Football Daily - The Commentators' View: Ali’s car crisis & Conor’s Everton error

Episode Date: September 19, 2025

Conor McNamara joins John Murray & Ali Bruce-Ball to talk football, travel & language. They reflect on their European adventures in the UEFA Champions League and look ahead to the Premier League weekend. Will Ali’s losing run end in Clash of the Commentators? There’s a ‘root and branch’ reform of the Great Glossary of Football Commentary. And the unintended pub names start rolling in! Get your suggestions in with WhatsApp voicenotes to 08000 289 369 & emails to [e-mail]03:10 Ali bowled over by Bilbao hospitality 07:10 Conor’s big error at Everton’s new stadium 10:00 Working alongside Spanish radio commentators 11:50 5 Live Sport team catch the match ball! 14:25 Ali’s car crisis 16:30 Ali sets a European quiz question 21:40 Is Man Utd-Chelsea win or bust for Amorim? 26:05 Arsenal’s strength in depth takes on Man City 28:40 Clash of the Commentators 35:45 The Great Glossary gets a revamp! 45:20 Unintended pub names start rolling inBBC Sounds / 5 Live commentaries: Sat 20 Sep 1500 Brighton v Tottenham, Sat 20 Sep 1500 Wolves v Leeds on Sports Extra, Sat 20 Sep 1730 Man Utd v Chelsea, Sun 21 Sep 1400 Sunderland v Aston Villa, Sun 21 Sep 1400 Bournemouth v Newcastle on Sports Extra, Sun 21 Sep 1630 Arsenal v Man City.

The Commentator's View on the Football Daily. Listen on BBC Sounds. Hello, welcome to the Football Daily. I'm Alastair Bruce Ball, and this is the commentators view, the podcast where we five live commentators occasionally give our views, tell you about the views we have on our travels, and with your help, we discuss the beautiful language of the beautiful game. No Ian Dennis this week, so thankfully it is a slightly later, more sociable start. as we record this on a Friday morning in the company of the BBC's football correspondent John Murray

who looks, John, you look fresh what an experience that was for you last night and James Park. Thank you very much. You look well. Yeah, brilliant. Although I am very much looking forward to hearing your experience of Bill Bowie. Yes, yeah, I did send you a couple of messages,

didn't I, from over there. They weren't intended to make you jealous, but I knew you would be enjoying. Were you there what we were enjoying? So have you been? Have you been to Bill Bowell? No. No, I've said several times on here. Have you not been listening? That's one of the, that's one of the, one of my, my destinations that I'm yet to experience for European football. Athletic club. You will, you will love that. And so, no Ian Dennis, so it's a first series two appearance for Connor McNamara. Connor, welcome back to the commentator's view. Absolutely. Pleasure. Thank you very much. I think your football glassery has gone to the dogs. I'm going to say as a sometimes appearance and regular listener. where you've completely broken your own rules and now you've worked yourselves into a massive model.

No, we haven't. We haven't worked ourselves into a model. As people will find out later in this very podcast, breaking news. I think there's a couple of, well, there are a couple of very good suggestions, which I think will write the ship. But that's for later, Alley.

Just to jump in what you're saying there, but not remembering what you said in the podcast, do you guys find this, that when you're broadcasting, thing. You will say a score of a game or whatever several times, and then an hour later, someone will say, how did Newcast get on today? And you've like, I've no idea. It's like, it's literally come in one ear and out the other. I find when you're on a program, you don't really listen to the program. It's only when you're a listener. You actually hear what was said.

Yeah, I mean, I did one in commentary the other night in Bilbao, kind of where a score came in, I gave it, then couldn't remember within seconds whether I'd given it and turned to Paul Robinson and said, did I just say that? Did I just, he went, yeah, you've already said that, yeah. you know your glasses are on your head don't you it's the case it's exactly yeah but what i want to know is from your trip to bill bow there's much talked about eve of the match yes invitation from athletic athletic club athletic club bill bow no no definitely not that so they're their athletic club as I explain in the commentary, they're athletic club

or athletic club of Bill Bow. They are not Athletic Bill Bow. Even though in the commentary, I did call them Athletic Bilbao because that is the name that our listeners

know them by. But over there, you know, what I would say, John, the hospitality over there from the club was sensation.

It was superb and it was a really easy win for them in a way. But they have such an interesting story to tell. I think a lot of people do know the story about their,

their policy, their philosophy, as they would call it, which is, you know, it's in northern Spain in Bilbao, it's in the Basque Country, and they will only select players who have either been born in the Basque Country or basically have grown up as footballers from a very young age in the Basque Country. What's quite interesting from that point of view

with the Arsenal game is Mikkel Artetta could have played for them. His family home is an hour away. So could Marino, so could Zubimendi, but none of them have. But that sort of just added a little layer into the narrative. What I didn't know about the story, so they gave us this presentation the night before the game.

So after the press conference, they said, come upstairs to this bar in the stadium, and we will host you, and we'll do a little presentation on the club. And they told the history and how it came about, at the same time serving some of the most delicious tapas you are ever going to eat. And actually, Pinchos, not tapas, although I'm not strictly sure of what the difference is between Pinchos and tapas, but these were Pinchos. And what did they give you? Well, the one I absolutely adored and loved, and I know Connor wouldn't have enjoyed this because he's not a fish guy, but on one of these cocktail sticks was a fresh anchovy skewered with chili and olive, a big juicy green olive and a chili either side of it.

It was absolutely delicious. And then the old ham on Iberico and cheeses and walnuts and figs. Honestly, it was just, it was... They know how to do us, don't they? We were a willing audience, and then they tell the story about the club. But what I didn't know was back in early part of the 20th century, they played in a cup final against Sosiodad, one of their great rivals, and beat them, and Sosiodad complained that Athletic Club had too many foreigners in the team.

