theAnticlough

Have to say I disagree with every word of that @YoopEyes When Leeds were caught under Bielsa there was no law. The EFL brought it in as a necessary response to that, so there is no precedent against the rules. There's massive stakes involved in promotion from the Champ to Prem. Soton trying to gain an advantage by breaking the rules was reckless governance and to me its a proportionate punishment, because all of that they were trying to cheat Middlebrough out of. Anyway, I'm just relieved Chesterfield weren't spying on Maca as he practised his penalty down the middle or we might still be in the National league. These are the kind of stakes involved, and it's brilliant that the EFL are sending out a strong message that it won't be tolerated.

Well yeah, all of that is what the spying was trying to take away from Middlesbrough - all their players and staff. I guess we have to work under the assumption that the spying gave them an edge, so taking away the massive Premier financial bonanza from Middlesbrough. In these situations, my sympathies are usually with the injured rather than the guilty parties Yes, shockingly bad governance of the club. If you're a member of the EFL you need to follow EFL rules, or face the consequences.

Yeah. You'd soon get to the situation where spied on teams would be adapting the training to misdirect the spies! Or just perceived spying or the chance of it - another example of focussing on the wrong thing It's an important rule for the integrity of the game and it's great IMO that a strong message has been sent and example set. I don't see how the EFL could've done anything else @Robbie, although I did expect them to bottle it. Streaming stuff like free-kicks and corners back home is a clear violation of the spirit of the game, let alone the rules. I've often wondered about this in relation to LW getting his players to 'practice their penalty'. Maca, Ruben and co chose what they were going to do and practised it. I wonder if they were checking for spies - they probably were, it takes nothing to send someone around, which is what Boro did. If it became rife and uncontrollable, you could see the EFL dropping the rule - that'd be a sad day and change the game.

Live streaming Middlesboro's training session could pick up on... team formation moves Boro were working on set piece routines, free kicks on goal, corner routines etc penalty practce injured or not 100% fit players

I'd say brilliant decision by the EFL. They broke the rules and who knows what edge they got on the pitch from their spying. But to appeal? Not taking ownership and prevent the victims and their fans from being able to really plan for the final for another 24 hours? I hope the result of the appeal is a doubling of their points deduction.

Great post. I marvel at this, can't get my head around it. I spent many a game circa 2016 in the Pavis seeing only septuagenarians making up 4,000 crowds. It looked for all the world that the club was slowly dying. What a turnaround in just a decade. Did Covid change things? Was it winning tonnes of games in the NL? Is it just the popularity of live football in general and we're a big city? Maybe a combination of all of those. But thanks to all those septuagegenarians and those who came before them for sowing the County seeds. Individual family folklore and stories past down is a large part of the reason we have new generations of fans in big numbers.

Good stuff @Sheffield Pie. Let's get to L1 and see how that goes

Well, another unchanged team seems the obvious move. It's worth asking the question though. Our last Wembley appearance needed Johnny Bostock to get on the ball and control the play. Do we need Matty Palmer to try to do the same this time? This may be an unpopular opinion as everyone is an hero after beating C'Field, but I thought Robbo had a really bad game on Friday - couldn't do a thing right for long periods of the game. So Palmer for Robbo in the strating XI to give us more control? I'd say not cos I don't think Salford are a team to get on the ball and dominate us that way (unlike C'Field who are). But they do have a lot of athletic players, who could pick off Palmer and Robbo would be needed to try to keep them in check. So after that, it's back full circle to unchanged for me! I don't think anyone else is pressing for a place in the starting XI.

