We are 4th now

Should be happy that we won the match after a horrible game against Grimsby last Wednesday.
Should be happy that we are 4th, the position that will lead us to the Champion League if we hold on to it till the end of the season.

Should be happy that we scored because if you don't you son't win games unless your opponent keeps scoring own goals when playing against you.

Should be happy that the youngers like Lennon are playing well and could upstage the regulars.

Should be happy that King is well again and could start for England along with &*^%bell.

BUT I am NOT happy...

mainly because the strikers are not putting in the goals.....

Defoe is one very very self-centred striker....he has his own way and if he is able to play well scores great goals. But if he being marked out....he is ready out...can't perform his magic anymore.

Keane is almost like Defoe. He likes to play the ball, put his hands out to tell the players where he wants the ball. When play well, scores great goals, when not just goes around shouting at colleagues.

Mido is a typical contential striker, tall, good build, huge presence in the box. Should be destine for greater glory. Got to keep temper in check.

Rasiak.....no comment really....don't think he is EPL calibre.....just like Zamora last season...good for the few odd games then fade away....

Starting to miss Kanoute......

Looking forward to a good signing in January...please please Jol, no more midfielders, we need strikers.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Defoe strike finishes Fulham

Jermain Defoe's early breakthrough, only the second goal by Tottenham in five games, gave Martin Jol's team a third win of the campaign which lifted them up to fourth in the Premiership.

It was enough to win a low-key London derby against a toothless Fulham side who have racked up just one win so far this season.

It had all started so promisingly for Tottenham, who usually win when Defoe scores.

The England striker's third goal of the season was a route-one effort and came after only eight minutes.

Lee Young-pyo and Mido had both threatened before Defoe was given all the space and time he needed to burst through in only the eighth minute, leave Zat Knight for dead as he seized on a long ball over the top from Ledley King and clinically finish beyond the advancing Tony Warner.

It was Defoe's first goal in five games and it lifted the mood of a crowd frustrated by the Carling Cup exit at Grimsby last week.

Defoe's strike did not bring an immediately noticeable improvement in urgency by Fulham, although full-back Moritz Volz showed the way with a determined run and shot which skidded across the face of goal on 14 minutes.

But it did not massively lift Spurs, either, and gradually Fulham began to ditch their inferiority complex.

They were desperately unlucky not to equalise when Claus Jensen linked neatly with Steed Malbranque and drove his shot from the edge of the area against the top of the Tottenham crossbar seven minutes later.

When Paul Stalteri did well to block Brian McBride's goalbound shot, Jol's anxiety was illustrated by his numerous trips to the edge of the pitch.

Mido might have relaxed him by keeping his shot a little lower from Defoe's drag-back but Warner took off to tip the ball over.

Then the goalkeeper kept out a blast by Edgar Davids when the Dutchman found himself in a shooting position at the edge of the box.

But the Dutchman was not getting through half the work that Jensen was for Fulham - it was just a shame for Fulham they could not be more reliant on their defence at times.

When Spurs started the second half with another wave of attacks - just like the first - a home win seemed a certainty.

Mido wasted a great chance, electing to try to pick out Defoe with a pass instead of shooting when the temptation was almost too much.

Stalteri got forward onto Aaron Lennon's pass and there were screams for a penalty when he went down in the box from Luis Boa Morte's challenge.

But TV replays showed the Portuguese winger's tackle was perfectly legitimate, winning the ball.

Lennon, once the youngest player to turn out in a Premiership match for Leeds - at Spurs - was making a great job of standing in for the injured Wayne Routledge.

But twice desperate tackles stopped the youngster setting up Defoe for a goal which would have eased the home fans' fears of a comeback.

In the last 10 minutes there was a distinct feeling of unrest among the vast majority of the crowd as Spurs clung on to a narrow lead which could easily have been much bigger had they taken their chances.

Tottenham must do better than this to live with the top contenders - although admittedly they are without injured Michael Carrick, Anthony Gardner, Routledge and a few others.

But in truth they were rarely threatened in defence, where the returning Ledley King has proved a colossus - just in time for England.

Tottenham manager Martin Jol believes teenager Aaron Lennon is destined for big things after putting in a man-of-the-match performance in the 1-0 victory over Fulham at White Hart Lane.

The 18-year-old, in only his third appearance in a Spurs shirt, was influential all night as the home side took an eighth-minute lead through Jermain Defoe and held it throughout.

'Today we proved we are very good team and we have good prospects in Aaron Lennon and Jermaine Jenas,' said Jol.

'Lennon is a very big talent. I think he can be a big player in the future and he showed that today.'

Jol felt his side recovered well from the shock Carling Cup exit to League Two Grimsby last week, with the victory lifting them to fourth in the Barclays Premiership.

'Even when you play at home you have to get the confidence of the crowd back and I think we did that,' he told Sky Sports.

'We are still sick as parrots [over the Grimsby defeat], because it was the shortest way to Europe but tactically tonight it was all right - although in the second half we could not hold the ball. At 1-0 you need to keep the ball.

'But I think we deserved the win.'

Lennon, who signed from Leeds in the summer, admitted he was still on the fringes of the first team but he hoped to impress Jol.

'I try to take my chances when I can. It was a good performance by all the lads,' he said.

'It is a big squad but hopefully I can play on Saturday (at Charlton).'

Fulham manager Chris Coleman was disappointed his team could not salvage a draw after competing for 90 minutes and he laid the blame squarely at the feet of the attacking players.

'I thought we deserved a point. I thought we looked solid enough,' he told Sky Sports.

'I'm very disappointed in our attacking third, our last pass was not there.

'It is one area where we have looked exciting but today we we were under par.

'We defended well enough and looked strong in midfield but when we got our chances we didn't finish them.'

Out of Carling Cup

Extremely disappointed!!!!

This is the shortest route to Europe, probably the easiest of all as the big teams usually play their reserve team.

We played the full team and yet....the opponent is not a big team but some League Two leader....
May be Grismby needed the money more....

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Grimsby 1-0 Tottenham

League Two leaders Grimsby created the shock of the round by dumping out Tottenham 1-0 in the Carling Cup second-round tie at Blundell Park.


Jean-Paul Kamudimba Kalala strikes home the winner.

