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Premier Skills English Podcast 14

Premier Skills English Podcast 14

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In this week's podcast, Rich and Jack talk about last weekend's 3-0 win for Manchester City against Chelsea, and look ahead to this weekend's big matches including Arsenal (Jack's team) v Liverpool (Rich's team). They also take a look at some common football cliches that managers and commentators use. How can a player 'give 110%'?

 

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Activity 1: Were there any words in the podcast that you didn't understand? Try this activity and learn more vocabulary.
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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 talk about Manchester City’s win against Chelsea, some football clichés and I’m going to make another Premier League prediction.

Jack: But, before we start. Last week we had a comment from Chriswar from Poland. He wants to know why we say ‘Are there any football words you need help with?’ and not ‘Are there any football words you need help?

Rich: Well, if you’re listening Chris and for everybody else - the rules in English about prepositions like with, about, in etc are really complicated. It’s often better to try to remember the patterns of which preposition goes with which verb or noun.

Jack: If we look at the verb help, the most common pattern is help+object+to+infinitive: she helped him to find his dog for example. At the weekend, Memphis scored two goals and assisted or helped Fellaini to score another goal.

Rich: Another very common pattern is help + object + with + noun. So, my teacher helped me with my homework, for example. If we go back to Chriswar’s question, the pattern is similar, but in a question form. Are there any football words you need help with? This is a very common question. Is there anything I can help you with?

Jack: If you want more help with different verb patterns using prepositions, we’ve put a link to our Learn English website on the side of the page. http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/quick-grammar/verbs-prepositions

Rich: Let’s move on to the football. Did you see the City-Chelsea match last weekend?

Jack: Yes, I did. It was a great game. City looked fantastic. And what a great goal from Aguero.

Rich: It was brilliant. The front three of Aguero, Sterling and Silva are going to give defenders nightmares this season.

Jack: But City’s top scorer is Vincent Kompany.  He’s scored two goals in two games now.

Rich: Yes, I know but I can’t see that continuing. After the match Kompany said, ‘If I am top scorer for too long, we are in massive trouble.’

Jack: Yeah, he said he wants Aguero to be the the top scorer in the Premier League again this season.

Rich: He also said that he wants City’s stadium to ‘be a fortress’ this season.

Jack: I’ve heard this phrase many times before. A fortress is a place or building that is protected to stop it being attacked. A bit like a castle.

Rich: And Kompany means that he wants the Etihad Stadium to be a place where they are never defeated or lose a match.

Jack: I think you could describe this phrase as a cliché, and I don’t mean Gael Clichy the Manchester City defender!

Rich: No! A cliché is a phrase that is used a lot, that has been used many, many times!

Jack: And there are loads of clichés in football - and I love them! One of my favourites is when a manager says ‘he gave 110% today’.

Rich: I know. The manager means that the player worked really, really hard and ran around a lot. I was quite good at maths at school but I’m not sure I ever got 110% in any of my exams!

Jack: Do you have any favourite clichés, Rich?

Rich: I’ve got a few, yes. What about ‘he’s hit it too well’

Jack: Yes, I know. Commentators often use this phrase when a player shoots at goal but it goes wide of the post or straight into the goalkeeper’s arms.

Rich: Maybe it would be better if the player hit the ball badly?

Jack: I also like ‘they’re too good to go down’. We hear this cliché all the time near the end of the season. It means that a team have too many good players to be relegated to a lower division.

Rich: But if you only win 4 matches all season you’re not really that good, are you?

Jack: Exactly.

Rich: What’s your favourite Jack?

Jack: One that always makes me laugh is, ‘for a big lad, he’s good with his feet’. Commentators use this cliché when a tall player plays a nice pass or shows a bit of skill. I always find it strange because I’m sure all professional players are good with the ball at their feet, it is called football after all!

Rich: If you hear any of these clichés or you know any others please let us know in the comments section below. We would love to see them.

