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How to spot a fake fan

How to spot a fake fan

In this week's Premier Skills English podcast, Rich and Jack talk about two rounds of action from the Premier League and talk about some phrases that can help you spot a fake football fan. The language focus is on 'should' and 'shouldn't'. We also have a new football phrase for you to guess. Enjoy!

Vocabulary

How much did you understand?

In the podcast, Rich and Jack used some words and phrases that might be new for you. You can see two examples here: 

Chelsea edge closer to the Premier League title.

Get in! What a goal!

There were a few more tricky words in the podcast. Can you remember all of them? Try the activity below, then, listen to the podcast again to hear how we used the words in context. This can really help with understanding.

Activity 1

In this activity, have a look at the vocabulary and try to match it to the correct definition. ​
New Vocabulary.

What do football fans eat at half time?

Language

Phrases Football Fans Should and Shouldn't Use

In this week's podcast, Jack and Rich spoke about how to spot a fake football fan. Here are some phrases that you will hear from real football fans and some phrases from fake football fans. Can you spot the difference? 

Get in! A slam dunk!
Who's playing? What's the score?
May the best team win. They were so lucky!
I support Utd. I support Manchester.
What's offside? He was miles offside, ref!
That result has ruined my weekend. It's only a game. Don't worry.

Spurs players are very happy with their win at Swansea.

Language

Should and Shouldn't

In the last exercise we asked you to compare phrases that football fans should and shouldn't say. We use these words to give advice. If we say we 'should do something' it means it is a good idea to do it. If we say we 'shouldn't do something' it is a bad idea. Should is followed by the infinitive.

You should get some more exercise, Rich!

Thanks Jack! You should eat more green vegetables!

Take a look at this activity and decide if each sentence offers good or bad advice.

Activity 2

In this activity, decide which things people should try to do and which things people should try not to do.
Group the ideas together.

Wilfried Zaha is our Player of the Week.

Transcript

If the listening was a bit difficult, you can listen again and read the transcript at the same time.
Read and listen.

Rich: I was speaking to a this guy the other day and I said what team do you support? You won’t believe what he said.

Jack: What did he say?

Rich: He said he supported London.

Jack: Really??

Rich: I said London Utd or London City. He said Utd of course.

Jack: Brilliant.

Welcome

Rich: Hello my name’s Rich
 
Jack: and I’m Jack
 
Rich: and welcome to this week’s Premier Skills English podcast
 
Jack: Where we talk about football and help you with your English.

Jack: What’s happening this week, Rich?
 
Rich: In this week’s show, we’re going to talk about the double matchweek in the Premier League and we’re going to look at some phrases that you can use to spot a fake fan.

Jack: But first, let’s look at the Premier League headlines.

Headlines

Rich: Chelsea edge closer to the Premier League title.

Jack: After a surprising defeat to Crystal Palace, Chelsea bounced back by beating Manchester City. The Blues lead the Premier League by seven points with eight matches left to play.

Rich: Spurs stun Swansea with fast finish.

Jack: Chelsea’s closest challengers are Tottenham Hotspur but they left it late against Swansea. Spurs scored three goals in the last three minutes to win 3-1 and leave Swansea in the relegation zone.

Rich: Hull plan a great escape.

Jack: Hull City’s revival under their new manager continued. Two home wins this week has lifted the Tigers out of the relegation zone for the first time since October.

Rich: We don’t talk about Hull much but they are doing really well under their new manager Marco Silva.

Jack: He’s unbeaten at home as a manager in 40 matches with four different clubs. Estoril and Sporting Lisbon in Portugal, Olimpiakos in Greece and now Hull in the Premier League.

Rich: Incredible. He could save the Tigers from relegation.

Topic/Language Focus

Rich: In this week’s podcast, we’re going to help football fans spot a fake football fan

Jack: What do you mean a fake football fan Rich?

Rich: You know, not a real fan. Someone who pretends to be a fan. 

Jack: You mean like someone who says they support Manchester?

Rich: Exactly, they don’t know there are two teams in the city. A fan would say City or United. 

Jack: Yes. That would be like me saying I support London.

Rich: We’re going to help you spot one of these fake fans.

Jack: So, we’re going to look at some phrases that real football fans say and phrases that fake fans say when talking about football.

