Football Daily - The Commentators' View: Pink slices & number zones

Episode Date: August 22, 2025

John Murray, Ian Dennis & Ali Bruce-Ball talk football, travel & language. They have their say on Alexander Isak and look ahead to the second weekend of Premier League commentaries. Will John���s losing run in Clash of the Commentators ever end? And will the Great Glossary of Football Commentary get its first additions of the season? WhatsApp voicenotes to 08000 289 369. Emails to [e-mail]01:50 Ian on returning to the Stadium of Light 07:10 Ian makes a ‘horlicks’ of the team news 10:15 Premier League commentaries this weekend 12:20 Ali gets dropped to the commentator’s bench 13:55 John goes Sesko not Šeško 15:35 Sunderland make kit numbers clearer! 17:30 Fulham selling espresso martinis & margaritas 21:40 Alexander Isak ‘behaving like a spoilt child’ 25:25 John vs Ian in a dramatic Clash of the Commentators 33:25 Bundesliga lands on the BBC 37:40 Great Glossary of Football CommentaryBBC Sounds / 5 Live Premier League commentaries: Sat 1500 Brentford v Aston Villa, Sat 1500 Burnley v Sunderland on Sports Extra, Sat 1730 Arsenal v Leeds, Sun 1400 Everton v Brighton, Sun 1400 Crystal Palace v Nottingham Forest on Sports Extra, Sun 1630 Fulham v Man Utd.Glossary so far: 2-0 is a dangerous score, After you Claude, All-Premier League affair, Aplomb, Brace, Brandished, Breaking the deadlock, Bundled over the line, Champions elect / champions apparent, Clinical finish, Commentator’s curse, Coupon buster, Cultured/Educated left foot, Denied by the woodwork, Draught excluder, Elimination line, Fellow countryman, Foot race, Formerly of this parish, Fox in the box, Free hit, Goalkeepers’ Union, Goalmouth scramble, Good touch for a big man, Honeymoon Period, In and around, In the shop window, Keeping ball under their spell, Languishing, Loitering with intent, Marching orders, Nestle in the bottom corner, Numbered derbies, Nutmeg, Opposite number, Park the bus, PK for penalty-kick, Postage stamp, Put it in the mixer, Put their laces through it, Rasping shot, Red wine not white wine, Relegation six-pointer, Rooted at the bottom, Route One, Roy of the Rovers stuff, Sending the goalkeeper the wrong way, Shooting boots, Sleeping giants, Slide rule pass, Small matter of, Spiders web, Stayed hit, Steepling, Stinging the palms, Stonewall penalty, Straight off the training ground, Stramash, Team that likes to play football, Throw their cap on it, Thruppenny bit head / 50p head, Towering header, Turning into a basketball match, Turning into a cricket score, Two good feet, Walking a disciplinary tightrope, Wand of a left foot, We’ve got a cup tie on our hands, Where the owl sleeps, Winger in their pocket, Wrap foot around it, Your De Bruynes, your Gundogans etc.

This BBC podcast is supported by ads outside the UK. To embrace the impossible requires a vehicle that pushes what's possible. Defender 110 boasts a towing capacity of 3,500 kilograms, a weighting depth of 900mm and a roof load up to 300 kilograms. Learn more at Landrover.ca. Ever feel like car shopping is designed to make your second guess yourself? Is this a good price? Am I making the right choice? With car gurus, you don't have to wonder. They have hundreds of thousands of cars from top-rated dealers and advanced search tools, deal ratings and price history.

So you know a great deal when you see one. That's c-ar-g-U-R-U-S.ca.cair-Gurus.cairous.com. BBC Sounds. Music, radio, podcasts. John, where's the muff? Well, we'll get into that. Oh, he's got one. Oh. Oh, so the old one didn't turn up?

Didn't turn up? I don't know where it is. It didn't turn out. It's not like you. We good, John. Do you want to test them off? There it is. Lovely.

The Commentator's View on the Football Daily with Alistair Bruce Ball, John Murray and Ian Dennis. Hello, welcome to the Football Daily. I'm Alistair Bruce Ball, and this is the commentator's view, the podcast where us five live commentators talk about where we've been, what we've seen on our football travels, and the language we use to describe it. point of view as regular listeners will be aware that's not been very much so far this season due to an ill-timed but much enjoyed late summer holiday but that is not the case for correspondent john murray and senior reporter ian dennis who've already been hard at it this season since we last spoke john i think you've done the community shield you went to udine for the super cup wolves manchester city and manchester united

arsenal am i missing anything there no it was a hectic start to the season I must say over the course of that first week and a half or so and I've seen some good matches I have to say and the the Super Cup the UEFA Super Cup in Udine was a was a real experience and a dramatic match dramatic turnaround from Paris Saint-German and also during that trip we managed to sneak in a few hours in Venice with our little team which was quite stunning so made it all in all quite a memorable trip and the weather was fantastic as well over that Yeah. And Ian, I know you've not been to Venice, but you have been to the Stadium of Light, and I've obviously been catching up with all my scores and details and highlights and whatever.

