Top 5 Thunderbirds

Bit short on time again this week so I needed a topic that was quick and easy. Couldn't get much more straightforward than my favourite Thunderbirds, there being only five to choose from. OK, I know there was a Thunderbird 6 used in the film of the same name but it only had one outing and was actually a tiger moth biplane.

1. Thunderbird 2 - Not the most streamlined design but unlike any vehicle I'd ever seen. Thunderbird 2 was nearly always the most important part of any rescue and had a brilliant, palm tree bending, take-off sequence.

2. Thunderbird 4 - A close second, Thunderbird 4 was the most compact member of the fleet. It's outings were rare but that only increased my love of the little yellow submersible.

3. Thunderbird 3 - Alan Tracey's trips to Thunderbird 5 were few and far between but always great to see this bright red space rocket blast out of the middle of Tracey island.

4. Thunderbird 1 - TB1 may have been fast but having arrived at the rescue scene first Scott would nearly always have to wait for TB2 to turn up and actually do the job. Lacked the style of TB3 and looked a bit awkward in flight.

5. Thunderbird 5 - Poor old John Tracy got the rough end of the deal stuck alone on TB5 for most of the year. The space station displayed few signs of having any thunder and was pushing it a little to be described as a bird.

.

Top 5 uses of Sunglasses in Film

Hooray for the pub! A random conversation last week provided me with an almost fully formed top five for minimum effort. Sunglasses have the magic ability to make anyone look cooler than they really are and film directors have always capitalised on this.

1. Jake & Elwood wearing Ray-Ban Wayfarers in “The Blues Brothers” - "It's 106 miles to Chicago, we've got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it's dark and we're wearing sunglasses." The perfect start to one of the greatest road trips on celluloid.

2. The Terminator wearing Gargoyles in “The Terminator” – These are one pig-ugly set of specs that maybe only Schwarzenegger could get away with. A design that hasn’t stood the test of time but has become synonymous with the deadly killing machine that is the Terminator. By Terminator 2 Arnold had become a good guy and switched to wearing Oakleys.

3. Holly Golightly wearing Ray-Ban Wayfarers in “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” - Audrey Hepburn wore an earlier style of Wayfarers in this 1961 romantic comedy. Effectively the same model as Jake and Elwood but a very different end result.

4. Boss Godfrey wearing mirrored shades in “Cool-Hand Luke” - Morgan Woodward plays Boss Godfrey, the silent prison guard known as the “man with no eyes” who impassively watched over Luke and his fellow inmates.

5. Mr Orange wearing Ray-Ban 3016 Clubmasters in “Reservoir Dogs” – Reservoir Dogs is one of my favourite films and Tim Roth plays one of my favourite characters in it. The Dogs wear a variety of good looking shades but Roth’s 3016s are the best. Maybe not as iconic as the other entries in this top five but a damn fine pair of specs.

So it seems Ray-Bans lead the way in memorable sunglasses or maybe they just have a very good product placement team. Thanks to this site for some of the details about the models.

Top 5 Brazil World Cup Goals

I guess no one is really interested in the World Cup now England have blown it but I'd already knocked this one up before the miserable debacle against Germany last Sunday. It does at least remind us how the game should be played. The BBC kind of beat me to the punch with their own top 5 but I've got a few alternatives.

1. Carlos Alberto v Italy (1970) - I've written about this one already. Lovely patient build up with an exquisite finish.



2. Pele v Sweden (1958) - Pele was only 17 when he scored this fabulous goal against the host nation.



3. Socrates v Soviet Union (1982) - The Russian's must have felt a little hard done by losing to two incredible finishes, this wonder strike from Socrates and an equally impressive effort from Eder.



4. Jairzinho v England (1970) - Similarities to the Carlos Alberto goal. Slick passing spreads the ball across the pitch before a cross finds Pele in the box, who controls and passes in one movement. Jairzinho then smashes it home.



5. Josimar v Northern Ireland (1986) - An thwack from the right hand corner of the box scorches into the top left corner. Josimar's celebration suggests he might not have expected it to go in.



.

Top 5 England World Cup Goals

Well they put us through the ringer again but England finally found their form and made it through to the knockout stages. In celebration of that, and to get us in the mood for the forthcoming game against Germany, here are my top 5 England World Cup goals.

1. Michael Owen v Argentina (1998) - Little Michael Owen sets the nation on fire with this jinking run and quality finish. My 30th birthday forever marked by this moment of brilliance and another departure on penalties.



