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Sunday, September 19, 2010

It's third time lucky for Marlon, 27, as he re-auditions for X Factor and is finally sent through to bootcamp

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By Georgina Littlejohn

Third time lucky: Marlon McKenzie from Manchester looks at the judges to see if he has made it through after his third X Factor audition

He'd tried and failed twice to make it past the audition stage of X Factor.

But it was third time lucky for Marlon McKenzie tonight as he was finally given the nod and sent through to the next round.

The 27-year-old from Manchester lost out at the boot camp stage on the ITV show in 2005 and 2008.

But tonight his perseverance paid off after wowing the judges with his performance of Bill Withers's Ain't No Sunshine and was given the chance to become a star.

Before going on stage to sing in front of Simon Cowell, guest judge Nicole Scherzinger and Louis Walsh, he said: 'I’ve rehearsed as much as I possibly can. I’ve just got to keep trying. I’ve got two children. If I give up on my dream what’s that teaching them?

'I’ve got to show them that you don’t give up. If you get knocked back, you get back up and keep trying for your dream. I want to prove to the judges I can do this. I want to show them I can go the whole way. I think this is definitely my year.'

Well done, Daddy! Marlon hugs his son and daughter after making it through to bootcamp

Thankfully for Marlon, his optimism and tenacity paid off as he took to the stage to sing.

After his performance, Simon said: 'I’ve got to be honest, when you said you were going to sing Ain’t No Sunshine, I thought oh god we’re going to hear that same old version we’ve heard thousands of times.

'The fact that you dame with your own version of it, that was different, it actually made the song sound incredibly current, made you relevant...I think you’ve got a great voice.'

Nicole added: 'I don’t know why it hasn’t happened yet but I believe everything happens for a reason and I believe you’re meant to be here and this is your time.'

Lookalike: Karl Brown, who Simon said looked like Nicole's boyfriend, F1 driver Lewis Hamilton, got through to bootcamp

Beautiful voice: 16-year-old Harry Styles was sent through despite Louis Walsh's concerns he was too young

And giving Marlon his third yes, Louis said: 'You’ve got lots of soul. I think you’ve got star quality.'

Also making their way to the next round was Lewis Hamilton lookalike Karl Brown, a 19-year-old electrician, who impressed the panel and was given three yeses after being told by Louis he had 'the potential to be a great singer', while Nicole told him he had to put the work into it.

Also through was 16-year-old Harry Stiles, who got three yeses but also made Simon and Louis bicker.

The teenager from Cheshire sang Stevie Wonder' Isn't She Lovely and was told by Nicole that for a 16-year-old he has a 'beautiful voice'.

She's got soul: Chrissie Pitt impressed with her rendition of Ain't No Mountain High Enough

Louis added: 'I agree with Nicole, however I think you’re so young, I don’t think you have enough experience or confidence yet.'

Simon chipped in: 'Someone in the audience just said rubbish and I totally agree with them. The show is designed to find someone like you, whether you’re 16, 17 it doesn’t matter. I think with a bit of vocal coaching you actually could be very good.'

Louis added: 'For all the right reasons I’m going to say no as I don’t think you’re ready', to which Simon retorted: 'I don’t actually think they (the audience) booed you loud enough there, Louis.'

His 21st job: Tobias Sumpton, who has been employed 20 times in his life, made it through

It was also a successful night for Chrissie Pitt, a 25-year-old trainee dental nurse who sang Ain't No Mountain High Enough which earned her three yeses.

Nicole told her: 'You've got soul and heart and I really wanna hear you sing some more.'

Tobias Sumpton, a 20-year-old shop manager from Hull - who said he'd had 20 jobs in his 20 years - was also sent through after he sang Elton John’s Your Song, despite concerns from Simon that he'd had so many jobs.

But Nicole said: 'I really like your voice a lot. You have a really unexpected fire behind your voice. You’ve had a lot of jobs but hopefully the train stops here.'

Big wheel keep on turning: Duo Diva Fever were sent through after performing Proud Mary....

.... which got Nicole up out of her seat to have a boogie

Duo Diva Fever - Joseph and Craig - were also sent through to bootcamp after they got Nicole up and out of her seat dancing to their performance of Tina and Ike Turner's Proud Mary.

They had first sung Let It Be by the Beatles but changed to a more upbeat tune after Simon said he thought they were going to sound 'more interesting than that'.

Craig replied: 'Do you want a bit more of a show? How does Proud by Tina Turner sound? I’m singing for my life now as I ain’t having a no!'

An unlikely contender for bootcamp came in the shape of sandwich shop worker Wojciech Piegat, who raised eyebrows with his pelvis thrust dancing, but got three yeses anyway.

