I love these things. I know there are people who believe it's all in the head, but having seen them myself I alway found them interesting. The one below is a little different though as it's animated - the first one I've ever seen at least. It's a little hard to see, because it's always moving. If you don't know how to see these then go here.


Just as a note I used to have a friends, who had a weird phobia of dolphins. For her birthday so guess what I got for her. That's right a poster with two dolphins jumping out of the water. As her eyes slowly adjusted to see the picture she jumped clear across the room screaming. Classic!

Back to Footie

After watching some of the games on TV now, here's what I've got to say about two of them:

LFC v Chav$ki

• If Liverpool go on to win this year it will be so sweet, having taken out both Man Scum and Chav$ki to do it, getting a 7-0 dubbing of Brum on the way. If only we'd met the Toffees early on!
  
• Lampard's a pussy jumping out of the way of Riise's freekick - having siad that having seen some of Riise's freekicks I can't really blame him.
  
• I expect Moaninho will be complaining, during games to come, that they didn't lose to Liverpool since Terry's goal was disallowed - this dispite the fact Terry and to climb up Riise's back to get to the ball. So Liverpool still haven't beaten Chav$ki - expect to hear that the next time the two teams meet.
• Pepe Reina looked like he was going to punch-out Drogba when the Chav$ki player headed in their goal. If that had been Robben he'd probably still be rolling around on the floor (from a phantom punch) 'til the end of the season.
• Moaninho apparently can't wish Liverpool "Good Luck" for the final as it would be "disrespectful" to West Ham and the Middlesbrough! I'm sure he would have said the same it he had just lost to one of the other teams!!!
  
• What is it with footballers not bothering to brush the hair both captians looked like they been through a windtunnel before the game.
• Always great to have a party and especially great ones without inviting the people you dislike most. Winning at Old Trafford and the 'home' team aren't even invited!! Oh that's right we beat them back in the fifth round!

Arsenal v Spurs

• Carrick is really something: some great footwork to carve up the Gunner's defense and keeper, with just the tight angle stopping him from openning the scoring.
• Carrick is really something: playing on with two Arsenal players down, the way he thought about it for so long and even then decided to play on just makes his decision to play on even more disgusting - his action let to their goal perhaps Wenger can complain that his team didn't draw today!?
• It was great to see Wenger get in Jols face about the disgraceful actions of his player's (Carrick's) actions, then commical to see him back-up when he realised that Jol was twice his weight!
• Henry = Class - forget Cuntana, forget Shearer, Henry clearly the best player the Premiership has seen! Certainly the biggest reason I want Arsenal to win the Champions League, I'd hate for him to leave the Prem.

I Want to See One With Misletow

Not sure how I missed this, way back last November (this sort of thing is right up my alley), but those clever Japanese have found a way to bring down heating costs and help save the environment.

The idea?. . . heated bras:



Personally I'd like to switch the little chill pepper for a mistle toe pendant and then go to town!

Read more here.

FA Cup Semi-Final: Liverpool 2 - Chav$ki 1

It seems that Rafael Benitez has Chelsea's number, as they once again manage to beat them when it really matters. Liverpool are through to the FA Cup final on May 13 after a 2-1 victory over Chav$ki at Old Trafford.

Luis Garcia got what proved to be the winner, after Riise's first-half goal before the Reds held on at the death.

Read the full reports here:

• LFC.TV
• Sporting Life
• BBC
• Sky Sports
  

FA Cup - Semi Final

Liverpool hope to go on an duplicate their youth team (who won the FA Cup this week) and beat Chavski to go onto the final in this year's FA Cup.

Liverpool meet Chav$ki for the tenth time in 2 seasons today in the first of the FA Cup Semi-Finals. LFC have only one won of those games; the Champions League Semi-Final last year, that was won by a controversial Luis Garcia goal (a game Moaninho still claims they didn't lose.)

LFC have met the champions elect five times in know out competitions in that competition that have resulted in two wins for the Chav$ki's (including a league cup final win), two draws and a win for the mighty reds (at the aforementioned Champions League Semi-Final). The point difference at the time of the latter between the two in the Premier League was in the vicinity of 30 points; something Moaninho used as motivation for his team, which in turn, lead to overconfidence and the famous loss. One wonders if he'll use the same motivation this time around eventhough the difference (15) is far reduced (although still sizeable) this term.

