Sports Republics response to “Spygate”

[Nordic Saint]

The cloud may have a big silver lining.

If we can win the Championship next season, not going up via the play-offs will be one of the best things that's happened to us in recent years. We'll have a league winners trophy and be better prepared for the Premier League, like Leeds after we beat them in the play-off final. 

It certainly sounds like Dragan is up for it.

[tdmickey3]

15 minutes ago, AlexLaw76 said:

Some of their fans and journos are all most giving this a ‘minute by minute’

tragic really

Takes the attention away from  their inept 2nd -5th manager who should really be in their spotlight 

[beatlesaint]

Thing about this holier than thou attitude from the North East is their total reluctance to admit they have done wrong by putting the photo and name of the intern/analyst out in the public domain.

Had they carried out the procedure properly that information would have been for the disiplinary panel only. Now had the EFL released his name in their transcripts thats up to them BUT it was not the job of these North East hacks who scrabble around Gibson's backside to do so.

They fail to grasp that, idiots.

[Sheaf Saint]

2 hours ago, saintant said:

There is zero proof of this.

Tonda admitted in his statement to the EFL that he authorised the use of spying on numerous occasions.

What more proof do you need?

[suewhistle]

11 minutes ago, whelk said:

If I had one bullet in the chamber, not sure who gets it, Gibson or Henry Winter

Line them up?

[sadoldgit]

4 hours ago, Sheaf Saint said:

Tonda admitted in his statement to the EFL that he authorised the use of spying on numerous occasions.

What more proof do you need?

Numerous? 3. None of which were a big deal by all accounts. As has been said numerous times, a storm in a tea cup and has been blown out of all proportion.

Edited 3 hours ago by sadoldgit
Typo

[Dman]

13 minutes ago, whelk said:

If I had one bullet in the chamber, not sure who gets it, Gibson or Henry Winter

That little Goblin from their local paper Dominic Shaw would be up there as well.  

[Marsdinho]

14 minutes ago, whelk said:

If I had one bullet in the chamber, not sure who gets it, Gibson or Henry Winter

Can I add James Cordon and Rory Jennings to the list

[trousers]

13 minutes ago, Nordic Saint said:

The cloud may have a big silver lining.

If we can win the Championship next season, not going up via the play-offs will be one of the best things that's happened to us in recent years. We'll have a league winners trophy and be better prepared for the Premier League, like Leeds after we beat them in the play-off final. 

 

Aye... It has occurred to me that we could all be looking back at this in a couple of years thinking that we ended up better prepared for toughing it out on the Premier League than if we'd gone straight back up at the first time of asking.... Blessings in disguise and all that....

(And, yes, obviously getting massively ahead of myself with that train of thought!)

Edited 7 hours ago by trousers

[leesaint88]

8 minutes ago, Marsdinho said:

Can I add James Cordon and Rory Jennings to the list

Saintsweb drawing up the hit list…

 

[trousers]

😂

[Turkish]

5 minutes ago, trousers said:

😂

Thought people from the North East were meant to be tough, resilient characters? They've come across as a right bunch of saps during all this. 

[tdmickey3]

37 minutes ago, trousers said:

😂

I am really pleased that they cannot move on, are still offended and frothing at the mouth. 

The point about sacking is interesting, why have they not called for that clown who took them from nailed on promotion to 5th and then screwed the playoffs up to be sacked, he is incompetent.

We need to sing Tonda`s red and white army on repeat every time they pipe up

Edited 7 hours ago by tdmickey3

[Cuddles]

7 minutes ago, trousers said:

😂

What a melt! 🤣

[Challenger]

3 minutes ago, Turkish said:

Thought people from the North East were meant to be tough, resilient characters? They've come across as a right bunch of saps during all this. 

Generations ago they were due to their tough industrial heritage. Just a bunch of loud, sad squealers now.

[UpweySaint]

12 minutes ago, trousers said:

😂

Boro breakdown feels very apt. Cry more Matt 😅

[trousers]

You know we've reached peak irony when fans of the original Cheats FC start piping up.... 😂😂😂

 

 

Edited 7 hours ago by trousers

[Winnersaint]

34 minutes ago, Marsdinho said:

Can I add James Cordon and Rory Jennings to the list

Add Ian Herbert of that lying coffin dodgers rag The Mail to the list.

