News Corp sells MySpace to Timberlake

STAR of one of the hit films in 2010, Justin Timberlake now has his own Social Network.  The actor and singer, who featured heavily in the film about the birth of Facebook, now own MySpace, alongside another US advertising agency.

     News Corporation have decided to sell the social networking site, which in recent years, has really struggled to keep up in the social network world, largely thanks to Facebook’s domination and the rise of Twitter.  The deal is thought to be around £22million, but falls well short of the £60million that News Corporation wanted for the company.

     With Timberlake’s help, the new owners are hoping to be able to revive MySpace’s fortunes.  Understandably, Timberlake is delighted and sees some promising opportunities for his new venture;

“I’m excited to help revitalise MySpace by using its social media platform to bring artists and fans together.”

     Under the deal, News Corp will retain a minor five per cent stake in MySpace, and now has holdings in the US firm that has teamed up with Timberlake to thrash out the deal, believed to be Specific Media. 

UNPOPULAR: Can Timberlake turn around the fortunes of MySpace?

     MySpace has been around on computers, phones and various networks since 2003.  News Corp has owned MySpace since 2005 but in the last three years, it has simply failed to cope with the excessive craze people have for Facebook.  I know this personally, having had a MySpace account myself in 2007, but deleted it last year, due to the lack of use of the site.  The early plans for the change in MySpace will be to boost its content of music videos, blogging and original TV shows.

     It is a brave move from Justin Timberlake to enter into the social networking world and he will need to spend a lot of time to eclipse Facebook and turn MySpace into a worthy and strong challenger again in this particular genre.

F1's day of shame - The Indianapolis 2005 tyre debacle

AS THE FIA and the Grand Prix teams clash over whether we should end up going to race in Bahrain this season, I will share the darkest day the sport shared in recent times, when politics overcame sport and turned one of the greatest shows in sport into an utter farce.  The 2005 United States Grand Prix at Indianapolis was the day when Formula One rejected America and many fans walked away in disgust.  Here are the events of a dark weekend in its colourful 61-year history.

     Formula One arrived in Indianapolis, the capital of the motor racing world for the ninth round of the 2005 world championship.  After another dramatic event in Montreal, many were gripped by the intense title battle between young guns Fernando Alonso and Kimi Raikkonen.  Alonso had a handy championship lead for Renault, but Raikkonen’s victory in the Canadian Grand Prix seven days earlier had put pressure on Fernando, who crashed in Montreal.  Any talk of championship potential quickly whittled away when free practice began in America.

CHAIN: Dark events took place after Ralf Schumacher's crash

     The weekend looked like it might turn into a bleak one when Toyota test driver Ricardo Zonta spun off the track into the turn four gravel trap, with a right-rear puncture.  Surely, this was just a dodgy set of tyres?  No, it wasn’t.  Moments later, fellow Toyota driver Ralf Schumacher crashed heavily in the turn 13 banked oval, also due to a right-rear tyre failure.  Ironically, it was at the same place where Ralf had crashed his Williams in the 2004 event, which forced him to miss six races of the previous campaign.  Incredibly, he got out of his battered chassis unharmed, but clearly had been shaken up, and missed the rest of the weekend.  With Ralf okay, attention soon turned to how the accident had been caused.  Speculation began to rise that the Michelin tyres might not be able to handle the newly resurfaced track on the turn 13 banked oval.

      On Saturday morning, Michelin wrote to the FIA, insisting that they did not have total guarantee that the tyres would be able to handle the resurfaced area, unless a speed restriction, such as a chicane was put into place.  Meetings were held throughout the weekend between the FIA, team bosses and drivers to discuss the possible solutions that could occur.  As Michelin were supplying seven of the ten teams; Toyota, McLaren, Sauber, Renault, Red Bull, BAR and Williams, it was clear that this was a dire situation.  Michelin flew over tyre constructions that had been used in May’s Spanish Grand Prix, but they also couldn’t hold up to the turn 13 corner, especially over a full Grand Prix distance.  As all drivers in 2005 were required to complete qualifying and the race on just a single set of tyres, this was a big problem.  It is believed that the Michelin teams offered the chance to handicap themselves, such as grid penalties, fines for tyre changes and even no points for teams and drivers, just so the fans could see a race spectacle.  They all pushed for a temporary chicane to be installed in turn 13 by raceday.

