The differences in the teams was quite stark as the game wore on. Southampton's bench was stronger and they looked more PL level in terms of speed and stamina - not surprising having just been there last year.
This is correct. Southampton have been really stupid and a very heavy fine will be punishment. What they could have gained from this is very minimal.The amount of the fine should be determined by whether or not they beat Hull. If promotion is worth £150m as some suggest,a £75m fine would send a very strong message if they win at Wembley. The fine should be paid to Boro.There has already been a precedent set with Leeds. Southampton will get a fine. There will be no points deduction, nor will they be banned from the play off final.
A lot of folk are saying that Soton would have achieved next to nothing from spying on a training session. If thats the case then why did they bother? Then some are saying that Middlesboro had 'X' amount of shots at goal and only scored 1 etc etc., thats why they lost! Well if I was taking an important exam, and I'm aware that the bloke next to me keeps leaning over and looking at my paper, well its going to put me off!
Surely the first thing they teach you in Spy school is not TO GET CAUGHT!![]()
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talking to my colleagues and they think this has been blown out of perportion
From the outside looking in, the risk of getting caught would seem to far outweigh the benefits. Its bizarre. What a worse punishment, for me, if I was a Soton fan, would not be a £50 million fine. Not a points deduction next season, or even a play off forfeit. It would be having an asterisk next to the clubs name saying *cheat* when gaining promotion to the Premier League. And for the club to have that label, over something that would seem so trivial, stupid but also downright dishonest, I would be really upset with the club. The thought of supporting a team, who many neutrals will now want to see fail, would be disheartening. I would be thinking that promotion now would be tainted. If we lose to Hull, we'll deserve it, and at least this might get brushed under the carpet and we can just get on with things. But that would be no crumb of comfort for Middlesboro. Watching the media last night milking the celebrations, then mentioning the cheating, then milking the celebrations as though there was no cheating, didnt sit right with me.In my opinion it’s irrelevant what Southampton learned, it’s cheating …
… but worse because it’s not during the course of the game.
If they’d learned a key Boro player had strapping on an ankle, that might give way, would they have targeted that injury? If there’s a chance of that and they put him out of the game it’s gaining an important advantage purely through cheating.
If we can’t trust what we’re seeing the game’s not worth watching …
… it’s like watching chemically charged athletes breaking records, totally worthless.
something is off about all of it,In this case I couldn't agree with your colleagues less.
First of all if there's any degree of trespass that's a criminal offence and there was also a confrontation which could've turned more physical. The Boro training facilities are obviously private so filming anything there is disgraceful. Imagine if it was the Boro female or kids teams being filmed or someone filming your colleagues on their back garden, from the back alley, round the hot tub ... you'd want the police involved.
My hope is that, if found guilty, Southampton are thrown out and Boro given their place ...
... I really don't want to see the Saints manager dancing around Wembley knowing he cheated.
not sure what is worseThe Saints manager in post match interview just looked guilty as hell to me.
This will never leave him. He would have been better owning up immediately.The Saints manager in post match interview just looked guilty as hell to me.

Of course he knows. But it wouldn't matter if he didn't. The club are guilty. The club must be punished.Someone at the club knows who this is,
someone at the club sent them
to ask for "more time to investigate" shows how much of ****show this is,
Tonda knows, he stormed out of the presser last time too....
the club should be punished, but I highly doubt they will face any charges. just a slap on the wrist and told not to do it againOf course he knows. But it wouldn't matter if he didn't. The club are guilty. The club must be punished.
The individuals should then be dealt with by the club.
Wow, unbelievable Jeff. Agree, Southampton need kicking out of the play-offs and a points deduction next season.The EFL are cowards. There was enough evidence on Friday to award Boro a 3-0 forfeit.
Southampton are playing for time, wanting "internal reviews" and such like.
Into what? One of the clubs employees, a man who has been seen celebrating on the bench at Southampton games, was caught, filming a late training session. On camera, he then runs away, dives into a toilet, changes his clothes and makes off, and apparently his phone is wiped.
Maybe the birds in the trees and some very small children might think that's innocent. Maybe.
At least when Leeds were caught, even though there was no actual rule then, Bielsa made a televised public apology.
Southampton should be kicked out.
Apparently the VAR commentary from the West Ham V Arsenal game is going to cause a few issues.
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