Martin Jol fielded a strong side but the Premiership team were undone by Jean-Paul Kamudimba Kalala strike a minute from full-time.

When a corner was cleared to the edge of the penalty area, Kamudimba Kalala smashed the ball into the bottom corner to clinch a famous victory.

While Russell Slade's side thoroughly deserved their moment in the spotlight, Tottenham Martin Jol could hardly be accused of failing to pay the League Two leaders the respect they deserve.

The Spurs boss named a strong line-up containing five England players and 10 internationals in total.

Defender Anthony Gardner was replaced by Noureddine Naybet after sustaining a hamstring injury at Villa Park on Saturday while Michael Brown came in for Teemu Tainio.

But high-flying Grimsby, who are currently topping League Two after successive relegations in the past two seasons, simply refused to give up and Kalala's late strike was just reward for their mammoth efforts.

The Mariners, who dumped Derby out of the competition in the first round, recalled fit-again former Liverpool trainee Andy Parkinson while John McDermott lined up for his 700th Grimsby appearance.

And after keeper Steve Mildenhall was required to make a scrambling save from the recalled Robbie Keane's low effort after seven minutes, Grimsby soon made a mockery of the yawning gap between the side's respective league standings.

The Mariners were clearly in no mood to be bullied around by their more illustrious opponents - and Michael Reddy's all-action style soon proved a real menace to the Londoners.

Though it was Tottenham, sporting their new blue away kit for the first time this season, who should have led after 22 minutes when Andy Reid was played clean through inside the box.

The winger looked a good bet to open the scoring but Mildenhall came racing off his line to repel Reid's shot.

Two minutes later and spirited Grimsby came even closer to finding the net. Kalala delivered a cross from the right and after Gary Jones nodded back across the face of goal, Reddy was inches away from making crucial contact.

Shortly after the half hour mark, Spurs almost edged ahead when Defoe nodded Paul Stalteri's excellent right-wing cross wide after Keane cleverly engineered an opening.

Grimsby, roared on a noisy 8,206 capacity crowd, again raced upfield before livewire Parkinson cut in from the left flank and curled a delightful long-range shot towards the far corner.

England keeper Paul Robinson was required to utilise every inch of his 6ft 4in frame to turn the ball around the post at full stretch.

Grimsby continued to press after the restart and Reddy had a golden opportunity to make the all-important breakthrough.

He found himself clear of Tottenham's defence with only Robinson to beat but the forward could watch on in agony as his attempted lob sailed harmlessly wide.

After Defoe shot wastefully wide shortly before the hour mark Jol replaced the ineffective Reid with Aaron Lennon in an attempt to inject some much needed spark to is side's attack.

But Tottenham's attacks remained fleeting and more often than not unproductive, with Jermaine Jenas particularly ineffective.

Young-Pyo Lee began to make a belated effect on Spurs' left flank but Grimsby defended like demons in the face of mounting pressure from the Premiership side.

And with time running out, Kalala struck from distance after a corner was headed out to him on the edge of the box to put Mariners fans in dreamland.

Keane to the rescue

A horrible outing saved by the heroic display of desperate Keane.

First half was forgettable.

Tanio should have scored from close range, Defoe should have buried the penalty. We should have been at least 4-0 down at half time except for the brilliant hands of Robinson who kept us in the game.

Jenas made that horrible back pass that began the Villa's attack which led to the goal.

Carrick was also out of sorts.

We missed Davids...and may be Mendas.

Second half was more purposeful.

Keane was the sparks....Look at his determination in getting to the ball and making the goal out of nothing.

Rasiak.....I got nothing to say....there is a gulf between Championship League and the EPL. Will it be another Postiga or Rebvro? I hope not.

Dear Jol, reward Keane with a start next game, he saved your skin.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Aston Villa 1-1 Tottenham: Sub Keane earns point

Robbie Keane enabled Spurs to end their goal drought as he came off the substitute's bench to rescue a point his side hardly deserved in a 1-1 draw with Aston Villa at Villa Park.

The Republic of Ireland international has struggled to hold down a regular spot this season with Martin Jol preferring the combination of Jermain Defoe and Mido until his current suspension.

But, after constant cries from the Spurs fans for his introduction, Keane salvaged a share of the spoils 12 minutes from time.

It was their first goal in 363 minutes of Premiership football but the real hero for Tottenham was Paul Robinson with the England goalkeeper pulling off a host of fine saves.
Until Keane entered the action Villa had been the better side.

Manager David O'Leary had demanded a positive response after the 4-0 mauling at West Ham five days ago and he would have been delighted with his side's performance in the opening 45 minutes.

The hosts produced some flowing football with Steven Davis impressive in the centre of the park while Milan Baros and the recalled Juan Pablo Angel linked up well.

Baros, in particular, was a constant threat to the Spurs rearguard and even at a cost of £6million the ex-Liverpool player looks to be a shrewd summer investment by O'Leary.

But Robinson's heroics kept Spurs in the hunt and, with Michael Carrick driving them on from the centre of the park, they managed to leave with honours even.

James Milner struck after only five minutes minute of his home debut.

Milner, who is on loan from Newcastle for the season, made no mistake with a low 25-yard angled shot which flew past the dive of Paul Robinson into the corner of the net.

Baros had set up the goal with a determined run down the left flank after Spurs midfielder Jermaine Jenas had given the ball away.

Villa dominated the early stages and could have easily scored twice more as the visitors defence looked all at sea.

Baros failed to make a clean contact on his left-footed shot after running onto Gareth Barry's through ball and Robinson was able to smother his effort.

Then the England number one made a fine reflex save to keep out a downward volley from Patrik Berger after Davis had supplied the teasing cross from the right.

Tottenham managed to weather the early onslaught and the recalled Teemu Tainio squandered a golden chance to put them back on level terms in the 21st minute.

Defoe managed to find a yard of space and he squared the ball across goal to find the onrushing Tainio but he lofted his close range effort over the bar.

Baros continued to be a threat to Spurs and King was yellow carded by referee Steve Bennett for upending the Czech.

But it needed a penalty save from Thomas Sorensen to deny Defoe an equaliser after 27 minutes. Villa defender Wilfred Bouma looked to control the ball with his arm as he challenged with Defoe for a high ball.