Unlikely contender: Wojciech Piegat made it through despite his strange pelvic thrust dancing

But the night ended in disappointment for Damien Divine from Ireland, who sang Poker Face rather out of tune and was told by Simon that his performance was 'horrendous'.

And Richard Thomas, a 28-year-old club singer from Hull was left very disappointed after his performance of Higher and Higher by Jackie Wilson was deemed to be '20 years out of date'.

Next weekend, the bootcamp stage of the competition begins before the last few are chosen to be mentored by the judging panel.

Horrendous: Damien Divine's performance of Lady Gaga's Poker Face wasn't enough to get him through

Out of date: Disappointment for Richard Thomas whose version of Jackie Wilson's Higher and Higher was considered old fashioned

source :dailymail
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Manchester United 3 Liverpool 2: A touch (or two) of genius from Berbatov rescues United after collapse

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZH3LhhEy674endofvid

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By Matt Lawton

A first United hat-trick against Liverpool in 64 years was quite a repayment, especially after his defensive colleagues contrived to throw away the two-goal advantage he had initially secured.

This was not just a victory against those Sir Alex Ferguson considers his team’s fiercest rivals.

This was a victory that made Manchester United’s manager look even smarter than usual.

Because Ferguson chose yesterday to focus on Dimitar Berbatov — and in particular on why he has stood by his £30million striker — and my, how the Bulgarian responded.

Ferguson wrote of Berbatov’s ‘touch of genius’ in the match programme, prompting a front-page headline that some players might have considered rather unhelpful before a match of this significance.

‘Off to a flier, Dimitar Berbatov has been unstoppable,’ it said.

‘More of the same is required today.’

Stunning: Berbatov's acrobatic second was a contender for goal of the season

As well as two brilliant headers, Berbatov managed to deliver that touch of genius (or touches, if truth be told) with his second.

First came the touch that controlled Nani’s chipped cross, then the stunning over-head kick that beat Pepe Reina via the underside of the crossbar.

‘You must persevere and trust your judgement, you must have faith, and I think we are being rewarded this season for our confidence in him,’ said Ferguson.

Six goals in five matches — seven in six if we include the Community Shield — would certainly suggest Berbatov is starting to feel comfortable as a United player.

Far more so than some of those in red at Old Trafford, judging by the way they allowed Liverpool to battle their way back after such an unambitious first half.

Ferguson complained his players had been ‘careless and wasteful’ in surrendering the advantage at Fulham and Everton and defensive indiscipline would have proved costly again had it not been for their in-form front man.

Two up after 59 minutes, they somehow allowed the irrepressible Steven Gerrard to level by the 70th with a penalty and a superb free-kick.

Although Berbatov scored again to secure the three points, it will worry Ferguson that his team keep doing this.

Liverpool had no right to a share of the points, given how disappointing they were.

Gerrard continues to impress — he was terrific yesterday in central midfield in front of Fabio Capello — but Roy Hodgson now has a very ordinary side, despite the quality in players like Reina, Jamie Carragher, Joe Cole and Glen Johnson.

Too many of the others just aren’t good enough to be in a club of Liverpool’s stature, and the team is suffering.

False dawn: Gerrard's celebrations would prove to be short lived

Yesterday’s game largely passed Raul Meireles by in his role behind Fernando Torres, while Maxi Rodriguez and Christian Poulsen offered nothing. Torres won both the penalty and the free-kick, but he also struggled.

He was at fault for Berbatov’s opening goal and he and United’s hero-of-the-hour now seem to be performing a sporting equivalent of Trading Places. Having made nine changes to the side that stuttered to a goalless draw against Rangers, Ferguson must have been happy enough with the opening 45 minutes.

United looked in control, aside from the shocking histrionics Nani used to try to gain an advantage. Ferguson, one hopes, will have a word.

The goal United deserved finally arrived three minutes before the break, Torres finding himself on the wrong side of Berbatov and so allowing his opposite number to meet a corner from Ryan Giggs with a super header, albeit one helped by Paul Konchesky’s decision to drift off the near post.

Heads above the rest: Berbatov rises above Carragher to head his third of the game

Nani almost extended the lead when he drove a shot against Reina’s left-hand post, but had to settle for role of provider with the ball that invited Berbatov to perform his personal piece of magic.

But then came what looked like a collapse. It was evidence that will ensure Ferdinand returns to United the moment he regains full fitness.

He left the stadium before the game yesterday because of flu-like symptoms, but there is a plan to play him in the Carling Cup against Scunthorpe tomorrow as he continues his rehabilitation for the knee injury that ruled him out of the World Cup.

