sadoldgit

So because some rules are written down, we can’t question their legitimacy or the level of punishment in proportion to the rule broken? Other teams have committed far more serious breach of rules and have not received the level of punishment that we have (which is the main point here).

One word. Proportionality.

The timescale rule is why this makes no sense. As you say, it is black or white. There is no grey. If it is not ok to spy, just ban it all of the time for everybody. As for Tonda being hammered for cheating, where do you draw the line? Is what he did any worse than diving for a penalty or trying to get an opponent sent off, both of which could have a bigger impact on the outcome of a match than watching a training session or knowing a bit earlier if a player is fit or not.

Maybe we will reach the point where players wear balaclavas and no longer have their names on shirts just in case the opposition get an unfair advantage if they know who they are playing against. As for publishing team sheets an hour before a game, how has that become acceptable?

Not just me, plenty of people including seasoned pros. If the rule was sound why is it only the EFL who has it? As we know, it only came about because the EFL wanted to be seen as doing something about Leeds. No one else followed. No one in any league around the plant. Why? Because it was nonsense for the reasons previously explained. You can with spy or you can’t. The idea that it is ok depending on a timescale or which league you play in doesn’t make sense.

And has been said so many times, why is it ok to do it up to 72 hours before a match. Why is it also not banned in the EPL or in any other league around the world? The other point made multiple times, clubs can watch every game that other teams play as many times as they like on video. Not kicking around on a training ground but real tactics in real time in real matches. What are you going to get more useful information from? We know what the teams are an hour before the game with a good idea of how they will set up. Games play out over 90 minutes plus and the outcomes are governed by what happens and how various people react in real time during the game. There is only so much prep you can do before a game no matter how much information you have on the opposition. We didn’t win any of the games we admitted to spying on the opposition beforehand. Did we break an EFL rule? Yes, clearly. Is the rule nonsensical given the above? Yes, clearly.

Also the people carrying out the spying acts? The “only following orders” defence was discredited a long time ago. This is one of my many problems with the way this matter has been dealt with so far. The club were hammered last season. The club have also be punished this year. The club could now be punished again this season by losing its manager for a period of time.

To be fair I think that we, and most people following the sport, thought it was all a bit of a joke when the news first broke. Did anyone of us suspect that Gibbo would make such a big deal about it and that we would be hammered so hard when the photo appeared of the spy by the tree? It still seems ridiculous to me that it became such a big deal. It was most inept act of spying ever and had zero effect on the result of the game. This will go down as one of the most ridiculous sanctions in sporting history and I don’t see how anyone could have foreseen what would happen from what was initially released about the situation.

Or perhaps he was just keeping his power dry? It is unfathomable to think that a multimillion pound business have not had discussions and put plans in place to deal with various outcomes. Would you expect him to come out and say yes we have a new manager lined up should Eckert face a long suspension, especially as they have said they are backing him fully?

I’m not sure how punishing both Eckert and the club works? If he has taken full responsibility, why not just sanction him? We have already been hit both last season and this, despite the offences only being committed last season. Any action on Eckert would be a third punishment. It is also ridiculous that we are now well into the season and they are only now going to hear the case that has already been dealt with months ago by the EFL.

The point raised on tv today was spot on. We have already faced a very harsh penalty for last season and another penalty for this season with -4 points. Why yet another sanction against us?

Relax guys, it’s just locker room bantz. I thought it quite a good ad for their sponsors actually.

Ryan Reynolds is gay??

What a difference a couple of games makes. A little while ago the bed wetters were telling us that we were rubbish and wouldn’t be going up. 🙄

You handy heard of gardening leave? If they are not going to sack him and keep on the books of course they will pay him. He will still be under contract.