Saints Charged With Spying on Mboro Training

[St Chalet]

Can we discuss here and keep the game thread to the game please. 

[Farmer Saint]

I think there is a distinct difference between finding this out before, rather than after the match. As it's before they can't complain that we can use the info against them as they'd be stupid to use the same tactics/set pieces. If after then you can clearly say the information could have made a difference.

By the way, I think this is wholly embarrassing for the club and shows really poor judgement.

Edited 8 hours ago by Farmer Saint

[Daft Kerplunk]

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.  

[Edmonton Saint]

It’s sad. Completely unnecessary in this day and age. After the opening 45, the media circus has definitely affected us and we look awful. 

[Willo of Whiteley]

I think it’s pretty clear today that we gained no advantage in this tie given our performance.

The EFL showed throw the case out now and penalised Boro for wasting everybody’s time.

[Whitey Grandad]

59 minutes ago, Daft Kerplunk said:

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.  

So you think the allegations are true?

Nobody even knows who this spy is supposed to be. If he exists. 

[Whitey Grandad]

Clean sheet for Wood.

[Daft Kerplunk]

2 minutes ago, Whitey Grandad said:

So you think the allegations are true?

Nobody even knows who this spy is supposed to be. If he exists. 

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.  .  

[SNSUN]

10 minutes ago, Whitey Grandad said:

Clean sheet for Wood.

Can we please keep the Match day posts to the Match day thread please. This thread is for espionage. 😜

[saintant]

35 minutes ago, Daft Kerplunk said:

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.  .  

Tonda said absolutely nothing about spygate in his pre-match or post match interviews

[Disco Stu]

42 minutes ago, Whitey Grandad said:

Clean sheet for Wood.

I guess that's an achievement at your age.

[badgerx16]

Nothing has been proved, particularly whether the alleged "spy" has any current association wifh the club.

[Toussaint]

7 minutes ago, saintant said:

Tonda said absolutely nothing about spygate in his pre-match or post match interviews

That’s what a spy would say 🕵️ 

[Toussaint]

I love the moral outrage In the immoral press, in an immoral game where the bigger you cheat the less it gets mentioned. 

[S-Clarke]

Has anyone checked on Pilchards whareabouts?

[S-Clarke]

5 minutes ago, Toussaint said:

I love the moral outrage In the immoral press, in an immoral game where the bigger you cheat the less it gets mentioned. 

We'll get a fine, a slap on the wrist have to endure a terrible first 45 due to them being riled up (which we did) and that will be that. The football will do the talking at the end of the day either way, the advantage we could have gained from this is negligible to say the least, if anything they gained the advantage because they used it as a bit of fuel - but they didn't even make the most of it. it's just not worth the fuss. 

Edited 5 hours ago by S-Clarke

[Toussaint]

Does anyone have any idea what actually happened, who it was and if they were acting alone?

[Toadhall Saint]

Loved some of our fans with binoculars 👏

[Whitey Grandad]

24 minutes ago, Toussaint said:

Does anyone have any idea what actually happened, who it was and if they were acting alone?

I assume that's a rhetorical question. 

If they did, the world would know by now.

[Challenger]

Maybe the perpetrator should admit to being a gay voyuer,chose the wrong woods and is very sorry and ashamed. The whole episode will then die a very quick death.

[Gloucester Saint]

23 minutes ago, Challenger said:

Maybe the perpetrator should admit to being a gay voyuer,chose the wrong woods and is very sorry and ashamed. The whole episode will then die a very quick death.

‘Looking for badgers’ 🦡 

[Saints4Prem]

1 hour ago, badgerx16 said:

Nothing has been proved, particularly whether the alleged "spy" has any current association wifh the club.

I have read that their photographer took a picture of the spy and they have CCTV. He has been identified as an analyst intern from our website. Not the brightest thing to do and hope we do not get hit too hard

[badgerx16]

6 minutes ago, Saints4Prem said:

I have read that their photographer took a picture of the spy and they have CCTV. He has been identified as an analyst intern from our website. Not the brightest thing to do and hope we do not get hit too hard

The current name in the frame is someone who had been at Saints on an intern placement from his course at Derby Uni, has also been at Forest, and is now at Villa.

[Whitey Grandad]

4 minutes ago, Saints4Prem said:

I have read that their photographer took a picture of the spy and they have CCTV. He has been identified as an analyst intern from our website. Not the brightest thing to do and hope we do not get hit too hard

I have read all sorts of things. Misidentification is a common comment. Pictures on a website are rarely up to date and photos from a couple of days ago seem to have been of another individual. CCTV is not the sharpest tool in the box. There are some comments that he went into the toilets, changed his appearance somehow and was never seen again. All somewhat circumstantial and unsubstantial. The analyst intern that you may be thinking of has stopped working for Saints. The question is when.

