Football Language Podcast: (to) Set Up

Learn English Through Football Podcast – (to) Set Up: Hello everyone. My name is Damon, one half of the languagecaster team, and you’re listening to a languagecaster short podcast on the language of football. This week’s football phrase is the verb phrase ‘to set up‘ and is a phrase used with scoring or shooting or to talk about the team’s formation. If you have any questions or comments about this or any other football phrase, or you have your own suggestion, then email us at: admin@languagecaster.com.

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To Set Up

First of all, the verb phrase ‘to set up‘ can be used to mean create a chance to score or shoot. A player can set up a goal for example, or set up another player to shoot or score. The verb phrase can be divided by the direct object, so set someone up to score or set up someone to score. Here’s an example from the Mirror onlinedescribing a goal the FA Cup replay between Tottenham and Southampton: “His (Deli Ali’s) pass set up Lucas Moura’s 78th minute opener (sic)”.In this example the direct object ‘Lucas Moura’ comes after the verb phrase. We also have Lucas Moura’s 78th minute opener, so the pattern is Player A sets up Player B’s goal.

The second use of the verb ‘set up’ in football is to organise or decide the formation of a team. For example, a manager can set up in a 4-3-3 formation. again, we can divide the verb and preposition, as in set the team up to attack.

Other words and phrases similar to set up are, for creating a chance – assist and put on a plate, and for the team’s formation – shape.