There were loads of non-Spanish players in the team, and off the back of that complaint and sort of the Farago that ensued, they went completely the other way and they said right we're we are going to do it purely bass country now and then you look at their record and what they've managed to achieve by doing that and it's it's it's remarkable and what what it then brings john is when you get into the stadium and everyone is in the in the red and white shirts and all connected you know to the players it you just get such an electricity and a sort of togetherness feeling that the whole city are in that in that stadium watching that game it's it's an incredible place

I heard you say that, and I actually referenced it when I was at the Newcastle match last night, because I thought, well, this is almost, you were talking about the red and white stripes, and for St. James's Park last night, you know, it is all black and white stripes and, you know, strong provincial city in England, as opposed to strong provincial city in the Basque country. And also, when I was preparing for the Barcelona match, I did notice, they have never been relegated, have they, athletic? Yeah. One of all three, is it? That's correct. And behind Barcelona, Rail Madrid and Atletico, they are the fourth highest in terms of La Liga titles won. They won eight titles, lasted it in the 80s. Yeah, just a remarkable club. And actually gave a very good show against Arsenal, who eventually overpowered them with their squad strength.

And I think that is worth keeping an eye on as well this season with Arsenal. The signings they've made and the way Mikhail Artetta used them. It'd be really interesting on Sunday, actually, Arsenal against Manchester City is well. well worth keeping an eye on, which was quite like Barcelona against Newcastle as well, just had more experience, just a better team right now in terms of where they are. And they're all the Spanish champions. Meanwhile, Connor, you were at Tottenham. Yeah, I've had a good week, actually.

I went to Everton for the first time from after the day last Saturday, so saw the new stadium, which I can let you in a secret. So it didn't make the end of, thank God. So new stadium, you know, we get so concerned with players' names and all the rest of it, right? So I was calling it the Dickinson Hill stadium throughout my head. And to be fair, nobody else pointed out, but then at the end, I was like, it's the Hill Dickinson, isn't it? So that hasn't quite rolled off the tongue. I'm sort of putting myself out there and holding up my hand to that immediately.

You've been very honest to admit that. That was really good. That is a real gap, isn't it? Yeah, I mean, it's the one great. thing about match of the day not being live when people say about you know

do you edit it afterwards you know thank God they took mercy on me and didn't use any of those references but so I think have you guys been there

have you done a game at the news stadium no no so there is as you walk in really I mean I think they've done a great job and when you come out to where the media area

is both television radio you walk sort of across a concourse to get out like you had a top number you know to sort of get out to the edge of the pitch and they've nice bars and whatnot there

but on the sort of corridor that we go to reach that concourse to then go to the gantry there was like it's tea bar so it's like a you know little little tea bar place tea and coffee laid out and the gentleman who was there said you can get tea and coffee there at half time and I'm wondering well how is that going to work because obviously there's a whole

concourse of fans here like surely they'll try and you know how is that could be just exclusively for us or you know to not have a big queue and stuff and I came down at half time and they you know you think of all the billions spent in the stadium they had a rope they had a rope across and it did make me think where you guys are going to be next week at the Ryder Cup you know and they'll talk

about the vociferous crowd and how angry the New Yorkers are and how wild there and all being held back by a rope and I like so I came down to like show my pass yesterday you're allowed in behind the rope and I got my bar of chocolate and my coffee and I thought you know wonderful you spent all this money but a rope is what actually does the job so I very much enjoyed that and then yes spurs on Tuesday which look it was a tough game I did it with Chris and Chris Sutton and at the end of the match I think what I said to was I said that actually wasn't too bad considering that we since the one and only goal of the game went in. We had 90 minutes with one shot on target

in the game. So I did enjoy the sense of occasion. I think because Spurs have got that weight off the shoulders of winning the Europa League and they kind of just feel this presence about they deserve to be their kind of thing. Because I guess it's been a few seasons since they've been in the Champions League. So it just felt, yeah, new era, new manager,

new boardroom, a few new signings. Not the greatest game, but they were in control of it, you know, so it was a composed performance. I have a quiz question for the pair of you and for our listeners as well, which connects to the three Champions League games that we have seen this week. And I'm going to set it for you in just a second. But, John, there's two things I want to pick up on from Newcastle, Barcelona. One, I listen to most of the second

half and your man from Spanish radio, Radio Marker, who'd obviously, you know, it's one of the classic things of covering Champions League football, particularly when you do Spanish teams, isn't it, John, that we often get parked next to radio colleagues from Spain, and they do have a very distinctive style and manner about them, and this chat was clearly no different. No, and what we actually only, towards the end, realized, he was only doing what we call off-air commentary, so he wasn't commentating all the way through.

So it would just be occasionally, and he was honestly, he was three feet to Dion's right, so it was occasionally, suddenly here, this thing, And he really, I mean, he just went for it massively. And the last chance that he had, which was Thurmein Loltes, had this effort that was over the top. And it was just Fermin! And that's all I could hear coming from my right. They must think we are so quiet and sedate.

Yeah, so boring. Well, I had a chap next to me in Bilbao, who arrived even before we did, and we were there a good two and a half hours before kickoff. And he spent most of that sort of. of two and a half hours testing the line testing the line shouting high level low level what if what if i do this what if i do that then i look around during the game and he barely did any broadcasting at all he tested the whole thing for about three hours and then he wasn't there the other thing i've noticed from the the spanish radio broadcasters is they love an opening you know you always you

always hear that don't you when you're in the ground and it's like seven o'clock or whatever their program is obviously starting and their commentator will do a lengthy very loud with lots of rolled R's monologue. And the other thing, John, that I missed because I wasn't listening to the first half, but you referenced it in the second half, is something that always has a chance of happening in lots of football stadiums that we sit in,

but it's never happened when I've been commentating on a game. So what happened? Well, I think we can hear it. Long three kick, four Newcastle. That's headed away again by the towering. Arawo. Got up so high there. Tanali is able to take it down.

