Tonda Eckert

[beatlesaint]

It’s a pity that didn’t come out before the Parsons statement from last night, or just instead of.

[trousers]

1 minute ago, beatlesaint said:

It’s a pity that didn’t come out before the Parsons statement from last night, or just instead of.

What I want to know is... When's the Dan Roan interview with Mr Grant to explain and apologise for this forum grinding to a halt every time there's a bit of breaking news FFS!

[trousers]

8 minutes ago, aintforever said:

Agree. I thought they should sack him but Dragan's got a better idea of what's going on behind the scenes, if he thinks it's best he stays I'm in. The important thing is how the players feel about Tonda and how they react and I'm in no position to gauge that.

You'd have thought that Solak would already have the player's buy-in by now.... He's not going to come out with a statement like today without the players being 100% behind Tonda...

Edited 4 hours ago by trousers

[JohnnyShearer2.0]

37 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

Yep. Combine that with an unexpected player staying like Scienza or Jander and we are in business.

Man, I hope we can keep one of them. If we do, that would be amazing. 

Scienza has had so much exposure, hopefully he appreciates that knowing he could get a move after this season.

However if a big bid comes in, I cant see him staying. 

Edited 4 hours ago by JohnnyShearer2.0

[trousers]

5 minutes ago, JohnnyShearer2.0 said:

Man, I hope we can keep one of them. If we do, that would be amazing. 

Scienza has had so much exposure, hopefully he appreciates that knowing he could get a move after this season.

However if a big bid comes in, I cant see him staying. 

If the Solak statement this morning is anything to go by, he's strongly indicating that they're going to pull out all the stops to retain / build an auto-promotion capable side.... Although, for all the cynics out there, I guess that comes under: "well, he would say that, wouldn't he?"

Edited 4 hours ago by trousers

[sockeye]

I feel like we’re going to be a force next season if we keep TE, and that’s what the Man City legal team is for - defending against the FA.

[austsaint]

1 hour ago, Wade Garrett said:

Good statement from the owner. I disagree with him on the manager but if he’s backing Eckert, and he’s the one that’s potentially lost a fortune, then so am I.

Time to move forward.

Yep, I'm with you. Solak's statement shows a pragmatic, yet reasoned approach.   He's backing Tonda in a way many would not.  He has a level of forgiveness many owners would not offer.    Maybe he has more information and legal advice than the average Saints fan.   One thing's for sure - the expectation on Tonda of getting Saints promoted next season will be huge;  let's hope he has a squad able to deliver under the pressure. 

[hypochondriac]

12 minutes ago, JohnnyShearer2.0 said:

Man, I hope we can keep one of them. If we do, that would be amazing. 

Scienza has had so much exposure, hopefully he appreciates that knowing he could get a move after this season.

However if a big bid comes in, I cant see him staying. 

I expect both to go. Alongside Charles and THB. Would he amazing if we kept one of them though. Even losing all those we wouldn't be dramatically weaker assuming we can replace THB with someone half decent. A cm of Bragg, Downes and one other would be good business.

[hypochondriac]

8 minutes ago, trousers said:

If the Solak statement this morning is anything to go by, he's strongly indicating that they're going to pull out all the stops to retain / build an auto-promotion capable side.... Although, for all the cynics out there, I guess that comes under: "well, he would say that, wouldn't he?"

This statement today does make me realise how much I would appreciate more regular updates from Solak himself. He speaks more sense than anything from the club in recent times.

[MarkSFC]

10 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

I expect both to go. Alongside Charles and THB. Would he amazing if we kept one of them though. Even losing all those we wouldn't be dramatically weaker assuming we can replace THB with someone half decent. A cm of Bragg, Downes and one other would be good business.

We've seen that having 4 CMs is very useful. Losing two of the current 4 is too many. I suspect Jander will go and Charles will stay. But either is fine. Bragg will be better and more able to play more, more regularly and perhaps Moses Sesay will be the Bragg of this season.

[Barry the Badger]

 

[Saint Matty 76]

Good statement to be fair, and interesting context behind each case even if some of it is bullshit or not.

Ultimately it’s all happened, is what it is and this is the best chance we have of getting promotion.

Hope we’re laughing next May.

[LiberalCommunist]

That's enough for me. I'm all in. 

Now, can the fa hurry up so we can begin preparations. 

[trousers]

10 minutes ago, Barry the Badger said:

 

Apology accepted by me Tonda. Onwards and upwards!

