MERRY X'MAS and HAPPY 2013 in advance!

Hi all,

In what is a bit of a spoilsport, Arsenal won't be playing on Boxing Day tonight. (London strike for the metro trains in Arsenal Picadilly Line side) So we will have to do with watching the potential Top8-ers fight it out for that lucrative Champions League Slots.

To be fair, i think Arsene and myself ain't aiming so low as fourth. We know that with a good run, we can be 3rd. To be top-2 would have seen the most ludicrous drop of points by Manc. clubcs ever to lose a championship. But alas, Transfer Window is coming soon.

With rumours we be off-loading Arshavin and prob one or two others on loans, that paves the way for some reinforcements.

Many Arsenal fans are budging at the door to be heard and they all want more players to revive our season. Let's see if the rumours to the Ba / L. Biglia / A. Lopez / Diame / K. Strootman transfers have legs. To be frank, i think we will see one out of those few mentioned arrive but with one more "Lesser-known" up-coming youngster signing. E.g. Wilfred Zaha or another French youngster from Ligue 1 or the Barca academy?

Well we will wait in anticipation. Until the next Arsenal game this coming Sat, lets enjoy our festive meals and time spent with loved ones.

COYGs!

The Brash 5 - New contracts for 5 Brits bar Walcott - UCL Draw tonight!

The latest news and PR stint to stem the fans and media. Arsenal announce signing extension 5 year deals to 5 Brits. Yes. Walcott is not one of them. So what? He better get his head right soon or Wenger won't be missing him much come January.

Let's stick to the positives k, gooners? We have the British core i mentioned. Wenger's last real shot at keeping them together. It is good and a morale booster for the club both on player level as well as club level.

I can also sense the air of expectancy as Wenger IS serious this time to bolster his team in Jan. He most undoubtedly will buy someone. Let's await in Wenger-esque anticipation again. He never reveals the targets openly even if it were blatant. That's the magic of Wenger, like it or not. Fine with me as long as the business side of the deals gets done.

I personally think we will bring in a striker. Who you ask? My hunch is that Wenger will try to "unsettle" Villa and if that fails. F. Llorente will come through the door just before the window closes. That Zambian kid will be the first announcement. One for the future again. Let's not comment too much. Some purchases just have to be made when they are available. And i can sense that he will look at a powerful DM with ball skills. Remember J. Vertonghen's comments? That he was asked to play DM role in Arsenal but he baulked at the idea at first and chose the path up Seven Sisters Road. Congratulations Jan, you have not only failed to displace Gallas regularly yet and end up on the Left Back role. Doesn't the DM role sound more enticing? Back to the DM role, we have been rumoured with L. Biglia in the past. Though let me say this. I think that there will be a "shock" purchase with regards to that position again from Wenger, i really have no clue who it is! It is so Wenger style, a new lad will come in and do well.

In any case, X'mas is coming and with Wigan up next. A thorough well-fought 2-0 win would warm all Arsenal supporter's hearts. With no Boxing day fixture as well, perhaps the timing is perfect to watch the drama of Wenger's Top Secret Transfer List Targets unfold.

Can Wenger galvanise the creativity levels of the football we play and bolster the squad sufficiently come January?

I sense good things a-coming at Arsenal. Despite our "crisis" and new 30m pounds per year Transfer Kitty added onto the rumoured 70m pounds Transfer War Chest we already accumulated. X'mas Giving and Receiving is just around the corner.

Smile and be merry all Gooners.

Come On You Gooners! (COYG)

WENGER's FINAL STAND - Be proud Gooners!

I write this piece not with any knowledge or acknowledgement that Wenger is going. Or be it i agree with the catcalls from some "would-be" fans that Wenger should go soon.

I am writing this piece because i have a gut-feel that Wenger is taking his last bet on building a Champion Team (Premier League or Champions League for that matter). Let's face it, time and time again Wenger has been "betrayed" to some extent on the faith he has put in building his would-be Champion Teams. I write with almost full passion writhing in my body when i think of the Champions League Final in 2006. The missed opportunity for the League and Cup double when Eduardo broke his leg and subsequently, inadvertently de-railed the Champions season that year. We sure were flying high at different times across the span of 6-years now since 2006. The badge-kissing mercernaries that came and went. Ade-"Kiss my badge" -Yor to the ever-prickly Samir Nasri.

Alot of high profile departures, that its no wonder the media would feast on the scoop like Zombies to fresh meat. It all started i remember with $$Cashley$$ Cole - Remember the man that we supposedly "Loved Henry over him" that broke the final straw? But even for Cole, i felt that kudos to him, even in his last games he was professional to the end. Besides we had gotten a good run of seasons with him already and he didn't leave us dry. We got the still-young Gallas in return with 5m. A decent if not good deal if you were forced to make one. Wenger was frustrated yes, but even then, there never was as much betrayal as compared to the Flamini-saga.

A talented young player that grew in Arsene's heart and with the fans too as he formed such a dynamic partnership with Fabregas that made many heads turn. But alas, it was the lad whose head and loyalty turned first. Without warning, he turned contract rebel and refused to sign and decided to invoke Bosman. Leaving us with no opportunity to even find the time to sell him. Wenger to this day in past interviews deeply felt that one.

It is with this mentality, although stubborn to some extent that he never ever wished a repeat. He still had faith that players would pay him back. Cesc, Toure, Clichy did with their fortitude in long service. But unknown to Wenger then, he would have the most painful departures till date. (Not all are deemed betrayals, but they are significant players in their times with Arsenal)

Flamini / Adebayor / K. Toure / Hleb / Clichy / Gallas / Fabregas / Nasri / Song / RVP

There are others. But i focused on these few more important ones. Sorry David Bentley.

Thus, the Wenger that many knew since the first day with Arsenal has indeed changed despite the media rants that Wenger is still stubborn and refuses to sign BIG name players and rely on youngsters. Have they been seeing the last 2 transfer seasons? Ya, the youngsters aside. The quality, not age of players is now Wenger's only concern. Plus, he had made a conscientious effort to sign and rely on more English players echoed 2-years ago. The last few departures were the final straw if you will and he has set his blueprint for a British Arsenal to come. Weird if you know the Wenger that first signed for Arsenal. Famously, Wenger was the first manager to field an all Non-English starting XI and subs!

So let's be sure on one thing, Wenger has a plan. HE IS LISTENING to feedback on his transfer policies. And be prepared, for the first time i can be certain that if not this January, come August next year you will see signings that will be his last bet. Oh and if you were thinking if he'd resigned or be sacked by then? I can assure you one thing. Wenger is a real gentleman in terms of his contract. If he says he is contracted to 2014 then believe it, he will see it out to the end. But i think he is on his last season next year. It's a make or break. If we do go out all guns blazing next season and actually win something. I can only say there is only one manager in the world i would love to have lifting the trophy for Arsenal.

