The Commentators’ View: Spygate, Munchgate & VAR

14:37Ian Dennis:It's the only change that Sunderland have made from the team that played Wolves. But for Manchester United, they have made five changes from their last outing. So Mats Rawi comes in for Dallow. Martinez is back from suspension for Heaven. Mountfort and Bumo. Ahmad, who once had a loan spell here at the Stadium of Light, for Sesco. And Xerxi for Casemiro. You all right there, laughing at your own joke through the team news? Anybody who listens to the Commentator's View podcast would appreciate that. They would, all three of them. Let's go to Craven Cottage. It was actually, again, Paul Robinson.

15:06Ian Dennis:and invaluable contributor to this podcast. I was doing a commentary on Sunderland with Paul a few months ago and I referred to Herr Trowder and he was straight in and said, Herr Trowder as opposed to Herr Chapman.

15:24Ali Bruce-Ball:You could actually, I could hear you giggling doing your team news at that, Ian. Yes, I did, I did hear that. You were struggling to control the laughter. Right, so coming your way on Five Live and BBC Sounds this weekend And as John has mentioned, you two will be at the FA Cup final. But the FA Cup final being on Saturday, 3 o 'clock kick-off on Saturday, means that the usual Premier League Saturday schedule is on Sunday instead. So this is how it lines up. And Saturday, it's an absolute humdinger. So Connor McNamara and Pat Nevin will be there at Celtic Park for Celtic Hearts in the shootout to decide who wins the Scottish Premiership title.

16:02Ali Bruce-Ball:Hearts start a point ahead. If Celtic win the game, then they will catch them on the final day of the season. And I think I'm right in saying Hearts have been ahead of them since September. I think there's one night in April that Hearts have not been top of that table up until this point. They could get caught on the final day. Don't miss that. And then Saturday, three o 'clock, chaps, Manchester City, Chelsea in the FA Cup final. Paul Robinson on duty with you two. So that's perfect for the commentator's view. How are we feeling? Ian, how are we feeling ahead of a cup final? Or was it a very special day in the English footballing calendar?

16:36Ian Dennis:A very special day. Let's not gloss over the fact that it shouldn't be being played before the end of the Premier League season, which has now become set in stone. But I think we should still refer to that because that is not as it should be. It should be that the FA Cup final comes after the end of the Premier League season. But agreed, that's where we are. Ian, I'm thinking Manchester City strong favourites. I think in a virtually a clean bill of health and obviously there are a lot of question marks at the moment hanging over Chelsea and where they're going what's going to happen and um and whereas Manchester City just feel that they are in the groove yes very strong favorites although I guess he's got that balancing act hasn't he because he obviously had the the game in midweek against Crystal Palace he's got the game at Bournemouth on Tuesday they're still very much in the uh in the title race.

17:27Ian Dennis:And also, there were probably strong favourites going into the final last year against Crystal Palace, but City have lost the last two finals. And only one club before has lost three successive finals, and that, ironically, was Chelsea. Yes, although Chelsea have lost their last three FA Cup finals that they've been in. But I also think Chelsea really turned up for that semi-final against Leeds United. So there's recent memory for those players of turning up and putting in a performance at Wembley.

17:55Ali Bruce-Ball:And if Pep Guardiola wins the FA Cup again, he joins, because I remember doing this in the semi-final in my notes, and I'm sure this will be in your notes by the time it comes to the final on Saturday, he'll join a very elite list of managers. There'll only be three or four of them who've won the FA Cup that many times, Arsene Wenger, Sir Alex Ferguson, and a couple from back in the day who off the top of my head, I'm not going to get their names. But it will be a big achievement for him and for the club. So that's three o 'clock on Saturday. Sunday then the Premier League action leads Brighton on 5 Live at 3 and Brentford Crystal Palace on Sports Extra at 3 o 'clock and then I think the big game of the day in the Premier League because of the situation West Ham are in is at 5.30 St James' Park Newcastle West Ham that's with Ailey Barber and Andy Reid and then as you say John just taking it forward into next week you're going to be at Arsenal Burnley and then Bournemouth Manchester City reporting on those games for us on the Tuesday as the title race goes to the wire ahead of the final weekend of the season.

