|A pocket guide to football speak|
|Around the Academy:
You listen to any football interview or match commentary and you'll think they've got another language.
Well they have. It's called football-speak! The A-Z Academy guide will help you with some of the basics.
A - ALL CREDIT TO THE LADS
It's the best way of highlighting that it was a 'team performance'. And this will usually be teamed up with the word 'delighted'.
B - BOTTLE
A popular one this one. Players can 'have' bottle, 'lack' it or in some cases 'hit' it - but generally it refers to bravery and 'getting in where it hurts'.
C - COULDN'T HIT A COW'S BACKSIDE WITH A BANJO
Extra shooting practice might be better than upsetting cattle with a musical instrument.
D - A DIG
A simple term for a speculative long range effort. You'll have to be 'different class' to score, unless of course you are up against a 'dodgy keeper'.
E - EARLY DOORS
The 'early' part of this speaks for itself, but the 'doors' bit is anybody's guess.
F - FUNNY OLD GAME
Isn't it? Apparently so, we're told it often enough.
G - GAME OF TWO HALVES
It seems a bit obvious doesn't it?! But you hear it all the time. It's often used to describe how the first and second halves are often different! Amazing.
H - HOME DRAW
After the magic of plucking out those balls any player or manager will say: 'You can't ask for more than a 'home draw'.
I - I'M FLATTERED BY THEIR INTEREST
Whenever a player is linked with a move to another club, out come these immortal words. A few days later the player will be on the move.