Jack: Where shall we start?

Rich: Let’s begin with some general questions that fake fans might ask football fans when watching a match

Jack: You can spot a fake fan if they ask things like: ‘What’s happening now?’ or ‘Why does the referee have his flag up?’ or the worst one ‘What’s offside?’

Rich; That’s right. And, they will just annoy real football fans. If you’re new to football and don’t want to sound like a fake fan, you shouldn’t ask these questions at a football match - you should find out before you go..

Jack: So, here are some football phrases that you can use to spot a fake fan. 

Rich: Let’s imagine that you are at a football match with some friends and you hear someone say.

Jack: I think this is going to be a great game. May the best team win.

Rich: Fake fan immediately! No real fan says this. Real fans  don’t care how they win. They can cheat, they can foul but they must win. Yes, it’s better if they are the better team but it’s not the most important thing.

Jack: So what should you say?

Rich: I don’t know - something like: Come on! We’ve got to get three points today.

Jack: What about when your team scores a goal?

Rich: You’ll probably hear something like: Get in!

Jack: If you hear slam dunk! You’ve got a fake fan on your hands.

Rich: Michael Jordan is not on the football pitch. A slam dunk is only used in basketball - if you say slam dunk you will sound silly. ‘Get in’ sounds natural but remember to sound happy or possibly a little bit aggressive when you say it.

Jack: When the other team scores a fan is going to say something like: you have to be joking or come on, we can get back into this.

Rich: If you hear: That was a good goal or the other team are much better, aren’t they? He or she is faking it. 

Jack: Don’t say this. You might make other fans angry. It’s not important if it’s true. You should keep quiet. When the other team score you can be cross or supportive but don’t say the other team is better or that they deserve to be winning.

Rich: What if you’re watching a match at home and a friend walks in and says: Who’s playing?

Jack: Fake fan, definitely. A fan might say What’s the score? But, they would definitely know who’s playing.

Jack: At the end of the match if Arsenal have lost I might say: The other team were lucky or if we have won I might say good result.

Rich: That’s because you’re a real fan, Jack! Whatever you do don’t say: Ah well, it’s only a game.

Jack: This will make a real football fan angry.

Rich: We get angry, very easily, don’t we.

Jack: Not if we win, Rich.

Rich: So, there are a few football phrases for football fans and non-football fans to use when talking about the match.

Jack: We’ve got a few more of these phrases further down the page, under this podcast and some language activities for you to look at.

Player of the Week

Rich: There were lots of great performances in the Premier League last week.

Jack: Son Heung Min scored in both matches for Spurs as Tottenham got two away wins at Burnley and Swansea. And Jamie Vardy also scored in both of Leicester’s wins against Sunderland and Stoke.

RIch: That’s six wins out of six for Leicester under their new manager - Craig Shakespeare. 

Jack: But our player of the week comes from the team performance of the week. That was Crystal Palace’s win away at Chelsea. And the player is Wilfried Zaha. He was the man of the match. He scored one and made the other in a 2-1 win.

Rich: You can read more about Zaha in our player article on the side of this page. He’s had an interesting career at both club and international level and he’s only 24 years old.

Can you work out this week’s football phrase?

Rich: Have you got a football phrase for us this week?

Jack: Yes, I have, but first, last week’s football phrase. The phrase was ‘a back four’. The back four is the name that we commonly use for the defence when there are two centre backs and two full backs.

Rich: We often describe this as a flat back four, too. Emir from Bosnia mentioned this in his answer so a special well done to him. And to Liubomyr from Ukraine, too, who didn’t give up and got the answer right on his third go.

Jack: Well done also to Ahmed Adam Mamado from Sudan, Numrut from Ukraine and Kwesimanifest from Ghana. You also got the right answer!

Rich: What’s this week’s phrase?

Jack: This week’s phrase is a bit difficult I think. The phrase is to ** *** ****** ****. It means to beat a team twice in one season. If you beat a team at home and away you ** *** ******* **** them.

Rich: Chelsea have **** *** ****** **** Manchester City. They beat them 3-1 away from home and this week beat them 2-1 at home. And Liverpool have **** *** ****** **** Everton this season.

Jack: I thought you might mention the derby double this week, Rich!

