Ady

@philiptigerrice @slbsn I think on the back of this the rules change again - no spying full stop not just 72 hours if you do then the punishment is kicking out - at the minute it doesn’t state that so a £200 million loss will be deemed excessive when nothing in writing.

@slbsn A great view, except it fails to address the precedent whereby a team in next years Semi will look and say - its frankly well worth a £1m fine to chance a £200m pay off. And given that almost no teams ‘bounce back’ up a few points docked in Championship is neither here nor there

🚨🤓 Southampton Spygate personal view: 1. Expect the breaches will be straightforward to establish (ie liability) and almost certainly admitted to try and get some sanction credit/discount 2. Expect aggravating factors such as other examples of Soton spying this year to be raised 3. Fundamental question of how serious a breach of rule 127 and good faith is will be key. We know good faith alone was £200k in the Leeds case. The new rule makes it worse and spying obviously seeks a sporting advantage - why else do it? So that does point to sporting sanction of some sort 4. Being thrown out of the Play Offs appears excessive especially given Southampton finished 7 points clear of 6th and 9 clear of 7th 5. A 3-0 in the first leg would have been an option again excessive retrospectively unless 2nd leg re-playable (not feasible) 6. More likely sanction is points deduction next season in the Championship as much as that won't help Middlesboro 7. Unlikely that the PL will take a points deduction recommendation from the EFL (no fixed rule) - doubt EFL will push for it, so would apply in first season back in Championship (when and if) 8. My best guess is SIX EFL points in first season in EFL and £500k-£1m fine 9. Boro compensation claim can be dealt with separately subject to any claim brought by Boro - difficult claim to establish due to causation issues

@Quartista1985 Agreed and that somebody should be punished and not throw the kid under the bus - it’s just a disproportionate punishment to throw us out of the game - ha can’t have gained that much - only thing he could’ve gained was how fit Hackney potentially was

@Quartista1985 Fair play for speaking up pal. Embarrassing for us 💯 but a kid with an iPhone didn’t turn this tie Couple of Boro fans I know in person are brilliant - as I’m sure most are - but the disproportionate punishment after being beaten over 2 games is also an embarrassment in itself

@MFCboro00 @willsyms7 @UTSmatt @AlfieHouseEcho @SFCLJJJ @TotalSaintsPod Why would the EFL appeal it? Surely they are putting forward the evidence for the case and are asking an independent panel to assess it?

@willsyms7 @UTSmatt @AlfieHouseEcho @SFCLJJJ @TotalSaintsPod Yeah I meant can the EFL appeal the punishment?

Once again, I don't think this changes much but glad tickets are on sale soon. EFL have no choice but to leave options open for independent commission. Interesting that the statement includes specific mention of contingencies to allow 'appeals process' if needed tho. #SaintsFC

@SkySports_Keith @SkySports_Keith and you get paid for this “investigative journalism?” why not interview the tree??? - fair play to you kid you’re robbing a living 🤣🤣🤣

🕵🏻‍♂️ 🌳 “This is the tree at the centre of Spy Gate.” 🎥 A reconstruction of the movements of the alleged Southampton spy at the Middlesbrough training ground.

@craig_johns Taking a team from 2nd to 5th ….no wonder he’s panicking, clutching at straws and spent the last few days looking for excuses instead of focusing on the games and let the investigation play out

Kim Hellberg wanted to park Spygate and focus on the football. The #Boro has handled the last few days with real class and, in contrast to how it was handled by his opposite number on Saturday, handled Qs well. Inside Hellberg's press conference today: gazettelive.co.uk/sport/football…

@smudge7723 @dazzer3030 @Boroshirts But IF that was the case then that the alleged and as of yet non-proven ‘spy’ was looking at penalties then that would be more than 72 hours before a game and therefore legal

@dazzer3030 @Boroshirts And if it goes to penalties and the spy has made notes on who was practicing them and where they placed them?

Can i ask any non boro or Southampton followers? Would you be happy getting through to wembley, then winning. Knowing your club had disrespected every other team in the league by cheating

@DOughtred @TypicalBoroPod Exactly this - you should’ve beaten on the pitch yesterday and the narrative gave your players almost an excuse not to. IF found guilty in the ever changing story that has come out I would be embarrassed as a Saints fan but till then play the game on the pitch

@TypicalBoroPod Saints aren’t being kicked out, let’s stop this narrative, not gonna happen, they’ll fine them and maybe impose some sort of touch line ban etc but no way are they gonna kick em out. It’s starting to sound desperate and we need to focus on ourselves, we’re clutching at straws

“The only punishment for me is that Southampton should be kicked out of the playoffs!” 🕵️‍♂️👀 Do you agree that this would be a fair punishment for #Spygate ?

@MarkDavies67 @fatboyscum @TheSkyBlueHub Which have been fed by Boro sources be it journos or others - need the facts that are ever changing - is cheating to gain a competitive advantage ever right???

@Saintady @fatboyscum @TheSkyBlueHub See the Telegraph and the BBC for a start mate.

Lots of Southampton fans are laughing about the spying and attacking us and journalists about it - imagine if it was the other way round: I would be sickened and ashamed of the club. Total gulf in class, whatever happens next week. #UTB

@MarkDavies67 @fatboyscum @TheSkyBlueHub But Mark we don’t know the full facts of situation other than leaked from Boro ‘journos’ - IF completely true & proven then it’s disgusting but Boros security must be in question & cheating happens to get the tiniest advantages all the time (I am not saying that makes this right)

@fatboyscum @TheSkyBlueHub It was a bit more sophisticated than that tbh, and suggestion it’s been going on months.

@Scottwilsonecho 🤣🤣🤣

🔴 COLUMN TIME: If Southampton are guilty of spying, the EFL will have to act. The Saints won't be thrown out of play-offs, but a fine won't wash. The second leg of semi-final should be played without home fans at St Mary's... #Boro #SaintsFC Read here⬇️ thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/26088562…

@Furmo8 @Mitramonday @AdamBlackmore Systems for drones but no security to stop people getting in 🤔🤔🤔

@Mitramonday @AdamBlackmore Drones are a lot more obvious mate Jesus 😂 Club will also have some system in place to watch out for drones I’m sure

I spy with my little eye something beginning with ……Boro 😂 Remarkable story if true - #SaintsFc saying nothing official atm Could have been a fan trying to watch his Boro heroes for free 🤷‍♂️😁

@dailyechosaints Surely it should be a much stronger sentence like a one year ban….game and laws gone 😡 #saintsfc

Fan banned for four years after pitch invasion at Saints v Portsmouth ift.tt/oEABngW

@21luckyforsome evening - could you possibly give me a quick follow so I can DM you with a quick question please - thank you 🙏

Dear #efl what time do Ipswich get their obligatory penalty? #itfc #saintsfc #souips

@ManCityUS But can’t sell out 👏👏👏🤣

Said it before, and we'll say it again: best fans itw.

Nice to see a bit of fight at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium for the first time in a while #FuryMakhmudov #spurs #thfc

@stwpedept Huge thanks to all the staff there. It must be a logistical nightmare and nothing that could be planned for but you’ve all been amazing and kept the kids happy and safe so heartfelt thanks to all of you 👏👏👏❤️

@stwpedept If it’s the weather…..could you all ski home????

@dailyechosaints I’m going to go with a Saints win on this one… possibly errrm 4-3 after being 3 down??? Sounds a long shot but going to have a quid on it 👍

Leicester City are in complete crisis: Saints have to take full advantage ift.tt/5YufWc9