I flitted between that game and the Spurs game and what really surprised me were the number of empty seats. Perhaps one section behind a goal was closed on safety grounds but there were many empty seats elsewhere. I thought Hull were the slightly better of two poor teams.Millwall 0:2 Hull City. Well done, the Tigers!
2025/2026 Season
- Thread starter RiverEndRick
- Start date
-
Please bear with us on the new site integration and fixing any known bugs over the coming days. If you can not log in please try resetting your password and check your spam box. If you have tried these steps and are still struggling email [email protected] with your username/registered email address
-
Unbelievable that, they were expected to be in a relegation scrap at the start of the season. Feel sorry for Millwall and Alex Neil who have had a fantastic season and been in the top 6 all season
As we found out, Hull do have the ability to beat "better" sides! I like the Tigers's spirit and belief. I'd back them to beat 'Boro at Wembley, but I don't think they'll turn over the Saints if that's who they face.
Last edited:
I doubt many will agree with this and I get that it’s not in the spirit of the sport but I bet this happens all the time. Also it’s not like they haven’t already played each other twice and won’t have every game on video to analyse. A team is hardly going to dramatically change the way they play all of a sudden in a play off game.
It’s absolutely wrong but also being blown out of proportion
A potential can of worms. It seems that they want to hammer Saints but apparently there is nothing in the rule book regarding potential punishments and as far as I am aware the only other Club found guilty of this were Leeds and they got fined - precedent? The rule book also says that the Club have 14 days to respond to the charge and the EFL are waiving this rule - can they legally? If they kick Southampton out I can foresee legal challenges which, if successful, would leave the EFL in an impossible position.
Simon Jordan suggests it will likely be sorted out between the clubs with an agreement of some sort of percentage of the promotion revenue being paid to Middlesbrough?
He's what the BBC has to say
www.bbc.co.uk
Spygate: Championship play-off final may be delayed by hearing
The Championship play-off final may not go ahead on Saturday, 23 May as the EFL investigates the Spygate scandal surrounding finalists Southampton.
www.bbc.co.uk
Soton have been kicked out from the playoffs and have got 4 point deduction for next season.
Appears it wasn't just for filming Boro, but also watching training at Ipswich and Oxford.
Shocker as sensible EFL decision for once!
Appears it wasn't just for filming Boro, but also watching training at Ipswich and Oxford.
Shocker as sensible EFL decision for once!
Southampton have been thrown out of the play-offs after admitting they spied on three clubs in the Championship season.
The EFL charged Saints with watching training sessions of Oxford United and Ipswich Town, in addition to filming Middlesbrough as they prepared for the first leg of their play-off semi-final on 7 May.
The independent disciplinary commission also handed Southampton a four-point deduction in the Championship for next season.
Saints will now miss out on a game dubbed the richest in world football, with the winners of the play-off final guaranteed a minimum £110m in Premier League broadcast revenue.
Middlesbrough, beaten by Southampton in the semi-final, have been reinstated and will play Hull City for a place in the Premier League.
The EFL charged Saints with watching training sessions of Oxford United and Ipswich Town, in addition to filming Middlesbrough as they prepared for the first leg of their play-off semi-final on 7 May.
The independent disciplinary commission also handed Southampton a four-point deduction in the Championship for next season.
Saints will now miss out on a game dubbed the richest in world football, with the winners of the play-off final guaranteed a minimum £110m in Premier League broadcast revenue.
Middlesbrough, beaten by Southampton in the semi-final, have been reinstated and will play Hull City for a place in the Premier League.
Why the hell would they feel the need to spy against Oxford, with all due respect to them, I understand a crucial game or a leading team
Somebody elsewhere (large sprinkle of salt) suggested this had been going on for most of the 2nd half of the season, but the only evidence was from those matches being available (as I say 2nd hand info.)
Southampton board full of comments as you'd expect with many and varied opinions about what has happened, whether the punishment is justified, whether Eckert and others will be banned from English football etc, etc.
Southampton can still appeal the decision but the majority of Saints fans don't think it will be successful...etc
Southampton can still appeal the decision but the majority of Saints fans don't think it will be successful...etc
I suspect they've been doing it all season. Oxford, Ipswich & Middlesbrough are just the ones that could be proved at short notice
They did appeal, but the decision was upheld and they are out. I would guess that spying is rife in the game so this verdict should put a stop to that unsavoury practice thankfully.
Christos Tzolis is named Pro League player of the year after getting 22 goals and 29 assists in all competitions, 51 goal involvements in 51 games! Hes now being eyed for a big more to the top of a top 5 league.
What could have been!
What could have been!
Adam Harvey's Pinkun preview of the pre-season about to begin tomorrow:
"Sweating off the excesses of a summer of indulgence long ceased to be a hallmark of the professional game at the top level. Players understand the need to remain disciplined and committed to their craft. But the intensity Clement works at, and the demands he places on his players, suggest this will be a pre-season unlike any other for many of his squad. While the appointment of Dr Paul Ford as performance director, towards the end of the previous season, and the on-going work to fill some key vacancies across physio and sport science, was an acknowledgement Clement does not want his hunt for continued progress on the pitch to be hindered by prolonged player unavailability."
PC is already at his desk and Alves and Field will join the other players tomorrow. There's still the need for another RW option and a possible strengthening at LB, but otherwise the squad should be ready to go from the off.
"Sweating off the excesses of a summer of indulgence long ceased to be a hallmark of the professional game at the top level. Players understand the need to remain disciplined and committed to their craft. But the intensity Clement works at, and the demands he places on his players, suggest this will be a pre-season unlike any other for many of his squad. While the appointment of Dr Paul Ford as performance director, towards the end of the previous season, and the on-going work to fill some key vacancies across physio and sport science, was an acknowledgement Clement does not want his hunt for continued progress on the pitch to be hindered by prolonged player unavailability."
PC is already at his desk and Alves and Field will join the other players tomorrow. There's still the need for another RW option and a possible strengthening at LB, but otherwise the squad should be ready to go from the off.