Anybody have a view on the spygate scandal at MFC?I can't understand why Southampton are allowed to continue in the playoffs.They are without doubt cheats.
Two reasons - firstly because they haven't, to my knowledge at least, admitted it. The story is of someone filming a training session from a publicly accessible* place, being challenged by a member of Middlesborough's staff, photos and CCTV of the filmer then being matched to a person on the Southampton website, etc. It seems damning and they have been charged by the FA but as of yet, not found guilty. I'm not defending the act but to kick them out before that's been given due process would be wrong.
Secondly - there is precedent, cuddly Uncle Marcelo and Leeds, where the penalty has been a fine, and in the Olympics (different governance, FIFA) where points deducted and a year's ban on the coach. So even if admitted to kick them out of the playoff would seem unlikely.
But every neutral should rightly be behind Boro for the second leg.
* not a public place though, AIUI a golf course which is technically private but publicly accessible.
Quite a game in Glasgow this afternoon.
Damn, goal difference close now 🫣
Never a foul, that.
I'd have been gutted to be on the end of it but the keeper would clearly have got the ball if the WH lad wasn't holding him down. Only annoying as Arsenal have been getting away with stuff like that all season.
Anyway, good, it means Leeds are officially safe with three games to go!
There were three fouls at least at that corner, two holding offences on West Ham players and a clear one on Raya. And as the one of most material consequence I think disallowing the goal was right.
But this has to be sorted because these corners are just stupid.
I think sometimes keepers get too much protection in the penalty area mosh pit. But in today's game I think it just crossed over to a foul on Raya.
It was somewhat ironic to see Arsenal players, who are only challenging for the title because they’ve turned corners into a rugby match, suddenly clutching their pearls in outrage at someone laying hands on their goalkeeper.
The goal should have stood as there was no ‘clear and obvious error’ in the original decision to let it stand
I thought the refereeing analyst's idea on MotD was interesting; no attackers in the goal area before the corner kick is taken. I don't know if that solves the wrestling, or just moves it outside of the area, but something has to be done about it.
My solution would be full enforcement with 1/ dropping the materiality concept. We've seen fouls dismissed because 'he wouldn't have got to the ball anyway', 'ball was way over his head', - so what, a foul's a foul at a corner. 2/ as the analyst said, for many of these the ball isn't in play until it's kicked, so this holding isn't technically a foul yet. Start a corner or free kick on the ref's whistle, then the play is live, the kicker has to take within say 7s and defenders have to stay 10 yards away from the ball until it's kicked (so encroachment is still prevented) but holding to stop players making a run can then be penalised.
This is a PGMO limited / VAR issue, as always - two tails wagging the same dog. A so called professional body that couldn’t tie its own shoelaces the same way twice and yet gets to decide on a day to day basis how they interpret the rules. Compound uselessness.
Having had a quick watch this morning of that Arsenal corner - in open play West Ham would've likely had 2 pens, it was a foul on Raya - but the whole thing is just so chaotic I am not sure where to begin with discipline.
It's all a bit of a mess. I think it is very soft. It is a foul on Raya, but there's so much going on. I was not one bit surprised we conceded an equaliser. I still don't think it's over.
The angles shown in the game show Pablo's arm across Raya's torso, preventing him from jumping (I think as a result he just got his fingertips to the ball whereas it'd have been a comfortable save or at the least a punch away). Seen another angle from behind this morning and you can see Pablo's hand actually grabbing Raya's arm to hold him down as well. Definitely the right decision to disallow it. Would I be disappointed if I was a west ham fan? Of course. I'd hope I'd be sensible enough to see that it was a foul on the keeper though.
People saying West Ham are unlucky etc. They're not unlucky. They've suffered all season from changing managers and shocking recruitment. They tried to fix that in January by signing 2 expensive'ish strikers who've scored 4 between them, Adama Traore who I'm sure is an urban myth and Axel Disaster.
Anyway - aren't we all pleased that Leeds will stay up; conversely it might mean Spurs will stay up too.
Anyway - aren't we all pleased that Leeds will stay up; conversely it might mean Spurs will stay up too.
It might come back to bite me but all those predicting an easy Spurs win tonight for some reason could be in for a shock. They're still terrible and we've been very solid for 2/3 the season.
