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25 June 2010 Last updated at 23:53 GMT

Michael Jackson's father files wrongful death suit

Fans around the world marked one year since the singer's death
Pop star Michael Jackson's father has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the doctor charged with giving him a lethal overdose one year ago.
The civil suit from Joe Jackson accuses Dr Conrad Murray of professional negligence in administering a fatal mix of sedatives to the singer.
The suit was filed as fans around the world marked the first anniversary of Jackson's death at the age of 50.
Dr Murray has pleaded not guilty to involuntary manslaughter in his death.
Mr Jackson's complaint seeks damages of more than $75,000 (£50,000) and alleges that Dr Murray was negligent in administering his son with the anaesthetic propofol and other drugs.
It also accuses him of secrecy and poor training and claims that Dr Murray's clinics in Las Vegas, Nevada, and Houston, Texas, did not adequately supervise him.
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Fans sing outside the Jackson family home

A spokeswoman for the doctor said she would not comment until his lawyers had reviewed the lawsuit.
The case will run parallel with the criminal trial against Dr Murray, which is expected to begin next year.
Dr Murray was treating Jackson as he prepared for a series of concerts in London.
Best seller As the suit was filed in a federal court in Los Angeles, fans of the singer around the world paid him tribute.
In New York, the Apollo Theatre - where Jackson and his brothers won a talent contest and were subsequently signed to Motown Records - fans recreated his famous dance moves and a letter from his mother Katherine was read out.
In Los Angeles, celebrities including Mickey Rooney and Corey Feldman attended a tribute to the singer, Forever Michael, at the Beverly Hills Hilton hotel.
The show included a performance by Michael's brother, Tito.
Proceeds from the event went to the Jackson Family Foundation.
In his hometown of Gary, Indiana, Jackson's mother attended a memorial service outside the performer's childhood home and unveiled a monument to him.
Other family members visited the Los Angeles cemetery where the musician is at rest and greeted some of the fans who had gathered outside.
Flowers were also left in tribute to the late star in Tokyo, where 50 fans spent the night in an exhibition of his possessions.
Continue reading the main story

• Michael Jackson: One year later

Meanwhile, prisoners in the Philippines were to mark the anniversary by staging a version of Thriller for invited members of the public on Saturday.
The inmates of Cebu jail became an internet phenomenon when they were filmed performing the dance in 2007.
Jackson has been named as the biggest selling artist in the UK since his death last year, with 4.3 million sales.
That exceeds his chart performance during his 1980s heyday, the Official Chart Company has said.

Hodgson: Where's the famous Anfield roar?

Published 23:14 29/12/10 By David Anderson

Roy Hodgson was last night defiant in the face of calls from the Kop for his head - and appeared to suggest they were a factor in his team's slump.
Liverpool fans reacted to this latest humiliation at Anfield by chanting for their hero Kenny Dalglish to replace Hodgson as boss.
And Hodgson said: He said: "Ever since I came here, the famous Anfield suppoprt hasn't really been there.
"There was he problem with the owners and Kenny being so popular and the job going to me, so I have had to live with that.

"I have to hope the fans will become supporters because we need support. We are not deliberately losing games."
Hodgson understands their frustrations, but begged them to back him, insisting he can still turn the club around.
"I've seen times like this before and I believe I can turn it round because I have belief in my ability," he said.
"I know the players are working hard to give me success as well as the club success, but at the moment we are not succeeding.
"I'm getting used to the fans chanting for Kenny. That's the way it is. He was a rival for the job, but the job was given to me and he is a Liverpool legend.
"I don't like hearing those things. I am trying to do the best job I can and I'm working hard. So it's not something I appreciate. But it is not something I can control.
"It's the Kop's way of showing they're not happy with the way the team are playing. As manager, you have to accept responsibility for that and take it on the chin."
Hodgson fears the fans' abuse of him may be denting his players' confidence and they looked lacking in self-belief against Wolves.
"It's not for lack of trying that we're not winning matches," he said.
"Maybe we are lacking quality and lacking confidence and the negativity doesn't help. The players are not getting on the ball for fear of making mistakes.
"We were hoping for a great performance where we would go flying around the pitch and we did the exact opposite.
"It was as bad a team performance as we have given, certainly here at Anfield, and to compound the problem we ended up giving them a goal.
"It was a sad way to end 2010 and a sad way to play the first game for a few weeks in front of our own supporters."
Mick McCarthy was understandably delighted that Wolves were off the bottom thanks to Stephen Ward's winner.
"I thought we were the better team and deserved it," said the Wolves boss.
"Most people's perception of Wolves would be that we would come here, sit back, get our arses slapped and our belly tickled and go home with nothing.
"But we decided that we were not having that. We would come here and have a real go and fortune favoured the brave. Justice has been a long time in coming for Stephen after Pepe Reina ran 70 yards to get him sent off here last season and it was a nice moment for him."