There is only one Wenger, One Ar-Sene Wenger! Only one Ar-Sene Wenger! One Ar-Sene Wen-Ger! There's only one Ar-Sene Wen-Ger.

In Arsene We I Trust

Having fun with Uruguay - First friendly with Italy!

Haha,

You may have seen me playing more WCCF recently. Been enjoying my La Celeste - Uruguay Team.

Ever since moved Suarez to main striker has been flowing goals more.

But going to keep rotating and testing try other combos. Like FA Recoba instead of D. Fonseca.

Today was at JCube short while in morning and met a fellow player i also have not seen a long time. Sorry dude. Forget your name liao. Only know your two teams: Italy and the other Santos (All in Jap characters)

But ya, while we talked a bit. Our teams were chosen as opponents for a Regular League Premier Division match. Guess what his team is also a country team: Italy. Both our team same size graph approx. Both played approx. 50 games.

Was a good match. I kept probing his Centre and my Giacomazzi had a superb game roaming form MF line to the penalty area. Pulling lots of MF and DMs to give lotsa space for Forlan to score playing as a 2nd Top.

Of course, Uruguay had its Defensive frailties on the side. Particularly with A. Pereira. Italy bounced back.

But ya was a good game overall. I had a chance with my Forlan and Giacomazzi playing superbly well.

Overall though his Italy team were better and could have gone on to win if not for M. Caceres and D. Godin.

Good Game. 2-2 result was interesting. Got a EUS J. Alba foil too after 7 games! Good luck to ya games. I will train this Uruguay team hard. Lots of work to do to make it better.

Delusion or Blind Loyalty? Arsene - Saint or False Phrophet?

It is funny how the phrase "....bites the very same hand that feeds him." keeps circling round the media these days. Football has never been a sport of loyalty these days. Gone are the days where fans are just that: Fans. Happy when the team wins and Very unhappy when they lose.

Nowadays, they have access to pre-game talkshows, formations, tactics and media over-hype. Its as if Fans nowadays are the "rightful managers" of their "beloved" clubs. Responding to my post earlier that this could be a good month in Dec for Arsenal, i obviously wasnt expecting a lapse of confidence (And effort) against Swamsea. Perhaps my delusional self had warranted that Arsenal could not get any worse could it? We did just that last weekend.

But it brings me back to my subject. After the game, the Black Scarf Movement and some other fans jeered the team at the end and was also asking questions of the team, board and Wenger. I feel it is justified to some extent. You pay good money nowadays to enjoy an Arsenal game and the over-hyped Wenger philosophy of attacking football and all you get is Pie in your face.

They have the right to boo as Arteta said as i back these section of fans. After a poor start this season (I mean the first 6 games or so), Wenger rallied the supporters. They responded! (A rare sensibility seldom seen in modern day fans) I remember clearly that after a horrendous showing in the last game we lost, the fans listened to Wenger and didn't get at the team and victimize our players. They rallied and supported, chanted even at Away games while losing till the 90th minute. But thereafter, we had false hope in some games, utter lack of urgency in most of the others led to this new melodramatic scene.

I can only say, it is time for the real characters in our team to stand up. Remember a certain Gallas slumping and refusing to get off the pitch in one game, thereafter criticisng his own teammates. Well ,his methods are wrong but he sure had the heart to want to change something. People have to have the fire in their belly like old Wrighty would say. So step up Walcott, Arteta (Went AWOL past 3 games i watched), Vermaelan (Stop those lapses and off-balance falls - They cost points!) and even Wilshere (Make us proud of the number 10 again!). Their game needs to step up

Other than the team, i feel that the protestors have got much of their anger directed wrongly though. It is in my view that their criticism of the board is unfounded and more a case of succumbing to media pressure and self over-hype. Because without the board's steady stewarding (Notice i used this word? It is in my view that the club shouldnt be sold like a company shares to the highest bidder. Look at Man Utd or Man. City or Chelsea. It should in part belong for the purpose of its fans.), Arsenal would definately have fallen to a much lower predicament it is in now.

Another false arrow lies in the blame on Wenger. Like i said, it is amazing how finally the core turns inwards to the very same hand that feeds them. Yes, i feel that Wenger is no saint or a perfect tactician. He has made several selection decisions this year that are indeed new lows for him. But if you were to analyze the games with the opposition strength, tactics and players fielded in mind, it is clear that the players let him down first and foremost. When this happens, it can become a slippery slope very quickly. But we have to ask the final question. Does he have control and hold over his players anymore. The answer is a resounding yes.

So alas, what is happening is unfixable? No, Wenger never gives up. Appreciate this trait of his if you still will. He will have tweaked his transfer policies, formations and strategies to match his ambition. People say he is a man happy with 3rd or 4th. I disagree. Circumstances made us 3rd and 4th. But look carefully what his ambition is and still is throughout the season even when hammered by the media and even our own fans, Wenger tends to say that winning it is still possible until the team gives up on him every year. Some part of that due to high-profile departures that set-back the Arsenal a few months each time.

Have faith. Wenger is a man with unbelievable faith. That is why his players work for him. Believe in their abilities and the coaching he does. It is the reason he has a doctorate in Psychology. He is a mind-obsessesd. And i can only assure true-hearted Gooner fans that he still bleeds Arsenal in him. So we need to turn the corner and stick together. It is a quest of a man whose stewardship is not the most successful i admit but with alot of spirit. There is a point i have to agree though. Supporting the modern day Arsenal is never easy. Always i hear, we have such a good squad, good football, it must be that we are champions this year or the next. But reality has it that the more beautiful the game you try to play, the task to win it or even win it consistently every few years is much much harder. No disrespecting Man Utd, Chelsea or Man City. The beautiful soccer isnt result-driven. It is much more played with heart. I can feel for my fellow Gooner fans having watched the telepathy in previous teams to expect the same. It takes time firstly, the correct hungry players with talent and the luck (Opposition form, decisions, etc) to win it in style like we used too.

Lets pray for more creativity in the park and the urgency back in our next game. Keep the faith. In Arsene we trust.

Happy playing with LE Ronaldo for the first time. Ronnie

Clearly happy with my new team and Ronaldo and Ronaldinho. Even has Stankovic and Samuel. Many of my fav players. ;)

Also got my second foil the other day at JCube. U23S Pato! Good-looking stats on this one.

Good luck to foils people! Enjoy your games. Remember i also have many many 11-12 foils coming in regularly almost every week at my box in Hako Shop in JCube.

Thanks.

Saturday Round-Up - A good month to come for the Arsenal?

Call it unfounded faith in a football club. I have a hunch we be beating the next few Premier League opponents in December, Swansea, Wigan, West Ham, Newcastle. And even Olympiakos. (Though i still believe we end up 2nd coz Shalke04 will win the last game.)

