Subject: Colemanballs

Colemanballs:

A term coined by British magazine “Private Eye,” to describe verbal gaffes, errors or misuse of words and phrases spoken by British football (soccer) announcers, coaches or players – initially BBC broadcaster David Coleman and the suffix -balls, as in “to balls up” or make a mistake.

A game is not won until it is lost.

English football player, manager & sports commentator

Alan Shearer has done very well for us, considering his age. We have introduced some movement into his game because he has got two good legs now. Last season he played with one leg.

British football commentator

I don't read the papers, I don't gamble, I don't even know what day it is! 

Both sides have scored a couple of goals and both sides have conceded a couple of goals

English football player & manager

The crowd think that Todd handled the ball… they must have seen something that nobody else did.

British sports commentator

Eighty per cent of teams who score first in matches go on to win them; but they may draw some… or occasionally lose.

English football player, manager & sports commentator

Newcastle, of course, unbeaten in their last five wins.

English football player & commentator

Rutherford’s asking the umpire how many balls he’s got left… he’s got two.

New Zealand-born sports broadcaster

That goal surprised most people, least of all myself.

English football player

It really needed the blink of an eyelid, otherwise you would have missed it.

English football player

You certainly wouldn’t bet against him not converting that chance.

English professional football player & commentator

I’d love to be a mole on the wall in the Liverpool dressing room at half-time; and not for the reasons that you’re thinking of Clive.

English former football player & manager

If Plan A fails, they could always revert to Plan A.

English football player & announcer

Statistics are there to be broken.

English football player & commentator

Don’t tell those coming in the final result of that fantastic match, but let’s just have another look at Italy’s winning goal.

(1926 – ) English sports commentator

Moutinho using his weight there – all 5’ 7” of it.

English football player, manager & sports commentator

One of Asa’s great qualities is not scoring goals.

We are now in the middle of the center of the first half.

English football player, manager & sports commentator

That’s soccer, Mike, Northern Ireland have had several chances and haven’t scored but England have had no chances and scored twice.

English football player & analyst

They have missed so many chances they must be wringing their heads in shame.

English soccer commentator

Batistuta gets most of his goals with the ball.

Scottish football player