Football Daily - The Commentators' View: Prawn sandwiches & back to square one

Episode Date: January 9, 2026

John Murray, Ian Dennis & Ali Bruce-Ball talk football, travel & language. They debate the FA Cup schedule and lack of free-to-air matches, as well as Ruben Amorim and Enzo Maresca losing their jobs. There’s a twist in the first Clash of the Commentators of the year. More unintended pub and film names, and which commentary phrases will end up in our Great Glossary? Suggestions welcome on WhatsApp voicenotes to 08000 289 369 & emails to [e-mail]02:00 Quiz controversy leaves scars 08:15 FA Cup commentaries this weekend 10:55 Should all the matches kick-off at three? 23:00 TCV on Amorim & Maresca 31:00 Back to square one 36:20 Unintended pub and film names 41:20 Clash of the Commentators 46:25 Great Glossary of Football Commentary5 Live / BBC Sounds commentaries:Fri 9 Jan FA CUP: Wrexham v Nottingham Forest 1930 - 5 LIVE. FA CUP: Preston v Wigan 1930 - SPORTS EXTRA.Sat 10 Jan WSL: Arsenal v Man Utd 1230 - SPORTS EXTRA. FA CUP: Macclesfield v Crystal Palace 1215 - 5 LIVE. FA CUP: Everton v Sunderland 1215 - SPORTS EXTRA 2. FA CUP: Wolves v Shrewsbury 1215 - SPORTS EXTRA 3. FA CUP: Fulham v Middlesbrough 1500 - 5 LIVE. FA CUP: Man City v Exeter 1500 - SPORTS EXTRA. FA CUP: Newcastle v Bournemouth 1500 - SPORTS EXTRA 2. FA CUP: Stoke v Coventry 1500 - SPORTS EXTRA 3. FA CUP: Spurs v Aston Villa 1745 - 5 LIVE. FA CUP: Bristol City v Watford 1745 - SPORTS EXTRA. FA CUP: Cambridge v Birmingham 1745 - SPORTS EXTRA 2. FA CUP: Grimsby v Weston-super-mare 1745 - SPORTS EXTRA 3. FA CUP: Charlton v Chelsea 2000 - 5 LIVE.Sun 11 Jan FA CUP: Derby v Leeds 1200 - 5 LIVE. FA CUP: Portsmouth v Arsenal 1400 - 5 LIVE. FA CUP: West Ham v QPR 1430 - SPORTS EXTRA. FA CUP: Norwich v Walsall 1430 - SPORTS EXTRA 2.Mon 12 Jan FA CUP: Liverpool v Barnsley 1945 – 5 LIVE.Great Glossary of Football Commentary:DIVISION ONE Back to square one, Blaze over the bar, Bosman, Cruyff Turn, Cultured/educated left foot, Dead-ball specialist, Fox in the box, Giving the goalkeeper the eyes, Head tennis, Hibs it, In a good moment, In behind, The Maradona, Off their line, Olimpico, Onion bag, Panenka, Park the bus, Perfect hat-trick, Rabona, Roy of the Rovers stuff, Schmeichel-style, Scorpion kick, Spursy, Tiki-taka, Where the kookaburra sleeps, Where the owl sleeps, Where the spiders sleep. DIVISION TWO Ball stays hit, Beaten all ends up, Business end, Came down with snow on it, Catching practice, Camped in the opposition half, Cauldron atmosphere Coat is on a shoogly peg, Come back to haunt them, Corridor of uncertainty, Couldn’t sort their feet out, Easy tap-in, Daisy-cutter, First cab off the rank, Good leave, Half-turn, Has that in his locker, High wide and not very handsome, Hospital pass, Howler, In their pocket, Johnny on the spot, Leading the line, Nice headache to have, Nutmeg, One for the cameras, One for the purists, Played us off the park, Points to the spot, Prawn sandwich brigade, Purple patch, Put their laces through it, Reaches for their pocket, Rolls Royce, Root and branch review, Row Z, Screamer, Seats on the plane, Show across the bows, Slide-rule pass, Steal a march, Straight in the bread basket, Stramash, Taking one for the team, Telegraphed that pass, That’s great… (football), Thunderous strike, Turns on a sixpence, Walk it in. UNSORTED 2-0 is a dangerous score, After you Claude, All-Premier League affair, Aplomb, Bag/box of tricks, Brace, Brandished, Bread and butter, Breaking the deadlock, Bundled over the line, Champions elect / champions apparent, Clinical finish, Commentator’s curse, Coupon buster, Denied by the woodwork, Draught excluder, Elimination line, Fellow countryman, Foot race, Formerly of this parish, 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, Keystone Cops defending, Languishing, Loitering with intent, Marching orders, Nestle in the bottom corner, Numbered derbies, Opposite number, PK for penalty-kick, Postage stamp, Put it in the mixer, Rasping shot, Red wine not white wine, Relegation six-pointer, Rooted at the bottom, Route One, Sending the goalkeeper the wrong way, Shooting boots, Sleeping giants, Slide rule pass, Small matter of, Spiders web, Stayed hit, Steepling, Stinging the palms, Stonewall penalty, Straight off the training ground, Taking one for the team, Team that likes to play football, Throw their cap on it, Thruppenny bit head / 50p head, Towering header, Two good feet, Turning into a basketball match, Turning into a cricket score, Usher/Shepherd the ball out of play, Walking a disciplinary tightrope, Wand of a left foot, We’ve got a cup tie on our hands, Wrap foot around it, Your De Bruynes, your Gundogans etc.

This BBC podcast is supported by ads outside the UK. 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. Hello, welcome to the Football Daily. I'm John Murray, and this is the commentator's view, where we five-life commentators talk about our love of football, travel,

and crucially, our love of language. So it is Happy New Year to Alistair Bruce Ball, to Ian Dennis, and all of our listeners. Happy the year, John. And the same to you both and to all who's listening. Is there not a point, though, where it's too late to say Happy New Year? Well, this is the first of the commentators' view podcasts of 2026, isn't it? So probably apt to say that.

