#Spygate

[tdmickey3]

7 hours ago, S-Clarke said:

They have all been a bit pathetic about it, it probably happened and we were dumb to get caught out doing whatever we were doing - but they have 110% used this to 'try' and carry the team to Wembley, they've blown this out of all proportion to try and give them an edge.

It probably slightly did, but sadly for them they can't finish their dinner.

I don't quite understand why there is talk of expulsion or anything like that, the media keep pitching it in the post match stuff. It's nonsense. That isn't going to happen. It will be a fine now, and if there are any footballing sanctions (which is a big if - bans/touchline bans or points) then it will be applied to next season.

I know Boro's argument is 'how does that help us', well I'd suggest they could have helped themselves by staying in the Top 2 or finishing their chances in the 1st leg. 

And also, isn't it somewhat fun to be hated? We've always been seen as this soft, provisional, nondescript club who just goes about it's things - Mr Nice guy in football circles. But I actually quite like us being hated like this, it adds a bit of spice to it all.

Good post

[tdmickey3]

8 hours ago, Patrick Bateman said:

Steve McQueen in Papillon style, eating cockroaches. 

Also the staple diet in Middlesborough

[skintsaint]

Someone made a good point that all teams scout 'not spy' on each other when they can. We just fucked up by doing it in the wrong timeframe. Cant see the team getting getting expelled for that as would be disproportionate.

[AlexLaw76]

1 minute ago, skintsaint said:

Someone made a good point that all teams scout 'not spy' on each other when they can. We just fucked up by doing it in the wrong timeframe. Cant see the team getting getting expelled for that as would be disproportionate.

When you scout another side I would be surprised if you hide in bushes and quickly delete stuff

[Zorba]

2 minutes ago, AlexLaw76 said:

When you scout another side I would be surprised if you hide in bushes and quickly delete stuff

Say Boro

[beatlesaint]

Watching the interviews etc when I got home last night on Sky Sports and did the Boro manager seem more resigned to the fact we aren’t getting kicked out? He seemed accepting rather than bullish.

I might just be reading too much into it of course.

[AlexLaw76]

Don Gibbo does not lose

 

[23rdSaint]

4 minutes ago, AlexLaw76 said:

Don Gibbo does not lose

 

 

[Zorba]

Fat security bloke sees man walking beside golf course..

FSB “what you doing?”

Man “Nothing!”

FSB “What you on your phone for?”

Man “None of your business!”

FSB “Let me have a look!”

Man “Fuck Off!”

Man walks off, fat security bloke can’t keep up. Man takes his coat off, gets in car and drives off home.

FSB gets on walkie-talkie..“Boss, boss, just caught a spy in the bushes recording the lads, sounded like he was from down south. I tried to get his recording equipment but he ran off. He changed his clothes so I wouldn’t recognise him but i’m too smart for that boss, he sped off out the car park, couldn’t make out the reg. I’l see if there’s someone that looks like him on the Saints website Boss!.

Source: who really gives s fuck, it’s all bullshit and we’re going to WEM-BER-LEY!

 

..

Edited 7 hours ago by Zorba

[RedArmy]

Good morning to the Boro fans

Another glorious day of still being in the playoffs. 
 

 

[musesaint]

Let the independent tribunal sort out Spygate when the ACTUAL facts rather than spin, speculation and rumours are known. It’s all getting totally out of hand. Let’s just focus on the football and not the rumour filled sideshow (however much Sky, the pundits and Borough want to blow it all up).
 

Borough were beaten by a better team last night. That is a FACT. Not spin, speculation or rumour. The more people talk about Spygate the more it fans the flames of attention and feeds the monster.
 

[LegalEagle]

37 minutes ago, beatlesaint said:

Watching the interviews etc when I got home last night on Sky Sports and did the Boro manager seem more resigned to the fact we aren’t getting kicked out? He seemed accepting rather than bullish.

I might just be reading too much into it of course.

That’s how I read it. He was invited to discuss it but side stepped it. Maybe he was just feeling the defeat and today will come out fighting on their first day of post/pre-season training. Twats.

[DellBlockH]

This is pathetic.

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/may/13/southampton-middlesbrough-kim-hellberg-tonda-eckert-championship-playoff?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other

I get SFC may have done wrong. We don't yet know the facts but, if we have done wrong, we will receive a proportionate punishment. But this whingeing by their manager that if Middlesbrough had lost due to him coming up short, he could have accepted that. He seems to be saying that they lost directly as a result of us (possibly) observing a training session.

