Southampton

[Rev72]

So we have a Wrexham fan among us

I demand a public flogging for this traitor !

[hopelesslyoptimistic]

Whether they gained any actual advantage or not it was a clear breach of a rule that all the clubs brought in after the Derby spyware issue. When we did it there wasn?t even a specific rule and a fair few in the game thougbt it wasn?t a breach yet we got a huge fine and slaughtered in the media.

This was a deliberate breach of new rules so cheating. Smacks a bit to me of Southampton trying the sorry not sorry line given the bleating that came after the decision and upholding of it post appeal.

Now if only they would clamp down on diving feigning injuries and time wasting.

[spaldy]

So the EFL isn't a bootlicking toady for the FA? If they are like most minor leagues throughout the world they do whatever they are told by the Top organization. Bund 2 doesn't do anything without Bundesliga approval. Triple A baseball checks with MLB on anything they are doing. On paper they are seperate and distinct but in reality they are just a tool for the top league to enforce their doctrine.

Kicking Southampton and docking them 4 points next season is just a gesture to keep any of the non "big 6 teams" from getting too uppity and I'm sure it was 100% "suggested" by the FA. Don't worry, they FA send a sternly worded letter to the Citeh and the other big 6 to not spend too much money while they hammer anyone else audacious enough to think they might actually compete for the title.

it's a way over the top penalty considering AI can track every teams games and write up a detailed report on what the teams will do given the circumstances of the situation on the pitch. Even the most unpredictable coaches become predictable when you use a large enough sample size to determine their course of action. It's actually a much better tool to use in lieu of having some clown filming practices hiding behind bushes and fences.

[hopelesslyoptimistic]

Anything that clamps down on the epidemic of trying to bend or break the rules is a decent first step for me Spaldy.

The fact that the benefits of it are limited doesn?t alter the fact that it is clearly against the rules and something which was introduced recently to boot.

I completely agree that with the analytics tools it is pointless to do it but that somewhat misses the point.

[spaldy]

My intent is certainly not to defend cheating although it comes across that way. You and I witness cheating in every game and every season. Even a non football fan sees things like the diving,fake injuries and the incredible amount of fouls committed on restarts and have a hard time understanding how a professional league or ref can't seem to do anything about it. That level of cheating affects almost every game and is clearly stated in the rules. The lack of consistent enforcement has a big imact on the perception of corruption and subjectivity of enforcement.

Some simple things that really could impact match integrity. Just spitballing here but it's so simple.

Diving in the box is reviewed post match and if determined to be the case a red card issued and 3 match suspension
Fake injuries, especially involving keepers, is a post match red card . 3 match suspension
A coach that calls a "team meeting" during an injury time out. Red card - 3 Match suspension.
Flagrant foul in the box on a restart. Post match review and red card.

None of these level punishments come close to what was dished out to Sotown yet directly affect match a league results. Make it painful enough and it will stop. Thats what the FA...errr EFL is doing on the spying punishment.

[george_kaplan]

My intent is certainly not to defend cheating although it comes across that way. You and I witness cheating in every game and every season. Even a non football fan sees things like the diving,fake injuries and the incredible amount of fouls committed on restarts and have a hard time understanding how a professional league or ref can't seem to do anything about it. That level of cheating affects almost every game and is clearly stated in the rules. The lack of consistent enforcement has a big imact on the perception of corruption and subjectivity of enforcement.

Some simple things that really could impact match integrity. Just spitballing here but it's so simple.

Diving in the box is reviewed post match and if determined to be the case a red card issued and 3 match suspension
Fake injuries, especially involving keepers, is a post match red card . 3 match suspension
A coach that calls a "team meeting" during an injury time out. Red card - 3 Match suspension.
Flagrant foul in the box on a restart. Post match review and red card.

None of these level punishments come close to what was dished out to Sotown yet directly affect match a league results. Make it painful enough and it will stop. Thats what the FA...errr EFL is doing on the spying punishment.

Great post Spaldy, 100% agree.

[WTF11]

My intent is certainly not to defend cheating although it comes across that way. You and I witness cheating in every game and every season. Even a non football fan sees things like the diving,fake injuries and the incredible amount of fouls committed on restarts and have a hard time understanding how a professional league or ref can't seem to do anything about it. That level of cheating affects almost every game and is clearly stated in the rules. The lack of consistent enforcement has a big imact on the perception of corruption and subjectivity of enforcement.

Some simple things that really could impact match integrity. Just spitballing here but it's so simple.

Diving in the box is reviewed post match and if determined to be the case a red card issued and 3 match suspension
Fake injuries, especially involving keepers, is a post match red card . 3 match suspension
A coach that calls a "team meeting" during an injury time out. Red card - 3 Match suspension.
Flagrant foul in the box on a restart. Post match review and red card.