[leeham_69]

love him. fuck boro, fuck the EFL, give him a contract for life.

[saintant]

8 hours ago, Saint86 said:

Solak doing his part to say the right words to try and galvanise the fanbase and club there... There is a way forward where everyone pulls together... Who knows, get promoted next season and it may even carry in into the prem and repair the bond between SR and the fans.

As a club and fans, we have been guilty of trying to be media darlings and everyone's favourite underdogs for years - that isn't an option for us anymore. May do us some good.

Dragan saying 'circle the fucking wagons' There are some on here would do well to listen.

[edprice1984]

Clearly if the FA don't ban him then he will be our manager in August at the start of the next season.

Regarding the potential want away players, if Dragan is offering financial compensation and the club are giving guarantees on accepting offers from Premier League clubs etc, then we will be looking to make a tilt at winning the league not just promotion.

I know that the financial implications of not going up could be severe, but equally you do get the sense that Dragan is here for the long haul and that we have backing to go again if the worst does happen.

Tonda made an error, I am not ready to fully forgive him yet. It still hurts that we missed out on Wembley and likely promotion with a set of players who fans had really attached themselves too. It wasn't quite 2012 levels of optimism but it was getting there. If he does stay and the results on the pitch continue to be positive, he and the team will quickly win round the supporters. 

Let's hope we play Boro early, we get to vent and we can get behind the club.

Edited 3 hours ago by edprice1984
Grammar, spelling and clarity

[BILLYDO1948]

If the EFL ban Tonda on top of the points deduction and removal from the play offs they will be creating one hell of a precedent. What would they do if a club was found guilty of bribing an official?

[beatlesaint]

That’s a pretty powerful statement from Tonda there.

Fair play, the club have this morning done what many of us hoped for a few days ago.

 

[AlexLaw76]

24 minutes ago, Barry the Badger said:

 

Looks like SFC have come out fighting.

Guess the club are going all in with Tonda, fair enough. It was such a stupid thing to do.

 

[LordHester]

6 minutes ago, BILLYDO1948 said:

If the EFL ban Tonda on top of the points deduction and removal from the play offs they will be creating one hell of a precedent. What would they do if a club was found guilty of bribing an official?

It's the FA that would ban, not the EFL. EFL sanctions against the club, FA would be against the individual.

[Elmore Saint]

Fair go Tonda - and strikes the right tone.

As for everyone else chiming in from the sides of this - time for us to be a bit Millwall

I don't care if anyone else likes us or not, fuck 'em - WE ARE THE SAINTS!

[Addict54]

Really makes you realise that although he’s been a bit of a twat, he’s 100% our twat. Really fucking hope he and the squad can channel this into tearing the championship apart next year. 

[RedArmy]

I love that he recognised from day 1 the disconnect between the fans, club and players and set out to repair that, which he achieved in a remarkable way. Although there were some toxic points along the way. 
 

Time to get behind him and them again. This could be a fun season, but the club need to address the goalkeeper and striker options early and decisively and seek to retain as many players as possible. 

[trousers]

[saintant]

22 minutes ago, edprice1984 said:

Clearly if the FA don't ban him then he will be our manager in August at the start of the next season.

Regarding the potential want away players, if Dragan is offering financial compensation and the club are giving guarantees on accepting offers from Premier League clubs etc, then we will be looking to make a tilt at winning the league not just promotion.

I know that the financial implications of not going up could be severe, but equally you do get the sense that Dragan is here for the long haul and that we have backing to go again if the worst does happen.

Tonda made an error, I am not ready to fully forgive him yet. It still hurts that we missed out on Wembley and likely promotion with a set of players who fans had really attached themselves too. It wasn't quite 2012 levels of optimism but it was getting there. If he does stay and the results on the pitch continue to be positive, he and the team will quickly win round the supporters. 

Let's hope we play Boro early, we get to vent and we can get behind the club.

Can you or anyone else say that you have never made an error? The person who never made an error never made anything. Time to forgive fully - no half way house here.

[Patrick Bateman]

30 minutes ago, trousers said:

Apology accepted by me Tonda. Onwards and upwards!

100% this. 

[saintant]

4 minutes ago, trousers said:

Steady on Adam. Next you'll be coming out and saying something in support of the club rather than joining in the general media pile on.

[Pamplemousse]

I'm still concerned that with Tonda here, it will linger over us throughout the summer and will impact on our ability to recruit over the summer, however the apology is welcome and if we make a great start to the season we'll all forget about it quite quickly.