That sounded incredible, the Stadium and Light on the opening day of the season. Yeah, the atmosphere didn't disappoint, Ellie, I've got to say. New position, which was, obviously, I told you about my anxiety dream, but that I wouldn't be able to view anything at the Stadium of Light, so we're a little bit more central on the halfway line. so it holds what 49,000 the stadium of light it wasn't quite full to capacity due to the segregation but the raw when the two teams came out so you had the prokofiev and then you had the we're ready to go which the supporters joined in and then the roar was just sensational and

to be fair to sundland they deserve the win west ham were atrocious but sundland that said with patrick keelty last week so i'm not being wise after the event of all of the three promoted sides I give them the greatest hope because I think they've recruited really, really well And I saw you put the stat on social media this week sort of comparing the starts that the newly promoted teams made last season

how long it took them to get their first win Leeds of one, Sunderland of one and I know it is only one weekend of the season but does that give you hope possibly that those teams are going to make a better fist of it than the three did last season? Yeah, it does. I think it's not only important

for the clubs to hit the ground, running but I think it's also important for the Premier League that there is a competitive nature because for the last two seasons all three promoted sides have gone straight back down and before that in the in the history of the Premier League it only happened once and that was 97 98 so I think you can't have this situation where teams are just coming straight up and going straight back down I don't think that's very good for a competitive nature of the Premier League so it was important for the two clubs to get their first win and equally Ellen Road sounded as raucous as ever on Monday night against Everton

the penalty obviously caused a great deal of debate but I think the two atmospheres I think are welcome additions to the Premier League with their sets of supporters but you see Sunderland have spent a lot of money the week before the start of the Premier League season I did work out how much had been spent roughly which is all you can do because all of the various undisclosed fees etc etc but clearly the top clubs, the top four plus Manchester United, Tottenham, spent a great deal. Sunderland were not far short of that, and on a par actually with one or two.

So they've obviously been able to do that within the financial rules. And therefore, you know, the fruits were there for all to see right from the start. So, you know, we shouldn't be bowled over, should we? But team that comes up spends 150 plus million pounds and is actually significantly better. Ipswich last season spent a lot of money but I think the difference between the two is that Ipswich by and large spent a lot of their money on players

who are proven in the championship Sunderland have spent players with Premier League experience or up and coming players who there's, you know, Habib Diyah I think he's going to be an excellent addition in the midfield. He's got drive, he's got pace, he's got

an eye for goal as we saw John when Senegal played England in June at the city ground and I've just actually been scrambling around for that statistic So last season, Lester's first win was the 5th of October, Southampton the 2nd of November, Ipswich the 10th of November.

So that's why I said the significance and the importance for both Sunderland and Leeds to get their wins on the board. And also, it takes a lot of the pressure off. Emails always, TCV at BBC.co.com. And the voice notes come on WhatsApp to 08,289-369. Janet has got in touch on the email, and she wants to know whether Ian had one of Tommy's signature pies, Sunderland have a Michelin-Stard chef, Tommy Banks, doing their catering.

Were you aware of? I'd be surprised if you weren't aware of that, actually, him. I wasn't aware of that, no. He has a restaurant in, or it's like a pub, isn't it, in North Yorkshire? Yes. Okay. So you didn't have one. No, I wasn't aware of that, although I will be next time ago. Although I did get asked a couple of times on social media about, did you have a pink slice?

And I went, what is it with the pink slice? and supposedly in the media room they hand out pink slices and the little cakes but I was in a rush because I got an opportunity to speak to Richard Masters the Premier League Chief Executive Over a pink slice?

Ahead of the game. You've seen a lot of Richard Masters, haven't you recently? I have of late, yeah, we've become new best friends and I had to get to the tunnel at about quarter past one so therefore it meant that I was first in the queue for what was a spicy chicken with sticky rice

woof that down and then shot straight to the tunnel did the interview and then climb the stairs for a second time that afternoon and I actually put the stairs on what did you call it

when you speed up the video fast motion is it anyway there's another oh what to do a little video of your climb from the bottom to the top to show the listeners yeah yeah so I did that twice so I think they're going to certainly

keep me time lapse did you count the steps time lapse that's it It was a time-lapse video. Yeah. Somebody told me, I didn't actually hear this because I was already kind of in place at Molyneux, but after all that, you were a little flustered when you came on with the team news.

I was a little flustered, yeah. As a result of all of that. Yeah. In fact, not only was I flustered, I made a right horlicks of the team news. I'm going to be honest. Much to hair Chapman's delight. Well, one or two mentioned it to me at Molyneux, first of which needed. To say was Michael Brown.

Yeah. They're back in the top flight for the first time in eight years. They give debuts to seven players in the starting lineup, including their new captain Granite Jacker. Well, as for West Ham, their debutantes include Malik Dube, the left wing back, and also in the midfield. They also have starting up front. It's all right.

It's in goal. Hermanson, in goal. Matt Hermanson from Leicester. Yeah. Start the season, isn't it? It takes us a while to get up and running. Yeah, hopefully that's just the first of the first error out of the way. What?

In midfield on front hand and goal? He's very versatile. John South Holland. Where do I start? I don't know. Go for it. Well, there's a cracking atmosphere here. Before we get on to this weekend's action, John, obviously, must describe.

Just ahead of this podcast, you have taken out a bag. opened up a brand new football daily mic muff so in our last episode we couldn't quite work out where your mike muff had disappeared to but that i mean you know correspondent clicks his fingers and you one arrives and there it is and it's a bit like you know when at wimbledon when the tennis players have a new tennis racket and it's in a plastic bag that's what that was what the case with with the new mike muff so i had to actually get it out of the plastic bag so it is pristine but when they do that they then take another racket don't they and sort of ding the two You sets of strings together.

Yeah. So you actually need a couple of those, don't need to sort of... Could have done that. I could have done that. It was my fine. Good. Right. I mentioned the voice notes.

08,000 289-369. Here's the first one of this pod. We're going to start with this with some familiar voices from last season. Hello. This is Joseph from Palmer's Green. And next to me is... What's your name? She's refusing to speak.