It is. It is very true. But I'm just saying on the 9th of January is probably past the deadline for saying Happy New Year, isn't it? Well, it could certainly be viewed as such. Yes, it could. But are we ready and raring to go for FA Cup third round weekend? Yeah, I mean, John, you just mentioned there in terms of what we have. in this podcast, so often talking about our travels,

I think that was, given the weather forecast, one of the concerns going into this weekend. So we're recording this, obviously, on Friday morning, and we've got plenty of commentaries to come on Five Live and BBC Sounds. I think it's 18, isn't 18? 18 commentaries, right? That's amazing. But I think hopefully we're all going to get to where we need to get to

without too many problems. No, exactly, yeah, that's true. That's true. Bear in mind, I know, our dear colleague, Connor McNamara, is probably as we speak, traveling from London to Wrexham, which I think could be a challenge. Anyway, we've already got some correspondence. In fact, we've got a heck of a lot of correspondence

because this is the first podcast that we've done for a couple of weeks, isn't it? So I know that there are a lot of voice notes and emails that we've got to catch up on. And Gavin in Hunter Valley, Australia, says, good day, gents. Happy New Year, he says, Ian, so just for the record. He says, I hope you all had a wonderful festive season. I just caught up on the TCV versus FPL quiz, and I need to air my grievances about the referee, ABB. It was clear from the start that ABB was favouring the FPL pod when he mentioned the rules around pronunciation. Stapman, Dave and Chris Sutton shouted out the Ghana and the Netherlands.

And ABB turned a blind eye to it. Surely this has to be the biggest scandal on BBC podcasts in 2026. Well, struck 2025. Where was VAR when you needed? Perhaps the one and only Mark Chapman could take charge next year. So that was from Gavin in Australia.

Happy New Year to you, Gavin. Yes, happy New Year, Gavin. And Ashley, in North Herefordshire, a little bit closer to home. Happy New Year, Ash. he says, what a sorry shambles the Christmas quiz was. ABB is a great commentator, but this has to fall at his door.

ABB has to give up the quizmaster role, like someone who catered us to the loud boys on the school bus and who actually changes the game halfway through because his mates are being beaten fair and square. Meanwhile, Steve Crossman was an excellent quiz master on the Euroleagues quiz. knew and imposed the rules showing no favour. Happy New Year to you, Ashley. Yes, happy New Year, Ashley.

So you've got a bit to respond to there. Well, I mean, for people who haven't heard, I think the quiz is still there to listen to. So go and have a listen and, you know, you can make your own judgment. And the bottom line, I think, was it was an absolute thriller that went right down to the wire. I mean, in terms of the specific grievances there, I thought Dave rattling off those answers in the first round where he said, Garner and the Netherlands was more of a sort of misspeak than a mispronunciation. So he was hurried. You know, and I think as a referee, I was just trying to let the game flow.

You know you don't want to get out the yellow cards too early, but then possibly that set the tone. Obviously, Ian then got a yellow card later in the quiz for, I think, sort of throwing accusations of cheating around during one of the rounds. Do you know what? I will admit, you were so far ahead at that point that I really didn't think the yellow card was going to matter. the one thing I would say, and I'm actually going to call a bit of a sort of arson-venger stroke,

John Murray, haven't seen it, haven't heard it, I've not actually listened back to the whole thing, and I'm told that one of Ian's answers in the first round about countries that have qualified for the World Cup this year came in before the buzzer and didn't get counted, and you guys lost by a single point. So to my mind, I think that has to go down as a sort of, you know, the Lampard goal that didn't count against Germany

in the World Cup in 2000. or the Jeff Hurst goal that did count. Just one of those things that's happened. We can't re-referi it now. The results in the books and it was great entertainment. I did say that at the time, Ali, that New Zealand was within time. And you dismissed me. And there should have been a VAR check.

Well, great quiz. I think we need to have a night of programming on Five Live where you come on, a bit like Howard Webb does. And account the decisions that have been made. Do you know the thing that actually that actually really turned the whole thing though, John, was you got unlucky, I thought, in the where we were reeling off

or you guys were reeling off the winners of the overseas award, the BBC sports personality of the year, which Serena Williams has never won. Once you dropped out of that, Chris Sutton went on a roll there, racked up a whole lot. I think that actually was the sort of key turning point in the quiz. Well, that was because Statman Dave was texting him the answers.

That's another yellow. You can see him. was clearly scrolling down his phone. No, come on, Dano. Come on. I stand by it. Really? Yeah.

Okay. So that's what you guys had to say. This is what Chris Sutton and Statman, Dave. Oh, God, this is a stitch up for me. So we've already recorded our first FPL pod from BBC Sport. Is that with your favourite, Sally? Oh, dear. In 2026.

So they've already had their say. Have a listen to this. This was David and Goliath. That's what it was. And do you know what? They, you know, they fancied themselves. They tried to sort of belittle us a little bit. And anyway, people who haven't listened, it is worth a listen.

Sometimes we've got to go about, you know, beyond the curtain. And you gave me the category. My clock instantly started. Deno, you gave him the category. Well, you already had the category. And it was 15 seconds until he started. So as much as there's all this, oh, we didn't get this one counted. there was time before the clock had started, Bruce.

And we won, didn't we, Chris? And Chris is the reason why he won. Well, it wasn't all about me. Well, it was, really. But do you know what? Florian Vitz scored an offside goal. I don't know what you see. He was offside, but you have to abide by, you know,

the end of the game, Bruce. Final whistle blows. Let's just move on. We moved on. My question to you is, do you feel comfortable working on a podcast with somebody like Ian Dennis, who's such a bad,

sport, a bad loser. Where's his humility? Yeah. My question to you is, Chris, do you think he'll ever come back on this pod again? I don't, I don't think he will, and I don't think he will try

and sort of wheedle his way out of the quiz next Christmas. I don't think he wants to face me in Dave. Yeah, absolutely. I think he's scared of me and Dave, genuinely. Just show a bit of humility when you lose. That'd be nice. Dennis and Murray.

What is that good? dragged into that at the end. I'm only scared at those two, and I have to look at them. If you're going to hit them with a very late pronunciation buzzer, I think Dave said taking you beyond the curtain. It should have been behind the curtain. So if you want your point back now, you can have it for that. So we'll let that lie for 11 months, shall we?

So as we mentioned, commentaries coming up this weekend, 18 FAA Cup third round matches across 5 Live and BBC sounds, whether that's Sports Extra, Sports Extra 2, Sports Extra 3. And we'll put them all in the episode description, to use the official phrase. But here are the highlights on Five Live. So, as we've mentioned, Connor McNamara is, as we record this, on his way, to wrecks them for the tie against Nottingham Forest Fish, I think it's got an excellent ring to it. And Clinton Morrison's going to be there as well. So Clinton will have to get his act together to get through the weather.

to Wrexham. So that is 7.30 Friday night if you're listening to this on the Friday. I love the look of your tie, John. So I know you're at, you're at McEltsville against Crystal Palace, which is the first five live FA Cup third round commentary on Saturday, which kicks off at 1215. So that's

McElwield from the National League North. I think I'm right in saying it's the, I mean, it's the first time this isn't ever been in the first round proper, let alone the third round proper, and they get the holders at home in the draw. I mean, that is just... As Macclesfield, as the reformed. Right, yeah.