Bennett pointed straight to the spot but Defoe's low shot was parried away by Sorensen diving to his right. Sorensen drew further applause from the Villa fans after clinging onto a measured long range effort from Michael Carrick.

Spurs were forced into a change after 38 minutes with Gardner stretchered off with a leg injury after pulling up sharply and he was replaced by Noureddine Naybet.

Baros was booked for dissent after protesting too strongly over a free-kick awarded against Olof Mellberg but Villa were soon back on the offensive.

In first half injury-time Robinson saved a point-blank range header from Angel and a shot on the turn from the same player.

There was less excitement in the initial stages of the second period before the woodwork was struck twice in the space of 60 seconds.

First Liam Ridgewell met a free-kick from Berger and his left-footed volley beat Robinson and thundered back into play off the crossbar.

But Tottenham suffered the same disappointment when Defoe met a flick on from Rasiak, shrugged off Olof Mellberg's challenge and volleyed against the bar.

The game had come to life again and Angel would have been disappointed to drag his rising shot wide after Baros had found him in space on the left of the area.

Keane almost made an instant impact with Sorensen being forced to parry away a powerful volley from the Republic of Ireland international.

Naybet was yellow carded for hauling down the live-wire Baros who then curled his shot wide with only Robinson to beat after being put clear by Berger.

It proved a costly miss as Keane levelled against the run of play with a clinical finish after nipping in front of Barry before drilling a shot past Sorensen.

• Keane desperate for action

Tottenham striker Robbie Keane hopes his late leveller against Aston Villa will earn him a starting place under boss Martin Jol.

Keane told told Sky Premiership Plus: 'No player wants to sit on the bench, I was desperate to get on and luckily enough I did.'

Responding to his tag of `super-sub', Keane said: 'It's a horrible thing to have on your shoulders, and hopefully that will change in the next few games.

'It's up to you to work hard and hope you get a chance. I put my goal away so hopefully I'll get a start.'

Keane admitted his team were fortunate to get a point, adding on Premiership Plus: 'If they took their chances they may have won, but luckily we got a chance.

'It was nice to see a goal hit the back on the net, we've got great players at the club who can score goals, strikers go through spells but hopefully that will change.

Goalkeeper Paul Robinson, who made a number of good saves, added: 'I think at half-time we would have taken a point.

'We played poorly in the first half, we are proud players and wanted to show what we were about. We came out and made amends.

'In our performances over the last few weeks we've done well, I'm delighted for Keano to get his goal.'

China Punch Lines

北京人說他風沙多，內蒙古就笑了

內蒙古說他面積大，新疆人就笑了

新疆人說他民族多，雲南人就笑了

雲南人說他地勢高，西藏人就笑了

西藏人說他文物多，陝西人就笑了

陝西人說他革命早，江西人就笑了

江西人說他能吃辣，湖南人就笑了

湖南人說他美女多，四川人就笑了

四川人說他膽子大，東北人就笑了

東北人說他性子直，山東人就笑了

山東人說他經濟好，上海人就笑了

上海人說他民工多，廣東人就笑了

廣東人說他款爺多，香港人就笑了

香港人說他二奶多，台灣人就笑了


台灣人說他想獨立，全中國人民都笑了

Jenas to become a Star?

MARTIN Jol believes Jermaine Jenas will soon be up there with Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard as one of England's midfield stars.

Jenas, who was finally unveiled as a Tottenham player this week and made his debut against Liverpool yesterday, allegedly told Newcastle boss Graeme Souness he was sick of living in Tyneside's 'goldfish bowl'.

The 7 million ($21m) midfielder denies making the remarks and says his move was because he wanted to benefit from Jol's Midas touch, which has put Paul Robinson, Ledley King, Michael Carrick and Jermain Defoe into contention for places in England's World Cup squad.

Jol believes Jenas can join his new team-mates in the national team if he can match Gerrard for his goal-scoring record over the coming months.

The Dutchman said: 'Gerrard operates in the spaces on the left, on the right and dictates the midfield. I have often said before that he is the best midfielder in Europe.

'Jermaine is more of a right-sided midfield player. He is a box-to-box player. Gerrard is a player that goes into spaces. His timing is unbelievable. He gets a lot of chances. That is the kind of thing we have to work on with Jermaine. We would like him to get as many goals as Gerrard.

'It's very difficult to score from midfield. The only players who are doing that are Lampard and Gerrard. But Jenas is 22 and he is a big talent. He has all the qualities to be a top player. We will develop him like we have Defoe and Carrick.'

I prayed that you are right, Jol.

Another report....

DEBUTANTS' NIGHT

Lee, Rasiak shine, Crouch, Jenas flopFOUR debutants were on show in just one English Premiership game last night.

FOUR debutants were on show in just one English Premiership game last night.In the end, two impressed, one still left doubts while the last one was simply a tourist in London.

Tottenham Hotspur hosted Liverpool in England's capital, but came away with a 0-0 draw despite dominating the visiting Reds for most of the match.

The game's pre-match attraction lay in the two clubs' new signings. Spurs' high-profile acquisitions came in the form of South Korean World Cup leftback Lee Young Pyo and England international Jermaine Jenas.

Both cost Spurs 1.36 million ($4.1m) and 7m from PSV and Newcastle respectively. They also fielded Polish international striker Grzegorz Rasiak who came from Derby for 2m.

As for Liverpool - desperate to solve their striking woes - they fielded Peter Crouch, who came from Southampton for 7m before the season started.

But the best debutant last night was Lee. The 28-year-old leftback formed a promising combination with Dutch midfield dynamo Edgar Davids, who was surprisingly fielded as a left midfielder despite his preferred role in the centre.

In a move that instantly won over the Spurs home faithful, Lee showed how deft he is with both legs, as he fooled Liverpool's right-winger Luis Garcia and dragged the ball past him in the 28th minute.

Rightback Finnan was the next contender as Lee jinked left, right, then turned around as if to give up.But with a sweet stepover, he swivelled round and pushed the ball to the byeline, catching Finnan off-balance.

Fending off Finnan along the byeline, Lee's cross across the box was blocked by the onrushing Sami Hyypia. The next most impressive was Rasiak. Despite having the lowest profile in the build-up to last night's game, he almost came away with two goals to his name.