     Come race morning, and the chicane had not been built overnight.  FIA president Max Mosley insisted that a chicane couldn’t be built, as if a crash occurred on a temporary part of road and injury occurred, an American judge wouldn’t care less about the background and would throw the book at the accused.  As ITV (UK), Speed TV (USA), Ten (Australia) and other worldwide broadcasters went on the air to start their race build-up, no-one knew whether a race would take place.

      The Michelin teams were furious and until more meetings were held, insisted they would not leave the pits on raceday.  Minardi, a Bridgestone shod-team joined the party, and accusations soon pointed in Ferrari’s direction.  There were claims that Ferrari felt a significant disadvantage would be handed to them, for having suitable tyres.  Bridgestone, only represented by Ferrari, Minardi and Jordan bought a conservative race tyre to Indianapolis, as the Japanese manufacturer understood the risks of potential high tyre wear through the resurfaced turn 13.  With twenty minutes to go, before the scheduled 1pm race start, the Michelin teams were given permission to go out to the grid.  On the grid, team bosses were still holding discussions, which still suggested that things weren’t right.  Even FOM president Bernie Ecclestone didn't seem to know much about what was going on when ITV commentator Martin Brundle pressed him for answers on the grid.  After all, with many worldwide sponsors in presence, a huge television audience to please and an expectant crowd at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Formula One was under pressure to deliver.

      No-one quite knew what was going to happen as the cars set off on the formation lap, with drivers warming up in a normal procedure.  Toyota had taken their first pole position through Jarno Trulli, with Raikkonen alongside him.  Alonso had only managed sixth in qualifying, behind Jenson Button, team-mate Giancarlo Fisichella and the first Ferrari of Michael Schumacher.  As the cars approached the final corner, Alonso was told by his race engineer the plan for this event; “straight into the pits mate.”  Pole man Trulli led the teams with Michelin tyres into the pits.  All the Michelin-shod teams were pulling out of the event.  A shocked Schumacher led team-mate Rubens Barrichello around onto an empty grid, with only two Jordan’s and two Minardi’s also lining up at the back of the grid.  As Schumacher led the six-car farce into turn one, the Michelin teams stood back and watched.

      The drivers all wanted to race, and were just as disappointed.  Ron Dennis had to restrain Kimi Raikkonen from racing, Jenson Button looked as white as a sheep in the pits, Mark Webber disappeared into his motorhome and didn’t appear for the rest of the afternoon and Juan Pablo Montoya broke down in tears, gutted at not being able to race in an event close to his heart (he won the Indianapolis 500 in 2000.)  Other drivers like Felipe Massa didn’t hang around and headed straight for the airport, probably contemplating the following morning’s dismal media headlines.  It was a disappointing and shameful conclusion to events.  As soon as the Michelin teams headed for the pits, I myself turned off my TV and went off to do some exam revision.  Being a massive F1 fan myself, I was devastated, angry, hurt and ashamed to even be associated with a sport where political rows could overtake a sporting spectacle.  It took the majority of the rest of the 2005 season for me to forgive Formula One and its higher forces for this shoddy debacle. 

      For the record, Schumacher went onto win his only race of that season, and all six cars finished.  Tiago Montiero became the first Portuguese driver to finish on the podium for Jordan.  Many fans didn’t stay around to watch, leaving the circuit in disgust and throwing beer bottles and other pieces of litter onto the circuit.  Those actions shouldn’t happen, but their frustration could be shared by millions across the world.   

      Michelin accepted responsibility and agreed to refund all fans who attended the 2005 United States Grand Prix.  They also purchased 15,000 free tickets to give away for the following year’s event.  However, their credibility was shattered and they left F1 at the end of the 2006 season.  F1’s reputation in America suffered too.  The sport returned to Indianapolis for two more seasons, but poor attendances led to its demise from the calendar at the end of its contract in 2007.  It will return to a new circuit in Texas next summer.

      Formula One has had many scarred days in its past.  Few will forget the tragic events of Imola 1994, nor the team orders scandal in Austria 2002, but Indianapolis 2005 will stand out as the day politics and bickering beat sport, in a biggest tyre debacle of the decade. 