Oh, I think this is coming out. away it's coming now away and it's caught by chris our engineer what a catch caught it ruby union fullback style outstanding outstanding sir high-fired exactly well done what's it care great hands i thought he was going to call from mark there for a moment i thought he might also knock the desk off the table yes exactly the mixing best however all's well and the ball is back down there courtesy of chris finale how exciting it was very exciting and it was it was it was it was It was launched up in the air so we could see it coming. And it was, I thought, this, that has never happened to me before.

And I know it has happened because I remember when Robbie Savage was hit in the face when he was with Darren Fletcher at Villa Park. But that has never happened on my watch. And I thought, this is coming directly for us. And Chris Banner, our engineer, was actually, there was Chris Sykes, the producer who was next to me. And then Chris was left at him. So, I mean, Chris, engineer Chris, was right up for it. He was right up on his feet and caught it brilliantly, dropped into his arms.

I think I'm right in saying that Ellie Oldroy got hit in the face by a ball at Tottenham, which is even more remarkable because it was in the country position where we were down in that little bunker. So for a ball to actually squeeze in and go over the dugout and through that window, that's, it's, you know, the chances of that happening are millions to one. That's Luke Skywalker, taking out the Death Star there. That's like right in the impossible shot. The exhaust port. Exactly, that's a very good analogy.

Our brilliant producer, Nathan, straight on it. Right, so tapas, small individual dishes, yet we know that originating in southern Spain. Pinchos, that's right, Connor. Pinchoss, small snacks, often a piece of bread with toppings held by a skewer traditionally from northern Spain. Yeah, there we are. Nathan is also suggesting the towering Araujo as one of our pub names, John. Yeah, well, more on that as well. The unintended pub names that we introduced last week, yes,

that we have got some suggestions. So there's that to come as well. Yeah, yeah. One other thing, though, I want to mention that I think listeners to this podcast will enjoy in terms of a peek behind the scenes. And I've actually forgotten this. I have to confess, and I apologize for that because it was such a long time. ago. What happened to your car at West Ham? Yeah, I'll tell the story very quickly. West Ham Tottenham last

Saturday, doing the commentary alongside Paul Robinson, George Cummins was our producer, and George, during the game, holds up his phone screen to me, which has some breaking news on it, that there's been a major car fire in Car Park C at the Westfield Shopping Centre in Stratford, which is where I parked my car. You can choose A, B or C. The fire was in car park C where I'd parked my car. Luckily, my car was a floor above it. And I will stress as well that actually no one was, cars were damaged, no one was hurt, thankfully. Paul Robinson was in car park B. So he managed to get away that evening. I wandered back to the car park after the game. There was absolutely no chance of me getting my car out. But then knew I had to be on a flight, out of Southampton on Monday morning to get to Spain for the Champions League. So I basically just had to... I stayed overnight.

I was hopeful I would get my car out on the Sunday morning. I couldn't do that. It wasn't safe to go and get the car. So the car is still sitting there in... Are you being charged for the hour? No, I did check that, Connor. I did check that. It reminds me of...

It could be a new British record. No, no. The British record was set by... Do you remember when Dean Saunders was with us at Euro 2016? and he was going out to France he was late so he put his car in the short-term car park and he thought well they'll only be there for three games anyway I'll be back in ten days and then

Wales keep getting through the knockout stages and I'm pretty sure they didn't charge him either I think he managed to wrangle his way out of us wow how did he mind you he made a public show of it I think yeah Dean Saunders

certainly if anyone yeah exactly right I'm setting the quiz question now you don't have to answer it now you don't have to answer it at all our listeners might enjoy Ian Dennis might enjoy this if he's listening and I'll give the answers at the end of the end of he will be listening he listens back assiduously religiously answers at the at the end of the podcast and it came from an article I was reading in the Times ahead of the Champions League football this week by Ian Hawke who was making the point that if you look at the last 47 major European finals in men's football

So we're talking Champions League, Europa League, Conference League, which is a fairly recent edition, and the UEFA Super Cup. 37 of those, 37 out of the 47, have been won by Spanish or English teams. Total domination. So the reason it came about, obviously, because English teams and Spanish teams played each other four times this week. Anyway, it got me thinking which are the other teams that have sort of interspersed that domination? So there are seven teams you're looking for that have won a major European trophy of men's football since the start of the 2011-12 season. So that's the quiz question.

You've got to find the seven teams that have won the other final. So they're non-Spanish, non-English, and they've won major European trophies. So there you go. That's the question. And while we're on the subject of the Times, the excellent Bill Edgar, got in touch with Ian, actually, after last week's podcast when we were talking about the palindromes because we mentioned ecotica and i said to ian is that the longest palindrome and bill wrote to ian and said i enjoyed your discussion on palindromic names uh and he said i did this in the times after the

first weekend of the season and what it is is bill says the last f a cup goal of last season was scored by a player with the joint shortest palindromic surname in top flight history, which was Crystal Palace's Berichi Eza in the final, and the first Premier League goal of this season was struck by the player with the longest ever such name, which is Hugo Eckertike. So Bill knows, and that effectively confirms, doesn't it, that Eckertique is the longest palindromic name. But to add to that, he actually scored, Eckertique did score the first goal in the Community Shield match at Wembley. So you actually had

Eza FAA Cup final Eka TK Community Shield, both at Wembley. But yeah, thanks to Bill for that and I have to say I do love Bill's stuff and give me stats versus facts and Bill's facts beat the stats for me every day

of the week. Emails to TCV at BBC.co.com. And the voice notes coming on WhatsApp to 08,289 369. Picking up again actually on Ezra and his goal for England and Esri Konzer who also scored for England.