Rich: Right, that’s all we have time for this week. 

Jack: Don’t forget to write your answers to our questions and make a guess at our football phrase in the comments below. 

Rich: Bye for now and enjoy your football!

Quiz

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What do you think?

In this week’s podcast, Jack and Rich gave you a few phrases that might be used by fans that pretend they know about football.

  1. Is football the most popular topic of conversation in your country? What other topics do people often talk about? 

  2. Do you know anyone who pretends to know a lot about football? Would you describe these people as fake fans?

  3. Have you heard any strange phrases from 'fake' football fans? Should people talk about topics they don't know much about? 

Remember to write your guess at this week's football phrase and the questions above in the comments section below.

If you want us to correct your English, just write 'correct me' at the beginning of your comment.

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Comments

hsn's picture
hsn
20/07/2021
TR
5560
points

What do you think?
1-Football and politics are the main topics of conversations in my country. The colleagues generally talk about office (work), ladies talk about cooking and children.
2-I beleive that every (young/old) man should have enough basic football knowledge to have conversation in any occasion like (garden/office/house-warming) party.
I’ve met a person who started to talk about a football event which was happened a quarter century ago-:) He has had only this information about his team.
3-People shouldn’t talk about topics they don’t know much about. It would be better getting knowledge from books, internet or media before talking about it. Pretending to be wise can be understood easily.
PHRASES
• Market was ruined -:) the prices edge closer to the costs.
• Being a good example to younger people is to show them righteous behaviours than giving advices.
P.S.
• I’m afraid I don’t agree what is said about this phrase. "May the best team win".I think it describes politeness and desire for fair-play. There is no any thing such as winning in all cases.


hsn's picture
hsn
20/07/2021 12:22
Turkey
Tottenham Hotspur
5560

What do you think?
1-Football and politics are the main topics of conversations in my country. The colleagues generally talk about office (work), ladies talk about cooking and children.
2-I beleive that every (young/old) man should have enough basic football knowledge to have conversation in any occasion like (garden/office/house-warming) party.
I’ve met a person who started to talk about a football event which was happened a quarter century ago-:) He has had only this information about his team.
3-People shouldn’t talk about topics they don’t know much about. It would be better getting knowledge from books, internet or media before talking about it. Pretending to be wise can be understood easily.
PHRASES
• Market was ruined -:) the prices edge closer to the costs.
• Being a good example to younger people is to show them righteous behaviours than giving advices.
P.S.
• I’m afraid I don’t agree what is said about this phrase. "May the best team win".I think it describes politeness and desire for fair-play. There is no any thing such as winning in all cases.

mobeckham's picture
mobeckham
17/05/2020
TR
6539
points

I think this week's football phrase is ( double trouble )


mobeckham's picture
mobeckham
17/05/2020 12:53
Turkey
Manchester United
6539

I think this week's football phrase is ( double trouble )

mobeckham's picture
mobeckham
17/05/2020
TR
6539
points

I heard a couple of strange phrases from fake football fans before like
1. Do Manchester United play in Spanish or Italian League ?
2. An old friend said that Egyptian team El Ahly can beat English teams by 5 or 6 goals in a match and the team level's no way close to even the relegation zone teams
It was quite funny comments though :))


mobeckham's picture
mobeckham
17/05/2020 12:51
Turkey
Manchester United
6539

I heard a couple of strange phrases from fake football fans before like
1. Do Manchester United play in Spanish or Italian League ?
2. An old friend said that Egyptian team El Ahly can beat English teams by 5 or 6 goals in a match and the team level's no way close to even the relegation zone teams
It was quite funny comments though :))

mobeckham's picture
mobeckham
17/05/2020
TR
6539
points

I used to have a couple of friends when I was at school who pretended to be football fans by buying the players stickers and trying to trade them with us but they ended up swapping star players with us with average ones :))

At that time I don't think they were fake fans. They might wanted to make friends


mobeckham's picture
mobeckham
17/05/2020 12:47
Turkey
Manchester United
6539

I used to have a couple of friends when I was at school who pretended to be football fans by buying the players stickers and trying to trade them with us but they ended up swapping star players with us with average ones :))

