Southampton spying compendium thread

[SAFC Wilks]

Agree,also if Southampton get away with it whats to stop others trying it .If proven it should be a Hull v Boro final

I would think if Southampton got away with a fine and/or suspended points deduction, the EFL will ensure a written punishment is put in for the next team that tries it and is found guilty.

Mind you, they probably won’t.

 

[si73]

This! Not exactly Barcelona are they. They’ve been the best side in the championship for best part of half a season. Be very surprised if they get booted out the playoffs. They should. But they won’t

But they haven't. The circumstantial evidence seems to be building up that other clubs suspect they've been the victims of the same dirty tricks. Their run of results looks less impressive if it turns out they knew everything about how their opponents planned to play against them.

The FA Cup result against Arsenal is another outlier that might result in even more disciplinary action. Can't see Arsenal being too happy if they potentially missed out on a semi final, or even a League and Cup double, because Southampton knew all about their tactics, set pieces, injuries etc from cheating.

 

[im not roland rat]

Dear me.

He could have said "no".

A young lad desperately wanting a job in football doesn’t say no I’m afraid.

 

[Cee Jay]

But they haven't. The circumstantial evidence seems to be building up that other clubs suspect they've been the victims of the same dirty tricks. Their run of results looks less impressive if it turns out they knew everything about how their opponents planned to play against them.

The FA Cup result against Arsenal is another outlier that might result in even more disciplinary action. Can't see Arsenal being too happy if they potentially missed out on a semi final, or even a League and Cup double, because Southampton knew all about their tactics, set pieces, injuries etc from cheating.

As far as I know the Arsenal training ground is nothing like Rockliffe, in that the public can't see anything

 

[MonkeyLove]

There are loads of problems for the EFL here.

Although I’m sure they would like it to all be over they are effectively the prosecutor of the case and in the publication of the review whatever they put forward will come out.

They have no control over the independent body and will have to be careful not to push for a quick outcome just to avoid a difficult situation.

If Southampton get a tough penalty they will almost certainly appeal but as the written findings don’t follow for a couple of weeks (Only outcome announced today) Southampton could argue that it’s impossible to appeal without the detailed judgement and therefore drag this on further and further.

Going to be a mess all round that will keep lawyers getting paid for a while.

 

[JD73]

This is exactly why punishments should be written in from the start.

It says it’s against the rules and you’ll be punished if caught spying. That’s too vague though. Fine, points deduction, expulsion - which is it?

Made a right arse of it by not putting the punishments set in stone.

Now we’re in this situation where no one has a clue what’s going to happen - and we’re 4 days away from the final.

Shambolic.

Brilliant point mate

 

[BucketBiff]

But they haven't. The circumstantial evidence seems to be building up that other clubs suspect they've been the victims of the same dirty tricks. Their run of results looks less impressive if it turns out they knew everything about how their opponents planned to play against them.

The FA Cup result against Arsenal is another outlier that might result in even more disciplinary action. Can't see Arsenal being too happy if they potentially missed out on a semi final, or even a League and Cup double, because Southampton knew all about their tactics, set pieces, injuries etc from cheating.

Didn’t realise it had gone that far. Thought it was an isolated incident. Need to deal with the play off game first, for me Boro should play Hull. After that. God knows how that will pan out

 

[stevo]

Only counter argument would be to a Hull automatic promotion rather than a Boro reinstatement. Ultimately I don’t think that the spying caused the Boro loss, so hard to argue they deserve to have the chance to beat Hull.

You’re right about the precedent too - new rule and it’ll define football for years if they get this wrong, as it’s a big advantage to take potentially if you can get away with a small fine - I’m sure most teams would pay £200k to see the other playoff teams training session

Yes. Independent panel review who’ll issue a verdict and if guilty will pass back to the EFL to ratify the punishment. So would expect a verdict but no punishment today.