[Osvaldorama]

Let’s gooooooo

 

Up the spying saints. 
 

All aboard HMS piss the league, sailing across an ocean of Boro tears 

[Holmes_and_Watson]

37 minutes ago, Barry the Badger said:

 

Quite a poor AI. Just the guy from Kraftwerk, with Tonda put on top. So robotic and...oh, that was Tonda.

"hope to see you soon" points to that FA investigation.

It is good to get clarity, that we didn't do this more than the WhatsApp messages showed. Also, that we got little, if any,nadvantage from it. That indicates, now it's stopped, that the preparation won't be impacted.

It still comes down to the players. Will they whole heartedly be able to give as much as they did last season, under Tonda? There are plenty of reasons why it would not be the same. Even small margins can make a difference.

If they are backing him, will the board be in a position to back Tonda as much as they can. Dragan's message was positive, and a warning to the FA and EFL.

[edprice1984]

2 minutes ago, saintant said:

Can you or anyone else say that you have never made an error? The person who never made an error never made anything. Time to forgive fully - no half way house here.

Of course - I am not criticising anyone who is full throated in their forgiveness here. For some it will take longer, for others it may never happen. 

I have always felt uneasy about sacking Tonda (unless the FA ban him, where we would have no choice). I am still upset that my daughter and father missed out on Wembley, we have been lucky in that the club have been there quite a few times over the past decade, but that is not a guarantee. 

The statement from Dragan and from Tonda have gone a long way to satisfying me and as I said, I am nearly there. Hopefully the players are on board too and we can start next season in the same way we ended last.

[Cumbria Saint]

2 minutes ago, Pamplemousse said:

I'm still concerned that with Tonda here, it will linger over us throughout the summer and will impact on our ability to recruit over the summer, however the apology is welcome and if we make a great start to the season we'll all forget about it quite quickly.

Let's hope we do make a good start if he stays. Otherwise things could get very messy.

[so22saint]

2 minutes ago, Holmes_and_Watson said:

Quite a poor AI. Just the guy from Kraftwerk, with Tonda put on top. So robotic and...oh, that was Tonda.

"hope to see you soon" points to that FA investigation.

It is good to get clarity, that we didn't do this more than the WhatsApp messages showed. Also, that we got little, if any,nadvantage from it. That indicates, now it's stopped, that the preparation won't be impacted.

It still comes down to the players. Will they whole heartedly be able to give as much as they did last season, under Tonda? There are plenty of reasons why it would not be the same. Even small margins can make a difference.

If they are backing him, will the board be in a position to back Tonda as much as they can. Dragan's message was positive, and a warning to the FA and EFL.

Kraftwerk are playing the BIC tonight - you might be on to something 🤣

[trousers]

1 minute ago, so22saint said:

Kraftwerk are playing the BIC tonight - you might be on to something 🤣

I've always said @Holmes_and_Watson is a model member of the forum...

[Cabrone]

Fingers crossed the FA leave it to the club. That should see Tonda as our manager next season.

SFC broke a rule, got punished, took it on the chin and now lets move on.

As long as Tonda stays I'm looking forward to 26/27, should be a cracking season.

Damn there is some serious competition this time round, need to get out of the traps flying because we know once Spam, Burnley and Wolves get going they will take some stopping. Then there is also Sheff Utd, Norwich, Boro, Millwall and Wrexham.

It's going to be one hell of a scrap.

 

[freshen up]

6 minutes ago, saintant said:

Steady on Adam. Next you'll be coming out and saying something in support of the club rather than joining in the general media pile on.

Worried he might lose access? 

[Lighthouse]

3 minutes ago, saintant said:

Can you or anyone else say that you have never made an error? The person who never made an error never made anything. Time to forgive fully - no half way house here.

I can say that I’ve never willingly and repeatedly broken the laws of my industry and potentially cost the company I work for £200m. Nor have I harassed, borderline bullied, junior members of staff into being complicit, so I don’t think the, “hey, we all make mistakes,” line is really going to fly on this one.

Nevertheless, we’ve clearly made a decision and nailed our colours to the mast, so if this is the direction we’re going then so be it. Hopefully the players are all fully behind him and not being able to spy on other teams training doesn’t detract too much from his management ability.

[suewhistle]

1 hour ago, trousers said:

You'd have thought that Solak would already have the player's buy-in by now.... He's not going to come out with a statement like today without the players being 100% behind Tonda...

