Football Daily - The Commentators' View: England squad & Producer Gary

Episode Date: March 20, 2026

John Murray & Ian Dennis are joined by producer Gary Flintoff. Also hear from Thomas Tuchel after he names his England squad. Gary gives a behind-the-scenes insight into what a football producer does and dishes the dirt on his most interesting post-match interviews. Plus more unintended pub names and terms for our Great Glossary of Football Commentary. Messages, questions and voicenotes welcome on WhatsApp to 08000 289 369 & emails to [e-mail]03:00 What does a football producer do? 10:45 Gary’s face is his accreditation! 14:05 What’s it like interviewing Premier League managers? 19:55 Who’s the most difficult to interview? 27:30 5 Live commentaries this weekend, 29:05 History already in the League Cup Final, 32:00 Thomas Tuchel names his England squad, 34:15 Thomas Tuchel INTERVIEW, 44:45 Unintended pub names, 51:15 Great Glossary of Football Commentary.5 Live / BBC Sounds commentaries: Sat 1200 Man City v Spurs in WSL on Sports Extra, Sat 1500 Fulham v Burnley, Sat 1730 Everton v Chelsea, Sun 1415 Spurs v Nottingham Forest, Sun 1415 Aston Villa v West Ham on Sports Extra, Sun 1630 League Cup Final - Arsenal v Man City.Great Glossary of Football Commentary: DIVISION ONE Agricultural challenge, Back of the net, Back to square one, Booked, Bosman, Bullet header, Channel of joy, Coupon buster, Cruyff Turn, Cultured/educated left foot, Dead-ball specialist, Draught excluder, Elastico/flip-flap, False nine, Fox in the box, Giving the goalkeeper the eyes, Grub hunter, Head tennis, Hibs it, In a good moment, In behind, Magic of the FA Cup, The Maradona, Off their line, Olimpico, Onion bag, Panenka, Park the bus, Perfect hat-trick, Piledriver, Put his cap on it, Rabona, Roy of the Rovers stuff, Schmeichel-style, Scorpion kick, Spursy, Stick it in the mixer, Sweeper keeper, Target man, Tiki-taka, Towering header, Trivela, Where the kookaburra sleeps, Where the owl sleeps, Where the spiders sleep. DIVISION TWO 2-0 can be a dangerous score, Asterisk, Back on the grass, Ball stays hit, Beaten all ends up, Blaze over the bar, Business end, Came down with snow on it, Catching practice, Camped in the opposition half, Cauldron atmosphere Coat is on a shoogly peg, Come back to haunt them, Corridor of uncertainty, Couldn’t sort their feet out, Easy tap-in, Daisy-cutter, Drubbing, First cab off the rank, Giant-killing, Goalkeepers’ Union, Good leave, Good touch for a big man, Half-turn, Has that in his locker, High wide and not very handsome, Hospital pass, Howler, In the dugout, In the hat, In their pocket, Johnny on the spot, Lackadaisical, Leading the line, Leather a shot, Middle of the park, Needed no second invitation, Nice headache to have, No-look pass, Nutmeg, On their bike, One for the cameras, One for the purists, Played us off the park, Points to the spot, Prawn sandwich brigade, Purple patch, Put their laces through it, Queensbury rules, Reaches for their pocket, Rolls Royce, Root and branch review, Row Z, Screamer, Seats on the plane, Show across the bows, Slide-rule pass, Staving off relegation, Steal a march, Sting the palms, Straight in the bread basket, Stramash, Taking one for the team, Telegraphed that pass, Tired legs, That’s great… (football), Thunderous strike, Turns on a sixpence, Walk it in, We’ve got a cup tie on our hands. UNSORTED After you Claude, All-Premier League affair, Aplomb, Bag/box of tricks, Brace, Brandished, Bread and butter, Breaking the deadlock, Bundled over the line, Champions elect / champions apparent, Clinical finish, Commentator’s curse, Denied by the woodwork, Draught excluder, Elimination line, Fellow countryman, Foot race, Formerly of this parish, Free hit, Goalmouth scramble, Honeymoon Period, In and around, In the shop window, Keeping ball under their spell, Keystone Cops defending, Languishing, Loitering with intent, Marching orders, Nestle in the bottom corner, Numbered derbies, Opposite number, PK for penalty-kick, Postage stamp, Rasping shot, Red wine not white wine, Relegation six-pointer, Rooted at the bottom, Route One, Sending the goalkeeper the wrong way, Shooting boots, Sleeping giants, Slide rule pass, Small matter of, Spiders web, Stayed hit, Steepling,Stonewall penalty, Straight off the training ground, Taking one for the team, Team that likes to play football, Thruppenny bit head / 50p head, Two good feet, Turning into a basketball match, Turning into a cricket score, Usher/Shepherd the ball out of play, Walking a disciplinary tightrope, Wand of a left foot, Wrap foot around it, Your De Bruynes, your Gundogans etc.

The Commentator's View on the Football Daily with Alistair Bruce Ball, John Murray and Ian Dennis. Hello, it's the Football Daily. I'm John Murray, and this is a special edition of the commentator's view, coming to you from Wembley after the England squad announcement, and I am sitting here, unusually, we're all in the same room, with Ian Dennis, regular contributor to the commentator's view. Hello, Ian. Hello, John. And also special guest today, Gary Flintoff, BBC Radio, football producer, BBC Radio England football producer, just two of the many, many roles,

Gary, that you've filled for the BBC over many years. Hello to you both. I mean, we're going to go on to explain exactly what it is that a football producer does. And I imagine that people listening will have their own views on that. And, you know, people will know your voice, Gary from the various postman. match interviews that you do, the occasional reporting that you do, whether it's final score on 5 Live or Radio 4 or the World Service or wherever it happens to be. But in actual fact, your BBC career, you in your own right have commentated on many, many matches, haven't you?