18:58Ian Dennis:Yeah, Monday will be updates into the Monday night club on Arsenal's home game against Burnley, but it is commentary on Tuesday night, the Bournemouth Manchester City match. And obviously what happens in those two matches will let us know. We'll have a closer idea of what the destiny of the title is going to be and potentially setting things up for the final Sunday. and then obviously it's then the first of the three european finals that five live and the bbc sounds that will be covering because you've got leipzig and budapest to come the two of you the following week but uh istanbul aston villa against freiburg on wednesday will be live on

19:37Ali Bruce-Ball:five live for the europa league final yeah five live bbc sounds uh the place to be for all of it right we're on to the pub names uh unintended pub names courtesy all the way back from paul Robinson who's getting plenty of mentions in this episode of TCV so we're going to do unintended pub names before we return to league action in Clash of the Commentators last week we had the simmering Simeone the XG and from John in Narangba Australia we had the pizza van called Sliced by Saliba we also mentioned the chorus of booze which former Sheffield Wednesday manager Darren Moore used on the 72-plus podcast this week as he reflected on their playoff comeback against Peterborough.

20:19What I didn't say to you, lads, that all in training, all that week after the game, I was doing penalty kicks from the Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, trained at Hillsborough under a chorus of noises at the stadium under the tannoy of chorus of boos and that, so tactical beats like that.

20:38Ali Bruce-Ball:So that was Darren Moore talking about the miracle of Hillsborough, as it's known, but more from Darren Moore on the 72 plus EFL pod on the football daily as Aaron, Paul and co marked 40 years. Yeah, 40 years of the playoffs now.

20:50Ian Dennis:And of course, as we speak now, I mean, possibly one of the biggest stories unfolding in the entire 40 years of the playoffs in that, I mean, it is an extraordinary situation. I have to say, I feel for the supporter, for all of the supporters, because I just don't How can you possibly organise yourself for a match where we are unsure when and where this championship playoff is going to be played? Yeah, it is a real mess. And I'm not too sure how the EFL can unravel it in the time frame before the match was scheduled to be played. And I know there's the possibility that it could be postponed. But then where do you then reschedule the game?

21:35Ian Dennis:And I agree with you, John. I feel for the Southampton supporters, who could be deprived of a place at Wembley and maybe going up. The Middlesbrough supporters, I know for a fact, are clearly and quite rightly aggrieved. And then you've got the situation for Hull City and their supporters, who have already probably made their journey plans to Wembley. But also, in terms of a preparation, are they preparing for a game against Southampton? Or are they preparing for a game against Middlesbrough? What do the Middlesbrough players do? they're hanging around they're waiting it is a real real mess Middlesbrough players training for a match that might never happen yeah

22:13Ali Bruce-Ball:if we rewind it back to what actually happened that's led us to this point how heinous do you think the offence is how much of an impact do you have

22:23Ian Dennis:that's for the inquiry to find out yeah and try to get to the bottom of how impactful yeah it was what was allegedly done. I think it's got to be a sporting sanction because it has to send out a message to other clubs as a deterrent that this type of thing cannot happen. And therefore, I thought Kim Helberg after the game summed it up really, really well when he was talking about he'd put aside time with his family to spend another five hours watching and looking for those fine details, those fine margins that you can gain from watching games against Southampton. Whereas if it is proven and then they've been able to get an insight from what they've gleaned on the training field, that therefore is an unfair advantage.

23:15Ian Dennis:And if that is proven, then that is blatant cheating. Of course, part of this is that in an absolutely ideal world, you would want the correct amount of time to either prepare a case or prepare a defence. And they haven't got that. No. And also, talking of feeling sorry for the Southampton supporters, the actions of whoever is compliant within the football club, if it again is proven to be true, this alleged incident, has then tarnished the reputation of Southampton Football Club. And therefore, there will be people who are not involved, who are trying to protect Southampton Football Club, who've been put in this really awful position that they now face themselves in.

24:00Ali Bruce-Ball:Well, we'll follow it as the story develops, but I think that's very important that we discuss that. Back to the unintended pub names. Here's a fresh one from Sports Commentary. It comes from Paul in Tring. I was on a walk on Sunday afternoon listening to Rob Green and John Murray's dulcet tones from the West Ham Arsenal game and heard a great unintended pub name.

