Saints Expelled from Playoffs

[Cabrone]

If Boro beat Hull I can see Hull reaching for the lawyers and they'll have a case.

The EFL must be desperately hoping for a Hull win.

This is going to run.

[whelk]

5 minutes ago, Holmes_and_Watson said:

Did no one tell you, you were being adopted by Whitey? 🙂

 

 

 

Cheers. all the best Whitey. Are all the adoption papers in order?

 

[Whitey Grandad]

6 minutes ago, Saint_lambden said:

Absolutely convinced by this point that supporting this football club is some sort of social experiment. 

It's the only thing that makes sense. 

[westmidlandsaint]

7 minutes ago, trousers said:

Source?

A full-time club employee

[AlexLaw76]

1 minute ago, Cabrone said:

If Boro beat Hull I can see Hull reaching for the lawyers and they'll have a case.

The EFL must be desperately hoping for a Hull win.

This is going to run.

I bet it doesn't

 

[badgerx16]

40 minutes ago, woodsaint1 said:

If Tonda and his backroom team arent sacked by 9.00am tomorrow, I'll be very annoyed. Just leave their belongings outside the gate.

And so begins the mass exodus of players too. Scienza, THB, Peretz, Larin, Charles, Jander and Downes will be straight onto the lawyer/agent.

Fun summer ahead 🫤

Larin and Peretz simply end their loans.

[S-Clarke]

2 minutes ago, saintant said:

Don't be soft. The punishment was way over the top as most reasonable people in the football world have admitted. Ludicrous compared with what other teams have got for worse offences but we all know how corrupt football is. Makes me laugh when these pundits start talking about protecting the integrity of football. Sitch up. End of.

It was way over the top, it's a ridiculous punishment and I don't think it's quite over yet - in terms of us going after the EFL again in the future. 

But I won't ever forgive those at the club who felt something like this would give us any form of advantage, and why they risked it in the way they did. They've seemingly been blatant about it, like it's all a big joke to them. They're the ones who need to be punished here, properly punished. 

[ChristopheVAFC]

I was hoping for a better result tonight, but unfortunately it wasn’t to be...😞

Tonight is a lesson for English football and international football, and we must learn from it...🫶

I am deeply saddened tonight and I hope with all my heart that the club will come back stronger.💪

Friends, you have my full support. My thoughts are with you tonight.🙏

It is time to rebuild the club brick by brick...🙂‍↕️

Allez Southampton !

[trousers]

11 minutes ago, TwoPints said:

I imagine there is.  No doubt the good folks at P&O will be looking very closely at this and pondering their options. 

Aye... They're not going to want to be associated with a sinking ship, are they...?

[Badger]

1 minute ago, Wade Garrett said:

That’s Eckert and Spors out then.  Good riddance, pair of cunts.

Hopefully Solak will run us like a normal football club at last and not some stupid fucking Moneyball experiment.

Just don’t put Rasmus in a greater position of influence. 
 

Although for all his faults I don’t suppose his spreadsheets and algorithms factor in spying in this fashion. 

[skintsaint]

2 minutes ago, Cabrone said:

If Boro beat Hull I can see Hull reaching for the lawyers and they'll have a case.

The EFL must be desperately hoping for a Hull win.

This is going to run.

[SNSUN]

8 minutes ago, Saint_lambden said:

Absolutely convinced by this point that supporting this football club is some sort of social experiment. 

Punishment in this life but we get to go to heaven. Or be reincarnated as a supermodel's vibrator in the 22nd century. Whatever you believe in.

[Holmes_and_Watson]

1 minute ago, trousers said:

Presumably Dragon knew nothing about this. Him kicking a chair at Russ getting rubbed by Spurs will be nothing compared to how angry he'll be about this.

I imagine Tonda has already, or will, offer a resignation.

There's still a bit of me that would like staff and players to all pull together for next season. Taking responsibility for a set of the same actions, they didn't forsee the outcome of.

But, just thinking of him facing the players and staff...it just doesn't seem like an option.

So, that would be him, coaches, spors, parsons on their way. Possibly some of the analysts too.