2. David Platt v Belgium (1990) - Wonderful turn and volley to clinch victory in the dying seconds.



3. Gary Lineker v Poland (1986) - Gary notched a hatrick in this game to put us through after two poor opening performances (sounds familiar!). Either of the first two would be worthy of inclusion but the quick and accurate passing makes the first goal my favourite.



4. Geoff Hurst v West Germany (1966) - Some people are on the pitch! Sir Geoff's third goal to confirm England's one and only World Cup triumph.



5. Joe Cole v Sweden (2006) - Joe Cole lights up an otherwise dull encounter with this remarkable effort. Hmm. That kid can play a bit guess he ought to be in the starting eleven!!



.

Top 5 World Cup Goals

This is quite a hefty topic and I have to own up to relying on the BBC website's top ten goals from every World Cup since 1966 to remind me of the details. It also became quickly apparent that if I wasn't careful this could be a list of Brazilian wonder strikes. To help me narrow down my options I limited myself to one goal per World Cup and one goal per nation. There's also one very obvious omission which I'll justify at the end.

1. Carlos Alberto (Brazil v Italy) 1970 - This has long been my favourite World Cup goal. I was too young to watch this as it happened but grew up on the highlights that showed how brilliant that Brazilian side was. This was a wonderful team goal with a bit of simple genius from Pele and a perfect finish from Carlos.



2. Dennis Bergkamp (Netherlands v Argentina) 1998 - An underrated gem. Bergkamp is one of my all time favourite players and this is the perfect example of his sublime skill. A long ball from Frank de Boer which Bergkamp controls with his toe. A flick inside between the legs of the Argentinian defender and a finish with the outside of the boot into the far corner of the net. Oh and it won the Quarter Final in the 90th minute.



3. Archie Gemmill (Scotland v Netherlands) 1978 - The Dutch were a very good side who went on to reach the final. Scotland had lost 3-1 to Peru then drawn 1-1 with Iran. Collecting a loose ball, Gemmill skipped past one defender, cut inside a second, nudged the ball past a third before firing home past an out rushing 'keeper. Persistence, control, composure and a great finish. Better than Maradonna.



4. David Platt (England v Belgium) 1990 - Were it not for Dennis Bergkamp I might have been talking about Michael Owen here but this goal is one I have a very special place in my heart for. The point when I became an England fan, the moment that got me back into football after a 3 year sabbatical. Gazza's chipped free kick found Platt in the box who somehow twisted his body to complete an over the shoulder volley that won us the game in extra time. Bobby Robson's little jig by the dugout makes me smile whenever I see it.



5. Marco Tardelli (Italy v W.Germany) 1982 - '82 was a great World Cup, once England were out of the way. This wasn't the best goal scored in it, Socrates for Brazil against USSR or Boniek for Poland against Belgium, but the celebration afterwards earns it a place in my top five.



So, no Maradona from 1986 against England. I've always felt that goal was overrated. It is a great run but I can't help thinking it's aided by some dreadful England defending. Terry Fenwick, what were you doing? I also like the ball to look good hitting the net and Terry Butcher's sliding challenge seems to force Maradona's foot to fire the ball home. Sour grapes maybe but not a top 5 goal for me.

Top 5 England World Cup songs

Well, it couldn't really be anything else. I've had a couple of weeks "off Football", a lovely holiday in sunny Cornwall and am now ready for a month of the greatest football tournament in the world.

1. "Three Lions" Baddiel & Skinner with The Lightning Seeds (1998 World Cup) - I'm really talking the original Euro 96 version but it has since been adopted as a proper England song for just about every World Cup since. I still know the lyrics word for word and they really mean something, it's now 44 years of hurt but Baddiel & Skinner genuinely captured how most England fans feel about the national team.



2. "World In Motion" New Order (1990 World Cup) - Kind of an average New Order song with Keith Allen looning about and the genius of the John Barnes rap. 1990 was a very special competition (which we should have won) and this song evokes many happy memories.



3. "Back Home" England Squad (1970 World Cup) - Proper footy song sung by the squad. Cracking little ditty with decent lyrics and a surprisingly in tune set of vocals. We should have won it this year as well.



4. "Vindaloo" Fat Les (1998 World Cup) - Keith Allen again. He's a Fulham fan and the na-na-na section was based on something Fulham fans used to sing in the early 90's. It's got some moments that make you cringe, you could say that about most of Keith's career, but it's still pretty good.



5. "We're On The Ball" England 1970 squad? - Not the Ant & Dec version released for the 2006 world cup (though I've had to use their video below) but the original that I think might have featured on the 1970 World Cup album. Baddiel & Skinner talked about it on their "Fantasy Football League" show and I always thought it was one of those songs that was both brilliant and crap at the same time. The Ant & Dec version is just crap.