Of course. Yes, but I mean, what a tie to be the lowest placed club in the pyramid, still in the competition, down in 14th in National League North, to be playing the holders. And you cannot ask for any more than this to go and cover an epic up third round time. And I spotted that stat on it, John, which I imagine will have... So maybe, maybe we should we save it for your...

for your commentary. Well, there's no harm to repeat it, is there? It just caught my eye. I was on the train on the way back from Arsenal, Liverpool, last night, and I was on the FAA's website, and they've got a little rundown of all the ties coming up over the weekend, with little sort of stats and footnotes about them.

And the best one that stood out to me was from this game, and it says that the holders of the FA Cup haven't been knocked out of the competition by a non-league team the following season since 19, oh, 8-09 when wolves were the holders and they were beaten by a non-league team called Crystal Palace, who were now the holders. I think that is, that's brilliant. That will, for those who don't hear it on this podcast, that will definitely be mentioned on Saturday morning stroke early afternoon when we will be at the Moss Rose Stadium.

Ian, at 3 o'clock, the choice has turned out and ended up to be full-ham against. Vince Middlesbrough for the Five Live commentary with you and Andy Reid. When you say choice, there isn't a great deal of choice, is there? I don't want to go on my soapbox, although I will quite gladly go on my soapbox if you were to give me any encouragement. You've got an email, actually, haven't you, about this? Have you got that to hand, which I think is a very good email that we're sent to you. There are only 10 ties at 3 o'clock, which, you know, I mean, I am old school,

and Malcolm from Manchester has sent this in. Hi all. Happy New Year, listener. Happy New Year, Malcolm. It's too late for that, Malcolm. He's been a listener since episode one. So the FA Cup this weekend, but I'm totally confused by the broadcasting of the TV live games. BBC are only showing two live games, both on BBC one and online, and yet TNT will also show both games.

Why? Surely if the FA want the Cup to have real interest, then it needs more than two games on free-to-air. ITV showed more live games last season and in seasons before. Perhaps I'm old school. I find the scheduling ludicrous with games on different days and times just for TV audiences around the world. And moving it away from the first Saturday in January, rounds in midweek, no replays, adds to the competition losing its sparkle for me. Well, I mean, it is remarkable, isn't it, how many different times there are. But my understanding of this is that clearly the broadcasting deals come into this. And that's a financial thing for the FA.

So I think that the FAA's argument here would be that it's absolutely crucial for the pyramid to make as much money out of the FAA Cup as they possibly can, hence the reason that these rights are sold around the world and matches are showing live around the world, and that money then comes in and filters its way down the pyramid. But at the same time, I absolutely see the argument that the FAA Cup is still an integral part of British society. the society, the cultural society in this country and is the balance right there

in terms of the financial considerations compared to diluting what we have with the FA Cup and principally the FA Cup third round. Well, you have the main broadcaster and they have the linear TV picks and there are eight of those instead of seven that were last season. My beef is with the additional games

that are being shown on Discovery Plus. So there's two sides of this. Does the TV carve up dilute the magic of the FA Cup? In my opinion, yes, it does. The FA might tell you that there are the additional benefits that everybody gets to see every game, or most, the majority of games. However, of the 32 ties, if 22 are on Discovery Plus,

are they attempting to boost their viewing figures or are they looking to boost their subscription sales? Because you've got four ties that are played on a Friday night, four on a Saturday lunchtime, four on a Saturday evening, and six on the Sunday afternoon. You can't watch every game then. You can only watch one of those matches in that cluster. There are only four stand-alone sort of like slots.

The 8 o'clock on the Saturday night, the Sunday lunch time, Sunday tea time and the Monday night. 745. This is, I think, boosting the game for the armchair fan and it shows a disregard to the actual paying punter, the travelling supporter, because you've got matches about Portvale Fleetwood on a Friday. Why? That shouldn't be on a Friday. I also think that something should be done in an attempt to make sure that those matches that are being played, like the Portvale tie that you're talking about there, to make sure that they get big crowds for those matches. You know, there has to be a bit of quid pro quo for the supporters.

And I think that however they do it, whether it's some sort of subsidy that is made, that make sure that those tickets cost next to nothing to try and get people into the grounds and make up for the fact that they're being played at the times that they are. And even though, as you say, and it's catering for the armchair fan

rather than the match-going fan, just trying to stay across the FA Cup third round with 10 different kickoff times, as you say, becomes impossible. It's just, to my mind, just from the fans' point of view, it is just too drawn out. And I know it's a grumble we have,

you know, every season now, but that Saturday 3 o'clock slot, you know, which to my mind, and maybe, you know, I'm imagining this, but I remember sort of maybe 20 games going into that slot and some really, really top-notch,

high-profile potential upset games that just aren't there. anymore. And that Saturday 3 o'clock F-A Cup third round was, if not one of the best, you know, the best, the best weekend, the best Saturday afternoon, listen of the season. And it isn't that

anymore. Well, it'll still be a great listen. But what I mean is what's on the menu isn't as as good as it was previously. Agreed. Nevertheless, despite all of that and despite the fact that people will go to matches over the course of these four days and they'll say, well, the FAA Cups not what it was, when you are actually at one of those matches

where it happens it is still incredibly special to be there so I think we should make that clear as well and you know things change don't they we have to accept that times change things change the FA Cup has always changed over the course of its history

well this is the start of a new four-year broadcast deal so I don't think there'll be any rowing back from it now no no anyway if I had my choice Ian you'd be at Manchester City, Exeter City on Saturday afternoon, but I think that that is one of the commentary matches that you will find on BBC Sounds. And I think an interesting little twist here is

the whole business with Exeter City's supporters trust, isn't it? Who have made a request for Manchester City to donate the fees that they'll get for that. I think it's 7,000 Exeter City fans are going to Manchester City, and this is off the back of Crystal Palace making the gesture to McEltsfield, and Crystal Palace are going to give McEltsfield the money that they take. I think it's around about 1,500 Crystal Palace fans who will go to Moss Rose, but Crystal Palace, as far as I'm aware, without being asked or requested, did that off their own bat to offer that to McEltsfield.

