Football Daily - The Commentators' View - Man City's return and a prank in Istanbul

Episode Date: October 9, 2026

Conor McNamara once again joins Ian Dennis and John Murray for the Commentators' View ahead of a big weekend in the Premier League.With Manchester City travelling to Liverpool for the first time since the Premier League charges verdict, John goes through his approach ahead of commentating on the game. The team reflect on the international break, Ian recalls being pranked at Istanbul airport and can John go clear at the top of the table in Clash of the Commentators?TIMECODES 03:30 International break reflections 05:00 Ian's Greek adventures 09:00 How to approach commentating on Liverpool v Man City 22:00 A terrifying prank in Istanbul airport 28:30 Clash of the Commentators 33:30 Unintend Pub Name of the Week 35:30 Great Glossary of FootballCOMMENTARIES: This weekend SAT 1500 - Chelsea v Bournemouth  - 5 Live SAT 1500 - Aston Villa v Brentford - Sports Extra SAT 1730 - Man Utd v Tottenham  - 5 LiveSUN 1200 - Motherwell v Celtic - Sports Extra 2 SUN 1400 - Hull v Everton - 5 Live SUN 1400 - Crystal Palace v Nottm Forest - Sports Extra and Sports Extra 2 SUN 1630 - Liverpool v Man City  - 5 Live

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visit connectsonterio.ca. The commentators view on the Football Daily. Listen on BBC Sounds. Hello and welcome to the football day. podcast. I'm Ian Dennis and this is the commentators view where we five live commentators talk about the football, our adventures and the language of football commentary. Myself and John Murray are just back off international duty and heading straight back into Premier League action, although Alistair Bruce Ball is absent. So once again, we have Connor McNamara stepping in. Hello,

He's gone to ground. Hello, Deh. Good to see you. I'm glad you brought that up because I've got a bone to pick. Well, I've got a bone to pick with all of you actually, but I'll start with you first of all Connor, because you said, well, John mentioned that I'd gone to ground last week and you highlighted an example of if we're going to the pub,

does Denno go to ground? When have I ever gone to ground if we're going to the pub? No, I'm glad you brought this up, Delo, because context is everything. So the premise of this was we're all going to the pub. Where's Denno? I mean, Denno's always here. He's one of the great guys. If he's not here, that's a talking

point so we would say he must be gone to ground. That's my little spin doctor on it anyway. Well as you know I would never go to ground if we were going to the pub but if we did go to the pub then there's a chance I could go to ground in the pub. Too easily? Not too easily I think I might go down with a little bit of a fight. Gone down in an installment? Possibly yeah and the reason I want to pick well I'm on my high horse and might as well just get it all off my chest now. I and Connor you You could be like a neutral observer here. When it came to Clash to the Commentators,

it was almost like a pincea movement from you and Ali, John, where you said, let's make sure he doesn't win next week. Let's like bring him down again. We've got to keep him where he is. I felt there was a degree of bullying going on. I've had this.

I've had exactly this on that. So get a taste of your own medicine. That's what I say. Oh, okay. What do you think, Connor? I did hear, there was some conspiratorial, who springs amongst the pair of them. But, you know, as, you know, again, we've got to be careful

about boring listeners about things that, for the deeper distant past. But I'm not going to create any new alliances here because that will only cause trouble down the line. So I have to stay neutral, Denno, you know? Yeah. Okay. Well, it's been noted. It's been noted. So what have you been up to this week, Connor? Good week, quite weak. Didn't have any travel, which was good and rare, as you know. So looking forward to getting back into the weekend's games and do Champions League and Europa League games next week, so did a bit of prep on that on teams that we don't normally get to see

week in and week out. So yeah, nicely sort of in one place and just, and do it. Of course, this international window, which I thought would be, oh, there'll be very little Premier League use. You know, the big debates will be things like, you know, should Trent Alexander Ireland be playing it right back then? And of course, no, it's been a week where we've been talking about, you

know, the Manchester City story and stuff going on on the Premier League. So it's funny how it's just, even though there hasn't been Premier League football for the last three weeks, in a way, it feels like it hasn't really stopped. And John, For you, it certainly has not been an international break because you have covered four games in 11 days with travel to Czechia and to Croatia included in that. And then you've got double bubble this weekend. Yeah.

And it was really eventful, wasn't it, with England? And I think to round it off with Harry Kane equaling the England appearances record and everything that went into that. it felt like I know that maybe on the outside that wasn't the case but it felt on the inside with England that it was all quite high profile and I think that was welcome actually after the after the World Cup I wasn't sure what this window was going to be like being with England being with Thomas Tuchel when it was four matches but I think after losing to Spain that gave it a real narrative and yes the Czechs were quite weak weren't they with all of the withdrawals

and the injuries that they had but even so obviously the highlight from an England point of view in terms of the performance was that match in Croatia against Luca Modrich and Coe which was sensational really I'll never forget that that was a night where

I still can't quite explain away why Croatia was so bad but England were very very good the fact that Croatia were humiliated to the extent that they were and England put in the best performance undoubtedly under Thomas Tuchel Did you see the quotes from Luca Modrich?