I have, yes. I actually started in radio back in 1996. And I joined the BBC in 2001. I worked first for BBC Radio Lancashire. And then I moved to BBC Radio Merseyside where I had seven great years commentating on both Liverpool and on Everton, including Champions League final, a couple of FA Cup finals,

and they were good times. Raffa Bidietas is in charge of Liverpool and David Moyes, remember him? He was in charge of Everton back in the day. Whatever happened to him? And anybody listening to Gary's voice now, you agree with this John that he's got a stereotypical voice for a commentator would you

think so you think people have said that to you before though haven't they that your voice lends itself to yes to the job that you do yeah you know they have and my face very much lends itself we've all we've all got a face for radio and gary we have had a message from georgie in Cheshire who says please give Gary Flintov his moment in the spotlight. I'd love to hear about his role behind the scenes, both at Solford and at the ground. We've not heard about the day job of engineering, brackets, I think. In actual fact, Georgie, he is the producer. And she continues, and why they are the ones put in the firing line to interview managers at full time. Well, Georgie, now is your chance. I mean, we know very well what you do,

but explain to the wider audience what is it that a football producer does? It's a very good question because it sort of encompasses so many different things and I mean at times it sort of feels like you're working for the United Nations trying to bring everybody together at the right time in the right place

but yeah a lot of negotiation a lot of talking which I'm sure you'll pick up on at some point I remember one game which we were all that which was in Bulgaria in Sofia and I think one of my first conversations with Christo who was the press officer for the Bulgarian National Association it was a lovely fellow by the way but the conversation literally went Christo we have a slight problem with our commentary position and his response was what is the problem and I said we can't see half of the pitch so lots of discussions like

that talking to all this the summarizers or the the the form of with professionals who obviously are a big part of what we do and the engineers so the conduit between our engineering team the people who plug everything in for us and I suppose they lay the foundation to allow the magic to happen yeah one of these days we must get one of the engineers on as well to give their view on things but I always think that you know when we travel as a team you know whether it's in the UK or abroad whether it's a tournament wherever it happens to be really Gary, the producer is the team leader, aren't they? Well, they are.

Nominally, I would say. I suppose it depends who you're working with. If you have a lot of people who are, shall we say, experienced, then I'd like to think it's more of a collective, in all honesty. But I suppose ultimately, as I know Rob Nothman, who is a great colleague of all of ours, has said on many an occasion, we call Rob the radio Yoda, the man that teaches us everything. And the phrase he always uses when it comes to talking about production either in the studio or in the field is when it all goes perfectly and the bosses are raving about the amazing coverage, it's all down to those who are behind the microphone or behind the camera for that matter.

And when it all goes horribly wrong, it's all the producers' fault. Which actually... It's true. It's the nail on the head, doesn't it? Yeah. But listen, I mean, when I talk about being the team leader, really, and I suppose you're talking about when things don't go right, really. And, you know, whether something, whatever it happens to be,

someone's got to call the shots, haven't they? And that, in the end, it has to be the producer, I think. I suppose you do. You sort of have to make the sensible decisions, and you obviously deal with those who are above you as well. the big bosses who obviously aren't on site and you have to answer some questions to them afterwards. And I mean, ultimately, I suppose one of my primary roles

when we are out of the bout is to make sure everyone gets back home safely, which has been a challenge on one or two occasions down the years, but I think we haven't lost anybody yet. And I'm certainly hopeful I'll reach the end of my career and we can still count them all out and count them all back in again. But also for a sort of like a major final, I'm thinking when we were all together in in Berlin. It was you who will decide when John will make his first appearance on the radio.

You know, you'll then tell me, right, John's doing the top of the program. I need you in the ground an hour later. All the various hits that we do for the various outlets throughout the BBC, whether it be the World Service, Radio 2, Radio 1, whatever. All those requests come through you, and then you have to delegate once John's decided what he's going to to me? Yeah, I mean, that's true. I mean, that is true.

You nearly missed that, didn't you? I know, I nearly did. But it was a good line. But yes, I mean, the thing about the BBC is it is absolutely huge. There are so many moving parts to it. And it's, the idea is that instead of you both, if you're both on site, taking phone calls from every single outlet that broadcasts on the BBC, they're meant to come through through me.

And obviously our own production team for Five Live will come through me and they'll have their thoughts. And I will say, well, John could do that, but probably having him up at six in the morning to then commentate at 9 o'clock at night local time isn't the best use of, you know, John as the commentator. So that's when you normally get the shout, Denno. But yeah, I mean, that's a big part of it because we get all sorts of requests. And people want the dulcet tones of John Murray. or the driving tones of Ian Dennis to be their voice of their trails, their voice of their programmes. I mean, I know you've both been asked to do all sorts of various scripts down the years.

It's a very effective one running on BBC Radio at the moment, involving me and Fern Cotton, I think, has gone down very well with everyone who's heard it, from what I hear. You were very much looking forward to doing that, I believe. I've had more stick about that. Have you? Of course I have. What, than singing

New Now Espirito Santa? Yeah, I have. Guess who was the first one on, incidentally? Wouldn't be hair chap, would it? Absolutely hit the target. I haven't seen or heard this trail. I haven't. I saw the script, but I've not actually heard the finished article.

Let's talk about your favourite 90. Favorite 90 minutes? It's so hard to choose, especially as 5 Live Sport has more live Premier League commentaries than anywhere else. I meant your favourite 90s song. Ah, sorry, Fern. Well, if it's the 90s, it's got to be take that. Great choice.

Let's see your dance moves. From football to throwbacks. And everything in between. BBC sounds packed with personality. Anyway, I rudely interrupted you, Gary. No, it's just to say that you sort of bring all the strings together and then hopefully come up with a plan. Because, yeah, I mean, whether it is Radio 1,

I mean, even, you know, six music from time. to time we'll throw in the request radio four obviously we do a lot for them the world service BBC TV it could be the news channel could be the six o'clock news so yeah I'm the person the idea being I think that rather everyone goes to you and annoys you all day although I do though quite other people will do that anyway is they're meant to come through me and we try and filter some of the requests or combine them and just make it a little bit easier so rather than do one in the six hour one the seven now one in the eight hour I go, how about we all do them in half an hour between 7.30 and 8 o'clock?