.

Holiday Break

Hello, there's no Top 5 today as I've been down in Cornwall all week. If you're reading this you must either be really bored at work or as anal about this whole Top 5 thing as I am. Either way, thanks for stopping by and reading the blog.

OK, seeing as you bothered here's a secret Top 5 just for you.

Top 5 Topics I'm planning to write but haven't had time to complete yet

1. Top 5 Pubs I Have Drunk In - Still so much research to complete.

2. Top 5 Stupid Things I Have Done - Not sure I can quite face up to this yet.

3. Top 5 Seaside Resorts - As requested by my brother-in-law. Feel I'm a bit shy on Northern resorts and want to present a balanced argument.

4. Top 5 Paper Aeroplane Designs - I've only got three contenders.

5. Top 5 Hot Wheels/Matchbox cars I owned - Need to take some pictures.


.

Top 5 Ronnie James Dio Albums

Sad news the other week to hear about the passing of Metal legend Ronnie James Dio. He had an incredible career spanning six decades, appearing on his first seven inch in 1957, and releasing albums with a roll call of classic rock bands. Elf, Rainbow, Black Sabbath, Dio and then back round for a series of reunions before his most recent releases with the RJD-era Sabbath line-up as Heaven & Hell.

I only saw him play live twice, both times with Dio. A 1987 headline show at Hammersmith Odeon was one of the most unintentionally funny gigs I've been to. In support of the band's fourth (and probably worst) album, and at a time when traditional Metal was on the wane, Ronnie managed to squeeze almost as many Metal cliches into the 90 minute set as Spinal Tap. The crowning glory saw a giant metal spider descend from the ceiling as the lead guitarist fired laser beams at it from the end of his strat. Despite that I've nothing but fond memories for Dio's best work and incredible vocals. Rest in peace Ronnie and keep on rocking.

1. "Holy Diver" Dio

2. "Rainbow Rising" Rainbow

3. "Heaven & Hell" Black Sabbath

4. "The Last In Line" Dio

5. "Trying To Burn The Sun" Elf

.

Top 5 Songs about Nothing

I went to the Garage last night to see the fantastic Japandroids for the second time this year. Their album is called "Post Nothing" so I've compiled this fine collection of popular songs that feature the word nothing in the title to celebrate their brilliance.

1. "All Or Nothing" Small Faces



2. "Nothing Is Easy" Jethro Tull



3. "NothingMan" Pearl Jam



4. "Nothing At All" I.Q.
(NB: I couldn't find a video of this so here's "Human Nature" from the same album. Er, it's prog rock and ten minutes long. Thought I'd mention that now in case you're adverse to that sort of thing.)



5. "Nothing Else Matters" Metallica



.

Top 5 Football Superstitions (that failed to help Fulham win the Europa League)

This would have been a more upbeat post had Fulham won in Hamburg last night. I'm still absolutely gutted we didn't but I'm starting to accept that it was still a brilliant day and a massive achievement.

1. A bet on the opposing team - I've been doing this in the domestic cups for a while now (actually ever since I didn't place a bet on Leyton Orient beating us in the FA Cup which they managed 1-0) and like to think I've helped us avoid some embarrasing slip ups against the likes of Kettering and Accrington Stanley. Fulham's progress in the Europa league has cost me a small fortune but was worth every penny. I might not bother collecting the winnings from this game.

2. Wearing my lucky socks - Back in the nineties when Mickey Adams was just starting to create a buzz at the club I discovered a pair of lucky boxer shorts. They were yellow, which isn't a colour I'd normally choose but had a remarkably long run as lucky totems. When I got a pair of yellow socks last year I couldn't help but wonder if they held the same magic. They did and I've worn them to games ever since.

3. Dad touching the boot of Johnny Haynes - Dad didn't come to Hamburg and even if he had we'd have needed to make an awkward detour to fit this one in. It's done us proud at home though but doesn't have a 100% success rate.

4. Wearing my lucky replica top - I don't buy a top every year but I got this personalised one from a mate for my 40th and it's been a very lucky shirt ever since. Then again I wore my unlucky "Steve Marlet" shirt (the black adidas one) to the recent West Ham game and we won that 3-2.

5. Going in through my lucky turnstile - Somewhere during our epic 63 game season I started to feel drawn to a particular turnstile. We'd been going in roughly the same place for quite a while but now Number 38 (slightly to the right of the picture below) is the only entrance I'll use.

Photo (c) John Hall

.