The first time, he was denied by the crossbar.In the 41st minute, Davids' free-kick was parried by Liverpool 'keeper Jose Reina and Rasiak's instinctive jumping header saw the ball come off the crossbar. Showing his aerial strength again in the 60th minute, he rose up well against John Arne Riise to send an unstoppable header into goal from a Michael Carrick corner. But the goal was disallowed, as the assistant referee had ruled that Carrick's outswinging corner-kick had briefly gone out of play before curling back in.

Which brings us to Crouch.Coincidentally - in the 69th minute - he had his own headed goal disallowed after Steven Gerrard's outswinging corner-kick was ruled to have gone out of play briefly, the same way Carrick's did earlier.Anyhow, to score, he still had to lean his 1.98m frame on Anthony Gardner.

Otherwise, he hardly figured in his Premiership start for Liverpool. If he wasn't getting caught offside, he had problems holding on to the ball whenever his team-mates passed the ball to him. His partnership with Djibril Cisse hardly sizzled, with the Frenchman more selfish with every chance he had.

Flop of the night was Jenas. He started for Spurs in the middle alongside Carrick, as Jol relegated Davids to the left flank to see what Jenas could do.

Praised for his box-to-box approach in play, and potential vision for through-passes, he mainly hovered around the centre circle like a mynah eyeing just the simple square pass. But it was clear that most of Spurs' attacks at Liverpool originated from the left flank with Lee and Davids, instead of through the centre.

As such, Liverpool quickly beefed up their right-sided defence of the field, figuring Jenas and Carrick were relative lightweights in the centre. It's early days yet, but when Spurs fans compare Lee's transfer fee to Jenas', they're likely to feel the pinch for now.

The New Spurs

The 3 last minute signings all got to start in this game.

I would say given that this is their first match, I am quite pleased with their performance.

Rasiak could have a dream debut, hiting the bar with a smart glancing header, he should be threating all the CD with his built and height, looking to him for more goals. He is like the traditional striker who will chanced on every ball the comes into the box.

Jenas made some good runs into the box in search for goals just like Scholes, Lampard and Gerrard. This is what we lack from the current CMs. Last season, more than 90% of our goals are from the strikers, the contribution from midfeilders were very misable. Hope that Jenas will change that. I think we paid too much for him, but hopefully, it will pay off.

I was most impressed with YP Lee. For only 1.36 million pounds, he had my heart in my mouth when he made those runs down the flanks. His skills were good and could have done more in the 2nd half. He reminds me of the young Giggs or Ginola. With Rasiak upfront, I will play him in LM to whip in all the crosses.

It seems that the new Spurs is taking shape, hopefully we can have a meaningful run and clinch that 4th place. Top 3? may be next season...I hope.....


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Tottenham 0-0 Liverpool

If England head coach Sven-Goran Eriksson had come to White Hart Lane to find a replacement for Wayne Rooney against Austria, he will have left with his search still wide open after Tottenham's Jermain Defoe and Liverpool's Peter Crouch failed to break the deadlock.

But while both England strikers had 'goals' ruled out - a fate which curiously also befell Poland international Grzegorz Rasiak - it was midfielder Michael Carrick who should have really caught the England boss' eye.

Carrick, partnered in central midfield by new signing Jermaine Jenas, outperformed Steven Gerrard throughout this goalless stalemate and should be a strong contender for a call-up against Austria next month.

Whether Eriksson is persuaded of such a change remains to be seen, with his greatest concern remaining Rooney's replacement as the striker is suspended against Austria.

Indeed, the England head coach can only have concluded that he has rather more strength in central defence - where Jamie Carragher and Ledley King were both outstanding - than in attack.

However, it is Carrick's form which demands further inspection in the next few weeks, with England crying out for a holding midfielder, with Gerrard and Frank Lampard out of form and David Beckham not cut out for the task.

With Spurs including £11million worth of deadline-day signings, Jenas was handed a central role alongside Carrick, while Lee Young-Pyo provided width outside Edgar Davids and Rasiak offered height up front.

Liverpool, meanwhile, gave Crouch his first start of the season after injury, but rather than opting for a cautious five-man midfield, boss Rafael Benitez included Djibril Cisse up front as well.

It was a relatively open game, but with few early chances as Cisse's snapshot flew wide and Defoe's drive sped over the bar.

Defoe came even closer with his next effort after indecision in the Liverpool defence, while Jose Reina failed to deal with a cross by the former West Ham striker, but Jenas just failed to take advantage.

Spurs had two half-hearted penalty appeals turned down, while Lee made a handful of penetrating runs down the left flank, King had a shot blocked and Defoe's 'goal' was ruled out for a clear offside decision.

Not that the home side could rest on their laurels, however, as Liverpool threatened intermittently.

Stephen Warnock launched a deep cross and, when the Spurs defence's attention was distracted by Crouch, Luis Garcia was allowed to sneak in at the far post, only to volley into the side netting.

Crouch also rose to meet Gerrard's free-kick, only to head the ball two feet over the bar, but the clearest chance of the first half fell to Rasiak just before the interval.

Reina could only parry Davids' powerful free-kick and the Poland international looped his follow-up header against the crossbar.

At the interval Benitez replaced Dietmar Hamann, who had received a painful blow at a free-kick, with Mohamed Sissoko and he was greeted by pouring rain with the storm clouds having broken.

As the game came to life, Liverpool were now on top, with Cisse letting fly with a thunderous half-volley from Crouch's knockdown, with Paul Robinson just managing to parry the ball.

The England goalkeeper also dived full-length to grasp John Arne Riise's long-range effort, while the Norwegian then let fly with a superb volley which struck the underside of the bar and bounced to safety off the goal-line.

Tottenham tried to make the most of that reprieve, with Reina doing well to block Carrick's long-range drive. While Defoe skied his follow-up over the bar, his blushes were saved by the offside flag.

Rasiak looked to have put the home side ahead, but Carrick's corner was adjudged to have curled out of play before the Polish international headed home and a goal-kick was duly awarded.

Rasiak's next header was also ruled out for a push, although that had been directed well over the bar, while Liverpool made an enforced change with 22 minutes left as Xabi Alonso replaced Warnock.