At that time I don't think they were fake fans. They might wanted to make friends

mobeckham's picture
mobeckham
17/05/2020
TR
6539
points

Football is definitely the most famous topic of conversation in Turkey especially between guys and basketball as well
Other topics are jobs and salaries , horse riding bets , films and series and not to forget about talking about the other sex like boys about girls and vice versa :))


mobeckham's picture
mobeckham
17/05/2020 12:45
Turkey
Manchester United
6539

Football is definitely the most famous topic of conversation in Turkey especially between guys and basketball as well
Other topics are jobs and salaries , horse riding bets , films and series and not to forget about talking about the other sex like boys about girls and vice versa :))

assemjuve's picture
assemjuve
09/07/2017
PS
3705
points

Yes,i heared some people say i am with the winner team.If i do not about something i listen to expert people so i can have some information and i can talk about that topic as i want.


assemjuve's picture
assemjuve
09/07/2017 20:49
Palestinian Territory
Liverpool
3705

Yes,i heared some people say i am with the winner team.If i do not about something i listen to expert people so i can have some information and i can talk about that topic as i want.

assemjuve's picture
assemjuve
09/07/2017
PS
3705
points

Actually it is easy for me to know the fake fans,when they lie about results i find out that they are lying.


assemjuve's picture
assemjuve
09/07/2017 20:47
Palestinian Territory
Liverpool
3705

Actually it is easy for me to know the fake fans,when they lie about results i find out that they are lying.

assemjuve's picture
assemjuve
09/07/2017
PS
3705
points

Yes it is,every week i start arguing with my friend after the end of a fixture.


assemjuve's picture
assemjuve
09/07/2017 20:45
Palestinian Territory
Liverpool
3705

Yes it is,every week i start arguing with my friend after the end of a fixture.

alimiloud's picture
alimiloud
15/04/2017
DZ
160
points

good

 


alimiloud's picture
alimiloud
15/04/2017 00:12
Algeria
Chelsea
160

good

 

RafaelRC's picture
RafaelRC
14/04/2017
BR
663
points

Correct me.
Football is the most popular topic of conversation in Brazil, the football make part of our culture. Another important topics are work, politics, music and the things that happen daily.
There are many fake fans that don't support by teams but like to watch the national team, mainly in the world cup.
I've heard who is the guy of yellow??? Was the referee :D


RafaelRC's picture
RafaelRC
14/04/2017 11:31
Brazil
Arsenal
663

Correct me.
Football is the most popular topic of conversation in Brazil, the football make part of our culture. Another important topics are work, politics, music and the things that happen daily.
There are many fake fans that don't support by teams but like to watch the national team, mainly in the world cup.
I've heard who is the guy of yellow??? Was the referee :D

Ahmed Adam Mamado's picture
Ahmed Adam Mamado
10/04/2017
SD
2903
points

in activity 1

the are of a league table where you move down to a lower division

isn't here somthing unclear?


Ahmed Adam Mamado's picture
Ahmed Adam Mamado
10/04/2017 19:17
Sudan
Liverpool
2903

in activity 1

the are of a league table where you move down to a lower division

isn't here somthing unclear?

Rich's picture
Rich
10/04/2017
ES
594
points

Hi Ahmed 

It should have said the areA of the league table...... Thanks for spotting it. I've changed it now.

Rich - The Premier Skills English Team


Rich's picture
Rich
10/04/2017 19:51
Spain
Liverpool
594

Hi Ahmed 

It should have said the areA of the league table...... Thanks for spotting it. I've changed it now.

Rich - The Premier Skills English Team

Ahmed Adam Mamado's picture
Ahmed Adam Mamado
10/04/2017
SD
2903
points

that's allright

i would allways like my comments to be corrected, but i forget to write "correct me" at the beginning, so i will be pleased every time i find my comment is being corrected


Ahmed Adam Mamado's picture
Ahmed Adam Mamado
10/04/2017 21:08
Sudan
Liverpool
2903

that's allright

i would allways like my comments to be corrected, but i forget to write "correct me" at the beginning, so i will be pleased every time i find my comment is being corrected

Ahmed Adam Mamado's picture
Ahmed Adam Mamado
10/04/2017
SD
2903
points

1./ In our country younger people talk about football a lot, but older people often talk about politics

3./ one day i was in a cafe watching Real Madrid vs Some team in La Liga which i don't remember it's name , and it was a closed match
Luka Modric scored the winner with a fantastic thunderbolt from outside the box, While some people went crazy by cheering and shouting, someone said the goal is fantastic and Modric deserves to play in a much bigger team,
and someone asked him "what do you mean?" he replied "teams like Bayern Munich or Manchester Utd" all the people at the club laughed hilariously !