So I get her brother to introduce her. Who is next to me? Lottie. And who are you? Ruben. Great. Now, I hope you had a good holiday and it's good to have you back and

Looking forward to be for the new season. Yes, we are and we're looking forward to all those debates that you have and we look forward to listening to them. And what else do we like to say? It's better.

Then the Monday night club. Yep. All right. Speak you soon. How cute is that? Excellent. Joseph Rubin and Lottie from Palmer's Green That needs to get played

Well it'll never get played on the Monday Night Club But that's where it needs to get played Does very much need to be played On the Monday Night Club Right so looking ahead to the Five Live Commentaries Coming Your Way this weekend We are bringing you commentary of 209 Premier League games this season

Saturday 3 o'clock Ian well we're recording this 830 Friday morning Because Ian's got one of those long drives down to London Ian is at Brentford for Brentford against Aston Villa. That is alongside Rob Green. On sports extra choice of listening Saturday afternoon is Burnley Sunderland.

John's also in London, has a journey to make today. Arsenal Leeds Saturday 5.30. And then Sunday 2 o'clock, we are live from the Hill Dickinson Stadium. So Steve Crosman is going to present the show there. Everton's men's team's first home game against Brighton in the new stadium. 2 o'clock on Sports Extra on Sunday. Palace against Nottingham Forest, which, you know, given the old Europa League, Europa Conference League, is a really tasty fixture that one this weekend. And then Full of Manchester United, Sunday 4.30, John again alongside Clinton Morrison.

Ian, just going all the way back to the first game, Brentford Villa, so Saturday 3 o'clock for you. Villa with the nil-0 in their first Premier League game of the season against Chelsea. And Brentford, obviously, under Keith Andrews, interesting appointment made by Brentford. after the departure of Thomas Frank and obviously they've started with the defeat as well so that's an important game for them it is yeah

and doing my homework as I have in their top flight history in their nine previous seasons they are undefeated for their first home game of a new campaign in the top flight and not just since they got promoted in 2021 but it also goes back

to the 1930s and the one season they had in the top flight in the 1940s but a very very tough game against Aston Villa bearing in mind Keith's got a difficult job to do in the following the footsteps of Thomas Franks

they've lost the manager they've lost the captain in Christian Norgaard they've lost Brian and Bumo they're going to lose Joanne Whistice they've lost a lot of goals so it is going to be a season of transition for Brentford this season

John Arsenal Leeds and Fulham Manchester United so you obviously did Manchester United Arsenal last weekend what did you make of those two going into these games yeah definitely positive for Manchester United

with the performance as we made very clear last Sunday afternoon, but they did lose the match and I think this weekend watching them both again I'm very much looking forward to because the narrative ahead of that match was two new centre forwards, Sesco and Yokorez, you know, what

impact would they make? As it turned out, really, they were both very quiet, admittedly Sesco just a half hour or so on the pitch at the end. So this weekend, A with Arsenal, are we going to see a best a performance from them, and I do get it absolutely, that they put in a

performance that really wasn't that impressive, but they won the match. And I think maybe another week, that midfield, that I was looking forward to saying of Zubimendi and Odegaard and Rice, that didn't particularly click, I didn't think, but they've had another week to work on it, so I'll say how that works tomorrow.

And also, for Manchester United, against Fulham, who, you know, I think they're the lowest spenders, aren't they? And the Premier League so far in this transfer window but there is that consistency there

we know that they do carry a threat and Manchester United I presume will actually for the first time from the start of the match have that new front three so just to see how that works together but certainly I felt Cuneo is the one who caught the eye most and looked most

settled and most if you like Manchester United like out of the three can't help but notice there you went CESCO rather than Sheshko Yeah, I had a big debate with myself about this and we have mentioned it already this season, haven't we? And Ian, you sent through the new pronunciations

and he pronounces it Benjamin Sheshko. Benjamin Sheshko. But I felt that if I did that, I was going to be conflicted. And I think to an extent, you do have to anglicise some pronunciations and I think you have to commentate with what you feel comfortable with.

and I think a good example of this is if you get a chance to listen to Christian Norgaard the new Arsenal signing Christian Norgo Christian Norgo There is no way that an English-speaking

commentator is not going to anglicize that Yeah, in fact the same video Everyone at Sundlin calls Maenda Eliza Meander But he is Spanish So he actually pronounces his Christian name as Eleeather

Elyzer, Mayenda. Eliezer, Mayenda. I thought, well, what we're going to do? So I just thought, well, spoke to Nick Barnes, the commentator for Sunderland at Radio Newcastle, Eliza. And I just thought, everybody recognizes Eliza Mayenda rather than Eleyther. And I think at times, you can do it the correct way,

but you can come across as too clever. I agree. Clash of the commentator's famous Elizas? Go ahead, John. Got to be do little. Well, Eliza, you. Eliza Doolittle, yeah, definitely. Elisa, who does our rota?

Clash of the commentators is on the way. Sunderland shirts, Ian. We were discussing them in the last pod and our worries about having to commentate on Sunderland from a distance. How are the Sunderland shirts? Well, because of your holiday, we recorded last week's episode

the week before, didn't we? Yeah, yeah. And then, so, we had a briefing with the Premier League, and I asked the question, When will you put blocks on the back of striped shirts? Will it be this season, if not, why not? And Tony Scholes replied,

the second part of your question is irrelevant because we've introduced number zones. And I've got to say, the number block for Sunderland's red and white striped shirts was a manor from heaven. And not before time. So that's the official name of a number zone. A number zone.

