Archive for January, 2009

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Kaka to Man City? Beckham to AC Milan? The transfer window has been full of rumours and gossip. On this week’s show we take a look at some of the main transfer stories that have made the headlines over the past three weeks. We also …

• Review the football news in the Good, the Bad and the Ugly
• Introduce a new football expression in English for Football
• And continue the predictions battle in the Predictions competition

For learners of English check out our new Football Language Resources page with:

• Football glossary (a huge collection of football vocabulary, football cliches and football phrases)
• Worksheets and transcripts
• Vocabulary lists

Transcript
With only a couple of days to go before the end of this winter’s transfer window, the one-month period when teams can buy and sell players, we thought we’d review some of the main stories that have made the headlines over the past three weeks. continue

Manchester United’s defence, David Beckham, South American teams and serious allegations all feature in this week’s good, the bad and the ugly – the review of the football week on languagecaster’s football podcast. Click on the links below to find out more on all of these stories.

Good

Manchester United keep a clean sheet for a record eleventh time in a row and maintain their irresistible form in 2009. This run and the latest victory with a clean sheet, 5-0 over West Brom, came despite an injury hit back line. Wes Brown, Rio Ferdinand, Evra, Neville and Rafael have all had to miss games. Well done to Manchester United and their goalkeeper van der Sar who could claim another record this week: if he shuts out Everton for 72 minutes, he will set a new British record for the length of time without conceding a goal, currently 1, 103 minutes set by Reading’s Steve Death. continue

Damian really closed the gap last week with an eight point haul. It looks as though Damon is in free fall after only obtaining one point. This week, Germany is back on the menu, along with Spain and a derby in England and some unfinished business in the FA Cup – two more derbies!

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Languagecaster look at one of the oldest rivalries in English football, the East Midlands derby between Derby Coury and Nottingham Forest. We also…

• Review the football news in the Good, the Bad and the Ugly
• Introduce a new football expression in English for Football
• And continue the predictions battle in the Predictions competition

For learners of English check out our new Football Language Resources page with:

• Football glossary (a huge collection of football vocabulary, football cliches and football phrases)
• Worksheets and transcripts
• Vocabulary lists

Transcript

There are many local rivalries in the footballing world. The Manchester Derby, and the Merseyside derby in England, Inter and AC Milan, The Ruhr Derby between Schalke and Dortmund in Germany, Athletico and Real Madrid are a few of them. When two neighbouring teams play each other it becomes much more than a simple game of football. It means a lot to many people. continue

Here are some words and phrases you can hear on this week’s languagecaster’s Good, Bad and Ugly section of the podcast. For more English practice check out our worksheets, football glossary and English for football phrases.

• Sitting clear at the top of the table: To be leading the division by a lot of points

Example: Barcelona have scored 59 goals this season so far and are sitting 12 points clear at the top of the table.

• To sweep (all) before (them): To easily beat all the teams they have played so far

Example: The Catalan side are sweeping all before them as they race to the top of the table. continue

Barcelona, Kaka, a tough week in the Premier League and Burnley all feature in this week’s good, the bad and the ugly – the review of the football week on languagecaster’s football podcast. Click on the links below to find out more on all of these stories.

Good

At the half-way point in La Liga’s season, Barcelona have a record-breaking 50 points (from a possible 57), scoring 59 goals in the process and sitting 12 points clear at the top of the table. With all the press attention focused on the so-called best players in the world and their possible transfers (Ronaldo to Madrid and Kaka to Man City), the Catalan side are sweeping all before them (last week a 5-0 thrashing of Deportivo) and as every proper football fan knows they already have the best player in the world in their ranks. continue

Light at the end of the tunnel? It looked ominous two months ago, an untried manager, an unsettled squad,  the backers going bust and the team in free-fall. But it looks like West Ham have got some iron in their management structure and all seem to be singing from the same song sheet. Zola seems to indeed have the last say about transfer dealings and, Bellamy aside, has rebuffed the richer clubs attempts to cherry pick from our squad. A new era?
Carlton Cole seems to have sensed it and is in the form of his life. This stability may prove to be the right way and the future may prove bright allowing us to move on from the boom and bust era of the past?

Damian slightly closed the gap on Damon after last week’s games and he will be hoping to earn some more points in this week’s predictions race. The English FA Cup, Serie A and some midweek Premier League action all feature on this week’s show.

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On this week’s show we take a look at one of the greatest players to have played in the Premier League: Ryan Giggs. We also:

• Review the football news in the Good, the Bad and the Ugly
• Introduce a new football expression in English for Football
• And continue the predictions battle in the Predictions competition

For learners of English check out our new Football Language Resources page with:

• Football glossary (a huge collection of football vocabulary, football cliches and football phrases)
• Worksheets and transcripts
• Vocabulary lists

Transcript

We’ve already mentioned how good a week it has been for Manchester United after their defeat of Chelsea and the man of the match in that game was the oldest player on the pitch, the player with most appearances for his club and the owner of more domestic honours than any other player in British history. Ever. Of course, we are talking about Manchester United and Wales’ star Ryan Giggs. continue

Here are some words and phrases you can hear on this week’s languagecaster’s Good, Bad and Ugly section of the podcast. For more English practice check out our worksheets, football glossary and English for football phrases.

• Fierce rivals: Strong enemies, when a really negative feeling exists between clubs

Example: Fierce rivals Liverpool were held at lowly Stoke City on Saturday evening …

• To be held: To not be able to beat a lower-ranked team, to draw a game

Example: Liverpool were held at lowly Stoke City last weekend. continue