And it normally works. Not always, but it normally works. What we should say as well is there's a heck of a lot of administration in the role that you play. And fortunately, you love a bit of administration, don't you? Well, you believe I love a bit of administration, or red tape, as some people like to call it. But I have to give a nod to those back at base as well who do the initial applications. but what we often find is what we've requested in a football ground is not always what we find.

And that's when the negotiations, shall I say, have to start in earnest. And some of those are well received and some of them take a little bit of pushing back. But we'd normally get there in the end. Yeah. And Ian, as well, Gary is a master schmoozer, isn't he? And coming from one of the great schmuzers, Gary is almost even better at it than you are.

Well, I wouldn't necessarily say that I was the schmoozer. Oh, I would. Would you? Oh, I hold you up there on a pedestal when it comes to schmoozy. Yeah, I remember one of my first experiences with Gary, and we were working together at Anfield, and the commonplace position was opposite to where we are now. So we were at the top of the Sir Kinnauglish stand,

and you had to get that convoluted way up the ladders. We eventually came down. We were walking around behind the goal from the Anfield Road end, and we were going to go down the tunnel and I said to him I said Gary I said I don't think we can get in this way and he said leave it with me and we didn't have any sort of like accreditation

at that point not on show at least anyway and not that we needed it because we were just greeted with hello Gary and it turns out that his face was his accreditation and we walked down the tunnel and I've never walked down the tunnel at Anfield before so that was no that was

quite I had to always walk the long way around to get into the to the top of the tunnel where we used to do the interviews. So that was quite a thrill to walk down that famous tunnel, you know, and go underneath that this is Anfield sign. Did you touch it? I think I might have done actually, yeah. Well, you had to, didn't you?

Very much so. So, yeah, that was one of my first experiences of working with Garry. But there aren't many UEFA or FIFA, what would we call the match managers that, who look after the running of UEFA and FIFA matches that you don't know Gary Arama. I think it's safe to say I want one or two of them I happen to know I mean we're very fortunate though aren't we

we've got so many of them actually work in the Premier League or work in England and then we see them overseas either at a UEFA or a FIFA event and yeah I just think if you're nice to people they're more likely to be nice back to you

but in all seriousness though your face has to be sort of like that recognition point if you like when you're in the tunnel because you're waiting you know, many people would have heard you doing the interviews live into sports report where you've only got that short period of time, you'll have made your way down from the gantry, into position, your equipment is set up,

and then it's all about the eye contact, whether it be with one of the match managers that you're talking about or indeed one of the press officers, for them to get your eye contact, for you to sort of like beckon somebody over to make sure that they're then on the radio to do the interview. I think it definitely helps if they know you and definitely helps if they're,

they recognize you. And also, as you say, just being ready. I mean, now, more than ever, there are so many international broadcasters that we see on site. And obviously, you've got players, you've got managers bouncing around between the various booths

where they do the interview. And, yeah, if the press officer looks at you and you nod, they know that you're ready. So they come over and they go live on Sports Report. And that's one of the biggest thrills really is that in TV, there are still some live interviews done, but pretty much all our interviews in Sports Report are live. And that's a great, you know, it's a great buzz.

It's a great thrill. It's a program, obviously, I listened to when I was growing up, and it's special to be part of. You know, when Mark Chapman, when Hare Chapman cues across, and you're live with, whether it be Pep Guardiola or Arna Slot, you know you've really only got three questions so you've sort of got to cover everything off in only three questions

occasionally you might get four but you've had Claire of course Claire on the on the pod before and she normally is the one in my year going you've got two questions and you think well I was going to ask three questions so how do I do this now in two and I was actually

I remember a few years ago this was at Goodison Park I was given one question and one question only and literally I'd managed to drag in the nicest possible sense of the word, Dave Wheeling, into the interview position, and Wiggin had beaten Everton

to get through to the semi-finals of the FA Cup, and they said, we really want some Wigan reaction before we move on to the next game. And so literally he managed to get Dave here. I said, Dave, this is going to be quite short. And as we went live, I thought I might get two questions, maybe three.

It was Ben North who was producing back then. my colleague Ben, he said to me, you've got one question, which was basically, Dave, thanks for joining us on the Sports Report. How do you feel? He answered in 30 seconds, thank you for joining us.

And then that was it. But that's the beauty of live radio, isn't it, really? We've got everything we wanted. I remember you getting that treatment as well with Vito Pereira. Was that his first game with Wool? I think it was. So this was the first interview,

I think we'd done with him live. And you asked the opening question. Did they win his first game with Wolves? Can you remember? I think they probably did because he was in very good spirit. He was. Anyway, whatever had happened,

you asked him in the opening question. So pleased with that, Vitor, you must be. And then he proceeded to give what must have been a four-minute answer. He did. Yeah, he did. Vito Pereira, thanks very much.

Thank you for joining us. Indeed, answering every single question that was going to ask you. Who have you been your favorite interviewees? Oh, good question that. I mean, you must have interviewed. You probably interviewed 100 Premier League managers. Yeah, I must have done down the years.

And I mean, the one who is sort of missing from my CV is Sir Alex, because, of course, he wasn't talking to the BBC for a significant number of years. But I always enjoyed interviewing Jose Marino. You knew you were always going to get something from Jose. say. Pep Guardiola is always interesting. And there's definitely a few different versions of pep you can meet after a game. But Juergen Klop, I mean, Juergen, just so warm, gregarious,

sort of like a big grizzly bear. And obviously could bear his teeth on the odd occasion. But more often than not, he was really, really fun to interview. But we've had some good ones down. And the bizarre thing is, of course, the ones we then go on to work with, like Sean Dyke has obviously worked for us who else has worked for us? David Moyes. David Moyes.

Steve Bruce has obviously worked for us as well. And that's always an interesting dynamic when you sort of worked with them and then you go back to interviewing them. Chris Wilder, Dean Smith. We've had a lot down the years, really, haven't we? So, yeah, it's always an interesting dynamic when... I mean, the Sean Dych one was really quite interesting

was he actually worked on the League Cup final, was it? Or the FAA Cup final? It was, wasn't it? and he was really good on the day, but one of my jobs as well, if you will, is to make sure that within the commentary it should sound as good as it's going to sound. Now, obviously, in your case,

case says, you know exactly what you're doing. But with someone like Sean, who doesn't do it week in wake out, there might be a bit of indiscipline. Is that the best word to use? And, you know, personally, I'm a big believer in one voice at a time, particularly during a commentary.

