Football Daily - The Commentators’ View: Conor goes viral & Ian’s Bantam tantrum

Episode Date: April 25, 2025

John Murray, Ian Dennis & Ali Bruce-Ball discuss Liverpool and Celtic being on the verge of titles. They’re joined by Conor McNamara after he went viral for his 5 Live Man Utd-Lyon commentary. Will Ali be toppled by Ian in Clash of the Commentators? How high will the high bar be for the Great Glossary of Football Commentary? And John bowls us over with his plans for the weekend in London.01:30 Liverpool and Celtic on the verge of titles 06:10 Conor McNamara reflects on going viral 25:15 Some big 5 Live commentaries this weekend 33:35 More Clash of the Commentators controversy? 41:25 Will anything be added to the Great Glossary? 53:35 John reveals his exciting weekend plansBBC Sounds / 5 Live / Radio 5 Sports Extra weekend commentaries: Sat 1500 Newcastle v Ipswich in the Premier League, Sat 1715 Crystal Palace v Aston Villa in the FA Cup semis, Sun 1400 Bournemouth v Man Utd in the Premier League, Sun 1400 Chelsea v Barcelona in the Women’s Champions League, Sun 1630 Liverpool v Tottenham in the Premier League, Sun 1630 Nottingham Forest v Man City in the FA Cup semis.

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tuning into the Inside Track wherever you get your podcasts. BBC Sounds music radio podcast. The commentators view with Alistair Bruce Ball, John Murray and Ian Dennis on the Football Daily. Hello, welcome to the Football Daily. This is the commentators view. I'm Alistair Bruce Ball and if you're new to this, then thank you for joining. This is where we the five live commentators try and take you behind the microphone. We talk about the games we cover, the people we speak to, the places we get to see, John Murray's travel mishaps along the way and crucially the words we use, the vocabulary of commentary and we will get on to our great glossary of football commentary later in the pod. But first of all let's bid good morning to our

regulars football correspondent John Murray up bright and early in London John having been at the Emirates just in case Liverpool were to be crowned champions, but but they haven't been yes morning just in case Liverpool had won the league I was already booked to come into broadcasting house this morning Should there have been the fallout for that so I was coming in here anyway so for once for once I've actually been up well in advance of our appointment yes not Ian Dennis's fault that we're recording this at 8 o'clock that is all down to me today yeah I mean the I mean the all clear I'm no longer in the dock just between the three of us to give the

commentary on on Sunday a plug already but but we're going to talk about it later in the pod. So Liverpool Tottenham will be on five live Sunday afternoon, national radio exclusive. And Ian, you will be there. And it's better, isn't it, really this way, certainly from the Liverpool fans' point of view, that they have this opportunity to win the title at Anfield in front of a packed stadium.

Yes, because if you think back to the last time that they won the title the supporters weren't present. So it will be I think almost like a coronation won't it because they only need the point against Tottenham Hotspur to get that record equaling 20th title. I've got to say I don't buy into certain individuals trying to demean Liverpool's success, it'll be a thoroughly deserved title. I think any team that goes 26 games unbeaten in a league and if you were at the top, deserve to win the Premier League title. Do you think people are trying to belittle it? What, because it's not been a great title race?

On social media, people are suggesting yes, it hasn't been a great title race and it's almost as if they're trying to blame Liverpool for the fault of others. In this time that we live, you know, if you want to call them the haters, have a louder voice than they've ever had before. And I think you've got to try and look a little bit beyond that.

And I agree with you, you know, the run that Liverpool had during the course of this season, 26 league matches unbeaten, I think I'm right in saying that's the fourth longest unbeaten run of league matches that Liverpool have had in their entire history so you know that's that's why they are where they are and okay they haven't hit the heights over the course of the last month or so and I've seen the last couple of matches when they've really labored to wins against West Ham and Leicester who are right down at the bottom end of the Premier League but I'm

absolutely with you if you if you win the league in the manner that they have and have a lead like they do and and we're expecting they're gonna win it with four matches to play then you deserve all the credit. Absolutely. Yeah I mean other clubs this season haven't been able to live with them that's the point and by the way I just noticed as well I think I'm right about this and you guys may not have looked this up although I don't know you're gonna be doing a lot of prep ahead of ahead of Sunday in terms of numbers and history and stats Celtic can win the title against Dundee United on Saturday at lunchtime at tannadice if they win that title they will equal Rangers on

55 top flight titles in Scotland and then on Sunday if Liverpool win the title they will equal Manchester United on 20 top flight titles in England so it's a fairly historic weekend on the way potentially also regarding Celtic and they're on course for another treble but up until maybe I don't know six seven years ago they hadn't won that many trebles and now they've almost doubled the amount of treble successes if you follow my meaning, and it just goes to show that the level of domination that they've now got in Scotland, and also this year, I think for the first time in a long, long time, they made progress in Europe.

So I think if Brendan Rodgers was to, that's where ultimately he'll be judged, I think, in European competition. But if he can back the travel and also the progress that they made in Europe and they were very very close to taking Bayern Munich to extra time, then you can definitely see the progress that they're making from a wider picture regarding Celtic's point of view. One point I would make Ali as well is, and one of the points of this podcast is we give the listeners a bit of a glimpse behind the scenes, is that we had a decision to make for Sunday, didn't we? Because, and I think this is such a shame

that the potentially title deciding match in the Premier League and a really appealing FA Cup semi-final are kicking off at exactly the same time on Sunday afternoon. The decision you're talking about there, John, is which one goes on Five Live and which one goes on Sports Extra. So obviously the point you're making is it's a shame.