[Dman]

 

11 minutes ago, Turkish said:

Thought people from the North East were meant to be tough, resilient characters? They've come across as a right bunch of saps during all this. 

They are the strangest bunch I've ever seen. Why do they even care anymore? They got the result they wanted off the back of media pressure etc. 

They are making out as if the bloke has killed someone. 

[31cc]

40 minutes ago, Marsdinho said:

Can I add James Cordon and Rory Jennings to the list

[freshen up]

Just listened to talksport call ins when the supposed saints fan was talking about being scared to wear his saints shirt lest he be called a cheat and that he can't go to games anymore. So wet.

Jesus wept

 

[Holmes_and_Watson]

14 minutes ago, freshen up said:

Just listened to talksport call ins when the supposed saints fan was talking about being scared to wear his saints shirt lest he be called a cheat and that he can't go to games anymore. So wet.

Jesus wept

 

If it's our sports bra shirt, I'm a bit scared to wear that one. It was horrible.

[tdmickey3]

11 minutes ago, freshen up said:

Just listened to talksport call ins when the supposed saints fan was talking about being scared to wear his saints shirt lest he be called a cheat and that he can't go to games anymore. So wet.

Jesus wept

 

Don`t need pathetic twats like that

[Pengi]

20 minutes ago, trousers said:

You know we've reached peak irony when fans of the original Cheats FC start piping up.... 😂😂😂

 

 

I have spoken with die hard Pompey fans in the neighbourhood (apart from Westwood) all of them thought the sanctions were way way over the top. However normal rivalry will begin at the start of the season.

[leesaint88]

6 minutes ago, Pengi said:

I have spoken with die hard Pompey fans in the neighbourhood (apart from Westwood) all of them thought the sanctions were way way over the top. However normal rivalry will begin at the start of the season.

Because they know full well they got away with one....that Ipswich postponement was incredibly suspect given half the team were injured.

[Miltonaggro]

30 minutes ago, trousers said:

You know we've reached peak irony when fans of the original Cheats FC start piping up.... 😂😂😂

 

 

All that the blue few do these days is spew this bollocks whilst perpetually sucking off the likes of Millwall, Leeds and West Ham trying to extend the self-projected myth that they are amongst the bestest, hardest fans.  They are the football equivalent of Gary Glitter's PA! 

[trousers]

Henry Winter (amongst others in the media) now putting pressure on the FA... Quelle surprise....

 

 

https://henrywinterfootball.substack.com/p/eckert-spygate-and-a-test-of-the

Eckert, Spygate and a test of the FA authority

The Tonda Eckert case represents a major challenge to the FA’s authority, almost an existential one. Its deliberations on Eckert’s cheating comes at a time when the all-powerful, wealthy Premier League effectively runs the game and an Independent Football Regulator arrives to encourage some accountability and sustainability which should be the FA’s preserve as custodians. The FA’s response to Eckert comes at a time when the EFL earns widespread praise for its strong stance on Spygate, and when everyone in the country has an online platform to acclaim or blame. This case is not simply about Eckert’s credibility but also, to an extent, about the FA’s. No pressure.

Those deployed by the FA to examine Eckert’s conduct and decide the appropriate punishment will not consider the wider ramifications, of course. They have to focus on Eckert’s offences, the extent of his contrition and today’s attempt at mitigation, and the culpability or otherwise of others at Southampton. But it is impossible not to see this case through a wider prism. Is the FA actually still in charge of the game? How seriously does it take challenges to the very fabric of the sport it first began overseeing in 1863. Is it fit for purpose? Is anything less than a 10-game ban (minimum) sufficient? How much does it want to clamp down on cheating when it’s rife when the first whistle blows anyway?

Eckert is a promising 33-year-old head coach who currently has the full backing of Southampton’s board as expressed defiantly by the club’s owner, Dragan Solak, in his statement today. Whether the club’s position changes if Eckert receives a lengthy ban remains to be seen. How long do you hold on for your leader? 10 games, 20? What Southampton haven’t factored in in their support for Eckert is that the punishment doesn’t end when any ban ends. Unless there is a full mea culpa, and a long ban, opposing clubs will still view Southampton in a critical light. Every Southampton game will be awash with “cheat” chants from rival fans and, doubtless, verbal retaliation from Saints supporters. Southampton have hitherto had a good reputation within the game for community, atmosphere, player development, style of football and doing things the right way. That’s been lost amidst Spygate.