So during the League Cup, sorry, the FA Cup final of last year, I did have to have a quiet word with him at half time because he was very animated on the goal, which was scored by Crystal Palace. And he took it really well, to be fair. I mean, I wasn't giving him the finger wagging so they've shown you need to do this, but just sort of said to him, you know,

just have a think about that one voice at a time. Everything else, brilliant. Loved everything you've said so far, but just allow the commentator to say what they need to say. So the audience knows what's happened and then you can come in off the back. And it was quite surreal really because that's basically what Sean will be saying to his players week in, week out. You need to do this. You need to make a little tweak there.

Yeah. And it is, I mean, I'm in my 50s now. So it sort of probably doesn't feel the same as it would have done if it had been sort of 22, 23. Sean may have not taken it in the same way had it been 22 or 23. But he was as good as gold and he was a really great guest on the day. but there was that sort of thought in my head where I'm thinking I'm telling a current Premier League manager here how he should be doing this and the other one which always gets me is Peter Schmichael and Peter's worked a lot for us hasn't he over recent years and he is really warm and if you'd said to me that I'll be comparing notes or chatting about interview technique with the football legend that is Peter Smichael you know 20 years down the line that I said you'd be absolutely off your rocket but we have you know but he does the post-matchezer interviews when he works on the Champions League coverage and he really enjoys it and just from time to time he's just sort of asked me you know how I go about it and I've just given them a couple of

suggestions really so but he's he's a great guy great to work with and whenever we see him you normally get a big bear hug from him as well who's been the most difficult person to interview ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ah tell our listeners when you're interviewing pep cordiola how do you know when Pep Guardiola is ready for the interview to end. Normally after the first question, but he does have an amazing ability to sort of shuffle his feet. And almost Michael Jackson moonwalking style,

he's trying to get away from you, but he doesn't necessarily move that far. But then you do know that once he sort of edged away, sort of backwards from you, away from you, then that is sort of when he's looking to get away. And when he refers to the interview, you were as... My friend?

Yes. You still haven't answered the question. I was giving him some thinking time here. I mean, funny enough, the experience which I had was with a manager who I did actually get on with

pretty well in the grand scheme of things. But on this particular day, it was the most bizarre post-match interview I've ever done. And this was the Burnley manager, Stan Turnant,

who, is he's a good guy and obviously he's gone on to be a scout he worked with Steve Bruce didn't he at the whole city for a number of years and when I've seen them around a couple of times Stan nice to see you but this was after a game I was working at at at Radio Lancashire and it was a Lancashire Derby Preston North End 5 Burnley 3 thrilling game end to end but clearly being the losing manager Stan was not particularly happy with the final result and you wouldn't expect him to be so when he came in for the post-match interview it wasn't a separate radio interview it was pre-recorded as well so he stood in front of

me and i was surrounded by all the local journalists as well from the langshire evening post and the burn the express the langshian telegraph and i thought well he's not going to be happy so we'll just keep it nice and simple and i said stan i said clearly a great game for the neutral plenty of goals, plenty of action, but how did you see it today? And his response was, how dare you? How dare you come in here and point the finger of blame at my goalkeeper? And I said, Stan, I said, with the greatest of respect, I don't think I mentioned Brian Jensen's name. And it continued on.

And he said, no, I'm not having it. This is almost character assassination. you've literally thrown my goalkeeper under the bus and I think I followed it with another question which again got pretty short shrift and so at that point I thought well I've got a little bit of audio on tape there there's other people in the room they can ask some questions so this interview sort of rumbled on with a few other questions he was a little bit better with some of the other questions the problem was that on this day day, I'd also been told that Stan had spoken to his chairman in the tunnel after the game. And so, well, basically, suggested he was going to offer his resignation off the back of the defeat. And I'm thinking, well, I probably do need to ask this question at some point. But I'm thinking, now is not necessarily the time to do it. I thought somebody else might ask the question, but unfortunately, they didn't.

so I stuck the hard hat on and thought right here we go let's go back in stand just before you leave can I just ask you the question is there any truth in the rumor you offered your resignation after the game and you can imagine his response it was no I would never disrespect my football club I don't know where you get your information from something along those lines and then literally as he was answering this question, the door to the press room flies open. In a cartoon style, door slams against the wall,

and the late great John Gwynn, once of Sky Sports and indeed of BBC Radio, is at the door panting, literally panting at the door. We've all turned to look at him. And John says to Stan, he says, Stan and Stan turns around to him and says yes John Gwynne Sky Sports Stan says I know who the you are John he says what do you want he says Stan is it true you've offered your resignation and stand at this point says

oh all right then yes I wasn't very happy after the game yes I did see the chairman I did offer my resignation but he said he wasn't going to take it and yeah And that was sort of the end of the most surreal post-match interview experience, I think, I've ever had. And, yeah, the sort of the back anode to that was, my boss at the time at Radio Lancashire, it was also called Gary, Gary Hickson. And we had a chat. We edited the interview slightly before it went out and there to make it sound slightly better for both of us in all honesty. But Burnley, I think we're playing again on the Tuesday.

And he said to me, my boss, Gary said to me, what do you want to do? and I said, I'll go and see him on Monday. And Gary had spoken to Stan, and we both met up at the training ground at Gorthorpe, and we sort of walked towards each other. And I went, Stan, are we all right? And he said, I'm all right, if you're all right. I went good, we shook hands,

and then we continued on our merry way. But, yeah. I mean, honestly, he was such a great person to talk to, but he was a bad loser. But then show me a really successful manager who was not a bad loser. They are, to be fair. But yeah, I'll never, ever forget that day.

And anyone who was in the room as well is unlikely to forget it either. But yeah, that was quite surreal. My name's Steve Bradnell, a sister manager of Royal Oak FC. You may have seen me online with Vinyl. Vinyl sensation. And now the BBC have given me the chance to set the footballing world banter rights. This could be a great opportunity for us, lads, a podcast for the BBC. Can I just say?