Exactly, it's a shame that they're not two separate events at different times, but the great joy via the BBC Sounds app for our listeners, I mean, you can't listen to both at the same time, but you can make a choice. You can make a choice, but I think, I just think it's not an ideal situation By any means that two matches of that magnitude are being played at exactly the same time

Okay, we'll get on to the weekends football in a bit So as John says FA Cup semi-finals Liverpool Tottenham on Sunday women's Champions League semi-finals second legs as well Another clash of the commentators quiz on the way, great glossary of football commentary as well. But we've got to start with a little look back by reacting to one of the games of the season and a particularly dramatic one for one of the five live commentators, a regular I would have to say now on the commentators view. Connor McNamara is with us joins us this morning

After Connor Thursday night at Old Trafford, which I mean people must have heard the commentary by now That must be one of the craziest Games and certainly ends to a game you've ever commentated on morning guys. Yeah, I think I think we all sort of dream of that scenario Don't we we do so many games over the years and let be honest, quite often they're petering out towards the end. One team is two or three nil up or whatever. But to have it in the balance like that and almost, you know, I think we said at one stage, you're looking around the press box and all the written journals who've been furiously tapping about,

you know, this this big failure for Manchester United and then the complete change of narrative in seconds. So that's the kind of roller coaster ride that I think is a commentator. You just love to be part of. And it was it was brilliant. complete change of narrative in seconds. So that's the kind of roller coaster ride that I think is a commentator you just love to be part of. And it was brilliant. And it was with Paul Robinson, who I think is the perfect guy at the moment for that sort of event, because he's such excitement and his voice and energy. And I think the two of us went for it and maybe went a bit too far over the top.

But we were never thoroughly engrossed in the whole thing. And and it's been an enormous reaction. I've said there's nothing I've ever commentated in my life that's quite the knock on effect. And I think every few days that pass, I think it's it's been an enormous reaction I've said there's nothing I've ever commented in my life that's at quite the the knock-on effect and I think every few days that pass I think oh it's it's calming down now and then something else happens about it and I get it like yesterday was playing some golf with my kid and my phone was off for hours and hours and I turned on my phone and I kid you not there was like in the thousands of notifications and I

turned my phone on and usually you think oh hang on. What have I done wrong here? Yeah, but Connor, that may well be the most dramatic match that you ever commentate on. It could be, it could be John. And as I think years ago, you said to me this, I've ever gone to some European city and I was tired. I said, you know what, I'm gonna just sleep and I'm gonna catch up my cat nap.

I'm not too forced to go for a walk around. And you said you like cat nap. I do like a cat nap. And you said, Connor, you may never be here again. So yes, you have to enjoy. That's a very John Murray thing to say. Voice of doom. Yeah, you have to enjoy.

Somebody say that to John when he was in Paris, when he was in the hospital. Ha ha ha ha. But Connor, so we're going to chat about this going viral and actually how this works nowadays because I guess previously when we started out twenty years ago our radio commentary possibly wouldn't spread like this one has. So I should reference the game as well just in case people don't know what we're talking about. This is Manchester United beating Lyon

5-4 in the second leg of their Europa League quarter-final last week. 2-0 up, Lyon went down to 10 men, but then Manchester United 4-4-2 behind and Manchester United turn it around in extra time. So before we get onto it blowing up and Conor's phone exploding, let's just remind ourselves of the commentary. Here is Connor and Paul Robinson. It's 6-6 on aggregate, it's going to be a penalty shootout. Old Trafford produces some of the old magic yet again. A special European night again at Old Trafford. Bruno Fernandes into Casamiro,

Casamiro with the daintiest of touches round the corner, into Kobimelu, first touch is great, second touch even better. Birdtouch curls it with the inside of his foot into the inside of the left-hand post, and United have still got five minutes. Manchester United, who needed two goals and have scored in stoppages. This is Barcelona 99 stuff here. Kobi Menuh has come up with a goal that is going to enter the Manchester United annals. A late, late equaliser for 6-6, and still it's not over.

Five minutes of stoppage, Harry McClary! Oh my word! Harry McClary is header! Makes his 7-6 to Manchester United! Oh my God! They trip into the crowd of celebration, and it's just like York and Solskjaer all those years ago. Two goals in savages to turn it around.

The ten men of Lyon can't believe what's hit them. Somehow Manchester United have hit them. Seven, six. I'm never tired of listening to it. It's that thing though Connor, isn't it, where you're trying to describe absolutely everything that is going on around you. So you've got to keep a presence of mind about you. But you're obviously as excited as everyone else around you because you can't quite believe what you're witnessing and you have to keep track of the score and what it means and it could be penalties and the history of Manchester United. There's a heck of a lot to think about that.

There's an awful lot going on. And I think, you know, I'm delighted that the reaction to this, it's all been so positive and stuff, which is brilliant. And of course, we always think, oh, the certain things you might have said differently or kind of like, why did I say that? I think even just listen back to it now. Something that's occurred to me is that in the description of Covey Maynard School, Paul Robinson is very technical.

He's describing all the detail that quite frankly, you know, also commentators would normally describe. And he does it brilliantly. But I think because he's done that, it's almost like that's taken care of now. And in my head, I'm thinking it's more the emotion, the feeling of the stadium, which wouldn't always be my number one priority.

Normally I'd be thinking, I've got to go through that technical stuff. But because he's done it, I've kind of switched a bit more into that mode, which I think ultimately then creates the... And at the end of the day, I think that's what people like about this, is it's that kind of limbs in the terraces

kind of emotion that comes across. But all these come to mind, so obviously I'm thinking late goals, coming from two goals down to equalize late on, I'm thinking of Barcelona in 99. And so many things are subliminally coming to, because people, you know, and I'm sure this has been discussed in the pod before,

as commentators, people always say, oh, have you prepared the lines? Did you think about this beforehand? I mean, you know, you couldn't have assumed a scenario where Manchester United against Lyon was going to be these two goals for Biden. So so in real time, while I'm talking, it's all coming back to me about 99. And I'm thinking of different things. And when the goal, the Harry Maguire goal goes in, I'm thinking of the celebrations

in 99. And we've obviously all seen the goals and the corners from Beckham. And, you know, that's all. But I thought, like like what happened immediately afterwards? And I remember the TV pictures of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer running over to the crowd. I remember Dwight York came over and put his arms around him. And that's the kind of what I'm trying to get into that, you know, that the celebration mode of it. And I definitely then, what I'm thinking of that, and this is definitely not intentional.

