Football

[AlterEgo]

In your opinion, and you know what they say about those.

For what little it's worth I do agree about VAR - it's ruined the game in many ways - but honestly the moralising on show here and elsewhere is boke-inducing. Where were your protests when Rangers were buying the SFA and the referees through their Masonic connections? Ah, that's right, there were none. So please spare us the hand-wringing.

THC

The Old Firm is extremely tedious - and I say that as someone from a Celtic family through and through (my great uncle played 254 times for them; my dad played with MON in Derry's reserve team while MON was an underage prodigy).

God it's so boring, you say anything about either team and you get accused of being partial. "Where were you when Rangers and the Freemasons diddled the refs?" - I mean, why would you assume I didn't have opinions about that just because - the same as you in fact, if I check your post history - I haven't bored this particular public forum with them? Is it because I said the SPL is crap and it didn't look like a penalty last night, is that all it took?

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

If Celtic win the league with a narrow victory it'll just be poisoned by this anyway. And the SPL will retreat into obscurity again as a farmers league. It's only been fun this season because the quality from the Old Firm has been laughable.

Would the answer therefore be a victory with a 5-0 score?

 

[DarloRich]

The BBC are reporting that the championship play off final could be postponed due to the Southampton spygate investigation. We all know it will go ahead. What the incompetent FA/FL blazers will decide is that Middlesbrough should be docked 3 points for bringing the game into disrepute by daring to report the issue!

Saints are accused of breaking two regulations:

EFL Regulation 3.4, which requires clubs to act towards each other with the utmost good faith; and

EFL Regulation 127, which prohibits any club from observing, or attempting to observe, another club's training session within 72 hours of a scheduled match between the two clubs.

( Southampton will get a fine - that's all)

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

The Championship play-off final may not go ahead on Saturday 23 May as the English Football League (EFL) investigates the Spygate scandal surrounding finalists Southampton.

A hearing conducted by an Independent Disciplinary Commission will take place on or before Tuesday 19 May.

Saints have been charged by the EFL with breaking rules by observing one of Middlesbrough's training sessions before last Saturday's semi-final first leg at the Riverside.

Is it because I said the SPL is crap and it didn't look like a penalty last night

That Celtic are having to cheat to win their 13568 pub league title tells you all you need to know. ( could be worse. Rangers managed to finished 3rd in a two horse race!)

In the kingdom of the blind, the one-eyed man is king!

It should not have been given and the sad fact is you know it. Consider your view if it was the other way around.

 

[AlterEgo]

Would the answer therefore be a victory with a 5-0 score?

If Celtic had drawn the other day only a 3-0 victory would be required to overturn the goal difference because as they score, Hearts' goal difference depletes because they're playing Hearts. A 3-0 win over Hearts makes that penalty decision immaterial. They'll get it as well. Hearts will crumble on the final day in my view mostly because I'm not a footballing romantic. God hates football lately, having seemingly denied the game of a double header of fun - Arsenal look set to win the title with their insufferable fanbase and boring football, and Spurs will avoid relegation. God even let Rochdale go up at Wembley when the banter result of course is Boreham Wood going up at their expense.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

The BBC are reporting that the championship play off final could be postponed due to the Southampton spygate investigation. We all know it will go ahead. What the incompetent FA/FL blazers will decide is that Middlesbrough should be docked 3 points for bringing the game into disrepute by daring to report the issue!

When do you think it likely for the announcement of the decision to be made, noting the current booking of Wembley?

 

[DarloRich]

When do you think it likely for the announcement of the decision to be made, noting the current booking of Wembley?

it should be ASAP but again knowing the FA/FL it will be 3 days AFTER Southampton have won the play off final!

I note the FL issued a statement last night urging fans to consider the terms and conditions associated with the of sale of tickets and to be cognisant with that and the potential for alterations to the date of the final when booking travel and accommodation - which is as helpful as a chocolate fire guard!

Supporters should, however, be aware that the outcome of the disciplinary proceedings may yet result in changes to the fixture.....

Sales will be subject to usual terms and conditions, and in the circumstances, fans are encouraged to pay particular attention to the terms and conditions.

Likewise, supporters should consider the situation when booking any associated travel and accommodation.

This decision follows ongoing coordination with the Clubs to ensure that on-sale arrangements can be implemented as soon as practicable.

The League recognises that this complex situation has caused concern and disruption for supporters, particularly those making travel arrangements, and will continue to provide as much clarity as possible.

However, in these clearly exceptional circumstances, the League considers this to be the most appropriate course of action.