Jack: Right, big match this weekend, Rich. Arsenal v Liverpool. Let’s hear your prediction.

Rich: Arsenal v Liverpool is definitely this week’s Premier League highlight. Arsenal won their first match last week, away to Palace and will be looking for their first home win of the season. Liverpool have a 100% record after two 1-0 wins and will be looking to continue this good start. Arsenal lost their last home match to West Ham and their fans won’t be happy if they lose again. Alexis Sanchez will be starting his first home match of the season and as a Liverpool fan I’m worried that Arsenal might have too much attacking talent for Liverpool’s defence to deal with. I hope I’m wrong but my prediction is Arsenal 2-1 Liverpool.

Jack: Wow! You’ve predicted an Arsenal win!

Rich: Can I ask for your prediction on this one, Jack?

Jack: I’m going to go for an Arsenal win too, 3-0!

Rich: I hoped you would say that. You’re not very good at predictions. It should bring Liverpool some luck!

Jack: If you’ve got a prediction for this match or any other Premier League match this weekend let us know in the comments section below.

Rich: Well that’s all for now. Thanks for listening.

Jack: If you’re listening to this on itunes or elsewhere, come back to Premier Skills English for some language activities, a quiz and lots more. You can find us at www.britishcouncil.org/      .

Rich: Don’t forget if you sign in, you can score points to see if you can get your club, your country and your name to the top of our leaderboard.

Jack:  Bye for now and enjoy your football.

Quiz

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What do you think?

What football phrases or cliches do you hear players, managers and commentators say again and again?
Do football managers, players and commentators in your country use a lot of cliches? Do you have a favourite?
Rich's prediction this week is Arsenal 2-1 Liverpool. What's your prediction? Can you beat him?
Let us know your answers in the comments section below.

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Comments

Najib
04/01/2021
ID
124
points

I rarely listen to commentators because I don't have good listening skills. So, I don't have any idea about football cliches. It's hard to understand commentators especially if they are native speakers. When I watch a highlight of a football match, I only watch and don't listen. However, by improving my listening skills, I'm sure I will be able to understand their talks more. That's the reason why I listen to this podcast.

It is a hard choice. Both of them are my favorite. But, if they have to face off each other, I prefer Arsenal. But, my prediction is a win for Liverpool with a tight score


Najib
04/01/2021 10:09
Indonesia
Arsenal
124

I rarely listen to commentators because I don't have good listening skills. So, I don't have any idea about football cliches. It's hard to understand commentators especially if they are native speakers. When I watch a highlight of a football match, I only watch and don't listen. However, by improving my listening skills, I'm sure I will be able to understand their talks more. That's the reason why I listen to this podcast.

It is a hard choice. Both of them are my favorite. But, if they have to face off each other, I prefer Arsenal. But, my prediction is a win for Liverpool with a tight score

mobeckham's picture
mobeckham
03/05/2020
TR
6539
points

I predicted a win for Arsenal as well because Alexis Sanchez was on form


mobeckham's picture
mobeckham
03/05/2020 23:44
Turkey
Manchester United
6539

I predicted a win for Arsenal as well because Alexis Sanchez was on form

mobeckham's picture
mobeckham
03/05/2020
TR
6539
points

Definately they use cliches
One of my favourite is ( Mukammel bir gol ) ( harikaaaaaaaa )


mobeckham's picture
mobeckham
03/05/2020 23:43
Turkey
Manchester United
6539

Definately they use cliches
One of my favourite is ( Mukammel bir gol ) ( harikaaaaaaaa )

mobeckham's picture
mobeckham
03/05/2020
TR
6539
points

One of the most famous cliches when I play FIFA and score a goal , Martin Taylor always says , it's a great goal scored by the underdogs :)


mobeckham's picture
mobeckham
03/05/2020 23:42
Turkey
Manchester United
6539

One of the most famous cliches when I play FIFA and score a goal , Martin Taylor always says , it's a great goal scored by the underdogs :)

hsn's picture
hsn
04/04/2020
TR
5560
points

A funny cliche from commentators;
Goalkeeper closed his/her goal and went on vacation.
It's said in case opponent team didn't carry out any attack during the game.


