trousers

'They' being the EFL. I was talking about the FA... A completely separate body to the EFL, with their own rulebook. The fact that the EFL have a new rule for this misdemeanor shouldn't be a consideration for the FA. They should be looking at it through the same prism they did for Bielsa / Leeds. Edit: anyway, looks like we'll probably sack him before the FA get their pound of flesh, so a moot discussion anyway... Plus I've had far too many beers this evening... Hic

Even though we were wrong to do what we did, I'm still finding it slightly odd that the EFL seemingly don't have a dim view on how Boro seemingly engaged in entrapment. Just because we did wrong, doesn't absolve Boro of doing 'wrong' too, does it...?

I'm guessing he didn't get as far as watching the first team before he fell into Boro's trap ... Oops Sorry... Before he was "caught"... but it's the intent that counts, not what he actually ended up seeing, of course...

As I've said all along (give me a medal FFS!), the reality was always likely to be more unbelievable than some of the 'bonkers' conspiracy theories...

Yep, as we guessed at the time. Pretty obvious that's what we were up there for.

I think they went for the clowns rather than the juggler....

Indeed... It's not really "journalism" these days, just "reporting".... Regardless of our wrong doing, there's plenty of 'interesting' stories that could be investigated here, but you know that they won't...

Really? FFS... Gibson and co have played an absolute blinder here... Stitch up indeed.

That's an EFL rule. I'm talking about the FA here... A complety separate organisation with their own rule book. What FA rule(s) have changed, that cover this area, since they decided not to sanction Bielsa / Leeds for doing the same type of spying activities?

Indeed. If you remember @SaintlyAnd's post, it would appear that there's a 'community' of junior staff from all clubs whose job it is to go out and 'observe' opposition training sessions....

Yep, I agree... It's the size of the advantage that's up for debate, not the advantage itself...

I don't think anyone has said it never offers any advantage, rather that any advantage is usually minimal / negligible...?

Blackmore going in with two feet (justifiably, I guess...?)

I've also pondered this on the main 'spygate' thread, but given the FA didn't sanction Bielsa / Leeds, on what basis would they feel justified in being able to deal with Tonda / Saints December differently, given the activities were the same, without being inconsistent? (Leeds more prolific, in fact)