      Let’s hope the sport doesn’t go to Bahrain this October, otherwise we could be set for another dark day in its history.

F1 classic races - Malaysia

IN A new series, I will be looking back at six classic races every weekend from the country about to stage an event in the 2011 FIA Formula One World Championship.  This is my selection, of races in Malaysia between 1999 and 2010.  Enjoy the archive!

1999

WINNER: Eddie Irvine (Ferrari), 2^nd: Michael Schumacher (Ferrari), 3rd: Mika Hakkinen (McLaren Mercedes)

THE first trip to Sepang was for the penultimate round of the 1999 championship.  Ferrari looked on the ropes after a shambolic performance at the previous event at the Nurburgring, but played their wild card to great effect.  Michael Schumacher made his comeback here after breaking his leg at the British Grand Prix and destroyed the competition in Malaysia.  He took pole position by a full second, and insisted he would help Eddie Irvine’s bid to become Ferrari’s first world champion since 1979.  On raceday, Schumacher pulled over to let Irvine through early on, but David Coulthard bravely found a way past the German’s defences and set after Irvine.  Alternator problems put paid to DC’s hopes and Schumacher spent the rest of the day going as slow as possible to help out Irvine and harm Mika Hakkinen’s hopes of a second consecutive title.  After pitstops, Schumacher was ahead again and once again, did his duty for Irvine to claim the maximum points.  Hakkinen finished an exhausted third, but was champion hours later when both Ferrari’s were thrown out for illegal barge boards.  The Scuderia appealed in Paris and the FIA overturned the decision made by the race stewards in Malaysia to take the title showdown all the way down to Suzuka.  Michael Schumacher was well and truly back! 

2001

WINNER: Michael Schumacher (Ferrari), 2^nd: Rubens Barrichello (Ferrari), 3rd: David Coulthard (McLaren Mercedes)

SYNCHRONISED: Gravel trips from Ferrari couldn't stop them in 2001

When the results show a Ferrari 1-2, it suggests this was a boring race.  Far from it!  A typical Malaysian monsoon hit the track three laps into the event.  Combined with oil from Olivier Panis BAR Honda engine, Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello both skated into the gravel in synchronised style.  After a chaotic pitstop, which saw Barrichello in the pits for over a minute, the Ferrari’s went on intermediate tyres.  It was a masterstroke, which left the rest of the opposition look like complete fools.  Barrichello and Schumacher went from 10^th and 11^th to 1^st and 2^nd in less than ten laps, and the rest they say is history.  David Coulthard was best of the rest.

2003

WINNER: Kimi Raikkonen (McLaren Mercedes), 2^nd: Rubens Barrichello (Ferrari), 3^rd: Fernando Alonso (Renault)

This will go down as the weekend when the young guns truly burst onto the Grand Prix scene.  At 21 years of age, Fernando Alonso took a stunning pole position in his only his second start for Renault, becoming the youngest ever driver to do so in the process.  On Sunday, 23-year old Kimi Raikkonen finally fulfilled his raw talent by recording his first career victory, and left Ron Dennis in tears.  David Coulthard was denied a shot at victory by engine failure, whilst Michael Schumacher made a meal of the first lap and smashed into the side of Jarno Trulli, causing chaos and ending Juan Pablo Montoya’s chances of serious points, as his rear wing was assaulted by Antonio Pizzonia.  Trulli and Schumacher wound up fifth and sixth, behind Barrichello and Alonso, who became the first Spaniard on a Grand Prix podium for the first time since 1956.

2004

WINNER: Michael Schumacher (Ferrari), 2^nd: Juan Pablo Montoya (Williams BMW), 3^rd: Jenson Button (BAR Honda)

Michael Schumacher may have made it two wins from two in 2004, but the day belonged to Jenson Button.  The Brit has suffered rotten luck in Malaysia in the previous two years, having been overtaken by Schumacher on the last lap himself.  This time, he managed a late engine issue to beat Rubens Barrichello across the line and join the elite of stepping onto the podium for the first time.  Juan Pablo Montoya pushed Schumacher all the way, but had to settle for second; unhappy with Barrichello holding him up just after his final stop.  Sadly, Mark Webber couldn’t convert his outstanding front row grid spot for Jaguar.  He had clutch problems at the start, a drive-through for speeding in the pits, a clash with Ralf Schumacher which punctured one of his tyres and eventually, his shambolic race ended in the kitty litter.