[saintant]

17 minutes ago, SfcPhil said:

He keeps putting his trust in absolute basketcases. Can't fault him as an investor, he putsoney into the club, but my god he must have the worst judgement going. I expect to see Tonda and Spors gone in the next day or two.

He needs to put an experienced football man in to run things and clear out the SR muppets who haven't got a clue.

[Whitey Grandad]

Just now, S-Clarke said:

It was way over the top, it's a ridiculous punishment and I don't think it's quite over yet - in terms of us going after the EFL again in the future. 

But I won't ever forgive those at the club who felt something like this would give us any form of advantage, and why they risked it in the way they did. They've seemingly been blatant about it, like it's all a big joke to them. They're the ones who need to be punished here, properly punished. 

It's what can happen when there's a lack of experience in managing the club. Sometimes what's needed is an older head to keep an eye on things.

[Thripp87]

25 minutes ago, beatlesaint said:

Agree 100%. I don’t just want my Wembley money refunded, I want last Tuesdays and all those who went to Middlesbrough should get their tickets and travel costs.

They need to start making their peace with supporters NOW !

This is just common sense to you and I and any sane individual. I don’t work in PR but the first thing should be recompensate fans, and not just for Wembley.  You watch them hold onto the booking fee too. Complete lunatics out of touch of all reality. The second sentence should be announcing an internal investigation with those accountable facing investigations. Neither of that was in that statement.

Edited 42 minutes ago by Thripp87

[Football Special]

5 minutes ago, Wade Garrett said:

That’s Eckert and Spors out then.  Good riddance, pair of cunts.

Hopefully Solak will run us like a normal football club at last and not some stupid fucking Moneyball experiment.

Rasmus is still his football advisor 

[Whitey Grandad]

2 minutes ago, skintsaint said:

In other words, "we've been spying on the wrong team's training"

[Lighthouse]

1 minute ago, Cabrone said:

If Boro beat Hull I can see Hull reaching for the lawyers and they'll have a case.

The EFL must be desperately hoping for a Hull win.

This is going to run.

On what grounds? Saying they only knew their opponent for the final three days previously is a pretty flimsy argument. That's basically what happens at every World Cup between each round of knockout games.

[Saint_lambden]

2 minutes ago, SNSUN said:

Punishment in this life but we get to go to heaven. Or be reincarnated as a supermodel's vibrator in the 22nd century. Whatever you believe in.

I think we've been fucked over enough for one night. 

[obelisk]

I'm old enough to remember when football match results were decided on the pitch. Pretty soon every league table will be a series of asterisks detailing how good a team's lawyers were. Not sure I can be arsed any more.

[bpsaint]

29 minutes ago, leeham_69 said:

Well, we can't even cheat properly so I don't know why I expected us to be competent in defending and appealing the charges.

The biggest shame for me as it appeared for the first time in a long time we had a really good spine of a team for a few seasons to come. 

Our players will want to get as far away from this mess as quickly as they can, and who would blame them?

Embarrassing at every level.

Yep. I was convinced that the way this squad had gone toe to toe with Fulham, Arsenal and City, would be able to make a real go of it next season if promoted. That’s been ripped apart from us in the cruelest of ways now.

Theres no way we’d have managed to spy on that lot, so why the fuck did we feel the need to do it to lesser sides, especially with the video footage available. Just shambolic from top to bottom.

Really don’t know where to go from here. All that time, money and emotion invested into watching us this season and this is how it ends. 
 

Good luck @Whitey Grandad with your fight. At least your news has managed to provide a bit of perspective amongst the madness.

[saintant]

16 minutes ago, Midfield_General said:

Pannick OUT

Pannick OVER

[S-Clarke]

Just now, Whitey Grandad said:

It's what can happen when there's a lack of experience in managing the club. Sometimes what's needed is an older head to keep an eye on things.

Yep, this is what we've all called for - goes way back, even to the Russell Martin days.

We seem obsessed with going with youth in all aspects, trying to do this new modern approach to everything. Experience matters, as we saw in the second half of this season in relation to the likes of Bree, Larin and Peretz coming in down the spine.

