Robbie

British slang for the manager or head coach. The term comes from old English workplace hierarchy, where the "gaffer" was the foreman or boss. In football, it carries a bit of respect and affection - you're not just calling someone "the manager," you're acknowledging they run the show. Players and fans use it, pundits too. Sir Alex Ferguson was often called "the gaffer" at Manchester United.

Pushing the defence up towards the halfway line, squeezing the space between defence and midfield but leaving lots of room behind. Usually combined with pressing to pin opponents back and catch attackers offside. You need quick defenders who read the game well and a keeper who can sweep. When it works, it suffocates teams. When it doesn't, balls over the top destroy you. VAR's tight offside calls have made it both more effective and more contentious.

Winning the ball and attacking immediately while the opposition is still out of position. Speed matters, and so does finishing the chance before they recover. It works well against teams who dominate possession and push lots of players forward. Some teams, like Leicester in 2015-16, build their whole approach around it. Others do it out of necessity when they're outmatched.

A one-on-one contest for the ball between two players. Duels get split into aerial duels (headers) and ground duels (tackles, physical challenges). Duel success rate is a key metric for defenders and midfielders - it shows how often they win individual battles. Some leagues track them obsessively, and certain players like Casemiro and Van Dijk dominate these numbers.

Contacting a player under contract without their club's permission, trying to convince them to push for a move. Against FIFA rules and can result in bans, but everyone assumes it happens constantly because it's hard to prove. Usually goes through agents rather than directly. Clubs accuse each other of tapping up whenever a player starts agitating to leave.