That is classic Premier League, isn't it? On a striped shirt or a shirt with a fancy design, The number zone has got to be free. So it's basically a panel. Yes. But it's called a number zone. Although I've got to say, so I tongue in cheek put this on social media and everyone said, oh, it's going to ruin the shirts, whatever.

But the Premier League clubs now these days, as Newcastle did in the Champions League last year, it doesn't have to necessarily affect the replica shirt that the supporters are going to buy. You can just produce a match shirt with a block on the back. because I've actually been sent a picture of a Newcastle shirt and it doesn't have the stripes. It just has a, if you don't have the number or a name on the, it does look strange, just to have this white void on the black and white shirt. So I get where the supporters are coming from in that sense.

But the club surely can just say, I tell you what, we're going to have a match day shirt and a replica shirt. And if you want the stripes, you can have the stripes. The kit manufacturers can produce two versions, can't they? They'll have enough money for that. But, well done to the Premier League. finally coming into step with UEFA on that. That is great news.

Fullam on Sunday, John, it's been brought to my attention this week. You can now buy an espresso martini at Craven Cottage. So we were talking about the posh pies at Sunderland. The espresso martini, they also do a Jimenez handshake margarita in tribute to their centre forward, Raul Jimenez. So it's almost beholden on you, I think, on Sunday, possibly pre-matched to get a Jimenez handshake margarita down you. Pre-match.

I presume they'll do them non-alcoholic as opposed to... The mock tail. As opposed, yeah, the mock tail. I'm not sure they'll sell... Will they sell them on our side of the ground? Or will they just be... Or will they just be on sale in the new stand next to the river? Yes.

Poolside, even, possibly. Can you find out how much they cost as well? Because I'll imagine that they won't be cheap. I'll do that. I will find that out. What do we think? How much do we think? How much do we think?

a Jimenez handshake Margarita would cost at Craven Cottage. I'm going to say that... 15 pounds. Not as much as that. No, I'm going to go 12.50. I'm going to say 950. I'm saying that's probably more than that, isn't it?

950. No, actually, I'm going to say 950. 950. Okay, excellent. I will report back next week. Photographic evidence required. Photographic evidence required. Require. So yes, and let's just say as well again, you know, the number of commentaries that we're doing this season, you know, that is, for new listeners to this, you know, we're quite moderate on here, aren't we? But we do our best work when we're commentating, or at least we try to do our best work when we're commentating. And, and, you know, there is nothing like with the football season stretching ahead of us, most of it, that, you know, that is a real companion, radio sports commentary, radio football.

commentary throughout the dark nights of the winter that are coming yeah but but also john that as i mentioned earlier on that the choice of listening even more choice of listening now available obviously we've got those other sports extra streams that are there on the BBC sounds app in sports extra two and sports extra three but i was just thinking you know if you want you know Ian on a saturday afternoon will be at his at his game and you're going to get everything you need you know all the other scores and everything else coming in as per usual but if you want commentary of a specific a game, a different game at three o'clock on Saturday. You know, you've got that this weekend as well.

So that's a fantastic offering. That's new for this season that we're offering a choice of commentaries on a Saturday afternoon. Actually, that match, Burnley-Sundland, is a very, very good match, the one that's on Sports Extra. However, listeners might be saying, Ali, after running through all of those commentary matches and who's doing them, now Ali's back from holiday. What's he doing? Where is he? Well, it's a good question, John. So Saturday is another day off that I had booked in the diary ages and ages and ages ago.

So Lucy and I, my wife and I are going to go and watch Coldplay at Wembley on Saturday. I made myself available for selection on Sunday, but I've not been picked. And actually, Ross the Boss has been quite kind to me there. You're at Fulham, which would have been my kind of local game. Could have done Palace against Nottingham Forest, I guess. But I think Ross the boss is just keeping me fresh. and I'm being launched into action next week Tuesday night at Hillsborough in the League Cup

that's going to be my first commentary of the season Sheffield Wednesday against Leeds which is a cracking way actually I think to start the season I'm looking forward to that game but you're not putting out a message on social media I was a bit worried about that it might be angling for a move I've knocked on the manager's door

have you deleted the BBC from all of your social media I must mention this Monday nights we'll have updates on this game in the Monday nightclub on Five Live and BBC Sounds, but it's Newcastle against Liverpool, which is always, you know, a cracking Premier League fixture. It's given us some of the best Premier League football down the years, always very keenly contested.

But this time, chaps, given what's going on with Alexander Isak, even more so. And I don't know if there's anything particularly new we can add to the ESAC discussion as we sit here this morning. But what do you make of that? looking in from the outside what's going on there i enjoyed reading oliver brown the sports writer who said that isaac and wissa have come across us almost like two teenagers facing their first breakup you know the sort of reaction that there's been from the two of them and you know who

knows where it's going to go and who's going to get what they want and who isn't going to get what they want i think what is something to look forward to in inverted commas is if they don't get the moves how they do then reintegrate themselves back into the setup because they will have to do that if the moves don't happen which it does look as though they will but if they don't then then how they go about that I mean we could see some backsliding of monumental proportions couldn't we Isaac has behaved like a spoiled child and I think he wants his cake and he wants to eat it and I think he's shown a great level of disrespect to Newcastle United and in particular the supporters who've idolized him

he's tarnished his reputation I can't understand if he wants the move as badly as it as it would appear why is he not handed in a transfer request and we know the reasons why because of the financial ramifications that he would forsake if that was to happen