What's a podcast? Brilliant. Great start. Well done, Bob. Brilliant. We can completely show utter transparency to Royal Oak fans. I'll use my charm. Gift at Gab.

Games gone. The Steve Bracknell podcast. Watch on YouTube. Listen on BBC Sounds. The commentator's view on the football daily. Listen on BBC Sounds. So this is the commentator's view where we five live commentators talk about the football, our travels and the language. we use in football commentary on which note we will get onto our great glossary of

football commentary a little bit later on and suggestions for fresh terms and phrases are always welcome to TCV at bbc.co.uk on the emails or voice notes to WhatsApp on 08,289-389 369. Coming up over the course of this weekend before we get into the England squad which is why we are here at Wembley. Let's just tell you the commentaries that we've got coming up this weekend. So Saturday, midday, Manchester City against Tottenham

in the WSL on Sports Extra on your BBC Sounds app. Then Ian, Saturday, 3 o'clock, you are remaining in London for Fulham against Burnley. The only 3 o'clock commentary in the top flight this weekend. And Mr Michael Brown is going to be alongside

you for that one. At 5.30, Everton Chelsea, from Goodersen Park, from the Hill Dickinson's stadium. That's your influence, Gary. My? Yes, it is. Not mentioning Gutherson before. Yes, it was. And I think you'll find it's Hill Dickinson, there's no

as per the email we received earlier in the season. Well, thanks very much. I must have missed that email. This is a surprise. I don't know quite how I missed that. Sports Extra on Sunday, 12 o'clock, Brighton against Liverpool in the WSL, commentary on Sunday at 2.15 on Ashtonville against West Ham in the Premier League, Charlie Slater and

Luke Chambers with the commentary there. And then 5 live on Sunday. What a big day that is. We'll keep you across the Newcastle-Sundleon match, which kicks off at 12 o'clock. 2.15, Tottenham against Nottingham Forest with Jonathan Pierce and Paul Robinson. And that builds up to the League Cup final, Ian, Arsenal against Manchester City, when Matthew Upson will be with us. You and me, we're sharing the commentary, aren't we, with it being a cup final.

Steph Horton is with us as well, Julian Laurent. And that is, I'm not sure there's been a much more anticipated league cup final. This stat surprised me when I read it. In the history of the League Cup, and this is the 66th year, it is the first time that the two top teams in the country are contesting the final, which I was really surprised about when you're given the longevity of the competition. And also, not only, I think it's going to be a very fascinating final, just because of the next. nature of the two teams and how good they are, but also the psychological impact that it could have on the title race as well. And given what's happened in Europe, Manchester City looking to bounce back after the disappointment of going out to Rail Madrid. They've now got obviously

a little bit more leeway in terms of less games in the title race, whereas it's going to be a little bit more congested for Arsenal, but who wins at the weekend and what impact it could have in the title race because it's Arsenal's title to lose. I agree with that, but I also think it's the way that it happens. If it's a big win by either Manchester City or Arsenal, which I think we'd be surprised by, wouldn't we? What happens within the game? Will there be incidents within the game? And also, were it to be tight, were it to go to extra time, where it to go to a penalty shootout, you know, whether that would have quite the same impact, been very tight between the teams

but we won't know until it happens will we no we won't but if you look back at the in recent the league games Mikhail Artetta I get the impression has just got a little bit of a number on Pep Guardiola now and how Pep Guardiola responds obviously the two of them worked

together for a period of time when Artetta was on the coaching staff at the Etihad so I just think there are a number of dynamics around the game that make it very very interesting just thought we saw incredible hunger and okay you know in the end it didn't go for them against rail Madrid in the second leg but with the 10 men I thought they were remarkable the way that they launched that onslaught against rail

Madrid so five live the place to hear it and also don't forget five live will also be the place to hear the league match next month at the etihad stadium so that is another date for your diary so that is Sunday afternoon and then this coming midweek Tuesday night eight eight clock, Arsenal against Chelsea in the Women's Champions League quarterfinal first leg. Ely Barber and Fran Kirby will be a commentary team there. Thursday 745, some of these World Cup playoff that are coming up are promised to be box office. Wales against Bosnia-Herter Govina is the commentary on Thursday night and then on Friday, England, Uruguay in the first of England's friendlies when Paul Robinson will be with us, Ian. So these two friendlies,

As we speak now, this is just a couple of hours after Thomas Tuchel named his 35-man squad for the friendlies against Uruguay and Japan. And I mean, there are all sorts of headlines, aren't there, in terms of, you know, who you would pick out from this. I think the omission of Trent Alexander Arnold, Olly Watkins, Luke Shaw. That's in terms of who's not in the squad. But James Garner involved for the first time. the picking of fifth goalkeeper Jason Steele, Harry McGuire, Cobby Maynue back, Lewis Hall, Tino Livermento,

they're all in, Fikayo Tamori, Dominic Calvert Lewand, Dominic Salanki included with Olly Watkins not in the squad. And I also think Phil Foden, still in the squad. Cole Palmer involved for the first time for England this season, and Jude Bellingham's going to be with the squad, but judging by what Thomas Tuckold was saying, probably won't get on the pitch.

And also, in addition, to that and all the individuals you've named, it is also, I think he said it was an orthodox in your interview that you did with Thomas Tuchel, but it is unique in the sense that not only is he named 35 in the squad, but the fact that 11 of them, Henderson, Byrne,

Gehe, Concer, O'Reilly, Anderson, Saka Kane, Rice, Rogers and Gordon are all going to get a rest. So they won't feature in the first game against Uruguay. They'll then link up either Friday evening or Saturday morning. So essentially, you're going to

have two camps and then at that point England will release some players as well so I think it's interesting from from that 11 that we've just rattled through that I think he said this as well if the plane was leaving next week they'd be on it I think they'd look barring injury that there'd be certainties to go to the World Cup but for others he's going to have 19 outfield players and four goalkeepers in its first squad from Tuesday to Saturday and then 22 outfield players and three to four goalkeepers for the Japan match. So that is an opportunity, particularly for the first part of the week, to really state your claim to get into that World Cup squad. Yeah. It's something completely different. I don't think we've seen anything like this before.

