"Get them to sign on the line that is dotted"

"Always Be Closing"

Renewal time came and went and like many other addicts I committed my body mind and cheque book to the cause for another season. Yes I ummed and ahhed about it. I cogitated and deliberated but deep down I knew I would pay up. Why would I, a person who sees so many negatives at AFC, stump up £1300 to put myself through 10 months of aggravation? There's always that optimism that this time, this time, it might work out alright. This time it may be magnificent. This time it could be our year. This time…

No salesmen needed to cold call, no being stopped in the street no hard sell at all; just pay by the dealine or miss out on what might be.

I find myself thinking that 2011-2012 I will go to each game with lower, more humble expectations. I will adopt the guise of a Dagenham & Redbridge supporter and be glad to win the odd game, not get angry or upset at setbacks. This best laid plan will, of course, go right out the window once we get underway. I will then become obsessive and wrapped up in the detail. I will expect victory and achievement, I will begin to believe. The reality is more prosaic though, it’s mostly about putting up with things, accepting the inevitability of defeat. It really is a trial supporting Arsenal, and I would imagine most teams, a trial that we pay heavily to take part in.

The football landscape will be different. The premier League will see sides such as Man City and Liverpool gaining momentum. Manchester United will move forward propelled by Ferguson’s obsession, Chelsea will forge ahead under the expectations and Euros of Abramovich. The truth of Barcelona’s dominance will result in European sides looking to compete. Sides like Milan, Bayern and Real will all be trying to regain the upper hand. By the same taken the premier League’s lesser lights will see how successful Stoke were in playing that brand of football and, in the reality of staying up at all costs make every league game difficult. It is in this environment that Arsenal have to adapt or die.

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Reasons to be cheerful?

So November arrives with cold weather and grey skies. Arsenal sit in 2 nd place with a great chance to make progress in the Carling Cup with a home draw against wigan Athletic. Poised to win our Champions league group and with six months of the season left have 3 of our five tougher away fixtures out of the way, having taken a respectable 4 from 9. I say respectable as, the Man City away trip aside the draw at Anfield on the occasion of Hodgson’s first game was a good result and the Chelsea game I don’t think anyone can really speak of any injustice. That leaves away games at Old Trafford and Sp*rs (who as we know raise their game for this fixture). With injured players gradually returning and the Polish goalkeepers showing signs of optimism, we’re in relatively good shape. Or so you’d think. Yesterday at the Emirates West Ham were put to the sword late on after some stout defending, a good performance from Robert Green and a couple of missed opportunities. The level of indign...

"IF WE BEHAVE LIKE THEM, THEN WHAT IS THE POINT IN WINNING? "- John Connor

"The future has not been written. There is no fate but what we make for ourselves. I wish I could believe that."-John Connor To overcome Skynet was not easy, it involved time, belief and an indomitable human spirit. To beat a machine equipped with superior weaponry and a ruthless access to resources to increase its arsenal took ingenuity and a "never say die" attitude. Abu Dhabi is the ground zero of Skynet and Manchester CXV are the Terminators. The thing about Skynet is that there are no qualms about what their aim is, there are no notions of fairness. "Listen, and understand! Manchester CX are out there! They can't be bargained with. They can't be reasoned with. They doesn't feel pity, or remorse, or fear. And they absolutely will not stop... ever, until someone stops them flagrantly breaking rules"-Kyle Reese In a landscape where one team dominates it is up to a resistance to topple them, this is made hard when using resources that were ga...

HATE

Then Now Earlier today Captain Kirk sent me the following video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sG1f-v88-kU&sns=em To say it is both disturbing and upsetting is an understatement. We see the beautiful game as something of a mirror to society and try to look on the community of supporters as a positive force. A set of human beings with some values borne out of an understanding of what this great sport of ours can give us. However, it takes a certain amount of myopia from the Football Authorities to proclaim that all is well. The issues that were amplified over the weekend at Old Trafford cannot be trivialised when we see the full extent of hatred; in any form. The violence is shocking as we see people attacked on a basis that is a result of flawed thinking, and the powers that be proclaim all is well; all is not well. So when I look at those images, I have to ask myself this… http://youtu.be/6RVDQgVxprE

ARSENALISM©

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