Within a minute, Liverpool also thought they had gone ahead, only for Crouch's header to be ruled out for exactly the same reason as Rasiak's, with the corner having gone out of play before the converter made contact.

And that effectively was that. For Eriksson, it was a familiar sight - yet another game which raised more questions than it solved.

Jol hails Carrick

Tottenham boss Martin Jol claimed midfielder Michael Carrick deserved an England call-up ahead of the key World Cup qualifier against Austria next month.

Jol declared: 'Michael Carrick mastered the whole midfield, he was outstanding. I think he deserves it [a place in the England side]. He's doing very well for us and has always been appreciated as a big talent.

'Maybe it's better to keep his feet on the ground, rather than praising him all the time, but he always plays a big part.'

Jol, who was pleased with the full debuts made by Rasiak, Lee Young-Pyo, Aaron Lennon and Jermaine Jenas, added: 'Rasiak had played two internationals in four days but said he felt good. If he gets crosses in, he will score goals.'

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez admitted: 'We have three clean sheets and we are better than last season in terms of defence but we need to improve in terms of attack.'

But he insisted the club would not live to regret failing to re-sign Michael Owen. 'If we score three goals next week, then everything will change,' he insisted.

'In football, it's easy to talk but it's better to wait. Everything can change. At this moment, I'm
very happy with the players I have.'

As for Gerrard's form, he added: 'He's okay. He knew what to do during the game, he changed his position twice and he did a good job.

'The more games he plays, the better he will get. He was injured for 10 days and then played two games without training. Now he has played another game without training and in a few weeks, he will be better.'

Benitez believes Dietmar Hamann, who was substituted at half time due to a blow to his head, should have recovered in time for next week's opening Champions League group tie against Real Betis.

'I think he will be okay but he got a blow on the head and was a bit dazed,' he revealed.

Watching too much TV

I think I have been watching too much TV....

This is my weekly schedule (my week begins on Sat and ends on Monday!!):

Saturday - Cong Si Lai Le, Travel & Advanture, AXN, EPL.

Sunday - Football Extra, Travel & Advanture, AXN, Apprentice, EPL.

Monday - Nothing, taking a break after a hectic weekend.

Tuesday - Football Tic Tac Toe, Which hen don't lay eggs (WHDLE), Vegas.

Wednesday - Zoe's baby show, WHDLE, CSI Maimi, CSI NY, Superstar.

Thursday - Football Crazy, Table for 3, Shao Kwan & Bryan's Travel show, WHDLE, Superstar.

Friday - Football Focus, Tiger First Edition, EPL Preview, WHDLE.

In between, switching from channels 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 50, 51, 52, 54, 2, 3, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12.

So am I, a TV addict????

Woeful Sven

Dear Sven,

After spending 5 years on the same job, going to see the same group of players during the weekend has done much damage to your managing skills, or it never did cause you actually don't have any.

Why do you insist on putting the players out of position???

You delight in seeing them struggle to make something out of it or the player power is too much to take???

You have probably one of the best set of midfield players in Europe if you play them in the right position.

English players grew up playing the 442 formation, this is the way their forefathers play, this is the way the fans love to see them play.

Joe Cole at LM is not the best choice but why not play Stuart Downing, he is one of the most improved LM in the EPL and he can run down the flank and deliver the crosses.

The two CM should likely be Gerrard and Lampard, but both are too attack minded. Carrick should do a good job as a DM and holding position.

RM is one that belongs to Wright-Philps, his runs to the bye should put many defenders on their toes throughout the match.

Then why should Mr Beckham be?? On the bench!!!!

What did he do this morning, spraying passes 30 to 40 m out, making Rooney runs all over the place, no wonder he is hot temper.

Yah, yah, he can take corners and free kicks, but so can Lampard and Gerrard and Roodney and Defoe....

Then for the strikers.....Rooney is not your out and out striker like Klinnman or Lineker or Shearer, he is more like an AM who likes to drop deep, bring the ball up create the space and bang in a goal.

Owen lacks confidence now, rejected by Madrid, snugged by Liverpool and ended up in Newcastle, boy what a horrible time he is having man, so don't blame him when he ballon his only chance in the game (or was that England's only chance!).












Well, you better starts thinking about the remaining 2 games.....

I know many people are eyeing your job....Mr Bobby is always ready and he can make Becks sit on the bench.

Cheers
A by-stander waiting for England to lift the World Cup or for that matter any Cup

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Northern Ireland 1-0 England: Healy stuns woeful visitors

England plumbed new depths of embarrassment as their World Cup qualification hopes took a battering in Belfast, with David Healy firing Northern Ireland to perhaps the greatest victory in their history.

And to think that Sven-Goran Eriksson had claimed his side could compete with Brazil next summer.

At cricket? Certainly not at football, certainly not with these tactics, certainly not with this lack of leadership from their manager and certainly not by a team going backwards fast in international terms.

To make matters even worse, if that was possible, Wayne Rooney ruled himself out of the next qualifier at home to Austria next month with his second booking of the campaign. It was that sort of night.

Eriksson was once again left powerless on the bench, suffering the pain of being beaten by the side ranked 116th in the world as Healy's 74th-minute winner flew past Paul Robinson.

'Are you Scotland in disguise?' taunted the home fans. Certainly not, for the Scots are a winning side again, courtesy of a 2-1 success in Norway.

England, meanwhile, are getting worse, not better. Routed 4-1 in Denmark, they scraped past Wales in Cardiff but have now hit another low against a side ranked 116th in the world.

Make no mistake, this Northern Ireland side may have made history and deserve every accolade coming their way after a performance which will be remembered for decades in these parts.

However, their weekend win against Azerbaijan was their first competitive victory in almost four years. Their second followed just four days later.

Boss Lawrie Sanchez, the inspiration behind Wimbledon's 1988 FA Cup final upset against Liverpool, had confounded the odds once again.

Eriksson, meanwhile, could only watch helplessly as his side's failings were painfully exposed. Beat Brazil? On this form, they would struggle against Barnet.

England's out-of-form midfield ran down dead-end channels, Michael Owen was left isolated up front and, most damagingly of all, Rooney was sapped of his creative influence, as much by his role as his lack of support.

