Fantasy Football - Podcast 59
Fantasy Football - Podcast 59
In this week's Premier Skills English podcast, Rich and Jack choose a Premier League team of the best players at Euro 2016. Do you agree with our choices? We also have news about our new Fantasy Football team that we will have for the start of the new Premier League season. You can help us by choosing your favourite players and help the team beat millions of other players that play Fantasy Football. This week we want some ideas for the team.
How much did you understand?
Vocabulary
In the podcast, Rich and Jack used some vocabulary that might be new for you. Try the activity below to see how much you understand:
He scored twice and held the ball up well for the Italians.
Southampton's Jose Fonte (centre) is now a European Champion with Portugal!
Language - Synonyms
In this week's podcast, Rich and Jack chose a Euro 2016 team made from Premier League players. When picking individual players, they used quite a few synonyms. Synonyms are words or phrases that mean exactly or nearly the same as each other. Take a look at these examples from the podcast:
I've picked Hugo Lloris from Tottenham and France.
Let's select Stoke City's Xherdan Shaquiri.
I'm going to go for another Swansea City player here.
Synonyms - Context
So, synonyms are words and phrases that mean the same or almost the same. As you can see from the sentences above, in the context of choosing a football team; 'to pick', 'to go for' and 'to select' all the mean the same thing. They all mean 'to choose' a player. We talk about context because different words might be synonyms in one context, but that might not always be the case. Have a look at these examples; are the words in bold synonyms now?
I'm going to go for an ice cream.
Im going to pick some flowers from the garden for my mum.
To select all the text on the screen you need to press control and 'A' at teh same time.
In these examples, the words are not interchangeable like in the first three sentences. The first sentence has a totally different meaning and the second two have very specific contexts where another word would sound very strange.
Now, have a go at this activity, which focusses on synonyms. Can you spot which word is not a synonym?
Jack and Rich think Stoke City's Xherdan Shaquiri scored the goal of the tournament for Switzerland.
Fantasy Football
This is our Euro 2016 dream team. What do you think of our choices? Which Premier League players would you choose for your fantasy team?
Rich: Hello my name’s Rich and welcome to this week’s Premier Skills English podcast.
Jack: Hi everyone. I’m Jack and every week we talk about football and help you with your English.
Rich: This week we’re going to focus on picking teams. First, we’re going to talk about the performances of the Premier League stars at Euro 2016 and choose our Euro 2016 Premier League dream team and later, we’re going to tell you about the fantastic fantasy football game on Premier League.com and ask for your help selecting a Premier Skills English team.
Jack: Anyway, while we choose our Premier League dream team, we will help you with lots of football English like player positions and formations and also more general English that you can use to talk about football and any other topic.
Rich: Over the next few weeks, with your help, we are going to build our own Premier League fantasy team on Premier Skills English.
Jack: We’re going to start by asking you for some ideas, but more about that later.
Rich: We also have news about our latest winner of a Premier League shirt.
Jack: Of course, a couple of weeks ago we asked you to say which Premier League player would score most goals at Euro 2016.
Rich: Shall we do that now?
Jack: Yes, let’s do it. Well, there were two top scorers in the end and they both came from the French team. West Ham’s Dimitri Payet and Arsenal’s Olivier Giroud both scored three goals.
Rich: Many of you chose Payet and a few of you went with Giroud either in the comments section on podcast 56 or in our vote on podcast 57.
Jack: From all the correct answers we chose one winner at random.
Rich: And the winner is MasterSilver500 from Vietnam. Congratulations MasterSilver500!
Jack: Well done MasterSilver500 from Vietnam. We’ll be in contact soon about how we will get your prize to you.
Social
Rich: So, what’s been happening on the website this week, Jack?
Jack: Well, we’ve got a new Euro 2016 player article about Hugo Lloris the France and Tottenham goalkeeper and captain.
Rich: He’s probably not too happy at the moment. There was quite a lot of support for France but Kwesimanifest thought Portugal would win and he was right!
Jack: If you want to write an opinion about the final or a small match report just go to the page about Hugo Lloris and we will take a look and correct your English, too. Anything else been happening?
Rich: We’ve had a couple of great football questions from Gugun in Indonesia. His first question is in the football vocabulary section about players. The question is: ‘What’s the difference between a full-back and a wing-back?’