but I just think that he's been badly advised and I wouldn't at all be surprised if after that game he goes for somewhere in the region of £130 million pounds that the deal is done and then the player

is off his hands. I just, I can't see a way for him to stay. I think it would be irretrievable now. The situation, with after his statement and what Newcastle have said, if it doesn't happen, but I think it will, but if it doesn't happen, then good luck with trying to reintegrate him back into the squad. You're also looking at now, in other clubs being severely disrupted, if this does happen late, and, you know, Yorgand Strand-Larsen has been mentioned as a possible target for Newcastle United and on my viewing of wolves last weekend you know he is so important to them wolves also you know Ditto Pereira was saying that he wants I think he said three or four more signings lose Jorgon Strand Larson and wolves are really in a position there where they've got

to act very very quickly so you know there is the knock-on effect there as well the thing is with that Newcastle I think showed interest in Strand Larson earlier in the summer didn't necessarily pursue it and then certainly of a week ago were still back very much interested in Strand Larson but wolves are aware of that as well so I think there'll be a lot going on behind the scenes so wolves will be aware that they could potentially lose Stran Larson so they too would have a potential replacement

it's like the old domino effect we are back with the Fantasy 606 podcast whoa whoa Chris I've got to stop you there we have changed our name this season to the FPL podcast from BBC Sports. All you need to do is search for FPL, and if you already subscribe to our podcast, you don't need to do anything at all. Chris, have a guess what the code to join the BBC Sport League is. Was it 5E?

It's BBC FPL. Oh, yeah. Come and play the game with us as we continue to teach Chris about fantasy Premier League. The FPL podcast from BBC Sports. on BBC Sounds. Bring more gear, carry more passengers, face greater challenges. Welcome to the world of Defender,

with seating up to eight, ample cargo space and legendary off-road capability. It's built to make the most of every adventure. Learn more at landrover.ca. The commentators view on the Football Daily with Alistair Bruce Ball, John Murray, and Ian Dennis. Right, the subject of Alexander Isak takes us on perfectly to this week's clash of the commentators.

This is John against Ian this week. Last week, I managed to edge past John on Sunderland managers. So one from one for me. Ian yet to play, so unable to score. And John, unable to sort of reverse the dreadful run he had at the end of last season. Nort from one, says here in brackets, 11 defeats in a row. Who would like to go first in Clash of the Commentators today? I don't want to go at all.

Well, I'm afraid you've got to. Should I go first? You want to go first? Go on then. Okay. Ian is going to unplug. When I read the first part of this question today, John, I thought this is the hardest one we've ever had. Hardest one we've ever had?

Well, it would have been, but there's a bit of leeway here. Luckily for you both, because this would have been a nightmare. Here we go. All the talk this week has been around Alexander Isaki. Where's number 14 for Newcastle United? I want you to name any player to have worn the number 14 for Newcastle United. But to help you out, we'll let you have any Newcastle number nines as well. I mean, without the number nine's.

I'm certainly looking at the number 14. Exactly. So any player... I'd be scrabbling around desperately. Any player to have worn 14 or 9 for Newcastle. By the way, and this is, this is not just Premier League, which will delight you. This is all the way back.

Your time starts now. Alan Shearer. Andy Carroll. Malcolm McDonald. Alan Fogginware number nine, quite possibly. did Callum Wilson went in any stage? I'm going to say him

just in case then go a bit further time because oh god there I think that's a good effort John I think that's competitive

there's a couple there you'll kick yourself but you've got a couple of crackers there's going to beat me that do you think yeah he commented on Newcastle in local radio that's true

that's waving back in okay hello hello Ian you're back with us here we go without further ado I just said to John when I read the first part

of this question this week I thought this is the hardest one we've ever had but luckily the restrictions were relaxed a little have a listen to this see what you think all the talk this week

around Alexander Isak he wears the number 14 shirt for Newcastle United so I want you to name any player to have worn the number 14 for Newcastle United but to make it easy we're going to let you have any Newcastle number nines as well with Isak obviously being the centre forward so it's anyone to have won 14 or nine for Newcastle and it's not just Premier League it is all time and your time starts now well Alan Shearer Jackie Milburn Malcolm Macdonald Stefan Givash

Andreas Anderson Tina Espria Les Ferdinand David Ginola or Ginola Andreas Anderson have I said him Imreiberi Radi Mickey Quinn Oh no Too late there unfortunately I don't think we can't Mickey Quinn at the end there

That was after the goon of the music So Andreas Anderson Did he weigh number nine? Andreas Anderson don't know, is Kenny Ablese signed him. But listen, Givash was a classic. This is a classic example

of the way we all approach the game, is John is so deliberate. So it doesn't scattergun it like you and I do. It doesn't just chuck names out, throw it at a wall and hope some stick. Because we don't get punished for wrong ones. It's never been terribly successful that.

No, it hasn't. You very deliberately go for people you are certain wore the number nine shirt. So what I can tell you is, we're still counting Ian's answers up At the moment, okay. I don't think shit. Does she don't know where nine?

I was hoping it was a 14. Yeah. So what I'll tell you first of all, Ian, is that you've got five to beat. So John named five, and they were all correct. Alan Shearer, Andy Carroll, Malcolm McDonald, Alan Foggin. I love that one. That's good. And Callum Wilson.

They all wore... Callum Wilson. Yeah, they all wore the number nine. So Ian's got five to beat. I must have three to start with, with my opening salvo. Yeah, so... So there's a live count going on at the moment. I'm watching this in a Google doc.

