Pat Murphy

Ex BBC sports staffer,specialising in football and cricket. Waffler at sports lunches/ dinners. Author. Last book The Official History of Sports Report.

[Pat Murphy @patmurphybbc]

Bit late to the sadly premature death of Steve Hopcroft, a terrific football talent spotter. Steve was instrumental in the development of so many fine young players @BCFC @WBA and @AVFCOfficial with so much more to offer. Always a genial guy to bump into on the WMids circuit. RIP

[Pat Murphy @patmurphybbc]

Me too !

[Right At The End @RightAtTheEnd]

@patmurphybbc @barneyronay @guardian It was good writing wasn’t it Pat. Used to love reading David Lacey and Hugh McIllvaney for the same reason.

[Simon Harris @SimonHarrisMBD]

Something that might have slipped under your radar. Sir Gareth Southgate turned down any sort of media work and punditry during the World Cup to ensure that there were no distractions or ‘media troublemaking’ for Thomas Tuchel and the England team throughout the tournament. He put the team’s interests above his own, which is what we’ve all come to expect from this thoroughly decent human being.

However far we now go in the USA, never forget who laid the foundations - someone who even after his exit is doing all that he can to help.

[Pat Murphy @patmurphybbc]

The best sportswriters impart that unique ‘I was there feeling’ & this piece by @barneyronay in today’s @guardian is superb. Chapeau!

[Pat Murphy @patmurphybbc]

Always respected how much Keane respected Cloughie. Still does so whenever he’s asked about him.

[FTBL_Planet @FTBL_Planet]

When Roy Keane first got into the Nottingham Forest team, Brian Clough did not make football sound complicated.

Keane was still young, still learning, and playing under a manager who had already won two European Cups.

Clough just asked him three simple questions.

“Can you control it?”

“Can you pass it?”

“Can you run?”

Keane told him he could.

“Just do those three things.”

“Get it, pass it to another player in a red shirt, and you’ll be okay.”

That stayed with him for the rest of his career.

“That was my career in a nutshell.”

“People say players should be able to do that, a lot of people can’t actually do those things.”

Keane had that trust from Clough early on, and by 1991 he was playing in the FA Cup against Crystal Palace at the City Ground.

Ian Wright opened the scoring for Palace.

Terry Wilson and Stuart Pearce turned it around for Forest.

Forest were heading through, until Keane got the ball and played it back towards Mark Crossley.

The pass was short.

Crossley came out, cleared it, and the ball landed at John Salako’s feet.

Salako lifted it over him.

“We had the game won, and now we had to go back to London for a replay.”

Keane walked back into the dressing room and took the punishment before he had even had time to sit down.

“Brian Clough was fuming.”

“He punched me in the chest.”

Forest still got through in the replay and went all the way to the final, but Keane never forgot that moment.

He also never held it against him.

“He’s under pressure, he made a mistake.”

“But at the time I just thought it was all part of me learning my trade.”

For Keane, that was Clough.

He backed him.

He kept the game simple.

And if you cost him a replay at Selhurst Park, he might punch you in the chest.

“I’ve got no problems with it, it’s how young players should learn in this game.”
#football

[Pat Murphy @patmurphybbc]

I’m with you on all of that. Drives me up the wall. It’s a simple game, so don’t confuse us with jargon.

[James Melville 🚜 @JamesMelville]

There is a new highfalutin football jargon designed by commentators to give off the impression that they know what they are talking about by using pseudo-intellectual new buzz-words and phrases:

⚽️ “Defending deep” has become “low block”.

⚽️ “Closing down defenders” has become “high press”.

⚽️ “Giving the ball away” has become “transition”.

⚽️ “Winning the ball back quickly after conceding possession” has become “counter-press”.

⚽️ “Winning the ball back high up the pitch” has become “high turnovers”.

⚽️ “Passing the ball to the player who scores” has become “an assist”.

⚽️ “Number 10” has become “false nine”.

⚽️ “Defensive midfielder” has become “a pivot”.

⚽️ “Finding space” has become “pockets of space”.

And don’t even get me started on the overuse of the word “jeopardy”.

[Pat Murphy @patmurphybbc]

Tremendous man. Is there a more decorated figure in the game, both as player & manager/coach? Earns respect wherever he plies his subtle trade.

[Jude Heavenly 🇳🇬🇱🇷 @JudeHeavenly]

🚨 Carlo Ancelotti on why he did not celebrate wildly after Gabriel Martinelli’s late winner for Brazil against Japan:

🗣️ “People asked me why I didn’t celebrate, but football is also about respect. Yes, we were happy to win, but I looked across and saw a Japanese team that had given absolutely everything. They fought with incredible courage, and I know exactly how painful a defeat like that can be.”