I did. Who said, what was that, is it's 205th or 206th cap? I can't remember now. And he said, in all of those caps, this was the first time he would say that he was ashamed of a Croatia performance. And if I was one of his teammates, I mean, that absolutely hits the middle of the target, doesn't it? And probably explains why they really gave Spain a run for their money on Tuesday in the next match.

Well, England's lionesses are in Greece on Friday tea time for a World Cup. playoff. Vicky Sparks and Rachel Brown Finnis are in Crete for that one at 5.30. That's not a bad a way again. I'm just going to say, I bet you wouldn't mind being in Crete for that, would you? Crete. Has anyone been to Crete? I'm not sure I've ever been to Crete.

No. Have you? Ian, you're like a Creek Island, don't you? I've been to a few of the Greek islands, but I've never been to Crete. Which ones have you been to? I've been to Coss. I've been to Roads. and I've been to Zanty, but not the island of Zanty.

I went to Zanty to cover Middlesbrough against Skoda or Shkoda Zanty. Shkoda? In North East Greece. That's not where the cars come from, is it? Yeah, it's up by the Macedonian border. They were sponsored by Schoda. Were they? Yeah.

And we all received a Shkoda. Free car? No, a kit. Oh. Did you? Does it still fit? Well, if you ever go to the gym, you'd see me in the gym and it still does fit, yeah. Does it? Yeah.

And is that an island as well? No, no, no, no. That's mainland. No. I did say that if you were paying attention. Well, I thought you said it was near the board, but I didn't know if it was an island or not. All right. So what's Rhodes like? Roads is, well, maybe I should get in touch with a Greek tourist board here.

It's very pleasant. This particular exchange. reminds me of when a reporter says to Donald Trump, you know, what are your favorite passages from the Bible? Loads them, all of them. I mean, I enjoy them all. I wouldn't worry, Conno, I don't think it'll make the edit. Let's see what else we come up with. Anyway, as the Premier League returns, we've got plenty of offerings, as you'd expect. Chelsea Bormouth, 3 o'clock on 5 Live, the usual golf service, the offering, the alternative offering, as we did last season and again this season, and for the next two seasons as well, we'll have Aston Villa Brentford on Sports Extra with Connor and Steve Stone.

Yeah, and I was going to bring this up, and you may have touched on this previously in the podcast, but I have worked, as you both will have done, many times with Steve Stone as a co-commentator in the past, but it is decades since I last did a game with him. And I wonder if we could find out over the course of TCV, you know, the longest period of time between a commentary pairing. Because as you guys well know, sometimes you get into a rhythm where you're doing games with the same guys regularly. And then sometimes, and it can very often be the case, say, if a former player goes into management or into coaching, and then they have a job within football and they don't want to do as much media stuff.

And you don't see them for a few years and then they come back. But I think it must be 15 years since I last did a game alongside Steve Stone. So very much, because he's one of my favorites. got a brilliant voice. I'm really looking forward to it. Would it be that long? I think so. I think so. I know he's been on Five Live since, but in terms of me actually sitting alongside it.

And maybe I'm randomly forgetting one eight years ago or something, but I don't, I mean, it really feels like a long, long time. Well, talking of great voices and also another Jordy, Chris Waddle will be alongside John Murray at Old Trafford. And another old favourite as well,

which I think, I think that, is that Chris's first match? this season. It is. With us. Yeah. So really looking forward to that. Yeah. I'm looking forward to listening to, I can't unfortunately listen to Connor and Steve because we're not at the same time. But on my journey home,

Manchester United Tottenham at 5.30 on 5 live. Sunday we've got Hull against Everton at 2 with Chris Coles and Pat Nevin. Crystal Palace, Nottingham Forest, will be on Sports Extra. And then Liverpool, Manchester City. The Small Matter of, John and Stephen Warnock

Will you prepare for this game any differently given the narrative that has been on Manchester City in the last two weeks or so? I think the only thing I would say, Ian, is that, and you two will probably recognise this, I think it's just that thought that you are going to need to have your wits about you

in terms of it might not just be what's happening on the field that is worth reflecting here. And I mean, there could be anything going on. And it's actually quite a relief that I'm told that our BBC colleague Dan Rowan will actually be outside the stadium because it was in my mind. I was thinking, well, how am I going to get an idea of what's going on outside the stadium and inside the stadium?

Listen, it all might pass off without incident. There is that as well. But I'm quite pleased that Dan is going to be. there. So, you know, I think with the history that there's been, and also the rivalry, because it has become a growing rivalry there, and there is a real edge between the sides as well. So even without the news of the charges, this would still be a match where you would have to have to make sure that you are on it, which is slightly worrying me, because I've come back from the international window with a bad cold, as you can probably hear, but I'm hoping it's

going to ease by the time we get to the weekend. I'm going to be there as well on Sunday and look, as John rightly says, it's a big game kind of regardless, right? And then I think this, the recent news events have just sort of increased the scrutiny on us. I think there'll be people tuning into Five Live and watching on television who might not be

dire football fans, but they've sort of been caught up in the story of all this. I think a really interesting sort of side bar to the whole thing is that Manchester City have been playing so well to the start of the season. They've got that 100% record, their new signings, so many hours. so many of them and maybe we're

