Oooh To Be A Gooner!

It was Monday, 17 April 2006 when I started this blog. Didn't know how it was going to pan out but dived head first into it anyway. Since then, I've shared loads of highs and lows with you guys.

Almost two years and about 99,512 hits later, I have decided to put SgGooner to bed. Nope, it ain't a sick joke this time. This is for real, folks.

Been thinking about this for quite sometime. And while there isn't a particular reason for this, I'd like to look at it as 'moving onto another chapter' in the life of SgGooner.

Yup, SgGooner will always be the biggest Gooner in Sin City. Just that he doesn't have to be here to show it. And yup, I'll always be backing the red & white. Because once you're a Gooner, you're a Gooner for life. Let's look forward to a never-ending supply of scenes like this...


So here's to all of you who have been putting up with my shite (some bad shite but mostly good shite, I hope). And while I love the many of you who noisily leave your farts here, I'd also like to give a shout out to all you silent farters out there. You guys know who you are. And a big up to all my guest bloggers - eternally grateful for the colourful colour in here...

I hope all you guys had as much fun as I had from the many hours of maintaining this site. What an amazing journey it has been...

I'm not that sure how I'd like to end this so I guess I'd end this by giving you guys a quote by the most successful manager for the mighty Arsenal.

"Everyone thinks they have the prettiest wife at home." Arsene Wenger (2002)

Yes, everyone would have a good reason for me to go on blogging, but there'll always be a reason, right? If you can't get the drift, you shouldn't be reading this in the first place... Oh, by the way, I do have the prettiest wife at home...

SgGooner loves you all!

Oooh To Be A Gooner!

Draw Specialists

My guest score announcers are Amelia and Cheryl. They ain't no Arsenal fans but they were the Tiger Beer ambassadors that were taking our orders. Aren't they cute?

Arsenal 1 - 1 Liverpool

If this draw does not confirm we will not win the league, I don't know what else will.

Talk more tomorrow as I've drank quite a bit of the froth.

Hic...

Got a dirty job for someone

Hey, didn't any one of you enjoy Royston's guest post? Or were you guys still upset about the drawn game against Pool?

I need to say this: even though I'm just as down as many of you, we have to remember this is a two-legged knock out competition. If there are anymore games which we can still afford to draw or lose, it was last night's game. The Gunners are still very much in the competition.

So you guys should cheer up and not walk around with a long face like Avram Grant's.

Besides, last night's performance has improved from the last few games. Won't go into the game anymore because we should not look back but look forward to episode two of the arse-pool trilogy.

But before I do that, I need to say something in defence of Bendtner. A lot of people are giving him stick for blocking Fabregas' goal-bound shot but if you look at the replays properly, Bendtner was already off balance and could do no more to get out of the way when the shot came towards him. I'm quite sure he had no intention to block the shot or even try to back flick the ball into the net, as some had absurdly suggested.

So roll on the home league game against the Scousers.

I doubt we'll be seeing the same sort of game though. Liverpool will most likely make changes to its lineup as they have more or less secured the last Champions League fourth spot. Benitez must definitely view the Champions League as the most important competition now as it's the only chance for silverware for them. So I can't see them being too adventurous and would probably be happy to hold the Gunners to a drab draw.

The question is whether the powderless Gunners could breach a disciplined Pool defence? Hard to see it. Without v.Persie, with Eboue and without Rosicky, I'd be really surprise if the lads can even be capable of Wengerball.

Perhaps it's time for them to play the route one game?

Even if we don't go the direct path, the flank is a way better option. I previously said the Gunners should attack from the flanks and true enough, we scored from a cross, via an Adebayor's header. Don't see why Walcott shouldn't start in front of Eboue and blaze that right flank?

After saying so much about this Saturday's game, guess what? I probably won't be at the Liz for the game. Have this event that will run into the kickoff time. Pity... Pity because Modesto's & Tiger Beer will be holding an event on that night and I won't be there. Yes, there will be Tiger Ambassadors (read: chio Tiger girls).

Since I can't be there for the game, someone has to update me on the scores and help me check out the Tiger girls ensure the event goes well.

So who wants to do the dirty job?

Guest Blogger Wants The Big One - Royston

Hey, all!! I’m Royston.

SgGooner’s real good at catching people to guest blog when they’re half awake (since I know Allen was a prey). A total of 4 hours of sleep in 3 days, and when I was into my 1st 30 mins of deep sleep, my phone beeped. That’s exactly how I ended up giving my virgin blog to him.

When I was a kid, I followed my dad to the National Stadium to watch most of The Lions’ home games in the Malaysia Cup. I grew into a die-hard fan of our national football team and invited more friends to join my dad and even bought season passes. That’s when I started painting my face red and white and that would be the colours of MY team(s).