Eckert has apologised to the other clubs affected by Spygate, Oxford United, Ipswich Town and Middlesbrough, but mainly focused his contrition towards Southampton’s players and fans. His statement seemed as much for internal consumption, within Southampton and its fanbase, rather than for national tastes. It was more about “me”, when it should be about “mea culpa” to the sport.

It cannot be a defence that spying is accepted elsewhere. “When I worked in Italy for over four years (at Genoa as assistant) every starting line-up that we’ve chosen for the games was always out in the media before games…” Eckert said in his statement to Southampton fans via the club’s website. “…and the reason is that our training sessions, especially the ones before games, have always been observed from the media and have always been observed from opponent teams that we came up against.” And he kept digging.

 

-----------------------------------

 

Edited 6 hours ago by trousers

[Toadhall Saint]

2 minutes ago, trousers said:

Henry Winter (amongst others in the media) now putting pressure on the FA... Quelle surprise....

 

 

https://henrywinterfootball.substack.com/p/eckert-spygate-and-a-test-of-the

 

What a twat. 

[Miltonaggro]

8 minutes ago, trousers said:

Henry Winter (amongst others in the media) now putting pressure on the FA... Quelle surprise....

 

 

https://henrywinterfootball.substack.com/p/eckert-spygate-and-a-test-of-the

Eckert, Spygate and a test of the FA authority

The Tonda Eckert case represents a major challenge to the FA’s authority, almost an existential one. Its deliberations on Eckert’s cheating comes at a time when the all-powerful, wealthy Premier League effectively runs the game and an Independent Football Regulator arrives to encourage some accountability and sustainability which should be the FA’s preserve as custodians. The FA’s response to Eckert comes at a time when the EFL earns widespread praise for its strong stance on Spygate, and when everyone in the country has an online platform to acclaim or blame. This case is not simply about Eckert’s credibility but also, to an extent, about the FA’s. No pressure.

Those deployed by the FA to examine Eckert’s conduct and decide the appropriate punishment will not consider the wider ramifications, of course. They have to focus on Eckert’s offences, the extent of his contrition and today’s attempt at mitigation, and the culpability or otherwise of others at Southampton. But it is impossible not to see this case through a wider prism. Is the FA actually still in charge of the game? How seriously does it take challenges to the very fabric of the sport it first began overseeing in 1863. Is it fit for purpose? Is anything less than a 10-game ban (minimum) sufficient? How much does it want to clamp down on cheating when it’s rife when the first whistle blows anyway?

Eckert is a promising 33-year-old head coach who currently has the full backing of Southampton’s board as expressed defiantly by the club’s owner, Dragan Solak, in his statement today. Whether the club’s position changes if Eckert receives a lengthy ban remains to be seen. How long do you hold on for your leader? 10 games, 20? What Southampton haven’t factored in in their support for Eckert is that the punishment doesn’t end when any ban ends. Unless there is a full mea culpa, and a long ban, opposing clubs will still view Southampton in a critical light. Every Southampton game will be awash with “cheat” chants from rival fans and, doubtless, verbal retaliation from Saints supporters. Southampton have hitherto had a good reputation within the game for community, atmosphere, player development, style of football and doing things the right way. That’s been lost amidst Spygate.

Eckert has apologised to the other clubs affected by Spygate, Oxford United, Ipswich Town and Middlesbrough, but mainly focused his contrition towards Southampton’s players and fans. His statement seemed as much for internal consumption, within Southampton and its fanbase, rather than for national tastes. It was more about “me”, when it should be about “mea culpa” to the sport.

It cannot be a defence that spying is accepted elsewhere. “When I worked in Italy for over four years (at Genoa as assistant) every starting line-up that we’ve chosen for the games was always out in the media before games…” Eckert said in his statement to Southampton fans via the club’s website. “…and the reason is that our training sessions, especially the ones before games, have always been observed from the media and have always been observed from opponent teams that we came up against.” And he kept digging.

 

-----------------------------------

 

Slow news day again then Henners, to go with your slow brain functionality and imagination. IQ of a fucking tennis racquet!