Rooney! Rafa! Terry-gate! World Cup heartbreak! The Top 10 most-read news stories of 2010

Published 06:00 30/12/10 By MirrorFootball

It's been a fantastic year for football - and, indeed, for MirrorFootball.co.uk, so sincere thanks to each and every one of you for making the website such a success. Have a New Year's drink on us!
To mark the end of 2010, here's a rundown of the Top 10 most-read news stories on the site this year...
10) Jimmy Jump hijacks the World Cup final
What do you remember most about the 2010 World Cup final? Iniesta's dramatic extra time winner? Nigel De Jong's karate kick on Xabi Alonso? Howard Webb's manful struggle against the onslaught of dirty tackles and dirtier tricks? Or how about infamous pitch invader Jimmy Jump's attempt to nick the trophy before kick-off? You can also watch video of the amazing incident embedded in the story.
9) Manchester United's Pep talk
The smart money says it's a matter of when, not if, Barca boss Pep Guardiola makes his way to the Premier League. Last month he was linked - almost certainly not for the last time, one feels - with the Chelsea job. But, as Martin Lipton exclusively revealed, the man himself would much rather replace Fergie at Old Trafford when the legend eventualy retires. Watch this space...

8) Hicks digs his heels in
Liverpool fans could be forgiven for wanting to forget Tom Hicks and George Gillett Jr's nightmarish reign, but the pair dominated the headlines for much of 2010. They were eventually usurped by John W Henry's New England Sports Ventures in October, of course, but the duo didn't go quietly. David Maddock's exclusive from July revealed that Hicks had scuppered two 'perfect fit' offers for the club.
7) Qatar set sights on United
It's been quite a year for Qatar, what with FIFA awarding them the 2022 World Cup and all, but the story that really got you going was Paul Smith's World Exclusive from a fortnight ago that the country's royal family are planning a £1.5bn takeover of Manchester United . Could both Manchester clubs be under Arabian ownership this time next year?
6) England a Bridge too far for Wayne
January's news agenda was dominated by the revelations of Chelsea skipper John Terry's affair with Vanessa Perroncel, the girlfriend of his then team-mate Wayne Bridge. Paul Smith first broke the news that Bridge had decided to quit the England set-up as a result. He wasn't the only Blue with the blues this year: Smith also revealed that Ashley Cole had told pals he could quit football altogether following the break up of his marriage to wife Cheryl - a story that narrowly failed to make our Top 10.
5) Torres and Reina's great escape
Liverpool's turbulent year got even bumpier in October when James Fletcher exclusively unearthed details of secret escape clauses in the contracts of Fernando Torres and Pepe Reina. The club's new owner John W Henry issued a statement criticising unhelpful media stories but, crucially, refused to deny the clauses existed.
4) It's a shame about Chamakh
An interesting insight into the twists and turns of major transfer stories now, with David Maddock's exclusive from January 2010 that Liverpool had agreed a £25million transfer deal for Marouane Chamakh . Of course, he eventually joined Arsenal in the summer - but the Moroccan did subsequently reveal how he snubbed Liverpool to do so.
3) Bye-bye Benitez
Rumours had been circulating for weeks that Rafa Benitez was on his way out of Liverpool but once again our man Maddock was first with the confirmation, breaking the news on the evening of June 6th that Benitez had been sacked.Even more astonishingly, who would have predicted he would have been given the old Spanish archer from another of Europe's top clubs just six months later?
2) The Roo-turn to end all U-turns
MirrorFootball's Simon Mullock scooped the world in October by revealing the amazing news that Wayne Rooney had decided to quit Manchester United in January. We then followed that another with yet another world exclusive five days later when David McDonnell was first with the news that Rooney was staying after all . It's fair to say that we've had quieter weeks this year...
1) Forty-four years of hurt
Proof that misery loves company, the most-read story on MirrorFootball.co.uk this year was Martin Lipton's brilliantly emotive match report of that heart-breaking World Cup thrashing by Germany: "The Three Lions had hoped 44 years of hurt would end in South Africa. It did. German hurt." Here's hoping for a happier 2011...