But while Rooney's temperament is as fragile as ever, the England coach bears some responsibility for the striker's absence against Austria as his role on the left flank demanded him to track back and make desperate tackles.

For Sanchez's side were up for it from the off, plunging into full-blooded challenges as England were knocked out of the stride amid the blustery conditions.

With Rooney a depressingly isolated figure out on the left flank, David Beckham instead concentrated on firing long balls out to the other wing, from where Shaun Wright-Phillips had set up the winner against Wales.

This time, however, there was no promise of a repeat performance. Beckham did rattle the woodwork with a free-kick, while Owen directed an overhead kick straight at keeper Maik Taylor just before the break.

However, Northern Ireland were not unduly troubled and Rooney's frustration was clearly growing. Indeed, when he was denied a free-kick just before half-time, he blasted the ball into the opposition's half in anger.

Beckham marched over to urge the teenager to calm down but was met with a four-letter verbal volley as Rooney promptly launched himself, arm-first, into a dangerous challenge on Keith Gillespie.

He was fortunate only to be booked - despite still being ruled out of the Austria game - but he had not calmed down yet.

When he charged into another arm-first challenge on Chris Baird, Swiss referee Massimo Busacca's leniency only just continued and a final warning was issued.

Rooney re-emerged after the interval with a very public hug for Beckham in the way of an apology but England were little improved and Joe Cole soon replaced Wright-Phillips.

Determined to make his mark after being dropped despite his match-winning goal against Wales, Cole quickly crossed for Owen to flick a header wide, while Lampard's long-range effort was tipped round the post.

However, it was the Northern Irish who rallied instead, with James Quinn firing an effort just wide, while Robinson gratefully grasped a dangerous low cross by Healy. The warning signs were not heeded.

Steve Davis then clipped the ball forwards into the path of Healy, who had evaded the offside trap, and the Leeds striker brought the ball down on his instep before firing an unstoppable shot into the far corner.

That goal brought the Windsor Park crowd ecstatically to their feet. They could not believe it. Neither could the England bench.

Eriksson brought on Jermain Defoe for Gerrard and Owen Hargreaves for Lampard but it was the home side who threatened again on the break through Healy, with substitute Warren Feeney also just inches away from a second.

England now need to beat Austria and Poland to make sure of qualification - but next summer's tournament is fast becoming the moment when Eriksson's time could be up as England coach. If not before.

• Beckham 'hurt' by defeat

England captain David Beckham insisted tonight's 1-0 World Cup qualifying defeat to Northern Ireland 'hurt more than any other' in his national team career.

Leeds striker David Healy scored the only goal of the game at Windsor Park to secure one of the greatest wins in the province's history.

It piles more pressure on England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson, but Real Madrid star Beckham was adamant the team would show unity in defeat.

He told BBC Sport: 'Strong words have been said by the manager and the lads have to take it. It has been an embarrassment, but we stick together, that's what the team is about, even when we're criticised.

'Tonight hurts more than anything, but we stick together and we have to put it right. If we win the next two games we go top of the group.'

Beckham's own performance was one of the better individual displays, but asked whether it had come at the expense of a good team showing, the former Manchester United player said: 'If that's the case then the manager will have to look at it and change it.

'This formation is not just for me solely - it's what the manager believes in. It's not about me performing well and others not, but we didn't perform well again tonight.'

Asked how this performance could be squared with claims in some quarters that England were contenders to win the World Cup, Beckham added: 'It's not the players saying we'll win the World Cup. But we have to play a lot, lot better than we did tonight and everyone of us in the dressing room is disappointed.'

Beckham's attention was drawn to fans chanting for Eriksson to go, and he responded: 'It's always worrying when you hear that, leading up to the World Cup. That's what it's like, people have paid a lot of money to come and watch us. I love the way the fans are, but they're frustrated. It's hard for the manager to take and the players to take but we accept it.'

Northern Ireland boss Lawrie Sanchez's mood was starkly different to Beckham's, and he praised his players for 'believing'.

'Credit goes to the players. All we can do is point them in the right direction - we made them believers,' he told the BBC.

'By half-time we had 11 believers. We were magnificent and the best team won in the end.'

Sanchez, who as a player scored the winning goal in Wimbledon's shock FA Cup final victory over Liverpool in 1988 and as a manager led Second Division Wycombe to the semi-finals of the same competition 13 years, admits he has a gift for the upset.

'I must have something going for me! We are a small nation in world football terms and to beat a team of England's calibre is amazing,' he added.

'This is about the players - they have given their all all week and won two fantastic games (having also beaten Azerbaijan 2-0 on Saturday).

'The goal David Healy scored - he does that. It's his 11th in 17 internationals for me and he has got a quality that is Premiership class. As for the support - not bad is it?'

是谁赢了绝对SuperStar？

潘嘉丽和陈伟联都赢了!!

她赢了歌唱，他赢了人气.

但是真正的赢家是所有的赞助商， 优频道，评判以及赚那六毛钱一通电话的公司!

***********************************

绝对SuperStar 脱颖而出 64％观众支持他

　　昨晚的《绝对SuperStar》总决赛，观众支持的力量再一次打败专业评审的投选。

　　在64%观众电话和简讯投选的支持下，23岁的视障者陈伟联打败22岁的空服员潘嘉丽，成为冠军中的冠军。主办者新传媒在过后的记者会公布，昨晚共有约53万通电话和简讯投票。

　　这次总决赛仿佛是上一场男女组决赛的历史重演，当时，两名男女冠军也是凭着观众的投选压倒较受评审看好的对手。

　　这场新传媒电视U频道歌唱比赛总决赛，分五个回合进行，观众的电话投选占总分的70%，两名参赛者之前推出的单曲唱片销量占30%。由音乐人黎沸挥、李伟菘、许环良、前歌手叶佩芬、音乐导师方钟桦组成的常驻评审团仍照常给予参赛者评语，并投选他们心目中各回合的优胜者，不过他们的投选只当余兴节目，完全不占分数。