[hippo]

15 minutes ago, trousers said:

Henry Winter (amongst others in the media) now putting pressure on the FA... Quelle surprise....

 

 

https://henrywinterfootball.substack.com/p/eckert-spygate-and-a-test-of-the

Eckert, Spygate and a test of the FA authority

The Tonda Eckert case represents a major challenge to the FA’s authority, almost an existential one. Its deliberations on Eckert’s cheating comes at a time when the all-powerful, wealthy Premier League effectively runs the game and an Independent Football Regulator arrives to encourage some accountability and sustainability which should be the FA’s preserve as custodians. The FA’s response to Eckert comes at a time when the EFL earns widespread praise for its strong stance on Spygate, and when everyone in the country has an online platform to acclaim or blame. This case is not simply about Eckert’s credibility but also, to an extent, about the FA’s. No pressure.

Those deployed by the FA to examine Eckert’s conduct and decide the appropriate punishment will not consider the wider ramifications, of course. They have to focus on Eckert’s offences, the extent of his contrition and today’s attempt at mitigation, and the culpability or otherwise of others at Southampton. But it is impossible not to see this case through a wider prism. Is the FA actually still in charge of the game? How seriously does it take challenges to the very fabric of the sport it first began overseeing in 1863. Is it fit for purpose? Is anything less than a 10-game ban (minimum) sufficient? How much does it want to clamp down on cheating when it’s rife when the first whistle blows anyway?

Eckert is a promising 33-year-old head coach who currently has the full backing of Southampton’s board as expressed defiantly by the club’s owner, Dragan Solak, in his statement today. Whether the club’s position changes if Eckert receives a lengthy ban remains to be seen. How long do you hold on for your leader? 10 games, 20? What Southampton haven’t factored in in their support for Eckert is that the punishment doesn’t end when any ban ends. Unless there is a full mea culpa, and a long ban, opposing clubs will still view Southampton in a critical light. Every Southampton game will be awash with “cheat” chants from rival fans and, doubtless, verbal retaliation from Saints supporters. Southampton have hitherto had a good reputation within the game for community, atmosphere, player development, style of football and doing things the right way. That’s been lost amidst Spygate.

Eckert has apologised to the other clubs affected by Spygate, Oxford United, Ipswich Town and Middlesbrough, but mainly focused his contrition towards Southampton’s players and fans. His statement seemed as much for internal consumption, within Southampton and its fanbase, rather than for national tastes. It was more about “me”, when it should be about “mea culpa” to the sport.

It cannot be a defence that spying is accepted elsewhere. “When I worked in Italy for over four years (at Genoa as assistant) every starting line-up that we’ve chosen for the games was always out in the media before games…” Eckert said in his statement to Southampton fans via the club’s website. “…and the reason is that our training sessions, especially the ones before games, have always been observed from the media and have always been observed from opponent teams that we came up against.” And he kept digging.

 

-----------------------------------

 

 

He's changed his tune from a few years ago. Weirdo. 

https://x.com/henrywinter/status/1085826180551327744?s=20

Edited 6 hours ago by hippo

[Pengi]

1 minute ago, hippo said:

https://x.com/henrywinter/status/1085826180551327744?s=20

Pannick stations?

[Draino76]

1 hour ago, suewhistle said:

Line them up?

Henry first as his head is full of paper mache. Therefore the bullet will go straight through his head ams finish Gibbo.

[Doctoroncall]

2 minutes ago, hippo said:

https://x.com/henrywinter/status/1085826180551327744?s=20

The worm has turned. 

[TheAlehouseBrawlers]

Can you see cunts like Winter, etc. banging on if it’d been say Millwall or (last season) Leeds guilty of this? They wouldn’t because they know they’d get lynched, we’ve been seen as too nice over the years and an easy hit.

Fuck ‘em.

[Patrick Bateman]

17 minutes ago, trousers said:

 

 

https://henrywinterfootball.substack.com/p/eckert-spygate-and-a-test-of-the

Every Southampton game will be awash with “cheat” chants from rival fans and, doubtless, verbal retaliation from Saints supporters. Southampton have hitherto had a good reputation within the game for community, atmosphere, player development, style of football and doing things the right way. That’s been lost amidst Spygate.

-----------------------------------

 

What a fucking wet wipe he is.

