The bits from the whatsapps do provide some support that they might have been. They don't feel like it's a routine occurrence with just the specifics that the manager wanted checked - they wanted specific information on each of the opponents (Oxford's formation under the new manager, Hackney's fitness and just the importance of the Ipswich game, combined with how close they were training). And it was all dependent on the Southampton guy being able to actually view the training (presumably if you wanted to spy on Forest, you'd have to bribe someone in one of the houses overlooking Wilford Lane).