Jack: That’s a difficult question. I can see that you replied to Gugan. If you want to see Rich’s answer we’ve put a link to the section about player vocabulary on the right hand side of this page. Have a look at the reply and tell us if you think he’s right. You said that he had two questions?
Rich: Yes, his second question is in the football vocabulary section about clubs. His question is ‘What is a super-sub?’
Jack: now That’s a good question, too.
Rich: If anybody knows the answer, can you help Gugan and reply to him? I’ve put a link to the club vocabulary on the right hand side of this page.
Jack: And thanks to Gugan from Indonesia for his questions. Remember if you have any questions about football English just let us know and we or another Premier Skills English member will answer them on the website or in a podcast.
Language Focus / Latest News
Jack: As we said earlier, we’re talking about Euro 2016 and choosing a starting 11 of Premier League players who did well at the competition.
Rich: No England players right?
Jack: No England players but I think a couple of Welsh players might make our team. Who should go in goal?
Rich: I’ve picked Hugo Lloris from Tottenham and France but Swansea City’s Lukasz Fabianski had a good tournament, too.
Jack: Ok, Let’s pick Lloris. What about our formation? We like to choose attacking players so let’s go for 3-4-3. So we need three big defenders. I’m going to pick the Swansea City captain and Wales captain, Ashley Williams. He had a great tournament.
Rich: I agree. We need someone from the new European Champions so let’s pick Southampton’s Jose Fonte who played well for Portugal. You know, he only started playing for Portugal when he was 31 and now he’s European Champion!
Jack: It’s a great story. He was playing in League One for Southampton a few years ago. I’m going to go for Laurent Koscielny of France and Arsenal. He’s a great defender.
Rich: So, that’s the defenders. What about midfield? I’m going to start with West Ham’s Dimitri Payet. I know he was disappointing in the final but he scored some great goals.
Jack: Good choice. I’m going to go for another Swansea City player here. Iceland were one of the biggest surprises and Gylfi Sigurdsson was great in the middle of the pitch. Let’s pick him.
Rich: The other big surprise was Wales of course. Arsenal’s Aaron Ramsey played really well when they beat Belgium. I think his suspension was one of the reasons that they didn’t beat Portugal in the semi-final.
Jack: You could be right. So, we need one more midfielder. Let’s select Stoke City’s Xherdan Shaquiri. He produced one of the tournaments best moments with that overhead kick against Poland.
Rich: OK, that’s the midfield. Now, we need three strikers. I’m going to start with Southampton’s Graziano Pelle. He scored twice and held the ball up well for the Italians.
Jack: Yes, he’s very good for a big lad! I think we need more pace and skill in attack. I’m going to go with the Chelsea and Belgium forward Eden Hazard. That leaves one more spot in our team, Rich. Who are you going to pick?
Rich: It’s tricky. I could go for Arsenal’s Olivier Giroud but I’m going to cheat a little and pick another Chelsea and Belgium player. Michy Batshuayi completes our team. He’s just signed for Chelsea last week and he scored with his first touch of Euro 2016 - things can’t get better than that!
Jack: I’m sure Chelsea fans are looking forward to watching him play. Right, that’s our Euro 2016 Premier League XI. Take a look at our team in the graphic on the podcast page on the website. Do you agree? What changes would you make? Is it too attacking? Would you change the formation?
Fantasy Football
Rich:Right We have some exciting news for you. This season we’re going to have a fantasy football Premier League team and we would like you to choose the players that play each week.
Jack: Yes, you will choose the players, the captain and make changes to the team each week.
Rich: If you don’t know what Fantasy Football is, it’s a game where you are given £100 million to buy 15 players for your team.
Jack: Each week, depending on what happens in the Premier League, you score points when your players score goals, make assists and keep clean sheets.
Rich: It’s very exciting and we would like your help to get the Premier Skills English team to the top of the leaderboard.
Jack: Our first step is to choose the squad. This week we just want your ideas. We would like to hear which players you’d like to see in the team.
Rich: This week it is easy but soon we will have to think about the money we have available, too.
Jack: That’s right. But let’s not think about that, yet. I hate thinking about money.