　　比赛开始前，主持人权怡凤和王建复宣布陈伟联以单曲唱片销量微差领先潘嘉丽。不过，在接下来的四个回合，潘嘉丽凭着声音的爆发力、对歌曲的再造能力、合唱的默契与律动的掌握、舞台魅力、多变的造型等，在评审创作挑战曲和自选曲等四个回合，都获得评审较佳的评语。

　　在其中两个回合，潘嘉丽甚至获得评审清一色压倒性的“优胜判决”。陈伟联惟一取胜的回合，是在“音色震撼力”的考验上，评审们认为他唱出了感动的力量。

　　陈伟联在之后的记者会上语重心长地说：“接下来的压力会更大，因为外界的批评将冲着我来。所有负面的报道对我来说都会是很好的训练，使我变得更坚强。那些说负面话的人请继续吧，我会欣然接受。”

　　在比赛中被称为“盲侠”的他不相信自己赢了，一直跟自己说：“你是总冠军了。”参加比赛也让他比较会哭了，这是因为他感受到身边的人对他的爱和照顾：“以前的我比较封闭，现在要走进我的心比较容易了。”

　　潘嘉丽虽与冠军擦肩而过，但在台上仍露出万盏瓦特的亮丽笑容，并为陈伟联鼓掌欢呼。她说：“伟联赢了，我也落泪了。”

　　对于自己赢了评审的判决却输了比赛，她说：“我一开始就告诉自己不要介意输赢，只要大家享受看我的表演就行了。”

*******************************

在评审部分输了四个回合，“盲侠”陈伟联说，是因为第四、五首歌表现失常：“昨天采排的时候，我把energy（精力）收起来留给今天。没想到今天放得太多，到了第四、五首就没有了（精力）。”

　　虽然没有爆发力，但却凭真感动观众。即将签约陈伟联的Play Music企划统筹江占姆斯（James）在记者会上表示，一开始就很欣赏他在舞台上的表现是最真的。

　　正如盛传的赛前“口头”拟定的“游戏规则”，总冠军陈伟联签约Play Music唱片公司，亚军潘嘉丽则加盟环球。

　　但来到签约这回合，大家真正关心的是哪位落选歌手将被选中与冠亚军配对出唱片。

　　之前圈中一面倒看好已出局的洪俊扬已被证实会凭“女”贵。签到女歌手潘嘉丽的环球唱片中文部市场经理官召先证实洪俊扬是在公司考虑的两个人之内，如签约会让他走实力偶像的路线。他不肯透露第三人是男是女。

　　至于嘉丽的空姐合约问题，她说会继续跟公司洽谈。但现在她非常肯定的是：会去实现她歌唱的梦想。

　　官召先对嘉丽的评价很高，认为她可以像Coco李玟那样走宜动宜静的路线，因为她“可以奔放也可以很女人。她虽然有拍子的问题，可是问题不大，经验多了就没有这个问题。”嘉丽的专辑预计在半年内推出，他说公司会先让她巩固本地市场，之后肯定会把她推上海外舞台。

　　签约总冠军的Play music企划统筹江占姆斯则不肯透露签约的另外两人会是谁，只表示在考虑三个参赛者，有男有女。

　　Play Music在总决赛前不知鹿死谁手，同时在为嘉丽及伟联做提案
、收歌。以这个进度看来，他预计伟联10月就可以开始灌录唱片，在12月发片。
评判尊重全民的旨意

　　之前被网友赞为“素质最高的Super评判”之一的许环良在赛后接受记者的电访时说：“这是个平民造星的游戏，规则很明显。我尊重全民的旨意。”

　　至于对决赛者的表现，他说：“嘉丽赢了4个回合，伟联赢了一回，答案已经很明显了。”

　　另一位Super评判，李伟菘则面面俱到地说：“不管谁赢，他们都是我心目中的Superstar，有着自己的光芒。他们是两个极端不同方向的艺人，(我)在评判时要很客观，清楚方向，不能有私心、同情心。”

****************************************

根据本报记者观察，到场支持偶像的歌迷不仅是年轻人，从小孩、白领阶级到阿嫂和阿叔，还有推着轮椅的观众和其他残疾者。其中，陈伟联的歌迷当中就有不少是热情的阿嫂。

　　潘嘉丽的歌迷也不甘示弱，和陈伟联“大小通吃”相比，潘嘉丽的歌迷显然较为年轻和活泼。有三个歌迷就用厕纸把自己捆成木乃伊，以配合潘嘉丽与本地歌手林俊杰在其中一个比赛环节中合唱歌曲《木乃伊》。

　　只见木乃伊歌迷不时挥动手中的荧光棒，十分搞笑，成为全场观众的另一焦点。

　　许敬佳（24岁，市场销售员）昨天下班后特地赶到室内体育馆支持潘嘉丽，因为他很欣赏她的舞台魅力和动人歌声。他说，这是一个大家都可参与的游戏，因此深深吸引了他。

　　坐在记者附近的几名15岁女生陈思慧、符惠英和朱雪俐，只要潘嘉丽一出场就会不停尖叫，高举牌子。她们表示，过去每场比赛她们平均每人拨打10通电话支持潘嘉丽，而昨天大决赛，她们更是不停拨打电话，估计至少有20通。

　　另一名潘嘉丽的歌迷黄毅杰（14岁）说，比赛至今他一共拨打了30多通电话，但是昨天却只打了8通，原因是他已经没钱了。

　　潘嘉丽的最后一首歌让人惊艳，现场观众都静下来聆听，五轮比赛下来，潘嘉丽的表现显然较为出色，这使得陈伟联歌迷的士气有些低落。不过，当陈伟联出场演唱歌曲时，潘嘉丽的歌迷也同样会挥动荧光棒，表现得非常大方。

　　到了成绩公布的那一刻，全场沸腾，坐在台前和场中央的歌迷更是紧张得不得了。当获知冠军是陈伟联时，陈伟联的歌迷非常激动，很多都当场哭了，而潘嘉丽的歌迷很大方地站起来给对方鼓掌，充分体现体育精神。

　　与陈伟联认识10多年的视障者许德泉表示，陈伟联一路走来吃了不少苦，努力终于获得肯定，他为陈伟联的成就感到非常高兴。

　　李汉机（48岁）是在裕廊一带的地铁站首次听到陈伟联的歌声，当场就被感动了。知道陈伟联打入决赛，他更是义不容辞给予支持。

　　陈秀珠是陈伟联的老邻居。她表示自己原本就很欣赏陈伟联的歌声，这次的比赛，她一共拨打了100多通电话支持。

　　值得一提的是，昨晚男子组亚军洪俊扬出场时，欢呼声和掌声似乎比陈伟联更多。尤其是当他和女子组亚军石欣卉对唱《屋顶》时，全场观众都听得如痴如醉。

　

绝对SuperStar 总决赛

Who will be the SuperStar????