Agree,I know its a bit boring to keep going back to Coventry carry on but they were found guilty straight away .They kicked into the long grass as we waited for the punishment to be announced,they got a small fine and warned as to their future conduct and we were relegated.

 

[Tony Towers Fanclub]

It’s worse than that. It’s Déjà vu all over again.

And, as the same man once said, it ain’t over till it’s over.

More Hardyman’s Yogi ️ than Hardyman’s Yugo.

 

[rob79safc]

Wouldn't they have stayed up if they had played that game I can’t recall how many points they were docked
But seem to remember if they’d played theydve stayed up

Think it was 3 points Hank

 

[SAFC11]

This! Not exactly Barcelona are they. They’ve been the best side in the championship for best part of half a season. Be very surprised if they get booted out the playoffs. They should. But they won’t

Maybe theyve actually been spying on every team for half a season

 

[si73]

As far as I know the Arsenal training ground is nothing like Rockliffe, in that the public can't see anything

Don't doubt what you're saying as I've never visited it.

That being said Lord Lambton's estate is walled off and surrounded by trees but I've seen his castle. If you REALLY want to get somewhere you can if you're determined to do so.

 

[BucketBiff]

Maybe theyve actually been spying on every team for half a season

Maybe. Looking like it might be the case. Thought it was a one off

 

[ATTACK ATTACK ATTACK]

What I haven’t seen mentioned is how long the lad was watching. If he was there 5 minutes then he won’t have seen anything that could affect anything.
If he watched over an extended period of time then a lot of information could have been gathered.

He could have been caught after 5 mins but if not would he have went home? Of course not as it's the action that is breaking the rules as he's tried to spy and failed.

Hearing 3.4 mill fine and 6 points deduction suspended until they come back down obviously

That was on twitter yesterday from a bloke who less than 15 mins later said he was taking the pi55

It was a Boro fan told me this morning

The Boro fan who told you seen it on Twitter yesterday

 

[Toothless]

Ross Stewart would be perfect for looking over training ground walls and hedges

 

[Horley Chorley]

Think it was 3 points Hank

If they'd played the game and lost, they would've stayed up, but the 3 points deduction, was enough to send them down.

 

[Cee Jay]

Don't doubt what you're saying as I've never visited it.

That being said Lord Lambton's estate is walled off and surrounded by trees but I've seen his castle. If you REALLY want to get somewhere you can if you're determined to do so.

Yeah that's the same thing

Go and see how you get with filming at Arsenal or most if not all Premier training grounds.


Key security measures include:

• Controlled Access: The entrance is gated, barrier-controlled, and manned by security personnel 24/7.
• Strict No-Access Policy: Public and fan access is not permitted, and players are generally instructed not to stop their cars to sign autographs at the gates to prevent crowds on the surrounding residential roads.
• Physical Barriers: The 143-acre complex is surrounded by high fences and dense bushes, and individual pitches are heavily screened to shield sessions from prying eyes or drones.

 

[FatDrummer]

That’s like literally what I’ve said the entire thread.

Oh well….it would seem that (in general) we agree.
Happy days!

 

[ATTACK ATTACK ATTACK]

Boro's claim for me became frivolous when they decided to play the games against Southampton and essentially legitimised them. You can't cry wolf afterwards. You either feel unjust and refuse to play until it's resolved or you suck it up.

SEB and also SEB answered below.

They caught the spy on Thursday and reported it on the Friday just before the 1st leg was played on the Saturday. Boro could well have refused to play given the circumstances and told the EFL. The EFL told them to play as they can't investigate it that quickly and Boro would run the risk of being punished etc.

 

[Cappuccino Kid]

Yeah that's the same thing

Go and see how you get with filming at Arsenal or most if not all Premier training grounds.

I think it was the BBC who ran an article the other week about the measures the top Premier League clubs have in place to prevent this type of thing from happening. Chelsea even had permission to erect stuff at a local train station, as otherwise it would give line of sight into their training pitches.

Just goes to show that it is taken very seriously.