In a special edition of Mesut Haaland Dicks, the Clichés team select some of their ultimate footballing fascinations and irritations.

Among Adam, Charlie and Dave's selections are the enduring fallacy of relegation-threatened teams “fighting for their lives”, the theory behind the greatest lower-body aesthetic in football history, the haggard goalnets of midweek 5-a-side and the childish envy when new signings score on their debuts for your team's rivals.

Meanwhile, the Adjudication Panel admire a strong end to 2024 for Richard Keys' blog and reveal the real scandal behind the rebooted European Super League concept.

Adam's new book, Extra Time Beckons, Penalties Loom: How to Use (and Abuse) The Language of Football, is OUT NOW: https://geni.us/ExtraTimeBeckons

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