24:22Ian Dennis:Declan Rice curls it in, good delivery, flicked on, blocked on the line, a scramble on the edge of the six-yard box and Castellanos was there. a very relieved Castellanos to find the ball bounced to him and with his right foot just cleared it out for a throw on the far side. The relieved Castellanos, which sounds like the kind of pub with a backstory nobody can agree on. Half Mediterranean Sailors Tavern, half old British local that accidentally became legendary. From the outside it would probably sit tucked into a side street near a harbour or Old Town Square. Faded navy blue paint Hanging flower baskets that have seen better days And maybe a creaking wooden sign Showing a very relaxed looking Police constable reclining in a chair With his boots off and pint in hand Inside the atmosphere would feel instantly warm And slightly chaotic in the best way possible Low wooden beams Brass hooks with old coats Mismatched furniture that nobody has replaced Because that's just how the relieved Costiños is a pub dog asleep next to the machine who ignores everyone except those eating chips.

25:33Nobody really knows why the name Relieved Kosty Anios is there, but overall you'll feel much, much better after a night in this pub.

25:42Ali Bruce-Ball:The amount of thought, work, creativity.

25:45Ian Dennis:He's done very well there, Paul, hasn't he? Paul is great. He's gone full on with the... Full on. And also, it's right, confusion is the right word, because his surname continues to... Do you remember when he first came into the Premier League and I was assured it was Castellanos. Yeah. Castellanos. And then Conor, I think, possibly spoke to him or was in the dressing room area. And it was, no, no, it's Castellanos. And then he didn't say Castellanos, he said Castellanos. No, Conor said it was Castellanos. No, because it was Castellanos and then he changed it to Castellanos. But not Castellanos.

26:26Ian Dennis:But Castellanos is that that's the English way. So Castellanos is the South American way. Castellanos is the Spanish way. And Castellanos is the English way. I think Clare himself said that he, the player, said Castellanos. Well, knowing you, you'll probably start up a petition now as well.

26:47Ali Bruce-Ball:Yeah, we'll get to that in a second. I mean I hope Ailey Barber's not listening to this ahead of Newcastle West Ham commentary just go your own way Ailey make your own decision

26:57Ian Dennis:I think we need to reconvene and discuss it in the relieved Castellanos

27:03Ali Bruce-Ball:yes yes yes yes right how about this from Andy in Australia hi Ali John Ian et al love the pod listening to the latest episode imagine my surprise to hear my adopted hometown of Narangba being mentioned I thought I would be the only TCV listener here, but it just shows how far reaching you are, that even in a country town north of Brisbane, there are listeners aplenty. So there's another club getting started here. This was the push to finally take the time to write. I try to watch as many EPL and EFL games as possible, Premier League and EFL games as possible, plus catching up on all the pods on my daily work commute.

27:40Ali Bruce-Ball:However, I'm also a keen rugby league fan, and I regularly think of TCV, as we have a fantastic, unintentional pub name in the guise of Dallin Watanay Zalesniak when scoring his trademark tries from the wing. Here's Spickle Clifford, ticked on. The flying mallet goes in again. It's Dallin Watanay Zalesniak. The tries keep flowing for the Warriors right winger. And the flying mallet, well, he just gets it down the flying mallet.

28:12Ian Dennis:the timing of his run. Each of the good wingers of the guy and the great wingers, they make it happen, Matty.

28:19Ali Bruce-Ball:So Andy says, I envisage the Flying Mullet to be a country-style pub with dusty utes in the parking lot and ice-cold beers on tap as the blazing sun sets. Keep up the excellent work from Andy, listener number two in Narangba, Down Under.

28:33Ian Dennis:Fancy that, two listeners in Narangba. As soon as you've just mentioned the word utes, I just had a flashback to Joe Mangle. Yeah. The Neighbours.

28:41Ali Bruce-Ball:Yeah. Yeah, that's what I always think of when I hear that term. Ute being utility vehicle, isn't it? I think that's short form. Right, before we get on to Clash of the Commentators, we've got one more here for the unintended pub names from James Porter. Hi all, an unintended pub name for you from last weekend, from Alistair Bruce Ball. Shirky, surrounded by red and white striped shirts, jinx his way out of trouble, then points as he passes to Gehi to say, move that on quickly to Ake and wide to Doku. another dangerous dribbler for Manchester City. Coyote really focusing on that ball. The dangerous dribbler.

29:18A small cathedral city pub. Think Bath, Lincoln, York. Tucked away down a narrow cobbled alley and a bit like Big John's Madrid bar only frequented by those in the know. Knock three times on the door and you'll be asked for the password which of course is justice for John before being admitted. Local ales and ciders only, some brewed in the same way now as they were by the monks. But watch out for the strength of some of the ales, which pack a punch and earn the pub its name.

29:53Ian Dennis:Well done, James. BBC colleague of ours, James Porter. Well, a friend of yours, it would seem.