2005

WINNER: Fernando Alonso (Renault), 2^nd: Jarno Trulli (Toyota), 3^rd: Nick Heidfeld (Williams BMW)

PACKED: The midfield in 2005 was tough to separate

Two years after he truly made a name for himself in Malaysia, Fernando Alonso began his charge to his first ever championship with a dominant victory in Kuala Lumpur.  He started from the front and led every lap to beat Jarno Trulli, his former team-mate at Renault.  Trulli’s second place finish was Toyota’s first podium in Formula One.  Winner of the opening race Giancarlo Fisichella had a tangle with Australian Mark Webber, which ended both of their races.  This opened the door for Nick Heidfeld to register the final rostrum spot in the sister Williams.  Michael Schumacher was a very distant 7^th, Kimi Raikkonen finished out of the points following a puncture and neither BAR completed three laps, due to engine woes!

2009

WINNER: Jenson Button (Brawn Mercedes), 2^nd: Nick Heidfeld (BMW Sauber), 3^rd: Timo Glock (Toyota)

Only half points were awarded in the 2009 race, as fading light and a tropical rainstorm halted the event after just 31 laps.  However, in the racing laps that took place, there was plenty of excitement.  Jenson Button had pole position, but dropped to fourth on the first corner, as Nico Rosberg charged into the lead.  The early exchanges saw Fernando Alonso battle bravely with a Renault that simply wasn’t up to the front running pace.  Despite his best efforts, he dropped from third to seventh in the first ten laps.  Button used the pitstops to leapfrog both Rosberg and Jarno Trulli and began to pull away at the front.  His only main threat came from the other Toyota of Timo Glock.  Glock had put intermediates on when the rain began to fell, and quickly passed a load of cars that had trundled around on the extreme wets.  The German even led the race for a lap, but was passed by Button and Nick Heidfeld, who had deployed a similar tactic to his countryman.  Mark Webber, Rosberg, Trulli, Lewis Hamilton and Rubens Barrichello were involved in a frenzied battle for fourth place, eventually won by Trulli.  The race ended as Sebastian Buemi, Sebastian Vettel and Giancarlo Fisichella all flew into the gravel trap in undriveable conditions.  It was another miserable day for Ferrari, with Felipe Massa out of the points and Kimi Raikkonen put onto wets on a bone dry track!  The Finn eventually retired with a KERS related issue.  Button had set his stall out to dominate the 2009 season, and the early season races were all about him and Brawn GP. 

Freddie Says Goodbye To The Cricket Arena

Whilst the County Championship was being settled on Thursday afternoon, one of England’s greatest ever Cricket players was announcing his retirement from the game.  Andrew ‘Freddie’ Flintoff has retired from the Cricket arena, on the recommendations of doctors and surgeons, due to a constant knee injury, that has plagued him ever since the Ashes triumph of 2005.

Flintoff’s career came to an end as it turned out in August 2009, when he played a minor role in helping England regain the Ashes last summer against Australia.  This was despite a fantastic five-wicket haul at Lord’s, and more memorably, running out the Australian captain Ricky Ponting on the final afternoon of the series at The Oval.  He bowed out of the test scene there and then, but he hoped to carry on playing 20:20 cricket for England, county championship action for Lancashire and in the fast-paced Indian Premier League for the Chennai Super Kings.  However, after two more surgeries required in the last twelve months, both unsuccessful, Freddie has decided to make the right decision and call it a day at the age of 32.  Bookmakers are already slashing odds on Flintoff appearing in some form of reality show like ‘I’m A Celebrity, Get Me out of Here,’ before the end of the year.

Rather than facing the press about his decision, Flintoff chose to tell the world via a released statement:

"The decision to end my career came yesterday after consultation with medical advisers."  "I was told that the problems I have been trying to overcome in rehab for the last year following the latest in a series of operations would not recover sufficiently to allow a comeback.  "I will now be taking a break before deciding which future direction to take."

