheating' to the level of a 'talking to from the ref', not a 'yellow card' and certainly not a 'straight red'.

Pfft. Stuff and nonsense. 

 

[bpsaint]

Just re-reading the EFL statement and it says that under regulations we would normally have 14 days to respond but they want that shortened. Surely they can’t demand that if there’s set time frames in place? Why the urgency?

[Willo of Whiteley]

11 minutes ago, Polaroid Saint said:

It will be fine.

And possibly, at worst:

It will be a fine.

We (and Boro fans) are in a little bubble here. It adds a little bit of spice to the games this week for sure, but it will not 'run and run'.

To compare this to the actual game, this is equivalent 'cheating' to the level of a 'talking to from the ref', not a 'yellow card' and certainly not a 'straight red'.

Pfft. Stuff and nonsense. 

 

Agreed. It’ll be a fine, maybe a hefty one and maybe we cop some flack for it for a short while.

But I’d be gobsmacked if it was anything more than that.

[Willo of Whiteley]

16 minutes ago, bpsaint said:

The one thing about this though is that the manager of the month award was only announced yesterday, which is when the spying apparently took place, so he can’t have have been in two places.

Of course the picture could have been taken on Wednesday when the nominees were announced but why not just announce the winner that day in that case.

The EFL should just read SaintsWeb - they’ve cracked the case quicker than they will.

 

[Holmes_and_Watson]

14 minutes ago, bpsaint said:

Just re-reading the EFL statement and it says that under regulations we would normally have 14 days to respond but they want that shortened. Surely they can’t demand that if there’s set time frames in place? Why the urgency?

They want to make sure they get to impose their fine, before any potential promotion. No sneaking up, without paying.

[die Mannyschaft]

If our spy was doing this all season then the first half of the season he must have been sent to watch conference south teams.

[Football Special]

1 hour ago, BallBoy said:

I don't know what bothers me the most. The fact that we did it or the fact that we made such a mess of it. Amateur.

Yeah seems like a proper carry on effort, its so bad its laughable, we're going to have to get used to being called cheats 

[Holmes_and_Watson]

2 hours ago, LGTL said:

Team tomorrow then lads, what we thinking?

Peretz, Bree, Stephen, THB, Manning, Downes, Jander, Scienza, Azaz, Fellows, Larin. 

1-2 Saints 

I'd go with

Palmer, Leamas, Templar, Bond (c), Bourne, Smiley, Quiller, Flint, Helm, Ryan, Drake

Clean sheet, due to our Berlin Wall and info from the grassy knoll above 'boro's training ground.

[Willo of Whiteley]

2 hours ago, BallBoy said:

I don't know what bothers me the most. The fact that we did it or the fact that we made such a mess of it. Amateur.

This made me laugh a lot more than it should’ve - but it’s very true 😂

Very Saintsy.

[BARCELONASAINT]

Got to say i'm ashamed of my club, i didn't believe we would ever sink to such unsportmanship type behaviour. If we get docked points then the club have only themselves to blame. 

[St. Ciervo]

It is fine and well to predict possible punishments. However, we still lack details. Imagine what happens when it is dropped after further investigation... This seems like a Benny Hill skit after all.

I do love the idea of leaning into the villain role. They may be fired up about it today. But Boro will lose their minds if they go down early. At 2-0 it will melt into catastrophe. Tonda Masterclass perhaps, if true!

Edited 3 hours ago by St. Ciervo

[Pilchards]

Would a player celebrating a goal in front of the Boro fans by doing the binoculars pose a bad idea?

Personally think the team will be called cheats non stop when entering the pitch for the warm up. Their fans will do everything to gain an advantage and I hope we stick it right back at them by winning it.

1-3 Larin (2) and THB.

[BallBoy]

The evidence is stacking up and it does not look good. I have been looking forward to these games but now it feels tainted. We have really made a big mistake and any good result will now be questioned. Our integrity has taken a massive hit. I firmly believe we are a better team than Boro but they are now the people's favourites. Understandably so. I want us to win but whoever is responsible for this have ket us down badly. 

[JohnnyShearer2.0]

This must go on all the time in various forms across the leagues. 

Boro acting as if they're angels and have been mortally wronged. 

Yes, not a great look and generally incompetent from Saints for not being more discreet. 

Could have done without the distraction. 

[Football Special]

19 minutes ago, BallBoy said:

The evidence is stacking up and it does not look good. I have been looking forward to these games but now it feels tainted. We have really made a big mistake and any good result will now be questioned. Our integrity has taken a massive hit. I firmly believe we are a better team than Boro but they are now the people's favourites. Understandably so. I want us to win but whoever is responsible for this have ket us down badly. 

I couldn't sleep well last night, never do when worried I'll sleep through alarm and miss the train, reading various reports of news outlets one thing that stands out in the comments is that neutrals all seem to be willing us to lose now, need to adopt the no one likes us we dont care motto. 

 

[Picard]

I reckon M'boro will be awarded the first leg 3-0