And when I spoke to Thomas Tuchel, he explained all about splitting the camp into two. We split the window because I think it's a unique window. First of all, we're qualified. We've done our job and that means we have two friendly matches which come in a very decisive part of the season in club football but at the same time it's the last camp before the World Cup so to tick all the boxes we decided and to get the best out of this camp we decided to split it basically in two camps get to know some new players some new faces let them compete in a small competitive squad of of 19 players plus goalkeepers in the first part of the camp that gives us the chance to have four training sessions

and the match with the first group of players and then 11 players who were heavily involved in European Football Club Football and for us come later and join the group on Friday evening and Saturday morning to be ready for the match against Japan and just run us through those 11 the 11 are Dean Henderson and Byrne Mark Gehie, Esri Konza, Nico O'Reilly, Elliot Anderson, Declan Rice, Morgan Rogers,

Anthony Gordon, Harry, Kane and Bukaiusaka. Okay, and just to check, those 11 will have a total break, complete break, yeah? Stay away. Yes, of course, they're adults and they have a break, yeah. Would they surprise when you said that, don't they? Yeah, I guess so, but no one intervened, so there were quite some smiles on the Zoom call. I guess they were surprised and fair enough

I think all of them want to come so they're also a little bit biased I feel them that they always want to come but once I explained them why I do this I think they

they see it as a sign of trust and we're very happy about it just one final one that was interesting you're not ruling out the possibility of 16 year old Max Downman potentially being in? Why should I rule that out?

I mean, Rio has a good season in Liverpool now and making his way into the team Max is making his points on highest level. So why would we rule anything out? It's March and we leave in June. We have to name our squad in late May. So everything is possible. So there we are.

Thomas Tuchel on a most unusual World Cup squad, this squad of 35. That was an interesting last answer that he gave you there, wasn't it? When you asked him about Max Dowman, that he then, he threw in Rio Ungamoa into the mix, this teenager at Liverpool, where I don't think I'd seen Ungamoa talked about. And yet he was then willing to discuss him. It's a remarkable thing. Throughout the course of the time, Thomas Tuchel has been a manager, I think every single time I have prepared,

got the piece of paper in front of me here, with all of the potential names that I think could be in the frame for that particular. England squad, I think every single time he has come up with a name that I haven't got on my list. And this morning, I went to the squad announcement. I think it was with 68 names on the list. And still, Jason Steele is someone who I certainly did not have anywhere near the radar. No. But I don't think Jason Steele will play. I think the trial for Jason Steele,

I mean, he's only played five times for Brighton, all in the cup competitions this season. I think it says more about his character and his experience that what they're going to try and do over the course of this international camp is that they're going to see how he fits in in terms of the support structure and the network of the goalkeepers. Because the view is, is that he will then go as an unregistered goalkeeper to the World Cup, a little bit like what Tom Heaton did at the Euros in Germany. and he will then supplement the goalkeeping coach to work with the three England keepers who England do name in that final squad of 26. Just on Trent Alexander Arnold, I know that in advance of this, my feeling was, well, anyone who's fit who's not in this squad is probably out of contention.

But in actual fact, when you look at this squad, quite a number of the players are those who he's not seen, he's not had in his squad, like Cobi Manu, like Harry Maguire, like the Dominics, Solanke and Calvert Lewin. You know, so he is seeing players that he's not had in his England squad. And he has had Trent Alexander Arnold in the squad. And he did say to us today, didn't he? Like with Luke Shaw, he said, I know what they can do.

They've played against my teams. And I've seen them play in tournaments. So I think, as he said, they are still on the long list. So yes, they're up against it. I don't think they're completely out of it. Or do you think they are out of it? I think barring a spate of injuries, I just think you've got to be in contention at this.

I mean, contrast that to the 11 players who have been named but won't feature in that game against Uruguay. They, to me, are certainties barring injury to go to the World Cup. I, like you, think that if you're not part of this squad of 35, you've got work to do to get in it. Incidentally, we've just seen an excellent piece of production by Gary. what Gary does. So you allowed your, was it your iPad or your laptop to run out of power? Well, I didn't allow it to do that. He allowed it to do it. It drained rather rapidly.

And who came to the rescue? So whilst we were listening to Thomas Tuchel, I just said to Gary, I said, Gary, do you have a power bank? Because we're nowhere near a power adapter. And of course, you plug it in. And Gary, you came up as if by magic. Yeah. And that's what you do. typical isn't it yeah I mean power banks and the histamines I haven't had one of those anything of that nature and plugs and charging devices all that kind of thing microphones and I should say when Gary comes to a match Gary brings more equipment than any other producer doesn't Ian you know it's some of the I mean he's got a suitcase that he looks like he's going for a fortnight in Toro Melino's

Well, listen, I'm not going to make any disparaging comments after Gary. Everybody's just helped, yeah, hasn't it? Yes. Yeah, you remember that. Yeah. So, you know, let's just remember the timeline for England. These two friendlies in March against Uruguay in Japan, which I think will be quite unusual because of the personnel who are going to be involved.

30th of May, England have to submit their squad of 35 players for the World Cup, which would obviously apply to Scotland as well. and that has to be whittled down to a final squad of 26 before the first game. And then England have got two friendlies in Florida against New Zealand and Costa Rica before the whole thing gets underway. So you'll be able to hear all of that with us on Five Live and BBC Sounds. We should move, shouldn't we, onto correspondence, because we've still got the unintended pub names,

and we've still got the great glossary of football commentary. So correspondence this week. First of all, Corey in Brazil. Hello all, I was listening to the Manchester United versus Villa game when John mentioned that some of the Muslim players in the United team prefer listening to the Quran instead of music before a game. John said this was the first time he'd heard of this. As a Muslim, I can say that before, all while doing,

anything that requires presence or focus, I will always choose the Quran over music. It gives us peace and connection to God. something we're searching for even more in this blessed month of Ramadan. I can imagine it keeps the players grounded, especially before a big game. It was lovely to hear John mention this,

and I wanted to add that I feel the same as those players. And Corey says thank you. No, thank you, Corey, for that. I must say, when I read that, it was in the match program, it was in the Manchester United Match program before the Aston Villa game last weekend. And I have to confess,