In his charismatic career with England, Flintoff took 226 test wickets and 169 wickets in the one-day form of the game.  He played 79 tests, scoring nearly 4,000 test runs, averaging 31.77.  This included five flamboyant centuries, including a crucial century in the Trent Bridge test of 2005, that helped England earn the crucial 2-1 series advantage against Australia to win the coveted urn for the first time in eighteen years.  He was captain of his country for the doomed defence of the Ashes in Australia, losing 5-0 in the winter of 2006/07.  His Ashes exploits also earned Flintoff the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award for 2005.  Off the field, Flintoff was known to like a cigarette, and didn’t set the greatest examples of professional behaviour to youngsters on occasions.  Most memorably, he slurred through several interviews, having knocked back many in the 2005 Ashes celebrations.  He was also stripped of the England captaincy during the 2007 Cricket World Cup, for escaping from the team hotel and crashing a pedalo, whilst drunk. 

However, nothing can take out his dramatic effect on the game and although England have moved on fairly well since his departure from Test Cricket, his missing presence in this winter’s Ashes series will be felt, by both sides. 

After all, the remarkable Ashes Series of 2005 was truly the summer where we fell in love with the game of Cricket, and that was all down to the remarkable, outstanding Andrew ‘Freddie’ Flintoff.

Free-To-Air Sports TV List Deferred

A decision on the future of free-to-air sport television events to be shown in the future, including home England Ashes Test matches has been deferred until the completion of the UK digital switchover in 2013. 

In November 2009, an independent review was recommended, led by the former chief executive of the FA, David Davies.  On the proposed list, the Winter Olympics, rugby league’s Challenge Cup final and the Epsom Derby would disappear from the free-to-air list, with the Rugby World Cup, England’s World Cup qualification matches and the Ashes would be added.  At the time, the panel also recommended a secondary list of protected events, which must have highlights available as free-to-air, to be abolished.  The delayed announcement which was made on Wednesday means that the current list, last drawn up in 1998 will remain the same for the short-term at least.  This means, that Sky are likely to still hold onto the 2013 home Ashes series.  The last terrestrial broadcaster to hold live Ashes cricket on free-to-air was Channel 4 back in 2005.

It is caused a lot of concern and talk about the future of many sports.  For now at least, things will not change:

PROPOSED LISTED SPORTING EVENTS (As made by the panel in November 2009)

Olympic Games
FIFA World Cup finals
UEFA European Championship finals
Grand National
FA Cup final
Scottish FA Cup
Home and away football qualifiers for World Cup and European Championship Wimbledon Championship
Open golf championship
Cricket's home Ashes Test matches
Rugby World Cup

CURRENT LISTED SPORTING EVENTS (Last changed back in 1998)

Group A (Full live coverage protected)

Olympic Games
FIFA World Cup finals
European Football Championship finals
FA Cup final
Scottish FA Cup final (protected in Scotland)
Grand National Epsom Derby
Wimbledon tennis finals Rugby League Challenge Cup Final
Rugby World Cup final

Group B (Highlights only on free-to-air TV)

This secondary list would be scrapped.

England's home cricket Test matches
Other matches, excluding finals, at Wimbledon Championships
Other matches, excluding final, at Rugby World Cup
Six Nations matches involving home countries
Commonwealth Games
World Athletics Championships
Cricket World Cup - final, semi-finals and matches involving home nations
Ryder Cup
Open golf championship

Robbie Returns To Take That - A Mistake Or A Wise Move?

On Thursday night, the worst secret is music was revealed, as after fifteen years and constant speculation over whether it might happen, Robbie Williams will return to Take That.  They will work together on a new album for the band, due to be released around Christmas time, and go on tour together next year.

Williams quit the band fifteen years ago, after a row with the manager of Take That, and various disagreements with the other band members.  Now, he will be reunited with the Mark Owen, Gary Barlow, Howard Donald and Jason Orange for the first time since they record the No.1 song ‘Nobody Else,’ back in 1995.

All five singers have written the songs for the new album, which is due for release in late November.  Their first appearance back on stage together came last September in New York, shortly after Take That’s ‘The Circus Live’ tour.  Since then, speculation has intensified about a proper reunion, which included Robbie and Gary working together on Simon Cowell’s charity single ‘Everybody Hurts,’ for the Haiti earthquake appeal.