Houllier lines up French U19 midfield dynamo

Published 19:00 29/12/10 By James Nursey

Aston Villa boss Gerard Houllier has a promising French youngster lined up as one of his first January signings.
Under-pressure Houllier is flying in Jamaican international striker Omar Cummings,28, for a trial from the Colorado Rapids in the MLS.
But Villa are also in negotiations to sign Le Havre midfielder Gueida Fofana, 19, who is out of contract in the summer.
Fofana captained his country to a 2-1 win over Spain in the European Under-19 Championships final.

And he has since been tipped to fill Patrick Vieira's former role in France's midfield engine room.
Previously linked with Liverpool and Chelsea, the athletic 6ft midfielder is now primed to switch to Villa.
Houllier has offered around £800,000 upfront, with a sell-on clause entitling Le Havre to 20 per cent of any subsequent transfer.
During his reign at Liverpool from 1998-2004, Houllier famously signed several French duds such as Anthony Le Tallec, Florent Sinama-Pongolle, Bruno Cheyrou and Bernard Diomede.

Micky Adams is new Blades boss

Published 11:33 30/12/10 By MirrorFootball

Micky Adams is quitting Port Vale to become the new manager of Sheffield United.
The former Fulham and Leicester boss replaces Gary Speed at Bramall Lane after beating out former Hull gaffer Phil Brown and ex-Portsmouth manager Paul Hart for the Blades job.
Adams will quadruple his £65,000-a-year salary with the League Two leaders and Vale will be paid compensation for a man who has revived the club since joining them 19 months ago.

Toon to seal permanent deal for crocked star Ben Arfa

Published 23:00 29/12/10 By Football Spy

Hatem Ben Arfa will sign for Newcastle in a £5.1million permanent deal next week.
The on-loan Marseille winger will become new boss Alan Pardew's first big signing.

Bale promises more glory nights at White Hart Lane

Published 23:00 29/12/10 By Martin Lipton

Gareth Bale last night reflected on the greatest year of his career and promised: "There's more to come from me - and Spurs."
Welsh wonder Bale completed his personal 2010 in the grand manner with the sumptuous strike that confirmed the 2-0 win over Newcastle which closed Harry Redknapp's team to within five points of the Premier League summit.
It was Bale's 10th of the season already, capping a year in which he has gone from the brink of a loan move to Nottingham Forest to superstar status on the back of a series of sensational displays in both the Premier League and against Europe's best.
And with Spurs now steeling themselves for a title tilt and a Champions League showdown with AC Milan, Bale vowed to ensure the White Hart Lane faithful are witnesses to something truly special.


