Dean Shaw

@craig_johns The issue with this is Swindon’s two players actually played so the impact was undeniable. Harder to prove for Saints (esp over 2 legs). Also, those four points as to how the decision was made are also relevant for Leicester and WBA who only got points deducted. Who knows 🤷‍♂️

Earlier this season, Swindon Town were expelled from the EFL Trophy after Disciplinary hearing. Ahead of Southampton's, there some relevant points from it. In particular, the EFL set out four reasons why expulsion was what they pushed for #Boro gazettelive.co.uk/sport/football…

@AlfieHouseEcho What’s your thoughts on replaying the first leg next Saturday as a second leg? Would sort a headache for the FA as Boro get the advantage they want It’d also test Boro’s claims for Saints’ expulsion - do they still call for a free pass or do they back themselves on the pitch?

Not surprised associates of Boro want Saints booted out play-offs because why wouldn’t they want a free ride to final, but it’s a ridiculous suggestion. Couldn’t complain about fines, bans and even points docked, but would need proven season-long conspiracy for more. #SaintsFC

@dgboro @GraemeBailey Out of curiosity would Boro fans be happy if the outcome was to replay the Riverside leg next weekend as a second leg? That way the game which is supposedly compromised is replayed and Boro get the advantage of the second leg at home? Or do you take your draw from yesterday?

@GraemeBailey We had to change our plan before the game as it was compromised that is openly cheating it’s shocking what they did. Look at England training they state clearly that all media is to leave before they plan training for the game so that’s the FA ruling how is this different

Having thought about #SpyGate and Boro boss Kim Hellberg is right, Southampton cheated. The Saints have accepted their guilt. So, what can be done? A fine doesn't help Boro and they won't be thrown out. So for me, the second leg should be played without home fans.

@AlfieHouseEcho Jander with a candidate for the worst ever performance by a Saints player. Quite an achievement when you think about it.

HT: Leicester City 3-0 Saints. I don't need to tell you how bad that was. #SaintsFC

@THEGORGIETRUTH @crimp_it @henrywinter England weren’t top seed for Euro 24 qualifying and got the hardest group with Italy and Ukraine. They won it easily and became top seeds again 🤷‍♂️

England to receive more than 10% of allocation in $60 tickets: 552 tickets v Croatia; 539 v Ghana; 632 v Panama. If* (*etc) England reach final, they would get 600 $60 tickets. Number of tickets gone up compared to what was said yesterday. England Supporters Travel Club believes it will have “enough” Supporter Entry Tier $60 tickets “to meet the demand of top cappers who applied for each match” based on “initial registration of interest”. If ESTC ends up with more top cappers applying compared to number of $60 tickets available, it will consult with supporters and FSA about how to ballot. #ENG

@KeithPaterson01 @SPFLWatch It is a “possible” path and I have seen many done for Scotland too. Most match going England fans are far from arrogant. Their own fanzine predicted a comfortable loss in Belgrade… won 5-0.

@SPFLWatch Arrogant pricks 🙈🙈

Staying humble then

@EnglandOnOurWay @jordanpbanks @_DIGB It’s actually just a one game winning run. 😂

@jordanpbanks @_DIGB I love it when you win a few games and want a "pop" at us.

I want the most disgustingly easy World Cup draw possible tomorrow, none of the glamour tie nonsense 3 little scudbook teams that’ll fold under the pressure Haiti from Pot 4 Iran from Pot 2 and England from Pot 1

@_DundeePerfect_ @marknelsoncomic I mentioned Scotland with regard to the now usual 8% WC allocations and how it’s changed… it wasn’t a dig. I’ve found some confirmations but I paid QAR250 or £50 most games including for France v Denmark, Iran v Wales and England games.

@deanoshaw @marknelsoncomic Images were based on news articles during the event. Over 67k empty seats in the opening match Curious why bring Scotland in to it, the World Cup still went ahead.. so totally irrelevant Have you got the pics of matches you attended and which teams? $60 dollars what even is cat 4

So each country’s only getting 8% of stadium cap as allocation for World Cup. Which means majority will be either uninterested locals or more likely corporate wanks. Tickets gonna be a fortune as well, pricing out lots of genuine fans. FIFA are intent on ruining this sport.

@davieknndy85 @marknelsoncomic It was 8% in Qatar, Russia and Brazil and a great atmosphere at each of them. The difference this time might be pricing… from memory it was around $60 a group game in Qatar but suspect 2026 will be much more!

@marknelsoncomic That’s just fkn fantastic a World Cup with no atmosphere thanks to the decisions of a corrupt FIFA committee

@_DundeePerfect_ @marknelsoncomic I went to many games in Qatar and the stadiums were always full. Ticket prices were also reasonable… from memory I paid $60 ish per group game. Also 8% allocation is what it has been for world cups for years. A lot has changed since 1998 when Scotland last qualified!