I'll be totally honest, it's not intentional because it was only afterwards I realized it, but I stole the sort of analogy that Alan Green did in that 99 commentary about. He said, Bayern Munich don't know what's hit them. Manchester has hit them. Now, I didn't mean that at the time. I wasn't like, I'm going to honor a greedy hero. I'm going to say, but it's funny that because my head was thinking back

in the archive of what I remember at that time, that that's obviously subliminally, but then I do feel it perfectly matched the moment. So, I mean, it's total chaos chaos and and yeah I'm totally embarrassed with the squeal and the voice from the Harry Maguire because as comedians we don't really want to to reach that but I remember you did out the the famous dormant Liverpool game a few years ago a quite similar squeak in the voice happened and it's just the emotion of it which which even though we might cringe a little bit the public seemed to love. I think it's very easy to look back and to nitpick,

but at the time you are swept along with the emotion and the excitement, which you capture absolutely perfectly inside the stadium. And I think, you know, John mentioned tiny one of the engineers, again, the other thing there that strikes me is the noise that our OB engineers are able to mix your voice with the noise from inside Old Trafford perfectly and you know that will be a commentary that will be played time and time and time and time again

and also when you said I sent you the viral yesterday you said your phone has exploded with notifications that will explain why you never replied to my viral yesterday. Here we go, here we go. But also in all seriousness I spoke to Robbo yesterday and Robbo said exactly the same. Well we were having a phone conversation but he said that his phone has just been going nuts because people have been listening to you know either the commentary or the virals that have obviously since happened. So fair play to you. And incidentally having given Tanya our engineer the credit last week, was it Liam?

It was Liam. I was just I was waiting for Taylor to say that because at the end of the game, so Liam, our engineer, was right beside me and we're quite penned in, as you know, in Old Trafford. So we were literally elbow to elbow through all of that. And he was having to, I think the right word is ride the faders. Is that the correct description? But there was a lot of faders being right, which it's not a case of just, oh yeah, give me a count to ten there Conor, I will leave it set. He's constantly all the way trying to, and because obviously at the end I'm speaking very loudly there, that would become distorted over a microphone if he didn't pull the microphone down a little bit.

But I guess by doing that then it allows more of the crowd noise to come through. But yeah, there is no doubt that a huge, huge reason why people have connected with that piece of commentary so much is because the atmosphere of all you know if that was me in a room on my own it wouldn't have had the effect it was obviously the atmosphere of the whole stadium and that's where I think radio commentary is so beautiful because the timing so your timing and you're just describing what you're seeing Connor but I always remember Rob Northburn who helps a lot of us with our sort of commentary and how to do it and certainly when you're starting out about that sort of trying

to hit the goal when the crowd see the goal so you get your voice and the noise at the same time and and that is those two goals there the the the Kobe Mayday and the Maguire it happens just like that so your McGuire is your voices at breaking point just as the whole stadium again goes goes completely nuts. I remember speaking years ago of a difficult with on air with Kelly Cates and we were talking about this and and she came up this expression I think if I ever write a book this might be the title of it she said it's the pause before the roar and it's exactly because people they'd be chanting and singing whatever put a ball into penalty area people kind of pause

freeze and then there's the release of the roar and if you and your commentary can in that tiny pause if you could say you know copy me and whoever it is and then the roar that that's that that's always the sweet spot I think so they the pause before the roar I'd say one of the best examples of that is actually England's fourth goal in the World Cup final in 1966 where Kenneth Walton-Holmes says they think it's all over and the crowd go, it is now. But you can use it as well John it's harder to do it in football isn't it but we sometimes do it in golf where you know that if a putt's gonna drop the crowd are gonna go nuts and you can basically say to the listeners the

crowd will tell you here what's going to happen and then you don't have to speak do you and it tells the story in a different way and it's a great way to sort of use the natural surroundings. In terms of it going viral as well Conor, I mean we must so a couple of our listeners have got in touch we've obviously seen this clip that Ian is talking about and this is quite a popular thing nowadays so so Ben in London and rich in Taunton Have seen this this clip on social media. They're called the ship mates these guys There are a couple of Australians and they're basically pretending to be you and Paul Sitting in the commentary position. They have learned your you know, your script your words word for word

and then the camera is totally on them as if they are you watching the game and they mimic exactly... It's lip-syncing isn't it? Lip-syncing, that's what it is, lip-syncing, lip-syncing. But it's done, it's... I mean I wonder how many takes it took but you've got to go and find it if you can because it's done so brilliantly because I mean the guy who plays you with his crazy eyes as it's getting madder and madder and then the fellow who's playing Paul Robinson in the flat cap, the body language is so good with it as well as the lip syncing. Yeah, it's the eyes. My understanding is that I'm not young and trendy anymore,

but I think this lip sync is quite popular across TikTok and stuff, and people singing songs. But when they put it in the commentary, obviously people are looking at their lips and, is that in sync? But you're right. These Shet Mates guys, the genius of it is the look in the eyes. And there's almost a wild look in the eyes as they come to. Just to show that there's a guy from Nigeria, a young noble commentaries is his tag. And he puts stuff up all the time. I'm sure he's done commentaries of all of us over the years. But again, so clever how he does it. He's kind of got guys holding hammers as the microphone and wrenches.

And he's got like a toilet roll sometimes as the headphones. But again, just just I just I marvel at it. The time that must go into it. And as you said, how many takes does it take? And how annoyed would you be if you got nearly towards the end and then you made a mistake and you've got to go back to the start? But look, what it does is it breathes new life into the event.

So obviously there was loads of people listening on the night, it's a big, big game. Manchester United are a hugely supported club. So I'm sure Five Live and BBC Sounds would have had a big audience that night anyway. But what's brilliant about these little quirky videos and people having fun with it is it breathes new life into it in terms of a whole new, new cycle.