Ahmed Adam Mamado's picture
Ahmed Adam Mamado
10/04/2017 19:01
Sudan
Liverpool
2903

1./ In our country younger people talk about football a lot, but older people often talk about politics

3./ one day i was in a cafe watching Real Madrid vs Some team in La Liga which i don't remember it's name , and it was a closed match
Luka Modric scored the winner with a fantastic thunderbolt from outside the box, While some people went crazy by cheering and shouting, someone said the goal is fantastic and Modric deserves to play in a much bigger team,
and someone asked him "what do you mean?" he replied "teams like Bayern Munich or Manchester Utd" all the people at the club laughed hilariously !

Rich's picture
Rich
11/04/2017
ES
594
points

Very funny, Ahmed! Not sure Manchester Utd fans would be too happy about this!!


Rich's picture
Rich
11/04/2017 09:52
Spain
Liverpool
594

Very funny, Ahmed! Not sure Manchester Utd fans would be too happy about this!!

Ahmed Adam Mamado's picture
Ahmed Adam Mamado
12/09/2017
SD
2903
points

With my deep respect to the Man Utd community, it was only something happened in a football match and if that sounds to make Mancheser Utd fans unhappy, I'm really sorry about that. I didn't mean to


Ahmed Adam Mamado's picture
Ahmed Adam Mamado
12/09/2017 12:00
Sudan
Liverpool
2903

With my deep respect to the Man Utd community, it was only something happened in a football match and if that sounds to make Mancheser Utd fans unhappy, I'm really sorry about that. I didn't mean to

Ahmed Adam Mamado's picture
Ahmed Adam Mamado
10/04/2017
SD
2903
points

I think the phrase of this week is to "** *** ****** ****"


Ahmed Adam Mamado's picture
Ahmed Adam Mamado
10/04/2017 17:43
Sudan
Liverpool
2903

I think the phrase of this week is to "** *** ****** ****"

kwesimanifest's picture
kwesimanifest
10/04/2017
GH
4779
points

This week's phrase is to ** *** ****** ****


kwesimanifest's picture
kwesimanifest
10/04/2017 16:02
Ghana
Manchester United
4779

This week's phrase is to ** *** ****** ****

kwesimanifest's picture
kwesimanifest
10/04/2017
GH
4779
points

I think its best that one states clearly when he or she doesn't have any or limited knowledge of a said issue so as to set the caveat for whatever utterances or discussions there maybe.


kwesimanifest's picture
kwesimanifest
10/04/2017 15:57
Ghana
Manchester United
4779

I think its best that one states clearly when he or she doesn't have any or limited knowledge of a said issue so as to set the caveat for whatever utterances or discussions there maybe.

kwesimanifest's picture
kwesimanifest
10/04/2017
GH
4779
points

football is one of the most important topics that are discussed in my country in addition to politics,the economy and entertainment or showbiz among others.


kwesimanifest's picture
kwesimanifest
10/04/2017 15:48
Ghana
Manchester United
4779

football is one of the most important topics that are discussed in my country in addition to politics,the economy and entertainment or showbiz among others.

aragorn1986's picture
aragorn1986
10/04/2017
ME
3557
points

In my country you can often hear that we have more football managers than players. It's because of the fact that the majority of the fans do not hesitate to critisize big managers when things are not going so smooth and they all have 'solution' for the problem though they've never played football on professional level. I suppose it would be the same case or similar in many other countries. Yes, some fans support only big clubs out of blue.


aragorn1986's picture
aragorn1986
10/04/2017 15:28
Montenegro
Arsenal
3557

In my country you can often hear that we have more football managers than players. It's because of the fact that the majority of the fans do not hesitate to critisize big managers when things are not going so smooth and they all have 'solution' for the problem though they've never played football on professional level. I suppose it would be the same case or similar in many other countries. Yes, some fans support only big clubs out of blue.

elghoul's picture
elghoul
10/04/2017
DZ
3988
points

1.Football is the most popular topic of men conversation. Women prefer kitchen chating and family gossips.

