Slang

A way of rating overhead kicks by comparing them to Trevor Sinclair's famous effort for QPR against Barnsley in the 1997 FA Cup. Sinclair's volley was hit from outside the box, and flew into the back of the net. It's the gold standard. So when someone pulls off a bicycle kick, you place it on the Sinclair Spectrum to judge how good it actually was. Popularised by Max Rushden on the Guardian's Football Weekly podcast.

When a lower league or underdog team knocks out a much bigger club, usually in a cup competition, particularly synonymous with the FA Cup. The smaller team has nothing to lose, give absolutely everything for 90 minutes, and the favourites often look like they can't be bothered. Home advantage at a tight, hostile ground helps too.

Used to describe Tottenham Hotspur's tendency to collapse. If a team is in a strong position and finds a way to throw it away, that would be Spursy. Things like bottling a title race, a late defensive error, or a general inability to get over the line in big moments. Other clubs choke too, but Spurs somehow made it part of their identity.

A player who's completely focused and performing at their peak. When someone's locked in, they're not making mistakes, they're dominant, and they're unplayable. The opposite of a player who's distracted or going through the motions.

Scoring two goals in one game. The word originates from hunting, where a brace meant a pair of birds. Less celebrated than a hat-trick but still a strong individual performance.