If it comes down to the final game of the season, I won't mind one bit if Leeds have a shocker against West Ham and it sends Spurs down. We might even end up getting Archie Gray back 🙂
all those predicting an easy Spurs win tonight for some reason could be in for a shock.
Agreed – I am not sure where anyone is getting that idea from. Yes they have won a couple of games, but their home form has been shocking all season.
Always keep hold of your pie! 
Quite a game in Glasgow this afternoon.
Martin O'Neill's first game in charge against Rangers sees a comprehensive Celtic win and one of the all time great goals scored in the fixture, a work of art.
(26 years pass...)
Martin O'Neill's final game in charge against "Rangers" sees a comprehensive Celtic win and another sublime, work-of-art goal.
Some wonder goals are all about phenomenal power, technique and precision but, enjoyable as they are, I don't think there's anything to beat the wonder goal which seems to slow down time and cause a momentary silence in a packed stadium as it gracefully arcs over the keeper and under the bar before an explosion of joy.
What a moment that was yesterday.
What a transformation since January. Much of this is down to O'Neil but it is also down to a group of players who have been widely berated, condemned and ridiculed including by the celtic fans . Myself included. They have not given up when it would have been really easy to do so
Hearts fans at work were doom and gloom today. Does O’Neill have a statue? I reckon he’ll deserve one if they win it, got to be the worst Celtic team I’ve seen but they’ve clung on.
Pleased to see that Leeds gave Spurs a tough game (unlike Villa last week) - and arguably had the best chances to win it only denied by two magnificent saves by Kinsky, who has gone from humiliation in Madrid to hero last night - thus keeping the relagation battle between Spurs and West Ham alive.
Spurs have got the harder of the two final games on paper (Chelsea away and Everton at home) whilst West Ham have Newcastle away (definitely winnable) and Leeds at home in the final game.
Let's hope we, Leeds, can continue our 2026 form and hopefully overtake Newcastle in the final table!
MOT / ALAW
I would argue Spurs have it slightly easier - with Chelsea at the moment who knows what you are going to get. Playing them after the Cup final as well... where they'll either have a point to prove after losing to City or, not really care following a big victory celebration.
Everton at home is very winnable.
I would counter that argument - Spurs looked pretty rubbish last night. Darlow made 1 save with a patched up defence in front of him that became more patched up when Struijk went off injured. West Ham were "unlucky" given their performance the other night not to get a draw (it was still right to disallow that goal though). Spurs were lucky last night to get a draw and had Kinsky to thank for 2 superb saves (the Longstaff one was good but felt like more of an instinctive "save my face" kinda one - I thought the Rodon header was a better save to get across and down to a header onto the line right by the post was excellent).
It's going to be a difficult one to call – Spurs and West Ham respectively have Chelsea and Newcastle away. Neither of those teams have great recent form (only two draws and a win between them in the last six rounds of fixtures), so both games are winnable. Then, on the last day of the season Spurs have Everton at home – their home form is woeful and if they need a result, the tension will be unbearable. Leeds will doubtless be going for the win, but I think West Ham may nick it.
I can see Spurs going down on 41 points, West Ham just scraping home on 42.
There's a damn good chance that the last day of the season will be one of those bonkers ones where the relegation spot changes with any goal that goes in. If you were in that position then you'd think you'd want to be at home. Unless you were Spurs. I think that will be their downfall. The atmosphere at their place will be absolutely toxic if its the final game and they're relying on a home win to keep them up .
I'm torn being a Leeds fan as I'd love to relegate West Ham on the last day of the season (many reasons - Summerville jumping ship there for playing in the premiership, their owners, their stupid souless stadium, Danny Dyer etc) but I'd also love to see Spurs go down. My kids ex-footy coach was a Spurs fan and he was one of the most unlikeable characters (putting it very kindly) I've had the misfortune to know in my adult life.
...I'd also love to see Spurs go down.
This. Spurs are a prime example of what's wrong in football, a club mutating into a soulless business devoted to fleecing punters and their status as big 6 regardless of not actually being very good in the last 30 or so years . I went to one of their European ties last season and although I'm not a regular match goer in any way I've never been to a match so devoid of any atmosphere - terrible club.
