Football Cliches: Are They Really True?

[PrezIke]

1) "You need 3 or 4 top strikers to win/compete for the title"

2) "No need to worry about bad decisions by referees that go against because they even themselves out over the course of the season."

3) "Can he/the team perform so well even on a cold, wet Tuesday night at Stoke?"

Any others of note?

I wonder how accurate the first two are in particular as I am sure one can gather the statistics on these and find out. I heard both of these cliches stated by pundits on some City related podcasts the last week and hear them uttered quite frequently.

[Mikhail Chigorin]

1) "You need 3 or 4 top strikers to win/compete for the title"

2) "No need to worry about bad decisions by referees that go against because they even themselves out over the course of the season."

3) "Can he/the team perform so well even on a cold, wet Tuesday night at Stoke?"

Any others of note?

I wonder how accurate the first two are in particular as I am sure one can gather the statistics on these and find out. I heard both of these cliches stated by pundits on some City related podcasts the last week and hear them uttered quite frequently.

You don't win anything with kids.

With regard to Question 1, I'd truncate it to read "You need 3 or 4 top strikers" and just leave it at that.

With that number of top strikers, the League title would take care of itself.

[nottsblue]

Numbet two is just that. A big stinking pile of horse shit

[Original Dub]

Re No.2 - I believe the first person to use that lovely little number was baconface. Since then it is peddled around the media on a weekly basis.

It is, of course, completely untrue and probably similar to saying that your luck in life will even itself out over the course of your lifetime.


Fact remains that stats don't lie and I don't remember us being gifted 30 penalties last season to make up for the 30 taken away from us.

[BlueinBosnia]

"Win all your home games and draw all your away ones, and you'll win the title"

Surprisingly, even though you'd be unlikely to win the title with that form these days, this'd still get you a top 3 finish most seasons, in spite of dropping close to 40 points.

[iwasthere2012]

It's a game of two halves.

So true.

[Mikhail Chigorin]

"Win all your home games and draw all your away ones, and you'll win the title"

Surprisingly, even though you'd be unlikely to win the title with that form these days, this'd still get you a top 3 finish most seasons, in spite of dropping close to 40 points.

That was more relevant in the days when it was only two points for a win and one for a draw.

That was the mantra that Don Revie's Leeds used to spew out; in fact their fans had a song on the terraces about it (sung to the tune of 'Ilkley Moor bar t'at')

[mr_nool]

It's a game of two halves.

So true.

In the same vein: The ball is round.

Unfortunately it seems to be rounder for some teams.

[Alioune DVToure]

I don't think any team has ever won the title without two good goalkeepers, but nobody ever seems to mention that.

Liverpool have got about 8 shit ones. Finding a class #1 is hard enough; finding a reliable and contented #13 seems even more difficult.

I don't know what wages Chelsea offer to fringe players but I can't believe they managed to keep Cudicini and Begovic as back-ups for so long.

[Slim]

You can only beat what's in front of you.

Too good to go down.

Form is temporary, class is permanent.

You can't win the league with kids.

[Dimples]

Sir Alex Ferguson is the greatest manager the PL has ever seen.
Manchester United is the greatest club in the world and every player wants to play for them.
Liverpool are a huge club with history.

All true of course - Sky say so anyway.

[nottsblue]

Sir Alex Ferguson is the greatest manager the PL has ever seen.
Manchester United is the greatest club in the world and every player wants to play for them.
Liverpool are a huge club with history.

All true of course - Sky say so anyway.

You forgot any rag v dipper game is the most anticipated game in world football

[patrickblue]

You'll never see anything like this again.

[nottsblue]

You'll never see anything like this again.

Tyler's best ever line. He doesn't have many

[RodneyRodney]

"This game will be won by the team that scores the most goals". Genuine.

[nottsblue]

A game of two halves.

It's a funny old game

Lump it up to the big number 9 and we'll get the second ball

A good little 'un is better than a crap big 'un

Playmakers are 'luxury players'

In the right context and for the right team/game they are all true. I guess that's why they are cliches.

[Pretty Boy Lee]

2-0 is a dangerous lead. What a steaming pile of shite.

[Alioune DVToure]

2-0 is a dangerous lead. What a steaming pile of shite.

Haha, true. 'Now would be a good time to score/bad time to concede.'

That should apply to any moment of time throughout the match.

[Nigels Tackle]

2-0 is a dangerous lead. What a steaming pile of shite.

you mean like vs spurs the other week!?

[Foreverinbluedreams]

No. 1 Vardy, Ozakazi, Ulloa

Costa, veteran Drogba, Remy

Not so sure about that one.