 

[Toussaint]

48 minutes ago, Whitey Grandad said:

I assume that's a rhetorical question. 

If they did, the world would know by now.

It wasn’t intended as rhetorical, reading the match report and comments in the telegraph and the general noise it appears we have been hung drawn and quartered. So I naturally assumed I’d missed the smoking gun part. But having looked into it a bit more it doesn’t seem so. 

[USaintA]

I heard through a trusted and well respected club source that we would've gotten away with it if it weren't for those meddling kids, and their dog.

[goodymatt]

Just went for a run round the local family estate I live on in Cheshire. This guy running by the other way shouted “f****** cheat” right in my face. Running round the loop we crossed paths again, this time calling me a c*** twice as he ran by. I guess there’s no doubt he was a Boro fan, lovely bloke.

Already regretting not pulling out the binoculars celebration at him across the road in response.

[Matthew Le God]

35 minutes ago, Saints4Prem said:

I have read that their photographer took a picture of the spy and they have CCTV. He has been identified as an analyst intern from our website. Not the brightest thing to do and hope we do not get hit too hard

Saints have never had the names or images of intern analysts on their website.

[James G]

3 hours ago, Daft Kerplunk said:

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.  

Well that's why we're doubting some of it. If you sanction spying, there has to be a reason for doing it and if you are going to spy, at least do it right

I mean the guy supposedly stayed at the hotel on the grounds. We're not going to be that daft. He hid in a bush. I mean, that's crazy when you have drone technology and other technology available to you

I know the Boro fans are coming at us hard, but surely they must question what we actually gain from doing this, and how amateur it all is. And did we see any gains today, did it really hurt their football today

Punishment is all about damages, assigning a value to the damage done. And, no damage has really been done to them, we've damaged ourselves if anything 

[Challenger]

Not condoning the episode ( if proved ) but if Jürgen Klopp for example was caught in the bushes with a notepad and binoculars, fuck all would be done about it.

[coalman]

27 minutes ago, James G said:

Punishment is all about damages, assigning a value to the damage done. And, no damage has really been done to them, we've damaged ourselves if anything 

If we were talking civil litigation then you'd be correct. However this is about following EFL rules for which they have a wide scope for deciding from a range of punishments in the event of a breach. Being able to compete in the EFL includes the acceptance that you will abide by their rules and sanctions.

[Gloucester Saint]

40 minutes ago, goodymatt said:

Just went for a run round the local family estate I live on in Cheshire. This guy running by the other way shouted “f****** cheat” right in my face. Running round the loop we crossed paths again, this time calling me a c*** twice as he ran by. I guess there’s no doubt he was a Boro fan, lovely bloke.

Already regretting not pulling out the binoculars celebration at him across the road in response.

Best ignored today and next time you see him we’ll have beaten them so get those bins out.

I’d be bitter and twisted if I came from Middlesbrough (complete with teeth as bad as their reading and writing). They make Portsmouth folk sound and look like Nobel prize winning by comparison, if you’ve ever been there. Air is filthy as well.

Edited 2 hours ago by Gloucester Saint

[goodymatt]

4 minutes ago, Gloucester Saint said:

Best ignored today and next time you see him we’ll have beaten them so get those bins out.

I’d be bitter and twisted if I came from Middlesbrough (complete with teeth as bad as their reading and writing). They make Portsmouth folk sound and look like Nobel prize winning by comparison, if you’ve ever been there. Air is filthy as well.

Not had the pleasure of visiting Teesside but it is famous for having the UK’s cheapest house for a reason. I’m working on a Teesside based project (fortunately remotely) for work at the moment, so coming across plenty of Boro fans. I would love to dial in on Wednesday having knocked them out. 

[Whitey Grandad]

1 hour ago, Toussaint said:

It wasn’t intended as rhetorical, reading the match report and comments in the telegraph and the general noise it appears we have been hung drawn and quartered. So I naturally assumed I’d missed the smoking gun part. But having looked into it a bit more it doesn’t seem so. 

And that's the problem with unsubstantiated allegations such as these. There has been a lot of jumping to conclusions and assumptions of guilt.

Some chap is spotted standing on a hill, some say hiding in bushes, some say with professional eavesdropping and spying equipment, some say with a phone and earphones.  This chap refuses to give his name or say what he is doing there, as he us entitled to do. Somehow the assumption is that he must be acting for Southampton FC, probably even an employee. And erm... that's it.

