Tonda Eckert

[skintsaint]

3 minutes ago, Saint NL said:

Imagine the scene:

First game of the season, away at Middlesbrough. Saints win 2-0 and Tonda has had dogs abuse for 90+ minutes. As the final whistle blows, he grabs a giant Saints flag and runs onto the pitch ala Graeme Souness and plants it in the centre circle.

 

He could stay manager for life if that happened! 😅

Edited 8 hours ago by skintsaint

[Pengi]

4 hours ago, saintant said:

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.

Favours our fishy rivals

[trousers]

47 minutes ago, Ted Bates Statue said:

You've reminded me, the first sign that we weren't going to sack Tonda came from Alex Crook

 

On the money yet again 😂😂😂

[beatlesaint]

Must admit Jordan's line about recovery and "this is a club that had Rupert Lowe as their Chairman for Christ sake...." was hilarious 🤣

[trousers]

17 minutes ago, S-Clarke said:

The onslaught from Boro and the media treating this as some kind of crime of the century almost certainly influenced the EFL.

And my fear is that the FA could also be swayed by "public opinion".... But I have faith that the FA are less open to influence than the EFL obviously were....

[BARCELONASAINT]

19 minutes ago, S-Clarke said:

Well that was an eventful few hours - it's what we've all called for, direct communication to the fans from two key people involved. They've come out and pinned their views to the mast today, and sure it'll upset the 'football community' - but we can use this to create a siege mentality and truly allow football to 'win'. 

My emotions throughout all of this have been a rollercoaster, anger, frustration, acceptance. I'd say I'm at acceptance but with a newly found tinge of anger again - not anger at the club per-say, but angry at the media and Boro and how they manipulated this entire situation to provide them with the opportunity to get the biggest reward.

I was waiting to read the full report and extracts, because we were told of bullying and 'deplorable' exchanges between the manager and interns - but that's not the case is it. Not even close. None of what we've seen released has made me go, wow, what a disgrace, instead it's made me go ''FFS, is that truly all it was?''.

The onslaught from Boro and the media treating this as some kind of crime of the century almost certainly influenced the EFL. Let's remember, before the panel actually sat the EFL recommendation for them to consider was 'expulsion' - so before we even had a chance to talk our case, they'd already decided on expulsion. 

The entire way it played out in the media was wrong. From leaking the personal details and photos of a junior member of staff, to the story changing by the day - it was behind a tree, then an open field, then in bushes, then it was an organised 007 mission - it was none of those. The picture we saw is pretty much the full story, a young kid taking a photo of some training sessions from next to a tree. Nothing ground breaking, nothing that requires someone being hung.

Of course I'll always be frustrated with the club in how they dealt with the entire thing in the direct aftermath, but the offences themselves - whilst daft - were so miniscule in the context of the dirty and murky world of professional sports, and I will always stand by the opinion that it was extremely blown of proportion. 

My anger will sit with the EFL/Boro though for how they strung us through the media, just to gain an advantage themselves. On one hand they can complain we tried to gain an advantage by spying, but they almost gained the ultimate advantage themselves by using dirty tactics throughout the media to get to the final. Two wrongs don't make a right, and they were as much on the look out for an advantage as we were.

It's a shame they can't play football and had to resort to political tactics, and yet they still failed quite spectacularly when they had to play football against Hull in their 3rd chance. That probably tells you all you need to know. 

This perfectly sums up my stance on this....well said

[MarkSFC]

34 minutes ago, Maggie May said:

It’s hilarious how obsessed the Boro fans are with us.  They got what they wanted and still lost, but can’t seem to move on.

I’m all for forgive and forget and I’m glad we’re big enough to do so with Tonda. 

Yeah, rules were broken, but it’s legal to “spy” on training, just not 72 hours before a game, which is what so many fans of other clubs keep forgetting or can’t comprehend.  The entire football governance should ban it outright if it’s upsetting both fans and other clubs so much. 

Don't you understand.....if we hadn't cheated theyd of beaten us in the Semi-final and their preparation for the final wouldn't of been affected by the press shit.....

