Learn English through Football Podcast: New-Look Side
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In this week’s football-language podcast we focus on language to talk about new players and new-look sides. We will also look at some predictions from a big game from the Premier League this weekend: Chelsea v Brighton. You can read the transcript and check out some possible teaching tips below, check out our glossary here, or browse all our previous posts and podcasts here.
For Teachers ▸ how to use this episode in class
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- Vocabulary focus: New players and new teams. At the start, you can ask students to share if their team has signed any new players; which team they think has bought some good players; which team they think might struggle because there are too many new faces.
- Listening for gist: Before showing the transcript, ask students to note which teams are mentioned in the report (and in a positive or negative way).
- Listening for details: Pick out one of the sections from the listening and create a gap-fill activity (maybe you can take away some words connected to transfers).
- Talking about new-look sides: have students write some sentences describing teams using the vocabulary from the podcast..
- Share with other teachers how you are using these resources (vocabulary, listening, writing, etc.) on our teachers’ forum page.
Hello
You’re listening to the Learn English Through Football Podcast
DB: Hi there everyone, How are you doing? My name is Damon and I’m based in Tokyo, which is baking hot at the moment. I’m one half of the Learn English Through Football team, and I wonder what the weather is like in London where the other team member, Damian, is based. Damian, how are you and how is the weather over there?
DF: Hi Damon and hello everyone. Well, I’m a little better now that my team Tottenham won a game at home in the League Cup earlier this week! And also that we finally have some rain here in London. It’s been so long without any rain so it’s been really nice. Damon, What did you think about Liverpool’s first match in the Premier League last weekend?
DB: Well, I think the 2-2 draw in the first game away at Newcastle wasn’t bad, but to be honest neither side looked great. Despite Liverpool having most of the possession it was far too easy for Newcastle to find space behind our midfield. I did enjoy the last-minute penalty though. The Newcastle fans must have been gutted, but it was great for the travelling Liverpool supporters. What match in the Premier League or elsewhere stood out for you, Damian?
DF: Well, I’m not going to talk about a match from the Premier League but I will mention one of the Champions League qualifiers that took place earlier this week. Austrian side LASK faced Scottish team Celtic in their second leg match and they were 3-0 down after the first leg in Scotland last week. The Austrians then conceded an early goal which meant that they were 4-0 down. Surely they were out of the competition? Well, they staged an amazing comeback and scored four times to send the game in to extra time and then scored again to win 5-1 on the night and 5-4 on aggregate. Remarkable! We have actually posted a thread on one of our forums about a phrase that emerged from this game: to blow a lead. Celtic blew a four-goal lead. Unbelievable game.
Stinger: You are listening to the Learn English Through Football Podcast.com (in Arabic)
DB: Thank you for that message, which was in Arabic. If you’d like to send us a message introducing our show in your language we’d love to hear from you. Just send a recording saying ‘You are listening to the Learn English Through Football podcast’ in your language and send it to contact@learnenglishthroughfootball.com.
Today’s Show
DB: OK, Damian, what’s on today’s show?
DF: Well, we’ll start with some language that describes new-look sides; that is, teams that have new players in their squad which means that their style of play may appear new. Of course, having so many new players might also mean that the team is not playing well together. After that we’ll briefly review our prediction from the Newcastle v Liverpool match last weekend before taking a look at a big game this weekend, that’s Chelsea taking on Brighton.
Language Focus: New-Look Side
DB: Right, let’s kick off with a look at some language to talk about new players and teams at the start of the season. We’ll start with ‘new-look‘. This adjective phrase is added to words like side, team, midfield, defence, etc. to say that the team, midfield is not the same as last season; it’s fresh and new. So, we could say that Tottenham’s new-look side struggled against Brentford after their 3-0 loss. After a summer rebuild, which brought in several new players such as Sandro Tonali, Mateus Fernandes and Jan Paul van Hecke, Spurs are still a work in progress.
Spurs are a work in progress implies that the team still needs to do a lot of training together to improve their performances. The team’s not yet ready or at a 100%. Another phrase you might hear when new-look sides are struggling is they lack cohesion and the players are not on the same wavelength.
To lack cohesion means the play was disjointed, passes went astray, runs were made, but a pass wasn’t given. When players are not on the same wavelength, they do not know each other’s style of play; they don’t know where their teammates are on the pitch, and they may be trying to do different things.