Football Phrase
Jack: Right, last week’s football phrase was golden boot. The golden boot is the award or trophy that goes to the player that scores the most goals in a competition. France’s Antoine Griezmann won the golden boot at Euro 2016 with 6 goals.
Rich: And Harry Kane won the golden boot in last season’s Premier League. It will be exciting to see who wins it this year. Zlatan Ibrahimovic maybe?
Jack: Yes, it will be great to see Zlatan in the Premier League.
Rich: Well done to Kwesimanifest from Ghana, Alex from Ukraine, and HassanRaja from Pakistan who all got it right. Do you have a football phrase this week, Jack?
Jack: Yes, this week’s football phrase is *** ****** ********. This is a match that is not part of a competition and happens before the season starts. Tottenham have already played their first *** ****** ********. They won 3-0. Their new signing, Victor Wanyama played and the South Korean, Heung-Min Son got one of the goals.
Rich: Wow! The season has started already. Well not the season, but matches before the season if you know what I mean.
Jack: Yes, I think I know what you mean. Right, that’s all we have time for today!
Rich : Don’t forget to write your answers to our questions and the football phrase in the comments below.
Jack: Bye for now and enjoy your football!
.
Wales and Swansea City captain, Ashley Williams, is in Rich and Jack's Premier League team of the tournament.
Transcript
Quiz
Please login to take this quiz.
What do you think?
In this week’s podcast, we chose our Euro 2016 Premier League Dream Team.
Do you agree with our choices? What changes would you make?
Do you think the team is too attacking? Would you change the formation?
Premier Skills English is going to have a fantasy football team on premierleague.com this season!
We want to hear your ideas of which Premier League players should be in the team!
Write all your answers and comments plus the answer to this week's football phrase in the comments section below.
Leave a comment
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Comments
19/01/2023
points
Which player is the odd one out in this team? For me it's Graziano Pelle... Giroud or Griezmann or even Ronaldo could easily replace him
19/01/2023 08:56
Arsenal
566
Which player is the odd one out in this team? For me it's Graziano Pelle... Giroud or Griezmann or even Ronaldo could easily replace him
19/01/2023
points
Olivier Giroud is a player that are very good to held the ball up!
19/01/2023 08:53
Arsenal
566
Olivier Giroud is a player that are very good to held the ball up!
19/01/2023
points
The team is obviously too attacking... I'm going to fo for a 433, we need more defender to win this kind of competition.
19/01/2023 08:53
Arsenal
566
The team is obviously too attacking... I'm going to fo for a 433, we need more defender to win this kind of competition.
19/01/2023
points
I would rather choose Griezmann in the attack instead of Michy...
19/01/2023 08:52
Arsenal
566
I would rather choose Griezmann in the attack instead of Michy...
13/05/2020
points
I think the football phrase for this week is ( Freindly matches )
13/05/2020 23:52
Manchester United
6510
I think the football phrase for this week is ( Freindly matches )
13/05/2020
points
I prefer 4 - 4 - 2 formation
13/05/2020 23:51
Manchester United
6510
I prefer 4 - 4 - 2 formation
13/05/2020
points
I agree with most of the players but I would choose Toby Alderweild in defence , Gareth Bale in the midfield and Antoine Greizmann in attack if it's allowed to choose players from outside the Premier League :)
13/05/2020 23:51
Manchester United
6510
I agree with most of the players but I would choose Toby Alderweild in defence , Gareth Bale in the midfield and Antoine Greizmann in attack if it's allowed to choose players from outside the Premier League :)
19/03/2020
points
EMI Edificações II - Lucas Padilha Walter
19/03/2020 21:53
Tottenham Hotspur
1
EMI Edificações II - Lucas Padilha Walter
19/03/2020
points
EMI Edificações II- Lucas Padilha Walter
19/03/2020 20:47
Tottenham Hotspur
3
EMI Edificações II- Lucas Padilha Walter
19/03/2020
points
K
19/03/2020 20:42
Tottenham Hotspur
3
K
22/07/2016
points
Congratulations.
22/07/2016 19:30
Liverpool
3705
Congratulations.
22/07/2016
points
I think the phrase is pre season.
22/07/2016 19:28
Liverpool
3705
I think the phrase is pre season.
22/07/2016
points
Yes i think.the best formation is 3-5-2.
22/07/2016 19:26
Liverpool
3705
Yes i think.the best formation is 3-5-2.
