Etymology Back-formation from football. Journalist Jamie Braidwood suggests it may have been inspired by Michael Lewis' 2003 book Moneyball and its 2011 film adaptation.
Now, Cityball always seems boring, like a factory where everyone just needs to do their specific tasks.2024 March 21, evelyn (@sngyf2), “evelyn on Twitter”, in Twitter, archived from the original on 28 Jul 2025:
I miss him already. The clean sheets, and moments of magic from players that the modern systemball and possessionball cannot create. Southgate you're the one2024 September 8, Allegrismo ♰ (@jogofuncional_), “Allegrismo ♰ on Twitter”, in Twitter, archived from the original on 28 Jul 2025:
The difference between Dycheball and Moyesball is quite considerable. So much easier on the eye for one thing. The shackles have been removed and it shows. No goals but more possession than we used to have.2025 February 16, Elton Welsby (@WelsbyElton), “Elton Welsby on Twitter”, in Twitter, archived from the original on 28 Jul 2025:
-ball
suffix
Etymology Likely from figurative use of ball.
1
Derogatory, Humorous, Morpheme, Slang, Usually forms nouns with the meaning "one who is characterized by".
goof + -ball → goofball
corn + -ball → cornball
2
Derogatory, Humorous, Morpheme, Slang, Usually forms adjectives with the meaning "characterized by".