No More ‘I Love You’s’

Let me just state what’s on my mind now. Yes, I wanted us to re-sign Cesc because come on, he’s still one of the best midfielders in the world and I’d rather him play with us than with any of our rivals. And face it, a lot of clubs would be salivating at the thought of signing him. No club would rationally pass up the opportunity to sign him up and even if we still disagree on how he left and how he engineered that move, I still would have him back. After all, we all knew he wanted to leave and play for his boyhood club and anyone given the opportunity to play for that club - especially if he’s been a lifelong supporter of it - would not pass up the opportunity. There was the opportunity to play with the annoying Xavi, Iniesta and Messi versus the choice of continued stagnation with the likes of Song, Eboue, Arshavin and Bendtner. If he went somewhere else, he would in all likelihood improve that team. I doubted if he would have been in the way of any one player’s development and besides, we also have a few ageing players ourselves.

So it was with some shock when Cesc confirmed last night that he has signed for Chelshit. I haven’t totally been living under a rock, I did know of Chelshit’s interest but didn’t think what I feared would turn out to be true. And yes I hate the idea of him signing for that classless club and playing under Maureen.

But what would Cesc have done? We didn’t want him back. He’s no longer wanted at FCB. At his age, only just 27, should he just stop playing? Of course not. He’s a footballer, playing football is his career, and surely he would not cut short his career because we didn’t want him back.

I don’t want to doubt Wenger’s decision not to bring Cesc back whatever his reason is and I doubt it was because he has some grudge against Cesc. I accept that Wenger is more informed about the situation and has given it a lot of rational thought. His decisions may seem bizarre at times but I do not doubt that he makes them at what he thinks is in the best interest of Arsenal. I’m not saying I’m happy, I’m not saying I accept Cesc playing for Chelshit but I accept that Wenger would be in a better position to make informed decision that I am. Perhaps Wenger thinks it’s not the right time for Cesc to return, perhaps he thinks Cesc would benefit more from playing at another club (before he returns. Yes, even after all that’s happened, I guess I’m still hopeful that he’ll return), perhaps perhaps perhaps.

And besides, I think Cesc is somewhat to blame. He should not have left like how and when he did (yes, I understand why he wanted to leave but I still think he shouldn’t have left when he did). I also think that his current partner is somewhat to blame. OK, I confess, I hate her. I never thought she’s a good influence on him at all.

Goodbye Cesc. I’m sorry that I’m not noble enough to wish you good luck at your new club. I have unfollowed you from twitter and removed you from this blog’s wallpaper because I don’t follow Chelshit players and I won’t have one on my blog wallpaper. You already broke my heart when you left three years ago and you can’t hurt me anymore, not after I took so long to get over you. I rang my munchkin nephew this morning to tell him about it and he said, ‘You were the one who liked him.’ I said, ‘Yes. That was then.’ He then added, ‘It’s OK. We still have Ozil.’ ‘And Ramsey,’ I agreed.