hsn's picture
hsn
04/04/2020 18:22
Turkey
Tottenham Hotspur
5560

A funny cliche from commentators;
Goalkeeper closed his/her goal and went on vacation.
It's said in case opponent team didn't carry out any attack during the game.

heinerrene
08/03/2019
CO
112
points

What a goal!
Yes, they have. My favorite cliche is "The referee got him painted of yellow"
My prediction is Arsenal 2 - Liverpool 0


heinerrene
08/03/2019 23:24
Colombia
Arsenal
112

What a goal!
Yes, they have. My favorite cliche is "The referee got him painted of yellow"
My prediction is Arsenal 2 - Liverpool 0

MES's picture
MES
29/01/2017
AM
684
points

yes


MES's picture
MES
29/01/2017 14:38
Armenia
Manchester United
684

yes

englishman
28/06/2016
DZ
1734
points

good prediction


englishman
28/06/2016 15:46
Algeria
Manchester City
1734

good prediction

kwesimanifest's picture
kwesimanifest
11/06/2016
GH
4779
points

Oh la la


kwesimanifest's picture
kwesimanifest
11/06/2016 08:59
Ghana
Manchester United
4779

Oh la la

kwesimanifest's picture
kwesimanifest
11/06/2016
GH
4779
points

What a goal


kwesimanifest's picture
kwesimanifest
11/06/2016 08:59
Ghana
Manchester United
4779

What a goal

assemjuve's picture
assemjuve
05/04/2016
PS
3705
points

One of the most phrases that i like is Park the Bus,it shows you that a team plays in defend.


assemjuve's picture
assemjuve
05/04/2016 15:29
Palestinian Territory
Liverpool
3705

One of the most phrases that i like is Park the Bus,it shows you that a team plays in defend.

HakanUslu1881's picture
HakanUslu1881
08/03/2016
TR
1761
points

Yes,for example,'He is measuring,calculating and ball to go to net.'Generally they say when a player scored a goal from free-kick,they say.


HakanUslu1881's picture
HakanUslu1881
08/03/2016 03:17
Turkey
Leicester City
1761

Yes,for example,'He is measuring,calculating and ball to go to net.'Generally they say when a player scored a goal from free-kick,they say.

haydi's picture
haydi
03/02/2016
TN
3189
points

Performing prepositions is my greatest challenge, thank you for the link, and a big thank to all British Council (BC) teams for their effort; the BC MENA’s facebook page presents a series of quiz about phrasal verbs, with nice pictures. They are so helpful to memorize those verbs.
The word ‘cliché’ remembers me of the other French words becoming English, like résumé, fiancé…
The famous cliché that managers and footballers use here, when a team loses a match, is “the ball is a sphere, so it spins up and down, we have hard luck, it’s not our day!”
I like matches between two teams whose fans are best friends or colleagues or married… It creates competition and more fun. Congratulations both Rich and jack, it’s a draw with no goals (MON, 24 AUG 2015). It’s a perfect result for such a situation.


haydi's picture
haydi
03/02/2016 12:26
Tunisia
Newcastle United
3189

Performing prepositions is my greatest challenge, thank you for the link, and a big thank to all British Council (BC) teams for their effort; the BC MENA’s facebook page presents a series of quiz about phrasal verbs, with nice pictures. They are so helpful to memorize those verbs.
The word ‘cliché’ remembers me of the other French words becoming English, like résumé, fiancé…
The famous cliché that managers and footballers use here, when a team loses a match, is “the ball is a sphere, so it spins up and down, we have hard luck, it’s not our day!”
I like matches between two teams whose fans are best friends or colleagues or married… It creates competition and more fun. Congratulations both Rich and jack, it’s a draw with no goals (MON, 24 AUG 2015). It’s a perfect result for such a situation.