Bale said: "It's been a great year for me but all I have done is concentrate hard on improving my game.
"We just want to keep going now in 2011.
"I'll keep working hard on and off the pitch , keep working hard just concentrate on putting in the performances for Tottenham. If I can keep helping the team, that is the best thing that can happen.
"When I was younger I used to score at few but at left back your chances are restricted and I didn't really score that many.
"I've not had time yet to look at any of my goals on video, we are playing so many games there just isn't the time. I didn't set myself any targets to reach. I just want as many as I can - I want to keep going now."
Bale has become the player who brings White Hart Lane to its feet, brilliant runs for goals for the 10-man Spurs team against Aston Villa - scored by live-wire Rafael Van Der Vaart - and then Alan Pardew's Tynesiders summing up his consistent brilliance.
Incredibly, though, Bale was not on the winning Spurs side for a league match he had started until January 26 - two and a half years after joining the club from Southampton - when they beat Saturday's opponents Fulham 2-0.
No room for sentiment towards the Cottagers this time either, with Bale among those at Spurs Lodge who look at the table and start to believe.
He added: "Every game at the moment is massive. All the top teams are picking up points so we have to make sure we stay in the mix and we are there at the end of the season.
"There is no reason why we can't be serious contenders. We have a great squad and are putting in great performances.
"You can see how confident we are even playing with 10 men, we just attack teams all the time and we are right in the mix now in the table and there is no reason why we can't push now for the title.
"We are all close, we fight for each other on the pitch, we all get on, that shows on the pitch and that's why the results are coming in.
"Also we know we can counter attack with 10 because the opposition try to take advantage of a man extra by pushing forward. We showed that counter attacking ability at Villa and then against Newcastle.
Tuesday's win over the Toon raiders represented, remarkably, Tottenham's first clean sheet in the league since the opening weekend of the campaign against Manchester City, but Bale picked out skipper Michael Dawson and the under-question Heurelho Gomes for praise.
Dawson was even better after Spurs lost Younes Kaboul to his red card than before, and Bale said: "Michael leads us from the back. He showed what a good leader he is it's great to have him back and hopefully he can stay there for the rest of the season.
"But Gomes has been outstanding all season, making unbelievable saves, which is great for the team.
"I think Gomes is THE best. He pulls out saves from nowhere because he is so lanky.
"He gets called a dodgy keeper but he is the best keeper I have ever seen in my life. Keepers do make mistakes and some go in but that is part and parcel of football and it is just normal. He is outstanding and hopefully he can keep getting better and better."

Bendtner happy to bide his time on Gunners bench

Published 23:00 29/12/10 By John Cross

Nicklas Bendtner has promised he will not be leaving Arsenal in January after vowing to fight for his place.
Bayern Munich lead a host of interested clubs also including Inter Milan, Ajax and Lazio after Bendtner admitted recently he is frustrated at a lack of first team chances.
Danish World Cup striker has even been linked with a loan move after falling behind Robin van Persie and Marouane Chamakh in the pecking order.
But Bendtner said: ‘I won't be loaned out - that's not going to happen. I've got the patience to wait till I get the chance.


‘And when I get it, I'll grab it and conquer that starting place that I definitely feel should be mine.
‘It's nice to hear, when a big club is interested, and I feel I belong in such a club.
‘But right now I'll stay at Arsenal and fight for my own chance and give everything for my club.'
Bendtner, in the middle of a long term contract at Arsenal, also promised to stay and help the club win silverware this season.
He said he's happy to help the title push even if it means being a bit part player and substitute.
Bendtner added: ‘We are having exciting times, and I won't move away to get more minutes at the moment.
‘I will help in one way or another help Arsenal to titles and great results - preferably the championship. It is an open Premier League this season.'
Bendtner's pledge is a welcome boost for Gunners boss Arsene Wenger and it means Arsenal are highly unlikely to enter the transfer market in January.
As long as they keep all their squad together, the only are they may look to strengthen is in central defence and that will only be if Thomas Vermaelen's return from injury is delayed much longer.
But Bendtner may review his long term future again in the summer with the club aware that Bayern Munich are seriously interested and have already made enquiries.

The eyebrow's raised.. but Roy is falling


By Steve Anglesey in Laptop with Martin Lipton
Published 11:08 30/12/10







Crisis averted - until the weekend at least - for Carlo Ancelotti and Chelsea.
Crisis back on, big-time, for Roy Hodgson and Liverpool, with the manager having, perhaps, made a fatal error.
And while not a crisis for Arsene Wenger by any means, dropping stupid points is the worst way to push on from your best performance of the season.
Of the three men, there is no doubting who was the happiest and most relieved after the final fixtures of 2010.

