Saints Expelled from Playoffs

[Cuddles]

Just now, SW11_Saint said:

Peretz?! Are you having a laugh? 

We weren't exactly in a good position when he joined us 😉

[Mattio]

2 minutes ago, Cuddles said:

We will still have a decent squad next season IMO.

We will lose some real quality in Jander, Scienza, THB. But we've already proven we have decent squad depth. Players like Manning and Bragg have been outstanding these past few weeks. 

Tie Ross Stewart down and do another deal for Larin (who else wanted him before?) and Peretz. 

We'll be OK. It's just such a shame that run over the past few months has amounted to nothing.

Haven’t got a chance of keeping Perez or Larin. It’ll be Baz and Downs. 🫠

[Badger]

3 minutes ago, Gloucester Saint said:

Horrible sport football these days.

I know the Ashes was shit and Brendon is a cock, but the NZ home series should be decent. 

Cricket ? Rather watch paint dry. 
 

 

[BallBoy]

For those of a certain vintage: what was worse? The 1983/84 season when we finished 2nd in the league and lost to Everton in the FA Cup semi-final - or this? So much hope turning to dust on both occasions. 

For me, this is the worst I have felt - ever! So much reason to hope all thrown away for stupidity. It's difficult enough to cope with losses on the field. This is in a whole new category. I now fear for the future of our club.

[SWLondon Saint]

1 minute ago, trousers said:

Another who can hold his head high after the season tbh 👏🏼

[M271]

If we lose P&O cruises sponsorship I guess that Cheetos cheesy snacks will be very keen to be our shirt sponsor 😂

Edited 13 hours ago by M271

[Cuddles]

Just now, SWLondon Saint said:

Another who can hold his head high after the season tbh 👏🏼

TBF they've all been excellent. Even Cam Archer scored a couple. Such a crying shame, players must be absolutely gutted given the effort that's gone in.

[Waterside.saint]

25 minutes ago, Whitey Grandad said:

There will be some sympathy on account of the preposterous punishment. 

Really?  I'd like to think so too, but the cynic in me thinks.... not.

Edited 13 hours ago by Waterside.saint

[Cuddles]

1 minute ago, M271 said:

If we lose P&O cruses sponsorship I guess that Cheetos cheesy snacks will be very keen to be our shirt sponsor 😂

Or Apple

[Gloucester Saint]

4 minutes ago, Badger said:

Cricket ? Rather watch paint dry. 
 

 

Each to their own.

[Pamplemousse]

When we sack Tonda then the path to redemption begins, the footballing world will quickly move on, especially with a new manager and a load of new signings.

[Badger]

1 minute ago, BallBoy said:

For those of a certain vintage: what was worse? The 1983/84 season when we finished 2nd in the league and lost to Everton in the FA Cup semi-final - or this? So much hope turning to dust on both occasions. 

For me, this is the worst I have felt - ever! So much reason to hope all thrown away for stupidity. It's difficult enough to cope with losses on the field. This is in a whole new category. I now fear for the future of our club.

Defeats on the pitch are part and parcel of it. You have a good swear about it, but that’s it. Win some, lose some ( and as Saints fans used to losing a  few more).

This is just fucking ridiculous though. Unnecessary and self inflicted stupidity. 

[Vancouver Saint]

I had a bit of stick on this forum when I posted on 9 May that I thought the EFL would make an example of us. Even then it was easy to read the court of public opinion would crucify us. 

As more evidence incriminated us the situation just got worse...the 'acting as a lone wolf' response was a lie that just made things worse.

It's a shameful, embarrassing and above all unbelievably stupid act that has damaged our reputation and standing.

All that said, the punishment far outweighs the crime IMHO - and it has opened up a Pandora's box of trouble for the EFL. They may be the people's favourites today, but wait until someone else makes a case that they were cheated against - if Hull lose it might be pretty fast in coming.

Proving someone else's guilt doesn't prove your innocence - but what this ruling has done is set an incredibly dangerous precedent. That is, due process (14 days to appeal not followed) and the media coverage having an incredibly damning effect on the outcome, effectively not allowing a 'fair trial'. 