If you have supported the Arsenal in the past decade, you would have come to know that Nov / Dec tends to be our weakness in terms of results. We have a knack of losing it what i call Black November. It is as if the Arsenal start to literally feel the chills and get cold on the pitch. More detailed observation is that Arsenal tends to have the worst of its injury situations right about now.

However, yes there have been some games we have drawn blanks and others we thrashed other teams empathically. But there seems a bit of difference to this team than just 2 seasons ago with Fabregas and RVP and Nasri and Clichy and Song around. This team is more balanced. I hate to say it but yes, Ramsey wasnt wrong in that observation lately. We are harder to beat. But with every balance comes its price. We tend to have more of our attacking tendencies stifled now that the team has a better tactical shape. In my own opinion, we have overly-relied on Carzola to deliver creativity side. Sure he is world class in keeping the ball but clearly he needs a breather if not for the mental aspect of it. It's like sitting a creative writer in a caravan and forcing him to write while on the road the whole time with no pitstops.

My point on the new team is this. Arsenal have now become a mixed passing team rather than the old short pass and move prbing style that similarly delighted comparisons with Barcelona and also irritated the hell out of many fans too with over-elaboration. Anyone surprised that we just dont hear that anymore? The commentator going "Nasri to Van Persie who lays it off for Arteta, back to Nasri who brings in Clichy, back to Nasri, dummy by Rosicky and Walcott cuts-in, he turns, lays it off to Sagna and he's found Rosicky with space! Shoot! The chance is over, Rosicky turns and tries to pick-out Van Persie but is covered. He really should have shot when he got the chance." Sound familiar?

With the previous style of pass-and-move, we had become the team that received the most number of fouls due to the intricacies of the flowing moves. Sometimes we were so good, the foul was the only way to stop us well. Also, it invited alot more tackles. Hence alot of people don't understand how hard it is to get a whole team to have the passing ethos like we did and accept the injuries that come with playing such a style.

But now, we are different. We employ the wings and crossing so much more. It even surprised a commentator at the start of the season that we crossed and scored a headed goal. Mark my words, we have changed to a bit of mixed attacking play. This also leads to lesser injuries as the players are not so much in close proximity as compared to with a short passing style. It alows us to be less subtle to the over-the-top long ball counter but with a more rigid shape, we also lost some fluidity that makes space for teammates to pass into. But you know what, with the correct world-beaters in the team, we are gearing up for an exciting Arsenal. Many teams are successful with this style. The best being Man Utd, R. Madrid and even Dortmund i feel.

Let's pray for less injuries this December then truly, i am sure Gunners will stand proud at the top summit end of Dec. Topped up with some additions in January, i am sure, the motvation levels from all will go up!

C'mon you Gooners!

Have a hunch it gonna be good for us this December. I gotta feeling.

Famous players = Best Players??

Well i could not help to note that the shortlist for FIFA and FIFPro for World XI finally shows ZERO players from Arsenal.

The 55 players on the shortlist are:
Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Buffon (Italy, Juventus), Iker Casillas (Spain, Real Madrid), Petr Cech (Czech Republic, Chelsea), Joe Hart (England, Manchester City), Manuel Neuer (Germany, Bayern Munich)

Defenders: Jordi Alba (Spain, Barcelona), Gareth Bale (Wales, Tottenham Hotspur), Giorgio Chiellini (Italy, Juventus), Ashley Cole (England, Chelsea), Dani Alves (Brazil, Barcelona), David Luiz (Brazil, Chelsea), Patrice Evra (France, Manchester United), Rio Ferdinand (England, Manchester United), Mats Hummels (Germany, Borussia Dortmund), Branislav Ivanovic (Serbia, Chelsea), Vincent Kompany (Belgium, Manchester City), Philipp Lahm (Germany, Bayern Munich), Marcelo (Brazil, Real Madrid), Javier Mascherano (Argentina, Barcelona), Pepe (Portugal, Real Madrid), Gerard Pique (Spain, Barcelona), Carles Puyol (Spain, Barcelona), Sergio Ramos (Spain, Real Madrid), John Terry (England, Chelsea), Thiago Silva (Brazil, Paris St-Germain)

Midfielders: Xabi Alonso (Spain, Real Madrid), Sergio Busquets (Spain, Barcelona), Cesc Fabregas (Spain, Barcelona), Steven Gerrard (England, Liverpool), Eden Hazard (Belgium, Chelsea), Andres Iniesta (Spain, Barcelona), Frank Lampard (England, Chelsea), Luka Modric (Croatia, Real Madrid), Mesut Ozil (Germany, Real Madrid), Andrea Pirlo (Italy, Juventus), Franck Ribery (France, Bayern Munich), David Silva (Spain, Manchester City), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Germany, Bayern Munich), Yaya Toure (Ivory Coast, Manchester City), Xavi Hernandez (Spain, Barcelona)

Forwards: Sergio Aguero (Argentina, Manchester City), Mario Balotelli (Italy, Manchester City), Karim Benzema (France, Real Madrid), Edinson Cavani (Uruguay, AS Napoli), Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast, Shanghai Shenhua), Samuel Eto'o (Cameroon, Anzhi Makhachkala), Radamel Falcao (Colombia, Atlético Madrid), Mario Gomez (Germany, Bayern Munich), Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Sweden, Paris Saint-Germain), Lionel Messi (Argentina, Barcelona), Neymar (Brazil, Santos), Robin van Persie (The Netherlands, Manchester United), Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal, Real Madrid), Wayne Rooney (England, Manchester United), Luis Suarez (Uruguay, Liverpool).

Yes, our last two were RVP and Cesc who both are still in that shortlist.

Are we degrading? Yes, i happen to think so for the first time. But of course, we need to take such a list with more than a pinch of salt. For example, the list is heavily biased on Popularity rather than in-form players. what i kindly would suggest is the list favours the Champion Teams in each country more than others. It also has coaches and fellow professionals voting based on their affiliations or past-achievements.

No offenses to club supporters and fans of the following but i feel that for example, Buffon, D. Luiz, Evra, Ferdinand, Puyol, Busquets, Eto'o, Gerard weren't at their best of forms last year and yet still make the cut. They are in my opinion better players to be mentioned for last year. Leawondowski, Piscek, Abbiati, Wilshere, J. Mata (It was only this season his form dipped) etc.

BUT YES, it has finally happened. We are not represented on the list for the first time in many a years based on my memory. Perhaps you can prove me wrong. Is this a sign? Well, to br frank if Wilshere had not gone injured for the second half of the season last year, i am sure he would have been on this list. But alas, Wenger has to clearly re-think his faith in building the youths to be world-beaters like those in this list.

