I've noticed just recently that when asked a question, footballers are starting their replies with "Yeah, no..." What the f*** does this mean? Yes or no? Or both? I suspect it might mean "I'm thick as pigsh!t", but I can't be sure. Perhaps some of you more street-wise types might be able to let me know. Unfortunately it seems Zola has picked up the bad habit - asked a question about Murray he said "Yeah, no, I think he was a star today". Someone needs to have a word with the little wizard.
'Obviously' and 'y'know' are the cornerstones of any footballer's interview technique. F*** me, I've just thought! Maybe "Yeah, no.." is just an elongated form of 'y'know'.
It's nerves. Talking in front of a camera can be very nerve-wracking and intimidating, and people often resort to using filler words to eat up silence while they sort their thoughts out.
I think it's sentence fillers. We all use them when we're "put on the spot". I've noticed myself doing it a lot when speaking to a group of people (which contrasts my written work, which turns into an abuse of overly complicated words).
'Yeah, no but obviously he's a great lad and the gaffers really proud. No, but obviously we're just looking to pick up as many points and blah blah ****ing blah' I really don't know why they bother doing post match interviews with players. They rarely offer any insight as to what the game they just took part in was actually like to play. Occasionally you'll catch one off guard and he'll say something hilariously stupid or swear on live TV but its largely a pointless exercise.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CAh1tAuxwSo Ashley Young says y'know 26 times in this interview, in less than 3 minutes. I don't know why anyone watches interviews with footballers and to a certain extent managers, it's just the same stock phrases. No real insight offered. Pretty tedious stuff most of the time.
Most footballers are as thick as 5hit, we should be thankful they can concentrate really hard long enough to construct a coherent sentence.