Take That spilt back in March 1996, having been the heartthrobs for many girls during the 90’s.  Songs such ‘A Million Love Songs’ and ‘Relight My Fire,’ got the pulses racing of many girls, and won critical acclaim from music experts.  They reformed in 2005, and have gone on to even further success, with three No.1’s (Shine, Patience & Rule the World) and two sell-out tours.  Robbie Williams has also gone onto great success as a solo artist, releasing ‘Bodies’ last year, adding to his growing collection of unstoppable hits from the past, including ‘Millennium,’ ‘Angels,’ and ‘Rock DJ.’  This year, Williams won the Outstanding Music Contribution award at the BRITS.  Since leaving Take That, he has eight UK albums released.

Fellow band mate Mark Owen told the BBC of his delight at Robbie’s return.

“Getting the five of us to be in a room together, although always a dream, never actually seemed like becoming a reality.”  “Now the reality of the five of us making a record together feels like a dream.”  “It’s been an absolute delight spending time with Rob again.  But I’m still a better footballer!”

It is still unclear whether this is a temporary reunion, or a permanent move.  It could have a major impact on the fortunes of both Take That and Robbie Williams future careers.  Having been a big fan of Take That myself in the 1990’s, I generally hope this move works for both parties, but can’t help feel that this is a major gamble that has been taken.

6 Music Is Reprieved - The Campaign Worked!

BBC Radio 6 Music has been saved this week, after massive petitions and campaigns to keep the station alive, have been approved by the BBC Trust.  The initial plans to shut the station in January 2010 seem to have been overturned.

The governing body of the BBC – which is the BBC Trust, said it was still planning cuts to its digital service, but understood the support fans have for 6 Music, and clearly felt under pressure and a possible public uproar, should their controversial plans had gone ahead.  It is now believed that the BBC is considering its digital radio future, at the next broadcasting strategic review, planned for the autumn this year.

The chairman of the BBC, Sir Michael Lyons is still convinced that there is a lot of uncertainty over the national switchover to DAB.  The government is expecting a switch to the DAB in 2013.  The government believes that by 2013, 50% of people should be listening to digital radio, despite its very slow uptake on sales since it made its technological breakthrough seven years ago.  The high prices and poor coverage reception, might well explain why forecasts of people listening, via the digital format is 22% behind where they should be.  The recession has also played a major factor – with Channel 4 shutting down its digital radio plans back in 2008. 

The Culture Secretary, Jeremy Hunt has pledged his support for 6 Music, and since news of its expected closure were broken in the press, the audience viewing figures have risen by over 50%.  However, there are still plans to trim spending of the BBC Online format by 25%, as well as the full shutting down of the BBC Asian Network.

Whilst 6 Music looks like it has been saved, the traditional analogue TV have finally disappeared from the High Street.  Last month saw absolutely no sales of the old television format for the first time ever, since it was invented back in 1925, by John Logie Baird.  The digital switchover began in Whitehaven, back in 2005 and now 20% of the UK has been converted.  By 2012, the whole of the UK will have a digital TV signal.  

Five Years On From One Unbelievable Night In Istanbul

It is five years on today, from one of the greatest nights ever in the prestigious history of Liverpool Football club.  No Liverpool fan present in the Ataturk Stadium in Istanbul, nor the millions listening on radios and watching on giant TV’s across the city, in bars and clubs and in home throughout the country will ever forget the night Rafa Benitez’s Mighty Reds became European Champions in the most unbelievable manner.  It is time to reminisce the over-riding joy of such an epic night full of emotions.

It is Wednesday 25^th May 2005, and it is a beautiful summer’s day across the country, whilst in Turkey, Liverpool’s date in Istanbul in the 2005 UEFA Champions League Final, against the mighty Serie A giants, AC Milan.

The 2004/05 domestic season for Liverpool had been a struggle.  Crippling injuries and a dire away record left Liverpool finishing the season a disappointing 5^th beaten in the final table by our domestic neighbours from Stanley Park, Everton.  This meant a season of UEFA Cup football was set to follow at Anfield, toppled with the fact that we finished nearly 40 points behind the new champions, Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea.  Our best form had been saved for the Champions League.  

