Merry Christmas from Da Admin Gooner
Happy Christmas
In the next few days most of us – if not all will be spending time with our families enjoying Christmas dinners and the like or we will be wondering we’re has everyone gone and why is noone writing anything. But in the spirit of the season I would like to extend a very special Christmas thanks to all of you the readers of You Are My Arsenal.
In the six months since we launched I believe we have developed in to an excellent forum for all sorts of discussion around our beloved Arsenal. SOme of us haven’t liked what others have said and others have found what I have written to be “tabloidish” at atimes. But all in all we have a respectful (to a degree) discourse with each other and it has made writing this blog more enjoyable than I could’ve imagined. Really.
We’re heading into the new year watching our team do its annual fits of convulsions as it strives for silverware. I am the optimist and think there i still something to be had by this squad especially if Arsene delivers in January. At YAMA I am busy looking for new content ideas to make the site more robust for all of you. IN the coming months I am going to launch the Gooner Store – YAMA’s online store. I had wanted it opened after Thanksgiving but problems with software and contracts have delayed that. I am thinking about opening a forum for us to conduct non blog related subjects and carry and ongoing dialogue. I remember at AA reading how people were tired of scrolling down to find the next topic. And finally in 2010 I hope to launch the YAMA podcast. I’ve been in touch with some excellent Arsenal and EPL bloggers and am formulating an idea.
When I started YAMA, I wanted this site to be more than what AA offered. Not as a knock to AA. It has its niche and I wanted YAMA to more than that. You guys have really made doing that enjoyable.
So there will be more to come in 2010. Heck there is still a very important fixture in 2009 – a winnable one. It will be hard but I think we won’t be in it. Of course my usual pre game review will be up – likely Friday evening after every one has succumbed to their tryptophan comas.
But just for conversation sakes some of the headlines floating out there are:
1. Diouf gets granted his UK work permit – is he the answer to United’s woes.
2. Will Arsene Wenger sign the striker we think he needs or will he find a 5′ 8″ dynamo that doesn’t answer our lack of height.
3. Arsene Wenger – a man who understands clubs history has asked 1970 Captain Frank McClintock to appear before the opening of the Villa match. McClintock was the Captain of the 1970/71 double winning side and will be 70 years old on 28 Dec. He appeared in 403 matches.
4. With the turmoil at City could Shay Given really be looking to get out? If so would you take him? Heck since it looks like Everton won’t have any money coming in from Europe would you make a play for Tim Howard – knowing that Everton need money.
5. Kolo Toure looks like he wants to leave City. If that is the case is this likely the most brilliant move by Arsene? He seems to have an uncanny knack of knowing when players need to move on. He also seems to know when certain players are ready to step up (e.g. Song) but to be fair he also has a blind side to some players out of pure loyalty when it really does look like they have lost it.
6. Looks like Melo is already worn out at Juve – he hasn’t been great since his move from Fiorentina? What do you think? Make a play?
7. Arsene is wary of the ACoN affect on his squad – he is happy that at least this year its only two players and he feels that the squad is prepared to cover their loss. We can only hope that at least Cameroon goes out early.
8. Really interesting is that our league rival Chelsea may have more woes added to their current run of form. Nicholas Anelka is currently slated to miss the next two games for the Blues. There is the possibility he could actually miss more. I have always thought that the potency of Chelsea lie when they have both Anelka and Drogba on the attack. You can’t focus on one player. And given the strengths of both inevitably one is going to get you. Should Chelsea have an extended run without Anelka or Drogba (ACoN) they are going to falter. Yes they will likely buy someone but that impact isn’t going to be immediate. This is why I like where Arsenal are right now in the standings. If we win or draw against Villa and win the game in hand against Bolton we will be 3-4 points off Chelsea going into January. And up until the end of the month we have a favorable run of can-win matches. January will decide the EPL title winner I think.
9. Have you heard an EPL manager was found outside a brothel by the Sun. When he was confronted he siad he knew it was a brothel. UK privacy laws forbid the Sun from revealing who it was. I am thinking it is Harry Redknapp.
10 I think if Wilshere goes out on loan – send him the Newcastle. Yeah I know its an EPL team but they are playing good football in the Championship. It will be good for Jack to be in a team that is competing to win a league title and in fairness they are as close to an EPL team in the Championship as they can get.
11. Finally, I am up for desiging a YAMA T Shirt but as I am not the most witty or pithy writer I am looking for suggestions for a slogan to have on it. Let me know what you think our slogan should be. The winner – I will pay for their shirt myself. But the shirt will pay homage to all the active readers and writers.
In closing guys Happy Christmas, Chanukkah, Kwanza or ChrismaHanuKwanzaKah. – You Gooners are the best
