Matthew Le God

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2026/05/09/southampton-accept-spying-charge-claim-analyst-acting-alone/ The Telegraph article mentions Saints blaming it on a lone wolf analyst doing it without the club's knowledge. Some Boro and Saints fans have said that they are throwing him under the bus. But... the club would likely sack him if he did do this all on his own. If it isn't true that he was acting on his own and he was removed from his role he'd likely have evidence the club was scapegoating him and they'd asked him to do it and he'd screw the club over for ruining his reputation in the football industry and losing his role. So if they stick to the reason being a rogue analyst, they must be confident he won't out them as lying if that is what they are doing. Or they are telling the truth and it really was a lone wolf and what could they possibly have done to stop someone doing if he kept it a secret?

We should all be able to spot you then...

Saints have never had the names or images of intern analysts on their website.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2026/05/09/southampton-accept-spying-charge-claim-analyst-acting-alone/

A song for the pre match build up on Tuesday at St Mary’s...

Middlesbrough weren't preparing their tactics for Tuesday's game on Thursday. They'll do that on Monday.

I'd guess the 72 hour thing is due to clubs using those last training sessions for set piece routines and other tactical work that generally doesn't happen earlier in the build up to a game.

Not really a precedent when new rules were written after the Leeds incident.

Cracks in the Middlesbrough account of events! This BBC article says Middlesbrough claim to have found photos of the spy on the Saints website. It is claimed by Middlesbrough elsewhere that the person is an intern. No intern analyst at Southampton has ever had their photo on the Saints website in the staff section! https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c1725d15p0ko

What in their story has changed?

I've been rumbled!

We can still get 3rd or 4th 3rd or 4th brings advantages vs finishing 5th

We ended the Ipswich game with Charles at right back

Are we counting 50 years ago as "modern"?

What relevance is there to it being in the Echo when they are using direct quotes from the press conference?

Returning players at this point in the season can not be registered to play in the playoffs.

Being at home in the second leg is potentially an advantage. Getting 3rd probably gets us an easier semi final. So Saturday's game is still important.

Watch the game again and you'll see Azaz for the first hour was on the left in a 4222/442. The BBC also corrected themselves after having it wrong and have it like that on the match report. They originally had Azaz central but anyone watching could see that wasn't the case. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/live/c79j44e15rzt.app#Line-ups When Scienza and Fellows came on at 57 minutes we switched to 4231. Scienza on left, Fellows on right and Azaz number 10 role.

Nope, that is what happened

He did until the subs of Scienza and Fellows in the 57th minute. For those first 57 mins Larin and Archer were central striker pairing, Matsuki right and Azaz on the left. Then when Fellows and Scienza came on we switched to 4231 and Azaz moved to a number 10 role.

Not true. Any win would do it.

...

Playoff spot confirmed for Saints!

As things stand Saints will mathematically qualify for the playoffs today