And now, what the heck am I going to do with the jerseys with Cesc’s name on them??? 

~~~~~~~

Ramsey signed for us today back in 2008.

Tanti Auguri

Tanti auguri, mio caro

Tears On My Pillow

The past few nights, I went to bed crying. Yes, silly me was crying over the departure of Cesc. To be honest, I was surprised myself with my reaction. I didn’t expect it to affect me so much. But truth be told, I only really started following Arsenal when the Invincibles dominated the league. And Cesc’s emergence followed shortly after so it wasn’t hard for me to notice him especially after his continued brilliant performance. So much so, quite often I looked out for him first when I watched a match, or concentrated solely on him throughout the match. I’d smile and mutter querido to myself when I sighted him on the pitch. Most of the time, he didn’t disappoint with his performance.

I hate it that he left too soon. I hate it that he left without guiding us to victory, without ever lifting a trophy (if so, I feel he should have stuck around longer). Like Siân put it, I hate the team he’s gone to (I used to have some shred of respect for them but not after their classless behaviour the past few summers). I hate it that he loves that team too and is happy about joining them – surely he knows how we feel about FCB? But I know he can’t help the fact that he is a Catalan, from Barcelona and that is where he wants to play all his life.

But Cesc loves Arsenal too. Let me re-tell the story I got (again from Siân): ‘Finally, a little story to share for those of you doubting Cesc’s love of Arsenal. He once had carpet-fitters come to… well, fit some carpet, I guess. They didn’t know it was his house they were going to and one happened to be wearing a Chelsea shirt. Obviously the guy felt the need to show it off. Cesc went on to very politely ask him to remove the shirt, or leave. The guy thought he was joking: “No. I’m serious. Sorry.” Then he made him a cup of tea.

Don’t tell me Cesc doesn’t love this club.’

And go here for evidence of his thoughtfulness and charm (scroll down to the part with the signed jersey).

He’s been saying the right things even when he’s joined FCB, namely that he would be watching Arsenal every weekend because he’s an Arsenal fan and will go back as often as he can. He’ll always carry Arsenal in his heart ;’)

I’m thinking of some sentences with song titles that describe what I feel:

Baby Come Back
Because My Life Would Suck Without You
C’mon, you know you’ll Always Be My Baby
But if you choose to go, I’ll Cherish the good times
And I love you Wherever You Will Go

And other Cesc-related sentences: The Joy of Cesc (lost), The Cesc Machine (gone), The Ex-Cesc Baggage (that we now find ourselves with).

I can’t help it: I am after all ob-Cesc-ed with Cesc.

It feels like a break-up. Wait a minute, it is a kind of break up. Did you go because we are not good enough for you anymore, Cesc?

Please bear with me through this difficult period. I’ve never experienced anything like this. Sure I was sad when Titi, Pires, Bergkamp, Ljungberg left but this, well, I am just shattered. I’m depressed, distressed, disappointed, disillusioned... it will take me some time to get over it (did I not say it feels like a break up? Heck, it’s maybe even worse than a break up but not as bad as dealing with the passing of a loved one). Give me time to heal please. I need it. (And please bear with me as I may post puerile entries while I try to find my mojo).

And Wenger? When we let go of Cesc, I hope you ensure we have a ready replacement for him. But the current squad terrifies me. You can’t let a player of a quality like Cesc go and have no ready replacement. That would just be sheer madness, stupid and irresponsible. But thank you for letting him go with that buy-back clause.

Love Don’t Live Here Anymore

After a summer of speculation, of ‘will he/won’t he’ questions, it’s finally come to this. I found out about it early on Thursday and have been depressed since. Damn you, FCB (take your pick: F***ing C***y Bastards, Faggot Cocky Buggers, Faeces Chav Bollockers). I know the day would come but discovering it came too soon does not bode well at all. And this is one blog post that I want to defer for as long as possible.

As much I respect Wenger, I can’t help but feel he’s partly to blame. He should have played one of the world’s best midfielders with the best. The root for Cesc’s transfer is for not having invested in the squad years ago. As it was, Cesc continually had to carry the team. I’m not saying we should spend for the sake of spending but we should invest in proper and proven quality. Mix the proven experienced with the young players. Invest smartly instead of relying on bargain buys, unproven quality, has-beens or those players well past their used-by dates (Disastre and Squill are two prime examples). If we fans are frustrated, imagine how Cesc was. To be able to be the best, one must be among the best; unfortunately not all who don the Arsenal colours are good enough. Also, it would have been nice if the transfer had been dealt and concluded with at the beginning of summer instead of dragging through until we were on the verge of our first match.