EFL Statement: Sky Bet Championship Play-Off Final

The Official home of the English Football League

www.efl.com

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

it should be ASAP but again knowing the FA/FL it will be 3 days AFTER Southampton have won the play off final!

Of course, if Hull won the match, how would that affect matters?

 

[DarloRich]

Of course, if Hull won the match, how would that affect matters?

There might be an issue if Southampton were excluded from the competition!

 

[SuspectUsual]

I think it’s difficult to see how any right-minded fan would think anything other than Southampton being removed from the playoffs would be a just outcome.

You can’t deduct points, because the season is over, unless it’s for next season. But if they win the final next season they won’t be in the EFL. What then? Points deducted the season after they’re relegated?

A fine is futile and meaningless

This isn’t an employee going rogue, it’s a deliberate act that was organised by the club, and after the Leeds / Derby affair a few years ago there’s a specific rule to forbid it

They knew exactly what they were doing and they knew it was wrong

 

[AlterEgo]

I think it’s difficult to see how any right-minded fan would think anything other than Southampton being removed from the playoffs would be a just outcome.

You can’t deduct points, because the season is over, unless it’s for next season. But if they win the final next season they won’t be in the EFL. What then? Points deducted the season after they’re relegated?

A fine is futile and meaningless

This isn’t an employee going rogue, it’s a deliberate act that was organised by the club, and after the Leeds / Derby affair a few years ago there’s a specific rule to forbid it

They knew exactly what they were doing and they knew it was wrong

Agreed. They have to be expelled from the playoffs and Boro reinstated. It's such a clear and flagrant breach by the club.

 

[DarloRich]

I think it’s difficult to see how any right-minded fan would think anything other than Southampton being removed from the playoffs would be a just outcome.

Agreed. They have to be expelled from the playoffs and Boro reinstated. It's such a clear and flagrant breach by the club.

agreed - but it wont happen. I doubt the FL/FA have the stones for it. Southampton will absolutely claim it is a rouge employee and nothing to do with them.

 

[SuspectUsual]

agreed - but it wont happen. I doubt the FL/FA have the stones for it. Southampton will absolutely claim it is a rouge employee and nothing to do with them.

But rouge is a club colour for them though

But seriously, how can they claim that? A bloke skipped work to go 250 miles to watch the smogs train, and was going to go into work the next day and say “oh lads, guess what I saw yesterday”?

At least some of the following will come out in the wash:

- they gave / hired him a car for the day

- they reimbursed the fuel

- they paid for a train ticket

- they paid for a hotel

- he emailed them the video

- he was live-streaming it

 

[DarloRich]

But seriously, how can they claim that?

whilst on leave an employee of Southampton Football Club, having an interest in second world bomber bases used by the RCAF squadrons forming part No. 6 Group RCAF, stayed at the Croft Spa hotel for one night before intending to return home to Southampton. Being a nice morning the club employee asked hotel staff where he could take his daily constitutional and they suggested the public footpath alongside the river tees which, remarkably, was adjacent to the Middlesbrough FC training ground. Being entirely coincidental that he should find himself in the area merely days before a crucial match between the teams, the employee took a short video of the scene to show his friends an example of the whimsical nature of life before intending to drive back south........................

 

[Jimini]

Couple of West Ham supporting chums of mine suggested that -- due to the whole spygate thing -- they should just do away with the playoffs for this season only and just have a two down / two up scenario

 

[DarloRich]

A road not taken from Scottish football. Sigh. The old firm hegemony and especially that of Celtic will not be be broken anytime soon.

 

[THC]

In honesty I would have happily conceded had Hearts taken anything from the game yesterday. They had a great season and would have been worthy champions. Their time will come, and it will improve Scottish football immeasurably when it does.

However, despite the idiots who ran on the pitch once again, there was a positive story yesterday and it concerns Martin O'Neill. Eight years after retiring, he came back to manage a Celtic team in the depths, not once but twice, and dragged a title out of them. He's earned his statue outside Celtic Park where the time comes, and who could begrudge him?

THC

 

[Jamesrob637]

In honesty I would have happily conceded had Hearts taken anything from the game yesterday. They had a great season and would have been worthy champions. Their time will come, and it will improve Scottish football immeasurably when it does.

However, despite the idiots who ran on the pitch once again, there was a positive story yesterday and it concerns Martin O'Neill. Eight years after retiring, he came back to manage a Celtic team in the depths, not once but twice, and dragged a title out of them. He's earned his statue outside Celtic Park where the time comes, and who could begrudge him?

THC

Proud to know Martin personally even though I quietly wanted Hearts to win.