realizing now why they made so many in one swoop but it's made them into a phenomenal squad and I think this is going to be a difficult game for Liverpool regardless and now it all comes down to how the players react and as we well know in football over the years things can be destabilising for a team when there's noise around a dressing room

when people their agents and their family and people are hearing whispers and even in the dressing room themselves the players might not know the full story I think very few people do. And that can be destabilising. But we also know in football that that can sometimes be something

that harnesses the energy of a dressing room that pulls them all together. I remember when the first mention of what was at the time the 115 charges, I think we originally called them, when that was first sort of came to the four, Manchester City actually reacted really well and the players really bond together

and Pep Guadiola used that as a tool and maybe the way Alex Ferguson would have used some adversity or some distraction to actually become a positive. So I think it's going to be really interesting to see that I can see outcomes where Liverpool win the game comfortably. I can see outcomes where Manchester City win the game comfortably. And that's what you always want going into any big game, to have that little bit of unknown that keeps us all gripped. But until the sanctions are announced, in many ways, there's nothing for the Manchester City players to be worried about at this stage.

Because nothing has changed. No, but, but, you know, we think of how much of your bandwidth personally, Ian, been taken up with this over the last few weeks. Think about these players in their international dressing rooms, other colleagues asking them questions about it. They're sort of, well, I'm not even there. I need to get information. There's no doubt this has been a noise. It has. And think how often little small things that we build up to be big stories of football and we claim that they're going to have a huge impact. There's no doubting that the players, they'll be, look at what people are saying. People say, oh, they won't be able to keep their big players. People are going to have to

move. They're going to be relegated. You know, there is no way that players are going to going to go, oh well, I'm not going to worry about that until it becomes an actual thing. They will definitely be thinking about it in the background. And that's where the mental strength comes in, the preparation, all those things. Are they able to shut out that noise? And to be fair, the experienced squad that they are and the professionals they are, they'll probably cope with it as well or better than most teams would. I thought it was interesting that Manchester City have got a little bit from Moreska and

Harland out into the media before he did his Friday set piece media committee. And so I think we gathered from that that the message will be, as Connor says, it's business as usual for the team. You know, all of that will be dealt with by the up there's, you know, for the team. They've just got to carry on as normal. But, you know, when you think that they've come into this window with seven wins in a row, so they've won the last seven matches in all competitions. And I think that's another aspect of Sunday in that now we know what we know, how it'll feel, for example, if Manchester

City would win that match by a couple of goals. How we feel about it and how we reflect that. And that is, when people talk about what the effect will be of this on the Premier League, I think that's what they're referring to.

In that while that continues to hang over, the sanctions are there somewhere, we're waiting to hear what they are, we're waiting to hear what the result of the appeal would be. How that will make us feel and how we will report and commentate on what's happening on the field. And that will last for some time.

And that's what is probably my main feeling about going to Anfield on Sunday. And you mentioned John about having Dan Roan outside, maybe feeding information, being able to scan around the stadium during the game and spot out things. I think this will probably be a big week for the people who manufacture banners on Merseyside. I think the guys who fly the planes with the banners out of the back. that we're probably going to be inundated with requests, and there will be a lot else going on. And I think that's where that's the advantage of being on radio

is that you don't have to follow a director. You know, if the television pictures are showing a manager or they're showing a player, a television commentator sort of has to talk about them. Whereas on radio, you're your own director. You can say, well, I'm actually going to break away here because I've noticed such and such a banner is now being held up in the cop,

or I've noticed something is going on, which does make it a, I think that flexibility is always a great advantage of, of radio commentary. Well, 4.30 for John commentary on 5 Live and the BBC Sounds app. And then in fact, John will be covering Manchester City next midweek

because the Champions League returns. Manchester City against the holders Paris Saint-German on Wednesday. So John will be at the Etty had for that. And the night before on the Tuesday will be in Madrid. Paul Robinson is part of the commentary team for Athletica Madrid

against Manchester United. But let's get into some Q&A. and some correspondence because John in Lidham says safe to say I'm a big fan of all three of you all four of us if we include Connor for the last couple of weeks

a late comer to TCV it's fair to say always warm to all your way you reminisce and your various adventures unusually I've no club allegiance but my England fandom stretches to always looking to see how many

England players are figuring in Premier League games. I'm going to put this out there though. Sacrilege for some. Is Declan Rice perhaps a drag on the England team? Famously, Graham Sunes has never rated him that highly. But for me, he's lion-hearted, his commitment is beyond doubt, leaves everything out there for his country. Alex Scott is knocking on the door now, though. Only one game against Croatia, but his performance was so outstanding. He looked really at home in an England shirt. That was one start against Croatia because it made his debut against Czech Republic, hadn't he, or Czechia?