Personally, I think the reds are due a victory against the Chav's and hopefully a clear one at that son Moaninho can't claim he has not lost! The line up is the strongest and best Rafa can provide since Fowler is cup-tied: a strong back-four with Riise at left-back, Gerrard in the center with Sissoko and Alonso, allowing Kewell and Garcia free attacking runs down the sides with the tall target of Crouch waiting for them in the box.

Chav$ki's starting line-up is curious though and it's a wonder if Moaninho is more worried about the Man Scum game next week (making sure they win the Prem) or just a case of gamesmanship, as he has started with Cudicini in goal ahead of Petr Cech, and has Paulo Ferreira back in the midfield. Also Joe Cole, Duff and Robben on the bench, the three wide players that could arguably dismantle Liverpool the best down the wings are all on the bench!

20 mins: GOAL 1-0: Riise takes a clever free-kick which sneaks right through the Chelsea wall and past a stranded Cudicini. If Moaninho's plan is gamesmanship it isn't working so far.

45 mins: The second half kicks off, with Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho opting to bring on winger Arjen Robben for defender Asier del Horno.

50 min: Gerrard finds Garcia in front of goal but the Spaniard fails to shoot on target and wastes a golden opportunity to double Liverpool's lead.

52 min: GOAL 2-0: From a throw-in the ball falls for Garcia who bursts through the middle and fires a fantastic shot from outside the penalty area past Cudicini who doesn't move as the ball sails into the top left hand corner of the net.

63 min: Liverpool are looking more and more comfortable as the match goes on, repelling everything Chelsea throw at them with ease.

69 min: Djibrill Cisse comes on in place of Peter Crouch - LFC will have less of an aerial threat, but they will now have the pace of the forward who needs to show that he can't be sold in the summer!

70 min: 2-1: Drogba scores. It's bad defensive header from Riise falls for Drogba who heads the ball over the advancing Reina and into the back of the net.

77 mins: Harry Kewell's excellent display for Liverpool comes to a premature end when he limps off to be replaced by Djimi Traore.

78 min: Liverpool can't seem to get out of their own half at the moment as Chelsea relentlessly pile on the pressure.

80 min: Reina takes his time with a goal-kick and is yellow carded, while Fernando Morientes replaces Luis Garcia in the Liverpool attack (how I bet Rafa wishes that could be Fowler). LFC have just 10 minutes to hold on or increase their lead and destroy Chav$ki's hope of a doing the Double!

85 min: Five minutes to go as Hyypia cuts out a cross from Drogba and concedes a corner.

88 min: Didier Drogba is shown the yellow card for dissent. Cisse has a chance to break but his first touch is too heavy and the ball is cut out by Makelele.

90 min: Liverpool look to keep posession as they wind down the clock and try to protect their lead. How many more minutes with the Ref deem to be played - 0 mins extra if you ask me! Come'on blow the whistle already!

90+3 min: Alonso tries to get Cisse through on goal but he is flagged offside (surprisingly!?).

90+5 min: And that's it! Victory for the Mighty Reds! I'm sure Moaninho will say that the best team lost, but the Double dream is dead and Liverpool are on their way to the final to play either Middlesbrough or (hopefully) West Ham, who will meet tomorrow in the other Semi-Final!

Premiership Round Up

With only five games being played today in the Premiership there was still a lot at stake in all of the games:

• Arsenal 1 - Tottenham 1:
  Spurs hung on to draw with the Gunners when Davids was sent off for a second bookable offense shortly after Henry equlised for the Gunners.
  
  A draw does much more for Spurs than for the Gunners who now trail the North London rivals by five points with only one game in hand. Spurs have just two games left to win and secure fourth spot and a place in the Champions League. There are shades of last season when Liverpool lost out to local city rivals Everton, but ended up qualifying by being crowned European Champions. It's looking like Arsenal will have to do the same this time around.
  