Ancelotti carried the air of a man who did not know where his next win was coming from and Chelsea's first half performance against Bolton suggested the wait was set to go on, with even defeat - and surely that would have started to make his position untenable - more than possible.
Cue, at long, long last, a response from the rest of the players to the club's plight and John Terry's undying desire and determination.
Frank Lampard began to impose himself, Michael Essien was looking more like "The Train" and less like a go-cart, Didier Drogba started to take up the right attacking position and even Florent Malouda joined the party, in the right place at the right time to prod home and end the slump.
It was still twitchy whenever Bolton went at them. Jose Bosingwa proved, once more, that he is not a natural full-back, and Petr Cech had to be far busier than he or Ancelotti would have liked.
But after six matches without a victory, how you win is important. That you win is everything.
And despite their nightmare of the past two months, that first league win since Ray Wilkins was jettisoned put the Blues back to within four points of the summit may prove that longed-for turning point.
Ancelotti, sensibly, was not proclaiming it as such, although he evidently believes it could be.
"The win was a big step," said the Italian. "It will take a weight from our shoulders, but I am not sure if everything will be okay, it will depend on our next performance."
That being Aston Villa at home on Sunday, a game they should win, and which would surely see momentum start to build.
Ancelotti's mood was, unsurprisingly, in complete contrast to that of Hodgson, who sounded like a man cutting his own throat in public as he lambasted the Anfield fans.
If you lose at home to the bottom club, you can't expect gratitude yet the manager's response to the chants of "Dalglish" and the ironic ones of "Hodgson for England" represented even worse defending than Sotiris Kyrgiakos and Martin Skrtel in the build-up to Steohen Ward's shock winner.
"Ever since I came here the famous Anfield support has not really been there," said Hodgson, in one of those moments that becomes legendary.
"There were the problems with the owners, then Kenny being so popular and not getting the job and it being given to me.
"It is sad and I don't like hearing those things because I am trying to do the best job I can do.
"You have seen these players before. They are just not playing like they have done in the past so I think it is time for the fans to really help as well.
"It is not for lack of trying that we are not winning matches. Maybe we are lacking quality and lacking confidence - the negativity doesn't help. The players are not getting on the ball for fear of making mistakes."
Good night. And thanks for all the fish.
You might get away with that at Craven Cottage. You don't at Anfield and the Liverpool fans will neither forgive nor forget. It looks, now, like a matter of time.
Yet as Ancelotti breathed again, and Hodgson came closer to breathing his managerial last, Wenger was in the firing line too.
His decision to change eight of the team that started against Chelsea for the trip to Wigan could only have been justified with three points.
But conspiring to only draw against 10 men, giving up another late goal from another set-piece - oh for the dominant days of Tony Adams and Martin Keown - made the selection a grievous error.
It prevented Arsenal from drawing level on points United and City at the top - and squeezing between the two on goal difference - but maybe more importantly represented a blow to morale just as confidence had been raised by the win over Chelsea.
Wenger was unrepentant in the aftermath but the Arsenal fans were less charitable, frustrated, once again, by the defensive deficiencies of their side.
Still two more games for everybody by next Wednesday night. Chrsitmas, as ever, is sorting out the men from the boys. It's been good for Manchester and N17. Less good for other parts of the capital.
As for Liverpool? Well, simply shocking. And that, surely, is where the attention goes now.

Arsene Wenger stands by Arsenal squad rotation system


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Wenger blames communication breakdown

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger defended his decision to make eight changes to his side's starting line-up after the Gunners drew 2-2 at 10-man Wigan.
Despite a disjointed display, Wenger stressed he had no option but to rest players who had been involved in their 3-1 win over Chelsea on Boxing Day.
"With all these matches we cannot play with the same team always - but I don't think that was a problem," Wenger said.
"I don't think it's a shame - overall the draw was all right."
Arsenal had come from behind to lead 2-1 when Wigan winger Charles N'Zogbia was sent off for headbutting Jack Wilshere with 12 minutes to go.
But Wenger's side were unable to hold on to their lead and were undone by a set piece as the Latics levelled thanks to a headed own goal by Sebastian Squillaci.
606: DEBATE
We missed the chance to go joint-top, Wenger's team selection now seems a little 'odd' and of course we chucked away a lead against 10-man Wigan