By the way, that McEltsfield, Crystal Palace match, is one of those live matches on BBC television. as is Tottenham Aston Villa, which is the 545 kickoff time on Saturday when Vicky Sparks. And Michael Brown will be at the Tottenham Hots first stadium. And then, Ali, Saturday night, 8 o'clock on the subject of kickoff times. Yeah, late Saturday. Good game. I mean, Liam Rossini's first game in charge as Chelsea manager away from home against championship Charlton.

We used to go to the valley all the time, didn't we? When Charlton were in the Premier League, really good Premier League outfit. I used to love trips to the Valley. Charlton and Chelsea haven't played for almost 20 years. I can't remember the last time I went to the Valley. I think one of the best goals I've ever seen live was scored at the Valley was a Van Percy volley for Arsenal against Charlton,

which, I mean, Arsenal fans probably listening to this, will remember the exact date and the exact goal. Steaming down the right-hand side of Buoy, looking for players in the box. No one there at the moment. Van Percy! Oh my word! What a goal from Robin Van Percy! Left-footed volley.

First time from the edge of the box. It almost ripped the net off its moorings. You won't see a better goal than that all season, I promise you. It's Charlton won Arsenal 2. Robin Van Percy. What a strike. The thing I like as well, John, just in terms of what the FA Cup is going to sound like

across the network this weekend, is being back at places like the Valley, or you know, you go into McElwold. It does give us something different to describe. So often we're in the same places. and we've got the same view. And, you know, there's always different noises and sights and sounds to describe it. I just love going to different stages.

I love listening to FA Cup commentaries. It just sounds different, looks different. And what's unique about commentating at the Valley? You talk about the seats? Yes. The flip-up desk where you sort of shut yourself in, don't you? They're little cubicles, aren't they? Yeah, that's right.

That's right, yeah. Yeah, they're still there. Yeah, they're still there. Yeah, they're definitely still there. So you sort of have your own individual. Yes, do, do. And actually on that similar theme, I mentioned this over the course of the Christmas period during one of our commentaries. But it was the Astonville and Manchester United match that you were commentating on, which was just before Christmas, wasn't that?

Was that the Sunday before Christmas? Yes. And I was listening to that in the car on the Sunday. It was quite a rainy, dark Sunday afternoon. And it really brought back memories to me. because normally that's the slot that I'm commentating on and I was just,

I had various sort of Christmas things to do that I was trying to get done in the car and it was a good game, wasn't it? Good game, you and Sue Smith. And it just really reminded me of what is so good about listening to football

on the road. I know we would say this, we're commentators, however, but it just really made me feel good listening to that. Do you know what I mean? I know exactly what you mean. And I think I, funny enough, John, I felt that inside the ground. So we, we obviously cover so many games during the season, but there are certain ones that not just because of the football, but because of the noise that lift you.

And I think, you know, Aston Villa are playing so well. But Manchester United coming to town, however they're doing, is always a big game. I had a fabulous walk, actually, through the park to the stadium that day. And you come up behind the halt end. and you see those fantastic wide staircases that take you in to the holiday. It's such... One of the great views of British sport, that. Absolutely.

And, you know, the place was absolutely rocking. And then Morgan Rogers scored those two goals, which obviously helps. But I just felt at the time commenting, this must be sounded. The noise of this stadium must be coming through loud and clear, which brings with it an energy that really helps you commentate on the game, I think. I love that tub on the corner as well. It's the halt, isn't it?

Yes. I've never been in there. I've never. I must go in there one of these times. Anyway, unintended pub names later. That is an intended pub name. To continue through the FA Cook commentaries, I am going from Macclesfield to Derby,

which is excellent geographically. For the Derby Leeds tie, which has got a great old-fashioned sound to it. Curtis is going to be with me, and I'm not sure. I've done a match with Curtis before, so I'm looking forward to that. Then Sunday at 2 o'clock,

Portsmouth Arsenal, Fratton Park. Talk about what football grounds sound like. Listen to that. Chris Wise and Mark Schwitzer will be there. Then Monday at 745, the Liverpool Barnsley tie with Ailey Barber and Stephen Warnock. So those, as I say, are just some of the matches that you'll be able to hear on 5 Live and BBC sounds over the course of the FA Cup third round. Four days that it is.

And then you and me and are involved in the Carabow Cup semi-finals. Six successive days stroke nights of live football on Five Live. Yes, Newcastle, Manchester City. Izzy Christensen will be with you for that on Tuesday night. And then Matt Upson will be with me for the first leg of Chelsea, Arsenal on Wednesday. It's been a busy time, hasn't it, Ian, over the course of the last few days with all of the managerial changes that we've seen. It's been a remarkable time, hasn't it?

It has, yeah. What did you make of Amarim and Moreska's departures? Do you think there was a little bit of entitlement from the two of them, the fact that they seem to talk themselves out of a job? You think that managers, it takes them so long to get to a certain level as a manager. You get to the very, very top. And then both of them seemed willing to sort of like throw their positions away by almost putting themselves in an untenable position

as far as the respective hierarchies are concerned? I see that, but I also feel that because there were so many parallels, weren't there between the two of them and the fact that they, as managers, felt that they just couldn't work in the structure that existed at the clubs that they were in. That's certainly the impression that they wanted to give,

wasn't it, I felt, that they couldn't work. And again, it comes back to the question that we've always said about the sports supporting director, whatever you want to call it, structure at football clubs, and how difficult it is to find people who can actually work together effectively.

That is the real talent at a football club is being able to find now people in those positions that can work together harmoniously and effectively. When Amarim, though, comes out with a comment saying, I want to be the manager, there aren't many managers now in the top flight, probably not even in the championship. And I don't think that there's that old school manager

who doesn't get the interference from either a chief executive or a chairman or the owner. I think a few and far between now. I think there is a lot more, when I speak to managers, they talk about managing up as well as managing down these days. And if you think of the Premier League alone, who is a manager these days?

And I think Hare Chapman described Amram as tempestuous on the Monday night club. And he always just seemed to strike me I've always said I never felt he was strong enough to be the Manchester United manager. And I remember in Bilbao after the Europa League final, he said, if the owner and the fans don't want me, I'll walk away. And he strikes me as the kid who'd play football, and it looks to take his ball home when things weren't going his way.

Guillain Balagher, I'm sure, has said on a couple of occasions, he offered to quit twice in the early stages of his United career. I'm just thinking you get to that privileged position. You're managing one of the biggest clubs in the world, and you're prepared to throw it away by saying, oh, I'm going to quit. I heard him say, oh, I'm going to quit. And yet he's got a 10 million pound compensation package.