30:00Ali Bruce-Ball:Thank you to James for the Dangerous Ribbler. If you spot an unintended pub, film or food kiosk name in any sports commentary that you hear on the radio or the television, do let us know tcv at bbc.co.uk whatsapps to 08000 289 369 5 Live Sports So here's the first ball of this series All the cricket you'd laugh Check for LBW Out! Lives on BBC Sounds Smash straight back down the ground This girl Here ball by ball coverage of the biggest competitions on the domestic and international circuits It's a fourth week And it's the huge one. Jeez. Wash. Settle down. I'm sorry. Cricket on Five Live Sport.

30:45Ian Dennis:Oh, I've lived every ball of this. Listen on BBC Sounds.

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31:42Ali Bruce-Ball:The Commentators' View on the Football Daily with Alistair Bruce Ball, John Murray and Ian Dennis. On to Clash of the Commentators. Controversy is on the way. So, Ed in Maidstone asks, has there been a stewards' inquiry into the Clash of the Commentators where John was robbed? Surely this should lead Sports Report, with Hare Chapman reading it out as a top story. I can hear Denno sighs already.

32:13Ian Dennis:It's stronger than sighs, Ed, I'll tell you that. Yeah, you know what's coming here, don't you? He's actually got his hands on his head.

32:18Ali Bruce-Ball:Yeah, yeah. We did have an email land in the TCV inbox this week claiming to be an official ruling from the Court of Arbitration for Sports, and this follows on from the clash of the commentators category things you could do during a VAR delay. It reads as follows. The commentators view Munchgate dispute. That's the heading at the top of this official sheet of paper. Football. Interpretation of rules and linguistic variation. Point one. The panel observes that the wording of the task did not prohibit synonymous expressions. Point two, the panel finds that John Murray submitted valid lexical actions including eat, munch and chew.

33:00Ali Bruce-Ball:Point three, variation in synonymous expressions is recognised within football commentary practice. The operative part of the ruling as follows. Point one, the appeal is upheld. Point two, the disputed point is awarded to John Murray. Point three, this award is final and binding. Lausanne, 10th of May, 2026.

33:26Ian Dennis:Well, straight away it's fake because it's actually from Bolton fan Dom claiming to be an official ruling from the Court of Arbitration for Sport. So that's thrown out straight away. The other thing to say is that Dom has got far too much time on his hands. And also, there's a new hashtag, Injustice for Ian. It's a great piece of work. The actual document, because we've all seen what appears to be a valid document from the Court of Arbitration for Sport. And it's brilliantly laid out just like all of those sort of official ruling letters. I've got two additional thoughts as well, very quickly.

34:10Ian Dennis:Senegal and Morocco and the Spygate scandal now need to get in touch with Dom from Bolton because he can sort it out very quickly.

34:18Ali Bruce-Ball:I mean, just to take it all the way back, chaps, for those listeners who've joined late who can't remember what we're talking about. This was a game of Clash of the Commentators that Ian won, that I was hosting. It was the longest VAR delay of the season. Things you could get done within that same time. That's what it was. And Ian was awarded the win. Anyway, look. I mean, if that is legal and binding... Which I think it should be. Which is not. Okay. If it was, if it were to be, we'd be taking a point off Ian and awarding it to John. Which, for the neutrals... Which we're not. I mean, you talk about Celtic Hearts at the weekend.

34:50Ali Bruce-Ball:This is Celtic Hearts all over it. Because you then have Ian 9 from 15 and John 8 from 16 and me 7 from 16. Now this week, John, I think you're in charge.

35:03Ian Dennis:Yeah, but you see, that's what the people want, isn't it? It's a little bit like the Hearts Celtic penalty scenario, isn't it? That there's a lot of sentiment in this because it's what the people want. They want this to be a tight contest. And also, I think, for all of the work Dom's put into that, you know, he deserves. No, he doesn't. Dom deserves as well. Dom doesn't deserve anything.

35:32Ali Bruce-Ball:But it also, John, it heaps pressure on me today because I need to beat Ian to give you a chance.

35:38Ian Dennis:How exciting will that be if you win today? I know, but I'm rubbish at this. That would be two points separating the three. I know. It would be great. I'm going to go to HR. I think this is bullying now. You can't accuse listeners of bullying you, Ian. I can. You're waging a campaign against me. Next I won't be able to walk on the street. I've not orchestrated it. It's come from the outside. Chipping away, chipping away. When was the episode?