It goes the next day or in the case of Shetmates the next week but also to a new audience so there's you know there's a huge TikTok audience which as as much as we we do our best to attract the the TikTok audience that you know some of those who would not be regular Five Live listeners around the world will get to see that and who knows maybe they'll realize that that that radio commentary might be quite fun and something that they can take a part in as their lives continue and and not just be watching the pictures. We don't want to make you late for your tea time obviously more golf to be played today. Your next game is never gonna live up

to that. What's your next game? What's your next commentary? So I'm my next game from now is I'm doing Chelsea Everton tea time on Saturday but But no, but that said, I'm trying to think what did I do last weekend? No, but your next match after that was last Saturday. After that, that's what I was going to say, was West Ham and Southampton. And to be fair, what's funny is it actually did... Because I saw you the next day. It did have a very good finish. Ugu Chukwu's goal was in Sapahtia to equalise, so there

was a bit of a bug. But I must say for 90 minutes, that game was so drab and so flat. I was like, this is like doing a different sports. Was it after the Lord May Show? Exactly. Exactly. But that's look, guys, that's what makes it special. And you know, you can't do it every week. And even as a colleague of ours said to me, you know, because I was going to cringe about the Harry McGuire squeal.

And he said, no, no, you get away with this, you know, that big boy. We said, you can't do it for your next game that you're who I couldn't go I think that that little fat would wear off very quickly I don't think I'll be getting quite the appreciation is that the best game you've done in your commentary career I mean it I'm definitely gonna have to reassess the whole thing I used to always say that the Zidane game the 2006 World Cup, where it was France-Brazil and that was just the best individual for it. And I remember

throughout that game really enjoying the fact that I was there and how appreciative, my God, I get to be here, you know, sitting on the halfway line, commentating on Zidane doing nutmegs on Roberto Carlos and stuff. I mean, insane. But that's it. In terms of the swing, you know, we've all done late finishes and comebacks and stuff, but Manchester United, who were 2-0 up, then they went 2-0 down against 10 men, then they come back to win it. The more I think about it, that's going to be hard to beat, is that that really was, you know, there's no having to hype that up. That was genuine excitement. Just a quick note for the

diary as well, Chelsea Everton is 12.30 I think on Saturday, Conor, you said tee time, so don't be late. Well, there you go. It's your fault, Ali. You're putting this so early in the morning. Don't have a cat. Do you still have a chance as behind the scenes? I still every day that I ever go to work, I go and it's always the BBC sport website that morning.

I'm still in bed, turn my phone on and I look what time is the kickoff here? Have I have I definitely got this right? I mean, I always I can never happen, but I always say, say I'm doing West Ham Southampton I think have I got this wrong am I supposed to be in Southampton like I owe every single time I look at it yeah no fine I'm in the right city good a colleague of ours who shall remain nameless this season overlook he was covering a championship match that was kicking off at 1230 and thought it was three o'clock

it was only that morning and he got there in the nick of time. We won't mention who he is. No, no. I'd love to mention it. Just one thing before I go I would say ahead of the ahead of Sunday and I was speaking to someone else this week it was talking about great lines of commentary and they mentioned the last time Liverpool won the title which obviously was behind closed doors and they reminded me of John's really good line, which I believe John was kind of a play on the John Lennon Imagine lyrics, because obviously Anfield was empty. And did you say a line something along the lines of, you said, imagine all the

people who would be there. But I think it's amazing that on Sunday the people will be there. We won't have to imagine it. But I think just for the commentary nerds listening in I thought that was that was an apt moment to remind everyone of that line that was brilliant on a similar theme the last match that I commentated on at Liverpool which was the West Ham match it was me and Paul Robinson and I always quite like the idea when you've got John and Paul commentating on Liverpool yeah that's

that's I always enjoyed Pat Nevin and Robin Cowan together because you had Pat man and Robin. Yeah, could be could be one for the listeners that actually. Yeah, they could think of any other combination. Yeah, to see BBC dot co dot UK and let me just find the what do you call it? Don't know that the number thingy The the whatsapp voice notes 800289 369 Connor will let you go. Yeah, thanks so much guys. I look forward to listen to the episode You're gonna be on this podcast again before the end of the season. I know it. So hope so look forward to thanks a million guys

All the best. See you soon. Cheers Connor. There's linking to our conversation with Connor. Richard in Dublin gets in touch on TCV at bbc.co.uk. As I returned from Madrid after watching Arsenal win in the Bernabeu, so Denner you were there, I would like to ask the commentators a question. The noise in the atmosphere in the stadium on Wednesday night was electric, especially with the roof closed. Is there a stadium or an event that stands out as a night that you'll never forget for an atmosphere that made the hairs on your neck stand up? That's from Richard. The one that comes to mind for me was that incredible second leg of the Champions League semi-final in Amsterdam, which was the Ajax-Tottenham match, which was madness, absolute madness.

And I suspect Ian will say... 24 hours earlier at Anfield Liverpool Barcelona I don't think it's a it's a night I'll ever forget. On a similar theme this made me laugh do you see the email that we've had again from Phil who calls himself Phil and Hov Albian from Shorham by sea who was in touch last week Ian He says without doubt the rice rice baby commentary was the greatest piece of sports commentary ever But this week he's changed his mind Ian and he's fickle And he says his new favorite piece of sports commentary ever was Connor and Harry Maguire, so I'd say yep, consigned to history that.

Yeah, gone, gone, gone. He's got him. Let's get on to the commentaries this weekend and the incredible football we've got to offer. So I mean you've got a really busy weekend now Ian because Saturday 3 o'clock. Not just Ian. And you John. Yeah but you're staying put though John, you're just staying at Wembley and you're there for the weekend. I've got to travel up and down the north. Yeah, no. To be fair to John, you've got two FA Cup semi-finals which are fairly important footballing events, I'll give you that. So Ian's at Newcastle Ipswich, so that's three o'clock Saturday. Ipswich are practically down but obviously the race for Champions League qualification top five is on the line there and then Liverpool Tottenham in you'll be there with with Pat Man, Pat Nevin, Sunday 430. You know what Connor was saying about you know you can't write the lines but the prep you're gonna do ahead of an occasion like Liverpool Tottenham. There is a balance there, not that you're gonna prepare something but you've got to be prepared for what could unfold in front of you

haven't you so you've got to have some thoughts basically yeah I remember once doing Arsenal against 20 Enschede and they were playing in Arnhem and so Steve McLaren was the manager of 20 Enschede at the time and it was a European Champions League qualifier and I can't remember the journalist in front of me but he had three intros for an Arsenal win, a draw and a defeat so again you do go into it with a preconceived idea of what the narrative is going to be and obviously you'll go to Anfield on Sunday knowing that