To be fair to Wenger, he is now trying to do so without throwing the baby out the window. He is still sticking to talented youths and moulding them but with an English twist. His belief that homegrown English youth would be more stayable and loyal to Arsenal. Only time will tell on this policy with Walcott being the first Litmus test. We gave the boy everything, his break, his training and even reliance on him.

Let's see. But clearly, my message as pointed out in the last article on Arsenal now being World Top 5 in terms of financial clout, it is ENTIRELY Wenger's fault if he can but Refuses to pay top $ for players like those in the list. Again, Wenger seems to have learnt well. He has now started to blend Exp players who have done it all, but not Won it all to join his hungry youths.

Let's see if that trend continues this end of season summer as i am sure, the departures would warrant openings in key positions in the team and he SHOULD buy some World Stars. If he insists not to buy and the next year is same story of Arsenal Youth failing to deliver, even the staunchest Wenger-fan i am have to admit that he needs to take a step-down form management and let someone who is not afraid to spend the cash and gel in these World Players to win something.

Change is a difficult thing. The word itself is difficult to stomach for many. But like in management, we need to learn to embrace it as long as it is positive change. We need to monitor and effect it before there is a forced change. Forced changes are painful and may affect the legacy that is Arsenal too much to the point it cannot be repaired.

Chins up and heads up Gooners. Wenger knows and still...In Arsene we trust!

Commercial Deals, Le Prof and crazy "fans"

I remember some distinct replay of an FA Cup match of Arsenal vs another dogged English opposition on our old television sometime back when i was in my teens. (Yes folks, that was some 18-20 years back)

Details are sketchy in my mind but i will always remember the lousy run-down pitch, many long-balls from both teams and the determination shown form the team in Red and White (Didn't even know they were called Arsenal then) to tackle, come from behind and i think the result was a draw.

It was probably a few weeks later that i found out that Arsenal FC was the club that i was fond of slightly for their fighting spirit. Later did i find out that Arsenal back then weren't consistent Top 4 material in an era where the Top 4 tag hadn't been phrased yet. Unfortunately, the history showed that Arsenal FC were a BIG club on the decline. I wasn't fazed, radio commentary from BBC kept me company along with Shoot magazines and the Match of the Day and Goals of the Week allowed me to buy into what was a great club to be.

One season Arsenal FC could be 3rd and the next 8th. I remembered those times well. The disgusting feeling to have lost to teams like Crystal Palace, Tottenham (Often above us in many seasons then) really tested my resolve. But for me, David Seaman, Alan Smith, Paul Merson (My Fav), Anders Limpar, Adams and Bould, Ray Parlour (Mr. Determination), Stephen Hughes, Paul Davies, David Hillier, Jan Jensen, Paul Dickov, Ian Wright and the super-young Kevin Campbell just pleased me no end. they were my first heroes. These were the lads who had guided the Booring, Booring Arsenal Chants made famous by the then-manager George Graham. Sure he was successful to some extent but his loss in the Cup Winners Cup on one occasion and other notable inconsistencies made life supporting Arsenal a living hell.

On came David Dein and his revelations. Enter P. Vieira first, then Le Prof Arsene Wenger from Nagoya Grampus in J-League. He quickly inherited a promising team with some raw potential and fading stars. Bruce Rioch the caretaker before him buying my all-time Fav Dennis Bergkamp (Fallen Star due to his career slump), Marc Overmars, Petite, Sylvnho, Ljungberg, Anelka, Henry, Pires, Grimandi. The rest is of course history.

Today i read that Arsenal had re-signed the new shirt sponsor deal with Emirates again and guess what, it is mind-blowing. All along, i had complained when 5 years ago, in a desperate bid to fund our stadium debt, Commerce Department of Arsenal allowed a 5-year deal for 30m with 20m paid upfront. Now the deal is a whopping 30m pounds a year! For the next 6 years. Ivan Gazidis wasn't bluffing when he said what will happen over the next few years will see Arsenal compete with the top 5-10 clubs financially. Indeed!

Now of course, Gazidis is clever and "taichi-ed" away the responsibility of using these funds to Wenger. Saying that it is Wenger who has full control to spend or not. And this is where Wenger's yardstick should lie. But hold your horses before you ask him to splurge 30-40m every season. We have to be practical. We have the basic squad and it is decent, just needs some sprinkling of super-super talent here and there and it will be ready.
Chants of "You dont know what'ya doing!" were chorused by some away "fans". "Bring back the old Arsenal!". Really? Have they even felt the same pain i went through in the early years of supporting Arsenal then. Yeah we were great one year and bad the next two years. Or having the last-minute ditch tackling from Dixon, Bouldy, Adams and Keown to save the match and 1-0 win it. Really? Should we crave for that back? Or how about the lack of money in those years as compared to now when we truly have the dough.

I say these "fans" are crazy! Mind you Arsenal are a BIG club and winning trophies is important but it should never be everything. Having a consistent board management, quality team who deliver results regularly and if they dont at least perform consistently are important factors. Have a good manager and also non-stop fans base which we have. At the end of the day, still some of the fans will hound us to go the "Mourinho" way. Spend and bust it! Win it for my CV and i'm outta here. Be warned to the likes of many "BIG" clubs gone south over the many years. Crystal Palace, Aston Villa, Southampton and of course Leeds amongst others.

To sum it up, Arsenal are a BIG Club. Winning trophies is important but it isn't everything! My message to these "fans": If winning trophies is everything, feel free to fly northward to the Mancs. No real Arsenal FAN would care less for your new fancy to these more "popular" trophy-winning teams of late. It would prove your blood to be of the same colour of some of our players who went that route.

To all Gooners out there! Once a Gooner, Always a Gooner for life! COYG! Let's show them why Arsenal FC are a BIG club starting with tonight's match against Toffees. In Arsene we trust! Le Prof gave us everything we had to be able to stand proud to be a Gooner in the modern days so lets cut him some slack and watch his legacy unfold!

A distant Gooner in Sunny Singapore
COYG!
DB10 - The legend lives on. I hope Jack wears the mantle well.

Arsenal Inconsistency yet again...My new Team for 11-12

Hi all,

Just post my random views of this week. After having spent the weekend relaxing at Melaka courtesy of Amelia's Dad, i am refreshed for work.

Officially, i am also now confirmed with my post as Marketing Manager at MediFast. Also had a heartfelt talk on the direction and targets for 2013. Even managed to get my MD to promise some remuneration upz if can get the results in the next year.

More important i do my job well.

Back to WCCF! Yup been fun learning the feel of the new 11-12. Feels like now GKs rush out for crosses better than in the past, centre-looped through balls can be explored. And still learning the tri-KP system. Prob much the same and it is true that "Team-related" KP are now made more active as a whole team.