  
• Portsmouth 2 - Sunderland 1:
  All three relugation battlers were playing today, but only one of them won. Pompy beat Championship-bound Sunderland, leaving the Northeners having to win all of their last games just so they don't break their own record of fewest points earned in Premiership history.
  
  Most Importantly it lifts Pompy out of the bottom three (who still have to face LFC in their final game) and two points ahead of Brum, who drew with Everton today. A win against Wigan will put them out of the reach of West Brom and give them the greatest chance to stay up.
  
  
• Everton 0 - Birmingham 0:
  Birmingham's draw has dropped them down into the bottom three again and at the expense of four yellow cards to key players. With two games left against Newcastle (who won 3-0 today) and a European chasing Bolton on the last game of the season, things are looking bleak for Brum.
  
  
• Newcastle 3 - West Brom 0
  Things are pretty much over for West Bromwich Albion who lost 3-0 to an Shearer-and-Owen-less Newcastle team today. They now need to win their last two remaining games against West Ham and Everton and hope Pompy don't get another point and Brum fail to win in their last two games.
  
  West Brom and Robson won't give up though, after escaping relegation on the last day of the season last year.
  
  
• Bolton 4 - Charlton 1
  Bolton scored four goals in the first half as they moved up into 8th place and two points away from a UEFA cup place.
  
  Wanderers have been a little lacklustre over the last few weeks but have put themselves back in the frame for another European campaign, they have a game in hand over Newcastle (who sit just 1 place and two points above them) and Blackburn who have the same two point cushion, but need to face Chav$ki in thier run-in. Games against Champions League chasing Tottenham and relegation battlers Birmingham stand in the way of Sam Allardyce's men, but at least they're back in with a shout.
  
  
  

50 Days to Go

The World Cup is just 50 days away when Germany take on Costa Rica on Sunday the 9th of June 2006 in Munich.

Between then and now there will be plenty of things added to this blog including:

• England's World Cup History
• Liverpool at the World Cup
• Babes of the World Cup
• World Cup WallChart
• World Cup BabeChart
• Predictions
• Excel Game Tracker
• And more...
  

So much to do and virtually no time to do it all.

Get Real !

Rafael Benitez today reacted to speculation that Real Madrid are keen to sign Steven Gerrard. Steven Gerrard's name appearing in transfer reports is no shock to Liverpool, but as Real Madrid's potential interest emerged just four days before the FA Cup semi-final, Anfield should get used to the fact there will be a third summer of such speculation.

Stevie G's name appearing in transfer reports is no shock to LFC, but as Real Madrid's potential interest emerged just four days before the FA Cup semi-final, Anfield should get used to the fact there will be a third summer of such speculation.

Requests for a comment from Liverpool on the latest link to Real was met with a curt and weary "no comment".

Floro, Real's director of football, was charged identifying transfer targets, recently delivered a report to new president Fernando Martin with his findings which included the proposal of his recommendations on possible signings saying:

"I recommended, as a priority, the signing of a powerful centre forward, like Adriano, and a top class midfielder in case (Zinedine) Zidane leaves. Gerrard is a footballer I include in that list, he is a player the club have wanted to sign in previous seasons."

But identifying Gerrard as a potential target for one of Europe's top clubs is hardly rocket science and with the World Cup approaching, a stage Gerrard could well dominate, the prospect of a long list of suitors wanting the Liverpool skipper is very likely.

Gerrard signed a new Anfield deal during the summer after deciding to commit his future to the European champions, but that hasn't dissuaded Madrid from airing their interest in the player.

However, Benitez isn't at all concerned by the speculation and is adamant his skipper will be a Liverpool player next season. He said:

"The situation is very clear. Steven Gerrard is not for sale."

State of the Leagues (Part One)

The big news is, of course, that Accrington Stanley are returning to the Football League. One of the founders of the Football League, the club went bankrupt in the 60's, only to be reborn later towards the end of that decade. They've been playing in the lower echelons of the leagues ever since. For me it was the Milk Boards Ad in the 80s that first told me of Accrington's existence. Gone now are the mocking commercials (at least for a year) after coming close to the playoff spots over the previous few seasons.