Liverpool will win the title you know they're gonna get the point it would be a major upset if they didn't get the point required at the weekend so there will be an element of thinking okay well I'll be saying this I'll be saying that but at the same time if something happens and you get swept along with the emotion I mean I agree with with Connor like that the rice rice baby I didn't know I was going to say Rice Rice Baby when he hit that free kick. Who would know that he would score two scorching direct free kicks? Connor isn't going to go to Old Trafford thinking Manchester United in that scenario are going to produce the level of combat that they did. So yeah, there will be something in your consciousness that you might be thinking that you're gonna you're gonna say and

John just talking about the potential of Liverpool winning the title with a home game in front of their own fans you actually just reminded me before we start recording this pod that not only were you sitting at Stamford Bridge in 2016 when Chelsea's win over Tottenham gave less to the title but in 2020 when Liverpool won the title it was similar to that wasn't it they'd already won it before they played a game at Anfield even though it was an empty Anfield. Yes that's right so the only time that they've won the title in 35 years was when without kicking a ball behind closed doors so that's why I think that probably Arna Slott

and the team would actually rather have got it done in whatever way. But I think the supporters and particularly the supporters who are going to be inside Anfield were probably gleeful at the prospect of it not being done at the Emirates, which means that they will get a chance to witness it although I suspect Ange Postocoglu's team talk will be done for him already along the lines of nobody thinks that we're going to get anything at Anfield and they're going to clinch the title so

The key word is for that Ali you've just got to imagine I'm going to be stuck because I'm doing Bournemouth Manchester United on Sunday at 2 o'clock. So then I get in the car and I've got my choice of listening. Do I listen to Ian at Anfield for Liverpool Tottenham or do I listen to John at Wembley for Nottingham Forest against Manchester City? And John I mean it's like choosing between your favourite children isn't it? You might be able to get the best of both worlds because Manchester City Nottingham Forest might go to extra time. That's true. Talk to me about your weekend then John so Saturday 5.15 this one is on 5 Live Palace Villa Sunday 4.30 on Sports Extra Nottingham Forest against

Manchester City. The FA Cup's been brilliant this season that those those are two cracking semi-finals I think. Yes I think there's so much that you can pick out of any of them. I suspect I know who the neutrals will not want to win because of the the stories that surround Crystal Palace, Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest but I think Manchester City, they've just very quietly put together a little run here. And I would still have them down as the overwhelming favorites there.

So I've actually got, I've got quite a stretch in London at the moment because I'm gonna be at the Emirates on Tuesday as well. And there's all the buildup to that on Monday. So I'm going to the Emirates for all of the talking before the match so so there's that as well so I'm in situ for quite a while at the moment. Manchester City I mean you saw them on Saturday against Everton I listened to you and Chris Sutton and that was a fairly sort of late I mean

they're putting the wins here they're not playing amazingly well though. No they're not, they lacked effluency against Everton and indeed only when they went one nil up did all of a sudden the confidence start to return to their play. But when it comes to the FA Cup, you know their experience at Wembley, if they were a horse race you'd say they've got the course and distance. And I think, I know where John's coming from in terms of the other three teams, I think from a neutral's point of view, they might be thinking, let's hope it's two of the other three that reached the final, but they will loom ominously.

I think Manchester City going into that semi-final, but what a, what a three games that you've got though, John, particularly that one on Tuesday will have commentary on five live Arsenal against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League That'll be a cracker Yeah And I think part of the reason why Mikhail Arteta went down and spoke to him after the match last night and he was quite Niggled and I think part of that was that Crystal Palace at the Emirates were were very effective against Arsenal who looked

Susceptible on the counter-attack and I think that there's one team you do not want to be susceptible on the counter attack against that's Paris Saint-Germain Crystal Palace John have never won the FA Cup Aston Villa it sticks in my mind I heard you say it the other day haven't won it since 1957 and Nottingham Forest 1959 Wow and last in the final was that the Gaza Final Forest last FA Cup final yeah Brian Clough and Terry Venebles walking out holding hands remember that yes that's right yeah yeah what a memory that is right so that's the football to come this weekend Newcastle Ipswich at 3 on Saturday on 5 live then John Murray and Dion Dublin with that first FA Cup semi-final 515

Crystal Palace against Villa I'm at Bournemouth on Sunday, 2 o'clock for Bournemouth Manchester United. On Sports Extra at 2, we've got Chelsea Barcelona, second leg of the Women's Champions League semi-final with Barcelona 4-1 up going into that second leg. That's on Sports Extra. And then as we've been saying, exclusive national radio commentary at amfield sunday four thirty ian dennis and pat nevin for liverpool toton and liverpool need a point for the title and john at wembley at the same time four thirty nottingham forest against manchester city

with clinton morrison john and clinton is one of my favorite commentary partnerships as well as well and and let me just say to the kids who are listening, be like the Shep mate, listen to the radio football commentary. of the EFL from five live sports. As we'll get stuck into the latest from the Football League and beyond. We're punching well above our weight already. We're a part-time team in a full-time league. Hopefully we can stay in the league and that ASDA. We're in a great position at the moment and long may that continue.

