Football phrases that grinds your gears

Micky Targaryen

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Are there any phrases or jargon that you often see when describing football in forums especially Redcafe which you really can't stand? I'll start of with the famous three...

1) "Clearing the deadwood".

2) "Steadying the ship."

And the creme de la creme..

3) The United way.

I mean what the feck does that even mean? What is the United way?! Is employing ex-players and legends as manager and backroom staff the United way? Is playing attacking football with exciting wingplay the United way? Lots of other clubs managed to do that, so why is it the United way? By that logic, should we be calling Klopp's gegenpressing the Liverpool way?

So yeah, sorry about the short rant but I seriously cringe whenever I see the above phrases being mentioned on here.

Are there any more to add?
 

dannyrhinos89

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Basically whatever Ole says in every press conference after A defeat.

“Rashy”

“we go again”

“Can’t fault the effort from the boys”

Etc etc.
 

Eric7C

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Not quite a phrase (yet), but Neville's been saying "moving backwards to move forward" a lot lately.

Shut the feck up, Gary.
 

koop

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Close but no cigar.

Heard it in FIFA like 10 years ago, still haven't been bothered to google it and find out what it means.
 

AaronRedDevil

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Unplayable. How is that a good thing? Sounds more like Fred or Lingard, they are so shite, you don't play them.
 

Eric7C

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Close but no cigar.

Heard it in FIFA like 10 years ago, still haven't been bothered to google it and find out what it means.
This isn't really football specific, I think: https://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/close-but-no-cigar.html
The phrase, and its variant 'nice try, but no cigar', are of US origin and date from the mid-20th century. Fairground stalls gave out cigars as prizes, and this is the most likely source, although there's no definitive evidence to prove that.
 

wolvored

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Ole is now permanant manager. We dont need a DOF. The next noodle deal is in the bag. All Woody sayings probably
 

Marcelinho87

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Are there any phrases or jargon that you often see when describing football in forums especially Redcafe which you really can't stand? I'll start of with the famous three...

1) "Clearing the deadwood".

2) "Steadying the ship."

And the creme de la creme..

3) The United way.

I mean what the feck does that even mean? What is the United way?! Is employing ex-players and legends as manager and backroom staff the United way? Is playing attacking football with exciting wingplay the United way? Lots of other clubs managed to do that, so why is it the United way? By that logic, should we be calling Klopp's gegenpressing the Liverpool way?

So yeah, sorry about the short rant but I seriously cringe whenever I see the above phrases being mentioned on here.

Are there any more to add?
It is what you associate a club with and what way they should play no matter who the manager is.

Gegenpressing would never be the Liverpool way because they don't employ that style typically just since Klopp arrived but there is an expectation at United that the manager should play attacking wingplay.

It's all bollocks of course and it's just people yearning for the days of SAF.
 

KirkDuyt

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Narrative, in almost any context, has been utterly and completely ruined.
 

Siorac

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"He wasn't backed"
This. Completely ruined.

Also 'he's only going to get better'. No, you don't know that. He might get worse.

'Passion and desire' - 90% of the time those aren't the real issues.
 

VeevaVee

The worst "V"
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'Agenda' is the most annoying thing said on the caf. When someone throws it around just because someone else has a criticism of a player.
 

1950

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"They wanted it more"

"You can only beat what is in front of you"

"Playing the right way"

"He's not that kind of player"

"I've seen that given" and "soft penalty"

"Better side on paper"

"Too good to go down"
 

ivaldo

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"Double pivot." Sure.

"Calming influence." Which usually means, dallies on the ball and passes it sideways.
 

Ether

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"These things even themselves out"

no proof that this is actually true
 

OnlyTwoDaSilvas

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"They've been the better side" when the team in question isn't winning.

Goals resulting in a wining margin make you the better side. Possession, creating chances, missing sitters and hitting the post do not.
 

Micky Targaryen

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"Going in the right direction".

This is a direct slight to Ole. Not asking you to win all games, but at least don't lose to fecking Palace, West Ham and bloody Newcastle. :houllier: Going in the right direction means getting some points on the board ffs.
 

witchtrials

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"Greatest of all time"

Also "clutch" - no idea where this has come from. American sports maybe.
 

Tony Banta

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“The United way”.

“United DNA”.

“It’s a 6 pointer”.

“He’s a great shot stopper”
 

Sandikan

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"High press"

I swear this was never used before about 4 years ago, now it's used repeatedly.
 

TheScriptwriter

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"They've bottled it" or "They are bottlers".
Used all the time these days and I absolutely hate it.