[Willo of Whiteley]

1 hour ago, goodymatt said:

Just went for a run round the local family estate I live on in Cheshire. This guy running by the other way shouted “f****** cheat” right in my face. Running round the loop we crossed paths again, this time calling me a c*** twice as he ran by. I guess there’s no doubt he was a Boro fan, lovely bloke.

Already regretting not pulling out the binoculars celebration at him across the road in response.

Guessing he’d broken in, no way a Boro fan could afford a house in Cheshire 

[Master Bates]

...

Edited 2 hours ago by Master Bates

[Lord Duckhunter]

20 minutes ago, Whitey Grandad said:

 

Some chap is spotted standing on a hill, some say hiding in bushes, some say with professional eavesdropping and spying equipment, some say with a phone and earphones.  This chap refuses to give his name or say what he is doing there, as he us entitled to do. Somehow the assumption is that he must be acting for Southampton FC, probably even an employee. And erm... that's it.

That, and the fact that the club have basically admitted there’s something in it. 
 

Of you honestly believe the club would have issued the statement they did if there was absolutely nothing in it, you’re deluded….Its not some innocent bird watcher or dog walker randomly wandering around who has mistakenly be identified as a Southampton employee…

[trousers]

My latest hairbrained theory....

We've been sending an analyst intern / trainee on reconnaissance missions such as this all season, but with the intention of not falling foul of the "72 hour" rule, but on this occasion the kid got his dates mixed up and ended up 'spying' a day later than he should have been.... Oopsie daisy....

Yeah....I know....as likely as encountering an intellectual northerner.... However....

[Saint_clark]

4 minutes ago, trousers said:

My latest hairbrained theory....

We've been sending an analyst intern / trainee on reconnaissance missions such as this all season, but with the intention of not falling foul of the "72 hour" rule, but on this occasion the kid got his dates mixed up and ended up 'spying' a day later than he should have been.... Oopsie daisy....

Yeah....I know....as likely as encountering an intellectual northerner.... However....

If he really is our employee the only thing we can hope is he was acting on his own accord really, trying to get info to bring back and impress his superiors with. 

[trousers]

10 minutes ago, Saint_clark said:

If he really is our employee the only thing we can hope is he was acting on his own accord really, trying to get info to bring back and impress his superiors with. 

How about this:

The lad who did his industrial placement year with us, and who is now working part time for Aston Villa whilst completing the final year of his degree, had to do some "professional training observation" course work as part of his degree... He then thought: "I know... I could kill two birds with one stone here and go up to observe Middlesbrough and let my ex work colleague(s) at Southampton know if I see anything of interest... That's bound to earn me some brownie points..."... and, whilst he was there, he called said ex-colleague(s) to let them know Hayden Hackney isn't training with the squad (or such like)....

So, it's not something that the Saints hierarchy sanctioned, but they may have been happy to receive the intel....

By jove Trousers, you may well have struck gold with this particular conspiracy theory old chap.... Bravo! 

Edited 1 hour ago by trousers

[RedArmy]

They’re a weird bunch who are convincing themselves we are getting kicked out of the playoffs. 
 

They’re getting frantic now that they’ve blown the first leg. 
 

 

[Saint_clark]

Just now, RedArmy said:

They’re a weird bunch who are convincing themselves we are getting kicked out of the playoffs. 
 

They’re getting frantic now that they’ve blown the first leg. 
 

 

Yeah their forum is a funny read right now.

[James G]

Why don't we just invite them to watch our training for a day

[AlexLaw76]

Talk of getting kicked out of the playoffs

🤣

[Gloucester Saint]

5 minutes ago, James G said:

Why don't we just invite them to watch our training for a day

We could even feed them. It’s been a while since those juicy rats 🐀 they enjoyed away to Birmingham. 

[trousers]

7 minutes ago, AlexLaw76 said:

Talk of getting kicked out of the playoffs

🤣

Source?

[Gloucester Saint]

Just now, trousers said:

Source?

Sour grape flavour. It’s what they put on their Parmo up there. 

[AlexLaw76]

1 minute ago, trousers said:

Source?

 Boro fans want it.

fucking gone mad. I know for sure many in here would be equally ridiculous, but it is funny.

with City winning and and Arsenal playing tomorrow, it will all blow over apart from here and the Boro end

[Mboto Gorge]

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1HFPvbf6BW/?mibextid=wwXIfr

[The Wyvern]

From their forum thread on welcoming the coaches 🤣 

“I was in Southampton visiting extended family. When this started, a couple of them leaned over to me and said '**** me, I wish we had support like that, today is gonna be hard'.

Never have I beamed so much for my peeps in a small town in Europe.”

Definitely filed in that big folder of things that never happened.