A dilemma. Thomas Tuchel, I would submit. Please discuss. John, Levin. Well, I think with Declan Rice, you know, he's got 80 caps. And we're talking about, I think that's right, isn't it, 80 caps Declan Rice has? And we're talking about Alex Scott, who really impressed me in the two performances,

both as a substitute and when he started the match. But that's two caps. And I would say it is good for England to have that competition because you want every single player to be under pressure, don't you, from outside, from other players. And I think as well, Declan Rice probably has a lot in the bank because he played for England. I mean, the number of times he and I interviewed him at the World Cup post-match

when I got the impression that he'd really physically really stretched it. and he was playing with this neural problem they called it, didn't they? And, you know, so I think that that will have bought him a lot of stock with the manager that he put himself through that. But at the same time, you know, he hardly ever misses a camp, and to miss these four matches, I think a couple of things. I think he cannot have missed the performance from Alex Scott in his position. And also, I think, seeing the captain's arm band go from Harry K.

to Jude Bellingham regularly. I think that will probably have made Declan Rice think because before that, Rice was probably the next in line to get the arm band. So, you know, I think it all creates healthy competition. Absolutely. I think Thomas Tukle will be delighted with this. I think when Declan Rice next joins up with England, he will have extra hunger. And I don't think hunger is anything that people ever accuse him of lacking. But yeah, keeps him on his toes. But as John says, he's got so much in the bank. He's been a phenomenal player for England over recent years, over recent campaigns.

I think he's flexibility that he can bring the ball forward, he can sit in front of the defenders, you know, he will always be a strong asset, and yet to have a competition is a very healthy thing. And fair play to Alex Scott, it's actually a show, I really wish Alex Scott was bouncing straight back into the Premier League now

and see how he would push on from what must be a confidence boost of playing so well for England, but of course he's going to be out for a couple of months. So that is a shame of timing for him. But it just shows, you know, for Thomas Tuchel, have options because who knows, they'll come at time when Declan Rice might not be available for a really important game due to injury himself. You can answer this one, John, from Scott Winthrop. He's a Paul Town FC fan.

Hi, T-CV. I love the podcast and have enjoyed listening to every single one. Ted McDougal scored nine goals for AFC Bournemouth against Margates in an FAC Cup match in 1971. So would scoring nine be called a McDougal? Also, and you can answer this one, John, smiling already. Why do you refer to Mark Chapman as Hare Chapman? Keep up the great work guys and thank you. Kind regards, Scott. Well, firstly, I think that's a great chat, the McDougal. I do like that. It's a McDougal for a night. Whether we'll ever, whether we'll ever be in a position where we're able to say, well, that's a McDougal is another matter. Point, point of order, and I'm sorry to always be a stickler for the rules, but being in John Murray's company brings

this out of me is he's not the only player who scored nine goals in a game. I know that Erling Halland, for Norway once scored nine goals in a game. So you know, you can't sort of Yeah, for Norway under 21s. Oh, did he? Yeah. Is that right? Well, God me.

I'm putting me on the spot now. I'm 99.9% sure, nine being the relevant number, but I'm pretty sure that was a big story a few years back when Halland scored nine goals. They won 12-0 or something. What was the record again? What was the record? Was it the New Zealand player? Do you remember this?

This sounds right. Was he Archie somebody? Do you remember? And it was about 12 or 13 goals in an international against somebody like Western Samoa. I was going to say an island, Pacific Island, yeah. I can't remember. So anyway. And as well, stop dodging the main question.

Yes, yes. The main story. We actually have answered this before. We have been asked this before in the early days. And this was off the back of Euro 2024 when we were in Germany and we would often refer to him as Hare Chapman. And there was something that felt quite appropriate about that. Presum he knows that we call him Hare Chapman.

I would have thought so since he listens assiduously. He claims that he doesn't. I think he sends in correspondence pretending to be a teenager just to get rid out. Maybe he's actually one of our, you know, he reckons we have only three people who send in emails to us and they just rotate. Maybe he's actually one of them. Maybe he's Scott from the Pool Town FC fan because he wants to know why you call him her Chapman and this is the only way he can politely find out. I doubt that very much. Lenny, who's a very happy Hammers fan in Essex, dear TCV chaps, I really enjoy listening to the TCB podcast and your commentary on

Clive Live. Thank you, Lenny. I noticed, John, that you are an avid reader and you started a book club or a book club in lockdown. I too am an avid reader, and I really enjoy reading whilst listening to the excellent commentary by Denner on a Saturday and John's Big Match on a Sunday. Would it be possible, please, to start a TCV book club so other listeners who perhaps do the same as I have some decent recommendations going forward? What are you reading at the moment? What are you reading at the moment? moment. Well, I suppose that's one. Do you want to start a book club? Well, as Lenny has pointed out, I'm already in one and I can't cope with more than being in more than one boot club. I suppose there could be suggestions. We could have a book suggestion of the week, perhaps, something like that from the listeners. And would these be like div one books and div two books? Like football specifically and other topics? I'll tell you what, we could have one foot. We could have one foot. football suggestion and one non-football suggestion. Yeah, I like that.

Have you ever been in a book club, Denham? Have I ever been in a book club? No, no. Although at the minute, when I went to ground last week, I'm currently, I've completed a set of books from W.T. Delaney, who was very good. A set of books? Yeah, he's brought out a trilogy of books.

It's in about the spy world. I'm getting under cover. I quite like that. On a similar theme, I'm now reading part of a trilogy from David McCloskey, Moscow X, and the seventh floor. You like your spy stuff, don't you?

