Football Cliches

A wonderfully insightful analysis of the language of soccer from the creator of footballcliches.com

In what other context do soccer fans use the words "aplomb" or "derisory"? Why don’t we use "rifle" as a verb on the other six days of the week? Why do aggrieved midfielders feel the instinctive need to make a giant ball-shaped gesture with both hands after a mistimed tackle is punished? The more Adam Hurrey watched the sport, the more he began to spot the recurring mannerisms, behaviors, opinions, and iconography that were mindlessly repeated in the sports media. Some clichés are ridiculous, some are hilariously outdated, some have survived through their sheer indisputability. Here, featuring gloriously pseudo-scientific diagrams and the inimitable writing style that made footballcliches.com a smash hit, they are covered in all their glory.