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Learn English Through Football Podcast: Lose the Dressing Room
In this week’s football-language podcast we look at the phrase ‘lose the dressing room’, and other football language used when a manager is under pressure. We will also look at some predictions, including an FA Cup semi final and the match between Arsenal and Newcastle in the Premier League, as well as AC Milan v Juventus in Italy. You can read the transcript for this podcast below, while you can also check out our glossary of footballing phrases here and visit our site to access all our previous posts and podcasts. If you have any suggestions or questions about the phrase or our podcast then you can contact us here.
Welcome
DB: You’re listening to the Learn English through Football Podcast.
DB: Hi everyone. I hope you are well. My name is Damon, and I am based in Japan, where the weather is very spring-like indeed. I’ve also got a spring in my step, I’m feeling pretty happy, after my team Liverpool’s win in the Merseyside derby. A last-minute winner against Everton saw the Reds cement fifth spot in the league and claim bragging rights. How about Damian in London, I wonder how he is doing? Damian, how is the weather there and how is your mood after last week’s matches?
DF: Hello Damon and hello everyone. The weather here in London is good – I am just back after playing five-a-side this morning – and am about to listen to my team Spurs on the radio. They play Wolves in a must-win’ game as they battle to avoid relegation. Oh, the tension is too much! I can’t take any more ‘must-win’ matches!
Stinger: You are listening to the Learn English Through Football Podcast.com (in Wu)
DF: And thanks for that message, which was in Wu, a language spoken around Shanghai in China. We’ll have more messages, or stingers, like that in today’s show. How many will you be able to recognise? We’ll let you know the languages at the end of the show. Now Damon, what’s on the podcast today?
Today’s Show
DB: We are going to take a look at some of the language surrounding the sacking of (Liam) Rosenior, the Chelsea manager this week, and we’re going to start with the phrase, to lose the dressing room. After that, we’ve got a few messages for our listeners, and we’ll finish with predictions and of course we’ll let everyone know the languages used throughout the show.
Stinger: You are listening to the Learn English Through Football Podcast.com (in French)
DF: OK, what language do you think that was? We’d love to get more languages, so if you can, record a message like that saying, ‘You are listening to the Learn English Through Football Podcast‘ in your language. Then send it on to contact@learnenglishthroughfootball.com.
Stinger: You are listening to the Learn English Through Football Podcast.com (in Turkish)
DF: Right, now for our main section and here’s Damon with the expression ‘lose the dressing room‘.
Lose the Dressing Room
DB: Thanks Damian. Yes, Chelsea manager Liam Rosenior was sacked after a dreadful run of losing games. Chelsea lost five on the bounce and didn’t manage to find the net in any of those games. The writing was on the wall, after the last game when south-coast side Brighton beat the London-side 3-0 and the manager criticised his players publicly. It was clear he had lost the dressing room.
This expression is used when a manager has lost the respect of the players, making it very difficult for him or her to carry on in the job. If the players no longer listen or react to the manager then they will no longer play for him/her – the manager has lost the dressing room.
The dressing room is the place where the players change before and after the game but it also describes the space where the manager and players work and communicate – so to lose the dressing room suggests that no one is listening to you anymore. If a manager loses the dressing room then there is a very good chance that they will leave the club soon afterwards.
Stinger: You are listening to languagecaster.com (in Chichewa, Malawi)
Down Tools
DB: A more extreme, a stronger, way to talk about a situation where the players do not give 100% for the team on the pitch is to say they have downed tools.
The phrase in football is usually used to talk about a player who wants to leave the club and who refuses to play. But it can also be used in the situation at Chelsea to say that their squad seems to have stopped playing for the manager.
The tools in the phrase refer to what workers use to complete their job. If you are talking about football, which is a pretty simple game, the player’s tools are a ball and boots, and maybe shin pads. To down tools, means to put the tools down and not use them. In football to not play or to play but not follow instructions and not give 100%.
Toxic Atmosphere
DB: Let’s return to the ‘dressing room’ which as we have said, is used to refer to the team, the manager and the coaching staff. If the manager has lost the dressing room, or a player or players have downed tools, we can say there is a toxic atmosphere at the club or a toxic atmosphere in the dressing room.
Toxic is poisonous, so in this case very negative. It paints a picture of players not getting on, splits in the dressing room, and relationships breaking down. All of those things seem to have happened at Chelsea, leading to the manager having to leave the club.
Stinger: You are listening to languagecaster.com (in Korean)
Glossary
DB: OK, before we move on to predictions, remember that at our website we have a huge glossary of football terms, expressions, phrases and clichés about the beautiful game of football. Come along to our site, Learnenglishthroughfootball.com to check it out, and also tell all your friends about us and give us ‘a like’ or a recommendation on your favourite podcast or social media platform!
Predictions
DB: OK, predictions. Now, last week I correctly predicted the scoreline for the Merseyside derby 2-1; Damian went for a 1-1 draw. Both Damian and I got the Copa del Rey final prediction wrong. We both went for Atlético Madrid to comfortably beat Real Sociedad, but it was Real who came out winners on penalties after the game finished 2-2 after extra time. We did however, correctly think that Manchester City would beat Arsenal. I wonder if either of us can get a clean sweep, get all predictions correct, this week?
Damian, what’s the first match?
FA Cup Semi Final: Chelsea v Leeds
DF: This one sees in-form Leeds take on Chelsea who have just appointed a new interim manager. I am not sure there will be a new-manager bounce for the Blues as I think Leeds will win 2-1.
DB: I think Leeds will be really up for this one and they’re in a bit of decent form too. So, I’ll go a 1-0 win to the side from the north.
Premier League: Arsenal vs Newcastle United
DF: Right, back to the title race in England as Arsenal host struggling Newcastle. I think Arsenal will win this easily as they try to put Manchester City under pressure – maybe 3-0 to the Gunners.
DB: Again, I agree that Arsenal will win. But I think it’ll be a nervy 1-0 win in this must win game for the London side. and our last match is in Serie A, two giants of the league, AC Milan vs Juventus.
Serie A: AC Milan vs Juventus
DF: This game sees third take on fourth as both of these powerhouses try to secure Champions League football next season. I fancy a draw: 1-1.
DB: I’m going to go for a 1-0 away win for Juventus. The team from Turin have the best form recently. But really it’s the toss of a coin: either team could win this.
Stinger: You are listening to languagecaster.com (in Sukuma, Tanzania).
Contact
DF: What do you think of our predictions? Let us know by coming along to the forum on our site. And let us know about any games you are watching this week. And don’t forget to come along to any of our social media sites – you can find us on Facebook; YouTube; Instagram and many more.
Stinger: You are listening to languagecaster.com (in Dutch)
DB: Yes, that message was in Dutch. We have also heard messages in Wu, Turkish, French, Chichewa, Korean and Sukuma. Well done if you recognised any of those languages and we’d love to hear from you if you’d like to record a message in any language that you know.
Goodbye
DB: Thank you everyone for listening. This week we have looked at the phrases, ‘lose the dressing room‘; ‘down tools‘ and ‘toxic atmosphere‘. I hope you don’t need to use these phrases to talk about your club! Do you know any other words and phrases linked to these words? How about in another language that you know? You can get in contact with us if you have another football phrase or term you’d like us to explain – drop us a line and say hello!
Enjoy all the football this weekend. And we’ll be back with another football expression early next week. Until then, ta-ra!
DF: Bye!
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