36:09Ali Bruce-Ball:Months ago.

36:10Ian Dennis:Exactly. It's Mourinho-esque behaviour. Wouldn't go away. Wouldn't go away. So there we are. anyway Dom well done and thank you right this week's Clash of the Commentators will be Ian who is still top but has lost each of his last three and has now had a point deducted up against Ali who is now rooted at the bottom of the table so this is where Clash of the Commentators two of us take turns to answer a question and give as many correct answers as we can in 30 seconds and this is a good one. This is a good one. You'll like this. But I have a feeling it might be slightly weighted in Ian's favour, but we'll see.

36:55Ian Dennis:Here we go again. Mind games. Blimey. We'll see. Who's going to go further? Well, I tell you what, I'm being assertive. I'm going first because the last three times I've been polite and I've said, oh no, yeah, I'll let you decide and then I've lost. Okay. So I'm being right. I'm taking, I'm seizing the initiative and I'm I'm grappling the bull by its horns. Okay. Ali has gone. Yeah. All right. You ready? Yeah, ready. Right. Now, do think carefully for this one. It's a good question, but you do need to think a little bit carefully. And the reason for that is because we are going to do minus points for incorrect answers.

37:36Ian Dennis:So it's one of those ones. Yeah. So it had to be an FA Cup final question. Saturday, 3 o 'clock on 5 Live. commentary, Chelsea, Manchester City. And Ian, I want you to name any player to have scored in an FA Cup final for either Chelsea or Manchester City. And remember, minus points for wrong answers. So FA Cup final goal scorers for Chelsea or City in any FA Cup final they were in. And your time starts now. OK, Tommy Hutchinson, Gundogan, Roberto Di Matteo

38:21I'm thinking Vialli Oh come on, come on, come on

38:35Ian Dennis:Bernardo Silva

38:39Ian Dennis:I didn't want to go wrong No, it does make it tricky, that. It might not be enough. It might not be. It might not be, but there is still the possibility of the minus answers. Yeah. So I'll wave Ali back. Here he comes. Hello. Okay. As I said to Ian, do think carefully for this one. It is a good question, but you do have to think quite carefully because this is one of those questions where there will be minus points for incorrect answers. Right. So, it had to be an FA Cup final question.

39:16Ali Bruce-Ball:Yeah.

39:17Ian Dennis:Saturday, 3 o 'clock, commentary on the final between Chelsea and Manchester City. And I want you to name any player to have scored in an FA Cup final for either Chelsea or Manchester City. Any final that they were in.

39:33Ali Bruce-Ball:Yeah.

39:33Ian Dennis:But minus points for wrong answers. So FA Cup final goal scorers for Chelsea or City. Your time starts now.

39:43Ali Bruce-Ball:Tommy Hutchinson scored at both ends, didn't he, for Manchester City. De Bruyne, Sterling, Drogba, Lampard. So many Chelsea finals. Who else do they play?

40:03Chelsea, Chelsea, Chelsea Oh come on you can get better than this

40:07Ali Bruce-Ball:Did Malouda score in a cup final?

40:15Now

40:16Ian Dennis:you see is that now counted? Did Malouda is that one of the answers? Sorry it was yeah it was

40:22Ali Bruce-Ball:sorry I shouldn't have said it by which could be costly Oh right yeah it was silly then

40:29Ian Dennis:However, I think Ian might also have been done by a minus answer as well. They both said Tommy Hutchinson. You did. You both thought it was easy. Actually, if you'd actually just said Hutchinson, you would have got another one as well, because Ian Hutchinson scored for Chelsea in the 1970 final against Leeds. Okay, I think we've got an outcome. Hazard. I didn't do enough.

40:59Ali Bruce-Ball:Hazard penalty.

41:01Ian Dennis:Okay. Ali. Yes. You went Tommy Hutchinson. Yes. De Bruyne, Sterling, Drogba, Lampard, Malouda. Five correct, one wrong, Malouda. So four points. Stupid. No, I didn't get that. No. Tommy Hutchinson, Gundogan, Di Matteo, Fiali was wrong, and Bernardo Silva is wrong. Oh. So three correct, two wrong. so that is a long point the losing sequence goes on the losing sequence goes on and Drogba was the big miss Drogba only Ian Rush has scored more goals in FA Cup finals than Didier Drogba but I can absolutely see why you said Viali and Bernardo Silva

41:46Ali Bruce-Ball:I mean the Gundogan, that is such a famous FA Cup and Di Matteo

41:50Ian Dennis:I knew Ian would get Gundogan because Ian commentated on it but also Di Matteo was one of the quickest goals for a while, wasn't it? It was against Middlesbrough. Yeah. Well, Dumatheus set the record at Wembley, wasn't it? It was the fastest FA Cup final goal at Wembley, but then Gundogan scored what is the fastest FA Cup final goal. Didn't Louis Sahar? Sahar, that's right. That's right, 25 seconds. Yeah, that's right. Yeah, Sahar. 25 seconds.