After Torres accelerated on to a brilliant pass from Cole, it was Jonny Evans who gave the penalty away — and it was a penalty, whatever Ferguson might think — with a reckless challenge on the Spaniard. Howard Webb pointed immediately to the spot, and Gerrard converted his 15th spot-kick in 16 attempts.

That John O’Shea then brought down Torres again — this time outside the box with a challenge Webb rightly punished with a yellow rather than red card — must have infuriated Ferguson.

But not as much as the sight of Darren Fletcher breaking away from the wall, presenting Gerrard with the space to slot his shot through. Fortunately for Fletcher and his fellow defenders, Berbatov was not finished. A cross from O’Shea was met with another wonderful header, with Carragher this time beaten by the Bulgarian in the air.
In those same programme notes, Ferguson spoke of what a ‘big season’ this is for Berbatov.

‘It could determine the rest of his career. But he has accepted the challenge and responded in a way that has made him one of our major successes so far. And there’s plenty more to come from him this season.’
Rarely has he been more prophetic.

source: dailymail
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Wigan 0 Manchester City 2: Carlos Tevez shows City how to beat Wigan

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By Chris Wheeler

Dink: Carlos Tevez applies a cute finish to give Manchester City the lead against Wigan

Carlos Tevez's record against Wigan is considerably better than Manchester City’s, so it was no surprise that the Argentina striker should be the man to end their long wait for a win at the DW Stadium yesterday.

City last won at Wigan in October, 1998, in a League One game at the old Springfield Park before Dave Whelan built his hometown club a new ground and City acquired some new friends in Abu Dhabi.

Five times they had left without the three points, but Tevez put that right yesterday.

The City captain’s superbly-taken opener was his sixth goal in seven games against Wigan. He also laid on the second for Yaya Toure as Roberto Mancini’s side climbed into the top four.

Admittedly they were helped by some shambolic Wigan defending on a rainswept afternoon which made for plenty of mistakes and not much entertainment.

The contribution from Tevez was undeniable, but Mancini admitted his team cannot keep relying on a player City fans still sarcastically urge Sir Alex Ferguson to sign up.

‘Carlo is there for this, to score a goal,’ said Mancini, who is still without Mario Balotelli and Emmanuel Adebayor to lift the burden on Tevez.

‘But I think if we want to win something we must understand that we can play without Carlos or Yaya Toure. We must be a good team without these fantastic players or we will not improve.

Game over: Yaya Toure was the driving force behind much of City's good work

‘At the moment Carlos isn’t in 100 per cent form because he didn’t work for one month after the World Cup, but this goal can help. He is an important player who can improve as a captain and help the team more.’

Tevez was guilty of a terrible miss in the defeat at Sunderland three weeks ago, and a meagre five points from four games had left Mancini in a sticky situation after spending another £126m on players this summer.

But the Argentine did not seem to be haunted by that memory two minutes before half-time when Joe Hart’s kick skidded into his path off the head of Mohamed Diame.

Outpacing the hesitant Antolin Alcaraz across the heavy surface, Tevez raced in on goal and drew Ali Al Habsi before chipping the Wigan goalkeeper from 25 yards.

Silva lining: David Silva came through 72 minutes and appears to be improving with every game

‘It was a bit of a freak incident but City didn’t have to work for the chance,’ lamented Wigan boss
Roberto Martinez. ‘We need to sense danger a little better.’

If City midfielder Nigel de Jong was a little fortunate to pick up only a yellow card for a series of challenges in the first half, mainly on Franco Di Santo, it was Wigan who went over the top after the break with Charles N’Zogbia shoving Pablo Zabaleta into the advertising hoardings, and both Steve Gohouri and Emmerson Boyce leaving Tevez in a heap.

But he picked himself up to lay on City’s second goal in the 70th minute, capitalising on the almost comical failure of Gohouri and Maynor Figueroa to deal with Zabaleta’s cross by driving the ball to the far post where Toure was waiting to score his first goal since arriving from Barcelona in the summer.

Brotherly love: Yaya Toure notched his first City goal to seal the points

There was still time for Adam Johnson to send a deflected cross against the bar and for Gohouri to almost trouble Hart with Wigan’s only chance, but City know there will be no such charity on offer against Chelsea next Saturday.

‘We created City’s best chances and that’s the most disappointing thing,’ said Martinez, whose side have now conceded 13 goals in four home games.

‘There’s a softness in our defence that puts games beyond our reach. It’s something we need to eradicate.