 

[DarloRich]

Their time will come, and it will improve Scottish football immeasurably when it does.

It won't though. It was only the hilarious Celtic and Rangers early season meltdown that presented the opportunity for Hearts and even that wasn't enough.

That's before we consider the coin imbalance and the ability of Celtic to buy lower end championship level players at will while the other teams are able to buy league 1/2 players!

Normal services will be resumed next season: Celtic/Rangers top 2
A N Other 3rd

 

[THC]

Tony Bloom took a minority stake in Hearts last season and came with a ten-year plan. McInnes was not his man and none of the players have been recruited on the basis of his Jamestown algorithms, so this season was all about settling in - the title run was obviously a bonus. It'll be interesting to see how the club progresses once his people and methods are established. Celtic will have to modernise both structure and staff to compete in years to come, of that I am sure.

THC

 

[AlterEgo]

It won't though. It was only the hilarious Celtic and Rangers early season meltdown that presented the opportunity for Hearts and even that wasn't enough.

That's before we consider the coin imbalance and the ability of Celtic to buy lower end championship level players at will while the other teams are able to buy league 1/2 players!

Normal services will be resumed next season: Celtic/Rangers top 2
A N Other 3rd

Wouldn't be so sure Rangers will come second. They're not making good decisions at the moment and the club is in much bigger trouble than Celtic is. MON ought to retire for good, and let someone new take Celtic forward - now would be the right time after winning the title as it would consolidate his (considerable) legacy, and frankly the club is sellotaped together at the moment and needs a different energy to reinvent it.

Hearts are not a one season wonder; if they also consolidate it will make the league far more compelling.

 

[Harvester]

Newcastle 3 West Ham 1 more or less condemns West Ham to the Championship. With a far inferior goal difference they now have to win their last game, and hope Spurs lose their remaining two matches.

 

[AlterEgo]

Newcastle 3 West Ham 1 more or less condemns West Ham to the Championship. With a far inferior goal difference they now have to win their last game, and hope Spurs lose their remaining two matches.

It's still not over. West Ham at home to Leeds is winnable and Spurs may still not get anything from Chelsea (new manager just appointed) and Everton (bogey team). But the smart money is on West Ham to perish. Hope they don't come back up for a long time and they enjoy WWIII against Millwall next season and for every season forevermore.

 

[DarloRich]

Wouldn't be so sure Rangers will come second. They're not making good decisions at the moment and the club is in much bigger trouble than Celtic is.

the problem is they don't have to get that many decisions rights. it is such a poor league.

MON ought to retire for good, and let someone new take Celtic forward

Agreed.

 

[43096]

It's still not over. West Ham at home to Leeds is winnable and Spurs may still not get anything from Chelsea (new manager just appointed) and Everton (bogey team). But the smart money is on West Ham to perish. Hope they don't come back up for a long time and they enjoy WWIII against Millwall next season and for every season forevermore.

Whoever goes down it is funny. Spurs because they are Spurs. West Ham as a reminder to their self-entitled fans who have delusions of how big a club they are and that they should play football "the West Ham way". Should have stuck with David Moyes!

 

[yoyothehobo]

Celtic deserved to win the title in the end and Hearts threw it away with only 1 away win in their last 7 away games.

But my word the Celtic fans are embarrassing. Limp through a season and just pip a team who you outspend by a considerable margin to the post and then go and storm the pitch and then tear up the town.

 

[sannox]

Celtic deserved to win the title in the end and Hearts threw it away with only 1 away win in their last 7 away games.

But my word the Celtic fans are embarrassing. Limp through a season and just pip a team who you outspend by a considerable margin to the post and then go and storm the pitch and then tear up the town.

This. The actions on the pitch at the end and in the Trongate are embarrassing to the club and the other fans.

Hearts didn't do a lot wrong in all honesty but lost to Kilmarnock, St Mirren and drew with Livingston in the last few months, teams that finished in 10th, 11th and 12th... That was costly.

 

[Haywain]

MON ought to retire for good, and let someone new take Celtic forward

On recent form it seems that someone new is more likely to take Celtic backwards!

 

[Kite159]

So Pep Guardiola is rumoured to exiting Man City at the end of the season to be replaced with Enzo Maresca (according to the BBC). End of an era for Man City

 

[Haywain]

So Pep Guardiola is rumoured to exiting Man City at the end of the season to be replaced with Enzo Maresca (according to the BBC).

Given how widely it is being reported, I would be astonished if it isn't true.

 

[yoyothehobo]

suprised they didnt announce it 5 minutes before the start of the FA cup final like they did v Wigan in 2013....