42:19Ali Bruce-Ball:Everton 2009. Yeah, the De Bruyne and Sterling ones were in the big win against Watford. I do remember them. Those ones, I think. I think that's right.

42:26Ian Dennis:that was too circumspect yeah

42:29Ali Bruce-Ball:well that's the thing that's the thing so that's interesting though isn't it if the ruling from Lausanne forward slash Bolton stands

42:36Ian Dennis:that leaves it now Ian 9 from 16 me 8 from 16 and Ali 8 from 17 yeah it could hardly be tighter we're going to have our own heart Celtic head to head it would seem how contrived

42:57Ali Bruce-Ball:now onto the great glossary of football commentary as we add commentary terms and phrases to our collection you can find the entire glossary in the episode description so division one football exclusive terms division two for terms used in football commentary but also used in other sports last week we put parachute payment 50p head and managerless into Division 1. David in Durham gets in touch. Your inclusion of 50p head in Division 1 took me straight back to the 70s, 80s, when derisive shouts of Thrutney Bithead would harangue any player who duffed a header. Thank you for all your match commentaries.

43:37Ali Bruce-Ball:And Ian from Ellesmere Port says, I enjoyed last week's discussion about how cultural reference points change with time. Sterling Moss to Lewis Hamilton and Carol Vorderman to Rachel Riley. I wonder how long it took before the Threepney bit head was superseded by the 50p head. And this has come in from Simon in Middlesbrough. Hi, gents. I listen every week. Last one, you mentioned about 50p head, which reminded me of my university days when one summer I was coaching soccer in America. And the expression for a misplaced header was, he has a head like a sheriff's badge. Other colloquial scenes for a misplaced header, he's got a biscuit tin on his head.

44:14And I'm sure there are others out there. so let's see if we can get a few more going. Love the pod as always. Justice for John. Justice for Borough. Keep it going, lads. Sheriff's badge.

44:27Ali Bruce-Ball:That's excellent.

44:28Ian Dennis:Head like a biscuit tin. I've never heard that before.

44:32Ali Bruce-Ball:But biscuit tins can be circular, can't they?

44:34Ian Dennis:Well, they can also be sort of hexagonal as well, can't they?

44:38Ali Bruce-Ball:They can.

44:39Ian Dennis:And head like a sheriff's badge is a great one. That is brilliant. Have you heard that before? Never. No. That is a good one. that yeah shall i do mark yeah you want bulgaria is that a first is that first about listening from bulgaria yeah i don't remember another one from bulgaria anyway mark says when the term 50p head was added last week i was waiting patiently for messrs murray and dennis to interject and add comment based on their geographic backgrounds i was somewhat surprised that messers Murray and Dennis did not rise to the occasion. Back in the day in the football league across Yorkshire prior to the introduction of the pyramid system every amateur footballer, manager, coach and spectator used only one phrase to accurately describe the misfortune of a player heading a ball in the wrong direction.

45:34Ian Dennis:He would be described as having a 10 bob bit head suggesting a player has a 50p piece head seems more appropriate to commentating to a prone cocktail-esque crowd in Gen Z rather than supporters of an older generation. And on a different theme, let's have another voice note. Hi, TCV crew. Chris here from Bucks with one for the glossary and an additional suggestion for the TCV Dog 11. I'd like to offer up my flat-coated cockapoo Billy as winger and captain, who absolutely loves his Saturday morning walks while we listen to the pod. and I'm going to challenge anyone to find a more footballing dog than mine.

46:14Billy has recently undergone his first of two cruciate ligament surgeries, which has meant for a while we were listening to the pod during rehab sessions at home rather than out on his walks, but thankfully he's now fully recovered and bounding around the Chilton Hills with me as I record this. Billy's cruciate injury happened in the most innocuous of circumstances. We're just simply running around and bounding back to me with one of his legs lifted up. so unfortunately I didn't see the full motion but one would say he had just gone down in installments and I thought going down installments might be an unexplored addition to the glossary

46:47Ali Bruce-Ball:well firstly I'm glad to hear Billy's Billy's doing a bit better going down in installments that that is that's a good one it also made me think about you know in football commentary when you talk about a player going down and there's no one near him and that's not a good sign if Billy's gone down there and there's no other dogs near him or sharp twigs near him then you know that's not a good sign I don't know would that be glossary-esque?