Everything that doesnt go their way from now until forever will be something to do with us...

[BARCELONASAINT]

I hate Borough now more than i hate Real Madrid and that is saying something!!

[sfc4prem]

3 hours ago, Lighthouse said:

Which begs the question; why do it?

Agreed. Almost like it was seen as a cultural, habit-based, normal part od football thing to do. In Tonda's eyes, anyway.

A small gain, in terms of knowing Hackney was/wasnt available.

Seen by Tonda and his analysts as a consequence to be not that big a deal in terms of sanction?

How fucking wrong he was. Feel like he needs an arm round the shoulder and protection more than anything.

[BotleySaint]

I'm pleased the club is finally communicating. But I still can't see Tonda staying in charge next season.

The press will be all over it. We won't be able to move on.

[hypochondriac]

1 minute ago, BotleySaint said:

I'm pleased the club is finally communicating. But I still can't see Tonda staying in charge next season.

The press will be all over it. We won't be able to move on.

What does that even mean? The press largely aren't interested in championship games. Typically we get two local journalists at press conferences and a few weeks into the season if we are performing well I doubt it will be much of a topic of conversation other than against Pompey or Boro.

[Maggie May]

2 hours ago, ecuk268 said:

Simon Jordan thinks were doing the right thing:

 

Boro fans can’t help themselves. Why does it matter to that George caller so much? It’s because they know they will flop under Hellberg next season and they blew their biggest chance to go up. 

[RedArmy]

47 minutes ago, BotleySaint said:

I'm pleased the club is finally communicating. But I still can't see Tonda staying in charge next season.

The press will be all over it. We won't be able to move on.

There’s a World Cup in 9 days. The press won’t give a fuck about Southampton, just as they didn’t before this came out. 

[Lord Duckhunter]

Been in meetings all morning, so just caught up on his statement. 
 

Although totally irrelevant, personally I don’t believe those were the only 3 times, and he thought it was legal. He may have thought it was like taping up, illegal but a blind eye turned, but he knew he shouldn’t have authorised it. No doubt he never thought for one minute that it would result in the punishment it did, but deep down, he knew it’s wrong. Therefore I wish he hadn’t gone into so much detail as it looks a bit too defensive to me. I’d rather he said “it was wrong, and I was wrong”. 
 

My opinion is he’s extremely lucky to remain in a job & should never forget the club backed him when the easy thing was to throw him to the wolves. Let’s hope he remembers that if a bigger club comes calling along the line. 
 

He’s shown he has coaching ability, building a side which plays football properly, not like all the Pep clones around at the moment. Provided the FA give him a break, let’s  hope he’s learnt his lesson and can keep the momentum going into what will be a difficult season. If the players wanted him gone, he’d be gone, and now we know where we are and what we want, let’s get cracking on building a squad to win 5 points more than everyone else…

[JohnnyShearer2.0]

16 minutes ago, Maggie May said:

Boro fans can’t help themselves. Why does it matter to that George caller so much? It’s because they know they will flop under Hellberg next season and they blew their biggest chance to go up. 

I thought that Saints fan was going to cry at the end. Seriously said he couldn't wear his Saints shirt anymore. 

Its only football at the end of the day. My 10 year old kid is already over it compared to that sop.

Edited 7 hours ago by JohnnyShearer2.0

[MarkSFC]

The more comments and pieces I see on all these platforms the more I feel what Dragon and Tonda have said is great. 

The media are just making it up and delivering whatever agenda they see fit. 

I hope there are some libelous / slander cases in the pipeline issued by Dragon and the club. 

Our man did wrong. Context aside, absolute truth unknown, whats been said today by our two people is as honest, as pragmatic, and ultimately calculated as is probabaly possible, and also needed. 

Own up to everything and act guilty continuely, and sack everyone only plays to the media agenda against us. Lose.

Deny everything, do nothing, and it plays to the media agenda against us. Lose.

Do something in between, more honestly and more transparantly, and we get what we are today. Lose. 

Basically a no win scenario however ot was played. 