haydi's picture
haydi
10/05/2016
TN
3189
points

Phrasal verbs! I need to remember three rules: 1/ they’re formed by adding a verb with a preposition, sometime a noun. 2/ The two words can be separable or not. 3/ The meaning change according to the preposition and context. It’s right ?


haydi's picture
haydi
10/05/2016 20:52
Tunisia
Newcastle United
3189

Phrasal verbs! I need to remember three rules: 1/ they’re formed by adding a verb with a preposition, sometime a noun. 2/ The two words can be separable or not. 3/ The meaning change according to the preposition and context. It’s right ?

haydi's picture
haydi
02/02/2016
TN
3189
points

The net is so slow that I can't heard any thinhg, and no link to download the podcast 14. I check out, it's same for podcasts : 6 - 7 - 8- 10 -11 - 13 -15 -6 -17 -18.


haydi's picture
haydi
02/02/2016 21:22
Tunisia
Newcastle United
3189

The net is so slow that I can't heard any thinhg, and no link to download the podcast 14. I check out, it's same for podcasts : 6 - 7 - 8- 10 -11 - 13 -15 -6 -17 -18.

MUGEMANYI's picture
MUGEMANYI
16/11/2015
RW
2320
points

This free kick is in Beckham range .


MUGEMANYI's picture
MUGEMANYI
16/11/2015 14:47
Rwanda
Arsenal
2320

This free kick is in Beckham range .

aragorn1986's picture
aragorn1986
23/10/2015
ME
3557
points

I often hear commentators say that too many misses can return as a boomerang. But my favourite one is : 'The goalkeeper is a king of the penalty box.' It means that even the goalkeeper crushed with the opposite player he is the one who's in advantage because he picked the ball at the end.


aragorn1986's picture
aragorn1986
23/10/2015 15:32
Montenegro
Arsenal
3557

I often hear commentators say that too many misses can return as a boomerang. But my favourite one is : 'The goalkeeper is a king of the penalty box.' It means that even the goalkeeper crushed with the opposite player he is the one who's in advantage because he picked the ball at the end.

alimiloud's picture
alimiloud
18/10/2015
DZ
160
points

arsenal


alimiloud's picture
alimiloud
18/10/2015 23:37
Algeria
Chelsea
160

arsenal

ferhat.dxer's picture
ferhat.dxer
11/10/2015
DZ
26
points

My prediction for this week is 1:1.for anrsenal and liverpool


ferhat.dxer's picture
ferhat.dxer
11/10/2015 09:56
Algeria
Arsenal
26

My prediction for this week is 1:1.for anrsenal and liverpool

Abdallah
19/09/2015
KW
1814
points

The most cliches I hear every time said by Jose Mourinho is " my team was good , they played well and the oppenet didn't deserve the result "


Abdallah
19/09/2015 15:18
Kuwait
Chelsea
1814

The most cliches I hear every time said by Jose Mourinho is " my team was good , they played well and the oppenet didn't deserve the result "

hachani mostapha
18/09/2015
DZ
241
points

my prediction this week is Arsenal 3-1 Liverpool.


hachani mostapha
18/09/2015 15:31
Algeria
Tottenham Hotspur
241

my prediction this week is Arsenal 3-1 Liverpool.

gilbers51
13/09/2015
BR
44
points

The most famous cliches in Brazil are at the end the matches, when the players talk to the tevelevision reporters before leave the field. Such as: "We lost the match, but we played with grit and determination"; "We won the game because we did all the things the professor said"; etc. Yes, here the players call the coach a professor.


gilbers51
13/09/2015 14:44
Brazil
Chelsea
44

The most famous cliches in Brazil are at the end the matches, when the players talk to the tevelevision reporters before leave the field. Such as: "We lost the match, but we played with grit and determination"; "We won the game because we did all the things the professor said"; etc. Yes, here the players call the coach a professor.