I've thought about that quite a lot during the course of the past week that that's what Amar Jello will do. And it was an answer to the old, old question, what music do you listen to before the match? And that's what he came up with as an answer. So yes, thank you, Corey, for that. We've also had an email from Scott,

who says, Dear John, Ian and Ali, who is away, incidentally, this week covering the athletics. Scott says, I've been meaning to email following the chat about random items, which used to be taken into. football grounds. We have a family one which I hope will be of interest. We've always been a family of Wolverhampton Wanderers, brackets, a name which seems to have been dropped for wolves, end brackets,

and I can vividly remember talking to my granddad, Brie, about the great wolves teams of the 1940s and 50s. When it came time for my dad, Dave, to attend matches at Molyneux in the late 1960s, early 1970s, he was still a young lad and as such my granddad constructed a wooden stool for him to stand on in the corner of the South Bank Terrace. This was something they used to take from Canock to Wolverhampton via the trolley bus for each home game. He's actually sent There's a picture here and he continues. After my granddad passed away in November 2020, my dad discovered that the stool still existed.

My granddad had kept it and used it when he needed to get to those hard-to-reach places around the bungalow. After a slight cosmetic restoration, the stool now sits in pride of place in my parents' house alongside images and memories of my granddad. These include an old photo of, Molineau which also sits above the stool which we bought in 2022 so the stool and the South Bank could be reunited that's lovely isn't that it is that was a great

terrace as well wasn't it yeah the South Bank unintended pub names we always love your suggestions for these as we call them or as Paul Robinson coined it unintended pub names that you've heard in any sports commentary the last time we had the crumb of comfort and the unfortunate Medina. This week we have an email or indeed a voice message from Lester Fan Amit who says, Hi football commentator trio. Here's an unintended pub name from Ian Dennis from Aston Villa versus Leeds. Four minutes remaining. Bogard's going to be coming on for Aston Villa. There is further activity as well.

as Sancho darts in, opened up for him. Instead, he looks towards Cash and Cash can't keep the ball in play. The other change will be Garcia. So the last throw of the dice, really, from Unite, Emery. Amit says the last throw of the dice is definitely a pub

where you make bad life decisions. Well, not necessarily, Amit. The last throw of the dice, all of a sudden, you know, you might decide to have that one drink in that particular establishment and all of a sudden, hey, presto, it might change your life with the last throw of the dice. A little bit of optimism. Good one, the last throw of the dice. Several people, as we will now hear

Ian, have picked up on another one. Yes, here's one that we missed on last week's episode regarding the unfortunate Medina clip from the Newcastle Carabag game. Jacob Murphy involved in the match for the first time really, left for a shot. Deflect it up and over the goalkeepers dive. Jacob Murphy will claim that. Now this is what I like about where we get sort of like the description of the various pubs

and suggestions. So Newcastle fan Hamza says, guys, you missed another sitter when it comes to unfortunate pub names. When Jacob Murphy scores, you said the goalkeepers dive, definitely somewhere that the unfortunate Spurs goalkeeper would have been

visiting last week. And Leslie and Chorley says, Surely I can't be the only one who spotted the goalkeeper's dive from last week's episode. The dive would be a dark back street room, sticky floor, a desperate refuge for those needing to drown their sorrows. And Terry and Bromley says the goalkeeper's dive would be an appropriately grim establishment where distressed keepers would assemble to console each other on their latest mishaps. The background music would be melancholy Morrissey tunes on loop. and the pint glasses would have handles to make them harder to drop. So thank you to Hamza, Leslie and Terry for that.

And how about this from Matt in Milton Keynes? Hello chaps. And now they say a minute can be a long time in football. I meant to send this voice message just after the North London Derby. But I was absolutely sure I wouldn't be the only person to have heard this accidental pub name. Ball play for Dragasin, tussling with Yokorez, who goes to ground. It's the top of the man who comes out with the ball, and after that just adjusts the little bun that he has on the top of his hair

with a confident air. He has spent. It was the Spurs Defender that had been up for a tussle, and I think his hair would have come loose, and a poignant description of him reattaching his bun to his long long. locks followed to which one of you described his hair as confident hair. And I thought, the confident hair.

A grand Cotswold gastro pub full of trinkets and extortion at prices. We're talking 8.50 for a pint minimum. Keep up the good work. Don't walk my dog anymore because unfortunately we lost our dog just last week. So this is a way of making me feel better and a big up to the old man Rufus, who is greatly missed. Thanks, guys. Oh, thank you, Matt. We'll send our sympathies to Matt.

Very sad news. But thanks for the contribution and the confident hair. The way there that Matt just let the birds tweet before he started speaking, I could conjure him walking out in the countryside. obviously he's thinking of Rufus. Sorry to hear of your loss with Rufus, but the confident hair. I wouldn't be partial to paying £8.50 for the pint, I've got to say.

No, I know you wouldn't, but just think the way those birds were tweeting. It just felt like Rufus was watching down. And yes, emails to TCV at BBC.co.uk. WhatsApp to 08,000, 289-369. Now it is time. We're actually going to give the, Clash of the commentators a miss this week, aren't we, Ian?

That's good. That's all right. Yeah, I'm happy with that. I'm having it still a bit of a wobble. Well, you are having a wobble. And when I heard that we were giving Clash of the Commentators arrest this week, I did wonder whether maybe the

court for arbitration for sport had insisted maybe that the whole thing had to be suspended while they look into the controversial. I tell you what I wish that would be suspended as you talking about it. I think the court of arbitration for sports got a bit on at the minute with the

the African Football Federation. Yeah. Might delay it even further. Actually, that doesn't help my cause at all that. Because I'm thinking, I think that the decision's gone now, let it go. Yes. But you think about the time lapse that we've had between. Well said, Ian.