I do. I think you could be, I think Denner could be a spy, by the way. I think if you took a Spanish view, I don't. I don't. I think it's terrible. I just think you look at it.

He travels around. Europe, he's in and out of cities, he's only never stays too long. You know, I could just imagine him handing over a little envelope and receiving a, you know, a little maybe, you know, computer chip back or something and then reporting back to M or Q or whoever it is. Yeah, I could, I could see that. Wasn't there a funny story about you trying to get into Turkey one time years ago with Leeds and then they pulled you over for a rather in-depth search? Yes, there was. Yeah. I had played a, well, just to answer,

So being a spy, to be a spy, you've got to be a grey man. You've got to blend in. And I don't think necessarily that I could blend in. I think that's possibly what the big man was referring to. But there used to be the press officer at Leeds United in the late 90s and early 2000s, a guy called Dick Wright, who is no longer with us. And I'd played a windup on Dick. And to get me back, he basically got me arrested at Istanbul Airport.

So we traveled with the team, and I was with Peter Lorimer, and the West Yorkshire Police spotters, who used to also go out ahead of the game, there was about four of them. There was one lad in particular called Stan. And he said, oh, he said, Ian, Peter, can you go to passport control gate, whatever it was, 20, right at the far end? So I went right at the far end, and I'm thinking, this is a long trek. So I walk through and I have my passport over to the guy and he looks at it, looks at me, looks back at the passport, a game looks up. And I was getting a little bit agitated. And I said, is there a problem? Because everyone else had just gone straight through.

And he said, yes. He said, you are a hooligan on our list. I beg you pardon? Anyway, before I knew it, he's blown his whistle. They've asked me to go through passport control. And I am surrounded by 10 police officers. And I said, what's going on? At which point, one of Stan's mates has started filming me.

And I went, Stan, I said, tell him to stop filming. And I'm now getting a little bit beyond agitated. And I said, well, what's going to happen? And they said, we're going to have to deport you. I said, what? I said, I've got a commentary tomorrow. Anyway, this went on rather uncomfortably for another good five minutes, At which point I noticed Dick Wright hearing his head round the corner.

And Dick had got me back, and he'd got me back in a very, very good way. And in order to do it, he had got Legion United Security, a lady called Sue Watson involved, West Yorkshire Police, Istanbul Airport Police. They were all in on it. And it is one of the best wind-up. I mean, I love a wind-up. But I honestly thought I was getting deported and arrested. and Midnight Express at one point.

Deportes would have been the least of your problems. Midnight Express would have that would have been an issue. That flashed across my mind on more than one occasion. Oh, my way. I mean, please say that footage still exists somewhere and we can access. I mean, because usually when you tell these stories, you go, oh, there was no camera phones in those days, but the fact that the footage somewhere did and perhaps still does exist.

I think we need to get West Yorkshire Police, Turkish Secret Service, everyone involved in locating that footage and presenting it for, for TCV. Well, it's when I had hair, so it was that long ago and hopefully Stanner's since retired from West Yorkshire Police. That was a good memory, by the way, Connor. I always remember laughing that story. Brilliant. Yeah. Growing businesses deal with the same problem. Too many tools, too much back and forth and not enough time. Odu helps bring it all together. It's an all-in-one business management platform, fully integrated from sales and accounting to inventory and marketing. So your team can spend less time chasing information and focus on growth. Whether you're in retail,

manufacturing or service, Odu gives you one place to manage your business. Visit Odu.com to book a demo. It's O'Dbolo.com. Whether it's a parley on Sunday or a straight bet on the big game, you get way more with Betway. Must be 19 plus. Ontario only. Play responsibly. Concerned about your gambling, visit connectsonterio.ca. Wayne Rooney here. If you want to hear more from me, head over to the Wayne Rooney show on BBC Sounds today

to listen back to chat I have with the likes of Bruno Fernandez and Jordan Pickford and plenty more stories from the dressing room. Before I saw you guys playing so many times and I was following the club

for so long. Just coming to the club was already a dream come through, a privilege. Never thought or dreamed about being the captain of the club. I just wanted to play for it. Portugal have given me

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comes out You'll be the first to get every episode as soon as they're released. The commentators view on

the Football Daily Listen on BBC Sounds. Time for clash of the commentators last week Ali beat John on English

venues other than Wembley to have hosted an England men's match. The league table at the moment

is that John is on top but level with Ali. They both have three wins from five and Ian who hasn't

played as many games. So this is a distorted table, a chance maybe to put things right today. Ian is bottom of the table. One win from four. So John and Ian are going to take turns to answer a question

and give as many correct answers as they can in 30 seconds. Who wants to go first today? It's quite a big one, this isn't it? Shame I'm under the weather. Don't be getting your excuses in. That's twice out. You've gone under the weather and you're not honest like Rob Bonnet. I'll go second there. It'll give me more recovery time.

Okay. Ice bath for John. Okay. You ready? Ian is, I can't see John, so I presume John is disconnected. Right, Ian, with the Premier League returning, can you name players who have scored more than one Premier League goal so far this season? So with the Premier League returning, can you name players who have scored more than one Premier League goal so far this season? Your 30 seconds starts now.