‘Our attitude wasn’t good enough. We’ve let ourselves down.’
Match Facts

WIGAN (4-5-1): Al Habsi 6; Boyce 5 (Stam 65, 5), Gohouri 4, Alcaraz 4, Figueroa 5; N’Zogbia 6 (Moses 86), McCarthy 5, Diame 5 (Watson 86), Thomas 6, Rodallega 5; Di Santo 6. Subs not used: Kirkland, Boselli, S Caldwell, Gomez. Booked: Gohouri.

MAN CITY (4-5-1): Hart 6; Richards 6, K Toure 6, Kompany 6, Zabaleta 6; De Jong 7, Barry 6; Milner, Y Toure 7 (Jo 74, 6), Silva 7 (A Johnson 72, 7); Tevez 8 (Wright-Phillips 88). Subs not used: Given, Boyata, Vieira, Santa Cruz. Booked: De Jong, Y Toure.

Referee: Lee Probert.

Man of the match: Carlos Tevez.

Attendance: 15,525.

source: dailymail [endtext]

Chelsea 4 Blackpool 0: Poor Blackpool couldn't afford a meal here, let alone compete

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By Martin Samuel

Perfect start: Salomon Kalou is congratulated by Florent Malouda after scoring Chelsea's opening goal

If this had been a cricket match it would have been one of those investigated by the ICC for suspicious scoring patterns.

Chelsea were four goals up before half-time, at which moment anything was possible, even double figures.

The sole final score that nobody considered probable was 4-0. The prospect of Chelsea failing to add to their first-half total was unthinkable.

In the circumstances — and ruling out the potential for foul play — bookmakers must have cleaned up.

Hit a little, block a little, is supposed to be the formula for successful spot fixing in one-day cricket, and score plenty, score none at all, would certainly work equally well in football.

There is no question, however, of Chelsea deliberately failing to grind Blackpool into the dust, their surprising 45-minute drought being a combination of ennui, desperate defending, poor finishing and a revival that, incredibly, saw the opposition amass the best chances of the half.

Branislav Ivanovic cleared off the line and Petr Cech made several good saves, enabling the visiting supporters to add genial mockery to their appealing disposition by informing Chelsea that they were not as good as Arsenal (who beat Blackpool 6-0 at home).

‘You’ve only got four,’ they teased to the tune of Sloop John B and, ironic or not, there was the odd boo from the home support when Mark Clattenburg brought the game to a halt, Chelsea no further forward than they had been at the break.

Still, mustn’t grumble. Even an average Chelsea performance is a thing of beauty these days, and this was a completely average Chelsea performance, in that before the game they had scored 40 goals in 10 games and after it they had scored 44 in 11.

Doubling up: Florent Malouda celebrates his second goal

So easy has their procession through the Barclays Premier League fixture list been that the sole worry could be that they travel to Manchester City at the end of the week undercooked.

‘We can achieve great performances against very big teams,’ said Florent Malouda, once again exceptional in his wide forward role.

‘People are too concerned about the Manchester City game; they do not give us credit for what we have done before.’

Malouda did, however, add that Chelsea could be more focussed, while Didier Drogba blamed a lack of concentration for Chelsea’s journey backwards through the gears.

They will need to be sharper for longer in Manchester on Saturday, make no mistake about that.

Blackpool could not even afford a meal at Stamford Bridge, let alone attempt to compete with the many millions thrown at the team.

Too easy: Drogba scores Chelsea's fourth goal
They asked Chelsea to cost portions of lasagne to be consumed on the return journey north, and the quote came back at £15 per head.

Too rich for Blackpool’s blood, apparently. The chairman had a pink fit when Newcastle asked them for a fiver each for lasagne earlier this month. Sandwiches it was, then.

They would certainly have worked up an appetite, though. Even playing within themselves, Chelsea’s movement is exhausting and in the first half they were a big blue perpetual motion machine.

A cynic might argue the game was won within 72 seconds when Chelsea scored their first, but they maintained a stunning tempo for the 2,628 seconds that followed, too, and Blackpool were no match.

In addition to the goals, there was a solid penalty appeal from Ashley Cole against defender Dekel Keinan, several near misses and one save from goalkeeper Matthew Gilks that denied Drogba one of the greatest goals of his career.

He started it with a back-heel and one touch later took three defenders out of the game; still, it was not to be.

Family affair: Injured midfielder Frank Lampard watches on from the stands with father Frank, and girlfriend Christine Bleakley
Blackpool have only themselves to blame for the day turning sour so quickly, however.

Chelsea won an early corner, Drogba whipped it in, Ivanovic flicked the ball on and Salomon Kalou finished comfortably at the far post.

