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Southampton spying compendium thread

Why not? They cheated ahead of a play off game, got to get the book thrown at them to deter other clubs in the future. Imagine the free-for-all in the future if they get a slap on the wrist.
Give them a points deduction whatever league they’re in next season. That’s deterrent enough. If this was a league game, there’s no way Boro would have been awarded a 3-0 walkover. Boro had 210 minutes to win the tie. They couldn’t.
 

In wouldn't have a problem with it.

Spying doesn't have some huge effect on a game. It's totally pointless 99 times out of a 100.

OK fair enough if you normally play 4-4-2 and decided to go 5 at the back and maybe a young kid upfront on his todd who was 6'6" instead of your usual 5'7" striker I could see that would be a slight advantage. However, most teams play pretty much the same shape and style week in week out.
Nah that's not true, modern day football is analysed to within an inch of it's life. Middlesbrough will have scouted all of Southampton's games since Eckert took over and will have trained in a way to setup to take advantage of miniscule weaknesses in their team. Knowing their gameplan in advance is a huge advantage.
 
Hopefully Southampton are found guilty and thrown out because Boro are utter chod and either them or Hull in the prem next season means one less relegation spot to worry about.
 
Nah that's not true, modern day football is analysed to within an inch of it's life. Middlesbrough will have scouted all of Southampton's games since Eckert took over and will have trained in a way to setup to take advantage of miniscule weaknesses in their team. Knowing their gameplan in advance is a huge advantage.
That went well 😂

You can analyse and do whatever you want but it doesn't mean it makes a difference on match day.

Football is a simple game. There's far too much bullshit involved these days IMO. Buy the right players (see Sunderland summer 2025) get your players fit, get a happy atmosphere around the place, good team spirit and make sure everyone knows there job and you'll win more than you lose.

That's Brian Clough's mantra in a nutshell and it STILL works!

Compare us to the mags. Wrong (new) players, bad atmosphere and £750M worth of players underperforming.
 
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That went well 😂

You can analyse and do whatever you want but it doesn't mean it makes a difference on match day.

Football is a simple game. There's far too much bullshit involved these days IMO. Buy the right players (see Sunderland summer 2025) get your players fit, get a happy atmosphere around the place, good team spirit and make sure everyone knows there job and you'll win more than you lose.

That's Brian Clough's mantra in a nutshell and it STILL works!
Nah I don't agree, that's all obviously important but that's all basics. There are details in games which we won't even notice, that stand out a mile to coaches involved in match preparation. Hence why they spend so long preparing for each individual team and where they can be exploited.

Don't get me wrong I preferred when it was more off the cuff, but it's not the case anymore. Hence why you see fewer mavericks at the top level.
 
Nah I don't agree, that's all obviously important but that's all basics. There are details in games which we won't even notice, that stand out a mile to coaches involved in match preparation. Hence why they spend so long preparing for each individual team and where they can be exploited.

Don't get me wrong I preferred when it was more off the cuff, but it's not the case anymore. Hence why you see fewer mavericks at the top level.
So what's gone wrong with the mags this season? Arsenal have played more games and are a couple of wins away from winning the double. Tired? Bullshit.

They have recruited well, are defensively solid and have good team spirit. The mags have recruited terriblely and there is cracks appearing in the camp. Gordon, Tonali etc. That's a fact. Not number crunching.
 
So what's gone wrong with the mags this season? Arsenal have played more games and are a couple of wins away from winning the double. Tired? Bullshit.

They have recruited well, are defensively solid and have good team spirit. The mags have recruited terriblely and there is cracks appearing in the camp. Gordon, Tonali etc. That's a fact. Not number crunching.
I've already said all the things you listed are important, just that margins are tighter than ever and teams are looking for marginal gains. Hence why everyone has a specific set piece coach, and long throws are in fashion.

But since you brought up number crunching, Brentford, Bournemouth and Brighton all challenging for 6th place, which could be Champions League. Smartest clubs around punching the most above their weight.
 
I've already said all the things you listed are important, just that margins are tighter than ever and teams are looking for marginal gains. Hence why everyone has a specific set piece coach, and long throws are in fashion.

But since you brought up number crunching, Brentford, Bournemouth and Brighton all challenging for 6th place, which could be Champions League. Smartest clubs around punching the most above their weight.
All teams look for marginal gains but it doesn't mean they actually find them. Especially from watching training.
 
No, I wouldn't, I would be far more interested in what happened during the actual game.

Exactly. They were trying to gain an advantage but if they were playing pretty much the same players in the same shape as most teams do in training you're gaining nothing.
Thing is, you don't know what they would gain. Maybes it was fuck all, maybes it was shitloads. Nobody has any clue.

What we do know is that

A) it is against the rules
B) they must have felt they gained something from it because they went to a lot of effort to do it
C) the analyst knew it was wrong because he tried to dodge responsibility, and Southampton have tried to pass the blame onto him.

Based on that, I'd think give Boro a 3-0 win for the match it related to (first leg). Doubt it'll happen, but that would be my take.
 
Knowing the opposition’s starting eleven, set up, set piece plans, which would all be tailored for the upcoming game and honed in the last couple of training sessions, is more than a marginal gain.
Thing is, you don't know what they would gain. Maybes it was fuck all, maybes it was shitloads. Nobody has any clue.

What we do know is that

A) it is against the rules
B) they must have felt they gained something from it because they went to a lot of effort to do it
C) the analyst knew it was wrong because he tried to dodge responsibility, and Southampton have tried to pass the blame onto him.

Based on that, I'd think give Boro a 3-0 win for the match it related to (first leg). Doubt it'll happen, but that would be my take.
Good point. If gains are likely minimal/marginal why would Saints do it. Seems like they were gaining enough advantage from it to justify the risk of being caught and subsequent points deduction/expulsion.
 
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Live streamed back to another with audio recording means the fkers should be kicked out.

FA should act swiftly and be done today or tommorow to let Middlesbrough prepare for their playoff final.

If that happens or the can just gets kicked down the road I’m not sure. That the decisive, strong, moral leadership that not just football but this country and indeed this world needs will be sadly lacking I suspect.
 
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