47:10Ian Dennis:Yeah those innocuous injuries often tend to be the worst don't they?

47:14Ali Bruce-Ball:Exactly What about going down in instalments?

47:17Ian Dennis:Probably Division 2 isn't it? You'd probably get that in other that's probably seeped into other sports hasn't it? Yeah We should send our best wishes to Billy shouldn't we? In his recovery

47:29Ali Bruce-Ball:We've got pictures, John, of Billy.

47:31Ian Dennis:Yeah, we have. There's actually a little bit more as well. Yeah, there is. A nice little extra bit from Chris here, talking about his dog, Billy, and his football credentials. While we lived in Leighton, Leighton Orient FC put out a genuine cry for help for local dog owners. The club needed dogs to come for early morning walks around the pitch and do what they needed to do in order to deter foxes from digging up and scratching around the pitch. So naturally, Billy answered the call. For three weeks, he and we proudly centred up the stadium and could often be found sitting on the club crest by the subs bench, genuinely looking like he owned the place.

48:06So I'll put it to you. Is there a dog 11 for TCV team? And is there a better captain fit than Billy?

48:13Ian Dennis:When he said he and we, he should have just said he, did we? He also included there, Chris, a genuine cry for help. I'm surprised he didn't go for a come and get me, plea.

48:28Ali Bruce-Ball:Yes. Very good. By the way, talking about animals helping out stadiums, the hawk at Tyne Castle is a fine sight to keep the gulls away.

48:36Ian Dennis:Yes, I saw that after the Rangers game the other week.

48:40Ali Bruce-Ball:Flying around in the stands

48:41Ian Dennis:before the game. I quite like the idea of the dog 11. That would be Billy, brackets, Leighton Orient.

48:49Ali Bruce-Ball:Yes, exactly. Dogs that are connected to clubs. Get in touch, TCV at bbc.co.uk. Rich says that the title of Sunday's 606 podcast following the West Ham Arsenal game was, Are goalkeepers a protected species? I can't imagine any other sport where a player in a certain position is referred to as a protected species, including goalkeepers in other sports such as hockey. I therefore propose a Division I entry for protected species.

49:19Ian Dennis:Could be. I think what's also a protected species, and the picture of Billy the dog lying on the Leighton Orient crest. Those club crests have become protected species, haven't they? You know, the whole thing with Arsenal, Atletico Madrid, and oh my goodness, he stepped on the, he stepped, oh, what disrespect. He stepped on the crest on the floor. Yeah. I have to say that's one that I've not got a great deal of time for. No. No. If you don't want people to stand on it, then don't put it on the floor. Well, exactly. Yeah, it's like a doormat. Welcome to our club. If you've got dogs around the place, they're going to lie on the crest, aren't they?

49:57Ian Dennis:Like Billy has. And here's the last one for the glossary this week. It's from Dan in Chester, who says, really enjoyed the radio commentary on the Celtic Rangers match last weekend. I only caught the first half as I had to take my son to play for Waverton Arrows under 13s in their big match against Middlewich Town. but the commentators gave a great phrase when talking about Rangers which I really think deserves a place in your glossary For me I think they're just inviting personally like he says if the last few games are then to go by if you pass the ball back to your goalkeeper Dyson Maeda's not going to give him a minutes piece No and the countless acts of pickpocketry that Dyson Maeda's produced on a regular basis this season are warning enough for the Rangers' defence and goalkeeper not to take a chance when he's around but Fernandes has nicked it off McCown he wanted too long, he's not getting the free kick, it's with Tramiti at the edge of the Celtic box, works themselves their spaces in, chance here, the back post, and it's tucked into the net, Rangers lead, Mikey Moore!

50:58So there we are, Dan's contribution, Liam McLeod, act of pickpocketry, which I quite enjoy,

51:04Ian Dennis:it's quite Dickensian that, isn't it? Particularly given my recent history in Madrid, being the subject of multiple acts of pickpocketry. Dan says he was also hoping to hear a stramash, but no luck with that. And Dan also says, P.S. Waverton Arrows won the game 3-2 with a late curler into the onion bag. One for the cameras. Real Roy of the Rover stuff. And he adds hashtag Justice for John on there as well. So thanks for that, Dan. Oh, my word. I want to go on strike.