22/07/2016
points
Yes i agree with the most of your choices,I would like to put Ghiccarine instead of Sigurdsson.
22/07/2016 19:26
Liverpool
3705
Yes i agree with the most of your choices,I would like to put Ghiccarine instead of Sigurdsson.
18/07/2016
points
Correct me please; It’s a translation from an Arabic local newspaper.
I wanna welcome the English junior national team.
They are here in Tunisia for a friendly international tournament which aims to organize the Junior Football World Cup 2017 in Tunisia.
Last night, the Tunisian team won the English (6-5).
18/07/2016 17:57
Newcastle United
3189
Correct me please; It’s a translation from an Arabic local newspaper.
I wanna welcome the English junior national team.
They are here in Tunisia for a friendly international tournament which aims to organize the Junior Football World Cup 2017 in Tunisia.
Last night, the Tunisian team won the English (6-5).
19/07/2016
points
Hi Haydi
Here we go:
I
wannawould like to(1) welcome the English junior national team. (2)They are here in Tunisia for a friendly international tournament which aims to organize(3) the Junior Football World Cup 2017 in Tunisia.
Last night, the Tunisian team
wonbeat (4) the English (6-5).1. This is OK, but as you said it was a translation from a newspaper, I think that the register is wrong. It should be more formal. Also, it might be that I'm getting older, but I think that written forms like wanna, gonna, shoulda, etc. are becoming outdated. I have not seen them written for a long time - except for transcribed speech.
2. This is interesting! The word order is correct, but it feels wrong. I have tried the words in a different order and can't find anything better,
3. This is unclear - the subject of the verb aims shoud be an organisation - at the moment, it reads like the tournament is organising the World Cup.
4. I think you know this one. Win a match / game / competition. Beat an opponent.
19/07/2016 10:11
Arsenal
560
Hi Haydi
Here we go:
I
wannawould like to(1) welcome the English junior national team. (2)They are here in Tunisia for a friendly international tournament which aims to organize(3) the Junior Football World Cup 2017 in Tunisia.
Last night, the Tunisian team
wonbeat (4) the English (6-5).1. This is OK, but as you said it was a translation from a newspaper, I think that the register is wrong. It should be more formal. Also, it might be that I'm getting older, but I think that written forms like wanna, gonna, shoulda, etc. are becoming outdated. I have not seen them written for a long time - except for transcribed speech.
2. This is interesting! The word order is correct, but it feels wrong. I have tried the words in a different order and can't find anything better,
3. This is unclear - the subject of the verb aims shoud be an organisation - at the moment, it reads like the tournament is organising the World Cup.
4. I think you know this one. Win a match / game / competition. Beat an opponent.
24/07/2016
points
thank you Jack for the correction. Yes, the news aren't clear from its source. It seems that this tournament is like junior friendlies, to prepare the official tournament in 2017, which Tunisia wants to organise it.
For the n°4: yes, I know it! I need to focus when writing!
24/07/2016 17:49
Newcastle United
3189
thank you Jack for the correction. Yes, the news aren't clear from its source. It seems that this tournament is like junior friendlies, to prepare the official tournament in 2017, which Tunisia wants to organise it.
For the n°4: yes, I know it! I need to focus when writing!
18/07/2016
points
This week’s word is ‘pre-tournament matches’. It’s my third attempt!
18/07/2016 17:46
Newcastle United
3189
This week’s word is ‘pre-tournament matches’. It’s my third attempt!
19/07/2016
points
Sorry Haydi - still not quite. We're making the podcast today so you'll have to tune in to hear the answer. Have you heard this expression before? It sounds funny to me using it to talk about podcast.
19/07/2016 10:03
Arsenal
560
Sorry Haydi - still not quite. We're making the podcast today so you'll have to tune in to hear the answer. Have you heard this expression before? It sounds funny to me using it to talk about podcast.
18/07/2016
points
Haydi not really
As the games begin you would understand some players will be playing consistently very well and scoring points who might not be in urban team and you should know about them and take out non-performers from your team to add these performing ones.
18/07/2016 05:27
Manchester United
4768
Haydi not really
As the games begin you would understand some players will be playing consistently very well and scoring points who might not be in urban team and you should know about them and take out non-performers from your team to add these performing ones.
