Championship PO final

[graingrover]

So put our two results into perspective for me somebody ! .Middlesborough 0 Rovsrs 4 .Rovers 2 Southampton 3 .

[IDM]

It’s a semi final..

[GazLaz]

I’m all in Boro to go up. Could do with them putting away one of the 17 shots they had in the first half.

Bolton and Grimsby for me in L1 and L2.

[Rupee92ONLY]

Have a small treble still live from beginning of season that was Southampton, Stockport and Chesterfield to be promoted.

But on M’Boro, Stockport and Grimsby now.

[big fat yorkshire pudding]

Hopefully the play offs improve, they've not been classics yet.

[Rupee92ONLY]

Scared to lose it in the first leg aren’t they. Middlesbrough only team to properly go at it so far, which isn’t a surprise under Hellberg.

Looking forward to the L2 games tomorrow, both Grimsby and Chesterfield being at home should make for better viewing.

[IDM]

Hmmmm, I seem to remember being at a 0-0 first leg at Southend a few years back..

[Barmby Rover]

Scared to lose it in the first leg aren’t they. Middlesbrough only team to properly go at it so far, which isn’t a surprise under Hellberg.

Looking forward to the L2 games tomorrow, both Grimsby and Chesterfield being at home should make for better viewing.

Tomorrow the National league play offs, hope fully Rochdale  will win if there is any justice.

[Ian Nimmo]

So put our two results into perspective for me somebody ! .Middlesborough 0 Rovsrs 4 .Rovers 2 Southampton 3 .

Yes our games against these two were a real positive during what turned out to be a somewhat disappointing season.
Against Middlesbrough our ‘reserve 11’ absolutely demolished a very strong side, helped by one of the best performances by a rovers keeper.

Against Southampton, well we never turned up for the first half, but what a second half and in the end the lads were unlucky not to gain a result, against a team which went to a semi final with a narrow loss against what could be the eventual winners and premiership champions.
Our game at home was somewhat typical of some games where we got the starting 11/formation/tactics/approach wrong in the first half.

Given all the various issues/concerns we have discussed on here all through the season, at the end of the day these two games and some of the other very good performances in the league were good positives and show that we were not that far off making an impact in our return to L1.
If only!

[Rupee92ONLY]

Only 4 players who played who started yesterday’s play off semi started v us.

Also got a whole new coaching team and play a completely different style of football to the one we came up against.

Our game wasn’t really important to Middlesbrough and it doesn’t really tell us much about us that they finished where they did and are playing as well as they are.

Southampton again it was 4 that started V us that started yesterday (1 the goalkeeper who looks brilliant).

They made light work of us that 1st half, won the game there and then and probably took the foot of the gas that 2nd half, getting some minutes into their better players bringing them on.

Thought McCann changed things slightly though and we looked pretty good in that 2nd half. With Gotts, Frankie and Adelakun you could’ve left that game feeling more confident of a good 2nd half of the season.

[GazLaz]

Only 4 players who played who started yesterday’s play off semi started v us.

Also got a whole new coaching team and play a completely different style of football to the one we came up against.

Our game wasn’t really important to Middlesbrough and it doesn’t really tell us much about us that they finished where they did and are playing as well as they are.

Southampton again it was 4 that started V us that started yesterday (1 the goalkeeper who looks brilliant).

They made light work of us that 1st half, won the game there and then and probably took the foot of the gas that 2nd half, getting some minutes into their better players bringing them on.

Thought McCann changed things slightly though and we looked pretty good in that 2nd half. With Gotts, Frankie and Adelakun you could’ve left that game feeling more confident of a good 2nd half of the season.

Middlesbrough going from Rob Edwards to Hellberg is like trading in Sue Pollard for Margot Robbie.

[Rupee92ONLY]

He’s shit hot isn’t he Kim Hellberg. Newcastle could do worse than pinching him in the summer to replace Eddie Howe if Middlesbrough stay down.

[ForsolongaRover]

The Chesterfield-Notts Co match is by far the most exciting I’ve watched, although I missed Bradford-Bolton. Chesterfield vert enterprising and unlucky not to be level at least. Ref generous to County!

[Reg of the Rovers]

Only 4 players who played who started yesterday’s play off semi started v us.

Also got a whole new coaching team and play a completely different style of football to the one we came up against.