Well said. However. Yes. That's very much one for regular listeners. And actually, we've had this from Damien in York, who says, thanks Damien. He says, I can't believe that they managed to change the Africa Cup of Nations final result before restoring justice for John following that clash of the commentators episode.

You say, it just won't go away. It won't go away because you keep talking about it. Damien's talking about it. So, excellent, excellent email, Damien. More like that, please. Now, let's move on. Now, for the great glossary of football commentary, as we add commentary term, and phrases to our collection.

You can find our entire glossary in the episode description. So, Division I for football exclusive terms, division two for terms used in football commentary, but also used in other sports. Talking of which, I've had a wrap on the knuckles from Andrew Murray, you know, from part of the Five Live Golfing Team, because he texted me two weeks ago

and suggested Pile Driver, and I said, oh, I'll mention that. And then I didn't mention it last week. And he said, what happened to Pile Driver? And I just remembered. So his suggestion is Pile Driver. That would be Division I, wouldn't it? I can't imagine that would be in another sport, Gary?

Pile Driver? I think that would be Division I. Nothing comes to mind. No? Last week, we put Paul Robinson's term, Channel of Joy, into Division One. This week, we have Donnie in France, who says, I've seen the phrase goalkeeper's union in your own. Unsorted category.

Perhaps this could go into division two. I don't know enough about hockey, but I suspect that hockey goalkeepers get together to complain about the amount of kit they need to carry compared to their teammates. It could also be an unintended pub name, overlooking the same village green as another recent entry, the man in the middle.

The goalkeeper's union would be full of practical but slightly eccentric loners railing against the rest of the village. but sure in the knowledge the village wouldn't survive without them. Given the fashion for goalkeepers having details of penalty takers on their water bottles, regulars might have a tankard behind the bar

on which they would have engraved their friend's favourite tipple to speed up rounds being bought. Thanks for the excellent podcast and commentaries and the recent discussion with John Hunt was brilliant, says Donnie in France. Division two for goalkeepers union?

Yeah. can't be Division 1 can it? I don't think so. Not when you've got goalkeepers in other sports. They'll be busy. Paul Robinson and friends, won't they? They're going from the goalkeepers dive to the goalkeepers union. If there's one man that can do it. It's a good point, Gary. We've had this from Dan in Sheffield.

I find listening to the TCV pod the perfect way to unwind at the end of a stressful working week and usher in the sporting weekend. I'd like to submit a suggestion. for the great glossary palm trees at football grounds have been a recent discussion topic but what about sting the palms of the goalkeeper thanks for your wonderful work I've listened to BBC Sports Radio commentary for over 40 years and cannot imagine my weekends without it well thank you down yes well listening well done Dan excellent commitment I think sting the palms see I would say division two two think of a

cover drive yes sting the palms yeah Yeah, you're absolutely right, Ian. Yeah. And actually, that was me talking about palm trees, wasn't it? It was. And I was given a real lift this week, going to Barcelona, where they love a palm tree in Barcelona. Of course they do. They do.

Yeah. So that's, that's, that real, that put a spring in my step this week. One more from Anthony in Cork. During this morning's, wake up to money on Five Live, the sports news came on with Harry Roy. Newcastle United's run in the Champions League also came to an end two after a 7-2 drubbing away in Barcelona which means Liverpool and Arsenal says Anthony

Harry referred to Newcastle's defeat to Barcelona as a 7-2 drubbing a drubbing to me means a heavy defeat a thrashing a hammering I've not heard used in other sports nor have I heard it used in daily life I will bow to your superior knowledge

as to which division it should go into to keep up the good work. A drubbing, that's got to beat Division 2. Yeah, you'd have one of them in Roque, wouldn't you? Yeah, you would. At the very least. Yeah. What's the game that you've done

where you've seen the most goals? England won 10-0 against San Marino. Oh, they did win 10-0? We did the game together. Yeah. We were all there. So apart from that one. And I think that's the only 10-0

I've commented on although I've played in a few 10-0s when I was in goal. Oh, conceded 10? Yeah, no more than 1 as well. You should have thrown your cap on it. I should have done. When I was at university

playing at the time for the second team, we played against, I think it was Swansea University, and I played in the first match for the second team. It was something like, first match we lost 10, we lost 10-0 or 10-1,

something. And Kerry, who was the first team goalkeeper, I think he went down ill. I then had to play in the next match and led it in 11, 21 goals in a day. What was it that Stan Tennant was saying about his goalkeeper? It wasn't just me. I'm surprised I've never told that story before. So there we are. That is the great glossary for this week.

And in summary, we are putting goalkeepers union into Division 2. Sting the Palms, Division 2, Dropping, Division 2, and Pile Driver, Division 1. Hooray! Gary, excellent, very much enjoyed having you on. Yeah, there's no need for you two email in now, is there? No, it's not. No, no, no. Well, I mean, my email was completely and utterly dismissed.

I did notice last week. Well, dismissed, we read it out. Yeah, in the manner in which you read it out, though. I mean, come on. Yeah. Did you take Umbuds? Well, you obviously didn't take two of them. No, I'm here now.

It's been lovely to spend time with you because we hardly ever get the chance to do that. Anyway, I'm sure you've got a hazard assessment form to be filling out. I think Ali is back with us next week, isn't he? I think. Well, anyway, listen and find out. Do keep the unintended pub names and glossary suggestions coming in. Next week will be our Q&A episode.

So keep those coming in as well to TCV at BBC.co.com. or you can send us a message or voice note on WhatsApp to 08,289-389-369. And as we always say, if you enjoy this, in actual fact, where we're supposed to do our best work is when we do actually commentate on football matches. So listen if you can to us on Five Live and BBC Sounds. But that is it for this episode of the Football Daily. And remember, you can find each and every episode of the commentator's view by scrolling down your Football Daily feed. Denno's on drive in 15 minutes. You are? Yes.

I know. I know. I was going to mention that during the second part of that. I was negotiating what time you were going to do that. I'm Rich Hall, and this is Sports Strangest Crimes Presents Confessions of a Super Bowl streaker. When people ask me what I do, I say to them, well, by day or by night. The story of one man's mission to conquer the holy grail of streaking the Super Bowl.

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