Changed my team recently to one based on alot of Serie A related players and alot of Brazilians (Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Emerson, Cafu).

Just wanted to enjoy attack in this team. Also if i can get KOLE, it would be the correct grouping for this team and correct system too as i play "Libero Defense" as my Support KP and have both Samuel and Mexes same KP.

Who's to say i wont get KOLE as my next foil?

*Silence*

Greed was never my forte lol. Be happy to have any other foil than G. Medel i last got. (WOS Gervinho/ EUS V. Persie / U23S A. Ramsey wouldn't hurt!) Been playing few games at a time at both AMK and JCube. But ya likely this Thursday head down for longer gaming session. Wanna really build and enjoy this attack-minded team.

Cheers to all.

Too many times an MVP??

Lol saw this article on Yahoo and couldn't help laugh at the photo.

Maybe he has had one too many MVP cards in WCCF and the guards in Saudi Arabia were paid by C. Ronaldo?

Funny stuff.

Full credits for the picture and article are credited to the original post on Yahoo!

YES! My first foil in 11-12.

Happy camper! Played 6games in and WOOT. WOS Gary Medel.

Guess my IC transfer is the most important thing. Really easy steps. Tap credit-Press Start Button-Tap Aime. It will prompt you to insert IC card. When read le, Ask you if want transfer data. Move left to select YES. Done!

Good luck everyone. Had fun!

Confirmed List of JT for 11-12

It seems a kind soul confirmed the whole list of JT for us. But why are there 26 names i don't know.

JT
遠藤　Endo
今野　Konno
藤本　Fujimoto
吉田　Yoshida
香川    Kagawa
川島    Kawashima　
前田    Maeda　
岡崎　Okazaki
長谷部 Hasebe
内田　Uchida
長友     Nagatomo
栗原    Kurihara
駒野    Komano
マイク  Mike
中村    Nakamura
田中    Tanaka
乾李　 Lee
近藤     Kondo
石川    Ishikawa
伊野波 Inoha
柏木     Kashiwagi
大久保 Okubo
増田　 Matsuda
西川　 Nishiskawa
槙野　 Makino
森脇     Moriwaki

MVP Messi stats = 98

Have this confirmed via tweet from Japan.

Messi's stats:

メッシは20 7 20 16 20 15っぽい

EXCITED! News of 11-12 Foils and cards streaming in from Japan

Well to get your appetite up.

Don't those packs look lovely? Like the new colour.

Also a new player in JT Inui. Looks decent Super-sub. But Okazaki is still my fav.

Confirmed List of Foils 11-12

ALL TIME LEGEND
GK: Jean-Marie Pfaff
GK: Oliver Kahn
DF: Martin Keown
DF: Klaus Augenthaler (クラウス・アウゲンターラー) - 1990 WC winner from Bayern Munich
DF: Guido Buchwald
DF: Jurgen Kohler
MF: Stefan Effenberg
MF: Juninho Paulista
MF: Carsten Ramelow
FW: Oliver Neuville
FW: Teddy Sheringham

KOLE: Franz Beckenbauer 
MVP: MVP Messi (Stats 98)

U-23 SUPER STARS U23S
Aron Ramsey 
T. Alacantara
Rodeiro??
Usami
Pato

EUROPEAN SUPER STARS EOS
Xavi
Hummels
Pique
Pepe
S. Ramos
Balotelli
Jordi Alba
David Silva
A. Pirlo
Iniesta
Van Persie
Neuer
Ibrahimovic
Rooney
M. Ozil
C. Ronaldo

WORLD SUPER STARS WOS
J. Cesar
T. Silva
Lucio
D. Alves
Marcelo
Y. Toure
G. Medel
D. Luiz
Gervinho
Mascherano
A. Valencia
Hernanes
J. Hernandez
A. Sanchez
Higuain
Aguero

For now thats the confirmed list for foils. WOW so many to collect until burn dry le la wallet.

"...like arming a Ninja with a Baguette."

Was opening my Yahoo Mail for reading today and the sentence used in the article written by Tom Adams - Correspondance for Yahoo sports made me laugh, YES laugh for quite a while.

"Asking Torres to lead the line for this Chelsea team is like arming a Ninja with a baguette."

Ouch! Don't thrust that Baguette into my stomach!

Not that i am a person who takes personal fun in someone else's pain but that quote best described Torres at Chelsea. C'mon it was funny and im still giggly writing this.

But i really think that class is permanent but that somehow, the managers, team-mates and his own agent and close aides don't give him the room to be just himself again. The Price-Tage didn't help for sure. Neither did the "fractious" time with Drogba and the fans for sure. It is just pressure pure and simple.

I always had the thought that should one day the fans and manager are to breaking point with him, that Arsene can re-juvenate his prolific side again. Like Wenger said playig the Arsenal way requires confidence to keep the passing-tempo up and to continue to make good runs for team-mates. All this is not possible without teamwork and just letting the players enjoy the game. When it is like this, attack and the Arsenal way flourishes.

If any manger can make Torres' built-up stress dissapear and the Real Torres appear, i'd bet my HDB deposit Le Prof can!

Oh thats's football for you. Of baguettes and Missing Men.

Let's look forward to a public holiday coming next Tues.

Cheers everyone.

Of thoughts and pen.....

Hi everyone,

or ANYONE who would still visit my random blogness.

If a king were in exile, my blog must have been the empty throne. Sorry for the long wait for any intellectual input to a much mediocre blog.

But hey, i am back.

From the hells of disruptions at work, handling (Or rather mis-handling) of my personla emotions the past few months had made me miss a few write-ups.

I guess that's life.

But guess what, i am back to blog more on the things that are important to me. And the below things certainly are.

1. WCCF 11-12 is almost here! I really am excited. Having not played much in 10-11 machines due to combination of economic and personal reasons, i am going out with a BANG in the new ver! New foils design look good. And the new mechanics look promising. WATCH THIS SPACE for more detailed, translated scoop on 11-12.

2. Arsenal is wobbly again. I know they always are. But hey true gooners. Give our team some credit. Not many teams can keep it going when playing their 3rd choice keeper, keep getting players out and take on the current top-table teams in the first 12 matches. Well, the view from the middle of the glass is only one way left...UP! As usaual, i will write how i feel about my Arsenal FC in my usual cranky manner

3. Job confirmation - Let's hope Santa is watching my extra efforts at work. Keep my bosses distracted and give me a small pay rise when i am confirmed on 5th December! Well to be frank, life is tough, got a job, if it is good, do it well. Sure am going to work hard for results for 2013 if there no increment on confirmation.

Lastly, thanks everyone always for your patience to read the blabberish i put up here. Do look out for WCCF goodies or news of WCCF 11-12 here from time to time.

See ya

The KING back in his dusty throne!

COYG! Go beat Fulham this weekend!