Our game wasn’t really important to Middlesbrough and it doesn’t really tell us much about us that they finished where they did and are playing as well as they are.

Southampton again it was 4 that started V us that started yesterday (1 the goalkeeper who looks brilliant).

They made light work of us that 1st half, won the game there and then and probably took the foot of the gas that 2nd half, getting some minutes into their better players bringing them on.

Thought McCann changed things slightly though and we looked pretty good in that 2nd half. With Gotts, Frankie and Adelakun you could’ve left that game feeling more confident of a good 2nd half of the season.

Middlesbrough going from Rob Edwards to Hellberg is like trading in Sue Pollard for Margot Robbie.

Who'd want to trade in Sue Pollard? She'd keep your chalet spick and span at all times!

[donnyguy]

https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/13545415/southampton-expelled-from-championship-play-offs-over-spygate-with-middlesbrough-reinstated

[ChrisBx]

Crikey, didn't see that coming!

[vaya]

Crikey, didn't see that coming!

Unfortunately for Southampton, the same can't be said of that lad they sent.

[drfchound]

Just seen the info come through on the news.
I’m also surprised as I did expect Southampton to get away with a sizeable fine.
They are going to appeal  against that ban though.
This is so unfair on both Hull and Middlesbrough as neither can prepare properly for a match on Saturday.

[In the box]

Kick out of the playoff final Wow !!!

[rich1471]

Totally unfair what real advantage did they have

[Monolith No. 9]

Just seen the info come through on the news.
I’m also surprised as I did expect Southampton to get away with a sizeable fine.
They are going to appeal  against that ban though.
This is so unfair on both Hull and Middlesbrough as neither can prepare properly for a match on Saturday.

I lived in Hull for 9 years. Great city, great times and some nice people but I couldn’t abide Hull City and still can’t. Having said that, right now, I hope they go on and win it. They’ve been right royally mucked about preparing to face Southampton and now they have to start afresh. And if Southampton appeal, City get mucked about again. Seriously surprised though by the authorities having the balls to make this decision.

[Blue Green Algae]

Totally unfair what real advantage did they have

If there was no advantage to be gained, why did they do it?

[DonnyBazR0ver]

That is the best news for sporting integrity we've had for a long time.

For once the punishment is appropriate and immediate. We've seen so many cases drag on and be settled by lawyers whilst cheating clubs have continued on their merry way. Of course, the biggest of these in Man City have yet to face full punishment for their deliberate financial doping.

[Upton Rover]

The Saints don't go marching in

[Draytonian III]

Scrap the play off final and promote Hull , simple answer

[Bristol Red Rover]

That is the best news for sporting integrity we've had for a long time.

For once the punishment is appropriate and immediate. We've seen so many cases drag on and be settled by lawyers whilst cheating clubs have continued on their merry way. Of course, the biggest of these in Man City have yet to face full punishment for their deliberate financial doping.

Totally agree. Whilst it is an almighty punishment, the only way clubs will stick to the rules is with this kind of loss. Hitting the major prem clubs, like Man City, with similar penalties is another story, but has to be done. Fines have to come along with significant points deductions and anything that seriously effects competitiveness in a current or future tournament. Bans of a good few years too for individuals involved.

And then the same for the corporate and political world..... (oooops, wrong thread  ).

[Rupee92ONLY]

Totally unfair what real advantage did they have

Even if they didn’t gain 1 tiny example, they sent someone there with the sole intention of gaining something. And they’ve done it to 2 other clubs at least, that is known about too.

Think Tonda will receive a ban from English football from the FA too in the coming weeks. Unluckyyyyyyyy.

[redarmi66]

Totally unfair what real advantage did they have

thats not the point. They sought to seek an unfair advantage and cheated. How many more games have they done this? Needed to be strong response from Efl. If you let this stuff go the game is gone.

[DonnyBazR0ver]

Of course there are other victims in this but those individuals responsible within Southampton FC will have to face the consequences of their actions.

I don't get this debate i'm seeing about whether their spying made much of a difference. If that was the case, why did they knowingly break to rules to gain an advantage over their opponents? They must have thought it worth the risk and, it now looks like they've done it multiple times.

[Rupee92ONLY]

They didn’t win any of the 3 games it’s known about their spying either hahahaha. Tonda probably cost his club a lot more than £200m here, all things considered. In the mud.