That's 72 Plus, the EFL podcast only on the Football Daily. Listen on BBC Sounds. Welcome to The Inside Track with me, Rick Edwards. This is the podcast that takes you inside Formula One and Red Bull Racing like never before. And I'm Matt Magindy and thanks to my exclusive access I'll be getting up close and personal with the Red Bull Racing team this season. This week we're focusing on that five second penalty for Max Verstappen. I don't see any world in which you could say that, oh no, that was fine. And we're getting very excited about a sit-down interview with the big dog team principal,

Christian Horner. Experience Formula One like never before by tuning into the Inside Track wherever you get your podcasts. The Commentators' View with Alistair Bruce Ball, John Murray and Ian Dennis on the Football Daily. Clash of the commentators, I don't think there's ever a danger of this going viral. Dan in Long Eaton gets in touch just before our game this week, just in case the not Cantonese are... oh God, controversy is continuing into a third week. This is my viewpoint, in cases such as this to get a ruling you follow the precedent. So in radio quiz terms I think you have to

follow the ruling of the UK's number one radio quiz popmaster in that you have to take the first answer. So if you had a question of which British girl band had a hit with Hole Again and the contestant said, I know this, it's not the Spice Girls Ken Bruce would have to take the answer of Spice Girls even if the contestant preceded the answer with it's not that's Atomic Kitten isn't it by the way I just wanted to test myself on the question just to get that one. Yeah it is. Well that's a big issue with that with Dan.

I think you and you and you. And isn't 10 to the top the leading radio quiz program these days so he's got that wrong with that with Dan I think you and you the top the leading radio and John quiz program these days so he's got that wrong and and also Dan I'm sorry you're wrong I'm not cancer no you're just you're just wrong just wrong right I beat John on an Arsenal themed clash of the commentators last week John you're due a rest apparently you're taking on the quiz master duties today yeah and it's with a spring in my step that I'm able to say that it's time for Clash of the Commentators because I'm not in it this week. So the current leaderboard Ali top of the table with seven points from nine that's a very good record that Ali

particularly after you made quite a rocky start. Ian's got four from nine and just behind, in a just a minute style reading of the leaderboard and just behind Ian, it's me. So this week it is Ali against Ian. This is, I like this question this week. And I actually, I actually I wish I was doing this one because I think I might I might might actually have won this. Not in your current form you wouldn't. Well it's a different sort of question and I think it's

it might have suited me more so who is going to go first this week? I'll take first ball I'm gonna open up I'll take first ball I'll go first. Okay so we're gonna disconnect Ian and because I'm gonna open up. I'll take first ball. I'll go first. Okay, so we're gonna Disconnect Ian and because I'm in broadcasting house Ian. I can't you can see me but I can't yeah He's unplugged. He is the last time I took first ball John literally was was batting with you at Shrewsbury And it didn't go well, did it? Ignominious For you right we are ready to go I think he is unplugged is he yes

Yeah, okay right now listen carefully listen carefully sleep. I shall say this well I will not say this only once I will say more than once but to you Ali. I will say the only ones Leeds and Burnley this week sealed promotion to the Premier League sealed promotion to the Premier League, which you can hear more about on the Monday night club and the 72 plus the EFL podcast episodes of the football daily right now on BBC sounds on the football daily feed. But Ali relating to Leeds and Burnley,

I want you to name as many teams in the top four tiers of English football, the 92 clubs, to play in white or in claret as the body of their home strip, their home kits. We've got a list of 16 possible answers and your time starts now! Leeds, Tottenham, West Ham, Villa, Burnley... Err, White. Who's playing in White? Port Vale, Swansea... Err, who else is in Clarence and Blue?

God, who am I? I can't think of them. I'm not going to get any more here. No. Good start. You've got quite a few there. I think this could be quite close in terms of a playoff. Yeah, I'm annoyed with that. Yeah, I... anyway. There's ones I'm reaching for and I'm still not... I'm still not... I'm still not going. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, okay. Okay, right, let's bring back the other contestant. I think he'll be good at this.

So, as I said to Ali, this is an interesting one. Ian, Leeds and Burnley this week sealed promotion to the Premier League. But the question here is, I want you to name as many teams in the top four tiers of English football, so the 92 clubs, to play in white or in claret as the body of their home strip, their home kit, white or claret.

There are 16 possible answers, your time starts now. Well Leeds United, Burnley, West Ham, Bradford City, Port Vale, claret or white? Any white. White or claret? Well Sheffield Wednesday, they've got white. Home and away? Home. Oh hell. I wasn't paying attention, I was distracted. Well I did tell you to pay attention.

He's not getting Sheffield Wednesday by the way. Bradford, Sheffield Wednesday did you say? I was just thinking white and blue. I was just thinking, I wasn't paying attention. Yeah, I think Ali's gonna win that. Bradford City don't count either. Well they do, Claret and Amber. Name has been changed to play in white or in claret

as the body of their home strip. And if you're including Burnley West Ham, then that is a disgrace if you're not including Bradford City because Bradford City are claret and amber. Claret and amber, so the... That is a fact. Playing white or in claret as the body of their home strip. Yeah. That is a fact. Bradford City playing claret and amber. So if you're having Burn Burnley it's Claret and Sky Blue and West Ham. I mean I should have said Aston Villa, didn't I say Villa? Well I'm sorry to say that even if Bradford City were on the list. Well I don't care whether I lose or not but if you're not having Bradford City then that is a serious issue. Well all I'm saying is if Bradford City were on the list you'd still have lost. But they should be on the list. Well if they were on the list you'd still have lost but they should be on the list

Well, if they were on the list, you'd still have lost I know then I was going to go quite soon John and we've got to do a bit of glossary before then I goes I'll just rattle through can you just route through the teams that are on the list? Congratulations, Ali you won 7-4 which could have been 7-5 if Bradford City had been on the list The other teams that are on the list Aston Villa Barrow Barrow, Bolton, Bromley, Burnley, Derby, Fulham, Leeds, MK Dons, Northampton, Portvale, Preston, the Lily White, Swansea, Tottenham, Tranmere and West Ham.

