Football Language Quiz (2)

Take each game as it comes = to only focus on the next game. Sometimes a side is doing well and many people believe they may win the title or a cup competition. usually the manager will say, 'We are not thinking of the title. We're going to take each game as it comes.'

Shut up shop = to play very defensively, to put a lot of players in defensive positions. When one team takes the lead, they may decide to try to hold on to their advantage by being very defensive, they shut up shop and don't allow the opposition any chances. An alternative phrase is 'to park the bus'.

'To make a comeback’ is not normally connected to football but last weekend two former Premier League stars returned to play for their old clubs: they made a comeback. On Sunday in the Manchester derby Paul Scholes surprised everybody when he was named on the Manchester United bench in the FA Cup tie against rivals Manchester City. The following day, in the same competition, former Arsenal striker Thierry Henry came off the bench to score the winning goal for Arsenal on his return to the club he had served so well. Indeed, both players made winning starts to their comebacks.

Down to the bare bones is when a team has few players available due to injuries or suspensions. Often, in the middle of the season some teams are down to the bare bones and may buy new players in January.

The managerial merry-go-round is when one manager (manager A) is sacked but takes the job of another manager (manager B) at another team. Now manager B is looking for a job and manager C is sacked and manager B takes his place etc.