I wonder if he'll look back and think, I should have fought more for that. Because he knew what he was going into, and United knew what they were getting at the same time. Fascinating to see how Liam Rossini gets on with it at Chelsea and gets on with everyone and his approach to how they're going to play.

Because there is a, you know, a manager who's, you know, really impressed so far. And I don't think you can turn the Chelsea job down, but blimey, it's a difficult job. It sure is. But I tell you, I think, it's a little bit of an inspiration there, is Keith Andrews this season,

who it was one of the most popular things, wasn't it, to say at the start of the season, well, Brentford will struggle. And he's a rookie manager who's not going to be able to cope with it. And look at where they are now. So, so yes, I'm not sure that, On the outside, too many people are expecting Liam Rossini to make a success of this.

But as we speak now, there is always the possibility that he will. Yeah, you're right, John. That's a really good example to pick. But expectation levels are so different. Pressure is so different there, isn't it, compared to Manchester United and Chelsea. Anyway, we mentioned that Totnamastern Villa is our Saturday 545 commentary on 5 Live. And Ella writes in with a football fashion question. so that's perfect for you, Ian.

Is there any other sporting team that use the colour claret in their kit? asks Ella. Villa, Burnley and West Ham play in Claret in the Premier League, but I've never heard that colour used in any other walk of life. Furthermore, is a light blue the only colour it can go with?

I'd be interested to know your thoughts. Ella, Bradford City, Clarit and Amber. There we are. Perfect. It's funny we should receive that. that email because the other night I watched about 10 minutes of Burnley Manchester United and during the course of that 10 minutes

I actually thought to myself what a classy kit Burnley is and how it looks so good the Clarit and Blitz so I agree with the Aller In terms of other sports though John outside of football I'm just trying to think like rugby cricket team sports are there teams

that play in Claret or is it a football I can't think of Are you suggesting Clarit should go into Division Warner for the great glossary of football commentary. Huddersfield Giants, they play in Claret. Oh, there we go. That's good knowledge. There we go.

That is good. Well done, Ian. Any other suggestions on the claret front to TCV at BBC.co.com. UK. If you recall, actually, I've got a jumper. I do recall. Which is Navy. And it's got a claret and amber, two stripes going down either side.

Yeah. Which you said that Garis Southgate had questioned my. attire. Yes, he did. What are you laughing at, Ali? No, I was just wondering why that had caused such mirth, but it's just been explained, so that's good. It looked like I was wearing braces. It did.

And actually, on the subject of Claret, that is a potential phrase, isn't it, for the football glossary? Because there was a time when blood on the shirt of a football that would be described as the claret, wasn't it? WhatsApp and

Voice Notes to 08,000, 280 They are always greatly appreciated. And our first voice note of 2026 comes from Kevin in Colchester. Hello everyone and a very happy new year to one and all. Myself and my dog Skip absolutely love the pod and spend every Saturday morning listening to the latest pod. And I can be seen smiling and chuckling away much to the amusement. I'm sure of all my fellow dog walkers. Skip enjoys it as his normal walk is extended.

My reason for calling is that I wondered how many of my own. other of your avid listeners while listening the Bournemouth of the Arsenal Premier League game last weekend shouted out, Rice, Rice, baby, when Declan Rice points his second goal away in that game. As I said, me and the dog look forward

to Saturdays like no other day of the week. Kevin and a very ice, ice bound Colchester. Very good, Kevin. Happy New Year to you. And just for Kevin, but also for everyone else, let's remind ourselves of Ian's commentary from the Champions League last season

maybe a little pick me up for the Arsenal fans after the goalist row with Liverpool on Thursday Declan Rice runs now hits it right footies There we are always great to hear that again my favourite piece of Five Live commentary from 2025

and it is remarkable isn't it as we heard from Kevin there how many people who seem to listen to this podcast while they're walking their dog I might mention that in a comment over the course of the weekend. Don't forget to say Happy New Year to Skip. Yes, good point.

I encourage more Kevin and Skip's to listen to the commentator's view on their dog walks. We're going to delve into the great glossary of football commentary in just a bit, but we've had a very popular suggestion as we start 2026. Paul in Gisbon in New Zealand

says, following on from my admittance of it came down with snow on it to Division 2 a few weeks ago, I have had another thought. How about back to square one? Andy from Crosby says, will you allow the phrase back to square one

in the glossary, given its football BBC radio history? Ross from Stafford says, do you know the origin of the phrase back to square one? I believe it relates to early football commentary and involves the radio times. So there we are, back to square one, which I think our favourite Premier League, what's his title?

Match manager. Match manager. I think Martin suggested that back to square one should be in the glossary as well. One of our good photographer friends, Andrew, has mentioned it to me three or four times. How come that's never come up on the commentator's view? And I said, oh, well, it will. It definitely will because we're aware of it. But we've had so much correspondence on it.

So I'm very glad it's featuring at the start of the year. Yeah. Our chief football writer Phil McNulty used it in one of his recent articles about Manchester United. He said Sir Jim Ratcliffe, director of football, Jason Wilkins. and Chief Executive Omar Barada now find themselves back at square one and other messages as well. Yeah, Tim in North Wales,

I think the most important phrase to go into the glossary should be back to square one, which is a radio phrase that's passed over into the general lexicon. Tim says, I believe the original basis for the phrase was used in initial radio commentary of football

when the pitch was split into numbered squares so the commentator could explain where the ball was to the listener, i.e. the ball has gone back to square one. That is my understanding of it because the Radio Times has been mentioned as well that you would have a grid, wouldn't you, as a listener in front of you, with these squares?

And then the commentator would commentate corresponding to those squares so you could follow where the ball was on the pitch. Well, Janet in Morton actually says, in 1927 BBC Radio broadcast its first FA Cup final and to help listeners follow it, the Radio Times produced a guide of the pitch divided into numbered squares.

It is said that back to square one may have entered everyday language but it might have been used for something else years before 1927. And actually I know from having one of the various anniversaries that we've had of the first football commentary I think I'm right in saying

that it is not necessarily the case that the phrase came from the Radio Times and the football commentary. I think it was a phrase that existed before that time, but obviously the use in the Radio Times and in Radio Football Commentary did add to its use. Did you not do a game once with, was it David Gray? David Gray and Bob Wilson.

And James Alexander Gordon was with us as the caller of the numbers. That coincided, I think, possibly with the 50th anniversary of the first football commentary. Janet says 1927, I was just looking up, that's Cardiff beating Arsenal in the FA Cup final in 1927. You're nodding, so you

knew that already. And I also know that that was the first FA Cup final in which... A horse scored a goal? In which the cup final him abide with me. Oh, really? Yes. So there we are.