We look like we’re already struggling without Cesc if last Saturday’s match was any indication. We didn’t click well, we struggled to create chances and we committed unnecessary and unprofessional fouls. It was bad enough we had a blinking blind referee and linesmen, we also had that Jokey Bastard to contend with. Unless we invest quickly in someone ready to step in, it will be a long hard season for us.

I can’t and will never hate Cesc. He’s been professional throughout his Arsenal career, he played with his heart out and genuinely wanted to win. Say what you want about him but we will miss him greatly now that he’s gone. Cesc is like a rare gem that you come upon few and far between.

Good bye and good luck my love. I hope you will be happy back home. As much as I love you, I hope you will regret moving back. Because you could have achieved a lot more with Arsenal. I mean, what’s the challenge in going back home to play for FCB? You’re already a superstar at Arsenal; at FCB you’ll be only one among the few known ones and you can consider yourself lucky enough if you don’t spend time on the bench.

Life goes on and now it’s life after Cesc. We will find a great club still there, a great stadium still there and a somewhat-great-but-at-times-frustrating manager still there (and for those who want Wenger out, be careful what you wish for. Says who? Says Gary Neville. If he can appreciate Wenger, why can’t we?).

Why do people I care about all go and leave me behind? *Sobs*

You abandoned me
Love don’t live here anymore
Just a vacancy
Love don’t live here anymore

We’ve lost Cesc Fàbregas ;’(
The two ‘angry birds’ (see the small pic of the two birds at bottom right. Thanks, Kickette!). Greedy Nasri, I hope you go already. At least Adebuywhore was honest about his greed. You twist your words, ‘don’t believe the media’ etc. Well, good riddance when you go!

My Midsummer Night’s Dream

I dreamt of my querido Cesc last night. He was joined by Arsène and Theo. No people, I’m not kidding, I did dream of the three of them. And no, it wasn’t a dirty dream! (Just because I dreamt of a trio, it wasn’t a threesome or even a foursome with me!! In fact, I think I was either talking to him or taking his picture because his face kept being zoomed in and out).

I dreamt of these two hotties ;)

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I was disturbed by the news that apparently Arsenal are willing to sell Cesc. He’s our Captain, one of the best midfielders in the world, and despite last season being one of his ‘worst’ at Arsenal, @Orbinho has posted some incredible statistics about him this summer. Fabregas completed 38 through balls in the league last season – 15 more than the player in second place on that particular chart. This in just 22 starts. An assist every 171.6 minutes made him the league’s most creative player by a street. And don’t forget he provided the winning goal at the World Cup to enable Spain to win it. So selling him at this point in time is ridiculous and possibly suicidal. For one, we don’t have a ready replacement for him. And even if we plan to buy someone with the idea of understudying Cesc, that person will be a work-in-progress for some time. So yes, it wasn’t just for personal reasons that I was disturbed and down at this news. That was until I read Arseblog, who thinks it’s a strategy by Arsenal to put the matter to rest now rather than let it drag through the remainder of summer.

Yes, we all know he wants to go back to Barcelona one fine day. But that day is not here yet, not for a few more years hopefully. He himself says he’s very happy at Arsenal. He loves the club, he loves London, he likes his team-mates and he has a lot of respect for Arsenal. He is authentic, he has values, has always behaved with discretion and is not about to do something that will sour his relationship with Arsène or Arsenal. @LadyArse aptly describes his situation like a child who would like to go to live with his mother - but that doesn’t make him love his father any less.

Stay, querido. Please stay. Because my dreams of you are few and far between and I don’t want to resort to having to watch La Liga to keep up with you. Because we need you, Captain, more so than Barcelona need you.

With Gio van Bronckhorst, who he bumped into while in Jakarta last week

I am trying my best to keep calm about all this

Moltes Felicitats

Happy birthday to my Catalan Captain, my hero, my Spanish matador munchkin!

Tanti auguri a te. Love you to bits and every little bit of you.

Being Frank

Thanks to the Astro February magazine, I’ve just (re-)discovered how hawt James Franco is. I’ve been reading about him since and my, he doesn’t sound real at times! The more I read, the more I like him. I’m so impressed with his hunger for education. Intelligent guys like that attract me. Not like some stupid sexist moron at Sky Sports. He’s an actor, director, screenwriter, producer, painter, model (Gucci by Gucci pour Homme and now Gucci by Gucci Sport) ... and soon, Oscars presenter. He's good looking too!!! Looks & brains, what a combination! I’m very much impressed!

Gucci by Gucci pour Homme

Gucci by Gucci Sport

James Edward Franco *drools*

