A GAME OF TWO HALVES...

The language of football has developed over the years until now it has reached cult status among those of us who are aficionados of the cliche. Of course, football`s very own language goes back to the heydays of early radio commentaries, Raymond Glendenning, Herbert Marshall and all. "And Matthews jinks his way past the full-back, gets to the by-line and delivers a pinpoint cross onto the head of the onrushing centre-forward, who nods it goalwards, giving the opposing custodian no chance of keeping it out," was just one memorable phrase that lit up the airwaves of my boyhood.

When I played, I was what was then known as a right half. Pity really, because in the modern day language of football, I might have been described as a box-to-box midfield dynamo with a good engine and an eye for a pass. Much more flattering than `right-half`even given the countless times I could have done better in the final third by being on the same wavelength.

I`ve noticed a trend recently for the cliche to become part of the political language as well. I`m not sure it`s intended, but I guess if a phrase is repeated often enough, then there`s a fair chance it will achieve cliche status. Just recently, we`ve had such gems as "I`m just getting on with the job," or "the voters have sent out the strongest possible message," or "we`ll listen and lead" or even "we are building for the long term." The list goes on but a swift analysis discloses that they are all soundbites with no substantive action to follow them up.

At least in football, there are conclusions to virtually every promising move. Some bring disappointment, others elation. In politics, it seems, we have the words but no end product at the end of the day. They`ll think they could have done better than that when they see the replay. To be fair.