And actually Chelsea fan Simon says, which other phrases, terms originated in football are now in common use in language and or other sporting commentary. So that's very much one for the listeners, TCB at BBC.coor.uk. What do we think? Is that going into Division I?

I think the public have spoken. I think they have. Overwhelming, is it not? I think it should go into, I think it's our responsibility to put that into Division I, don't you think? Yes, no, I agree. I think given this is the commentator's view,

and we're talking about the origins of radio football commentary, it almost deserves a place on its own. It's almost... Yeah. I agree with that. Champions League or an overall winner. And all we've said in the past that Division 1 is for football exclusive terms. Clearly Back to Square 1 is not football exclusive.

But damn it, we're putting it in. Well, as Gareth says, the iconic radio football glossary term back to square one must surely go into Division 1. Yeah, there we go. We all agree. And if you disagree, you're wrong. My name's Steve Bradnell, a sister manager of Royal Oak FC. You may have seen me online, we're viral. Vinyl sensation.

And now the BBC have given me the chance to set the footballing world banter eyes. This could be a great opportunity for us, lads, a podcast for the BBC. Can I just say, what's a podcast? Brilliant. Great start. Well done, Bob. Brilliant. We can completely show utter transparency to Royal Oak fans.

I'll use my charm. Gift it, Gab. Games gone. The Steve Bracknell podcast. Watch on YouTube. Listen. The Commentator's view on the Football Daily with Alistair Bruce Ball, John Murray and Ian Dennis. 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 900 millimeters, and a roof load up to 300 kilograms. Learn more at landrover.ca. Right. Now, it may be a new year, but we're strapping in for plenty more unintended pub name fun. So this is unintended pub names from sports commentary, or indeed, unintended film names which have crept into it. Jodie in Huntingdon writes in. During the Chelsea-Aston Villa match over Christmas, I heard Connor McNamara say, Cole Palmer in space, a riveting sci-fi spectacle, if ever there would be.

well read John very good that was pigs in space wasn't it pigs in space right onto the meat and drink as you might say of our unintended pub name so this is rowing colchester gets in touch greetings tcv team loving your entry into the football daily universe that's where you can find us under the football daily feed on the BBC sounds app tcv is a must listen every week while listening to test match special dan norcross gave us a corker of an unintentional name. And then England lost a second week at the Luckless Pope. Yes, he stabbed a bit of the ball from Cummingsford. He might have left alone. He might have done. But he pushed just in front of his leg, but then a stunning one-handed catch from Walrus Labashane at second slip. He had to take it,

dive into his left. Robert and Yoval also sent that one in the Luckless Pope. He says it would be a Canterbury City Centre hostelry reflecting the decision by Henry VIII to remove the Pope from the head of the church in 1532. Pope is such a good surname for this kind of thing, isn't it? The whatever Pope, fill in the blank. Ollie and Nick have provided us with some great content. And on a similar theme, this voice note from Ollie in West Sussex. Hi there, and happy New Year to everyone.

Back before the Christmas break, I was listening to TMS give their review of day two of the Adelaide test. Back in the delightful days when England could actually still win the ashes, the lovely, gravely voiced Dan Norcross said, You then got out LPW and he seems to do this thing, David, where he fixates over the dismissal that he's had and then sort of tries to play the, if you like, the battle before, thinking too much about how he got out before.

I mean, how did you read it? It was a skittish, back to the skittish pope rather than the calm pope. Regarding unintended pub names, this gave me a picture of the town centre old man's favourite pub, the calm pope, being rebranded to the skittish pope to keep up with other trendy establishments in the area, such as the easy tapping. The old jukebox had gone

and been replaced by augmented reality dance and a shuffleboard table to try and draw in a younger audience, much to the detriment of locals and regulars at the pub. The landlord and Mr B. Stokes was asked to comment and said that the calm pope had run its course

and would need to be replaced after underperforming for years. Sure enough, the High Street building, situated at number three, opened its doors to new customers on Boxing Day. Some travellers even arrived from Bethlehem. Following the success of the rebrand,

Mr Stokes now has another decision to make over the pub chain's faltering Crawley branch. Thanks to Ollie for that. Happy New Year, Ollie, as well. I do love it when they suggest what the pub would be like as well. Our BBC colleague James Porter, who quite often gets in touch,

so regularly listens to TCV and sends us some great missives. He's got this one from Jonathan Agnew. Great catch from Brooke. The green is out for seven but the dangerous head remains The dangerous head James says Lord knows what the sign would look like

feels like a pub near a football ground that only home fans can drink in And let's round up with this one Before clash of the commentators David in Hampshire says I really enjoy your podcast And I've been listening carefully For unintended pub names

Throughout your commentaries I was explaining the concept To my wife recently And I imagine my pride When she immediately replied Oh, you mean like the goalkeeper's arms? Also, have you had a suggestion of the in behind, both an unintended pub name and as an entry to the great football glossary?

They've got in behind. Yeah, I think I used that last night, talking about Frimpon getting in behind Lewis Skelly. In behind, yeah, it's good. I wonder if they're going back to pub. I wonder actually if there is a pub. I'm not, is there a pub? name that has pulp in the title

in the UK. Must be. There's a challenge for our listeners. And if you spot an unintended pub or film name Cole Palmer in space in any sports commentary, do let us know. KCV at BBC.com.

UK and WhatsApp at 08,289-369. So the great glossary of football commentary coming up. But first of all, before that, he said with a heavy heart. It is time for clash of the commentators. This is how it works.

Two of us take turns to answer a question and give as many correct answers as we can in 30 seconds. Last time out, we played this. Ian killed it by beating me on teams that were top or bottom at Christmas. So, as we enter 2026, Ian has eight from 10 the reigning champion, the defending champion,

the Crystal Palace of Clash of the Commentators, Ali, has four from ten, and I have three from ten. But Ian, you effectively, I mean, no one's interested in this anymore now. What you did last time. But there is a twist for the first one of 2026. Is that?

As we're back around to the start of the fixture list, so it's Ali against John, and all will be revealed but who wants to go first? I mean, this is a six-pointer, John, given where we are in the table. Fascinating. Shall I go second this time? Okay.

I feel like I've gone first a lot. Yeah, sure. Okay, I'll set the tone. Okay, so here's unplugged, Ali. Yeah. And the twist is, is that you have got your specific questions. Oh, really? Yeah.