2 Draws and a .......? Fill in the blanks for the match against Pool at Anfield

Well, the season's started for the Gooners.

Carzola offered creativity albeit in flashes. New strikers are trying hard but not off the mark yet. And yes, considering we have not scored a single goal this campaign, the doom-sayers of anti-Arsenal are not as incessant as it was last year.

Sure, we didnt score goals, but we sure made many problems for Sunderland. Against Stoke though, there was a bit of reservedness in the way we play so we created crap in my opinion. We didnt deserve to win at Stoke but we should have at sunderland. A point to note though is that the MFs take more responsibility defending as a team now so our clean sheets so far are not just down to pure luck. At set-pieces, i rarely felt we were threatened! Imagine against Stoke and Sunderland i am saying this! Kudos Steve Bould and team.

Enough! Go on and on about this then you would qualify like those sports pundit nannies on The New Paper and in England who doom Arsenal anyways.

Lets look ahead. Next game Liverpool on a resurgence. No doubt, this is a revolution with Liverpool this year. It isnt just about the manager, its the players. Can we pass this test. As it is away, the bare minimum to get is a point. But given we are Arsenal, the boys will want to continue to put one over them at Anfield again.

WIN - The media can finally hint at our continued era without RVP has a chance. (Who are newspaper critics to be trusted anyway?)

DRAW - Depends how we played to get the draw, it still is positives as we would have cast aside 3 difficult games and focused our minds on the needful winning streak thereafter in Sep onwards.

LOSE - It will feel psychologically a blow to the confidence to the team on the whole. YES, even if we played well at Anfield and lost, the team may feel it is not as sweet rosy as they thought. The newcomers will feel even more added pressure to get on scoresheets straightaway.

In short, unite together and put on your fav jersey and shout COYG this coming Sunday!

HOPE, HEART & HOPE

Having NOT PAID ATTENTION AT ALL to Lee Hsien Loong's heartful Rally Speech recently, i must admit i dont have the entire gist of his momentus speech.

But i was prompted by speaking to a fellow professional at work who asked me about his speech. I felt it important then to find out more.

After reading the highlights of his speech, i have to firstly admit, the government finally listens. But before the skeptical ones blast me, i emphasize; "They finally listen to some of our hardships and try to offer solutions." Some, not all of course as it is beyond any civilized government to be able to understand and solve a nation's hardships and underlying problems.

On a brighter note, even the staunchest anti-ruling party person has to admit it! When was the last time you ever heard of the men-in-white ever expound on a "Soft-serve style" and emotionally-catching rally message? Never heard of.

It is the new trend in the management of the expectations of a nation, whom i am proud to be part of; who now believe that we cannot progress without "opening our eyes" to the political and economical problems we face as a nation.

For too long, our peers, fellow Singaporeans in their own right, have slept in political hibernation. Finally now you can see the tension from the raised costs of living, high HDB affordability and even our issue of "greying" as a nation with foreign influx to balance the productivity cycle on a national level.

"I do not know how the above problems can be solved but do have my expectations on how the proposed solutions would affect my standard of living".

I make this statement from the start in order for you to know, i am just like any of you. I have no fixed answers and am no expert.

PM Lee had mentioned that there were the needs for Heart - of which only a small section of his speech focused on the contested topic of foreign talent. In itself, i hate to admit, we cannot do without FT. BUT it is clear to me that we long should have been more selective in our requirements for them to be integrated into our society. To date, many of them still don't want to change to our ways as Singaporeans. that's the real issue i believe. Even our Chinese papers are now "corrected" to print and read in the "China" way. No more Teh but "Cha Jia Nai" - Gosh!

Like some may know, the fact we guys had sweated out NS for our pride of our nation, we are more liable for certain jobs in certain industries to be non-prefered over foreign talent. They have porecedence as the FT wont have Reservist disruptions.

It is a harsh reality of Singapore employers. I do hope that we can change this mindset. I had read in Yahoo response, that someone mentioned that we Singaporeans should reward Singaporeans, not the opposite.

It is a never-ending debate. Too many problems, too much to digest for the average lad in Singapore. But nonetheless, i agree with a reader's article on Yahoo on the missing "H" - Happiness.

Yes indeed, Hope, Heart and home are all good. But internally, we have to re-adjust our expectations. Happiness has always been a choice. It comes from within. So fellow Singaporeans, speak less harshly on these topics, skip net-flaming and get your heart out of the negativity couch. Choose Happiness. Be contented and work hard coz bloody hell, you know we're gonna need to to survive the Modern Reality that is Singapore our home.



James Chan

A concerned Singaporean who grew up in clearly different circumstances to experience the change from "My friend is from Malaysia. Thats pretty normal. They work and live here. To the new; "I am the minority now when i am in the MRT train." Just take a good look around next you sit in MRT.

It is no wonder we feel strained having grew up here to see faces we never grew up with working as fellows!

Stand tall and be proud for who your parents were and will always be, trust the home we knew and shape it in the many choices you have. Be happy, be proudly Singaporean.

Sleeping with the Devil's Wife and Selling her to DEBT

WARNING: ARTICLE IS NOT FOR THE FAINT-HEARTED MAN UTD FANS AND IS IN NO  WAY INDICATIVE OF ANY SITUATION AT THE CLUB. ALL VIEWS AND OPINIONS ARE MY OWN AND OPEN TO DISCUSSION. PLEASE TAKE THE WHOLE SHAKER FULL OF SALT AND HELP YOURSELF MATE!

I think it is fair to say that Man Utd has had the most successful manager in modern times and is lucky indeed to still have him at the helm. In this day and age of credit, debt and unpayable wages; the large behemoth of a corporation that is now Man Utd is finally starting to show its tears in the armour.

YES. They have won the Premier League many of times in recent years. YES. They are likel ypoised to win again this year. BUT mark my words, the huge war machine of an entity that Man Utd is under the Glazers is huffing ever so slightly. The only reason that their world hadnt gone topsy-turvy is due mainly to two things.

The first reason is due to one of the grandest players to grace the fields of the "Theatre of Dreams". A Mr. C. Ronaldo. There is no doubt that that Financial Year when he was sold, Man Utd were at the crux of unrest, with Man Utd Supporters Trust (MUST) pressing the club and the Glazers takeover in disgust.

Indeed, his transaction fee alone heaved the Man Utd books from heavy RED to be in the Black. How much of it was the Man Utd players own desire to leave is uncertain. I think it is fair to say Man Utd would rather keep him then to sell him as i have to admit even as an Arsenal fan that he would have promised more trophies thereafter.

Secondly, continued success of the "Wily old fox" Sir Alex Ferguson who was so close to being sacked in his early days of his career when Man Utd dropped a division. But my word has he taken the British League by storm. To sum it up, success is like the good old plaster that papers over the cracks at the club.