Okay, Rogers, Palmer, Isaac, Saka, Barnes, Harvey Barnes Yorkeresh, Erdogard Go on, come on Vert, no, I should have just gone The Scattergun approach. It's a tough one, yeah, yeah. That was it.

Last week, Allie and John, we're discussing that, the Scattergun approach. That is a tough question. There's quite a lot of them who've done it. I was surprised how many. So you've got five correct answers, Ian. Right. Is that going to be enough to beat the big man?

No. The under the weather big man? Mind you, I only wrote down six, I think. Right. Shall we bring John back in? Is John available to come out of the quiet room? I'm back with you. How is the ice bath?

Feeling better now? Feeling refreshed? I think it might be a little bit better, yeah. Okay. Okay, so I will read the question exact same as I did to Ian. So here we go, John. With the Premier League returning, can you name players who have scored more than one Premier League goal so far this season?

So with the Premier League returning, can you name players to have scored more than one Premier League goal so far this season? Your 30 seconds starts now. Erling Harland. Havertz. Solis, maybe. Who else has? Bermal Gakpo

Eda Not either Isaac Um Who else Somebody somebody unexpected Oh I can't remember

Oh it's a tough one It's a tough question It's hard to think Under the pressure Hearing the music And has This could be tighter Than I thought it was going to be

Tate Has Deno just how Well, Don. We're just counting up the tally. He's going to hear word any second now. I can't believe I didn't say Harland. And had I said Holland, I'd have said Semenu and Cherokee.

So, Ian, you had five correct. And that has ended up being enough to win. It's five, four. Ian beats John in the clash of the commentators. Good question, Matt. It was a good question. Good question, Matt. There's so many.

Barry, Ballumie, Bogle, Brobie, Calvert Lewant, Cherokee, Davis Ilanga, Emerson, Bruno Fernandez, Gross, Halland, Havers Hinchelwood, Isak, Yanelt, Joe Pedro, King, Custulus, Mboumo, Mitchell, Odegarde, Palmer, Roger, Saka, Sharae,

Semenio, Tavaneer, Willock, and Yenna. So there was a lot there, but that is a tough question on the spot. But well done, Ian, congratulations. Well, no, thank you, Connor. And that tightens it right up then. All of a sudden, I'm within touching distance now.

Yeah, you are. Because John, the tell Ali, are three from five, and I'm two from five. Well, I'm three from six now. Oh, actually, you are. So, Ali is three from five. You're three from six. He's now top of the table. That is right, yeah, yeah. Yeah. And so you are now definitely within touching distance. I am. You're nervously looking over your shoulder. I am. I can't deny that.

Anyway, it is time for our unintended pub name of the week. Unintended pub name of the week. Which this week comes from Adam in Sutton-Colfield. Dear John Ian and ABB, listening to the England Chequier game on the drive home from work, I heard what I believe to be an unintended pub name. Here is Ezra on the left-hand side.

The Arsenal man in the full-back position, looking for the overlapping hall. Crosses though, left-footed over the top. Cain spins away. The defender was with him, but it bounces down in his clear away. out of play towards the halfway line. John made reference to the overlapping hall

a venue, I imagine, to be a grand, high-ceiling tavern where burly bearded patrons swig meed from tankards. Suits of armour in the shape and size of great wing backs of the past, line the walls and entry is conditional on presentation on the perfect

cross, be that one of St. George or a Celtic cross carried by Irish, Welsh, or Scottish brethren. I love the podcast. It's a fascinating and entertaining insight into your world and I listen religiously. Keep up the good work, Adam from Sutton-Colfield. I think it's very good. I'd even get rid of the the, you know, I just think overlapping hall, it enters the Kiernan-Jewsbury territory of potential wedding venues. But yeah,

the overlapping hall is where the event will be held this Saturday. That absolutely works for me. Yeah. And actually, he could be quite a, he could be a regular feature, couldn't he? So, because it'd because there must be so many opportunities that end in hall for an unintended pub name. But I was thinking then in the overlapping hall, you could have sort of like sweets or rooms. So you could have the Lewis room, the Fitz, the Fitz Hall, remember that?

His nickname was, was his nickname One Size. That's right, yeah. One size Fitzhall. You'd be good in that one, John, wouldn't you? Yeah, well, I would, yeah. Yeah. other halls are available. Right, great glossary of football

as we build our collection of commentary terms and phrases. Division one for football exclusive terms and for terms used across various sports, that's Division 2. Last week, Division 1 was gone to ground and UEFA penalty, but I said I did enjoy that one,

the UEFA penalty from Matt Uppeson. And buying a penalty was Division 2. But Lesterfan James, hello guys, I think the phrase is going to to ground should be changed to Division 2. This is because it's used in rugby, but it's grounding or brought to ground,

which sounds quite familiar. I remember at school once we played rugby and had to go to ground with the ball, so someone could go and collect the ball. I don't know if this is a nailed on Division 2 entry, but maybe you could discuss this. Keep up the good work, James. I was on the show last week.