Picking up on Esri Konza. That's right. Liverpool fans Jonathan in Perth gets in touch. Perth Scotland gets in touch. Hi folks, in relation to England players with a Zed in their first name, so that was Ezri Konza who scored, discussed in the last episode. I wondered if the former Fulham defender Zat Knight, Zat. Because we were trying to rattle off first names with a Zed in them and weren't doing very well.

Did Zat Knight ever get a call up? I have a vague memory of this, but apologies if it's a wild goose chase. I've not looked it up yet because I'm hurtling towards 40 and I wanted that potential flash of recognition to be authentic and not reinforced by technology. All the best from Jonathan.

So the answer, Jonathan, is Zat Knight indeed has two England caps, both from 2005 friendlies, On a tour of the USA under the management of Sven Yorin Erickson, England beat the USA 2-1 and Knight came on for the injured Soul Campbell at half time. Kieran Richardson scored a double on his debut. And then England won 3-2 against Colombia.

Michael Owen scored a hat-trick and Zat Knight played the full 90 minutes, but he didn't score. So there is a Zed in the first name, but he's not scored for England. So that is that tidied up. Right. This weekend, football coming your way on Five Live and BBC Sounds. Merseyside Derby kicks us off Saturday 1230. Hare Chapman on air from Midday with Five Live Sport, joined by Wayne Rooney as one of the guests in the pre-match build-up. So that will be an excellent listen.

I'm doing Ian's 3 o'clock duties Saturday with Michael Brown. I'm watching Brighton against Tottenham. Wolves against Leeds you can listen to on Sports Extra. And then, Connor, this is an interesting game, I think. Manchester United Chelsea at half five on Saturday evening. A quite difficult one to call, actually. Yeah, I'm looking forward to it. I'll be commentating with Pat Nevin for Five Live.

And, yeah, having been to the Derby, and I was discussing this with John earlier on, about how, you know, trying to work out the balance between our Manchester United actually performing okay and being a bit unlucky. they get back to the Arsenal game the opening match of the season the general consensus was that they'd started that game pretty well but didn't score

and then ended up losing it 1-0 they've got to win this one don't they I mean they really have got to win this one and it's not easy against Chelsea so very much looking forward to commentating on that game on 5 Live I think the interesting one with Manchester United is that having spent the money

that they have spent this summer were they now to change the manager so things go very badly against Chelsea he's not really been able to get this much vaunted 200 million pound starting line up on the field together because Cunia is injured and Bermo, Cessco has been taking a little while to get up to speed they've barely started together and if he lost his job now I think he would feel that with this squad that he has now got that he's probably not been given a fair crack of the whip Oh, I don't know, but hang on, John.

When you say, that's fine if he came in this summer. He's been there since what? When did he join? November. He's almost a year. And I saw that, I know you hate stats, but the, in the history of Manchester, you know, the lowest, I like good stats. You like good stats. He's the lowest win ratio of anyone who's ever been in charge of Manchester, you know, bar someone who's there for two games or whatever. But, you know, anyone who's had a little role.

But his argument would be he's had this front line for five months. matches and he's not being able to get them on the field together I just wonder of course the focus is on the manager can you imagine me in a player in that dressing room though and we all sort of think you know that you know

and again none of them can ever say this in an interview but surely they must be just looking around going these guys I'm sick of looking at these guys faces in a dressing in the end of a game you know they're coming in they're all individually they're good players and it's become so toxic and I just imagine the sting it's not like

they're all in there come on it's I'm sure they were the start of this bad run but they must be in there look at each other just think, regardless of who the manager is that that group of players

I mean that's why Fresh Face is coming in is so important because if you're look at the same guys week in, week out and feeling that you're all performing under power,

that's got to be so demoralizing. And the same, despite what I say, the same issues are there, aren't they, very clearly? And I don't know about you, Conner, at the Eterhad, you were probably looking down

from the TV positions the same way I was looking at it after the match. When they went across to the matchish night players all to who I thought played okay but lost 3-0 which is not great against your local rivals so many of the Manchester night fans had gone they all went still went over there

as a group together to thank the remaining fans that were there and then walk back towards us and they looked absolutely shot didn't they walking off together so that's why that's why this match is is such a big one against Chelsea but you know he kept saying last season I need time to work with the squad they've not got European football this season and he's got midweek after midweek after midweek to work with this squad

and he has to make it work. Albon from Tumbridge Wells one of our listeners makes a very good point so Manchester United Chelsea could qualify as a small matter of fixture but Albin says with the pressure on Rubin Amarin well and truly mounting that

gain between Manchester United and Chelsea should be the Juan matter of paying homage to the former Spain International who graced both the Old Trafford and Stamford Bridge turf. That is good. Thank you, Aubin. That is excellent. So, Sunday's commentaries.

John is at the stadium of light. Two o'clock on Sunday. This is a five-live game. Sunderland against Aston Villa alongside Paul Robinson on sports. Promises to be a true goal fest, that, doesn't it? Yes. Neither have been full of goals yet this season, have they? My first trip to Sunderland this season since their return to the Premier League, though, so I'm looking forward to that.

Good. Bournemouth Newcastle is our sports extra game Sunday 2 o'clock, and then very much a small matter of 4.30 Sunday, Arsenal against Manchester City, Ian Dennis and Rob Green. Obviously, Uchap saw Manchester City in that Manchester Derby last time out. I saw Arsenal in Bilbao. Arsenal have conceded one goal so far this season. and that's the Sobersly free kick. There was an absolute screamer, was unstoppable.