You'd very much have to come to that conclusion, fingers etc crossed.

This place is always trying to predict reading the tea leaves, of perhaps more appropriately, the entrails!

[Holmes_and_Watson]

5 minutes ago, so22saint said:

Kraftwerk are playing the BIC tonight - you might be on to something 🤣

"We are not the robots, and I am not das model manager. But the FA can sling their hook on the trans-europe express, if we're going to accept more punishment."

Bit of a giveaway. And the tour dates coming up at the bottom too.

[Sunglasses Ron]

10 minutes ago, Pamplemousse said:

I'm still concerned that with Tonda here, it will linger over us throughout the summer and will impact on our ability to recruit over the summer, however the apology is welcome and if we make a great start to the season we'll all forget about it quite quickly.

I'm likening this to the Eric Cantona kung-fu kick incident many years ago.

He came back better than ever despite everything he had to face in the aftermarth.

I think Tonda can do the same.

[disconnect]

4 minutes ago, freshen up said:

Worried he might lose access? 

I think he should. He was blabbering on like he'd been tapped up by Gibbo too...! 

[DT]

Just heard Crook on Talksport. Not sure what we have done for him to hate us so much but all this hand wringing about 'morals' in the game is so disingenuous it's not true. Absolutely no mention of the - in my view - quite clearly crooked decision by the EFL to allow the two Boro connections on the panel, and then hey presto Middlesbrough get the benefit of losing but getting to the final. Glad that karma kicked them out, the odious lot. So glad Hull won. I think we will now get over this and back Eckert. This is a good statement. He'll get pelters at away games but it will die away and hopefully be eclipsed when Man City get relegated to the Championship and West Ham get reinstated (if you believe the loony rumours).

Here's hoping the FA walk away and to more serious matters than this, which is so insignificant when compared to the rest of football and world events that it is absolutely ludicrous.

[Holmes_and_Watson]

8 minutes ago, trousers said:

I've always said @Holmes_and_Watson is a model member of the forum...

Better than being called one of the Showroom Dummies. 🙂

[saintant]

8 minutes ago, Lighthouse said:

I can say that I’ve never willingly and repeatedly broken the laws of my industry and potentially cost the company I work for £200m. Nor have I harassed, borderline bullied, junior members of staff into being complicit, so I don’t think the, “hey, we all make mistakes,” line is really going to fly on this one.

Nevertheless, we’ve clearly made a decision and nailed our colours to the mast, so if this is the direction we’re going then so be it. Hopefully the players are all fully behind him and not being able to spy on other teams training doesn’t detract too much from his management ability.

Predictable if nothing else 🙂

[MB]

Not really an emotional guy but shed a tear watching that video. Can see how remorseful he is and how cut up he has been.

Get on the train Tonda, let’s fucking do this.

[Saint NL]

If you look at the first letter of the first word of every sentence in that statement, it spells out F.U.C.K.G.I.B.B.O 😱😱😱

[kitch]

23 minutes ago, trousers said:

The B-roll is to edit out joins in the footage and make it look like it's one continuous shot.

[Hopper]

Seen so many ask 'How can the fans support him?'

Did every man and his dog cry about Leeds fans being firmly behind Bielsa after Spygate 1.0? Did they fuck.

It's pretty simple, he's a good coach and we've been punished for his transgressions. We march on.

I just hope the FA don't get too over zealous.

[saintant]

4 minutes ago, DT said:

Just heard Crook on Talksport. Not sure what we have done for him to hate us so much but all this hand wringing about 'morals' in the game is so disingenuous it's not true. Absolutely no mention of the - in my view - quite clearly crooked decision by the EFL to allow the two Boro connections on the panel, and then hey presto Middlesbrough get the benefit of losing but getting to the final. Glad that karma kicked them out, the odious lot. So glad Hull won. I think we will now get over this and back Eckert. This is a good statement. He'll get pelters at away games but it will die away and hopefully be eclipsed when Man City get relegated to the Championship and West Ham get reinstated (if you believe the loony rumours).

Here's hoping the FA walk away and to more serious matters than this, which is so insignificant when compared to the rest of football and world events that it is absolutely ludicrous.

Crook is an airhead, an empty vessel. He has nothing of real value to say about anything football related. He's used the whole spygate affair to put himself front and central on Talk Sport and is desperately trying to make himself sound relevant. He's a nobody trying hard to be a somebody.