No. You lost because you had no idea of conservation of energy and went all out in the first half leaving you with nothing by the end of the second, and dead on your feet by extra time. The only thing we could have learned from your training session is that fitness did not play much of a part.

[coalman]

42 minutes ago, AlexLaw76 said:

Don Gibbo does not lose

 

It looks like he lost when he fell out of the tree and hit every branch on the way down.

[Toadhall Saint]

Just watched the press conferences after the game - Tonda was asked if he is a cheat. Scandalous hopefully tat journalist is banned from SMS.

[Fabrice29]

1 minute ago, DellBlockH said:

This is pathetic.

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/may/13/southampton-middlesbrough-kim-hellberg-tonda-eckert-championship-playoff?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other

I get SFC may have done wrong. We don't yet know the facts but, if we have done wrong, we will receive a proportionate punishment. But this whingeing by their manager that if Middlesbrough had lost due to him coming up short, he could have accepted that. He seems to be saying that they lost directly as a result of us (possibly) observing a training session.

No. You lost because you had no idea of conservation of energy and went all out in the first half leaving you with nothing by the end of the second, and dead on your feet by extra time. The only thing we could have learned from your training session is that fitness did not play much of a part.

This isn’t what he’s saying. You only need to watch the press conference, which is available on YouTube, to see what he’s saying. He’s talking about the tiny margins in football he can control and is seemingly upset they have potentially been taken away from him. Think he comes across very well personally and his laughing at anyone suggesting ‘allegedly’ also very telling. He’s honest about what he saw on the CCTV. It’s clear what we’ve done. And he’s honest about that and why it upsets him but he’s also honest in why they lost. Can’t really argue with his scoffing at a fine being suitable punishment either personally but I guess that’s about opinions and there’s a small panel of people who will decide on that. Which he’s also honest with.

[Lee On Solent Saint]

1 minute ago, Toadhall Saint said:

Just watched the press conferences after the game - Tonda was asked if he is a cheat. Scandalous hopefully tat journalist is banned from SMS.

I hope our lawyers are watching these comments by pundits and so called journalists very carefully.

[The Wyvern]

7 minutes ago, Fabrice29 said:

This isn’t what he’s saying. You only need to watch the press conference, which is available on YouTube, to see what he’s saying. He’s talking about the tiny margins in football he can control and is seemingly upset they have potentially been taken away from him. Think he comes across very well personally and his laughing at anyone suggesting ‘allegedly’ also very telling. He’s honest about what he saw on the CCTV. It’s clear what we’ve done. And he’s honest about that and why it upsets him but he’s also honest in why they lost. Can’t really argue with his scoffing at a fine being suitable punishment either personally but I guess that’s about opinions and there’s a small panel of people who will decide on that. Which he’s also honest with.

What would be a suitable punishment in your opinion?

[DellBlockH]

2 minutes ago, Fabrice29 said:

This isn’t what he’s saying. You only need to watch the press conference, which is available on YouTube, to see what he’s saying. He’s talking about the tiny margins in football he can control and is seemingly upset they have potentially been taken away from him. Think he comes across very well personally and his laughing at anyone suggesting ‘allegedly’ also very telling. He’s honest about what he saw on the CCTV. It’s clear what we’ve done. And he’s honest about that and why it upsets him but he’s also honest in why they lost. Can’t really argue with his scoffing at a fine being suitable punishment either personally but I guess that’s about opinions and there’s a small panel of people who will decide on that. Which he’s also honest with.

I don't condone what Saints allegedly did. But he can't blame that for the lack of fitness in his players or for them falling from 2nd to 5th in the league. Saints have played more games (FA Cup) yet somehow were physically fitter. You don't get that from watching other people's training sessions. Yes, he can go on about small margins. But it wasn't a small margin that caused Boro to lose.

[Fabrice29]

4 minutes ago, The Wyvern said:

What would be a suitable punishment in your opinion?

I’ve no idea, obviously. I suspect whoever is making the decision is also trying to figure that out let alone me. A fine seems a bit mad to me though. And so does expulsion from the competition. I suspect it’ll be neither of those (on their own). So points (maybe suspended) and personnel bans?

Would fit in with what happened in the women’s game. 

Edited 6 hours ago by Fabrice29

[Fabrice29]

2 minutes ago, DellBlockH said:

I don't condone what Saints allegedly did. But he can't blame that for the lack of fitness in his players or for them falling from 2nd to 5th in the league. Saints have played more games (FA Cup) yet somehow were physically fitter. You don't get that from watching other people's training sessions. Yes, he can go on about small margins. But it wasn't a small margin that caused Boro to lose.