They look good to me, John Ars. I think they've done really well in the transfer window. Particularly at home as well, where they have been really impressive. I watched the match against Forrest on the television last weekend. I saw their comprehensive win against Leeds United. Having watched Manchester City last weekend, of course, since then, they've had another boost to the confidence with the win against Napoli, the Italian champions in the Champions League.

but I have to say I do rate Arsenal as quite strong favour for that match. You remember they weren't 5-1 last season against Manchester City at home Arsenal. People talk about the new attacking options and I didn't see the game because I was working the Spurs match but from what I heard Ellie that

as they didn't actually have his best game but I tend to take him off and bring in someone who would be able to, you know, having that option is such a luxury for a coach but what I think sums it up for me is Miles Lewis Skelly who last season had what a breakthrough crew. I remember I'm sure listeners John will remember your interview with him and he scored in his England debut

and you think this guy is the R's still left back for the next 20 years and he can't get in the team now. You know, it just shows, you know, Califiori's been so good and that to me, the fact they've got such strong. I mean, even if the keeper gets injured, they've got Kep on the bend, you know, they really have two excellent teams. At the moment, Salaib is injured, doesn't matter. Oedegar's out, Rice didn't start the weekend.

You know, Saka, you take out, their literal best players and they're still performing so well. So I'm going to be at the game. I'm going to be the Emmerts on Sunday. looking forward to that much. The Women's Football Weekly has found a new home in its very own feed. We've called it, unsurprisingly, BBC Women's Football Weekly.

We'll continue to bring you the latest news, insights and analysis from across the women's game. They're throwing some big money around. I want to see how they line up, how everyone fits in. Episodes will be available every Tuesday as ever, alongside special, unfiltered player interviews from the biggest names in the WSL and beyond. To make sure you never miss an episode, just search for BBC Women's Football Weekly and hit subscribe once you get there.

The commentators view on the Football Daily. Listen on BBC sounds. My phone alarm's going off for some reason. I'll tell you why. I'll tell you why, because it's Clash of the Commentators time, John. I've set it. I've set it deliberately because I knew I knew this would be the time. And this is interesting actually this week for Clash of the Commentators because league leader,

Ian isn't here. So Ian is unbeaten so far this season. Played 3-1-3. I'm in a sticky little run here. Two defeats in the last two, one from three. And John has a win this season. He's won from four. And normally

when we have a guest on, so Connor has previously played in exhibition matches, but I understand, Connor, that you've turned the opportunity down today to be involved in an exhibition match, and you're going to sit back and watch us to duke it out. I'm scarred. I'm scarred of you. I still have not recovered from our

nil-nill-nill draw. I mean, it's just, it haunts me. I love my job. I love describing football. I'm always very comfortable in a microphone. This being asked questions this early in the morning is not for me. So when I was asked, do I want to take on John or Annie? I just said, can I be the quiz master? And they said, yes, so happy days. Okay, so my question here, John, is does this count? Is this a league fixture? Yes. Because Ian's not, definitely. Yes, it is.

It is. Okay. Yeah. Okay, but Ian's not here to witness it, but he will be listening. He will be listening, of course he will be. And speaking of being scarred, that last week was the, that was the defeat that's hurt me most. The Nigals? The Nigals. I've been, all week at various intervals,

Nigals have kept popping into my head. That for me is the one that got away. I should have won that hands down. If you were to ask me, who of the three of you would get the most Nigels, you would definitely be, you know, head and shoulders as chief, yeah. Always, always, always. A particular, can I guess. Nigel Dempster coming back to mind.

Oh, that is good. Very good. I wish we'd allowed fictional Nigels as well. Nigel from the young ones. Oh, Neil? He was playing. He was played by Nigel Plainer. Nigel Plainer.

He also came to me. And not only that, we also had an even. didn't we, Ali, from our friend, our author friend, Nige Tassel, who was a Nigel. And was disappointed with my efforts. Could I put a request in to go first?

Don't know why, but I've not been first this season. I just want to try and change things up, John. Would that be all right? Okay. All right. John is happy with that. So John, you can disconnect. So this is a competitive fixture.

John is disconnected. You ready, Ali? I'm ready. Jose Marino has this week been appointed the manager of Benfica returning to the club where he started his managerial career and I want you to name any club that Jose Marino has managed any team Marino's manager your time starts now okay Benfica Porto into Milan Chelsea Fernabache does Barcelona count does he stand in at Barcelona do that

real Madrid obviously hang on which country would not be into not done PSG into anyone else in Italy I've not chapped enough out here what was what were the early ones Rio Arve or something like that

that's not good enough okay I've I've made a one two three four five six Barcelona doesn't count he was the translator there wasn't he? I know yeah do you know what I've that's an incredible

that is a gift to John there's an incredible miss there an incredible miss John you're back in I was gross to whatever you're reading there well to be honest it was after last week it was such a long time

I can believe that happened so quickly I'm not in the best moment for this as the continental football managers say bearing a mind St James's Park last night got in at about going on half past one got up this morning was on radio

a lot of excuses for being here a lot of excuses I think you'll be okay with this. As I said, I chickened out because I think when me and Ali had the nil-nil-nil draw, it was something like scorers of direct free kicks in Champions League group phases in 97 or, you know. I think you've at least got a stab at this, okay?

Okay, are you ready? What listeners won't know is that we can all see each other, and I'm actually looking at Ali sitting there shaking his head, which suggests to me that he's not. No, no, you will definitely get most of these. Absolutely. Most of them. Okay, are you ready?

