Football Special

Like a deranged stalker Middlesbrough fans are now harassing the EFL

I’ve just called the EFL complaints team. After reading Southampton’s CEO’s press release stating that Southampton are asking the EFL to give them time, and bear with them, while they held an ‘internal review’ (kick the situation into the long grass in the hope that this situation won’t hinder their attempts to make it into the premier league) I decided to register my complaint. My complaint was that the EFL should not give them any time to conduct any internal review. Southampton have admitted what they’d done, the EFL had already charged them, and so why did everyone have to wait until Southampton held this ‘internal review’ before the disciplinary body, imposed their penalty upon Southampton? I told the EFL representative that it was a blatant delaying tactic. I also stated that me complaining, probably wouldn’t make a difference to anything in the greater scheme of things. However, I pointed out that I didn’t care about that. I told them I was making my complaint, because as a Middlesbrough supporter, I felt duty bound to do that in defence of the club I support. I also said I was complaining because what is happening here, goes against the ‘fair play’ ethos, that the game is constantly trying to champion. If you want to do the same as me, the EFL complaints department number is 01772325829. Their email is enquiries@efl.com. Make sure you give them your name and email address.

Some of them seriously need this to be over to go back to their normal lives. General thought process seems to be A) Boro win. Pressure off EFL. Punishment given without much attention B) Saints win, Boro continue to train for the final and apply as much public pressure as possible to have us kicked out

Im sure Chinese whispers but belief seems to be coming from someone at Middlesbrough being told by EFL that expulsion is very much an option on the table , hence the need to stay prepared Soviet levels of propaganda If any of that is true then efl must be desperate for us to lose tonight

Middlesbrough and their various PR outlets have been relentless, even this morning they're reminding everyone they'll keep squad together even if they lose so they're fully prepared for the final should we subsequently be expelled

To be honest, for me the last few days Middlesbrough have very much become the aggressors in all this and have well over-stepped the line , im sure our fans know the assignment, recreate the Arsenal/ WBA atmosphere , no matter where you are in the ground

Eastleigh away ole ole Great thing about the National League is their training grounds will be more accessible

Its not about punishing us at all really is it, rather giving them sometime for nothing, classic where there's blame there's a claim mentality

Im actually not sure it will, we've already been to wembley a couple of weeks ago so novelty for that has gone plus as Middlesbrough keep reminding us even a win we can't really celebrate until we've had the verdict on the punishment, they seem very keen to let everyone know they'll keep squad preparation even if we knock them out (inference being we'll be kicked out and they'll take our place)

I know club have to be careful what they say but reading between the lines they're encouraging a good turnout pre match, basically recreate the WBA game https://www.southamptonfc.com/en/news/article/downes-lets-recreate-west-brom-atmosphere

Just seen that, this whole saga has had a profound impact on them, looks like some even kept kids off school to head down the airport and wave the players off

If we lose they will be utterly unbearable gloating about it, and if we win i think the club will have gained social media stalkers for life who will continue to cry and moan about how unfair it all is

Very much a 50/50 game in my opinion, hard to call how it will go , we can't afford to be as bad as we were first half again

Boro stewards were helping fans with flares outside the ground , not trying to stop them, inside the ground fair enough but outside wont be an issue, I remember at Goodison last year it was encouraged by the club pre match for their grand farewell