Obama wears Eboue pyjamas

A win would have sent the north Londoners joint top of the Premier League with Manchester United and Manchester City going into the new year.
However, the point leaves the Gunners in third place in the table and Wenger bemoaned the fixture schedule which he felt helped their title rivals.
"We had a disadvantage that Manchester United has not got - Wigan played three days ago and we played 48 hours ago, a big game in the evening," Wenger added.
"It is a point and we will see at the end of the season how important it is - last night Manchester United played 1-1 at Birmingham and we played 2-2 today."
Wenger, whose side visit Birmingham on New Year's Day before taking on Manchester City at the Emirates on Wednesday, continued: "It was disappointing because we were 2-1 up, playing against 10 men and dropped two points.
"But overall it was a difficult game, very physical, with a high level of commitment from Wigan and they caught us a bit at the start.
"You always felt any mistake at the back and we could pay for it as long as we didn't score the third goal."
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Martinez upbeat on season prospects

Wigan manager Roberto Martinez declared himself "extremely pleased" with the result but criticised N'Zogbia for his red card.
"There's no excuses - that's unacceptable, it's a bad reaction," Martinez stated.
"Charles started the game very well, he won a penalty, he gets kicked in every game and there's a lot of emotions but you cannot accept that sort of reaction.
"He let his team down - football is a team game and the reaction of the players got Charles out of jail in that respect. We'll deal with it internally but it's something I don't like.
"Sometimes in football you need to react in the right manner even if you are getting kicked all over the place.
"From the first minute Charles got a rough treatment and you want to protect the skilful players and that protection should come from other areas not from himself."
Meanwhile, Martinez insisted Wenger's decision to make so many changes had not aided Wigan.
"Not at all - looking at them they are all full internationals with really good experience," the Latics boss explained.
"I would have preferred to play against the team that played against Chelsea and it would have been practically impossible for them to have recovered."

Roberto Martinez upbeat on season prospects after Arsenal draw




Wigan manager Roberto Martinez says he is excited about the second half of the campaign and praises his side's "togetherness" after drawing 2-2 with Arsenal at the DW Stadium.

Why I think Tottenham can - and will - win the league title this year

By Darren Lewis
Published 17:21 29/12/10

I've thought it for few weeks, but now I am going to go on the record.
I think Spurs can win the League.
Laugh all you want about how much (or what) I've been drinking over the holidays but I believe Spurs have as good a chance as anyone in the top four of finishing top by May. And here's why:
It is absolutely true of Harry Redknapp to say that this is not a vintage year. Some people use that to decry the quality of the Premier League but I think it is testament to the fact that many of the teams outside the top four are a lot tougher to beat.