I sort of was certainly, I mean, this was the whole day that was gone to ground. He hasn't shut up at the pub this week. I thought it was Division 2 anyway, but it was obviously voted into Division 1 above my head and I bowed to the superior knowledge of the others on the panel but yeah for me it was always Division 2. Yeah, I definitely didn't go to ground

if anything last week I was flying. I think the phrase going to ground too easily is a football phrase. So going to ground I think would be widely used but I think going to ground too easily. I can't think that you'd say that another sport, would you? I think that's good.

Should we amend that? Okay. That would be a new task for our new producer, Chris, which actually probably gives us an opportunity to say to our former producer, Nathan, who was an integral part of the success of TCB, that he will be sorely missed because of the work that he diligently put in to create so many little snippets that have furnished. the TCP podcast down the months and, well, almost years now as we enter our second season.

Here, here. Yes, absolutely. We should very much thank Nathan for all of his efforts. And he may appear again, sporadically. But for the time being, we have new producer Chris, who I think on this podcast should be referred to as childman. Do you remember this story? No. He'll hate that I'm going to tell it.

When he was the football producer, when we went to Azerbaijan last season for the Carabag match, the Newcastle matching in Baku against Carabag, we were in a restaurant a night before the match. And this quite, he was quite a character, the waiter. And he was larger than life. And he very quickly latched on to Chris, who's quite fresh-faced, let's put it that way.

Aren't we all? And he, and he immediately referred to Chris by the name of childman, child man, childman. No, it was childman, childman, childman, you, childman, what do you want to eat? So I think on this podcast, now Chris is the regular producer, he should be referred to it as childman. Right. You'll hate it now, Chris, but you'll like it in future years. You will. You will.

Particularly when all of your friends start calling, you childman. The only thing I thought of is that because Chris's nickname is Psycho, Chris Psycho, I thought every time we refer to him, you could then have the Psycho theme tune. Oh, yeah. That's a good idea. You know, like how Nathan would sprinkle in a little bit of Faulty Towers or Ted Lowe or whatever. Every time we refer to Chris, we could have whatever the Psycho theme tune was. I'm not sure you're going to get much cooperation from him. We need a third party involved here.

But he might prefer that to the alternative of Chalb. He might do. It's one of the other, Chris. You choose. Choose your weapon. Also, just going back to, and I mentioned this to Matt Upsen, who was with us in Croatia, for the England match there.

Where incidentally, Matt, Matt, I think on the morning of the match went paddleboarding off across the Adriatic. it was one of those where I thought, I hope he comes back. Anyway, which reminds me of the Chris Waddell story about Gaza going off on a,

on a, what do they call, Jetsky? And it just went straight out towards the horizon. I presume he's got to come back. I thought exactly the same then, Connor. But also, a regular listener, Jacob Steinberg from The Guardian, said to me on Matt's UEFA,

penalty, Jacob said. He said, it's not, it's, that wasn't Matt UPS. That has been referred to as a UA for penalty for some time. However, it's still a division one entry. Yeah, but basically Jacob's now taking away the credit for Matt Ubson. The next one comes from Steve in Long Eaton, who says, hi to the Holy Trinity of TCV. Well, it's more than a Trinity now. What would, what would the equivalent of a Trinity be for four? Steve says, I love the podcast. I love the podcast. and regularly listen while walking my six-year-old Shih Tzu, Bailey. I'm writing on his behalf so that this gets read out. Sadly, I'm not six and haven't been for over half a century. Anyway, Bailey suggests that one for the cameras should be added to Division I. We've all seen that keeper, either on TV or the park, that will dive

spectacularly to catch the ball or tip one over where more sensible ones will just nonchalantly deal with what's coming their way. Hope that Bailey makes the cut. Failing that, if the doggy football team is still recruiting, Bailey would make a good draft excluder as after walks, he sleeps lots. Keep up the good work fellas and that is from Steve in Long Eaton. And thanks very much to that contribution from Bailey, the six-year-old shit. too and that actually reminds me of I don't know whether you're third and I think he's I think he's a brilliant radio reporter David Sillito who is the absolute master of packages as we would call them that are obituaries and when when Esther Ransom died a couple of weeks ago David Sillito's

lengthy package was a brilliant piece of work and it also it included that it included the line which was something like and it even included dogs that said, and then he included the clip where the dog says, Saasat Javs. It's a great. He just that little clip of the dog saying sausages. So Bailey, a little bit like that dog that said sausages. Well, that's a very good contribution, isn't it, from a little dog.

How did it go again? Sao, charge. I think one for the camera is certainly in there. I can't have it as Division I, though. I mean, there's very few sports where somebody can't do something flamboyantly just for the cameras. I mean,

all of the American sports is sort of all the time. By the way, a group or a set of four is a quaternity or a quadrinity according to the internet. The holy quadrinity?

Quadrinity. I could be pronouncing around me. I like, I like Con, I think that's got to be Division II. Division two, yeah. Yeah, division two. Another correspondence.

Hello, TCV. I'm Ethan, a diehard Liverpool fan, and I'm 14, brackets, so I'm expecting to be read out or I'll be very disappointed, close brackets. The people have figured out the system here. And I love listening to the show. My suggestion for the glossary is roll their studs over the ball. I think this would be primarily used in football, but maybe occasionally in rugby. And I think this would be a strong div too, although I'd be very happy to be proven wrong. And keep up the great show, says Ethan, the Liverpool fan, who's been in touch.