I mean, this is thrilling stuff to commentate on. But I can see that Alan Shearer, Jackie Milburn, and Malcolm McDonald are all in bold. So that means correct answer. Our Zoom meeting has just ended to add to the drama. So I now can't see either of you. Andreas Anderson wore the number 40. 4-040. And Stefan Givash won out there, Ian.

He wore number eight. So we're now looking at Aspreya, Ferdinand, Jinnela, and Imre Varadhi. Here we go. Asprea War 11. Incorrect. You're still on three. So if your last three names are correct, you win. And we're looking at Ferdinand, Ginella and Baradi.

Ferdinand goes in bold. That is your fourth correct answer. What about Jinnah and what about Varadhi? I think Imreiraviradi will be. Jinnala is correct. If Imre Varadie is correct, then Ian, Nick's an absolute thriller, 6-5. How's John Snatch a draw? Varadhi being typed out, and the next word is correct.

Oh. He's done him. He's done him with Imre Varadhi. Well, that's very disappointing. But, Himai Varadhi, that was a very good shout as a winning guest, so I can't complain about that. I've got to say that probably goes down as one of the most dramatic. It does. Clash of the commentators we've had for a while. Definitely.

I'm surprised, John, you didn't say Les Ferdinand. But obviously just didn't come down, Jackie Milburn. Let me just rattle through a few very quickly. So the 14s, these are very difficult. Isaac Hayden, Gabrielle Oberton. Guy, if you said that, I'd have given you the money myself. Jack Colback, Loik Remy. Loik.

Leik. James Perch. Patrick Van Arnholt. Charles and Sogbier. Michael Bridges Timuri Kittsbier Brian Kilcline is on that list 14 14

Yeah And Jinelah was 14 That's where he Oh that was so lucky that by the way That one And Isak of course I don't think either of you said Issaid did it?

Do we not? No Oh that's fabulous I mean that is a schoolboy era See that's what you always do You're very good at that alley Yeah Yeah

Yeah well that comes from Blakris Sutton Who's the most cynical Ruthless player of these games That I know Kegan and Waddle guys both wore number nine D-Wore number nine, Chris

apparently, Obefemi-Martins, Ami-Obi, Andy Cole How about Keegan Morris a seven? Yeah Well, you know, bear in mind There weren't squad numbers then No

Ojole Linton Number nine C-Ssei, Pappis-C-S-A Mirandinia Mirandinia Mirandia Anyway, let's get on with the pod That was a cracking game

And Ian, one from one Yeah, 100th of the season So Dennis Congratulations A couple of exciting developments to mention before we get on to the great glossary of football commentary Are we going on tour again? I beg your pardon?

Are we going on tour? I think you're probably aware of these chaps. BBC Sport is now bringing the Bundesliga to UK audiences free to air starting this weekend with champions by in Munich taking on R.B. Leipzig. It is one match a week from the highest level of German football and you can watch them live on the BBC Sport website,

the app and on the eye player every Friday with clips across social media. So that is great. So Harry Kane in action this weekend on the BBC. And German football journalist Mark Lovell has written to us on TCV at BBC.com. Greetings from Bavaria. Now that the Beebe are doing the Bundesliga,

I hope to see you all at the Bayern buffet for cold raps in the near. future. Well, we do get to Bayern Munich generally at least once a season and Ian having already now had some influence in terms of changing the whole

existence of shirt numbers in the Premier League. Let's see if we can extend our influence to Bayern because when they bring out the food at Bayern Munich which is magnificent they are one of the great football club hosts

for I think in whatever that capacity you go there but certainly if you go there in the media the one thing is they tend to bring out the food rather late so they tend to bring out the food about five minutes before we actually go on air so if there's one thing i would like to say to buy in munich that is can you bring the food out half an hour earlier okay and that is john's message to buy in munich um the other thing to tell you is we've had in the premier league on the opening weekend of the season our very first one of these. Let's listen to the Sports Extra commentary here

with Mark Schwalter and Connor McNamara. Martin Dubravka does well to come and catch. It is really well. I love that from a goalkeeper coming out in his six-yard box. Out to the edge of it. There's a lot, a lot of pressure from Rich Allison there, but Debrovka didn't take his eye off the ball and claims it very comfortably in the end.

Now, new role this season, eight seconds. Goldkeepers must release the ball. Martin Dubravka has not done so, so that is a corner to Tottenham Hotsford. Debravka, who claimed the corner. Now, if keepers fall onto the ground of their own volition, the clock starts as soon as they've gathered the ball, and he didn't release it after eight seconds.

So the referee, Michael Oliver, points to the corner flag. And I think it's just another reminder for the goalkeepers. They have to be aware. They know that the rule has changed. He's obviously forgotten Debravka. He's obviously so focused on the game. The referee was right on it, very quick to blow his whistle and give Tottenham, you know, a corner in this match.

And I think it's the right sort of penalty to give. going to give a penalty aside give them a corner at least it's not like an indirect three kick as it used to be which was a little bit harsh in my opinion I think I'm right in saying John you said last week if that happened more than three times this season you'd eat your

hat did I say three times I thought maybe three I can't remember maybe fine I still don't I still think it'll be a handful yeah if that and I think that very much put a marker down didn't it yeah and I don't know about you I saw a match of the day last Saturday night and I thought oh that seemed

quick. So basically the message has gone out there, hasn't it? But for it to happen early on on the first day of the first Saturday of the Premier League, did surprise me. Just as we go into the glossary, the other thing I was thinking while I was away on holiday over the weekend and listening to you chaps and Manchester City playing incredibly well in their first game of the season. I'm really trying to prove a point. I was thinking, you know, there's various different terms we regularly use to describe that sort of performance. it's a statement of intent and it's laying down a marker and i was trying to think of i was trying to think of different ways you can say that without actually saying that but those are the

ones that you always you always go for don't you yes yes absolutely but it has done both of those things it has it has right let's get on to the glossary because these chaps are got to hit the road to london this is where we add listener suggestions of football specific commentary terms and phrases to our collection although saying that last time out we rejected all all four ideas that were put forward. They were, the goalkeeper's gone walkabout. They've left everything out there or they've left nothing out there, out in left field and stepping up to the plate.