For example, until their defeat at the Stadium of Light to Blackpool, Sunderland were unbeaten at home throughout the first half of the season.
Manchester United's dropped points at Birmingham means Alex McLeish's side have still lost only once in front of their own fans for a very long time - 24 matches to be exact. Bolton are another side to have only lost once this at home this season at the time of writing.
Anyway, I digress. Tottenham have improved while Liverpool have gone backwards, Chelsea have stagnated and Manchester United are not the force they once were.
Manchester City are an interesting one because they are currently going great guns at the top of the Premier League. But they have looked at their most impressive this season against quite bad sides, Wigan, West Ham, Fulham and Aston Villa.
Also, take Carlos Tevez out of that side and who can you rely on to score you the goals needed to win you a title? Balotelli filled his boots against the Villa, but EVERYBODY has been doing that this season.
Indeed, here's a stat for you: four of the last six Premier League hat-tricks have come against Aston Villa.
Edin Dzeko might prove to be an inspired signing for City but that is far from certain. Who is to say that he will settle instantly when he gets to the Premier League?
And even if he does, will he be happy at having to play the odd game in three? Roberto Mancini prefers to deploy a system with one striker in the main. And, despite the talented Balotelli's hat-trick against the Villa, that striker is Tevez.
Mancini went with two up top at home to Everton and lost on December 20. So the City boss will somehow have to keep ANOTHER player happy who wont be playing regularly (although I suspect the £100,000-a-week over five years will somewhat soften the blow).
I'd have been more convinced had City moved for a goalscoring midfielder this January. Yaya Toure has scored three goals and Adam Johnson two, but James Milner, David Silva and Gareth Barry all have just one each.
Look at the teams that have won the League over the past ten years. What have they got in common? Bundles of goals from the centre of the park.
For Chelsea read Lampard. For United, Cristiano Ronaldo or Paul Scholes. For Arsenal, Freddie Ljungberg or Robert Pires. Every team that has won the League has had those goals from midfield.
The team top at Xmas has gone on to win the last eight titles and for me, United would be a shoe-in if they had anyone to help out Rooney and Berbatov from midfield on a regular basis.
Arsenal have a real chance. Six of the last seven times they have been second at Christmas they have won the title, and Nasri has hit eight from midfield already this season. Song has hit four, Fabregas three, Walcott five and Wilshere one.
At Chelsea, meanwhile, Lampard has only just come back from a lengthy injury for Chelsea while Malouda has tailed off as we all know after being prolific at the start of the season.
Which brings us to Spurs. Rafael van der Vaart has hit eight from midfield already this season with Gareth Bale on seven. Aaron Lennon has two, while Luka Modric and Tom Huddlestone both have one.
If Jermain Defoe can repeat - or better his 18 goals from last season and Harry Redknapp can bring in a striker to stick away the stacks of chances created by the Premier League's serial thrillers they I think they have a great chance.
They will rue their draws at home to struggling Everton and Sunderland while, given Birmingham's fine home form you could perhaps forgive Spurs for dropping points there. To lose at fragile West Ham was unforgiveable but Tottenham have since made up for it with some stunning mid-season form.
January will be crucial and the need for chairman Daniel Levy to realise big investment is needed is crucial.
Tottenham need another striker (Adebayor would be ace but I fear City will not sell - or loan - to their deadly rivals, Dzeko or no Dzeko).
They need another defensive midfielder (Parker from West Ham would be great but the Hammers want far too much for a player who is now 30. Lassana Diarra at Real Madrid would be a better bet).
And they need to believe they can do it. Two seasons ago Manchester United beat one team in the top four and still went on to lift the title because they were able to put decisive runs together. Spurs need to show that they can do likewise with an even better record against the top clubs.
They can do it. I think they wil

Martin Lipton's Top Five Players of 2010: Will Bale topple Tevez?

By Martin Lipton in Mirror Football Blog
Published 08:00 30/12/10

The Daily Mirror's Chief Football Writer Martin Lipton has picked his top five Premier League players of 2010. Let us know yours by leaving a comment below...
5) Charles N'Zogbia
Hard to impress in a poor team but N'Zogbia causes problems for every other side in the top flight and without him Wigan might not have survived last term and would have been virtually down already this time round. You can see why he eyes greener grass.
4) Frank Lampard
The value of the midfielder was proven totally by the price of his absence for Chelsea. Scored 19 goals after New Year's Day last season and a key reason for the Blues' flying start this term. Without him, they are half the side.
3) Nemanja Vidic
Iron man of the Manchester United back division and now revelling in the demands of captaining Fergie's side as well. The Serb's habit of scoring big goals at the other end is an added bonus.

2) Carlos Tevez
Behaved like a spoilt brat at times but phenomenal record of 27 goals in 38 starts for City in 2010. Workrate is remarkable for a striker too, never giving opposing defenders time to think. Imperative he stays until the summer.
1) Gareth Bale
The star of the season and the of the whole year too. Sensational displays for Spurs which have made the whole of Europe take notice. Hard to believe he wasn't even a regular in the side last January. Now irreplaceable.

Revealed: The players Chelsea need to get title challenge back on track

By Martin Lipton in Mirror Football Blog
Published 06:00 29/12/10

With Chelsea's title challenge hanging by a thread, Roman Abramovich needs to dip into those deep pockets once more in order to provide support for Carlo Ancelotti's flailing flops. Here's my take on where he needs to strengthen, and who he needs to strengthen with:
Defence
A centre-half is essential - why was Ricardo Carvalho allowed to go? - with Bolton's £15million Gary Cahill a better bet than £25m David Luiz at Benfica. That signing is the most likely, allowing Branislav Ivanovic to return to right-back but Ancelotti knows he does not have a real right-sided full-back in his squad either.
Midfield
John Obi Mikel has gone backwards, Michael Essien struggling with a toe problem and with the club having never adequately replaced Claude Makelele, Ancelotti released Michael Ballack, Deco and Juliano Belletti without signing any alternatives. With Bastian Schweinsteiger shackled to Bayern Munich, the best option now might be getting Lassana Diarra, surplus to requirements at Real Madrid, to return to the Bridge - if Jose Mourinho will sell to his former club.
Attack
No right-sided pace has been a glaring hole and with few obvious domestic answers, maybe Marseilles could be persuaded to part with Mathieu Valbuena. Edin Dzeko and Fernando Torres have both been in Chelsea's sights, along with Brazilian youngster Neymar at Santos, yet Abramovich has shown no sign of willing to dig that deep into his copious pockets.