He doesn’t blame that. 

[Turkish]

https://www.skysports.com/football/video/33727/13543355/middlesbrough-boss-kim-hellberg-shares-passionate-answer-on-southampton-spygate
 

weird interview he says teams can gain an advantage from their tactics, how can this be when we’ve been told tactics don’t matter? 

[Patrick Bateman]

Just now, Turkish said:

https://www.skysports.com/football/video/33727/13543355/middlesbrough-boss-kim-hellberg-shares-passionate-answer-on-southampton-spygate
 

weird interview he says teams can gain an advantage from their tactics, how can this be when we’ve been told tactics don’t matter? 

He comes over as a right sap, me me me

[Turkish]

Just now, Patrick Bateman said:

He comes over as a right sap, me me me

He's just had his dreams destroyed, show the lad some compassion!

[LegalEagle]

Sorry for getting all legal here and Lee on Solent touched on this above. If it turns out that the allegations are either not upheld or that they are found to be relatively minor in their nature (i.e. the extent of the “spying”) then some of these journalists and pundits need to watch their backs. Some of the comments that have been made are defamatory and/or libelous. The journalists and pundits whom I refer to have made these statements without being in full possession of the facts, and indeed without possession of any of the facts and cannot try and rely upon ‘honest belief’. 
 

if it turns out as I stated above in my second sentence, the club should take these people through the courts if they won’t make a full public apology. I’m surprised at certain main stream media and radio printing and publishing some of these statements.

Let’s see.

 

[Dell McDellFace]

I'm conflicted on this. Much as I want success for us, something stinks about "wanting more time to conduct an internal investigation". Obviously, the longer it goes, the more complicated it would be for everyone else involved if we were to be thrown out of the playoffs. Do Middlesbrough keep training? For how long? Who do Hull prepare for? What if the final goes ahead and we win? Would it be awarded to Hull, replayed between Middlesbrough and Hull, .....

And realistically, isn't it simply a matter of answering just a few simple questions:

• What was the level of sophistication of the alleged spying (mobile phone to espionage level equipment)
• Who authorised it?
• Who knew about it?
• Was this a one-off or has it been going on for some time?

I think we are being deliberately coy and "clever" to remove the option of being eliminated, and I'm not sure I like it. 

[Winnersaint]

 

[Secret Site Agent]

7 hours ago, S-Clarke said:

They have all been a bit pathetic about it, it probably happened and we were dumb to get caught out doing whatever we were doing - but they have 110% used this to 'try' and carry the team to Wembley, they've blown this out of all proportion to try and give them an edge.

It probably slightly did, but sadly for them they can't finish their dinner.

I don't quite understand why there is talk of expulsion or anything like that, the media keep pitching it in the post match stuff. It's nonsense. That isn't going to happen. It will be a fine now, and if there are any footballing sanctions (which is a big if - bans/touchline bans or points) then it will be applied to next season.

I know Boro's argument is 'how does that help us', well I'd suggest they could have helped themselves by staying in the Top 2 or finishing their chances in the 1st leg. 

And also, isn't it somewhat fun to be hated? We've always been seen as this soft, provisional, nondescript club who just goes about it's things - Mr Nice guy in football circles. But I actually quite like us being hated like this, it adds a bit of spice to it all.

I actually agree with you.  There are a number of ifs,buts and maybes still.

The question should be - What did it benefit us, and how did it impact the match?

We received no benefit at all really, as we didn't win.  You could argue that we also didn't lose so were able to counter them, but any independant would look at the first leg and see we were under the cosh, and how didn't Middlesbrough not score in the first half.

The second leg it is a moot point, and we won, in extra time, and you could see that Middlesbrough were on their chinstraps and had given their all and were knackered.  That is where are quality subs come in play.

To give an analogy the crippling of Scienza by Ayling, (no matter that the Commentator was saying it was '...and accident just coming together of knees' I used to have a lad that did that to me when I was a kid, no accident to me).  Scienza was reduced in his capacity, almost had to come off early, and struggled in the match, but still played for 50 minutes.  Saints still won.  The FA could spend millions going over the incident and paying experts and what would the upshot be? Retrospective yellow applied to next season and a fine.  Perhaps we should be shouting that he should be fined £10 million and forced to play at a level no higher than non league and he be charged by the police with assault with an offensive Man-Bun. But that is the punishment not fitting the crime.

Whomever did the spying did us no favours, even if he has no link to the club.  So the independent panel, giving the evidence would either fine us or give us some sort of sanction, but throwing us out of the play-offs etc is, in my opinion, overkill and not justified.