[Saint_Jonny]

Championship Reddit still absolutely hates us, and hates the clubs responses today. 

Next season is going to be fun!

[Roo1976]

37 minutes ago, Toadhall Saint said:

What a twat. 

meanwhile all the big money clubs in the prem are getting away with whatever sanctions the premiere league throw at them,when do we think( if ever)City will be charged or that Chelsea not only bend the rules but try to circumnavigate the earth with what ever they are trying to cover up and disguise as the truth,and we got so disproportionately charged cant wait for their outcome,can you?

[whelk]

51 minutes ago, Toadhall Saint said:

What a twat. 

Posh cunt just witters on these days. Dreadful bloke

[sandwichsaint]

1 hour ago, trousers said:

😂

Anytime you feel a little bit cross or even sad about all of this just ask yourself the all time pub-quiz question.

‘Who are the only team in the whole history of English football to have lost in both the final and the semi-final of the same competition in the same season?’

[Jack]

This noise isn’t going away so the club need to get ahead of it and use it to our advantage. ‘They’ve tried to fuck us over, we’re not having it, we’re coming back stronger next year, keep crying’ is the approach I want to see. Play on the new rivalry with those peasants from the north east, another opportunity to make sure we get all the points off Pompey, we basically started last season on -20 from the Will Still experiment so -4 is fuck all. They need to get a few players tied down early to get the feel good factor going, then season tickets, and hopefully quickly replace those who are on the way out regardless. 
 

Looking forward to it already, there should be a real edge to the season. 

Edited 5 hours ago by Jack

[badgerx16]

If you only have 1 shot, and so many targets to choose from.......

[Badger]

This amused me.

 

“class, decorum, integrity ..”  not often words associated with Middlesbrough 

 

 

 

Edited 4 hours ago by Badger

[badgerx16]

56 minutes ago, sandwichsaint said:

Anytime you feel a little bit cross or even sad about all of this just ask yourself the all time pub-quiz question.

‘Who are the only team in the whole history of English football to have lost in both the final and the semi-final of the same competition in the same season?’

Followed by "Who spent more time in the top 2 than Coventry, yet didn't get promoted ?"

[Badger]

9 minutes ago, badgerx16 said:

Followed by "Who spent more time in the top 2 than Coventry, yet didn't get promoted ?"

Is that right ? Didn’t realise their collapse was so dramatic.

I did look a couple of things up before the first SF though. At the time of Hellbergs appointment they were third, joint on points with second placed Stoke but lower on GD. And when they played at Coventry (in February from memory) they were top, but overtaken by Coventry after losing.

No wonder Hellberg wants to deflect attention from the end of their season. 

[suewhistle]

3 hours ago, trousers said:

😂

 

Is that MattPB a parody account? Or just somebody with more issues than just supporting Middlesboro?

Henry Winter I can understand as he used to work for a parody newspaper along with Alison Pearson, Allister Heath and other right wing mouth frothers at The Telegraph, and it seems to have infected him.

[Mr X]

Most people seem to think that dragen knew about tondas spying missions and that's why he's sticking with his man 

[Verbal]

Anyone wanting to make a list of the scumbags coming out of the woodwork for holier-than-thou takes on Spygate could probably start with this one.

A moral lecture on poor "culture" from a character who whitewashed corporate behaviour that led to the bankruptcy, false imprisonment and suicides of innocent postmasters. 

 

[Wade Garrett]

3 hours ago, freshen up said:

Just listened to talksport call ins when the supposed saints fan was talking about being scared to wear his saints shirt lest he be called a cheat and that he can't go to games anymore. So wet.

Jesus wept

 

What a twat he was.  Crossed my mind that it was a Pompey fan taking the piss.

[Wade Garrett]

Henry Winter is just a clickbait c*nt these days who can’t get a job with any of the media.

He has shown his hypocrisy.  Please don’t share any more of his shite on here - no more clicks for the wanker.

[Patrick Bateman]

3 hours ago, freshen up said:

Just listened to talksport call ins when the supposed saints fan was talking about being scared to wear his saints shirt lest he be called a cheat and that he can't go to games anymore. So wet.

Jesus wept

 

That call was hideous ... made me think of this too ... https://www.instagram.com/reels/DW_7zQpOP1n/