~~~~~~~~


We’re meeting Birmingham City at Wembley. Three goals in the second half ensured BCFC’s passage to the encounter.

The two goal scorers post-match. That’s one mighty smooth chest, B52. Just keep your hands to yourself, OK. Image source: Arseblog

Class Act

The Emirates welcomed Shakhtar Donetsk and Dudú back last night (the latter with a welcome home banner, no less). Cesc was back to lead the team, a month after he last wore Arsenal colours, and Mummy’s boy scored a penalty for Arsenal’s third goal. It was MOTM Nasri and Song who got the party started with Song bundling in a goal after a goalie howler. Nasri followed suit with a beautiful goal and the score remained at 2-0 at half-time. Wilshere added a fourth (about time he scored) and Chamakh scored Arsenal’s fifth and last goal – he has scored in each of Arsenal’s group games this season and as the Moroccan captain also scored in his last three Champions League with Bordeaux, he becomes the first player to score in six consecutive CL matches. For more pictures and the top ten things we can learn from the match, go here and here.

I like that Arsenal fans greeted Dudú so warmly and cheered loudly when he scored a consolation goal (in fact his goal was cheered the loudest). That was very classy indeed of the fans (of course we are a classy lot). Some players will leave and will always be given a warm welcome home while some will never be remembered fondly.

Song got the party started from a Nasri corner

Then he provided assist to Nasri who made it 2-0

Djourou was felled in the penalty box

Captain Fabulous converted

‘Felicitats Mama’

Jack the Lad made it four

And Chamakhattack capped the night

An Arsenal graduate

ManUre have admitted Shrek’s insistence to leave. Who will be the Fiona team which will welcome him? True, Cesc had wanted to leave but he’s never a petulant brat and always gives his all on the pitch. While Arsenal are for everyone, as stated in last Saturday’s match day programme, sorry Shrek, Arsenal is not for you.

Arsenal are only for the select few

‘I may be Mummy’s boy but I’m no brat’

10/10

Well, it’s October and I’ve been busy as I expected. So busy that it’s not even funny anymore ;’( *sniff* and Arsenal’s defeat to Chelshit last weekend certainly didn’t help. We played quite well (definitely better than against West Brom) but lost by two defensive lapses. As always, it takes me a while to lift myself up again.

Anyway, I’m somewhat lifted with the news of Bobby ‘McDreamy’ Pires (for he is Arsenal’s version of McDreamy) training at Arsenal. As I’m lifted by the news that Bendtner and Cesc are back training with the team (Arsenal, I hope, and not the Spanish team for Cesc). Update: Cesc is training with Arsenal ;)

Bobby ‘McDreamy’ Pires the Legend! Source: Arseblog

I shall leave you with some pictures of my perfect 10 Gunners who were at the O2 to watch the LA Lakers-Minnesota Timberwolves basketball match on Monday evening. I’m generous and thoughtful that way ;)

Journey To The Centre Of... Part I

Well, not the Earth exactly but the centre of Vietnam. And this is how the journey went.

Wednesday, 15 September 2010
I left micasa early this morning for KLIA. The plane took off on time and we landed at Saigon at 9.48 am. I changed some USD at the airport; there were a few exchange offices with varying rates and some even charge commission ranging from 1-3%. So do shop around (my rate was USD1 = VND19470). Then I followed the covered walkway to the domestic terminal and checked in for my noon flight to Da Nang. You can fly either Jetstar or Vietnam Airlines but I chose the latter, having compared the rates for the two airlines back in April; Jetstar would have cost more even if I chose not to check in my bag. There was a noticeable stench as you enter the domestic terminal and after checking in, I hurried over to the boarding gates to escape the stench.

The domestic flight took off slightly later and I dozed off during take-off - well, it had been an early start for me after all. We landed after 1 pm but my bag took so long to board the carousel that I was only out at almost 2 pm. I took a cab - do insist on a metred one - to the corner of Quang Trung and Le Loi streets and went in search of a hotel. Yup, this was only my second trip of not having booked any prior accommodation. It took several minutes of walking in the hot sun before I concluded that I’d be better off finding a hotel at a street nearer to the waterfront so I walked to Tran Phu street and true enough, I sighted hotels there. The rate of a single room ranged from USD15-20 and after four attempts, I found a room at Stargazer Hotel for VND250K a night - about USD13 (although when I later settled my bill and asked to pay in USD instead as I was running out of Dong, the girl charged me only USD12/night). The hotel is right in front of Exim Bank. I didn’t ask about breakfast as I had planned to fast the whole time I was in Vietnam anyway. I then agreed with a chap for him to take me to Hoi An on Friday on his motorbike for VND100K one way.

I ventured out after four pm and walked along Bach Dang, the street parallel to the river. I found Sinh Cafe and remembering the few articles suggesting this company, enquired on a bus fare to Hue. I was quoted VND71K. ‘Too expensive,’ I thought. Audrey had told me it cost her VND35K one way to Hue. Besides the Sinh Cafe bus leaves at 9 am and has no day return trip.

