Slang

Suffix attached to criticize how a player scores or performs. "Penalty merchant," "tap-in merchant," "vibes merchant." The accusation is that they depend on one thing rather than having a complete game. It's dismissive and usually unfair because if you're consistently doing something well, that's a skill. But it's everywhere in online debates.

When VAR rules a player offside by millimeters, usually because their armpit or sleeve is beyond the last defender. The technology can draw lines to this precision, but it feels absurd to disallow goals for body parts you can't even score with. Fans mock it, but it's technically correct under the rules. Led to calls to give attackers the benefit of the doubt.

Statement that one player is definitively better than another. "Messi is clear of Ronaldo" or "Haaland clears Kane." Leaves no room for nuance - it's a complete dismissal of the comparison. Often followed by "and it's not even close." Used in debates where fans don't want to engage with actual arguments and just want to state their conclusion as fact.

An ambitious long-range pass that looks spectacular when it works but isn't the smart option. Players try them to impress rather than because they're the best choice. A 60-yard diagonal might look great on highlights but ignores three shorter passes that would've kept the attack going. Coaches hate Hollywood balls because they indicate poor decision-making.

A player who looks good only because of the team or manager they're in. The implication is they'd struggle elsewhere because they're not that talented individually. Sometimes accurate - some players thrive in specific setups - but often used to discredit anyone who succeeds under a great manager. Trent Alexander-Arnold has been called a system player despite his clearly individual passing ability.