Now, can every game can be legally challenged and over-turned using the 'Southampton precedent'?

Lots of 'Ifs and buts'...but if the spying had taken place a day earlier it wouldn't have been spying 72 hours ahead - does that 24 hours make that big a difference?

We haven't seen the end of this. How long until the Southampton FC vs EFL lawsuit comes out?

[PerthshireSaint]

Why can’t we have nice things ?

[Cuddles]

[JohnnyShearer2.0]

What a waste of a season. Players will be fuming. 

Incompetent and idiotic actions all round. Worryingly where were the checks and balances during all the spying. 

Couldn't care less about Saints being a laughing stock.

However us, the fans have been right royally shafted by the club and the efl. 

Gibson and Boro can fuck right off.

[CB Fry]

36 minutes ago, Bolokov said:

Fuck normal and respected. We need someone to get shit done to make sure we survive!

If "getting shit done" involves running a professional football club then he hasn't got much shit done in the last 12 years or so.

[Whitey Grandad]

7 minutes ago, Vancouver Saint said:

I had a bit of stick on this forum when I posted on 9 May that I thought the EFL would make an example of us. Even then it was easy to read the court of public opinion would crucify us. 

As more evidence incriminated us the situation just got worse...the 'acting as a lone wolf' response was a lie that just made things worse.

It's a shameful, embarrassing and above all unbelievably stupid act that has damaged our reputation and standing.

All that said, the punishment far outweighs the crime IMHO - and it has opened up a Pandora's box of trouble for the EFL. They may be the people's favourites today, but wait until someone else makes a case that they were cheated against - if Hull lose it might be pretty fast in coming.

Proving someone else's guilt doesn't prove your innocence - but what this ruling has done is set an incredibly dangerous precedent. That is, due process (14 days to appeal not followed) and the media coverage having an incredibly damning effect on the outcome, effectively not allowing a 'fair trial'. 

Now, can every game can be legally challenged and over-turned using the 'Southampton precedent'?

Lots of 'Ifs and buts'...but if the spying had taken place a day earlier it wouldn't have been spying 72 hours ahead - does that 24 hours make that big a difference?

We haven't seen the end of this. How long until the Southampton FC vs EFL lawsuit comes out?

It doesn't.  But when it comes out that this practice is widespread how many clubs are going to be sanctioned?

[CB Fry]

6 minutes ago, Vancouver Saint said:

We haven't seen the end of this. How long until the Southampton FC vs EFL lawsuit comes out?

Er, never?

The only things left to happen is the publication of the full report, plus the bloodletting at the club when we sack Tonda and probably Spors and Parsons and bring in a new management team. Plus we sell a few players to keep the wolf from the door and build a squad good enough to scrape the play offs next season if we can shake off the shame.

[M271]

I really hope that Hull win the playoff final. If Middlesbrough win it will be a win for media hype and a losing semi finalist getting promoted and protestation from Hull. 

[Cuddles]

Yes his head's too big but I've run out of tokens 😅

[East Kent Saint]

Unfortunately the reaction by the media , stoked by Boro , and now some on here has been extreme to say the least . Boro talk about respect despite knowing in advance Saints might check out their training (if what we are told is true) and set a trap , rather than having a word with Saints to say if you do turn up we will be there to record you . After they lose they put it out in the media.  Not showing respect ! Meanwhile Saints have been foolish at best hoping to get away with a breach of rules . Now posters are calling for all the cunts who at Saints who might of known about it to be hundred drawn and quartered .

Total overreacting all round , what about WW3 for instance 😄

[egg]

2 minutes ago, East Kent Saint said:

Unfortunately the reaction by the media , stoked by Boro , and now some on here has been extreme to say the least . Boro talk about respect despite knowing in advance Saints might check out their training (if what we are told is true) and set a trap , rather than having a word with Saints to say if you do turn up we will be there to record you . After they lose they put it out in the media.  Not showing respect ! Meanwhile Saints have been foolish at best hoping to get away with a breach of rules . Now posters are calling for all the cunts who at Saints who might of known about it to be hundred drawn and quartered .

Total overreacting all round , what about WW3 for instance 😄

Are you seriously suggesting that Tonda and others in the club responsible for this shouldn't be sacked? That's an inevitability. 

