Learn English Through Football Podcast: Transfer Window Closes

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In this week’s football-language podcast we focus on language to describe transfers. We look at the phrase, ‘transfer window’ and how it is used in football. We will also look at some predictions from the big game at the weekend from the Premier League: Arsenal v Chelsea. You can read the transcript below, read some teaching tips on how to use these materials, check out our glossary here, or browse all our previous posts and podcasts. 

 

For Teachers ▸ how to use this episode in class

• Vocabulary: Discuss any vocabulary students know starting with the prefix ‘trans‘
• Vocabulary (2): Discuss language that students might know about transfers in football (e.g. transfer window; fee; loan; agent; move)
• Listening for gist (main idea): Ask the learners to pick out the names of the teams and players mentioned. Maybe they could also listen for language of transfers (esp. after the first step).
• Listening for details (1): Pick out one of the sections from the listening and create a gap fill activity – maybe with language of transfers
• Listening for details (2): Alternatively you could focus on connected language and blank out combinations of words: eg. ‘usually thought of as a‘ – with ‘as a’ blanked out.






• 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

DF: Hello everyone I hope you are all well. My name is Damian and I am one half of the Learn English through Football team – the other half is of course Damon who has just returned to Japan after a short stay in the UK. Unfortunately, I was unable to catch up with him as I have been in France for the past few days. Indeed, I have seen some Ligue 1 matches (the French league), including Paris FC’s 3-0 win over Nice. I also watched Lyon defeat Auxerre 3-1 and I went to the Velodrome in Marseille where the home side lost 2-3 to Paris FC. It’s been great watching some football in another country with lots of different colours, stadiums, chants from the fans, food and of course language. I learned a couple of French football expressions in Lyon (VAR and the hydration break) and I have posted a short description about them on our forum pages. 

Stinger: You are listening to the Learn English through football podcast (in Arabic)

Today’s Show

DF: Yes, you are listening to the Learn English through football podcast and that message was in Arabic. 

OK, now apologies for the delay in this week’s podcast; as I mentioned, both Damon and myself have been travelling. And in the past couple of days here in France I have had no wifi access!. Anyway, on today’s show we are going to look at some expressions about transfers in football and in particular about the phrase, ‘the transfer window‘. We have done lots of podcasts, quizzes, worksheets and explanations on the language of transfers over the years including:

1. The language of transfers in four easy steps – this one is our most popular podcasts.
2. The language of transfers (with worksheets) 
3. Quiz: Language of transfers
4. Podcast: To reach an agreement

Now, there are many, many more and you can find a list of some of them at the end of this post on our site and also on our forum thread in which we also give a few suggestions on how we might use these materials to help teaching and/or learning English.

Stinger: You are listening to the Learn English through football podcast (from a Mexican fan)

Right, the transfer window in England closed on Tuesday which means that there are no more transfers until January 1st – the winter window. Let’s take a look at a couple of phrases connected to the transfer window. First of all, the ‘transfer window closes‘ or ‘slams shut‘. We will then look at the cliche ‘to win (or to lose) the transfer window‘ and see which teams have had a good or a bad transfer window. Then Damon will discuss Liverpool’s transfer window – do you think he feels they had a good or a bad window? We’ve also got some predictions and we’ll be looking ahead to the Arsenal versus Chelsea game at the weekend. 

Transfer Window Closes

DF: OK, so the summer transfer window in most European leagues has finally closed. This means that the transfer period, which is when teams are allowed to buy, loan and sell players, is over until the winter transfer window opens again in January. The transfer window in England closed on Tuesday night (the 1st September) which is also known as deadline day. It is a crazy time with lots of transfer rumours in the media and also the fact that the window closes after the season starts makes it difficult to keep up with all of the changes; sometimes fans and pundits even find it hard to remember which players have moved and which ones have stayed! 

Another phrase that we sometimes hear at the end of deadline day (or when the window is over) is ‘slam shut‘; the transfer window slams shut. This is a rather dramatic expression that the media really like using to show that there can be no more transfers for the time being. When a door (or window) is slammed shut it means its closed with quite strong power and makes a big noise; it’s very dramatic.

So, here’s an example from CBS Sports:

1. ‘Transfer window slams shut with Enzo Fernandez at Manchester City; (and) Folarin Balogun move collapses’ (CBS sports.com)

So, this headline from the website highlights two stories that happened on the final day of the transfer window (or deadline day) before the time period for transfers ended (or closed). They use the word ‘slams‘ to highlight the drama of both a huge transfer fee – that’s the money spent – that was between Chelsea and Manchester City for Argentinian player Enzo Fernandez. And also a transfer that did not take place between Monaco and Everton as the US striker Balogun decided not to join the English club at the last minute. And this is why the headline uses the verb ‘collapses’ to show that the transfer or the move did not take place because of this last-minute issue. 

