TRINIDAD ON TOP OF THE WORLD

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

Group B interim report

Trinidad and Tobago were able to look down from the summit of Group B this morning after a convincing win over minnows Paraguay. Trinidad supremo jel_bugle faced criticism for his team selection but his choice of an experienced squad seems to have paid off and they top the table on goal difference. Paraguay may be disappointed with their performance but they are far from out of contention for a qualifying spot.

In the other group B clash, Sweden edged out England in a tight encounter, leaving England with a job to do in the remainder of the group stage. Pundits suggested that there is no great gap in quality between the England squad and their rivals, though, and a fightback should certainly not be beyond them.

All votes to be in by Monday night - keep them coming!

(The interim report is based on the first 10 or so votes - which constitute around 1/3 of the total if the last group is anything to go by)

The History Of Pop Part 18 aka Already caused a scandal, a disturbance like a vandal

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

1990 in full swing in Now 18 - a particularly mixed bag as the Now series still gamely attempts to please allcomers with a bit of everything. Could anyone have liked everything here, or even 80% of it? One theme that's been coming out in these polls and comments is the people who liked - or made themselves like - almost everything on the first Now or two they got, even if time has since mellowed their sensibilities. It's the old debate - can you train yourself to like something?

Meanwhile a photo finish on Now 17 sees Adamski's "Killer" the victor, with Beats International a single vote behind, and Happy Mondays and Depeche Mode one behind that. The write-in polls reflected the closeness, with no consensus on what was best, though 'worst' was hogged by Phil and The Yoobies, as per. Bobby Gillespie's highpoints were drawn across the man's remarkably long career - special tips of the indie hat to the "Velocity Girl" diehards, there.

LET'S VOTE

( So whose matches are those? )