1/ "....retains the ball well..." :- Has little creative talent and moves in a sidewards motion,playing short passes to a team-mate no more than 3 feet away.(For this see Paul McStay,Barry Ferguson et al)
2/ "....always puts in a shift..." :-Again little actual talent,but runs around a lot giving the impression of actually doing something.(For this see Stuart Kean,Alex Bone et al)
3/ "....a good footballing brain...":-Past their peak,and the legs have gone.Tends to play short passes to other team-mates no more than 3 feet away.(See Russell Latapy).N.B. A player who may have been categorised as Number 2(see above),but in latter years has changed to resemble the description for 1(see above)
4/ "...commanding in the air..." :-Mainly refers to very tall players who by their stature should obviously win every high ball played up to them (See Richard Gough,Gordon McQueen).NB Also used when very little other skill apparent,other than the ability to leap like a salmon from a standing start.
5/ "....been a good servant to the club...":-Closely follows after number 3(see above),and refers to a player who is now plainly not up to the task,and whose future will shortly lie elsewhere.(See Press for details)