51:37Ali Bruce-Ball:On my journey north to Edinburgh midweek, I actually read my Roy the Rovers that I purchased recently.

51:46Ian Dennis:I got in touch with you on the train as you were reading it, didn't I?

51:50Ali Bruce-Ball:Yeah, I got a few funny looks, actually. I don't know whether people wonder whether I worked in the industry. But it was from 1978, and some of the stories and pictures in there were of Tottenham Hotspur playing in the second division, but getting promoted, I think. They went down, didn't they? And then came straight back up again, 77-78. And it was a 78 summer special. But it just made me think, well, you know, given the current situation, that's still to play out this season. Right, that's the glossary done. So the summary as follows. Going down in installments, we think that would be used in other sports.

52:28Ali Bruce-Ball:So Division 2, definitely used for a goalkeeper. Well, and a player when they get fouled or heavily tackled. protected species are scrum halves in rugby are protected I'd be interested to hear from our listeners on protected species actually whether they think there are other positions in world sport that are a protected species I mean they certainly and this is going a wee way back in NFL sort of changed the rules on how you can tackle quarterbacks because you were getting career ending injuries and the star players in the sport were having their careers cut short. But whether they'd still be considered a protected species, don't know.

53:11Ali Bruce-Ball:Don't know. Acts of pickpocketry, chaps.

53:15Ian Dennis:I think that's more of a unique phrase, isn't it, from Liam, rather than something for the glossary.

53:21Ali Bruce-Ball:Yes, I agree. My favourite is head like a sheriff's badge, which has to go into Division I, I think.

53:29Ian Dennis:And I also like head like a biscuit tin. Yes. That should be Division I.

53:39Ali Bruce-Ball:Hooray! Producer Nathan doing the business again. John has asked if Mark in Bulgaria was our first piece of correspondence from Bulgaria. It is not. We have also had an email from Alex from Bulgaria, who now lives in Boston, Massachusetts. So there you go, John.

53:55Ian Dennis:Yeah, and one other thing. Did you watch the video I sent you of the French World Cup squad announcement? Yeah, very good. I very much enjoyed that. But bear in mind, it's the England squad announcement next Friday, and next week's commentator's view will reflect on that. They're the ones that are a nightmare. I would appeal to the FA. What we need is the actual list of the players given to us, rather than trying to work it out from a video like that.

54:25Ali Bruce-Ball:If people haven't seen it, I mean, they'll be able to go and find it. But it's sort of a day in France and players popping up. Mike Maynard sort of picks his own figurine out of a cereal box, doesn't he, that he's got as a gift in a cereal box. It's really good, actually. It also reminds you just how strong that French squad is. Oh, my goodness. Oh, they've got them.

54:47Ian Dennis:It reminds you, the other thing that crossed my mind, though, was did any of the French players who weren't in the squad actually have to get recorded doing something like that? And they're now thinking, what did I do that for?

54:59Ali Bruce-Ball:In the 55-man squad, they put about... 30 that weren't used. That's a great point. Yeah. Very good. Right. Keep the unintended pub names and glossary suggestions coming in, whether you're from Bulgaria, Boston or Bradford, tcv at bbc.co.uk or you can send us a message or voice note on WhatsApp to 08000 289 369. An incredibly dramatic finish coming in the Scottish Premiership title race this weekend. Do not miss that. Ian and John will be commentating on the FA Cup final and what a finish we're going to have in Clash of the Commentators. What a dramatic episode of the Commentators' View this has been.

55:36Ali Bruce-Ball:That is it for this episode of the Football Daily. And remember, you can find each and every episode of the Commentators' View by scrolling down your Football Daily feed.

55:49You know, just one look probably. Didn't even have to adjust one look and you knew that you would let him down. Mamma mia, here I go again. My, my, how can I resist you? So much sport today and all the goals as they go in up and down the league. This is Five Live Sports. It's all ice and the lights and fit to the floor. To ball him. It's not his stopper. Everyone's standing around the 18th green. Overhead kick. That is sensational. He shows to the centre. And go to it. Oh, the right hand and the former champion is down. It's extraordinary stuff. They've put on a show for us tonight. He gets on his knees and kisses the turf.

56:35Five Live Sports. The home of the world's greatest sporting events. This is the full time with them. Listen on BBC Sounds.

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