Who could forget Steven Gerrard’s stunning strike against Olympiakos in the group stages, which kept us in the competition by the skin of our teeth, the slaying of Italian champions Juventus, then the controversial ‘goal’ that shattered Chelsea’s treble dream and loosened Mourinho’s grip on the European Cup during a nail-biting early May night at Anfield.  For the first time in twenty years, Liverpool were heading to a European Cup final, could we pull out one more historic performance and complete the most unlikely of triumphs.

The first half was forgettable, not because we were so bad, more the case of Milan playing football out of this world, that no-one could live with.  Milan skipper Paolo Maldini volleyed his side infront inside of 50 seconds, and then Chelsea loanee Hernan Crespo scored a quick fire double to leave Reds fan devastated.  With a dejected Harry Kewell limping off before half-time and Steve Finnan forced off at the interval, everything seemed to be going against Liverpool.  In six crazy minutes, Liverpool roared back into the final, with quite probably, the greatest ever sporting comeback ever seen.

Ten minutes into the second half, Steven Gerrard headed in a deep John Arne Riise cross and pulled the scoreline back to 3-1.  Suddenly, doubts crept into the back of AC Milan minds; manager Carlo Ancelotti was chewing his gum far harder than he had just two minutes earlier.  Moments later, substitute Dietmar Hamann found Vladimir Smicer and in his final Reds appearance, the Czech hit an optimistic shot which the unconvincing Dida spilt through his grasp and into the net.  Now, the comeback was well and truly on, miracles are well and truly possible!  Then, Gerrard links up with the frustrating Milan Baros and is tripped by Gennaro Gattuso.  No doubts from the Spanish referee Gonzalez, who points to the spot, Gattuso lucky to stay on the pitch.  Step up Xabi Alonso, with a chance to equalise for Liverpool.  The penalty was pretty tame and Dida saved it, but Alonso snapped up the rebound and lofted the ball into the top of the net.  Mission impossible had been accomplished.  Five minutes earlier, Liverpool had been 3-0 down – now they were on level terms.

For the rest of the game, Milan looked shell-shocked, but started to gain a sense of control again.  With the match edging closer towards penalty, Brazilian Serginho whips a dangerous ball into the penalty area, which is met by Ukraine goal machine Andrei Shevchenko.  Surely, he must score!  However, he didn’t as somehow, Jerzy Dudek denied him twice.  Even now, Dudek probably doesn’t know how he kept Shevchenko now, and quite probably, neither does Sheva himself.

Into the drama and tension of a penalty shootout, and its Milan who go first.  Serginho’s first penalty belonged in the ‘House of Horrors!’ It was a shocking kick, and Andrea Pirlo’s lame effort was stopped heroically by Dudek.  Dietmar Hamann banged his kick home, as did super sub Djibril Cisse.  Liverpool, 2-0 up, now the dream was looking like a real reality.  Jon Dahl Tomasson made no mistake, and nor did Kaka for the Italians, despite Dudek’s best attempts to put the kickers off by copying the ‘wobbly legs’ format that Bruce Grobbelaar had successfully achieved in the 1984 final.  In between this, Dida did enough to push Riise’s effort around the post.  Still, Liverpool were in control and Smicer made it match point, dispatching his penalty with efficient calm.  What it meant now was that Shevchenko, who had scored the winning penalty in the diabolical 2003 final at Old Trafford, had to score.  The weight of the world was firmly on his shoulders, and his kick wasn’t the best.  Dudek pulled off a terrific stop and the European Cup was returning to England, and to Anfield.  LIVERPOOL ARE CHAMPIONS OF EUROPE AGAIN!!

The most extraordinary final, had a most incredible final twist.  Liverpool had their hands on the European Cup again, and this time, it was for keeps.  Their fifth success meant that this version of ‘Old Big Ears’ was going to have a permanent storage in the Anfield trophy cabinet.  Liverpool had won the European Cup back in the most unbelievable manner.  It is a night that no-one will ever forget, one of those ‘Where was I’ moments in history.

Five years on, and the fire of this success still burns strongly and deeply with everyone connected with Liverpool Football Club, ‘One Unbelievable Night in Istanbul.’