So, Ali, this time last year, you were commentating in the FA Cup third round on Everton 2 Peterborough at nil and Bristol City 1, Wolves 2. I want you to name any player to feature in those matches Everton, Peterborough, Bristol City Wolves, your time starts now. Blimey.

Rodrigo Gomez scored for Wolves. I think Agbadou made his debut. Who would have been in goal there? Saar, Joseph Saar, Sam Johnston, let's say, Everton must have had, let's go, Pickford, Keene, Tarkoski, Seamus Coleman, who else would have been

playing in that game. Maybe Dominic Calvert, Lewin, Beto, who haven't we done? Peterborough. I can't remember any of the Peterborough players. That's bad.

Bristol City. Now I'm wasting time. I'll leave it at that. I don't think that's very good. Well, I'll be honest with you. I can't tell you how well you've done. We'll have to wait for Nathan to top them. We'll give the thumbs up and the wave to John to get him back.

So, John, the twist is, is that you each have your own individual. individual question. What did you say? Did you call me Sir John? No, I'd never call you Sir John. New Year's Honours list. It's only a matter of time before you are, Sir John,

but for the time being, you know where near a knighthood. Not for Clash of the Commentators, I'm not. No. So you've got your own individual question. Oh, right, okay. And Sir John, this time last year, you were commentating in the FA Cup third round on Leeds United 1, Harrogate Town, Nill,

and Tamworth Nill, Tottenham Hotspur 3. I want you to name any player to feature in those matches. Leeds Harrogate, Tam with Tottenham. Your time starts now. Oh my goodness. Joe Rodon, Ampidou, Gruev, Ellis Taylor, James Belshaw. He also will have played it for Tottenham.

Son, Son Humming, Ben-Cun, Coeur, Romero, Spence will have played in that. Oh gosh, who else? Colisevsky. He was a so doy. Well, we'll have to wait to see whether that was in time. You would have got a bonus point.

How do you come out with Tommy Tonks? Oh, Trimmy Tons. Do you know what? I was trying to remember his name. That was when Poster Cogler's Tottenham needed extra time to win 3-0. Yeah. That was a good tie that. Yeah.

My first visit to the lamb. Did Mikey Moore play in that game? Probably. I think John's won that. What were your matches? I had Everton, Peterborough, John. That was after Sean Dyshe. Remember Sean Dyshe left on the day of that game?

And Bristol City Walls that I did with Dave Edwards, who I saw at Wolves the other day. Seamus Coleman was actually on the touchline that day. Oh, he was. Of course he was, yeah. Because of what I just said, yeah. But he didn't actually play, but he was in charge of Everton.

And the results are in. Ali, five. John Sir John 8 me well done very good

hooray hooray for me we're level Ian remains top of the table with eight from 10 the defending champion has just lost his first match of 2026

could that be an omen for Crystal Palace Ali has four from 11 and now I've got four from 11. So we're joined second again, Ali. Thrilling. A happy new year for you, John. What a treat that was for the listeners

to hear a rare victory for me in Clash of the Commentators. So now it is time for the great glossary of football commentary where we add listener suggestions of commentary terms and phrases to our collection. Remember, you can find

our entire glossary in the episode description. There's that episode description. again. Over Christmas, we have had enough submissions for a glossary Bible of football commentary. And this is how it works. Division 1 for football exclusive terms, apart from back to square one, division 2 for terms used in football commentary, but also used in other sports. And last time out, we added blaze over the bar into Division 1, as we felt that's not a phrase used in other sports. But Kane in Belgium disagrees. Sorry, boys.

blaze over the bar can only be division two because of high jump and pole vaulting. Are we having that? No. No, no, we're not. Okay, no, no. You don't blaze over the bar, do you as a pole volta? I mean, there is a bar involved and you go over it, but I don't think you ever hear a commentator say they've blazed themselves over the bar. Yeah. Yeah.

While we're here, how about this from Chesterfan Grimm? Hi, all. Happy Christmas and New Year to the team. and fingers crossed for another successful year ahead for the TCV. I've tried and failed to get prone sandwiched grade through to the Great Glossary before, but after hearing Kate Kerge user on the Wayne Rooney podcast, I thought I'd redouble my efforts. I certainly had never heard that phrase

before Roy Keem famously used it whilst at Manchester United. People come to the old traffic, I don't think it can spell football, never mind to understand it, so at the end of the day, they need to get behind the team. And as I said, away from home, our fans are fantastic. I'd call it hardcore fans, but at home, you know, They'd have a few drinks and probably their prawn sandwiches,

and they don't realize what's going on out in the pitch. We may be in Furgie time, but on lunch and one last up and under to get it included in the glossary, or even we have a Prone Sandwich Brigade down at the Deer Stadium. Well, thank you very much. Graham, and a happy new year to you, too. What do we think?

Great to hear that very young voice of Roy Keane, wasn't it? Yeah, and he obviously didn't use the term brigade, did he? That has been added to. So he said, enjoying their prawn sandwiches. They've become the prawn sandwich brigade. Where do you think that sits in terms of the glossary? I could see it mentioned. Not Division I, though, is it?

Probably not Division I. You know, you'd probably refer to it. You know, at Wembley, when the middle tier, they never come back. Do they have to half the time so many of them? Do they have a prawn sandwich brigade in rugby union, Ali? Well, Chris Sutton likes to like to, like to, put me in that bracket.

I was just trying to think other sports, or is it a football exclusive thing? Do we have the prawn sandwich brigade in other sports, in tennis, in rugby and golf? Yeah, Wimbledon. Surely you would say Wimbledon. You know, when they don't come back, there's been a Bost a match,

then it's some less appealing match, shall we say? The Strawberry and Cream Brigade. But no, but I think, John, isn't it because you're trying to distinguish between sort of like Roy Keene is there, the sort of the hardcore football fans and the prawn sandwich bagu. But wouldn't,

yeah, you're right, there will be hardcore Wimbledon fans who wouldn't miss a point. But I would have thought, there's such a definition between the two in football. I think that's less clear in the other sports, the definition. Div two,

div two. Okay. Aston Villa fan, Alan says, Great POD keeps me entertained during my Saturday morning walk with Hugo, my pet cockatoo. there you are

and Alan has a glossary suggestion from ABB's commentary on Aston Vela against Manchester United Coonia takes it past Telemans tries to drag him back and foul him Coonier won't be shrugged off that easily still holds him off Telemans goes again

Coonier gets there to the edge of the box wants the free kick laid off here to Lacey hits the shot at Martinez straight into the breadbasket and you almost heard the thudder ball into chest there as he claimed it and fell on the floor straight into the bread basket.