17/07/2016
points
FPL, I'm looking forward for it :)
17/07/2016 13:35
West Ham United
538
FPL, I'm looking forward for it :)
17/07/2016
points
We're looking forward to it, too! ⚽
17/07/2016 19:19
Liverpool
594
We're looking forward to it, too! ⚽
17/07/2016
points
Hello Jack and Rich
I hope transfers might be discussed in our next podcast, lots of the teams are making some great signings.
17/07/2016 06:28
Manchester United
4768
Hello Jack and Rich
I hope transfers might be discussed in our next podcast, lots of the teams are making some great signings.
17/07/2016
points
Good idea! Zlatan at Manchester Utd will be very interesting!
17/07/2016 19:22
Liverpool
594
Good idea! Zlatan at Manchester Utd will be very interesting!
16/07/2016
points
Good you know Alex.
16/07/2016 15:46
Manchester United
4768
Good you know Alex.
16/07/2016
points
I' ve guessed trying to kick myself. Wnen all my kickings seemed of no avail I just made it up. :-)
16/07/2016 17:41
Liverpool
6285
I' ve guessed trying to kick myself. Wnen all my kickings seemed of no avail I just made it up. :-)
17/07/2016
points
Hi Alex
There are lots of idioms with 'kick'. Check out this list: http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/kick
My favourite is to kick back. Today is Sunday so I'm just kicking back, sitting in the garden and enjoying the sunshine!
17/07/2016 19:32
Liverpool
594
Hi Alex
There are lots of idioms with 'kick'. Check out this list: http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/kick
My favourite is to kick back. Today is Sunday so I'm just kicking back, sitting in the garden and enjoying the sunshine!
18/07/2016
points
:-) Thanks, Rich ! I'm kicking forward to hearing from you. :-)
18/07/2016 15:46
Liverpool
6285
:-) Thanks, Rich ! I'm kicking forward to hearing from you. :-)
16/07/2016
points
Rich I think haydi's idea of searching through the player of the week might be good but not entirely the best way to get the best player in the league as players improve every other week so there is a greater need to monitor players as they play.
16/07/2016 15:36
Manchester United
4768
Rich I think haydi's idea of searching through the player of the week might be good but not entirely the best way to get the best player in the league as players improve every other week so there is a greater need to monitor players as they play.
17/07/2016
points
Hi kwesimanifest, "We need to monitor players as they play"!
Things are already hard for me, and you complicated them more!
So, how we could monitor players as they play! If I well understood you, we need a simulation software! You understand what I mean by 'simulation'! It's like learning how to drive a car, while you are sitting on a chair in front of a PC with a car driving simulation software.
17/07/2016 15:02
Newcastle United
3189
Hi kwesimanifest, "We need to monitor players as they play"!
Things are already hard for me, and you complicated them more!
So, how we could monitor players as they play! If I well understood you, we need a simulation software! You understand what I mean by 'simulation'! It's like learning how to drive a car, while you are sitting on a chair in front of a PC with a car driving simulation software.
15/07/2016
points
Rich you are right Alex would kick himself once he realisesaid the last word he is missing.
15/07/2016 19:20
Manchester United
4768
Rich you are right Alex would kick himself once he realisesaid the last word he is missing.
16/07/2016
points
I do not have such a habit of kicking myself - it's very inconvenient. :-)
16/07/2016 02:22
Liverpool
6285
I do not have such a habit of kicking myself - it's very inconvenient. :-)
15/07/2016
points
The fantasy football requires time to play so one can make good analysis of players
15/07/2016 05:05
Manchester United
4768
The fantasy football requires time to play so one can make good analysis of players
14/07/2016
points
If I well understood the 'fantasy football team' concept, the required work is to select other players to substitute the ones I don't want, because I see that they are not good enough. That is? If yes, I need to do a screening to all players, from the 'player of the week' icon. That's all?
14/07/2016 23:30
Newcastle United
3189
If I well understood the 'fantasy football team' concept, the required work is to select other players to substitute the ones I don't want, because I see that they are not good enough. That is? If yes, I need to do a screening to all players, from the 'player of the week' icon. That's all?
15/07/2016
points
The Player of the Week articles would be a great place to start as some of the best players are represented here. It does get a bit more complicated but we will explain everything in the next few weeks.