[Thripp87]

Tonight’s verdict really has made a statement of intent to stamp spying out of the game…..up to 73 hours before kick off.

[The Wyvern]

Massive overration from the EFL, the media, and the Karens of this forum.

Absolute shambles from Saints, but hopefully with a bit of time and when the dust settles everyone will calm down and gain a bit of perspective.

Yes, there will be sackings and we'll lose some key players, but we will still be one of the biggest clubs in the Championship next season and will have a set-up and infrastructure far better than most.

If Middlesbrough had nicked a win against us last week or we'd sneaked into the play off final with a heavy fine, whilst still being clearly guilty of "spying", all these conversations and emotional outbursts wouldn't be on the agenda.  We fucked up, got caught, got a very heavy punishment and we're angry with the club for getting caught and are blaming them for the severity of the punishment.

Come August 99% of us will be back in St Marys cheering the side on like we've always done.  

 

[East Kent Saint]

48 minutes ago, egg said:

Are you seriously suggesting that Tonda and others in the club responsible for this shouldn't be sacked? That's an inevitability. 

No,  but being hung drawn and quartered is an over reaction 😄 So they have to go so Saints can move forward but wether that is anyway near the end of other clubs trying to have their pound of flesh is another matter . So much for showing respect for all other clubs as the shisters keep quoting , bastards etc .

Edited 12 hours ago by East Kent Saint

[Picard]

To make up for Hull not knowing their opponents until the last moment they will be allowed to watch M'boro training sessions.

[Ralph Fastenbüttl]

I hate myself for thinking this, but there's a big part of me that's desperate for us to keep Tonda. I KNOW he's been a fucking idiot, but it's not impossible he acted with ignorance as opposed to deception... although even if that were the case, it's hard to think the same of those around him. Wishful thinking, perhaps.

It's just after all these fucking godawful managers, we finally had a good one. And a good squad. After the absolute bollock kicking that was our last season in the Prem, the second half to this campaign has felt like the reward for sticking through it all. And it's all been fucking ruined by idiots. For nothing.

I just feel genuinely heartbroken.

No idea how the summer will pan out. I think all this talk of being scuppered for a decade is the anger talking. I get it, but as shite as SR undoubtedly are, they have twice built Championship promotion squads. Of course there's every chance we'll do it again. But there obviously zero guarantees. And regardless, none of that makes throwing away the good thing we actually have going now any less bitter a pill.

Football's the fucking worst.

[skintsaint]

been bored....so here we go.

Solaks reaction.

https://www.captiongenerator.com/v/2317078/solak's-reaction-to-saints-being-kicked-out

Edited 12 hours ago by skintsaint

[Saint86]

8 minutes ago, skintsaint said:

been bored....so he we go.

Solaks reaction.

https://www.captiongenerator.com/v/2317078/solak's-reaction-to-saints-being-kicked-out

This is superb.

[Ralph Fastenbüttl]

16 minutes ago, skintsaint said:

been bored....so here we go.

Solaks reaction.

https://www.captiongenerator.com/v/2317078/solak's-reaction-to-saints-being-kicked-out

Oh my god, this is fucking brilliant!

[Thereisonlyonemickychannon]

So they have had their blood. Hull City will win. 

Gibson will blame Saints for all the stress caused to his team, and be involved in an EFL kangeroo court again and get Saints relegated to the Southern Counties league. Plus 4000 points deduction, to be concurrent for evermore until we end up in a Sunday League pub team. If we appeal!!!

Gibson is a cheat too it seems.

[Dark Munster]

1 hour ago, skintsaint said:

been bored....so here we go.

Solaks reaction.

https://www.captiongenerator.com/v/2317078/solak's-reaction-to-saints-being-kicked-out

PMSL! Absolutely brilliant. We needed a good laugh after the current shitshow.
Mods this is one to recommend and pin!

[Sarcoidevo]

2 hours ago, Thereisonlyonemickychannon said:

So they have had their blood. Hull City will win. 