Let's see about that. Jose Marino has this week been appointed the manager of Benfica, returning to the club where he started his managerial career. So I want you to name any club that Jose Marino has managed. Any club, Marino has managed. Your time starts now. Porto, Benfica, at Fanebache, Manchester United, Chelsea, Tottenham, Roma, where else has he been

I think when you went in between the other two said Manchester United he's not been in France Oh did I not say Benfica You did say Benfica? did, because that's the one that's brought you over the line. You've won by one.

Hooray! Now, ABB, you missed on the English ones. Oh, I missed. I didn't say Manchester United or Tottenham. But you didn't say Interbalan or Real Madrid. Inter, of course. Real Madrid. I know. I didn't say United. Or Tottenham.

I was thinking, do you know what? It was really confusing, mate. For some reason, I was thinking, did you manage PSG? Because most of them have. But he hasn't, obviously. Anyway, that's not important right now For his early team Before Porto It was it was Junio de Liera

That he coached Then Porto Chelsea Inter Real Chelsea, Man United Spurs Roma Fennerbache

And back to it all began Back to Benfica again for Jose Marino Well done John That's another difference Allie How many is that in a row? Yeah that's three in a row

that's a weak one actually that is a week one week one Ian will be listening to that and be thinking I would have smashed both of them at that because I think he would have got all of those answers Yeah he would Yeah he'd have got he'd have got all

I don't think you'd have got Uniao Lera No Leera But I went off and tried to do the glamorous Continental ones And you stuck in England And that that served you well

So I moved bottom I go bottom John John moves above me Right It's the bottom of the table Yeah Not good, not good. But I'll tell you what is good.

It is time for the great glossary of football commentary. Connor has issues with the great glossary of football commentary. So we're going to try and deal with those. He's not the only one. In the rest of this episode. This is where we add listener suggestions of football-specific commentary terms and phrases to our collection. Last week, we relaxed the criteria slightly and added Billy's suggestion of taking one for the team. emails tcv at bbcc.co.com.

John will take it in turns to read some of these. So Joseph in Palmer's Green, after you inexplicably decided to change the entrance criteria to the football glossary, a terminology comes to mind that is solely used in football, a steward's inquiry. For example, after Ali John and Ian rejected multiple football glossary terms due to a high bar, nod to Mondo de Plantis here, they have now changed the entrance criteria. A steward's inquiry is needed. But steward's inquiry is not going to.

Surely Joseph. Where does a steward's inquiry come from? Horse racing. Yeah. Yeah. So it can't be. It cannot go in the Great Glossary of Football Commentary. Well, let's see about that. And you know how the PGMO, as they are now,

always talk about a high bar I think we talk about a low bar don't we now yeah we want as much in as possible don't we yeah we do well that's why we changed it but anyway potential potential development here from Tim in Suffolk and I like this

he says re the football glossary might I suggest a format of two divisions in division one you can place terms that are exclusively or certainly originated in football

in Division 2 you could have terms that are very regularly used in football but are also used elsewhere in sport it seems a shame to lose the football

exclusivity that ABB has been seeking but also it seems a shame to not have terms that it calls me the mighty wordsmith that is John Murray is prepared to use

in his football commentary that aren't exclusive to that sport this to me seems to solve it so great glossary of football commentary Tim says division one football exclusive terms division two footballing terms not exclusive to the beautiful game it feels very enhanced games this you've got two versions but there's an on a similar theme alley yeah daniel from morton hamstead by dartmoor i have a suggestion for your root and branch reform at the great football glossary you could have primary entries where the term or phrase is exclusively used in football commentary and secondary entries where the term or phrase is exclusively used in football commentary and secondary entries where the term or phrase is in common usage in football, but is also used in other sports.

How does that sound? So that is the same idea. Div one, div, I like this. I think this is good. Daniel and Tim, both, yeah, isn't that strange that they should both be of a similar mind? And I like that. I agree, because the current setup, if you go back over the listening, some of them have been rejected because of rules that are now being applied and then some were allowed in because on a week when rules were, you know, this this would allow everything still be there and look I always think a glossary isn't a thin little book is it no

big well that's that's what we came around to or that's what I came around to in the end of that we've got to let the mighty wordsmith we we can't reject everything but also that means at some point we'll have to divide up what we've already got

into division one and division two which I think I think it'd be quite good fun doing that and it's got to be so we'll do it should we do that in a future in a future edition Do you get a parachute payment if you're sent from Division 1 down to Division 2? Well, also, I presume phrases are setting stone. There's no promotion relegation here, is there? You can't be promoted from Division 2 to Division 1.

You're going to be dropped in a division. That's where you're going to stay. I mean, here's one, John. So Devang from Wembley has got in touch with us on WhatsApp about taking one for the team. So that's what we were discussing a few moments ago. It's certainly also used in cricket when often a young newly selected. elected player is asked to field at short leg so does taking one for the team and also when he and he's also hit by a pull shot at short leg yeah he's taken one to the team yeah so is that div one or

div two then well we said that would be div two yeah and uh just on a on a side issue i do enjoy daniel's use of root and branch reform which whenever i hear that phrase i always think of England have flopped spectacularly in Australia in the ashes and the ECB or whoever it is at the time has decided that after that there will be a route and branch review of the English cricketing system But I would also argue, I mean that's very much div too Because I agree with you John that sits more in cricket than it does in football

Although you know football administration we've definitely heard that I mean that but initially that's politics for me anyway That's politics into cricket and then into football and elsewhere Gardening initially, before it became politics. And initially, porticulture. Now, porticulture. This idea that you can't be promoted and relegated, this is just a further example of the Americanisation of our game,

where you're just setting in stone. Right. Protecting the big guns. Here's your first voice note of the week. 08,000, 289-369, if you want to leave us a voice note. This is from Nathan in Epsom. I've just been watching the Spurs Villa Real match, and Connor McNamara has used the word howler,

as in goalkeeping howler on that first goal for Spurs. Lewis Jr. has ridiculously palmed it into his own net. It's a goalkeeping howler. It gives Tottenham-Oxper the perfect start to the Champions League. I can't think that howler is used in any other context, in any other sport. So I think that should go in the glossary. Thanks, chaps. Love the show.

of monkeys? Not in that context. Div 2 for me. Can you have a holler if you, in rugby, you go over the tryline and you mess up the downing of the ball for the trier? Drop a catch, unlike Chris Bannon. Yeah. Yeah, that's an absolute howler.