Alan says, not seen it in the glossary and not sure if admitted which league it would sit in. Division two. Yeah, that's definitely not football exclusive, is it? This is from Barbara. For your glossary of terms,

how about one for your more mature listeners that may not be used so much these days? It used to be common to say a player turned on a sixpence and I can't think of another sport that would use that. expression. I do appreciate, that's a bit dated now, and many of your listeners may not know what a sixpence is, but I think it's worth considering. Regrettably, there isn't anything to put in

Christmas puddings or for the tooth fairy to put under your pillow any more either. Turned on a sixpence. Well, thank you, Barbara, and happy new year to you as well. I think that that is a little bit like Johnny on the spot, isn't it? The sixpence is that it's a phrase that was used in days of your but still gets used now. But I think probably Division 2. Yeah, I would still use it aware that it's a dated reference and a lot of our listeners would think

what is a sixpence, but I just think that's such a common phrase. Problem is as well, that phrase, he's turned on a, has never been replaced by anything else. You don't turn on a 50 pence piece or a two pence piece or a 10 pence piece.

do you in American sport do you turn on a dime? Ooh that's a good question. I made that up. We've got many listeners in America, they'll tell us. Yeah, they'll tell us. In mainland Europe, do you turn on a euro? I'm looking forward to hearing that in one of your Champions League commentaries. Maybe a way to... Turned on a cent?

Exactly, yeah. Turned on a crona. That's a good point, Ali. We should actually drop that in now in a couple of weeks time. wherever you are. I will be going to Bodo Glimp. There's it. What a revelation that is for the first commentator's view of 2026. Very exciting.

The next round of Champions League matches, Bodo Glimb against Manchester City in the Arctic Circle. And I have been assiduously following the weather forecast for Bodo over the course of the last month or so. And generally over the last month or so, it's actually been milder in Bodo than it has here. John, when you get there, I mean, you might have loads of bags and whatever. You can actually walk from the airport into Bouda. It's that close. You literally get off the plane, walk through the terminal and just walk down the high street. It's brilliant.

Unfortunately, I would love to do that, but I will have our producer Gary Flintov with me. And Gary will not be up for that. Next, Caleb is confident about his suggestion. He says, my entry for the Great Glossary is, nailed on Division 1 shout, a cultured left foot. He says, I'm surprised this hasn't been suggested already.

Keep up the fantastic work. Well, Caleb, cultured left foot is already in our glossary, but it is in our unsorted section as cultured stroke educated left foot and still needs to be put in either Division 1 or Division 2. So what are we thinking? I didn't realize we had an unsorted section.

Very sloppy. Did Johnny Wilkinson have a cultured left foot? I mean, he had a deadly accurate left foot, didn't he? Would you have a cultured left foot in other sports? I'd need to leave it in the unsorted section. Yeah. Yeah. I'd be tempted to put into Division 1 until people say it.

Yeah. Yeah, that's good. Good cool. And also, Irish Adam in Perth, West Australia. There's a lot going on there. has flagged up a Roy of the Rover stuff from Shea given on Match of the Day. I did hear that, actually.

I was watching match of the day that day. When Shea was describing Harrison Reid's goal for Fulham. This is just a phenomenal strike. It's quite funny Harrison said after I practiced this in training. But again, like just Roy of the Rovers stuff, it really is. To get that much dip in movement and suezza, Allison's got absolutely no chance at all. That's also in our unsorted section, Roy of the Rovers stuff.

So are we going, division, one or division two for Roy of the Rovers stuff. Adam says, surely this is a football exclusive term. And it was a thundering strike right where the spider's sleep, he says, of Harrison Reed's goal. Absolutely unquestionably, Division 1. Yes. Roy of the Rovers. Do you know what?

I wish we could do a clash of the commentators on Roy Races' teammates. Melchester Rovers. Players who played for Melchester Rovers, I'll tell you, I'd be, I'd definitely get more than I got today. Vic Guthrie was one, wasn't it? Yes, Vic Guthrie. Rob Richards was the youngster coming through in Roy's Shadow. Charlie Carter was the goalkeeper,

Duncan Mackay, the bearded centreback. Martin Kemp played for Melchester Rovers in later editions. Jeffrey Boycott was the chairman. That's right. That's right. Came in a helicopter. Did he?

Also, we've got Park the Bus, which is yet to be sorted. Is that Division 1 or Division 2? Does Park the Bus pop up in other? sports now. Can you park the bus? Should put that in Division 1? Yeah, put it in a different one and then see what people say.

Okay, yeah, yeah, yeah. Right. Feeling generous at the start of the new year, aren't we? Yeah, well, there's nothing wrong with that. So the summary from this week on the great glossary of football commentary, get in behind. I think, have we put that into Division 1? Or have we not decided?

Should we put it in Division 1 as well? Let's do it. Yeah, yeah, okay. Into Division 2, go prawn, Sanchez. sandwich brigade straight into the bread basket and turned on a sixpence and yep into division one we're going back to square one whether you like it or not we're going cultured left foot Roy of the Rover stuff and park the bus so keep the glossary suggestions coming in and remember if you hear an

unintended pub name in any commentary send it to TCV at bbc.c.c.ukh and voice notes on WhatsApp to 08,289-39-369. And also, do yourself a favour and listen to our FA Cup third round commentaries this weekend on Five Live and the various platforms on Sports Extra via your BBC Sounds app. But that is it for this episode of the Football Daily.

Remember, you can find each and every episode at the commentator's view by scrolling down your football daily feed. Do you guys watch Would I Lie to You? Yeah, sometimes, yeah. Yeah. You know how Chapman's going to be on it soon? I think his episode's coming out, coming out soon.

Is he appearing on every BBC TV show at the video? Yeah, I know. I know. The first episode of the new series has them fallen about laughing like I've not seen for a long time, and it's based around the phrase get in. You know when people, so when a goal goes in, but you say after it's gone in, you say get in. David Mitchell gets very confused about why you would say get in when it's already got in.

And then the hilarity that ensues off the back of that. It's a good point, though. You know, someone scores a goal and you say, yes, get in, but it's already got in. So it should really be, anyway. It's a good glossary one, actually, but it's worth a watch. It's very fun. Five lives for WSL. Our referee for this afternoon.

Close her whistle. We're underway. Her sport curls its way past the... BBC Women's Football Weekly. The latest news, insights and analysis from across the women's game. Lucy Bruns, welcome back. What one lioness do you think would make the best rugby player? Me?

Listen. With the BBC Sounds app.