Hit the Ground Running
DB: Another new-look side, Chelsea, had a more positive start, a 3-2 derby win over Fulham. Chelsea’s rebuilt side were on the same wavelength from the start. Under new manager Xabi Alonso, the team looked well organised, fit and full of energy. New arrivals Morgan Rogers and Maxence Lacroix have settled in quickly, and the signs are encouraging that Chelsea’s new-look squad could hit the ground running this season.
To hit the ground running means to start the season well. Chelsea looked dangerous in attack, quick, and also they seemed to be enjoying their football. It was certainly a good start for the Blues. While Tottenham are a work in progress, the new Chelsea players have settled in quickly. They seem comfortable in the team, as if they have been there a long time.
Stinger: You are listening to the Learn English Through Football Podcast.com
DF: Thanks for that Damon.
Now, let’s Listener, did your team make a lot of new signings or hire a new coach ? Has the team hit the ground running or are they still a work in progress? Let us know by leaving a message on our football forum or drop us a line at contact@learnenglishthroughfootball.com
Predictions: Review
DB: Right let’s turn to our predictions from last week. Remember, we focused on the language of predictions in that podcast. We looked at Newcastle United versus Liverpool. This is what Damian said: ‘I think Liverpool will win this game as they have too much quality and I think they might win it comfortably too. Maybe 2-0 to the away side’. I said, ‘I am not confident at all and will be happy with a point, maybe 1-1′.
Well, I got the point I said I would be happy with. The game ended 2-2, but it was a lucky escape for Liverpool, who, as I mentioned at the start of the show, needed a stoppage-time, last-minute penalty to draw level, after twice going behind to counter attacks. Liverpool are definitely a work in progress with their new-look forward line looking very tame indeed.
What about this week’s predictions Damian?
Predictions: Chelsea v Brighton
New to prediction language? Listen to our previous podcast on the language of predictions.
DF: This week we are looking at a big game on Sunday from the Premier League, Chelsea hosting Brighton. Here’s Damon.
DB: I think this could be a cracker. Cole Palmer looks like he means business this season and I can see him creating plenty of chances for his teammates. 2-1 for me to Chelsea.
DF: Yes, Chelsea look good so far, they have definitely hit the ground running in the new season but I have a feeling that Brighton will get something from this; maybe 1-1?
What do you think of our predictions? Give your own on this week’s predictions thread.
Language Review
DF: OK, before we go, let’s look back at some of the language from today’s podcast. Damon talked about ‘new-look sides‘; teams with lots of new players in them and he also mentioned the phrase, ‘to hit the ground running‘ which describes a team that plays well from the start – even with new players in their side. He also mentioned some of the disadvantages of having too many new players in the team. So a team might not be ready but instead is a ‘work in progress‘ or maybe they don’t work together because they ‘lack cohesion‘.
How about your team this season – is it a new-look side? Can you think of any other words or phrases that are linked to this expression? And how would you say these expressions in another language that you know? Drop us a line on our forum where we have a thread on today’s podcast and we think it’s a great place to share ideas and ask more football-language questions!
Stinger: You’re listening to Languagecaster.com (Learn English through football) (from an Arsenal fan)
Contact
Now, if you come along to our site and open this post, you’ll see some teaching ideas at the top of the page in which we suggest a few ways to possibly use these materials with your students or even when you’re learning by yourself. We also have a thread for teaching ideas on our forum so come along and take a look and maybe share some of the ways that you might use these with your learners.
DF: Now, if you have any questions or comments about this week’s podcast or our football expression from earlier in the week, remember we talked about to punish a side, you can drop us an email at contact@learnenglishthroughfootball.com, while you can also find us on Facebook, Bluesky, Instagram and YouTube. And we had a comment on You Tube about words meaning the same as ‘heavy defeat’. Now someone used a Japanese phrase which translated as ‘crushing defeat‘. Yes, that’s a great way to describe Tottenham’s performance last week – they suffered a crushing defeat at Brentford! We love to hear from our listeners and, of course, don’t forget to subscribe to our football-language podcasts.
Goodbye
DF: OK, that’s it for this week. We’ll see you all again next week. I’m off to Paris to see some football and I’ll be talking about some language from the game I’m going to see. Until then, bye bye.
DB: Ta-ra!
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