If you drop a sitter. Yeah, drop a sitter. A dolly. It's a howler. A dolly. Yeah. Div 2. Div 2.

We don't really use it in everyday life, do you? You don't, if you like, dropped a glass and it's smashed all over the kitchen floor, you wouldn't turn and say, I've had an absolute howler there, would you? Mrs Bruce Ball wouldn't say, Ali, that was a howler. No, no, she would not. You were correct there, John. You've just dropped some of the best crystal on the floor.

Richie in Ashford says, Hi, hope this hasn't already been suggested, but when a team is desperately trying to defend a 1-0 lead with seconds to go, the defender may blast the ball into the stands. The commentator will no doubt suggest that he's kicked it into row Z. It doesn't matter how many rows there are. It's always Rozad. So I'd like to suggest

Rose Z for the glossary. It's got to be div too though, right? Because of other sports? Yeah. Rugby could put it into Rosette. In tennis if someone there smacks their return way too far and goes into things into Rose Ed or Rugby you could definitely kick it into rosette. I'm not sure you'd use that in

tennis, you know? Because quite often they do hit the balls, you know, if they're annoyed they whack one. Do they? Yeah, rugby I don't know, you know. Rugby, you never really kick it that. pitch is so far away. Do you ever kick it into row? No, you totally. So think about the end of the game, and the ball is to go to play for the game to end.

And he kicks it to a rose ed, yeah, yeah. And the whole thing about, like, why is it Ro Z, not Ro G? You know, because Z being the last of the alphabet, it's, you know, to the back of the stand. That's the, that's the image you're trying to portray here. Look, for me, for me, it's obviously used in sport. It gets into, gets into Div 2 for me. Yeah.

So 2 is going to be quite large, I think. Yeah, it's going to be quite Bruno large. Yeah. Well, it's a very competitive division, John, like the championship. It's the hardest one to get out of. Well, you can't get out. No, you can't.

You cannot get out with it. It's like the Hotel, California. Also, thanks to Barry in Perth, Australia, who sent us a lovely picture of a Cuckaburra perched on a set of goalposts while he was walking his chocolate lab. Bruce, round butler's reserve in Wemburne's. I presume that was Barry walking the chocolate Labrador, not the cuckaburra.

And so the picture there, the photograph, is where the cougarer burr sleeps. I wouldn't necessarily have spotted that as a cuckaburor, would you? Would you not? I'm just having a look. It looks like a pigeon wearing a mini NFL helmet. So the aim for our listeners now is going to be to try and get these terms into Division 1, because if you look at our summary from terms today, taking one for the team,

Div 2, Root and Branch Review, Div 2, Howler, Div 2, Rozad, Div 2. So, Football Specific is going to be tricky, but we look forward to hearing more of the suggestions. It's the elite end of the game, Alley. You know, you can't have it too big either. You know, it's got to be a special moment to get it.

I mean, you're definitely going to need like a little jingle you play when something gets into Divor. Now, we have a bonus suggestion on the voice notes. Hi, guys. This is Penelope, Liverpool fan from Hoyke, and I'm just listening to the commentary of West Ham Tottenham, and I've just referred to a Croif Turn. I've looked in the glossary.

You've not got it in there, and I think that must be unique to football. I also think it'd be quite a good pub name. Keep up the good work. Oh, yes. Penelope was straight into Div 1. Division 1. Yeah. I'm delighted to say.

Play the jingle. It could not be more division one. No, that's brilliant. And he couldn't. They're great punning. The Kreifth Turn. Is there a pub called the Christ turn? There should be.

And in terms of being at the elite level, which Div 1 is, you couldn't have a better name at the very top of the game than Johann Kreif. That is magnificent. That's just... That is the most effective 20 seconds that this podcast has ever had since it's beginning. You have to say that's magnificent. So just to explain to Connor and other listeners who maybe this is their first episode of listening to the commentator's view, in which case, football daily feed, do the old BBC sounds, the commentator's view,

and you can go listen back to the rest of them. But the pub names Connor came about because John was sitting next to Paul Robinson doing a Leeds Newcastle game. Joe Rodin took a whack and John described him as the hopping rodent and Paul burst out laughing mid-commentary John asked him what he was laughing at and it was John's use of the term there and then Paul said it sounded like a pub name

so we then have asked listeners to get in touch if they've been listening to commentaries to come up with other parts I think the bearded bogal John was another one wasn't he from that game and Paul this is Paul Robinson's idea the unintended pub names So if you're going to suggest them, we need to know where you heard them in a football commentary,

whichever football comedy doesn't have to be one of ours. So here is another suggestion or two from Danny in Horsham. Hi, guys. I'd like to put forward an idea for the new pod feature about pub names. And I noticed very early on in the Manchester Derby, John referring to the Leaping Delicht. And I wonder whether, since he also said, the bearded Donna Ruma, whether or not that could be a chain of pubs because he had the bearded last week as well didn't he anyway love the pod cheers guys part of the bearded group the bearded group of ins ink

yeah it doesn't beat the bearded boggle the bearded boggles bearded boggles yeah that trips off the tongue who's got who's got the best beard in football who you know what would be your well i was watching the um um the the the the city napoli game last night did you Do either of you see that? And Milkovich Savage, the goalkeeper. I mean, that is a magnificently groomed, bushy, you know, presence of a beard. That is wonderful. Yeah.