But the inexperience across multiple layers at the club has cost us here. Very, very foolish and naive. 

[Mboto Gorge]

8 minutes ago, trousers said:

They can start by finally getting the fuck out of our club. Honestly how can any ownership group seriously look themselves in the eye with what they’ve done to the club over the last couple of years? 12 points last season to this episode this season.  We’ve literally been the biggest joke of English football out of all 92 teams , 2 fucking seasons in a row. If they don’t sell up now they’ve literally no shame. As usual it’s the poor fans getting absolute pelters online and being chastised left right and centre through absolutely no fault of our own. Absolutely sickening . 

[trousers]

13 minutes ago, Saint NL said:

Did I hear correctly? If Bournemouth qualify for the Champions League their ground isn't up to scratch so will play at St Mary's? This is bs right?

Let's instigate a merger and get the Monkey Chicken Petting Zoo plans off the ground at long last 🐒🐓

Edited 39 minutes ago by trousers

[SaintTex]

15 minutes ago, saintant said:

Looking forward to Boro making history on Saturday. First team ever to lose Play Off semi-final and Final 🙂

or.. First Team every to lose Play Off semi-final and win the Final.

[Saint Scott]

15 minutes ago, TwoPints said:

I imagine there is.  No doubt the good folks at P&O will be looking very closely at this and pondering their options. 

Breaking: HMS Piss The League has sunk in the Atlantic Ocean

[whelk]

3 minutes ago, bpsaint said:

Good luck @Whitey Grandad with your fight. At least your news has managed to provide a bit of perspective amongst the madness

Absolutely. Saints drive me fucking mental to the point I think I need therapy but so many more important things in life. I need to remind myself of this!

Edited 37 minutes ago by whelk

[Midfield_General]

15 minutes ago, Saint_lambden said:

Absolutely convinced by this point that supporting this football club is some sort of social experiment. 

'Cruel and unusual punishment', of the sort specifically outlawed in the Geneva Convention

[LegalEagle]

Any chance of getting Thomas Frank? Or are we a no go for anyone until there had been a clear out of the back room staff? Sack Tonda and get a decent name in quickly and we might keep one or two of the better players such as Azaz and Ross

[bpsaint]

30 minutes ago, Patrick Bateman said:

I'd quite like a season ticket refund tbh.

 

[saintant]

15 minutes ago, Willo of Whiteley said:

They’ll 100% win.

It’s written in the stars for those northern twats.

Not a chance. They'll be blowing out their arses after 20 minutes on that huge Wembley pitch. Tigers gonna maul them then watch the Boro fans blubber 🙂

[LegalEagle]

The future of our club for the next ten years will be determined by how quickly we act over the next two weeks. Delay and hesitate and we’ll be fucked for years to come.

[Saint Scott]

At least to soften this blow we all get to watch England fuck up another attempt at world cup glory this summer

[SNSUN]

Fair play to Bet365 for instantly refunding my cheeky, naughty insurance bet on Hull that'd I'd put on to cover the cost of my ticket had we lost. Yes I know I'm a shmuck. Now just to get my Final ticket money refunded and I can use it all for hookers and blow instead.

[Osvaldorama]

Never a dull day supporting this mad club. 
 

What a bunch of fucking idiots 😂😂

[Mboto Gorge]

1 minute ago, LegalEagle said:

The future of our club for the next ten years will be determined by how quickly we act over the next two weeks. Delay and hesitate and we’ll be fucked for years to come.

I think we already know the answer to this one, based on how these clueless pricks have handled the running of this club for the first 4 years of their tenure to date 

[Holmes_and_Watson]

9 minutes ago, bpsaint said:

Good luck @Whitey Grandad with your fight. At least your news has managed to provide a bit of perspective amongst the madness.

Well said. All the best @Whitey Grandad.

(xW of 1 - 100% of posters wishing you well, as we know you love your stats)

Edited 30 minutes ago by Holmes_and_Watson

[adrian lord]

Never apologise, never explain. We should keep Tonda, circle the wagons, increase the players' wages and get promoted automatically next season. 

