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 58 minutes 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 1 hour 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.