“Of course I celebrated inside because my responsibility is to Brazil and qualifying was our objective. But I’ve been in football for many years, and I’ve experienced both victory and heartbreak. Sometimes the best way to respect your opponent is to remain humble in your biggest moments.”

“Japan made us suffer for ninety-five minutes. They deserved our respect, not exaggerated celebrations. Brazil are through, but we know we must improve. Tonight we celebrate the qualification, but tomorrow we go back to work because the World Cup only gets more difficult from here.”

Carlo Ancelotti is a legend

{@FoxNews }

[Pat Murphy @patmurphybbc]

I wonder if @Saracens lenient treatment
of their errant player contributed to Stokes’ decision & the ambiguity about the management’s instruction re the post-Lord’s curfew. Obviously he’s got the hump with some @ECB_cricket figures for copping a suspension. We shall soon find out

[Pat Murphy @patmurphybbc]

Very sorry to hear Penelope Keith has passed away. Of course a brilliant comic actress with sublime timing - but she also made some lovely programmes about our green & pleasant land. I’m in the middle of enjoying her latest series on the National Trust. Poignant. RIP

[Pat Murphy @patmurphybbc]

Agreed, Phil. Lucky to have seen them in England colours for so long. Both had that priceless ability to shape a game to their will. Daring & defiant.

[Phil Bailey @PhilBailey3]

@patmurphybbc You saw Botham as well Pat. Outstanding slipper, better bowler and like Stokes could change a game with the bat. For me little to separate them.

[Pat Murphy @patmurphybbc]

I meant among England players. Agree about Sobers. Can’t think of anyone close to him.

[Paul Gibson @redgolf99]

@patmurphybbc Think again. Sobers was a superb skip catcher and excellent at cover. Bowled at least 3 different types of deliveries and held the Test Batting Record with 365 for decades. Stokes nowhere near him.

[Pat Murphy @patmurphybbc]

Ben Stokes will be greatly missed. He’s given so much to English cricket that his reasons should be respected. Pointless comparing him with other greats - but he is in the pantheon. Can’t think of a better all-round fielder, as well as his other inspirational talents.

[Pat Murphy @patmurphybbc]

Perfect location on a midsummer’s evening ……, Romeo & Juliet at Fairfield Court, nr Bromsgrove. Word perfect from the troupe of 6. https://t.co/seBal54iEe 👏👏

[Pat Murphy @patmurphybbc]

Good luck MGM. Feel free to indulge in a few of your vintage puns!

[MIKE WALTERS @MikeWaltersMGM]

@CounterPressHQ Delighted to announce the dawn of a new home for #WatfordFC fans coming soon: The Watford Word will be a mix of news, interviews, nostalgia and commentary on events at Vicarage Road. As the great man once sang, how wonderful life is if you can join us for the 2026-27 season

[Pat Murphy @patmurphybbc]

Quamar was a lovely man. Helpful informative & amusing. RIP.

[Steven Lynch @AskStevenSport]

Very sorry to hear of the death of the veteran Pakistan journalist Qamar Ahmed, 88, who attended 450+ Tests. He was always a friendly and encouraging press-box colleague, with a fund of stories dating from his time as a slow left-armer who bowled at all five Mohammad brothers

[Pat Murphy @patmurphybbc]

I reckon last 4 would be par for the course - especially as England have some very good players, in form. The heat may
prove an issue eventually.

[Dave- 5th successive season in PL secured- NFFC ⭐⭐ @dj_zotov]

@patmurphybbc Agree we should reach the semi-finals, however wasn't it said that Tuchel was appointed on a short term contract to win this world cup? Would anything less be deemed a failure in your opinion? 🤔

[Pat Murphy @patmurphybbc]

If Sobers had to bat right-handed, then Kallis. Fatuous.

[Cricketopia @CricketopiaCom]

Who’s your pick?

[Pat Murphy @patmurphybbc]

I rather like the cut of Thomas Tuchel’s gib. A pragmatist in the mould of Alf Ramsey, who would’ve approved of Tuchel’s mantra: ‘Teams win championships’. Not just picking the 11 most talented players. If England’s best defenders stay fit, I fancy them to get to the semis.

[FIFA Uncovered @FIFAUncovered]

The most beautiful goal in football history: Brazil, 1970

[Pat Murphy @patmurphybbc]

Says it all, Gavin.

[Gavin Smith @wfcgls]

Don’t think I’ve ever seen such a widespread outpouring of love and respect on this platform for someone who has sadly passed as I have for Kenny Jacket. Every club he worked for, all supporters & reporters united in “what a truly great man/humble/helped me” themes RIP Kenny