2.I know  lots of football fans but some of them cannot in fact watch a football match. They speak louder than others and details of their stories are memorized sayings from real football experts.

3. Some children after the one of the first newly national team against Csekoslovaky say that these strangers have legs like horses ones.

football phrase, double leg win.

 


elghoul's picture
elghoul
10/04/2017 14:53
Algeria
Manchester City
3988

1.Football is the most popular topic of men conversation. Women prefer kitchen chating and family gossips.

2.I know  lots of football fans but some of them cannot in fact watch a football match. They speak louder than others and details of their stories are memorized sayings from real football experts.

3. Some children after the one of the first newly national team against Csekoslovaky say that these strangers have legs like horses ones.

football phrase, double leg win.

 

shobonenok's picture
shobonenok
09/04/2017
RU
989
points

Correct me.
I can't tell on behalf of the whole Russian and even Moscow population speaking about the most popular topics. However, I can do it on behalf of students. Lots of us discuss football: Russian, international and foreign. English and Spanish leagues are the most popular among abroad ones. The other topics are: education, career, relationships.
I have several friends who knows a lot about their football clubs or national teams which they support, not about the whole football. One of my best friends knows a lot about Spartak Moscow (his father and grandfather support this club too), Arsenal, Barcelona and Borussia Dortmund. However, he knows a lot about Man Utd, Newcastle Utd, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich. If I tell him that he is a fake fan because he knows a lot about football, he will probably get hot under the collar and it will be better for me to say it was a joke to avoid being thrashed :D
In my point of view, it's better to avoid lying. If someone is going to watch the football match first time during his life - please, don't pretend to be a fan or a wiseacre! Recently my mates from the Spartak's supporters community and I have met at the pub to watch the friendly game against Crvena Zvezda (from Serbia). I decided to invite my groupmate from the university to join us. During the match he often asked us who is the player with the ball, who has just scored and other similar questions. At the end of the day, he told us that Crvena deserved to win (2-1). Fortunately, it was not a derby or a showdown because in that case my mates would probably make my groupmate eat his words and I would be impotent to protect him.


shobonenok's picture
shobonenok
09/04/2017 10:40
Russia
Manchester City
989

Correct me.
I can't tell on behalf of the whole Russian and even Moscow population speaking about the most popular topics. However, I can do it on behalf of students. Lots of us discuss football: Russian, international and foreign. English and Spanish leagues are the most popular among abroad ones. The other topics are: education, career, relationships.
I have several friends who knows a lot about their football clubs or national teams which they support, not about the whole football. One of my best friends knows a lot about Spartak Moscow (his father and grandfather support this club too), Arsenal, Barcelona and Borussia Dortmund. However, he knows a lot about Man Utd, Newcastle Utd, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich. If I tell him that he is a fake fan because he knows a lot about football, he will probably get hot under the collar and it will be better for me to say it was a joke to avoid being thrashed :D
In my point of view, it's better to avoid lying. If someone is going to watch the football match first time during his life - please, don't pretend to be a fan or a wiseacre! Recently my mates from the Spartak's supporters community and I have met at the pub to watch the friendly game against Crvena Zvezda (from Serbia). I decided to invite my groupmate from the university to join us. During the match he often asked us who is the player with the ball, who has just scored and other similar questions. At the end of the day, he told us that Crvena deserved to win (2-1). Fortunately, it was not a derby or a showdown because in that case my mates would probably make my groupmate eat his words and I would be impotent to protect him.

Rich's picture
Rich
11/04/2017
ES
594
points

Hi Shobonenok,

I hope your football friends will go easy on your university friend! We've all got to learn somewhere! I've made a few corrections below. Let me know if you have any questions.