Would we be screaming if the roles were reversed? Yes, probably. 

Does it hold water? probably not.

I feel a sense of realism is missing with this whole sorry mess.

 

[Saint_clark]

23 minutes ago, Lee On Solent Saint said:

I hope our lawyers are watching these comments by pundits and so called journalists very carefully.

It was a question, not a comment. 

But other people have absolutely committed slander against Eckert.

[coalman]

3 minutes ago, LegalEagle said:

Sorry for getting all legal here and Lee on Solent touched on this above. If it turns out that the allegations are either not upheld or that they are found to be relatively minor in their nature (i.e. the extent of the “spying”) then some of these journalists and pundits need to watch their backs. Some of the comments that have been made are defamatory and/or libelous. The journalists and pundits whom I refer to have made these statements without being in full possession of the facts, and indeed without possession of any of the facts and cannot try and rely upon ‘honest belief’. 
 

if it turns out as I stated above in my second sentence, the club should take these people through the courts if they won’t make a full public apology. I’m surprised at certain main stream media and radio printing and publishing some of these statements.

Let’s see.

The extent to which the Boro chairman appears to has whipped up the media also shouldn't be underestimated. The rule about acting in good faith towards other teams could also be applied to the orchestrated witch hunt that's happened/happening.

Extra bonus points if Will Salt wasn't involved because they probably also outed him.

I think the reality is Boro saw a chance to win the game off the pitch and went for it. They figured the worst case was they'd be able to distract us and give their players a reason to feel hard done by. In reality, they couldn't capitalise on the motivation and wound up expending too much energy in the first half on Saturday. Which would've been fine if they'd converted that into goals.

[BotleySaint]

Bloody media talking BS as usual. Hopefully the EFL won't bow to the pressure. Would be a totally unjust punishment to say a whole seasons efforts are cancelled due to 1 alleged incident. BBC literally printing BS: There was no pitch invasion = celebrations were muted. Anyone watching or anyone there could see celebrations were not muted!

[OldNick]

1 minute ago, Dell McDellFace said:

I'm conflicted on this. Much as I want success for us, something stinks about "wanting more time to conduct an internal investigation". Obviously, the longer it goes, the more complicated it would be for everyone else involved if we were to be thrown out of the playoffs. Do Middlesbrough keep training? For how long? Who do Hull prepare for? What if the final goes ahead and we win? Would it be awarded to Hull, replayed between Middlesbrough and Hull, .....

And realistically, isn't it simply a matter of answering just a few simple questions:

• What was the level of sophistication of the alleged spying (mobile phone to espionage level equipment)
• Who authorised it?
• Who knew about it?
• Was this a one-off or has it been going on for some time?

I think we are being deliberately coy and "clever" to remove the option of being eliminated, and I'm not sure I like it. 

I assume the club are going through the whle process to make sure they have a cast iron defence. We cant use the media to try us, so farits been a kangaroo court, I hope we can out of this with a semblence of dignity

[Fabrice29]

11 minutes ago, Turkish said:

He's just had his dreams destroyed, show the lad some compassion!

All that experience and still no guaranteed success. Can’t be right. 

[Dman]

2 minutes ago, Saint_clark said:

It was a question, not a comment. 

But other people have absolutely committed slander against Eckert.

Hellbergs wasn't though. 

He specifically said "they sent someone up"

Unproven at this stage and a dangerous comment to make during an investigation.

[Whitey Grandad]

4 minutes ago, Dell McDellFace said:

I'm conflicted on this. Much as I want success for us, something stinks about "wanting more time to conduct an internal investigation". Obviously, the longer it goes, the more complicated it would be for everyone else involved if we were to be thrown out of the playoffs. Do Middlesbrough keep training? For how long? Who do Hull prepare for? What if the final goes ahead and we win? Would it be awarded to Hull, replayed between Middlesbrough and Hull, .....

And realistically, isn't it simply a matter of answering just a few simple questions:

• What was the level of sophistication of the alleged spying (mobile phone to espionage level equipment)
• Who authorised it?
• Who knew about it?
• Was this a one-off or has it been going on for some time?

I think we are being deliberately coy and "clever" to remove the option of being eliminated, and I'm not sure I like it. 

Before any of those questions, what is the identity of the person that was discovered?

[benjii]

1 hour ago, AlexLaw76 said:

Don Gibbo does not lose

 

Yeah, but what has that got to do with Mrs Brown's Boys?

