“How were they?” asked Bert eagerly.
“Good. They’ve got a nice-looking gang.”
“Well, then—”
“But we can beat them if we play lively football. They’re sort of—well, not exactly slow, but—now what’s the word?”
“Use your French,” advised Bert.
“Don’t have to. Uninspired’s what I wanted. That’s how they struck me. They looked like a team that could drag a heavy load all day but wouldn’t have sense—no, imagination enough to run away!”
“Run away! Why should they run away?”
“I was speaking metaphorically,” said Tommy with dignity. “What I mean is, those guys will do what the coach tells them to do all right, but they haven’t—aren’t— Now, look here, you know as well as I do that there’s such a thing as football sense—or something. When a team hasn’t got it and runs against something that isn’t—er—provided for, if you see what I’m trying to get at—”
“You’re talking about self-reliance, aren’t you?”
“Well, I mean those guys aren’t the sort to rise to the occasion. They lack football—football—”