[Midfield_General]

15 minutes ago, sockeye said:

Very sad how a legend is now just a mouthpiece for this pathetic ownership to placate the fans

Remember HT in the semi final

Not sure Matty's really in any position to be lecturing people on restoring their reputation, to be honest

[Badger]

1 minute ago, Saint Scott said:

At least to soften this blow we all get to watch England fuck up another attempt at world cup glory this summer

Think I’m done with football for a time. Certainly not going to watch a load of prima donnas at unsociable hours over the summer.

Fuck it. 

[RedArmy]

Just now, adrian lord said:

Never apologise, never explain. We should keep Tonda, 

Yeah good luck with that. He’s getting banned 

[LegalEagle]

1 minute ago, SNSUN said:

Fair play to Bet365 for instantly refunding my cheeky, naughty insurance bet on Hull that'd I'd put on to cover the cost of my ticket had we lost. Yes I know I'm a shmuck. Now just to get my Final ticket money refunded and I can use it all for hookers and blow instead.

Better than Skybet who have taken my money on my 6 game acca and declared Saints as a loss rather than just removing that leg of my bet or refunding the stake. That’s them deleted.

[Graffito]

16 minutes ago, Whitey Grandad said:

It's for my radiotherapy therapy for Prostate Cancer. It's very kind of everybody and I'm deeply touched. It's 'locally advanced' which means it hasn't spread to the bones or lymph nodes so I should be OK. It seems that I caught it in time. Let this be a wake up call to everyone.  As the saying goes, it may just be that the purpose of my life is to act as a warning to others. 

The last few days have been great fun. We have a season in the Championship to look forward to. More games and no VAR. It's strange but after our win last Tuesday I somehow couldn't get excited.  Now I know why. 

I would like that hour that I spent queueing for tickets back though.

You’re not alone Whitey, though I’ve been able to opt for active surveillance. Good luck with your treatment. 

[trousers]

11 minutes ago, Holmes_and_Watson said:

Presumably Dragon knew nothing about this. Him kicking a chair at Russ getting rubbed by Spurs will be nothing compared to how angry he'll be about this.

I imagine Tonda has already, or will, offer a resignation.

There's still a bit of me that would like staff and players to all pull together for next season. Taking responsibility for a set of the same actions, they didn't forsee the outcome of.

But, just thinking of him facing the players and staff...it just doesn't seem like an option.

So, that would be him, coaches, spors, parsons on their way. Possibly some of the analysts too.

Not just that, but you can imagine how every single press conference and post match interviews would go... Sadly, his position is untenable, end of. 

[Holmes_and_Watson]

Just now, Midfield_General said:

Not sure Matty's really in any position to be lecturing people on restoring their reputation, to be honest

When the aliens arrive to rewrite our history, Matt will put a good word in for us. 🙂

[stknowle]

38 minutes ago, MarkSFC said:

If Eckert and his fellow rule breakers are not sacked tonight or tomorrow morning at the latest, it will show even more weak leadership by the owner. 

Swift action is required to mitigate the damage which will take a long time to repair. 

After 4 exciting months, its all been ruined in a matter of days. 

Sad, gutted and angry. 

Plus 1. I’ll add that I really wish I wasn’t associated with this club right now and it’s gonna take a looong time for that feeling to fully dissipate assuming it ever does.

[skintsaint]

9am resignation presser should be on the cards for Tonda at least.

[StrangelyBrown]

A young manager and a young analyst have done something stupid and we've been punished for it. I don't condone what they've done at all, but equally think they shouldn't be hung out to dry.

The punishment is what it is. It needs to be applied consistently going forwards. A precedent has been set, but you can bet your bottom dollar that certain clubs will continue to get away with cheating and there will be no consistency.

I'm not cross with the club, nor the EFL. I'm just disillusioned with football in general, a game I love that is sadly broken because it's run by wankers who love status and money and couldn't give a shit about us fans or the volunteer based system that props football up.

Having said that I'll undoubtedly be back for more punishment next year!