I had dinner ̣or rather broke fast at the food court at Indochina Towers nearby. There was an employee there who spoke considerably good English and I chatted with her a bit. When I asked if there was a supermarket nearby, she suggested Big C at Hung Vuong street. My, it was actually far. I didn't know it was that far when I set out. It was a 15-minute walk back to the hotel from Big C Superstore.

Thursday, 16 September 2010

I woke up very early hoping to catch the Champions League match between Arsenal and Braga. No such luck. Two channels were showing the Real Madrid-Ajax match instead but I watched it anyway - no, not to watch Cristina but Özil. Man, Cristina really had misplaced his shooting boots big time, I wonder what Alan Hansen would say to him had he still be in England and playing for ManUre that night. The channel also had regular updates from other matches so I was glued to the screen and was very happy to note that at half-time Arsenal had led by three goals. The channel didn’t however inform who the scorers were. I watched the match until the end and was overjoyed to find that Arsenal scored six goals past Braga. More on that later.

I woke again after six am and showered. I left after 7 and asked the hotel where I could wait for a city bus to the bus terminal for a bus to Hue. I must have missed the bus because I waited more than twenty minutes but no bus came. There was a yellow bus apparently bound for Hoi An though and when I returned to the bus stop again, I saw the same bus and decided to go for Plan B, i.e. visit Hoi An first and Hue the next day - I had planned to visit Hue first before visiting Hoi An.

The bus fare was only VND10K and we reached Hoi An 45 minutes later. It had started drizzling along the way and didn’t let up – thankfully not the torrential type we get here. I was approached by a guy who asked if I needed a ride to the Ancient Town. Apparently, it was three km away from the bus station. Well, I couldn’t have walked there even if I knew the way and even if it wasn’t raining. So we agreed on the price, well, not exactly agreed (I only agreed to pay him VND100K for a return trip plus a ride within the old town instead of VND200K (which he later reduced to VND150K then VND130K); besides he’d told me it cost VND40K for a one-way trip). Then I got on the motorbike. OK, here’s a confession: it was my very first time on a motorbike and well, it had to rain, didn’t it. First time on a motorbike and I was being rained on. I later told the driver to that I wanted to buy a raincoat; it cost me VND5K.

We stopped to buy admission ticket first. It cost USD5 or VND90K so I chose to pay in Dong. The ticket entitles you to visit/enter five places. I entered Quan Cong Temple, The Old House of Phung Kung, Handicraft Workshop and Traditional Music concert hall, Japanese covered bridge and temple and Old House Duc An (which was a ̣Vietnamese house). We finished at 10.45 am and I asked the driver to give me until 12.30 pm. Then I wandered off. The rain had stopped by then and I walked happily on, avoiding puddles and mud. It was a very charming area and reminded me of Luang Prabang. Quite a few locals told me I looked Vietnamese. I just smiled. So, I look like Miss Saigon. Am I supposed to be thrilled? Ecstatic? Flattered?

I then met up with the driver at a temple at the corner of Tran Phu and Hoang V. Thu and he drove me back to the bus terminal. The bus back to Da Nang was super slow and I dozed off along the way. This time, the trip took us an hour to reach Da Nang. I got down at an intersection very near the hotel, found the chap I’d agreed to go to Hoi An earlier with and told him I’d already gone to Hoi An.

to be continued
~~~~~~~~

OK, lemme cover the Champions League match first. Inspirational Captain Fantastic led the Fàbregas-inspired Gunners to man-of-the-match displays. He was on fire and Arsenal on the whole were simply stunning, leaving Braga to chase shadows. Maybe you can say that Arsenal were too good for their own good. When asked, the star man said he was comfortable at the Emirates - and what more can you ask for for his proof of affection? If you don't get what you want, do you sulk and mope or do the alternative? For full match report and more pictures, go here and here.

Penalty convertedCesc celebrates

He can be quite lazy and plays like sh*t but comes up with goals like this

Superb goal, simply delightful

This time, he didn’t score with his head but he used his head all right ;)

Man-huddle

Cesc heads in

That’s my head boy ;) Vela makes it five

... and six