In any scenario, you need to look after number one and do everything g you can for self preservation (whilst also being able to look yourself in the mirror moving forward. Win.

I hope this summer includes a Middlesboro team being ripped apart and a relegation battle for them next season😂

I hope we win over a 100 points, score a hundred goals and ruin the c**** season. 

[ChristopheVAFC]

Now that Tonda's position on the bench seems secure for next season, I think the management should expect hostility from opposing fans throughout the season.

I believe this negative energy will be an additional source of motivation that could lead to winning as many matches as possible on the pitch.

We will have to respond to the criticism and attacks on the field, and the sooner we start winning matches, the sooner the negativity will subside.

[davefizzy14]

Personally I'm glad that we have heard from both Tonda and Dragan, both interviews were really good. I've always wanted Tonda to stay 😊 Let's get ready for next season 😊

[Greenridge]

What's the practical implications of some kind of FA 'ban'? Not allowed to train the team / be involved match days / sit on the bench / other? I imagine UK employment law means they can't stop him from 'working'?

[trousers]

33 minutes ago, Lord Duckhunter said:

Been in meetings all morning, so just caught up on his statement. 
 

Although totally irrelevant, personally I don’t believe those were the only 3 times, and he thought it was legal. He may have thought it was like taping up, illegal but a blind eye turned, but he knew he shouldn’t have authorised it. No doubt he never thought for one minute that it would result in the punishment it did, but deep down, he knew it’s wrong. Therefore I wish he hadn’t gone into so much detail as it looks a bit too defensive to me. I’d rather he said “it was wrong, and I was wrong”. 
 

My opinion is he’s extremely lucky to remain in a job & should never forget the club backed him when the easy thing was to throw him to the wolves. Let’s hope he remembers that if a bigger club comes calling along the line. 
 

He’s shown he has coaching ability, building a side which plays football properly, not like all the Pep clones around at the moment. Provided the FA give him a break, let’s  hope he’s learnt his lesson and can keep the momentum going into what will be a difficult season. If the players wanted him gone, he’d be gone, and now we know where we are and what we want, let’s get cracking on building a squad to win 5 points more than everyone else…

I don't share the suspicions in your first paragraph but fully concur with your last

[Saint Keef]

I'm not a betting man, but assuming the FA don't ban Tonda (and I sincerely hope they don't) what would the odds be now, on Kim "The Loser" Hellberg losing his job next season, long before Tonda ever leaves Saints? If so, watch the whinging Boro lot blame us for that as well. You can just imagine the chat at the breakfast tables (if indeed they eat off tables?) around Middlesbrough if it were to happen.....

"Tha fookin' southern scum cheatin' fookin' bastards broke....I say broke, that poor fookin' man, I tell ya'.....like.....pet. Me tears are makin' me fookin' cornflakes soggy like....pet." 

[Weston Super Saint]

Given the incidents are clearly totally seperate, the FA will have to take that into account won't they?

The only logical punishment is a touch line ban for Tonda for Playoff matches...

[Weston Super Saint]

3 minutes ago, Saint Keef said:

I'm not a betting man, but assuming the FA don't ban Tonda (and I sincerely hope they don't) what would the odds be now, on Kim "The Loser" Hellberg losing his job next season, long before Tonda ever leaves Saints? If so, watch the whinging Boro lot blame us for that as well. You can just imagine the chat at the breakfast tables (if indeed they eat off tables?) around Middlesbrough if it were to happen.....

"Tha fookin' southern scum cheatin' fookin' bastards broke....I say broke, that poor fookin' man, I tell ya'.....like.....pet. Me tears are makin' me fookin' cornflakes soggy like....pet." 

Most Greggs have got a table or two - which I assume is where the grossly obese, unfit, toothless, whining, Karen FC supporters consume their 'breakfast' (probably lunch and dinner too).

[mitch01]

2 hours ago, S-Clarke said:

Well that was an eventful few hours - it's what we've all called for, direct communication to the fans from two key people involved. They've come out and pinned their views to the mast today, and sure it'll upset the 'football community' - but we can use this to create a siege mentality and truly allow football to 'win'. 

