Howitt

Lover of all things ⚽️ & ⛳️

[Vfynn_🥷🏼 𐙚 @Vfynn_]

🚨🎙️Thierry Henry on Southampton expelled for spying drama against Middlesbrough:

“I have to be honest, this is a difficult one. Spying on another team’s training is wrong. Full stop. It crosses a line, it undermines the trust that should exist between clubs, and I understand why Middlesbrough are furious and why the EFL felt they had to act strongly. Integrity matters in this game.

At the same time, I find myself questioning whether expulsion from the play-offs is the right punishment. It feels… heavy. Almost like using a sledgehammer when a precise scalpel was needed.

Let’s be clear: this wasn’t match-fixing or doping. It was analysts pushing boundaries for tactical information, something that, sadly, has happened in different forms across the game for years.

Marcelo Bielsa did it openly at Derby and Leeds, admitted it, and people called him a genius, not a criminal. Drones, analysts in trees, whatever, in the modern game with data and marginal gains everywhere, clubs push boundaries.

Southampton admitted it, yes, and they deserve punishment. A heavy fine, points deduction, maybe even a ban for the staff involved. But kicking the entire club out after they earned their place on the pitch? That punishes players, coaches, and fans who had nothing to do with one or two analysts doing something stupid.

What troubles me most is the collateral damage. The players who battled through a tough Championship season after relegation, who went to extra time and scored that late goal to beat Middlesbrough on the pitch, they earned their place in the final through merit.

Now that achievement is being erased because of actions taken by a small number of staff members. That feels disproportionate to me. A significant fine, a points deduction for next season, and sanctions against the individuals responsible, those would be strong, meaningful punishments that address the breach without nullifying an entire season’s competitive work.

Sport has to balance two things: protecting fairness and recognising that human error and ambition sometimes lead people astray. If every rules breach in high-stakes moments leads to rewriting results, we risk turning the disciplinary process into something more powerful than the football itself. I’ve sat in dressing rooms where we prepared meticulously for opponents. Everyone does. The difference is getting caught.

I hope Southampton appeal and that the final decision finds a better equilibrium. Middlesbrough deserve respect, they were wronged but the players of Southampton also deserve not to have their legitimate efforts wiped away. Football is emotional, passionate, and imperfect.

The response to this should reflect wisdom as much as outrage. We need clearer rules going forward so incidents like this become rare, but we must be careful not to let one mistake destroy what was built legitimately on the grass.

[Howitt @nick_howitt]

@sportingintel Embarrasing this! He's excellent at what he does which is provide sports news to fans, he is often earliest, right and doesn't provide an opinion just the news. He's built a great career and fair play to him. Occasionally he is wrong like anyone else. DO BETTER

[Howitt @nick_howitt]

@CodyBrownBets 106

[Howitt @nick_howitt]

@ArnoldsAiModels CFB

[Howitt @nick_howitt]

@HarryLockPicks Why can't your links just go to the DK app anymore?

[Howitt @nick_howitt]

@TravisMangone @RunPureSports @BigT44DFS @JSurab @AP8809dfs @wiley77 Good luck Mangone thanks for all the insight 👊

[Flushing It @flushingitgolf]

Is this the best Ryder Cup chant ever? To the tune of Zombie by The Cranberries, “He’s in your heeaad, in your heeeaaaddd, Rory, Rory, Ror, ry, ry, ry!” 🙌🇪🇺

[Washington State Soccer @WSUCougarSoccer]

Grayson Lynch is signed as a pro! The Cougar standout joins KIF Örebro DFF ahead of the 2025-26 Elitettan season! Go G!

#GoCougs #MadeOfCrimson #ProCougs

[Washington State Soccer @WSUCougarSoccer]

Grayson Lynch gives the Cougs the first-half lead! Kendall Campbell pressures the backline and Megan Santa Cruz jumps the passing lane. Lynch picks her spot and finishes over the GK.

#GoCougs // #AgainstTheGrain // 📺ESPN+

[Howitt @nick_howitt]

@albinsheqiri @bayer04fussball Done

[Albin Sheqiri @albinsheqiri]

Xabi Alonso (Bayer Leverkusen) Trainings - (presentation file for coaches)

File consists several session of Alonso in Bayer 04: explenations, videos & graphical examples of each exercise: Finishing, Rondos, SSG etc

To recieve the file⬇️
• Follow
• Retweet
• Comment when done

[Howitt @nick_howitt]

@FootbalIhub JCC

[B/R Football @brfootball]

England won Group C.

Let us never speak of Group C again 💩

[Piers Morgan @piersmorgan]

This is the worst @ManUtd team I’ve ever seen.

[Howitt @nick_howitt]

@whitehairrobin @WelBeast 🤣🤣

[Howitt @nick_howitt]

@utdforever7 @ManUtd @premierleague @MarcusRashford That's why we're all raging he's done nothing this Season. He got his respect for that but has melted this year like many of the Utd lads

[Howitt @nick_howitt]

@ToeTagginTambo @ShipItNation @DraftKings 19.7

[Rodney Marsh💙™️ @RodneyMarsh10]

>Anyone else noticed how Liverpool fans are always whinging?!

[Howitt @nick_howitt]

@GolfDigest You guys feeling alright? @GolfDigest

[Howitt @nick_howitt]

Spot on @wiley77
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