So rolled their studs over the ball. I mean, it's a lovely expression. I really like this. You know, when I'm driving in the car and I'm listening to someone commentating a football and they describe a player rolling, their studs over the ball. You can immediately picture what's been said.

So I think it's definitely going in the glossary. The question for you guys is div 1 or div 2? Yeah, it's got to be Division 2, hasn't it? For exactly the reason that Ethan points out. Yeah, you can see the scrum half at the base of the... The base of the mall or the rock and often the number 8 in front of him

is just rolling it back under his studs. Yeah, it's unfortunate. for the phrase, but it very much is used in that context, yeah. So, div too. But thank you very much for the contribution, Ethan. Well, as far as the new editions go, we've had this suggestion from Mike in Plumstead. Good day, gentlemen. Big fan of your work, both on the games and behind the scenes.

Entry for your great glossary, one of surprise not to have heard yet, 10 men behind the ball. Not as used as often now as the more contemporary low block, but I don't think anything else paints quite the perfect picture of a team defending in numbers, getting in everyone in their own half to see off attacks. Thanks very much. Keep up the great work. Thank you, Mike.

And that is a rather compelling case, I would suggest. So I'm trying to think other sports that have 11 players, the one that's coming to mind is hockey. In hockey, do you put 10 men behind the ball when it's a men's game? I don't know. I don't listen to much hockey commentary, I'll be honest. I'm ashamed to say how many people play hockey? Probably more than you think.

Yeah, I think that's a popular sport. No, no, but I mean, how many aside? Oh, 11. No, no, 11, yeah. Because I always remember that that it's sort of, you know, you could have similar formations that you would have in football, the 4-3-3, et cetera, in hockey. There's 11 players on a pitch in hockey?

Yeah, yeah, 11. Again, when you go into that slightly high-pitched tone, I then down. everything. I doubt that my name is Connor. Is it really? But no, it is. Field hockey. I don't know about ice hockey, but field hockey is definitely 11. Ah, I was thinking ice hockey.

As soon as As soon as Mike said that, I immediately thought of the Aztec Stadium. Ten men behind the ball. England with ten men behind the ball. I probably said that. Probably said that 15 times in the last half hour of that

match. So that's probably, I think we should put that into Division 1. I think we should put that into Division 1 and then see what happens. It is a very prominent football phrase, absolutely. So field hockey has 11 players on the pitch. Ice hockey has six players on the rink. So when I used to live in near Newcastle, I used to go and watch the Newcastle ice hockey side.

When Rick Brabant was the coach. We were clearly talking about, we were clearly talking about field. hockey, though. You wouldn't put ten men behind the ball on an ice rink, would you? And it's not a ball either. All right. Ten men behind the puck.

Five men behind the puck, because one would have had to have been sent off. So that's going to Division I? I think so, yeah, don't you? Yeah. And also, Childman has sent us a contribution. In that he confirms that Erling Browd's Harland scored nine goals as Norway thrashed Honduras 12-0 at the FIFA Under 20 World Cup in Poland, Con. Oh, so I was wrong about the age.

It wasn't under 21, it was under 20, but I'm glad I'm not going to senile yet. So good. Okay, he did score nine goals. So he would have acclaimed to that title as well in terms of if we're going to put a number on it. Right. Along with, what was it, Ted McDougal. So it could be the Erling McDougal or maybe the Ted Halland, we could call it.

So, in summary, 10 men behind the ball, division one, going to ground demoted to division two, one for the cameras, Division 2, and also in Division 2, roll their studs. However, because of 10 men behind the ball, we still get this.

Hooray! But I thought we were going to put going to ground too easily into Division 1. Listen, I can only read what's in front of me. Good point well made. TBC, as they say. So that's it for this episode of the commentator's view.

Questions and correspondence. Always welcome anytime to TCV at BBC.co.com. Or you can send us a message or voice note on the WhatsApp thingy to 08,289-389. Thank you to Connor and thank you to John. I'm a big fan of all three of you. You might change that now to all four of us because Connor has appeared in the last couple of weeks. A late comer to TCV, it's fair to say.

Although warm to all your reminisces. Also, it says always, not although. I would have to get your bifocal sorting out. I'll tell you. I'm going off my little... Well, I know, but... Anyway, I'll do that again. I'm Steve Bracknell,

assistant manager of Sunday League powerhouses, the Royal Oak FC. And I'm back in changing room at Royal Oak for a new season of Games Gone, the podcast that takes you back to the grassroots of the game. With my colleague Paul Samson and Bob the Bucket, and this season, we're aiming for promotion to Division D of the Sheffield Sunday Imperial League.

Games Gone, the Steve Bracknell podcast. Listen on BBC Sounds. The Signal Awards just announced finalists for the best podcasts of 2026. Now it's your turn. From September 29th to October 15th, you decide your favorite shows, hosts, and more in the Listener's Choice Awards. Visit vote.com to see finalists in categories like most innovative audio experience. Make your picks at vote. Dot signalaward.com and tell a friend.

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