Barcelona are back, Ibrahimovic has his cake, Joe Kinnear breaks the press conference swearing record and Tottenham sink to the bottom of the Premier League. All of these stories feature in this week’s the good, the bad and the ugly. Click on the links for more information about them below.

Good

Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored an amazing goal for Inter Milan in their 2-1 victory over Bologna in Serie A last weekend. The best way to describe it would be a flying a back heel but take a look at it here. He later described the goal as a ‘piece of cake’. Indeed.

After a tough start to La Liga, Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona are starting to impress and moved into fourth place behind Valencia in the Spanish table. They destroyed title rivals Atletico Madrid 6-1 to win their fifth match in a row, scoring 19 goals in those games. continue reading

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Here are some words and phrases you can hear on languagecaster’s Full Podcast’s Good, Bad and Ugly section - a review of the footballing news. For more English practice check out our worksheets, football glossary and English for football phrases as well as the Learners’ Podcast.

• (to) pick up: get, earn

Example: The premier League newcomers (Hull) continue to pick up points. continue reading

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It feels good again to be a Derby supporter. Over the last two weeks wins against Sheffield United and QPR (away) and draws against Cardiff and Swansea (away) make a pleasant change of fortunes for the (once) mighty rams. Suddenly there is an air of confidence sweeping through the club. This is something we haven’t had for a long time (well at least for 362 days as Ed kindly reminded me of two weeks ago!) and with a home game against Birmingham next, perhaps we are seeing a slow turning of fortunes.
And it looks like Derby have unearthed another star of the future in Miles Addison. He is only 18, a strong, confident midfielder with a powerful shot, and the reason why Robbie Savage is having a tantrum in the stands every Saturday.
And finally, for all of you who have been using the word ‘Derby’ as a joke recently, I have a joke of my own: Tottenham!
Go the mighty Rams

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The Good

Premier League newcomers Hull continue to pick up points and remain in the top half of the table after five games. Last weekend they got a good result drawing with Everton to notch their eighth point of the season. Good news for the Tigers.

Very good for the ‘Vs’ in La Liga:  Valencia go top continue reading

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Another slim victory for Damon moves him six points ahead of his firece rival Damian. Talking of fierce rivalries, this week it is Derby Predictions Weekend, with six classic fixtures from around the world. For more information about these rivalries, visit the excellent site www.footballderbies.com.

08/09 Podcast 6

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 Enhanced Podcast [17:18m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

The group stages are under way already in the Champions league. Barely have the seasons started in the European leagues and the big money competition is underway. In this show Damon and damian reflect on the Spanish and English team’s start to the campaign.

We also:

• Review the news in the Good, the Bad and the Ugly
• Introduce a 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:

• ** New Feature ** Football glossary (a huge collection of football vocabulary, technical terms, cliches and football phrases)
• Worksheets and transcripts
• Vocabulary lists

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 Enhanced Podcast [15:32m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

On this week’s show we review the World Cup qualifiers by asking fans from Germany, England and Ireland their viewpoints on last week’s matches.

We also:

• Review the news in the Good, the Bad and the Ugly
• Introduce a 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:

• ** New Feature ** Football glossary (a huge collection of football vocabulary, technical terms, cliches and football phrases)
• Worksheets and transcripts
• Vocabulary lists

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 Enhanced Podcast [14:15m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

And they’re off… in Europe at least. Most of the globe have started World Cup qualifying, but this weekend sees the teams from Europe start their campaigns to qualify for the World Cup in South Africa.

As well as asking three fans what they think of their team’s chances we also:

• Review the news in the Good, the Bad and the Ugly
• Introduce a 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:

• ** New Feature ** Football glossary (a huge collection of football vocabulary, technical terms, cliches and football phrases)
• Worksheets and transcripts
• Vocabulary lists

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World Cup qualifiers dominate this week’s predictions with European sides finally kicking off their campaign. We have 4 matches from Europe as well as a huge derby from Asia and an important game in South America. Damon did really well last week to take the lead in the predictions battle so Damian will be hoping to bounce back this week.

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Good

Good for Man City fans as it’s raining money at Eastlands after Abu Dahbi United (not a football team) swooped to buy the Sky Blues off under fire previous owner Thaksin Shinawatra. They then sealed the transfer coup of the summer, landing Robinho from Real Madrid for 32.4 million pounds. Next targets are rumoured to include Man United’s Ronaldo, Liverpool’s Torres and Valencia’s David Villa. The new owners have targeted a top four finish and Champions League football next season. continue reading

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I read the news today, oh boy. You couldn’t make this up! With God (4 Brazilians, an Olympian Argentine and the prodigal son Sean Wright-Philips) on Our Side, Man City prove that the Premier League can be sheikhen and stirred.

Having pinched Robinho from Chelski and nearly nicking Berbatov from Utd (just for fun), CITEH are shooting for the stars. A solid back 4, creative midfield, SWP and Petrov on the wings plus Jo and Robinho up front, goals and entertainment are guaranteed at Middle Eastlands and all points west, north and south.

Mark Hughes, that old Utd leg end, has finally hit the big time, and he can’t believe his luck. Shinawatra is thankfully out of the picture, leaving our Abu Dhabi benefactors to sweep up. Expect to see some ridiculous signings in January. WE’VE GOT THE DOSH.

If everything goes well, we’ll finish in the top 8, after defeats to Hull, Wigan and West Brom in the February freeze. This is City, after all.

Slide awhile with the City Slickers.

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 Enhanced Podcast [11:38m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

The Champions League group stage draw has been made and languagecaster.com take a look at what this means for the teams.

We also:

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

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

• ** New Feature ** Football glossary (a huge collection of football vocabulary, technical terms, cliches and football phrases)
• Worksheets and transcripts
• Vocabulary lists

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Six games and six different leagues make up this week’s predictions battle. Huge derbies in the English and Scottish Premier Leagues, Ligue 1 and Portugal as well as opening matches from La Liga and Serie A. Damian had a good week last week but can Damon bounce back this week?

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 Enhanced Podcast [4:25m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

This week languagecaster asks a fan from Hull City about his team’s chances in the Premier League. There is also another English for Football phrase.

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

• Worksheets and transcripts
• Vocabulary lists
• ** NEW ** Football language glossary

Transcript

DF: Hello John, it’s good to have you here as a Hull City fan. Now this is the first ever time that Hull
City have been in the Premier League or the top division in England, how do you think they are going
to do this season? continue reading

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 Enhanced Podcast [9:49m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

This week languagecaster continues to ask fans about their team’s chances in the Premier League. We also feature the men’s and women’s Olympic finals.

We also:

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

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

• ** New Feature ** Football glossary (a huge collection of football vocabulary, technical terms, cliches and football phrases)
• Worksheets and transcripts
• Vocabulary lists

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