My emotions throughout all of this have been a rollercoaster, anger, frustration, acceptance. I'd say I'm at acceptance but with a newly found tinge of anger again - not anger at the club per-say, but angry at the media and Boro and how they manipulated this entire situation to provide them with the opportunity to get the biggest reward.

I was waiting to read the full report and extracts, because we were told of bullying and 'deplorable' exchanges between the manager and interns - but that's not the case is it. Not even close. None of what we've seen released has made me go, wow, what a disgrace, instead it's made me go ''FFS, is that truly all it was?''.

The onslaught from Boro and the media treating this as some kind of crime of the century almost certainly influenced the EFL. Let's remember, before the panel actually sat the EFL recommendation for them to consider was 'expulsion' - so before we even had a chance to talk our case, they'd already decided on expulsion. 

The entire way it played out in the media was wrong. From leaking the personal details and photos of a junior member of staff, to the story changing by the day - it was behind a tree, then an open field, then in bushes, then it was an organised 007 mission - it was none of those. The picture we saw is pretty much the full story, a young kid taking a photo of some training sessions from next to a tree. Nothing ground breaking, nothing that requires someone being hung.

Of course I'll always be frustrated with the club in how they dealt with the entire thing in the direct aftermath, but the offences themselves - whilst daft - were so miniscule in the context of the dirty and murky world of professional sports, and I will always stand by the opinion that it was extremely blown of proportion. 

My anger will sit with the EFL/Boro though for how they strung us through the media, just to gain an advantage themselves. On one hand they can complain we tried to gain an advantage by spying, but they almost gained the ultimate advantage themselves by using dirty tactics throughout the media to get to the final. Two wrongs don't make a right, and they were as much on the look out for an advantage as we were.

It's a shame they can't play football and had to resort to political tactics, and yet they still failed quite spectacularly when they had to play football against Hull in their 3rd chance. That probably tells you all you need to know. 

+1

[gio1saints]

I’m glad he’s staying. He is a winning coach. Obviously Machiavellian when it comes to winning - whatever it takes. He is our best chance- along with retaining key players - and along with the fanbase staying behind him and  team from the start - of us going up . 
 

And he is also, IMO, not telling the truth. He was disingenuous in that speech. This is the only thing I hate. He has probably lied to me and I don’t like it one bit. But am I such a happy clapper that 8 straight wins start of season I’ll be laughing it off? Probably, like most of us I expect. 
 

Saying that spying was common practice in Italy is not the same as not knowing there was a strict 72hr rule in place for the EFL. Saying he is a young coach is waffle bollocks. no excuse. But Saying he was unaware of the 72hr rule - this is stretching credibility past its break point.

id 100% preferred he said I knew it was wrong but I just got greedy for more information / data and I’m dangerously obsessive about winning and I now regret it so much - than this “ I didn’t know” bollox. 

[Weston Super Saint]

5 minutes ago, gio1saints said:

Saying that spying was common practice in Italy is not the same as not knowing there was a strict 72hr rule in place for the EFL. Saying he is a young coach is waffle bollocks. no excuse. But Saying he was unaware of the 72hr rule - this is stretching credibility past its break point.

id 100% preferred he said I knew it was wrong but I just got greedy for more information / data and I’m dangerously obsessive about winning and I now regret it so much - than this “ I didn’t know” bollox. 

Fuck me!  Are you related to Phil Parsons?

Edited 6 hours ago by Weston Super Saint

[Scully]

Look where we were without Eckert. Glad he's staying and doubt there's anyone better lined up 

[Badger]

5 minutes ago, Scully said:

Look where we were without Eckert. Glad he's staying and doubt there's anyone better lined up 

Agree, but let's not get ahead of ourselves, today is really a statement of intent. With the FA still to have their say I don't think we're out of the woods yet. 

[RedArmy]

25 minutes ago, Saint Keef said:

I'm not a betting man, but assuming the FA don't ban Tonda (and I sincerely hope they don't) what would the odds be now, on Kim "The Loser" Hellberg losing his job next season, long before Tonda ever leaves Saints?