Stage fright struck Ian Holloway’s men instantly, with unsurprising results. In the 12th minute, a fine pass from Michael Essien found Drogba on the right and Malouda hit a low shot from his cross for the second.

Cole, in brilliant form this season, then made the third after 30 minutes, his cross picking out Drogba, whose shot wrong-footed the helpless Gilks thanks to an unfortunate deflection.

By now, Chelsea were playing for fun as several outrageous Drogba tricks indicated, but the fourth goal encapsulated the quality that truly makes them special: sublime skill married to a magnificent work ethic.

Cole had gone forward, so Drogba took his place at left back and from that position chased across into midfield to dispossess the slow-witted Elliot Grandin.

Black humour: Charlie Adam's tumble summed up Blackpool's lot

His forward pass from deep was the highlight of the day and was seized by Kalou, who found Malouda for a low shot across Gilks. Perfection.

Carlo Ancelotti, the Chelsea manager, said it was a pleasure to watch his team play in the first half, before acknowledging that greater challenges lie ahead.

He added that it was hard to maintain the intensity after the fourth goal went in; a frequent problem for him, but one that would delight other managers.

Holloway, for instance. ‘Some of the movement Chelsea showed was just different, my players had never seen anything like it,’ he said.

‘They are a credit to the club. Anyone who beats them must have a fantastic team.

'In some ways this was always going to happen. The fact is, we’ve got to get closer to these teams than we are now, because we’re light years away.’

Perhaps the moment that summed up that fact came in the 62nd minute when Blackpool captain Charlie Adam began to sprint with the ball down the left flank. Malouda kept him company, almost coasting.

On Adam went, lacking the speed to leave his man behind, or the flair to beat him with a cunning turn. Malouda maintained his pace, almost curiously by now, waiting for the denouement.

Adam reached the by-line, still resolutely one paced, shaped to cross, stubbed a foot in the turf and fell over. The ball rolled into touch. Everyone laughed, even the Blackpool contingent.

Well, what else was there to do?
Match facts

Chelsea (4-3-3): Cech 7; Ferreira 6, Alex 6 (Bruma 71min, 6), Ivanovic 7, Cole 8; Essien 8, Mikel 7 (Benayoun 77), Ramires 7 (Zhirkov 74, 6); Malouda 8, Drogba 9, Kalou 7. Subs not used: Turnbull, Sturridge, Anelka, Kakuta. Booked: Drogba.

BLACKPOOL (4-1-4-1): Gilks 7; Eardley 4 (Taylor-Fletcher 46, 6), Keinan 5, Evatt 5, Crainey 5; Baptiste 5; Grandin 5 (Harewood 60, 5), Vaughan 6, Adam 5, Varney 5 (Ormerod 60, 6); Campbell 5.
Subs not used: Halstead, Cathcart, Southern, Carney. Booked: Eardley, Vaughan.

Man of the match: Didier Drogba.

Referee: Mark Clattenburg.

Attendance: 41,761.

source: dailymail
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Yoshiki of X Japan has a video message for fans

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X Japan leader, Yoshiki, has made a video message to all their fans.

For those of you who are in Los Angeles, get ready, because there’s only seven days till one of Japan’s biggest bands starts off their North American tour.

source: tokyohive

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Performances from 2010 Hallyu Dream Concert

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You have seen the pictures, now get ready for the broadcast version!

Today, the 2010 Hallyu Dream Concert that took place on September 12th at Kyungju Citizen’s Stadium was shown in place of the weekly Sunday broadcast of SBS Inkigayo.

The event, hosted by Kim Heechul, Taecyeon and actress Kim Min Jung, was filled with terrific performances from a lineup of 22 K-pop artists/groups, including Super Junior, 2PM, SHINee, 2AM, 2NE1, SE7en, 4minute, BEAST, Son Dambi, KARA, After School, miss A, F.T. Island, Supernova, Davichi, T-ara, MBLAQ, U-Kiss, ZE:A, Secret, Flower, and Seo In Kook.

Due to broadcast constraints, not everything can be shown.

Super Junior – Sorry, Sorry

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Miss Slovakia 2010, Marina Georgievova

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MISS SLOVAKIA WORLD 2010, Marina Georgievova

18 year old Marina Georgievova was crowned as the new Miss Slovakia 2010 or Miss Slovensko 2010. She stands 1.73m tall and from Banska Bystrica. Marina Georgievova will represent her country at the Miss World 2010 beauty pageant.

Marina Georgievova crowned Miss Slovakia 2010. She will represent her country in Miss World 2010. The 1st runner-up was Martina Davidova, who will compete in Miss International 2010, and the 2nd runner-up was Tatiana Kohutova.