So none of those made the glossary. I heard Sequea Starma this week use step up to the plate, which did tickle me. Bringing countries together and showing that we were prepared to step up to the plate when it came to security. So your suggestion is always welcome. The WhatsApp voice notes come to 08,289-369 in the emails to TCV at BBC.com. So it is thank you to Craig in Glasgow, Matt from Swindon and Adam from London,

who all alerted us to this from Hibernian's Kieran Bowie after he scored against Partisan in Europa Conference League qualifying. Kieran, we'll get to the game in a second, but can you even begin to talk us through that goal? honestly it was just like split second i think jack jack got an assist for it i don't know how i've just sort of shielded it past two of them and then i've just sat up nicely and i've just hit it and it's just right in the top corner took the to the cobwebs right off the top corner so i genuinely i've never scored a go at my life so i think that'll be the first time and last time i've done i've done the cobwebs the cobwebs return well-done kieran that's brilliant

do you think he's a listener oh i hope so kreton glasgowan if you're You're listening? Yeah. Craig and Glasgow added, do owls ever sleep underneath spider's webs? So where the owl sleeps is in our glossary. But this is from Simon in Nottingham, who says, Hi, TVC team. As an avid field hockey fan, I was watching a European...

What did I just say? TVC. Hi, TCV team. As an avid field hockey fan, I was watching a European championship game this week between England and France on the television. One of the French players scored a top, top. Top goal right up underneath the crossbar. And this prompted one of the commentators from New Zealand

to come out with a fabulous line, which I thought you'd appreciate. That's up where they don't do the dusting. But then to my absolute delight is English co-presenter counted with where the owl keeps its spare keys. Now, of course, because these were broadcast during a field hockey game,

they're automatically disqualified from the great glossary. Still, it made me laugh out loud. So glad the podcast is back and looking forward to your wonderful commentaries. this season but i think we were arguing last week weren't we that if it's originated in football and someone's borrowed it yes i think it is allowed in the glossary yeah i do too yeah i do like that that's where they don't do the dusting that's like taking on to the next step isn't it yeah no i do like that up where they don't do the dusting i think is i think is very good um although

there won't be many places in john's house where that would apply would it because he's so tall he'd be able to reach anywhere that's a very good point uh do you do you chaps want to tackle any of the Next ones? Well, let's go for this one from Ross in sunny Norfolk, who's obviously been listening to our colleague Paul Robinson because he says, good afternoon, foggy, Clegg and compo, which actually now is one for older listeners, isn't it? But anyway, Ross says, I'll leave it open to debate as to who is most like who. Would be interesting to hear Herr Chapman's thoughts.

Now, as much as I love the summer, weekends are so much better when the football season is back. The other weekend, I took the family down to London to watch West Ham versus Leal in the Ion's final pre-season game ahead of, hopefully, an improved season. My two girls, Evie and Lexi, aged 10 and 6, loved singing bubbles and shouting ions during and before the game. A proud dad moment. On the Sunday, I spent all afternoon in the garden, mowing the lawn, and staining decades. in the company of John and I assume his son, Glenn, commentating from Wembley. And I heard a phrase

that I don't believe it is in the great glossary of footballing terms when Crystal Palace is, at the time of writing, wonderfully talented player, Aberi Eza, went down under a challenge. He's taking his boots off. That's exactly why I spot is John. He's actually taking his boots off.

Or one boot. He's taking his right boot off. And he did actually adjust his left boot as well. so he must be lacedless because he's just lifted back on his ready to take the free kick maybe he's just checking to see if he's got his shooting boots on I think it could be just a little bit too far this one John 30 yards

and Ross says John made reference to as I possibly putting his shooting boots on now I don't think this term is used in any other sport I haven't heard it in either of the rugby codes or American football hopefully this is a shoe in or shooting boot in for the glossary. Keep up the good work

on both the podcast and match days. Looking forward to the commentaries over the next 10 months or so. And John causing a Leicester-style 5,000 to one shock by winning this year's clash of the commentators. So, well, thank you very much for that, Ross. And

yes, I'm not sure shooting boots is in the glossary, is it? No. Should be. Those odd since the time of writing have now lengthened. Yes. Yeah. That's in there. That's got to be in there. It's got to be in there, isn't it? I agree.

That is a great one. That's a great one. The other one I really like here, Ian, and it links back to our discussions about Alexander Esak and Joanne Wissar. Sam, who's a listening, he's a Liverpool fan in Newcastle, has pointed out this from reporter Nick Masheter on the BBC Sport website. So I'm quoting now, Newcastle failed to score without want-away striker, Alexander Esac, as they were held by 10-man Aston Villa. classic of the football genre, says Sam, a want-away player.

I like that. There's a big difference there. We'd never, I don't think anyone would ever say that in a broadcasting sense, but in a written football journalism sense that that's sort of long-held word, isn't it? Football. That would be in the glossary. That would be in the glossary of football writing. Yes, I agree that.