They remind me of Saints pre January. Good side, creating lots of chances but nobody to stick them in the net and a keeper that will routinely let you down. 
 

If they can address those 2 positions and not lose too much more than Hackney they’ll be up there again next season. 

[ecuk268]

36 minutes ago, Greenridge said:

What's the practical implications of some kind of FA 'ban'? Not allowed to train the team / be involved match days / sit on the bench / other? I imagine UK employment law means they can't stop him from 'working'?

Bit like the film "Casino" where Sam Rothstein (based on real-life Lefty Rosenthal) is banned from running the casino so gets a job as the catering manager but continues just as before.

[Saint Keef]

5 minutes ago, ecuk268 said:

Bit like the film "Casino" where Sam Rothstein (based on real-life Lefty Rosenthal) is banned from running the casino so gets a job as the catering manager but continues just as before.

He could be an "unpaid" ball boy....handily placed fairly near the half-way line. (Casino - good film by the way)

Edited 5 hours ago by Saint Keef

[Saint-Reece]

23 minutes ago, gio1saints said:

I’m glad he’s staying. He is a winning coach. Obviously Machiavellian when it comes to winning - whatever it takes. He is our best chance- along with retaining key players - and along with the fanbase staying behind him and  team from the start - of us going up . 
 

And he is also, IMO, not telling the truth. He was disingenuous in that speech. This is the only thing I hate. He has probably lied to me and I don’t like it one bit. But am I such a happy clapper that 8 straight wins start of season I’ll be laughing it off? Probably, like most of us I expect. 
 

Saying that spying was common practice in Italy is not the same as not knowing there was a strict 72hr rule in place for the EFL. Saying he is a young coach is waffle bollocks. no excuse. But Saying he was unaware of the 72hr rule - this is stretching credibility past its break point.

id 100% preferred he said I knew it was wrong but I just got greedy for more information / data and I’m dangerously obsessive about winning and I now regret it so much - than this “ I didn’t know” bollox. 

Really glad you’re back with your batshit mental views Gio! 

[Stud mark of doom]

3 hours ago, Saint NL said:

Imagine the scene:

First game of the season, away at Middlesbrough. Saints win 2-0 and Tonda has had dogs abuse for 90+ minutes. As the final whistle blows, he grabs a giant Saints flag and runs onto the pitch ala Graeme Souness and plants it in the centre circle.

 

Quite ironic that you posted that

iirc when Souey was quizzed about it afterwards his excuse was “I am surprised this has caused such a fuss. It happens all the time back in my country”.  

[Dank]

14 minutes ago, Saint Keef said:

He could be an "unpaid" ball boy....handily placed fairly near the half-way line. (Casino - good film by the way)

I hope it doesn't displace the ball boy who refused to give the ball back. I enjoyed watching him in full wind up mode.

[OnceaSaintalwaysaSaint]

2 hours ago, Lord Duckhunter said:

Been in meetings all morning, so just caught up on his statement. 
 

Although totally irrelevant, personally I don’t believe those were the only 3 times, and he thought it was legal. He may have thought it was like taping up, illegal but a blind eye turned, but he knew he shouldn’t have authorised it. No doubt he never thought for one minute that it would result in the punishment it did, but deep down, he knew it’s wrong. Therefore I wish he hadn’t gone into so much detail as it looks a bit too defensive to me. I’d rather he said “it was wrong, and I was wrong”. 
 

My opinion is he’s extremely lucky to remain in a job & should never forget the club backed him when the easy thing was to throw him to the wolves. Let’s hope he remembers that if a bigger club comes calling along the line. 
 

He’s shown he has coaching ability, building a side which plays football properly, not like all the Pep clones around at the moment. Provided the FA give him a break, let’s  hope he’s learnt his lesson and can keep the momentum going into what will be a difficult season. If the players wanted him gone, he’d be gone, and now we know where we are and what we want, let’s get cracking on building a squad to win 5 points more than everyone else…

In total agreement with this, M'lud. He knew what he was doing and in all probability, did it every game. Our defence of admitting to Oxford and Ipswich was shambolic but let's move on. Get the lawyers on the offensive, let the FA know that Tonda has our full support and they need to back off and we could have a very interesting season next year.