Well, it had been reported that the Glazers had tried to float shares on the financial bourses in Singapore - Failed, Shanghai - Failed and even in New York - Failed (Their council had advised against flotation as the economic activity and outlook uncertain this year).

BUT YET, the Glazers are so desperate they are going to float 10% of the Man utd shares anyway. And guess what? The monies estimated at 200 million pounds are not all to reduce debt. At present how much is their debt? 437 million pounds all in loans. In case you didnt know, when you set aside 100 million pounds to a debt like 437 million pounds, the remaining debt is only reduced by estimate 65 million pounds due to double-on interests on tax.

Where does the other 100 million pounds go? Let me remind you of the global entity that is the Glazers. They are running several sports clubs as businesses. Baseball, Hockey, American Football and now Soccer they all have a stake in these clubs. That needs some financial muscle a.k.a. CASH to run and set aside for. It is no wonder the MUST is upset. They have not only further diluted the ownership of Man Utd to "Fans" in the New York Stock Exchange who dont really care much about the club other than a bet on making money. They have also not significanlty reduced the debt any much more.

I cant help but see it like the Glazers had taken over the Red Devil's nest back in 2005 and slept with the Devil's Wife (The Shares of the club). Not only that, as the takeover was done primarily in debt, they forced the Wife to sell her body to other willing buyers for their pleasure. To make matters worse now, they had sold off a family member (The 10% share they so willingly sacrificed for more cash injections) of the wife to pain her even more so. And all this without reducing much the debt of which the wife so painfully sells her pleasure away in this warped "Theatre of dreams".

Lets pray for English football sake and also for Man Utd that success doesnt desert them in the next 10 years. Or by the time i age grey hair all over, the "Theatre of dreams" would really be all just that.

Another page in history of one of the most illustrious clubs in the world.

Santi Carzola! - The Hedgehog!

So excited!

Papers in the UK are confirming that Arsenal will announce the signing of Malaga Forward Santi Carzola this week.

I like this player. His technique at set-pieces and also his incisive cut-in runs are like superb!

Now where did i put my WCCF 08-09 World Wing Forward Foil of him?

Now we going places.

FOR ANYONE WHO WANTS TO KNOW OUR LIKELY FORMATIONS THIS YR.

                                                              Giroud / Podolski
                                              Chamakh / Park Chu Yong / Sanchez Watt

Gervinho / Podolski /                                                                                     Walcott / Carzola
Ryo Miyachi / A. Santos                     Wilshere / Rosicky / Diaby                Alex Ox C / Rosicky 
  / Ramsey                                          Ramsey / Lansbury / Eisfeld                     / Ryo Miyaichi

                                         Arteta / Ramsey / Diaby            Song / Coquelin / Frimpong
                                           Lansbury

K. Gibbs / A. Santos /                                                                                  Sagna / Jenkinson / Djourou
Vermaelen                                                                                                         / Coquelin

                     Vermaelen / Koscielny / Miquel            Koscielny / Mertesacker / Djourou
                         / Song                                                                         / Song

                                                            Szecsny / Fabianski / Mannone

Sigh. Barca with 1xMessi is scary. 2-3 of them 10yrs from now?

Just saw Barca have pipped spurs to the Irish 9-yr old dubbed "The Irish Messi".

Kids bloody talented for his age. Top 90 youths left in the trials and the top 16 played 8 vs 8. Guess what he scores single-handedly 7 goals that match.

Add this to the youTube jap child messi - Takefusa Kubo they signed earlier.

No wonder they lead the race to find another Messi / Ronaldinho skill player all the time.

Lets pray the two kids grow well and Takefusa take the world by storm with Barca youth's best poacher - Arsenal FC.

CHANGED MY MIND! - Buying the NEW Arsenal Away 12-13 Kit direct from AFC - London

Thinking again, i decided to go for the NEW Purple Reign.

Really like the new modern hoops design. Plus this time i going to pay a bit more and order direct from Arsenal. They have a exclusive Arsenal Official Red Font. Goes even better with the away kit!

K i am a gooner for life! Glad darling likes the new purple jersey!

My super hero Kos6 !! Hang in there and you will get your reward with France set-up. Super-Kos6 going to start this season with Adams fighting desire burning in him.

EMVP Drogba for WCCF?

Wow, what can you say.

A semi-pro Welsh footballer for Bangor City inside the list of nominations.

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/news/unknown-welshman-uefa-player-year-160519265.html

But seriously, if you look at the nominations for the UEFA awards, i feel that in my mind, the winner should be either of the following:

1st: Drogba, 2nd: Xavi, 3rd C. Ronaldo, 4th: A. Pirlo

Well hey, sounds like new foil to me though. EMVP Drogba or Pirlo for me please.

Sorry for taking a dig at the Spuds! - I seldom do...(Honest! Really!)

Was reading Soccernet's articles on the recent transfer activities of the spurs players both coming in and going out.

I wasn't so mean as to laugh at the Spuds directly, (In case you didn't know, any fair British and Arsenal-supporting bloke would call Spurs as the Spuds-Potatoes. Go figure.) but hearing some of the players transfer comments made me all giggly inside.

Firstly, we have a Mr. Gylfi Sigurdsson (Hope it spelt right) who just wanted to make it clear on his view that he joined the "right" club over Liverpool in order to have a better shot at the BPL.

Haha (there you have it, the first time i laughed at the Spuds and its players). Seriously? Surely he must know more about his former boss to know that there really is something good and ideal about the way Rodgers expects the club to play and can transform the ordinary to extraordinary.

In this case, it is fair to say that he is the most ideal candidate bar Wenger to bring Anfield's glory days of quick passing and direct passing to feet back to modern day Liverpool. And boy do they need that revival fast.

Noticed that even Gylfi himself wanted to keep between themselves the details of the chat between him and his former boss. My guess is he wanted assurances that he is going to be the star player of the Liverpool team if he was to join Rodgers. Are you kidding me? Let's see we have Gerard, Aquilani, Maxi Rodriguez, Charlie Adams, Jay Spearing, Jonjo Shelvey and Henderson. Other than the last 3 names, i am confident the other 4 names will contribute well this year in a more fluid Liverpool attack. (Yes, even Adams whose notriously inconsistent season the last campaign would surely come good this time. But mark my words, keep an eye out for Aquilani. Fluidity and guile has always been his game.)

So there we have it again folks - players with mediocrity on their minds. Gylfi struck with sour-grapes syndrome after a lack of re-assurance from Rodgers. And guess what they like to congregate in a small club in North London up Seven Sisters Road.

