Tonda Eckert - Southampton

[SerbianLad]

They got off lightly if you ask me.

They looked like relegation candidates and then they started cheating and suddenly they are in the play-offs. They deserved to be kicked out of the play-offs, it's completely proportionate punishment. I'd be livid if I was a fan of one of the clubs that finished near the play-offs, as if they didn't cheat they might have had a chance to sneak in to the play-offs instead of Southampton.

[Cambridge Away]

They got off lightly if you ask me.

They looked like relegation candidates and then they started cheating and suddenly they are in the play-offs. They deserved to be kicked out of the play-offs, it's completely proportionate punishment. I'd be livid if I was a fan of one of the clubs that finished near the play-offs, as if they didn't cheat they might have had a chance to sneak in to the play-offs instead of Southampton.

Their results were so absurdly good for so many matches that it might be ok to presume that they were very good at this cheating thing for every match

We could also be livid we are no longer in the cup, BUT Marco would have never defeated Guardiola anyway

[SerbianLad]

Their results were so absurdly good for so many matches that it might be ok to presume that they were very good at this cheating thing for every match

They were probably spying on our trainings too when they kicked us out of the cup.

[Eton White]

The "come clean confession" they made that they'd only spied twice before (before playing Oxford and Ipswich) also sounds very unlikely.

Imagine the scenario - Southampton spied before two games. They failed to win either of them. Instead of thinking "cheating hasn't really helped us", they instead decide to risk everything before a huge play off game and try giving spying one more go! 

The more likely scenario is that they've spied on teams multiple times throughout the season, found it to give them a big advantage and continued doing it into the play offs.

But I suspect confessing to that might not have been received too well. Next season's point deduction would have likely included all the games they won after spying this season!

[Cambridge Away]

Imagine the scenario - Southampton spied before two games. They failed to win either of them. Instead of thinking "cheating hasn't really helped us", they instead (...) before a huge play off game (...) try giving spying one more go! 

[MikeTheCubed]

Their results were so absurdly good for so many matches that it might be ok to presume that they were very good at this cheating thing for every match

They were probably spying on our trainings too when they kicked us out of the cup.

[HobGoblin]

Their results were so absurdly good for so many matches that it might be ok to presume that they were very good at this cheating thing for every match

They were probably spying on our trainings too when they kicked us out of the cup.

That is quality

[SerbianLad]

https://x.com/louorns/status/2057514582755754250
Plot thickens...

[sunburywhite]

He is toast

[FFC007]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cdepxek43gyo

His goose is well a truly cooked... he won't manage again after FIFA ban him for a long time.

[bill taylors apprentice]

Ignorance is no defence, or at least it shouldn't be even in today's world.

[sunburywhite]

Ignorance is no defence, or at least it shouldn't be even in today's world.

Someone will have sanctioned it and presumably that was Tonda

So when the buck stops it will be at Tonda's door

[sunburywhite]

Whats the difference when a club sends scouts to watch a game 3 days before they play another team?

[SerbianLad]

https://x.com/AnnieEaves/status/2057525205879173626
He's been doing this from the beginning of his career pretty much. You couldn't make this up.

[SerbianLad]

Whats the difference when a club sends scouts to watch a game 3 days before they play another team?

What? There's enormous difference. If you're watching opposition's training before your match against them, you'll most likely know what 11 they'll put out, the potential tactical tweaks they'll make that are specific for your match, the fitness status of players who are iniured/recovering, etc. The difference is huge.

[Coastwalker]

Harry Redknapp said that 90% of what clubs do on the training ground,isn't implemented on Matchday,due in cases that the team hasn't lined up as expected,not the usual eleven,and how some players don't do as the manager has asked of them.

[Neutral Zone Ultra]

If I did something in my job which lost my company a shot at £200m revenue and at the same time inflicted front page news level of reputational damage, I don't think "I didn't know it was wrong" would save me from being sacked for gross misconduct.

That said Eckert was clearly in the wrong, but how on earth did Southampton let it happen in the first place? In my job we have extensive compliance training courses/explicit policies which are drilled into us to prevent us getting the company into trouble, how on earth did Southampton let him just crack on without any oversight?

[sunburywhite]

Whats the difference when a club sends scouts to watch a game 3 days before they play another team?

What? There's enormous difference. If you're watching opposition's training before your match against them, you'll most likely know what 11 they'll put out, the potential tactical tweaks they'll make that are specific for your match, the fitness status of players who are iniured/recovering, etc. The difference is huge.

You know pretty much how Fulham (and most teams) will line up

We would all get 9 out of 11 for Sunday now

You cant hear what the coach s telling them, they could be practasing attack or defence

I doubt you would see Robinson putting an extra shift in practasing penaltys

[Cambridge Away]

https://x.com/AnnieEaves/status/2057525205879173626
He's been doing this from the beginning of his career pretty much. You couldn't make this up.

He has been doing this since he was in his early 20s?!!

So, now he's been caught he has two choices right?: Stop doing it, Or get better at it. With such publicity around this, presumably the latter would be quite hard. Will he actually be any good without it? I guess we'll find out how much of an edge it gave him when he is allowed to manage again.

[Cambridge Away]

Seems like an incredibly young Mourinho, doing a Jokanovic in the Championship

Seems the Mourinho comparisons are quite apt for other reasons. A bit of a dark side to him