[bpsaint]

7 minutes ago, Winnersaint said:

 

A bit of sense at last. 

[kitch]

20 minutes ago, Winnersaint said:

 

What weird parallel universe is this where Agbonlahor is talking sense?

Edited 5 hours ago by kitch

[skintsaint]

18 minutes ago, Winnersaint said:

 

[Dman]

Just now, kitch said:

What weird parallel universe is this were Agbonlahor is talking sense?

There seems to be a real split of opinon. 

Anyone who's played the game (and has no assoiation to that club), thinks its all a bit of a joke and don't seem too bothered. 

Jurnos who are based in the north east are seemingly losing their heads. A moment for them to get 5 mins of fame I suppose. 

[Saint NL]

The final is being played between a team that spied on the opposition versus a team that have a transfer embargo for financial reasons.

I'm guessing Sky won't broadcast it because it's so morally corrupt 

[Turkish]

According to SSN this was the crime scene. The spy was hiding behind this tree then when seen ran into the bogs to get changed. The outrage, the tears, the over the top reporting with everyone having an opinion. Its actually comical 

 

[AlexLaw76]

Just now, Turkish said:

According to SSN this was the crime scene. The spy was hiding behind this tree then when seen ran into the bogs to get changed. The outrage, the tears, the over the top reporting with everyone having an opinion. Its actually comical 

 

My Christ, surely not?

[AlexLaw76]

Simon Jordan suggesting “Gibbo” may call Saints and request a financial deal for this to go away.

Which means “Gibbo” has fed that to him?

[beatlesaint]

I’d love to know who that journalist was who asked Tonda if he was a cheat. Twat.

[beatlesaint]

Just now, AlexLaw76 said:

Simon Jordan suggesting “Gibbo” may call Saints and request a financial deal for this to go away.

Which means “Gibbo” has fed that to him?

Sounds like it

[Saint_clark]

3 minutes ago, Turkish said:

According to SSN this was the crime scene. The spy was hiding behind this tree then when seen ran into the bogs to get changed. The outrage, the tears, the over the top reporting with everyone having an opinion. Its actually comical 

 

That's a joke right? They didn't really send a reporter there to speak live from the "scene of the crime"?

[DrSuess1979]

1 minute ago, Turkish said:

According to SSN this was the crime scene. The spy was hiding behind this tree then when seen ran into the bogs to get changed. The outrage, the tears, the over the top reporting with everyone having an opinion. Its actually comical 

 

Next they’ll be interviewing the golfers to get their life story and how do they feel that Hellberg has had his dreams crushed.

 

[NewYorkSaint]

27 minutes ago, Dell McDellFace said:

I'm conflicted on this. Much as I want success for us, something stinks about "wanting more time to conduct an internal investigation". Obviously, the longer it goes, the more complicated it would be for everyone else involved if we were to be thrown out of the playoffs. Do Middlesbrough keep training? For how long? Who do Hull prepare for? What if the final goes ahead and we win? Would it be awarded to Hull, replayed between Middlesbrough and Hull, .....

And realistically, isn't it simply a matter of answering just a few simple questions:

• What was the level of sophistication of the alleged spying (mobile phone to espionage level equipment)
• Who authorised it?
• Who knew about it?
• Was this a one-off or has it been going on for some time?

I think we are being deliberately coy and "clever" to remove the option of being eliminated, and I'm not sure I like it. 

I agree w this take.  Those of us talking ourselves into believing this is just a small issue are in danger of a shock moment when the facts come out.  It's pretty obvious this was sanctioned by someone on Tonda's team, perhaps even initiated by him. Which implies it was used in other games.   I think there needs at some point to be a giant apology + pledge to sanction those who did this.  (If it's Tonda, I personally wouldn't want him to be fired...  but I would want him to eat a giant slice of humble pie.  "My passion for this club, and my background in a different footballing culture led me astray. I screwed up. It won't happen again."     For everyone's logistics, the enquiry should give a short deadline... say Friday... and give a ruling by the weekend.   I agree that banning us from the playoffs is prob a disproportionate penalty.  I would gladly settle for a 10-pt deduction next time we're in the championship.v   But I would be so much happier to have this behind us by the time Wembley comes.

[coalman]

1 minute ago, AlexLaw76 said:

Simon Jordan suggesting “Gibbo” may call Saints and request a financial deal for this to go away.

Which means “Gibbo” has fed that to him?

They need a big fella up top according to their forum and we have a big fella that would be a good fit who is unlikely to get a game next season. Damion Downs is the answer nobody is talking about yet.