I think we all know the answer already...

Enjoy the show tonight...





绝对SuperStar 总决赛之夜，【绝对】家族全体总动员，并联合绝对嘉宾林俊杰与绝对粉丝，一起在9月1日绽放最亮眼的火花！噢，绝对评判还会创作2首“夺命曲”，针对男女冠军的弱点进行大考验！


洪俊扬和石欣卉的歌迷别再伤心了，你们将在【绝对SuperStar】总决赛之夜看到偶像的表演！

排山倒海的支持电话与电邮让这两位高分落选的参赛者，得以在9月1日站上新加坡室内体育馆【绝对SuperStar总决赛】大舞台，再次一展歌艺。无法索取到入门票的歌迷朋友可以通过U频道晚上7点半的现场直播欣赏到偶像们精湛的演出。

9月1日的总决赛，有什么看头？

6.45pm:红地毯
亮相红人包括：【绝对】复赛所有参赛者、及新传媒群星郑惠玉、白薇秀、鐘琴、欧菁仙、张玉华、杨志龙等…

7.30pm：
电视开始播映回顾，穿插倒数时段，直播现场表演嘉宾、参赛者在最后时刻的准备工作，当然，还有最后检视男女冠军的状态…

8pm：总决赛正式引爆！


绝对嘉宾：林俊杰
任务－与男女冠军合唱

绝对掌门人：权怡凤、王建复
任务－主持大局，安抚/煽动/刺激歌迷情绪，激励决赛双方，恭喜总冠军，安慰落败者…

绝对观众：
任务－听说观众席最前方会分成红蓝衣两队人马，红的代表热情的女方，蓝的代表深情的男方，台上男女对决，台下红蓝人马也会各不相让比高低！

绝对评判：黎沸挥、方钟桦、叶佩芬、李伟松、许环良
任务－ 每个比赛环节都会讲评，但不给分数…而且，有人还会创作“夺命曲”考验男女冠军…（请往下看）

绝对参赛者/任务：


复赛圈的男女参赛者－
梁伟强、林昱志、潘嗣敬、陈耀榕、杨子文、蔡义伟、陈家欣、冯靖莹、卓慧玲、黎俐君、郭美汐、戴爱玲将一起为大家载歌载舞、落力演出。

半决赛圈参赛者－
何维健、谢维聪、陈国强、洪子惠、蔡诗妮、杜慧萍将合唱一曲。

决赛亚军－
洪俊扬与石欣卉将各自独唱一曲献给粉丝。

男女冠军陈伟联、潘嘉丽大对决，到底比什么？
嘉丽与伟联将从下列五大决战项目来向全新加坡观众证明自己是名副其实的“SUPERSTAR”。


第一关：压场的功力
他们能不能单凭声音的力量捉住现场8千位观众的心？能不能与现场观众交流？能不能像超级巨星般成为万众瞩目的焦点？他们的功力，将在此刻得到验证。

第二关：音色震撼力
少了电子音乐的帮助更能考验出在节拍与音准上的功力，没有扎实功力的话，一唱不插电歌曲马上就会露出马脚。伟联和嘉丽将各自以一首歌曲用不插电形式展现自己的真正实力。这是唯一让他们寻求其他参赛者协助、为他们伴唱的项目。

8位歌声独特的男女将洪俊扬、何维健、林昱志、潘嗣敬、陈耀榕、冯靖莹、陈家欣、戴爱玲、杜慧萍、石欣卉分别“声援”伟联和嘉丽，誓要同声同气打到对方！

第三关：合唱的渗透力
伟联和嘉丽将与创作小天王林俊杰合唱！林俊杰除了将与他们个别合唱之外，他们三位还将一起展现重唱功力，带给大家前所未有的感受。这也是两位男女冠军首次合唱，精彩可期。

第四关：裁判的夺命曲
一路看着伟联和嘉丽过关斩将的裁判们最了解他们的优缺点。这个项目就是要看看他们是不是已经完全克服了屡次比赛所犯的错误与缺点。本地音乐才子李伟菘、黎沸挥、许环良外加【绝对】制作队的翁文彬，将针对他们的缺点为他们各别打造一首新歌，要用这首歌来测试他们到底进步了多少？
什么转音、密音、节奏、headvoice、口气…，反正是哪一样最弱就考哪一样！究竟是夺命还是救命，全看他们的能耐咯！

第五关：自挑决战曲
没有任何限制、没有指定项目，伟联和嘉丽将用他们最满意的招牌歌来打动所有观众。在过去的比赛里，嘉丽的动感舞姿让人惊艳、伟联的诚恳歌声让人落泪，成败胜负就看今晚，他们一定会使出必杀绝招给大家带来惊喜！

绝对成绩：
8－10.30pm 投选热线开放

10.30－11pm 成绩揭晓

在总决赛比赛进行当晚的观众投选占了比赛成绩的百分之七十，另外的百分之三十则是他们个人单曲专辑的销售量。

【绝对】男女冠军陈伟联、潘嘉丽单曲CD斗销量这一环节，经过8天的销售，陈伟联胜出，近一步贴近【绝对】总冠军宝座！

总决赛决战 第一回合 斗单曲CD销量



陈伟联 胜出！

总销量：12239张



潘嘉丽 落败…

总销量：11319张

总结8天的销量，陈伟联的单曲CD卖出1万2239张；潘嘉丽1万1319张，陈伟联多出920张！剩余的CD已经全部回收。


在总决赛比赛进行当晚的观众投选占了比赛成绩的百分之七十，另外的百分之三十则是他们个人单曲专辑的销售量。


这次单曲销量环节胜出也意味着，陈伟联已经朝第一届【绝对SuperStar】总冠军宝座迈进一大步！