Win the Transfer Window

Recently there has been a saying, or a cliche, about the transfer window and whether a team has done well with their transfers: to win the transfer window. Of course, no team actually wins the transfer window but there is sometimes agreement among fans and the media that a team has done well and so we might hear this phrase being used. 

So, for example a good transfer window might mean that a club has bought players that can help them improve; maybe they have bought a player to fill a problem position, for example. We can sometimes hear that a team has had a good transfer window meaning that they have signed some important players and maybe released some others that were no longer necessary. Of course, we can also hear that a team has had a bad transfer window. So, for example, Everton had a bad transfer window as they failed to sign a forward, a right back or an extra midfielder. They only have 18 outfield players which is not very many – they don’t have a very deep squad after this transfer window. And my cousin, who is an Everton fan, was not happy at all!

Let’s hear what Damon had to say about his favourite team’s transfer window. What was the good and the bad?

Liverpool

DB: Well, before the good and the bad for Liverpool this transfer window, a bit of background. Liverpool don’t have a fit recognised right back, they don’t have a defensive midfielder except for Endo, who is getting a little old now, and are still looking for an experienced recognised attacker for the right wing.

So, the bad is that none of those positions were covered by new players coming in. The right back situation seems especially worrying, with Conor Bradley out for probably most of the season with a serious injury. Liverpool’s full back areas seem especially lightweight this season. I’m sure a lot of opponents are looking forward to playing long balls into these positions.

OK, the good. Well, the good is closing the deal for Bradley Barcola, the exciting attacker from PSG. He really should offer a threat with his close control and speed. But, he is usually thought of as a left-sided player, where Gakpo, Víctor Muñoz and Rio Ngumoha also play their best football.

It’s not all doom and gloom though. Víctor Muñoz has started brightly, sometimes playing off the right. He secured a penalty in the first match at Newcastle and got the equaliser in front of the Kop against Forest.

In summary, a mixed bag. potential with lots of gaps.

Signed as cover

DF: So, a mixed bag which I suppose means neither good nor bad for Liverpool. Did you hear Damon use the word ‘cover‘? This is a term used in football to describe when there are enough players for each of the positions in the team. So for example, with my team Spurs, they signed an extra goalkeeper as cover for their number one Kinsky. Damon said: ‘The bad is that none of those positions were covered by new players coming in.’ This means that he is worried that there are not enough players for all of the positions in the squad – there needs to be more cover. 

Tottenham

DF: Well, as for Tottenham’s transfer window, well, we spent a lot of money (over £300 million) and bought 10 new players, while we also sold many established players as the new coach wanted to build the team in his own style. Did we have a good window? I think yes because we needed to do something dramatic after two years finishing 17th in the Premier League. Of course, such a big change in the squad means it will take time for players to get used to the coach, the tactics and the other players; but I am hopeful that the transfers will be seen as a good one. 

Predictions Review: Chelsea v Brighton 

Listen to our previous podcast on the language of predictions here.

DF: OK, each week both myself and Damon will try and predict (or guess) the result of some big games each weekend. Listen out for some language of predictions and we have a link to a previous podcast on predictions language here on our post. And of course you can also join in by adding your scores to our predictions forum page. Let’s take a look back at our predictions from last weekend’s big game and this was between Chelsea and Brighton which finished 4-3 – a seven-goal thriller. I thought it was going to be a draw but Damon did predict a Chelsea win – he said 2-1 – so well done to him. 

 

Predictions: Arsenal v Chelsea

DF: Well, let’s have a look at the big game this weekend between Arsenal and Chelsea – a big London derby. Let’s hear what Damon thought was going to happen. 

DB: This is fascinating isn’t it. Arsenal have kept two clean sheets on the bounce and look strong in all areas of the pitch. On the other hand, Chelsea have come out the blocks fast this season, with an exciting 4-3 win over Brighton last week. They definitely have the firepower and pace up front to trouble Arsenal. I’m going to go for a draw – 2-2 for me. You?

DF: Yes, two teams I don’t like – I am a Tottenham fan after all! I think Arsenal will have too much for Chelsea – maybe 2-1 to the Gunners.

What do you think of our predictions? Don’t forget you can give your own on this week’s predictions thread. on our forum.

Stinger: You are listening to the Learn English through Football Podcast (in French from Canada)

Language Review

DF: OK, let’s look back at some of the language from today’s podcast. Damon talked about the word ‘cover‘ when talking about new signings to help the squad.

How about your team this season – did they have a good or bad transfer window? Can you think of any other words or phrases connected to the transfer window? 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!

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 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 in which we looked at language around the phrase ‘transfer window‘.  We’ll see you all again next week with the shorter Weekly Football Phrase episode, in which we pick out an expression from the weekend’s games. Until then, bye bye.

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