15/07/2016 08:44
Liverpool
594
The Player of the Week articles would be a great place to start as some of the best players are represented here. It does get a bit more complicated but we will explain everything in the next few weeks.
17/07/2016
points
ok,I'm waiting the next podcasts to understand more and more.
17/07/2016 14:56
Newcastle United
3189
ok,I'm waiting the next podcasts to understand more and more.
14/07/2016
points
This week’s football phrase is PRE SEASON TRAINING.
14/07/2016 14:24
Liverpool
6285
This week’s football phrase is PRE SEASON TRAINING.
14/07/2016
points
I guess the same word, Alex! It's quite difficult.
14/07/2016 23:25
Newcastle United
3189
I guess the same word, Alex! It's quite difficult.
14/07/2016
points
The word is "pre-season matches" or "pre-season fixtures"!
14/07/2016 23:39
Newcastle United
3189
The word is "pre-season matches" or "pre-season fixtures"!
15/07/2016
points
Hi Haydi
Both of these phrases work but neither is the one we're looking for. It's a synonym, which is the topic of this lesson!
Rich - The Premier Skills English Team
15/07/2016 08:42
Liverpool
594
Hi Haydi
Both of these phrases work but neither is the one we're looking for. It's a synonym, which is the topic of this lesson!
Rich - The Premier Skills English Team
17/07/2016
points
Hi Rich! The topic of this lesson!! The word is 'fantasy matches'??,
17/07/2016 14:46
Newcastle United
3189
Hi Rich! The topic of this lesson!! The word is 'fantasy matches'??,
14/07/2016
points
It's a good guess but not quite right.
14/07/2016 18:03
Liverpool
594
It's a good guess but not quite right.
15/07/2016
points
Then PRE SEASON SPARRING ! :-)
15/07/2016 06:08
Liverpool
6285
Then PRE SEASON SPARRING ! :-)
15/07/2016
points
Hi Alex
That's a great phrase. I love it! But, it's actually much simpler. You will kick yourself if you don't get the answer. Have you heard that phrase before? To kick yourself.
Rich - The Premier Skills English Team
15/07/2016 08:47
Liverpool
594
Hi Alex
That's a great phrase. I love it! But, it's actually much simpler. You will kick yourself if you don't get the answer. Have you heard that phrase before? To kick yourself.
Rich - The Premier Skills English Team
16/07/2016
points
"pre-season *******" is THE ANSWER. Never kick yourselves, folks : you could fall down head over heels ! :-)
16/07/2016 02:29
Liverpool
6285
"pre-season *******" is THE ANSWER. Never kick yourselves, folks : you could fall down head over heels ! :-)
17/07/2016
points
Hi Alex, many of us have already kicked ourselves many times! thank God, we haven't felt yet. ;)
17/07/2016 15:05
Newcastle United
3189
Hi Alex, many of us have already kicked ourselves many times! thank God, we haven't felt yet. ;)
16/07/2016
points
Well done Alex! You got it!
16/07/2016 06:23
Liverpool
594
Well done Alex! You got it!
14/07/2016
points
i would prefer Umtiti substitute to Fonte.
Yes this team is too attacking. Kante is my favourite in a 4.3.3 position team.
Word guess : Pre season matches.
14/07/2016 13:34
Manchester City
3988
i would prefer Umtiti substitute to Fonte.
Yes this team is too attacking. Kante is my favourite in a 4.3.3 position team.
Word guess : Pre season matches.
14/07/2016
points
Hi Elghoul
We thought about Kante, too, but he didn't play in the semi-final or the final. Our team only includes Premier League players so we didn't include Umtiti because he's just signed for Barcelona from Lyon in France. The phrase is nearly right but not quite.
Thanks for your message.
Rich - The Premier Skills English Team
14/07/2016 18:00
Liverpool
594
Hi Elghoul
We thought about Kante, too, but he didn't play in the semi-final or the final. Our team only includes Premier League players so we didn't include Umtiti because he's just signed for Barcelona from Lyon in France. The phrase is nearly right but not quite.
Thanks for your message.
Rich - The Premier Skills English Team
14/07/2016
points
This week's phrase is ***-****** ********
14/07/2016 13:04
Manchester United
4768
This week's phrase is ***-****** ********