Gibson will blame Saints for all the stress caused to his team, and be involved in an EFL kangeroo court again and get Saints relegated to the Southern Counties league. Plus 4000 points deduction, to be concurrent for evermore until we end up in a Sunday League pub team. If we appeal!!!

Gibson is a cheat too it seems.

Yeah we fkd up and did some dumb stupid but that crying Smoggy knobend Gibson is a KING RAT.... and Middlesborough for me will forever be known as the RATS 

No one likes a cheat but everyone hates a moaning snivelling RAT 

The Middlesborough RATS .....get the word around!! ...... supporters from every club need to know this

SAINTS FOREVER !!!! 

Pin this as well 😉

Edited 8 hours ago by Sarcoidevo

[Maggie May]

5 hours ago, trousers said:

So, was this talk about us having evidence of other clubs doing the same thing a load of BS, or was it deemed inadmissible in this case and will instead come to light further down the line? Parsons' statement earlier today was clearly inferring it was wider spread than just ourselves.... I guess we'll find out when the report is published...?

@trousers you know I love a told you so post but you’re spot on asking this.  At the weekend, I made a couple of posts suggesting this has to be more widespread.  I refuse to believe we were naive to the rules. Again, I was shot down questioning the grey areas of the 72 hour ban and the reasons for Boro claiming to have more evidence from other clubs.  We didn’t come up with this “genius” spying plan that’s ultimately got us the worst possible sanction. 

We’re bang to rights over the whole scenario but I’m interested to see what opens up as a result of this. 

[Saint Gifford]

I’m gonna give up watching a sport that is clearly “fixed”. Arsenal winning the league, Celtic winning the league. It’s obvious the Championship has its promoted teams all lined up . 

[Saint Keef]

4 hours ago, skintsaint said:

been bored....so here we go.

Solaks reaction.

https://www.captiongenerator.com/v/2317078/solak's-reaction-to-saints-being-kicked-out

Absolutely brilliant. Well done. 

[Doctoroncall]

If Priestman got 12 months ban, how long for Tonda?  18 or 24 months considering the punishment the club got?

[coalman]

I'll say this. The redemption arc of this story is going to need to something else.

[ChristopheVAFC]

In the aftermath of this saga's conclusion, I confess I'm at a loss for words to express what I'm feeling—a mix of sadness, grief, and uncertainty.

The fact that the decision is finally final means we can begin to rebuild and move on, learning from all of this.

It will take time, and no one knows how many weeks, months, or even years it will take. We'll need to be strong, all of us together...

From Valenciennes, I feel like a little brother watching his big brother struggle, and I'm very worried.

I will always be behind you, and I sincerely hope that all of this will allow this great club, Southampton, to quickly return to the light.

Stay strong, everyone.

[maxi_sopez]

If in a parallel universe we sacked Tonda and staff before Boro game and held our hands up, do you think punishment would have been as severe?

 

I feel one interesting about this entire thing is how we lost control of the narrative or never tried to own it. Boro and Gibson were giving the press everything, controlling the narrative. That is another black mark on Parsons, he has to be sacked.

[leesaint88]

1 minute ago, maxi_sopez said:

If in a parallel universe we sacked Tonda and staff before Boro game and held our hands up, do you think punishment would have been as severe?

 

I feel one interesting about this entire thing is how we lost control of the narrative or never tried to own it. Boro and Gibson were giving the press everything, controlling the narrative. That is another black mark on Parsons, he has to be sacked.

The punishment would still be the same.

All the club needed to do was put out a rather sarcastic statement stating ‘Boro was a leaky sieve and proper evidence will be provided to the commission. That then puts a seed of doubt into the narrative in the media. 

[Mboto Gorge]

3 minutes ago, maxi_sopez said:

If in a parallel universe we sacked Tonda and staff before Boro game and held our hands up, do you think punishment would have been as severe?

 

I feel one interesting about this entire thing is how we lost control of the narrative or never tried to own it. Boro and Gibson were giving the press everything, controlling the narrative. That is another black mark on Parsons, he has to be sacked.

Yep, him and the club got absolutely owned throughout this entire process by Gibson and Boro . The silence we assumed was controlled assurance of the situation, was in fact total incompetence and cluelessness at how to diffuse it

[Osvaldorama]

5 minutes ago, leesaint88 said:

The punishment would still be the same.