None of these level punishments come close to what was dished out to Sotown yet directly affect match a league results. Make it painful enough and it will stop. Thats what the FA...errr EFL is doing on the spying punishment.

No argument with any of your suggestions relating to improved on-field behaviour, nor the frustration you articulate with the lack of progress in such matters, but...

If the EFL action helps in some small way to make club's realise that transgressing has consequences, IMHO that's no bad thing.

[Oranje White]

Despite all that and what advantages Southampton may have benefited from, the coach, Tonda Eckert, to me should have a great future. How he turned them around from probable relegation to almost auto promotion in the league plus an FA Cup semi final was amazing. Maybe we should offer him a job as a youth team coach and prepare him for the top job one day. He's learned his lesson and could be a massive opportunity.

[WTF11]

Despite all that and what advantages Southampton may have benefited from, the coach, Tonda Eckert, to me should have a great future. How he turned them around from probable relegation to almost auto promotion in the league plus an FA Cup semi final was amazing. Maybe we should offer him a job as a youth team coach and prepare him for the top job one day. He's learned his lesson and could be a massive opportunity.

He knew what the rules were. He was happy to break them and most disgracefully he sent some misbegotten youth who couldn't say no to do his dirty work. Not fit to wipe the boots of the players who his actions have denied the possibility of playing in the PL.

A disgrace to professional football and a person should should NEVER be associated with Leeds United in ANY capacity whatsoever.

[Oranje White]

@ WTF....that's your opinion. I have an opinion that differs from yours.
He's learnt his lesson. Nobody is perfect and people deserve a 2nd chance. He lives and breathes football and does meticulous research....sometimes a little too meticulously. Nothing wrong with most of that. Without too much doubt, Eckert is not the only coach to try it since the rules were made. Who knows? 0-72 hours is not ok, but after 72.01 hours is ok. Huh? Of all the forms of cheating happening in football, including what has already been discussed here, this IMO, is minor. The EFL are keen to prove how serious they are on this, but not on that or that or that or that.
I'd be happy to have a keen young successful proven manager like him in LUFC.
But I'm sure you will disagree.....which is fine. Opinions are just opinions.

[WTF11]

@ WTF....that's your opinion. I have an opinion that differs from yours.
He's learnt his lesson. Nobody is perfect and people deserve a 2nd chance. He lives and breathes football and does meticulous research....sometimes a little too meticulously. Nothing wrong with most of that. Without too much doubt, Eckert is not the only coach to try it since the rules were made. Who knows? 0-72 hours is not ok, but after 72.01 hours is ok. Huh? Of all the forms of cheating happening in football, including what has already been discussed here, this IMO, is minor. The EFL are keen to prove how serious they are on this, but not on that or that or that or that.
I'd be happy to have a keen young successful proven manager like him in LUFC.
But I'm sure you will disagree.....which is fine. Opinions are just opinions.

Yes of course I disagree, and not just as a result of a difference of opinion.

You assume he has "learned his lesson". In what basis? He hasn't (yet) been individually punished, although it seems likely he will.

He is an experienced footballing professional who knew what the rules were. Why, having completely and repeatedly breached those rules, and been cowardly in giving others the job on the ground, does he deserve another chance (at what?)?

Other forms of cheating are both numerous and subject to "indifferent" forms of challenge and punishment, that's for sure. The fact (not opinion) is that this individual knew the rules and was willing to break them, repeatedly.

You would be happy to have a self-confessed rule-breaker at LUFC hmm? I suspect that were he ever Gid firbud), to darken the doors at Elland Road, the media would have a field day and the FA/EFL would be all over us like a rash.

[WTF11]

"God forbid" even

[spaldy]

I followed progress this year due to a guy at work talking about him. He is really really good. Got the very best out of a so so squad

Agree that the medias head would spin off but I also know that the leading teams don?t worry about what is said. I think also can agree that no matter who coaches us are automatically
Condemned or held to different standards. No advantage to try to appease them

[WTF11]

I followed progress this year due to a guy at work talking about him. He is really really good. Got the very best out of a so so squad

Agree that the medias head would spin off but I also know that the leading teams don?t worry about what is said. I think also can agree that no matter who coaches us are automatically
Condemned or held to different standards. No advantage to try to appease them

So maybe we should replace Farke with this person, dispense with any semblance of respect for footballing rules and accept that anything goes as long as you win?

And you think Kroenke is a bad person!

[Billyni]

It may only be a rumour, click bait, something that someone made up, but apparently Wrexham are looking at Eckert