A striker, a striker, Moyes' kingdom for a striker: Everton's 2010 in review, by David Maddock

By David Maddock in Mirror Football Blog
Published 09:00 29/12/10

The year started so well for Everton, and they leave 2010 behind with another outstanding success. It's just what happened in between that's the problem.
The first three months were quite sublime. A draw in January at Arsenal should have been comprehensive victory, such was the quality of the performance. And what followed was even better, with wins over Chelsea and Manchester United coupled with a magnificent display at the City of Manchester Stadium that stunned and exposed Manchester City.
Yet come May and the end of the season, despite all those incredible performances, Everton couldn't quite manage even a Europa League place, though it was clear they were one of the best four teams in the Premier League, and deserved to be in the Champions' League.
They didn't, simply because they had started the campaign so badly in 2009. Cut to August 2010 and like a scratched record the same thing is being repeated over. And over.


Manager David Moyes changed things in pre-season, tried a completely different training programme and the type of friendlies his teams played.
And yet, come the start of the campaign, Everton, well, didn't start. They lost at Blackburn on the opening weekend, and followed it with a lame home draw against Wolves.
Worse was to follow. Defeats against Villa and Newcastle put them in the bottom three, and Everton have never been able to escape the clutches of the relegation scrap ever since.
Yet they have shown well enough how good a team they still are. Manchester United were blitzed in a remarkable final few minutes at Goodison where a two-goal deficit was overhauled, Liverpool were comprehensively beaten, Chelsea outplayed at Stamford Bridge.
Still though, the Blues found themselves just a single point above the relegation zone with Christmas beckoning, and a visit to the City of Manchester Stadium again imminent.
Everton fans will tell you that the result against City this December was no surprise. In fact, they damn well expected it, because they know their team is capable of beating any side, on any ground.
They showed by beating City on their home turf that they can still be a force to be reckoned with this season, that a Europa League place is still not out of the question.
But the question is, why have Everton again started a season so badly? This time, it is probably a simple answer &#8211; a lack of a goalscorer. On so many occasions this season they have dominated games, but not won because they didn't convert their chances.
Such profligacy has a debilitating effect. Defenders stand and watch chances go begging, and have a feeling of dread, because they know Sod's Law suggests their first mistake will be punished with a goal.
It has happened too often, and it is a crying shame, because player for player (apart from centre forward), this season with its strange results and lack of a truly dominant top side, Everton should have been competing in the top four.
They don't have any money though, and that means it is hard to go out and buy the sort of player who will convert chances and take the team to the place they belong.
Is that a bad thing? Everton fans will certainly tell you so, but a deeper analysis of their position suggests that they are a well run club who are one of the few in English football who are at least trying to live within their budgets.
Most teams who do that are relegated, so it is a tribute to their truly talented manager David Moyes that they are still regarded as not only a top team, but also a club that has shown others how to proceed.
In that respect, chairman Bill Kenwright deserves equal praise. How many times have you heard Premier League managers and chairmen say they want to do what Everton have done, they want to follow their blueprint?
So they must be doing something right, even if they can't quite take the final step to winning trophies and reaching Champions' Leagues (though don't ever forget they have already qualified for it, which is a stunning achievement).
Everton don't get enough praise, and their league position this season hasn't helped in that respect. But they have a fine manager, a chairman who cares enough about his club not to gamble its entire future in search of quick profit, and a team that their fans can be proud of.
And even though it is probably a forlorn hope, a top four finish this season is not completely out of the question&#8230;. if only Santa could deliver the striker Moyes has had on his Christmas List for some years now