Southampton

[Glyn1]

I'm on the fence on this.

Do we want Hull to win because they're a small club who have never been in the Premier League? (CORRECTION, they certainly have been in the PL, see below.)

Or do we want Boro to win because it would really, really annoy the Southampton fan base?

 

[Frankie Burrows Cap]

I'm on the fence on this.

Do we want Hull to win because they're a small club who have never been in the Premier League?

Or do we want Boro to win because it would really, really annoy the Southampton fan base?

Hull for me today.

Although they have had 5 seasons in the PL already, which is 3 more than a team bigger than Barcelona, so they can’t be that small a club

 

[J_B]

I'm on the fence on this.

Do we want Hull to win because they're a small club who have never been in the Premier League?

Or do we want Boro to win because it would really, really annoy the Southampton fan base?

We've played Hull in the Premier league.

 

[SwanseaBoy123]

I'm on the fence on this.

Do we want Hull to win because they're a small club who have never been in the Premier League?

Or do we want Boro to win because it would really, really annoy the Southampton fan base?

If we're being objective about it we probably want Boro to go up as it is one less team who will be competing for autos/playoffs next season.

I see Hull falling back to lower mid table next year.

 

[cmajack]

If we're being objective about it we probably want Boro to go up as it is one less team who will be competing for autos/playoffs next season.

I see Hull falling back to lower mid table next year.

Their manager has done a fantastic job, they escaped relegation out of the championship on the last day of the season last year. Don't have to be taking 4 or 5 seasons to build a squad capable of challenging for promotion, as some on here seem to think. He's done it in 1 season, so did Cooper with Forest.

 

[bakajack]

My hope is for Hull
Mostly because I still have some affection for McBurnie
Besides when he scored against us he was very restrained in his celebration

It would also avoid the legal drama that would no doubt follow as Boro had trained for ten days hoping to be reinstated knowing they were playing Hull but Hull only had 3 days to do the same having been preparing for Southampton.

 

[J_B]

Hull chairman saying they're going to take legal action if they lose today.

 

[CygnusX1]

Hull chairman saying they're going to take legal action if they lose today.

Serious question: I assume the legal action is against Southampton as the EFL just applied the rules?

 

[J_B]

Serious question: I assume the legal action is against Southampton as the EFL just applied the rules?

I think they feel disadvantaged because they've only known who their opponents were for three days.
Southampton and Middlesbrough have know throughout that they were playing Hull.

 

[bakajack]

I think they feel disadvantaged because they've only known who their opponents were for three days.
Southampton and Middlesbrough have know throughout that they were playing Hull.

Indeed and the whole Boro squad delayed their summer vacation in the hopes that Southampton would get thrown out. So they have lost absolutely zero preparation time for this match.

Meanwhile Hull had to do their analysis and tactical training based on the assumption that they were facing Southampton until told otherwise. They of course had that information only on Tuesday night and confirmed after the appeal was thrown out on Wednesday night.

Typically teams will stop their high intensity training tailored to the opponent they expect to face 3 days before a match with the rest devoted to lighter training to keep up sharpness. Hull have had to cram their tactical analysis and said training tailored to Southampton in just three days of which cool down time, a rest day and travel had to be accounted for too.

The EFL must genuinely be hoping that Hull win otherwise they could be walking into another landmine. Hull would have plenty of justification for legal action as they have not had a fair playing field when it comes to preparation time for the play off final.

 

[DJack]

We've played Hull in the Premier league.

Is my crappy memory correct in that I seem to remember that they were quite physical and a little bit dirty when they played us?

 

[CygnusX1]

I think they feel disadvantaged because they've only known who their opponents were for three days.
Southampton and Middlesbrough have know throughout that they were playing Hull.

I realise that, but is the action against the EFL or Southampton?

 

[bakajack]

I realise that, but is the action against the EFL or Southampton?

Presumably the EFL
Since they had the power to reschedule this game but while I understand the logistical problems with doing so they made the decision not to

 

[CygnusX1]

Presumably the EFL
Since they had the power to reschedule this game but while I understand the logistical problems with doing so they made the decision not to

Then I would assume Hull would lose their legal action, because the EFL didn’t do anything wrong or more importantly, anything outside the rules of the competition. Yes they were disadvantaged, but Southampton caused it by breaking the rules.

 

[SwanseaBoy123]

Their manager has done a fantastic job, they escaped relegation out of the championship on the last day of the season last year. Don't have to be taking 4 or 5 seasons to build a squad capable of challenging for promotion, as some on here seem to think. He's done it in 1 season, so did Cooper with Forest.

Yes credit to them They've capitalized on a very poor year im not taking that away from them.

But how they play isnt sustainable it was just a fluke season. Very much back down to mid table again. On the other hand I only see Boro getting better.