As we all know, The Lions then got kicked out in 1994 because they decided that we were too good for them. It was then that I started to look at football outside Singapore. Collected stickers of Premier League teams in my Merlin’s Premier League sticker album and Arsenal was on the 1st page and it’s… RED and WHITE! That has got to be my team, I said to myself, and the journey began. It was then my turn to make my dad watch football with me (though on TV). And now, my dad has been goonerised and records every single Arsenal game on tape.

And he’s not the only 1 that has been goonerised by me.


It was indeed a right choice as the Arsenal brought the trophies right before my eyes.



Now what’s missing?

It’s none other than the Champions League trophy!

Now if I were to have a chance to hope that this trophy will be in Singapore for me to take a picture with, the Gunners will have to win it. And that will very much depend on the showdown in a few hours’ time.

We’ve got a fine record against the Scousers of late, beating them in both domestic cup competitions last season. Pool, on the other hand, is having great form in Europe in recent seasons. But wait. Having great form in Europe means they ARE a strong team in Champions League. Haven’t we beaten the likes of Real Madrid, Juventus, Inter Milan and AC Milan recently? It’s the smaller clubs that we have difficulty overcoming.

Let’s just end the Scousers’ season in a week.. or they’ll end ours. They’ve revived from the defeat to manure with a derby win, while we came back from the dead. Pretty much on the same boat but we’re in better shape. I’ll hope for a clean sheet and 2 goals, each from Adebayor and Walcott.

Home, home and away against the scousers. Up, up and away, we head to Moscow!

And for my next trick...

10% Segment

Told some of the guys today that I'll be closing the blog after tonight's post. Shai even called it my 'swansong post'.

Well, I hate to do this but it seems like I had to.






















Painful but I hope you enjoyed the lame April Fool's joke...

Only Jin didn't get caught. I think Shai got it the worst... Don't even think he knows it yet. I'm just waiting for him to read this... I also got Siren and she even gave me a genuine reply. Good thing no one gave me a "it's about f**king time!" response. Phew...

But to be fair, I really have been thinking about closing the blog. Not that I don't love the Arsenal any lesser but everyone will one day have an epiphany - the sudden clarity in the space between the ears to realise the essence of a higher state of something.

No, I'm sober.

Seriously, it will happen one day. Could be sooner than I'd like to but till then, SgGooner will keep this haven going for you Gooners.

90% Segment

What else is there to say about tomorrow's game against Pool?

All of us want a nice Arsenal victory. The Scousers want to get an away goal. Both teams just came out of morale boosting victories over the weekend. And both are hyped up for this game.

All points to a cracker of a game...

I just hope the Gunners do the following:

1. Cut out the supply to Torres.
2. Use the flanks to feed Bendtner or Adebayor.
3. Restrict Flamini to a holding role.
4. Not play a high line in defence.
5. Play a disciplined game.
6. Most of all, win the f**king game...
   

If we take a reasonably comfortable lead tomorrow, Wenger may even have the chance to rest some key players in the return leg in Anfield in view of the league game against ManUre.

The Liz will be open for episode one of the arse-pool trilogy.

Who's joining me?

Gooner In The Real World

The next game will be on Wednesday night, Thursday morning (2.30am). The next game is a huge Champions League quarter-final match up between Arsenal & Liverpool. The next game will be shown live at the Liz.

The next game is one I'm really looking forward to...

Unfortunately, I realised I'm not able to take leave or take time off on Thursday. This sucks big time... That would mean I won't catch much zZzzzs for Thursday. But I guess it's a small matter compared to what's happening in the real world.

Riots.
Wars.
Hunger.
Slavery.
Increased ERP rates...

The good thing about SgGooner's is that while the world happens and he's all coping with all sorts of life's shite, there's this small spot of haven he's kept for all Gooners.

So what's happening today?

"Of course we would like to win the home game on Wednesday, but 0-0 is never a disappointing result in the first leg. We have seen many times that it puts the other team under huge pressure in the second game because they are in two minds. They don't really know whether to go for it or to sit back and wait - it gives you every chance."

Words from Le Prof.

Is he preparing to deploy the AC Milan tactic?
Is he playing on the minds of Benitez and his team?
Or is he setting a low expectation for the fans?

Frankly, I don't like the sound of this. We should be looking forward to a 2-0 first-leg cushion and not look to a goalless draw. It's way too risky to bring a goalless draw to Anfield.

But then again, this is what I said before the clash against AC Milan.

What do I know? I ain't no football manager. The closest I ever got to be one is by playing Football Manager. But mind you, I won everything there is to win - after setting it to the easiest level.

Anyway, we don't have to worry about us trying to play for a goalless draw. That's not in the DNA of a Gunner. For dull goalless entertainment, try the expen$ive blue $ide of London. I'm quite certain they'll entertain the boredom bore the entertainment out of you.

Yes, there will be goals for this Thursday's match up. How many? Hard to tell... Let's see what tomorrow holds.

There could news on the two teams or there could be news on the cure for stupidity or there could just be boring news on Dr Chee taking another 'walk'.

Let's see what tomorrow holds...