I wasn't paying attention. Fulham and Derby, come on. It's like being back at school, you know this. This just brings me back to back. I just don't So that's now Ian four from ten And me three from ten and Ali eight from ten Yeah I mean my my ratio in this competition is far better than the golden Mike on goals per game because I'm

Trailing badly in that one. So which one I'd rather be ahead of him I'm more worried about who put that quiz together if they haven't got Bradford City in there. But still. There's gonna be ramifications. What goes round comes round. Yeah, the WhatsApp group is gonna light up I think after the pod is finished at 9 o'clock. Ian, let's do a quick bit of glossary with you and I'm guessing John, Ian's got a dash, you and I could just finish it off and put a little bow on top at the end of the end of the pod this week so great glossary of football commentary time we debate and discuss some of this week's

listener suggestions of football specific commentary terms and phrases to add to our collection last week we had Neil's suggestion of top top to describe a good player a top top player and John wanted that to be a top top top to describe a good player, a top top player and John wanted that to be a top top top player and we put that out to our listeners. I had an amusing conversation with Matt Upson during commentary of Ipswich Arsenal on Sunday about top top. Mike in Sevenoaks writes in, I was delighted to realise that Arna slot is clearly a fan of TCV and more importantly campaigning for quadruple top in the great glossary of football commentary. This was the sky sports in reference to Trent Alexander Arnold after his goal against Leicester. Today he knows when it matters most he

can just bring a bit more and I think that is something only the top top top top players have and yeah he has that definitely. Well, that's gotta be in then. I mean, if TopTopTop gets in, TopTopTopTop definitely gets in. He also says, Mike in Seven Oaks, he says, keep up the good work. You'll be delighted to know that TCB has replaced Hare Chapman's MNF

as my go-to dog walk companion. I think he means MNC, surely. Yes, he does. Yes, he does. Yeah, oh, Hare Chapman. Yeah, that's the best news of the week, that is. Companion, I think he means MNC surely. Yes. Yes. Yes Chapman Yeah, yeah Slight I'll just read out the other one. We've had Damien from North Finchley. Hi TCV I have gone back and forth on this as originally I thought you've just played clips of two managers saying top top Then I realized you guys don't say it and that is the test it is

not a commentators term so it is an out for me that's now that morphed into Dragon's Den that's a really interesting point though because are we talking about the lexicon of football the game and everyone who uses the words or are we talking about the commentators that is a really good point well it is the glossary of football commentary yeah and actually I don't know about you two but I've had quite a number of listeners who say that we need to be more stringent more yeah and saying that you should and I was talking I was in communication with Helen who's the editor of final score on BBC one and she was another one who was saying you

should reject more of these. Ian, I know you've got to go, if we do that and get more stringent your book's never going to get off the ground so I don't think we'll be doing that will we? Oh he's gone, he's gone already, he's gone. Gone, gone. And what also made me chuckle last week I was at Leicester on Sunday for the match against Liverpool and when I looked to my right I actually saw the Leicester chairman who of course is top. top Julianne LeRond said top

top on Sunday people use it as it has become it has become so that's so so we're saying without Ian here we're saying that's not getting in John we're saying that's not getting in it's not not getting in not not not not getting in yes so more stringent okay so our glossary terms have to be football specific We know that for that reason we didn't allow the suggestion of Daisy cutter from Cameron in Newport To which Tim writes in listening to the pod I'm shocked that Daisy cut has not been included although the term Daisy cutter may have crossed over to cricket the correct term for a ball staying on the ground from the

Bowler is a p roller and you wouldn't use Daisy cutter for a shot all along the ground. Daisy Cutter should definitely be in the great glossary of football commentary. Nick gets in touch John, forward email Daisy Cutter also baseball. I wasn't aware of that. And also Ian on the email tcv at bbc.co.uk says sorry but no this is not football specific as Daisy cutter has also been used in cricket it is all terminology true and it's not been heard for a long time but it's not football only and as for the four tops no this cannot be adopted that was that was your gag last week wasn't it right we're gonna hear a bit of you now, John. Was it? Yeah, cool. I should have known that.

Recently, we added Church Stretton Dan. Is that how he's known? Church Stretton Dan. CSD. Church Stretton Dan's suggestion of struck with venom into our great glossary. John put this to good use in the Villa Newcastle match. Villa. That's just the start they would have wanted. And here is Olly Watkins now getting the ball down to the edge of the area. He goes left foot shot, hits the crossbar and bounces away. Hit with Venom by Olly Watkins left foot.

Have you seen, very good. Have you seen Steve's email about this, John? Go on. OK, so he says there was discussion on a recent episode about whether you could accept struck with real venom as part of the great glossary. I would say it has to be discounted as it's something that's regularly said as part of snooker commentary most especially when a ball is potted with great force slamming into the back of the pocket. Well I suppose that's that's true isn't it and it's a bit like the Shep Mates, isn't it? But what we're doing here is almost media eats itself

because we do this glossary, discuss these terms and then the next thing that happens is we use them because we've just been talking about them. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I heard the, just talking to Snooker, that that great, and it's only one word, but one of my favorite bits of commentary ever, the Ted Lowe the black ball final in

85 yeah Taylor against Davis where Davis misses that cut to the bottom corner doesn't he and there's just a breathy no No It's so good. It's all you need. And actually, talking about pieces of commentary, as we were discussing with Conor earlier, I do love the, oh my God, which you'd never ever, you know, that is absolutely last resort break glass phrase to use which and and that made me think of do you remember Harry Carpenter commentating on Muhammad Ali winning back the world title for the third time and Harry Carpenter gives it the oh my god he's won the title back at the age of 32 I think it was. Let's quickly get on to some new terms for us we love the international ones here comes an email from Jakub from Warsaw in Poland hello TCV crew

I'd like to add a few Polish a few Polish phrases to the great glossary you're building. First of all we do also say that a shot into the top corner is tearing the spider web like someone from Bulgaria brought up a few weeks ago yet the most common one is into the little window in Polish that looks like Wachienko or simply into the window Wachno I guess it originated from the window frame which is reflected by the post crossbar joint and that's from Jakub not not the Jakub I saw score a towering head header for Arsenal last night, Kivior, and Stuart, Bristol City fan from Bridgewater says, just preparing for my trip to watch the mighty Bristol City in the championship when I referred to their playoff hopes and the chance to cement

their position in the fifth place made me wonder if this was a potential entry in the great glossary of football commentary As I can't find another example of when you would use this besides when actually cementing something like a wall Just a thought great show like this comment as well from Stuart great show much better than I expected Stuart has cemented himself in our affections there. I've got another one for you. You know, last week I mentioned the dreaded trap door. Oh yeah. The dreaded relegation trap door. Yeah.