@marknelsoncomic After the disaster of many empty seats during the Qatar World Cup you would think that FIFA may have learned from this and lowered pricing, I guess not. The only way i can see any Stadiums being full is if Americans take an interest. Pointless if many can't get a ticket.

@TheWelshDragon9 @MahirOmeragic There’s been so much about playing Italy, the atmosphere in the final and Bellamy getting one over the Italians again. It reminds me of the over confidence ahead of the Iran match at the WC albeit it’s certainly not as great as it was ahead of that game.

@MahirOmeragic Italy is a huge name, so a talking point. But straight up 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 v 🇧🇦 no one from Wales is looking past you.

Ironically, the Welsh are looking past us and the Italians are being super cautious on this app. I kind of wish both would underestimate us. We do best with low expectations.

@mrsweetleftfoot @SPFLWatch Absolutely. What also helped is that the 2nd and 3rd seeds were close in quality so they took points off each other. Worth remembering though both Serbia and Albania have performed better at recent tournaments than Scotland and Greece, so maybe easy for England not everyone.

@deanoshaw @SPFLWatch ….as demonstrated by the absolute canter of a group England were drawn into. Barely a 2nd seed in Serbia and two absolute scuddies in Latvia and Andorra.

“Scotland only qualified because it’s an expanded tournament” Actually Scotland were in the Top 12 European nations in qualifying by virtue of winning our group. That would have been good enough to qualify Scotland for every World Cup back to 1978

@LewisGr16690001 @dalziel_stephen @scotball_ @BBCSport It’s impossible for either England or Scotland to get the groups you’ve suggested. England also absolutely would not celebrate that run and haven’t claimed a group is hard since 2014 when they were shite. Scottish bitterness really is unrivalled. It deserves respect 😂

@dalziel_stephen @scotball_ @BBCSport Then they’ll get Ecuador in the last 32, Senegal in the last 16, and get knocked out by Holland in the quarter final and take it as a positive

Here are the current projected 2026 World Cup group stage pots. I’d like a stab at: • Argentina and Messi 🇦🇷 • South Korea 🇰🇷 • Curacao 🇨🇼 The official draw will take place on Friday 5th December. Who do you fancy? (@BBCSport)

@4heavydirtysoul @ManagerTactical Hardest qualifying group for Euro 2024 but you forget it because they qualified so easily. The winners, runners up, quarter finalists and group stage from Euro 20 in one group.

@ManagerTactical What I'd like to know is how every single WCQ campaign does 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 get the easiest group of them all

I don’t think Europeans realize how easy UEFA World Cup qualifying is, due to the bottom half of teams being awful and the amount of spots they get.

@DandyDonSF @howudiddling Not quite true… fewer qualifying groups back then distorts seedings Take Euro 2008 qualifying (14 teams qualified) Scotland were 4th seeds but there were only 7 groups - so ranked between 21-28 For Euro 24 a total of 23 teams qualified and Scotland were 2nd seeds ranked 20th.

@howudiddling We were regularly 3rd or 4th seeds. I don’t think we would have qualified no matter the places available.

One win away from our first World Cup in nearly 30 years, qualification to the Euros. Clarke has done more for Scotland than the likes of Walter Smith and Gordon Strachan. It’s not pretty, but he will be looked back on as a successful Scotland manager.

@Millar_Colin @chrisrumfitt @TheAthleticFC I see what you did there but perhaps it should be England only lost 1 game in 7 at the Euros and that was to the winners from a late goal… all whilst not playing well. Also you conveniently forgot that for Euro 24 they had the hardest qualifying group with Italy and Ukraine.

@chrisrumfitt @TheAthleticFC This does go a long way to explaining that, but also: 2 wins from 7 in 90 minutes in last summer's Euros, relegated from Nations League in 2023, recent friendly loss to Senegal. They're extremely strong in qualifying but also, helped by seeding, have kind draws.

Greece/Scotland and Hungary/Republic of Ireland two beautifully chaotic, nerve-shredding, hope-giving, hope-taking, rollercoaster football matches. Sensational drama that only live sport can provide. International football (caveat: not involving England) is so much fun.

@secondtierpod They have won 10 games in that time but only four in the league. McCarthy has also only played about 15 games since May last year so also a bit harsh to just blame him.

Fair play Alex McCarthy 😂 No wonder Southampton have won just 4 games since May 2024.

@TheWelshDragon9 @PlagueLuke It doesn’t when Wales are at home though which is probably the best comparison. Canada last month springs to mind or South Korea when the stadium was less than 50% full. So perhaps you’re arrogant to think you’re different? Wales were also very arrogant ahead of Iran in the WC

@PlagueLuke The sad thing is as an Englishman you genuinely believe that which goes sum way to some up the arrogant country. This happens at every wales away game.

Quick message to the England fans in the comments. Tuchels right, your fans are shite 🎶

@dollarpad It’s Southampton’s second string. Nine changes from the weekend.

This line up against a Southampton first team is not so good sha