Alley. Have you got someone in mind? No, I haven't. Maybe that's one. Maybe that's one people can get in touch with us. TCV or BBC. Plankly to go out. Yeah, loads of beards.

I don't know why. Allison had a great beard, didn't he? Yeah, he did. He looks like he could grow a beard overnight, doesn't he? And who was the Wolves goalkeeper who had a very long beard? Do you remember? This is going back a little bit whose name... Hang on, so not Jose Saar.

No. Not Ricardo before him. Apparently they were discussing the EFL's best beards on this week's edition of the 72 plus EFL pod on the Football Daily feed. Aaron Paul and Co. came up with Joe Ledley. Yeah, that is a good one. That is a very good one, actually.

particularly latter years of Joe Ledley playing for Wales Big Big Beard Ipswich fan James Hello all I like this pub name idea My suggestion comes from last weekend's Manchester Derby

Bruno Fernanda shoots right across the face of goal And Casamiro I mean he stabbed at it Came at him quickly but couldn't direct it on Goldnets wide I think he may have been a couple of yards offside Yeah he just stays in there Doesn't come out with the sky blue

back four stays in there the swing of the boot from Bruno Fernandez from the edge of the box James continues I can definitely imagine arranging to meet friends at the swing of the boot on a Saturday night excellent that's very good

that's more of a bar isn't it than a pub I'm trying to think of expression of you it's been in my head that at least two maybe three times this season I've used the expression when a team goes one nil up

and I said that that can be a perilous lead as in you know you haven't won anything yes that it could be taken away you, but I quite like the idea of going down the perilous lead for a quick pint. That's good. Right, we are about to go, but I'm going to give you answers to the quiz. So if you've been sitting there scribbling while you've been listening to this pod,

let's just see if Connor and John have got any of these. So these are non-English or Spanish teams that have won a major European trophy since the start of the 2011-12 season. There are seven of them. So PSG. Atalanta. Roma.

Hang on. PSG. Hang on. Hang on. Hang on. PSG, yes. Inter. Roma.

Inter is incorrect. Roma, Jose Marino, managed them to the Conference League. So I'm an absolute clown for not saying Roma. Atalanta, correct. Yeah, they beat by Lavin Kuzin in the Europa League final. There was an all Portuguese

European League final in Dublin. One of those Portuguese teams... Do you know what, Connor? That's the season before. That's Porto, Big Braga. So that's not actually in there. So you've got... And I'll see Inter's before then as well, isn't it?

Of course. Yeah. So you've got... Olympi Arcos. That's brilliant answer, John. That's Olympiocos. You're missing a very obvious Champions League winner, a team that have done it twice since the start of the run.

Since 2012. By the way, there's only six answers here. I'm all over the place there. There's only six answers, not seven. I beg your pardon. Yeah, come on. Munich before the start of that wrong? Yeah.

Byron. No, no, Bayern. Bion. Yeah, Byron. 2013 won the Champions League at Wembley. 2020, obviously, beat Paris Sangerment in the final. So you are looking for one more team. who you should get because they beat a British team in a major European final,

in a penalty shootout. Oh, Villarreal. That is incorrect. Spanish, John, go to the bottom of the class. Didn't Rangers get to a final? Correct. Yeah, yeah, yes. And it was Oliver Glasnerz.

Correct. I'm going to Frankfurt. Correctamundo. There we go. Excellent. So those are your six teams who have managed to break up the domination, the Spanish-English-English dominance. of the major...

And unlikely sex tete. Yeah, exactly, John. Well done on your Clash of the Commentators win. That's going to haunt me for probably the next month or so, I think. It won't haunt you like the Nigels have haunted me. Haunted by the Nigels. The haunted Nigel. I go there for a drink.

Connor, thank you very much. Absolutely pleasure, guys. Loved us, loved us. And I'll see you Sunday, John. And enjoy. Enjoy the Ryder Cup. Oh, yeah. Yeah, we're both there.

We're both there. And I think, John, I think I can promise this, a little cheeky commentator's view, Ryder Cup special next week, I think. The plan, is it not? Excellent. It might even get Donald Trump on the show if we're lucky. State visit to the media center.

Great job. Fake news. Thank you for listening, everyone. Keep the unintended pub name and glossary suggestions coming in. TCV at BBC.com.uk and the voice notes on WhatsApp to 08,289-389-369 all the episodes of the commentator's view available via the Football Daily feed on BBC Sounds

and we will speak to you next week. Oh dear. I can't believe I didn't say Manchester United and Tottenham. What an idiot. Well, I didn't say Real Madrid and Inter. No, I know, but the English ones are more obvious, aren't they? Can't get more obvious than Real Madrid? No, maybe not.

I mean, that's just gifting you a win. I only need one of those for a draw. Yep. I think I'm toast this season. I think I'm going to be you this season, John. It's early days. No, I know, but I think, I just, my confidence is shot. No, no.

Season's over for me. The sense of defeat is. He scored goals, lifted trophies and broken records along the way. There it is. It's a day to remember the Wayne Rooney. And now he's got a podcast. Welcome to the Wayne Rooney Show. Twice a week, Wayne Rooney, Kay Kerrude and me, Kelly Somers,

break down the biggest stories in the Premier League and beyond. As much as you'd like to say it, loyalty in football now is there's no existence, whether that's fun players or managers. Plus, we'll hear the funniest, wildest and most outrageous stories from Wayne's career. The Wayne Rooney show. Everybody's talking about it. Listen on BBC Sounds.