A friend of mine, whose a Leeds United supporter, has been quite vocal about for quite a long time about how he does not enjoy anything concerned with the Premier League. So this is my friend James, who loves Leeds being in the championship because it's competitive etc etc. So I said to him this week have you have you gone up through the dreaded trap door in the loft? The loft hatch. The dreaded loft hatch. Very good. I think on cement their

position my issue with that is gonna be in other sports teams and people will cement their position you know you know you're consolidating a lead aren't you you I could use that in golf Rory McIlroy has cemented his position at the top of the leaderboard yeah I think so and I think in response to those who want us to be more stringent I think we have to say no what about a voice note from John in Bangor in Northern Ireland? A very happy Leeds fan. I suggest that the glossary, we should have relegation six pointer.

I don't think it's used that often for anything else except for football. Yes, I don't have to worry about it just at the moment, but I have a funny feeling, unfortunately we may hear it in our context next season. But one I would like you to have a think about in your glossary, please gentlemen, relegation six pointer. What do you think, John? Relegation six pointer, I'm surprised that's not in there already, aren't you? Yeah, yeah.

And I think I can't think of it in other sports. And if you used it in other sports I mean not all sports play three points for a week Actually would have to be a sport with three points for a win it points for a win But also I think you'd almost use it knowingly with reference to football So if there was another sport you you might describe it as a relegation six-pointer But knowing that had come from football because that's where it yeah, I've ever let's have that. Shall we let's have that and here's And here's another one.

And this is from Villa Fan David. Seeing as it's FA Cup semi-final weekend, I would like to suggest a phrase that we used in the first FA Cup semi-final I watched. It's from 1991 and the phrase used by Barry Davis to describe Gazza's free kick.

Is Gazza going to have a crack? He is, you know. Oh, he's there! Brilliant! to describe Gazza's free kick. Vintage Barry Davis. And that actually brings us round very nicely because that's Nottingham Forest mmm playing in oh that there was the year that forest played in the cup fun of that's in the semi-final isn't it this this might be real pedantry here I always thought it was boys own stuff boys own stuff yeah boys own is boys own was it a publication boys own or is it just a phrase I think the boys own comic magazine boys on yeah I think it was

actually you're right yeah but it is quite that would that would definitely go yes that would definitely go I think in me in the great glossary from one of the great football commentators yeah right John time to go so possibly oh I say as well come on you got not in football no you're gonna you're gonna have that yeah but it's about that's very Barry Davis isn't't it? Oh, I say yeah So a glossary this week top top or top top top or top top top top looks like it's not making it now because commentators Wouldn't use it. Yes, Daisy cutter. We said no last week that has been confirmed our listeners back us on that

Struck with venom now, you know is it the crucible in? Yeah, so struck with venom if we're gonna it the crucible in the in so struck with venom if we're gonna get more stringent can't make it either cement their position doesn't make it but relegation six-pointer and school boys own stuff or boys own stuff does yes I'm happy with that okay good unless you think otherwise well we exactly get. Get in touch, tcv at bbc.co.uk and those WhatsApp voice notes to 08289369. So from here, John, this is Thursday morning, you're sitting in Broadcasting House in London. Where do you go?

So as you said, you're in London, aren't you? Well, I don't go very far. No, I stay here for around most of the next week. Are you going to have time to do anything other than prepare for football and go to football countries will you be able to enjoy anything in London today or tomorrow perhaps believe it or not there we go I'm going to play bowls this afternoon I hope I hope hair Chapman this is gonna be a real test of hair Chapman and

whether he listens because if he listens all the way through that for him will be pure gold so crown green bowling how's that come about too long to explain but let's just say I'll report back on it next week lovely enjoy that John, really looking forward to listening to the FA Cup semi-final. So John is at Wembley Saturday and Sunday, just to repeat again, Saturday 5.15 Villa Palace on 5 Live, Sunday 4.30 Nottingham Forest against Manchester City is on SportsXtra because we have exclusive national radio commentary of Liverpool Tottenham in the Premier League Sunday at half for Liverpool

needing a point to win their 20th top flight title. The next episode of the Football Daily will be a special episode titled that season when Jose Mourinho and Chelsea became the special club. The special one, I wonder whether that gets in the glossary. That is very football, isn't it? Anyway, remember you can catch every single episode of The Commentator's View on the Football Daily Feed on BBC Sounds. Thank you as always for listening. Very good.

I think you would have won Clash of the Commentators today, John. Yeah, I do. Fulham and Derby annoyed me. Yeah, I did. Bolton as well. Bol Commentators today, John. Yeah, I do. Fulham and Derby annoyed me. Yeah, that indeed. Bolton as well. Bolton. That's funny.

Yeah. Good category. Good category. Yeah, it was a good category. Then I was just in a grump because he lost. Yeah. Yeah, yeah. Absolutely.

It's the scandal that rocked Rugby Union to its core. The so-called Bloodgate scandal. Tom Williams now receiving attention. It seems so clear that this wasn't real blood. It's out and out cheating. This is a story of lies and deception, conspiracies and cover-ups. There was terror that it could tear the house down.

Courtroom drama and secret deals. So obviously a lie. And a human cost that changed lives and careers forever. Dean Richards is found guilty and banned for three years. I'm Ross Kemp and this is sports strangers crimes, Bloodgate. Listen on BBC Sounds. Welcome to the Inside Track with me Rick Edwards. This is the podcast that takes you inside Formula One and Red Bull Racing like never before.

And I'm Matt Magindian and thanks to my exclusive access I'll be getting up close and personal with the Red Bull Racing team this season. This week we're focusing on that five second penalty for Max Verstappen. I don't see any world in which you could say that, oh no, that was fine. And we're getting very excited about a sit down interview with the big dog team principal Christian Horner. Experience Formula One like never before by tuning into the Inside Track wherever you get your podcasts.