@allardyces tash I can see the David Batty penalty there

Yeah, with you there. It might not go down so well with teh FA either

Those 4 at the back were unbelievable. Credit to the club/MP for taking the decisions to allow that... Belshaw for Roos, instilling so much more confidence on the players in front of him Making RodMac captain - it helps to get this right. If someone is a true leader of the team, make it official and reward it with the armband

For once it seems unfair to pick a MoM as the GK and 3 defenders were all absolutely immense. All were heros as @Robbie says but those 4 were superheros. If my arm's forced I have to say Lucas Ness who won everything and was pretty immaculate. He definitely made up for the penalty in the first leg, and hopefully this game will give him the confidence to put in another great performance at Wembley

Tense game, far too evenly matched for my liking! Our backline was absolutely immense, and they had to be because the ball just kept on coming back as the team ahead just couldn't keep a hold of it. Wembley here we come. Potential revenge against Salford - especially for Jatta. I can see that happening

Just one change on the bench - Dennis for Hall COYP

Rodmac as RCB is something we haven't seen all season - thank god. He played there for about 80% of his games last season under Maynard, and it was painful seeing a predominantly left-footed player having to play the position so unnaturally. He told us CB was his position and he's certainly been vindicated this season. MP obviously wanted both Platt and RM in the team and that's when Platt had his injury playing RCB, sprinting up and down the line and turning in the Chesterfield game a few months back. Ness is probably a bit of a weak link unfortunately, but that's whether at RB/RCB or CB (like at Oldham and Cambridge). He's had a lot of good games this season, but I fear he may be another Alex Lacey, who just didn't relish and wasn't equipped to pull off the last ditch defending in the penalty box. Standing statuesque when throwing your body around was more in order. But If Ness-McDonald-Bedeau do the job in these play-offs they'll all be club legends anyway.

Agree, don't fix it if it's not broken. Subs did ok on Saturday. I wonder if Dennis and/or Browne will be on the bench this time.

Mouth-watering prospect tonight. If our players like the occasion - full, raucous Meadow Lane, under lights, and things break for them, Chesterfield might be in for a very difficult night.

So, it's Bolton v Stockport, Ruben v Woots in the L1 Wembley Final. Woots will still be at centre-back....Bolton have to be firm favourites. They seem to have the players to flourish on the Wembley pitch

Good to see Luker with a couple of votes. I didn't hold out any great hopes when he came back from injury, it's a tough and gradual thing to do, generally. But he's exceeded everyone's expectations I think and it's clear the season would have been different had he been fit and he'd be sitting on a double figure goal haul. Remember the breakaway goal he got with Hall early on? What I like is what a good watch he is. A six footer with a low centre of gravity - the turn that got the C'field player booked is from his power and balance. With that low centre of gravity, he's a poor man's Zidane, Barnes, Le Tissier type. He pops up in very awkward places for the opposition. I'm really looking forward to seeing what he'll do Friday night. He might be the player Chesterfield are worrying about the most.

Exciting to read through all of that, Chris. All the new features added to the existing (which I'm, way too slowly, discovering myself) make for an outstanding website. All we need is a little more posting and engagement and the site would be flying. It's fun to exchange views, give opinions, read what others think. With our large and growing fanbase it's a puzzle why there isn't a bit more. Hopefully, that will come.

Missed that game, but was surprised by the result. So'ton v Boro should be a really close one tonight

And the psychology of being a goal up might help us out too. Maybe this team gets anxious starting home games at 0-0. Starting ahead could be liberating for them. You're attacking to extend your advantage not establish it. Concede, and it's just a normal game with home advantage. There's a world where we get the first two goals and that'd be pretty much it.

A lot of players had very good games. I'll give my vote to McDonald @Robbie. A real Captain's performance at the back and such a calming influence with his steady play. He was very much in charge back there. Iorpenda, Jones, Luker, Tsaroulla, Belshaw Robertson did really well too IMO

Yes , a split personality in that sense for sure. 0-1! We'll take that. A classic away performance and a hard-earned clean sheet. Making McDonald captain was such a canny move - it's made us more stable, a lot steadier.

The penalty miss really changed the complexion of the game for us, but it seemed to settle us down. Since then, it's been our kind of game and we look very dangerous breaking from midfield. I fancy us to get the next goal too and wouldn't be surprised if it was Luker again.