VerdMead96's picture
VerdMead96
22/08/2015
PL
146
points

"It's Fergie time" - I can hear this famous cliché in the injury time of many Premier League matches, especially when Man Utd play. It always makes me laugh because I instantly imagine sir Alex Ferguson pointing at his watch :) I also often hear commentators saying "Just in the nick of time" e.g. when the player tackles the ball or saves his team from conceding a goal. I have one cliché which gets me irritated: it's "On paper..". Managers, players or commentators often say that but we must remember that when the match kicks-off, all theory is a worthless thing. Polish people related to football, especially commentators also use a lot of clichés. One of them is "Ohh, the fans have already seen this ball in the net!" (when a player shoots the ball very well but misses slightly). Undoubtedly my favourite cliché is the one said by our commentator just before the kick-off of every Premier League match: " Ladies and gentlemen, sit deeply in your seats, fasten your seatbelts and start!". I really like Polish Premier League commentators because they know almost everything about English football and share this knowledge with watchers. Thanks to them every match is more exciting. Reffering to the prediction, the match will be undoubtedly full of excitment, good actions and determination to win from both sides. I think that Arsenal wil win this battle as they are in slightly better form than Liverpool and, of course, they have the 12th player singing and chanting in the stands. I predict Arsenal 3-1 Liverpool.


VerdMead96's picture
VerdMead96
22/08/2015 17:39
Poland
Manchester United
146

"It's Fergie time" - I can hear this famous cliché in the injury time of many Premier League matches, especially when Man Utd play. It always makes me laugh because I instantly imagine sir Alex Ferguson pointing at his watch :) I also often hear commentators saying "Just in the nick of time" e.g. when the player tackles the ball or saves his team from conceding a goal. I have one cliché which gets me irritated: it's "On paper..". Managers, players or commentators often say that but we must remember that when the match kicks-off, all theory is a worthless thing. Polish people related to football, especially commentators also use a lot of clichés. One of them is "Ohh, the fans have already seen this ball in the net!" (when a player shoots the ball very well but misses slightly). Undoubtedly my favourite cliché is the one said by our commentator just before the kick-off of every Premier League match: " Ladies and gentlemen, sit deeply in your seats, fasten your seatbelts and start!". I really like Polish Premier League commentators because they know almost everything about English football and share this knowledge with watchers. Thanks to them every match is more exciting. Reffering to the prediction, the match will be undoubtedly full of excitment, good actions and determination to win from both sides. I think that Arsenal wil win this battle as they are in slightly better form than Liverpool and, of course, they have the 12th player singing and chanting in the stands. I predict Arsenal 3-1 Liverpool.

Rema's picture
Rema
22/08/2015
RS
538
points

I write common one: "football is a game of two halves".
My prediction for this week is 1:1.


Rema's picture
Rema
22/08/2015 05:02
Serbia
West Ham United
538

I write common one: "football is a game of two halves".
My prediction for this week is 1:1.

Leaderboard

Top Scorers
RankNameScore
1Alex_from_Ukraine6578
2mobeckham6539
3hsn5560
4wsanta5086
5kwesimanifest4779
6Liubomyr4417
7elghoul3988
8assemjuve3705
9aragorn19863557
10Gergő Nagy3396
Country ranking
RankNameScore
1Colombia74679
2Ukraine33892
3Spain29531
4Serbia27426
5Brazil23661
6Albania20578
7Vietnam20460
8Turkey20111
9Macedonia19074
10Bosnia and Herzegovina16333
Club ranking
RankNameScore
1Manchester United147000
2Liverpool111527
3Chelsea90265
4Arsenal86299
5Manchester City58989
6Tottenham Hotspur19506
7Newcastle United10626
8West Ham United7701
9AFC Bournemouth4915
10Crystal Palace4568

Level

3
Average: 3 (1 vote)

Goals

Practise your listening skills.

Learn some new football vocabulary.

Extension

If you want to learn more about language patterns that include prepositions, check out these grammar exercises on our Learn English website.