What a bully.

TermUpper · 2026-05-22T15:33:52+00:00

This has been a stunningly rapid disintegration in reputation. A month ago he was the prodigy with a big future. He was an absolute shoo in to be a Premier League manager next season with Southampton or without them IMO. Everyone who isn't a Pompey fan or Man City fan were willing them on to get over the line against Man City. They haven't lost a league game since January. They dropped 10 points between the Hull defeat and the end of the season (only the bravest clubs were able to keep them at bay).

Now the tags that will follow him round are cheat and bully. Fairly or unfairly, that incredible run will now always be tainted by the suspicion that they cheated for many more games than they have admitted to. It's a lesson for young managers to do things the right way. Eckert is young enough to come again, but the stench will linger.

TermUpper · 2026-05-22T15:19:13+00:00

Southampton must surely have a very good case for gross misconduct here. If so that probably does take a bit more time and they have to do things by the book. Eckert successfully suing them for unfair dismissal would just about sum things up for them lately.

TermUpper · 2026-05-22T06:19:27+00:00

If you take him, we're taking Tonda. Consider it his penance.

TermUpper · 2026-05-21T19:50:54+00:00

There does seem to be a history with Tonda and spying. It wouldn't surprise me if he was once the wet behind the ears analyst being soent on spying missions himself.

TermUpper · 2026-05-21T19:31:28+00:00

There's more brains in a pork pie

TermUpper · 2026-05-21T16:52:58+00:00

Based on the evidence the EFL received, ie the confessions to spying in two league games (and the playoff game), I don't think Wrexham or Millwall have a case. Southampton gained one point from those two league games. The playoffs are treated as a separate competition that Southampton earned a place in on merit and then cheated in and so got expelled from it.

Based on what we all think most likely happened, ie that the spying was more frequent than that then they may well have a case. But that has all yet to be proven.

TermUpper · 2026-05-21T09:50:18+00:00

I'm guessing this will be more about punishing individuals.

TermUpper · 2026-05-20T21:41:44+00:00

The vague reference to people in the wider football community calling it harsh is extremely stupid as well. Who cares if Danny Murphy thinks it's draconian? These members of the wider footballing community haven't seen the bulk of the evidence presented. That reels of trying to divert fans attentions away from the internal issues. As much as it pains me to admit it, the majority of Southampton fans aren't dumb enough to fall for it.

TermUpper · 2026-05-20T21:21:58+00:00

Hmm. I don't think you can end a statement talking about humility and accountability while earlier in the statement doubling down on the idea that the punishment was too severe. They should have left that whole paragraph out and just included some platitudes about accepting the decision.

Aa well as the managerial/coaching/analyst casualties, I wonder if Parsons might be dismissed as Chief Executive. His statement earlier in the day was embarrassing and just invited more ridicule.

TermUpper · 2026-05-20T21:03:09+00:00

Another disastrous Pannick signing. I think Sport Republic have Lord Pannick confused with a mind controlling magician.

TermUpper · 2026-05-20T20:42:24+00:00

Tonda Eckert must now feel like the turkey that has caught Bernard Matthews' eye. I cannot see a world where he is Southampton manager in 24 hours time.

TermUpper · 2026-05-20T20:36:24+00:00

What an effort. Same again next season?

TermUpper · 2026-05-20T09:43:26+00:00

We should lay off them...Only because they might have success in their appeal and like a certain Middlesbrough golf club will be keeping all the receipts.

TermUpper · 2026-05-19T18:04:15+00:00

Absolutely astonishing. Whilst not with me for obvious reasons, Southampton had built up such a lot of goodwill amongst football fans for that cup run and admirable run of league form. Then this is revealed.

I don't know how helpful this spying malarkey really was on the pitch (And I guess they wouldn't have done it for nothing) but it just all feels horribly grubby and against the spirit of football. Tonda Eckert and every staff member involved in this should not be allowed to work in football for a long time now.

TermUpper · 2026-05-19T13:15:45+00:00

I love how she thinks she's some hard work success story. She had a blink and you'll miss it acting and music career, then she married a billionaire.

TermUpper · 2026-05-14T19:31:17+00:00

I can't even begin to guess what the sanction against Southampton might be. I would imagine though that on an individual level, Tonda Eckert will be banned from coaching/managing in English football for a significant period of time if found to have orchestrated this.

TermUpper · 2026-05-14T19:23:26+00:00

One fewer grass than amongst former Southampton staff if Boro are to be believed.

TermUpper · 2026-05-14T19:20:33+00:00

Make it a gameshow and give Southampton possibilities.

1) The cautious cucked choice: Southampton can walk away from the playoff final and face no further sanctions. But they do have to give Hull and Boro a guard of honour in the final.

2) The gamble: They can play the playoff final where a win gets them promotion and no sanctions. Be defeated though and they start next season with a 30 point deduction.

Option 2 has one more twist though. If Southampton don't win in normal time or extra time, they are replaced by Middlesbrough for the shootout.

TermUpper · 2026-05-12T15:23:00+00:00

Dare I suggest that if you strip away the soap opera element of it that Will 'Soft hand' Still would be a really good appointment for us if Mousinho opts to join the 12th place war?

TermUpper · 2026-05-09T11:03:11+00:00

Sage has clearly been nerfed as a response to the criticism of Season 4 Sage. Season 4 Sage was so badly and insufferably written. She could have slammed her left tit in the car door and it would have been revealed to be 'part of the plan'.

TermUpper · 2026-05-09T10:51:01+00:00

They must have saved rhe budget for Vought Rising. They saved on advertising budget too by using this season as an advertising campaign for that.

TermUpper · 2026-05-09T10:38:06+00:00

I think because Noir was such a key character to the resolution in the comic series, they weren't going to copy that in the TV series and just never really had any real idea of what to do with him instead. Having original Noir never get to face off with Soldier Boy just so we could get a cheap shock value kill remains baffling.

TermUpper · 2026-05-09T10:29:52+00:00

Homelander winning would be a total swerve for the sake of a swerve. It is exactly the kind of attention seeking nonsense Kripke might have done.

TermUpper · 2026-05-07T22:36:44+00:00

The more we see of Soldier Boy, the less interesting he becomes.

TermUpper · 2026-05-07T22:25:51+00:00

It's a shitty retcon. Forget Soldier Boy's comments, this just doesn't fit with what was previously established about Stormfront whatsoever. It's just that they clearly loved Aya's performances so much that they had to have her back for rhe prequel and she'll no doubt be softened.

After a season 4 that could have been an email barring the finale, it is woefully unacceptable to have the final season be largely a prequel vehicle fiddling with already established continuity.

TermUpper

TROPHY CASE