I can't tell talk on behalf of the whole Russian and or even Moscow population speaking about the most popular topics. However, I can do it on behalf of students. Lots of us discuss football: Russian, international football and foreign leagues. The English and Spanish leagues are the most popular among abroad foreign ones. The other topics are: education, career, relationships etc.
I have several friends who knows a lot about their football clubs or national teams which they support, but not about the whole of football. One of my best friends knows a lot about Spartak Moscow (his father and grandfather support this club too), Arsenal, Barcelona and Borussia Dortmund. However, he knows a lot about Man Utd, Newcastle Utd, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, too. If I tell him that he is a fake fan because he knows a lot about football, he will probably get hot under the collar and it will be better for me to say it was a joke to avoid being thrashed(this sounds old fashioned) beaten up :D
In my point of view, it's better to avoid lying. If someone is going to watch the a football match for the first time during his life - please, don't pretend to be a fan or a wiseacre (this is very uncommon and old fashioned - 'smart-aleck' 'know-it-all' or 'know-all' are better or 'wiseass' but this last one is a bit rude and could offend if used in some situations!! Here is a podcast about the word 'wiseacre' Recently my mates from the Spartak's supporters community and I have met at the pub to watch the friendly game against Crvena Zvezda (from Serbia). I decided to invite my groupmate from the university to join us. During the match he often asked us who is the player with the ball, who has just scored and other similar questions. At the end of the day, he told us that Crvena deserved to win (2-1). Fortunately, it was not a derby or a showdown because in that case my mates would probably make my groupmate him eat his words and I would be impotent to protect him wouldn't be able to do anything about it!

Rich - The Premier Skills English Team


Rich's picture
Rich
11/04/2017 09:50
Spain
Liverpool
594

Hi Shobonenok,

I hope your football friends will go easy on your university friend! We've all got to learn somewhere! I've made a few corrections below. Let me know if you have any questions.

I can't tell talk on behalf of the whole Russian and or even Moscow population speaking about the most popular topics. However, I can do it on behalf of students. Lots of us discuss football: Russian, international football and foreign leagues. The English and Spanish leagues are the most popular among abroad foreign ones. The other topics are: education, career, relationships etc.
I have several friends who knows a lot about their football clubs or national teams which they support, but not about the whole of football. One of my best friends knows a lot about Spartak Moscow (his father and grandfather support this club too), Arsenal, Barcelona and Borussia Dortmund. However, he knows a lot about Man Utd, Newcastle Utd, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, too. If I tell him that he is a fake fan because he knows a lot about football, he will probably get hot under the collar and it will be better for me to say it was a joke to avoid being thrashed(this sounds old fashioned) beaten up :D
In my point of view, it's better to avoid lying. If someone is going to watch the a football match for the first time during his life - please, don't pretend to be a fan or a wiseacre (this is very uncommon and old fashioned - 'smart-aleck' 'know-it-all' or 'know-all' are better or 'wiseass' but this last one is a bit rude and could offend if used in some situations!! Here is a podcast about the word 'wiseacre' Recently my mates from the Spartak's supporters community and I have met at the pub to watch the friendly game against Crvena Zvezda (from Serbia). I decided to invite my groupmate from the university to join us. During the match he often asked us who is the player with the ball, who has just scored and other similar questions. At the end of the day, he told us that Crvena deserved to win (2-1). Fortunately, it was not a derby or a showdown because in that case my mates would probably make my groupmate him eat his words and I would be impotent to protect him wouldn't be able to do anything about it!

Rich - The Premier Skills English Team

Emir Veličanstveni's picture
Emir Veličanstveni
07/04/2017
BA
1449
points

This week's phrase is ***** *** ******.


Emir Veličanstveni's picture
Emir Veličanstveni
07/04/2017 22:20
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Arsenal
1449

This week's phrase is ***** *** ******.

Liubomyr's picture
Liubomyr
07/04/2017
UA
4417
points

I think that the phrase is to ‘** *** ****** ****’.


Liubomyr's picture
Liubomyr
07/04/2017 16:08
Ukraine
Watford
4417

I think that the phrase is to ‘** *** ****** ****’.

admin's picture
admin
07/04/2017
GB
560
points

Well done Liubomyr - first comment and first correct answer and first time!


admin's picture
admin
07/04/2017 19:53
United Kingdom
Arsenal
560

Well done Liubomyr - first comment and first correct answer and first time!

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Average: 3 (1 vote)

Goals

Skills: Listening

Vocabulary: Phrases at the match

Language: Should and Shouldn't