[USaintA]

If Tonda does indeed make it to next season and isn't banned, or hung drawn and quartered as some would have it, I would like to see him fully embrace the villain persona.

I suggest he goes "Full Pleasance Blofeld" and adopts a shaved head and drawn on facial scar. At press conferences he should sit in a big leather chair with a cat on his lap, and have a secret trap door for any smart mouth journalist to be fed to flounders from the Itchen River.

"Ah, Mr. Blackmore, I've been expecting you...."

[Badger]

38 minutes ago, USaintA said:

If Tonda does indeed make it to next season and isn't banned, or hung drawn and quartered as some would have it, I would like to see him fully embrace the villain persona.

I suggest he goes "Full Pleasance Blofeld" and adopts a shaved head and drawn on facial scar. At press conferences he should sit in a big leather chair with a cat on his lap, and have a secret trap door for any smart mouth journalist to be fed to flounders from the Itchen River.

"Ah, Mr. Blackmore, I've been expecting you...."

Draw the line at the shaved head, too much wannabee Pep about it for me, but the cat is definitely a good option. 

[Lee On Solent Saint]

Time to draw a line underneath all of this now. We know what direction the club are seeking to go, they obviously see a future with Tonda still at the wheel. Am still 50/50 as to whether he should go, my main fear is that the players will have lost all respect for him. However, I guess the club have sounded at the squad and decided that it's better to stick than twist. Obviously the cost of not gaining promotion is going to cost us a couple of outs, but if this is tempered by some astute signings and the majority of the squad staying it should stand us in decent stead. I would make signing Peretz an absolute priority if a deal can be done and he is willing to come back. 

[Micky]

Does this latest news mean I can stand the firing squad down now..?

[saintwbu]

Suggestions that we’ve ’done it every game’ probably need to bear in mind that for most clubs it just wouldn’t be possible. Do you reckon you can stand by a tree at Arsenal or Man City’s training ground? The three we’ve been charged with have been an open training complex (Boro), a team training at a local club that we were able to infiltrate (Ipswich/Eastleigh) and whilst I don’t know what Oxford’s training ground looks like, going by their actual stadium i’d imagine it’s not particularly sophisticated. I too was of the opinion it’s likely to have been more than 3 games, but given that we had a whistleblower and an intern saving his own skin, and yet none of them brought up more than these 3 games then i’m starting to be convinced that maybe we really were only able to do it on these occasions. Whether we would’ve liked to have done it more than that, the answer is probably yes, but there any many clubs where it just would not have been possible at all (thankfully).

[Miltonaggro]

3 hours ago, Micky said:

Does this latest news mean I can stand the firing squad down now..?

As you were, chaps...

[trousers]

3 hours ago, Micky said:

Does this latest news mean I can stand the firing squad down now..?

Yes, but keep a few stones in reserve, just in case...

 

[Miltonaggro]

5 hours ago, Weston Super Saint said:

Fuck me!  Are you related to Phil Parsons?

Or indeed, Nicholas Parsons.

[Ex Lion Tamer]

For an unemotive man I thought Tonda did well in that video. I wanted him to stay from the start and hopefully this will have helped others get on board.

His argument is a bit nonsense though. So it is commonplace to spy on other clubs in Italy and Germany where he worked previously, but despite not knowing it was banned here, he only did it three times in inconsequential ways? Mmm yeah ok...

[hypochondriac]

4 hours ago, USaintA said:

If Tonda does indeed make it to next season and isn't banned, or hung drawn and quartered as some would have it, I would like to see him fully embrace the villain persona.

I suggest he goes "Full Pleasance Blofeld" and adopts a shaved head and drawn on facial scar. At press conferences he should sit in a big leather chair with a cat on his lap, and have a secret trap door for any smart mouth journalist to be fed to flounders from the Itchen River.

"Ah, Mr. Blackmore, I've been expecting you...."

 

[USaintA]

4 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

 

Thank you. That has made my day.