Who will join them? Four teams will playoff for the chance to join Accrington, with spots 2 through 5 currently occupied by Hereford, Halifax, Grays Athletic (today's 7-2 winners over relegation bound Scarborough), and Morecambe, with anywhere between 2 and 4 games left to be played (depending on the team).

Stevenage are only outside of the top 4 on goals scored, so places could easily be changed in the final few games, although only Morecambe are likely to drop out as Halifax and Grays Athletic still have 3 and 4 games, respectively, left to play. Interestingly Grays Athletic will play Morecambe in their final game of the season. York City are only able to gate crash the party if they win both remaining games while both Stevenage and Morecambe fail to win both of theirs and in Morecambe's case by a total of 5 goals.

My prediction is that Stevenage will sneak in to the playoff spots at the expense of Morecambe. As for who will go through from the playoffs, I always favour the teams with larger goal differences and stingy defenses, which on current form would see Hereford play Grays Athletic in the final, with Hereford the likely victors.

As for who will be going down that is a five-way battle between Scarborough , Forest Green (the current teams occupying the bottom two spots), Tamworth, Southport and Altrincham (the latter only needing a draw from one of it's final two games top be safe). Tamworth only sit one point above the drop zone having played one game more than both Scarborough and Forest Green, who are only 1 and 2 points, respectively, in arrears.

Scarborough's last 11 games read: 2 wins, three draws and 6 losses (the first being a 5-1 thrashing by fellow strugglers Forest Green and the last a 7-2 drubbing by promotion chasing Grays Athletic). I've got a hunch that these demoralising results will see them finish in last place with Forest Green who haven't even won any in their last 11 outings (although five of those have been draws).

The newboy, from the Northern Conference, look likely to be Norwich Victoria, who need a win or two draws from their last two games to keep Stafford Ranger at bay (Stafford in turn have to win both of their final games to stand a chance). The newboy from the Southern Conference are likely to be Weymouth (who need only two draws or a win to be certain) while St Albans also would need to win both of their games to Weymouth fail.

Predictions:

• Champions: Accrington Stanley (already decided)
• Playoff Winners: Hereford over Grays Athletic
• Playoff Contenders: Halifax & Stevenage
• Relegated: Forest Green & Scarborough
• Newboys: Norwich Victoria (North) & Weymouth (South)
  

Come on the Gunners

There are many reasons why (even though I'm a Liverpool supporter) that I want Arsenal to win tonight and even go on to win in Paris, I don't have time to go into it right now.

I just hope they put Villarreal away tonight and go on to meet Barca (hopefully) in the final. So far they're 1-nil to the good for the final European game to be played at Highbury.

Extra-Time is about to be played at Highbury and Arsenal are hanging on to their 1-0 lead. Keeping that clean sheet will help them tremendously in the return leg. There is 5 minutes of extra time to be played now - where the the ref get 5 minutes from !?

And the whistle goes, Arsenal have won the last European game to be played at Highbury and are in good shape for the return leg in Spain. It is by no means a done deal, but the clean sheet means that a goal by the Gunners would mean that the Spanish outfit would require three to go through.

Premiership Relegation Action

Brum entertain Blackburn in a game that they hope will lift them out of the bottom three (at least on goal difference). A win for Rovers will help in their battle with Spurs and the Gunners for an unlikely 4th place finish for Champions League qualification (something our own Florent Sinama Pongolle thinks can still happen.)

A draw will do nothing for either side, although it could prove to be more costly for Brum than Rovers as the latter will at least increase the gap over the chasing pack for the consolation of the UEFA Cup place.

With 5 minutes left to play the score is tied at 1-1 and Birmingham are still in the bottom three (as things stand right now).

A goal from Mikael Forssell has given Brum the lead, with just 3 minutes of regular time to go - just the lifeline they needed. At that's it, Forssell's goal have lifted Birmingham out of the bottom three, although only on goal difference. It also means that, although 7 points (and many goals) clear of the drop zone, Aston Villa and Fulham have not yet secured their places in next year's top flight division - the same in true for Man City who only require a draw in their final 4 games to be safe (assuming of course that the fighting trio of Pompy, Brom and Brum don't score 20 over each of their remaining three games!)