All the club needed to do was put out a rather sarcastic statement stating ‘Boro was a leaky sieve and proper evidence will be provided to the commission. That then puts a seed of doubt into the narrative in the media. 

That and delay the hearings, push for our 14 days, push back, push back, push back. 
 

Instead they admitted everything and then went.. “please don’t punish us”.

Genuinely has to be the most stupid fucking thing a club has ever done. Can anyone remember anything as dumb?

[Mboto Gorge]

3 minutes ago, Osvaldorama said:

That and delay the hearings, push for our 14 days, push back, push back, push back. 
 

Instead they admitted everything and then went.. “please don’t punish us”.

Genuinely has to be the most stupid fucking thing a club has ever done. Can anyone remember anything as dumb?

When you add to all the other catastrophic failures and embarrassments we’ve had to endure under these owners, I can’t see in what world they should remain in charge of this club without some pretty fierce backlash. At the start of this season with the Will Still fuck up, most of us had had enough of them. Add to that being kicked out of the play offs in disgrace for something absolutely ridiculous as this, followed by defending the allegations as badly as we possibly could - I’m struggling to continue to get behind this club while these idiots continue to make us a nationwide and even global laughing stock. I’m at my fucking wits end with these cunts now

[OnceaSaintalwaysaSaint]

2 minutes ago, Mboto Gorge said:

Yep, him and the club got absolutely owned throughout this entire process by Gibson and Boro . The silence we assumed was controlled assurance of the situation, was in fact total incompetence and cluelessness at how to diffuse it

Yes, that molehill at the start was allowed to grow when it should have been stamped on straightaway.

Over the last season, I have spent literally thousands of pounds going to home and away games including staying overnight and right now, I feel flat. I don't feel we cheated. Just flat. Yes, we broke the rules, a particularly pathetic rule, but to allow the whole process to be dictated to by bully boys is sheer incompentence. This was trial by media, ignoring processes and we allowed them to get away with it. 

What next? Is it possible to keep the team together and say, you want to prove to the world that you're the best and capable of promotion fair and square, well stay with us? To leave now would be a rat leaving a sinking ship, you don't want that do you? I hope we can keep the team together but sense if one or two leave, there'll be wholesale departures.

[kraftwerk26]

Boro are on par with the skates now

[Oh no Mick Mills]

5 hours ago, skintsaint said:

been bored....so here we go.

Solaks reaction.

https://www.captiongenerator.com/v/2317078/solak's-reaction-to-saints-being-kicked-out

Brilliant! Cheers mate. 

[sambosa75]

9 minutes ago, OnceaSaintalwaysaSaint said:

What next? Is it possible to keep the team together and say, you want to prove to the world that you're the best and capable of promotion fair and square, well stay with us? To leave now would be a rat leaving a sinking ship, you don't want that do you? I hope we can keep the team together but sense if one or two leave, there'll be wholesale departures.

It’s a nice thought but the players have been badly let down by the club.  Their efforts have been completely undermined by the actions of a few.  It’s a really easy “out” for any of them that wish to take it and I don’t doubt that a few of them will.

[Guan 2.0]

Tonda, and his staff (and this is presuming there is no ban from the FA) must stay. Because the successful media firestorm has made us toxic, and we won't appoint anyone better. We would be reduced to the retired and the inept. 

Keep whoever is willing out of Peretz, Larin (harder, as they are loans), Scienza, THB, Bree and Jander. We have many excellent players, but I believe those would be the hardest to retain. 

If Parsons has taken the path of admitting to everything, advising Tonda and his staff to admit to everything, and overseeing a process where outgoing staff are not given NDA's, on top of not hiring a Legal team specialising in prevarication at the first whisper of anything amiss, and allowing Middlesborough comms to leak, dominate, and set the agenda, then he must step down.  

Additionally, offer one free ticket to a game next season to anyone who bought a playoff final ticket.  37000 sold, so the tickets would have to be spread over the first 3 or 4 games. 

Realistically speaking, that would be a good first day of Recovery. Onwards to the Top 8 next year! 

Edited 6 hours ago by Guan 2.0