West Ham phoning it in.

[Brian]

This canard that "soccer" is an Americanism is getting old. When I was a kid, which was a very long time ago, my little friends didn't knock on the door and ask if I could come out to play "football." It was "soccer."

Here's the iconic David Coleman from 1969, not giving it a second thought:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPaYry5XOMQ

Great clip - you forget how bad the pitches were back then.

Other things that come back to you - one keeper in a flat cap, the other in baggy tracksuit bottoms, picking the ball up from a back pass, 3 around the ball at a kick off, and all the players in long sleeves. Loads fans come on the pitch after a goal - one nearly jogged to the halfway line with the players after the 3rd.

About 5 years before my time but lovely to see us batter someone and with a 'young John Toshack' as they referred to.

PS I've never heard of phoning it in either so not sure if I'm wilfully ignorant or just ignorant

[jimmyscoular]

Great clip - you forget how bad the pitches were back then.

Other things that come back to you - one keeper in a flat cap, the other in baggy tracksuit bottoms, picking the ball up from a back pass, 3 around the ball at a kick off, and all the players in long sleeves. Loads fans come on the pitch after a goal - one nearly jogged to the halfway line with the players after the 3rd.

About 5 years before my time but lovely to see us batter someone and with a 'young John Toshack' as they referred to.

PS I've never heard of phoning it in either so not sure if I'm wilfully ignorant or just ignorant

Little me gave "Tosh" many a slap on the back before hoofing it back to the Grange End.