Yes. Commentary, no, writing, yes. and our last one this week now let's see this may or may not get in this is from a Liverpool fan Alex Paul Robinson here talking about Thomas Frank and his players after Tottenham's defeat to Paris Saint-Germain

in the UEFA Super Cup he's got to get back to the Tottenham Hotspur training ground show them the video and show them everything that they did well and put the belief back into these players because at the moment they could crawl under a snake's belly with a top hat on he needs to pick these players up he needs to get them back

to what they did for 75 80 minutes in this game. Is that going in the glossary? Lower than a snake's belly. With a top hat on. With a top hat on. I think probably not, because I think you would use that in other sports, wouldn't you? I think I've heard that.

I think I've heard that regularly. Yeah. Yeah. Too generic. There's a bit of call play in there as well for you, Alie. Thank you, John. Oh, well, that was well spotted. Yeah.

You can't actually get, I mean, strictly, you're not getting under the snake's belly with a top hat on, are you? Because the snake is then on top of the, I mean, that's probably taking it a little bit too literally, but no, I don't think that one is going in. That one is not going in. So, in summary, from the glossary this week, Paul Robinson's crawling under a snake's belly with a top hat on is a no. Where the owl sleeps remains,

up where they don't do the dusting. Is that going in the glossary chaps? But I would say probably not. Why not? I can't see it's ever using that. Ah, well, there's a challenge. I'm inclined to agree with a big man. Okay. Okay. Not going in unless I stick it in at Hillsborough on Tuesday.

Shooting boots definitely going in and want a way is not going in the great glossary of football commentary because we wouldn't say it but you would write it. So that's a whole different glossary. Your suggestions as always, the voice notes, 08,000, 289-369 and emails to TCV at BBC.com.com. And I think that's it, chaps. Ian, what are you going to be listening to on the journey down to London? Because I know John won't be listening to this. I might listen to a little bit of Deacon Blue at some stage. FPL podcast from BBC Sport?

Well, I need some help. I had a dreadful opening weekend. And I need to brush up on my Spanish. I've let my Spanish lessons drift. So I might take in a few more Spanish podcasts. Okay. Joe, two things I need to mention before we finish this week. One, that our BBC colleague, much loved, Nick Godwold.

reported from Selhurst Park that that big speaker that was hanging from the roof last season Ian that got in the way of the view of one of the goals has actually been removed so that's good news isn't it? That is yes that is excellent news

yeah so that's one piece of news and it's still not the best view in the Premier League it's still not the best view in the Premier League but that will help but that does help and one of the one I really want to mention this is because when I was doing the commentary last week at Old Trafford. It was the F.A. Cup weekend and I suggested on the air that

listeners who'd been to F.A. Cup matches in the preliminary round might want to get in touch. And I referenced Mousel. Would you have to say, I'd never noticed them playing in the F.A. Cup before. They probably have. In fact, they will have done most certainly. But I'd never noticed it before. So I mentioned it. And I got a message on social media from the club secretary, Daniel Katarski, who asked me, why of the 272 clubs in the FA Cup preliminary round did I mention Mousel so I explained to him that you know they'd sort of captured my imagination and I've got I've never been to Mousel I don't

know if you've been there Ali down down that way where is it John it's on Cornwall it's on the coast it's a famous cornish fishing village and I just and I just thought that must be a fantastic place so so I said so I said to him that it was just because it captured my imagination. I might have mentioned several other clubs, but as it turned out, I only had the sign for one at the time. And so he extended an invitation to us to go down there. So hopefully one day. Yeah, nearer to me the new chaps. And that, John, it's pronounced Mausel, but it's written Mouse Hole, isn't it? Correct. That's right. All one word. Yeah. Excellent. That wasn't the other thing you spotted this week, was it, John? Go on. Bodo Glimp.

Oh, yes. Bodo Glimp now. who are on the verge of qualifying for the Champions League. Yeah. They won the first leg of their playoff time, 5-0 against Sturm Gratz. So with six English clubs in the Champions League this season, there has to be, there has to be a real and genuine possibility of an opportunity for, let's say,

those who haven't yet been to Boto Glimp Talley to actually get there. Yeah, yeah. No, I saw that too. And actually, I saw some of the highlights on the BBC's Champions League show and just took myself right back there because it was only a few months ago that I was there with Paul Robinson. So that is it for this episode of the Football Daily. The next one on the Football Daily feed will be Mark Gay, the football interview. And as for the commentator's view, you can find each and every episode right from the start of the very first series on your Football Daily feed. There's a famous game for me in my memory where Keegan scored four goals against Rotherham And they won 5-1 And Kevin Keegan that day wore number seven for Newcastle Yeah

So he wasn't a number nine I think that's the match on match of the day When Tony Gover said that's the one that Jordie fans wanted No bonus points for that that, John. I'm being told King and War 7 and 9. Obviously not the same time. No. No. That'll be 79.

Yeah. He scored goals, lifted trophies and broken records along the way. There it is. It's a day to remember for Wayne Rooney. And now he's got a podcast. Welcome to the Wayne Rooney show. Twice a week, Wayne Rooney,

Kay Kerrude and me, Kelly Summers, break down the biggest stories in the Premier League and beyond. As much as you'd like to say it, loyalty in football now is no existence, whether that's fun play as well as managers. Plus, we'll hear the funniest, wildest and most outrageous stories from Wayne's career. The Wayne Rooney show.

Everybody's talking about it. Listen on BBC Sounds.