Just some parting shots, i couldn't help it. The frustrated 30-yr old Rafael Van Der Vaart comes out publicly to say he is probably going to stay with spurs anyway. This despite a whole flurry of clubs come wanting him....wait....it's one club and is his former employers Hamburg SV. No disrespect to Hamburg, but wouldn't that be a step-down from his current playing club? Didn't his mother ever teach him "When counting money in your wallet, you don't take all notes out and count out aloud. It's like if i took out my wallet and counted 2-4-6 and shouted Yay! $6 dollars!

Alright, we will leave it at that. I have aired my opinions on the spuds and to all spuds fans who disagree, please focus your frustration on supporting your new manager AVB instead. Because simply, the guy's too emotional for football management stress. Whether the spuds players will support him fully remains to be seen.

Looking forward to an enigmatic BPL season this year. But Spuds for the title push in AVBs first try? I think Arsenal even with Wenger a stable manager, bigger squad, replacement players cant claim we going to win the title. Haha.

Let's just all drink beer and be merry you Gooners.

The sun sure looks brighter on this part of north london.

Jartemlove
Long-time Arsenal fan in sunny Singapore

My newest WCCF team! 16 Different Countries - 16 Different Clubs - No Repeats

Had fun forming this. Hope to play any of you guys with this really interesting A-D-F grouping team.

FIRST XI:
WGK Sancti Canizarez
A. cole
T. Vermaelen
EMVP Cannavaro
Song Chong Gug
J. Mascherano
D. Zokora
BAN Giggs
T. Henry
WST Adriano (05-06)
ATLE R. Gullit

SUBS:
Calcio Ibrahimovic
WSK Mizuno
B. Schweisteiger
M. Jankulovski
D. Chrygysky

NEW WCCF 10-years Annivessary Ofiicial Goods

Lol. I like the old-skool card case. But i really have too many cases.

Maybe go for the IC card design stickers.

NEW Arsenal Away Kit 12-13

Yes, they named it PURPLE REIGN for a reason.

Time for the Arsenal doubters (And i also mean the Arsenal Fans themselves) to EAT their words and cry out loud when we WIN something this year.

1. Underdogs starting the season - CHECK
2. Talismanic player and captain leaves the club - CHECK
3. Every form of the media WISHING and DYING to brand you to fail - CHECK
4. Wenger's reign as manager questioned again - CHECK
5. Players brought in or comeback from injury to take over the departed - CHECK
(This is the only reason i can see why we really felt the loss of Cesc and Samir in one-go. Wilshere was injured season-long and this is not an over-statement)

HEY! HEY! Calling all Arsenal True fans!

Get back to reality and immunize yourself from the negative press.

We ARE better than they say and we will do better than that!

I personally like the colour mix and how the hoop stands out from the purple. Genius is Herbert Chapman.

But agreed not ALL fans going to like the radical colour scheme change.

Going to get me my No.6 Kos Home Kit next month. Can't wait for the season to start actually.

Cheers

Jartemlove

NEW Requirements in WCCF 11-12

The new AIME Tap Card readers:

In case you guys didnt know, AIME is an IC card that has the support of a FREE online account. This card is currently used for games like Mahjong 4 / ZanGuo (The Jap history SanGuo) / Project Diva Music Game / And soon...WCCF.

The idea is simple same as Konami's E-Amusement Pass. Where if you create a free account with Sega / Aime, and register your AIME card, you can view your played data online, even change tactics online in future. More importantly, since you registered your card already online. If you physically lost the AIME card, you can use the FREE service on your account to just transfer all existing data from the old card to a new card (Just buy a brand new AIME card and register). You can also register more than one AIME card to your FREE account. (At point of pre-test 11-12, there are slots for 3 AIME cards in WCCF NET - Hey with each card able hold 10-teams, thats 30 possible active or even old teams!)

THINGS YOU CAN DO BEFORE WCCF 11-12 hits Singapore.

1. Buy a new AIME card. - The last i checked Singapore arcades don't sell. There is an alternative though. - If you buy the Project Diva IC Card (Blue card with Hakuna Miku pic on it), you can in theory update it as an AIME card by registering this card online to my--aime.net.

As SG now no have, maybe wait a while.

2. OK THIS IS IMPORTANT - Since WCCF is SEGA right? There is a transition period that is in play now that allows SEGA ID users to log-in onto AIME website (my-aime.net) using purely SEGA ID and password. There is a disclaimer on website of AIME that says that this option of doing so may be taken away at any time.

SO, firstly go and create your SEGA ID first. You may do so at here: https://iway.isao.net/sega/mail_in.cgi

Yes- In Japanese, but transalte the page and fill in details. Get the ID sent to the E-mail address.

3. When you have the ID you need to go to AIME website here: https://my-aime.net/aime/jp/p/login.html

Log-in using the newly created SEGA ID and password. Then click register new AIME card here: https://my-aime.net/aime/jp/p/user/card/regist.html

4.When you have done so, then log into the WCCF website specially created for us WCCF players to see ALL data related to WCCF online: wccfnet.jp

When nearer to time, i will try explain more.

Enjoy your games!

Arsenal will move on without the Oranje Master

Little can be said of Van Persie's latest condemning statement released.

Forget the hate mob, forget loyalty, more or less forget his captaincy.

It is just sad that many little Arsenal boys will be missing their RVP hero. But thats that, life goes on.

No man is bigger than the club. If you want to test this statement, romp into your director's office now and ask for twice your salary and insist or else you say Arriverderci! I'd bet SGD50 your boss will fire you if you insisted on this. lol.

Legacies are built over time. Unfortunately, legends are too...much heralded over time and unlike Bergkamp, this Dutch Hot-Shot decided enough is enough. He has succumbed to the "Awww, we didnt win a trophy again. Like the kid in the park who goes on crying asking mum why his other friends have RC controlled toys and he only has a kite. Continue buying your way into his heart and you gonna have a super spoilt child growing up in his teens."

Sometimes, "Mum - Like the club, knows best."

I know many Man Utd fans will hate me, but i would just like to get some perspective on things. Take Rooney for instance, his form ever since he signed that "Bumper" contract right after Alex and even the board of Man Utd had held their stance against his indiscretion against the club saga; is erratic, and poor overall.

Yes, i acknowledge that he has still scored freely in few games where opposition defences were apalling. But when it mattered last year and the season before that, he hasnt been consistently been finding the net. Touch your heart and question why? Nothing motivates him anymore. To be honest and i think even Rooney agrees. He is Ballon D'or material, but has regressed in achieving world's best. Simply, even when he held the club at knifepoint with his threat then, the saga ended with the club offering the largest contract to date for him. Admit it, something surely must be wrong there. At all costs? Man Utd are still winning things so you cant see how lack of trophies can cause huge cracks. By then, you think all the "Top" players would stay?

I'd even reckon you can forget about ever seeing Rooney's best ever again because when the next time his contract is nearing, he will turn contract rebel again.

Don't believe the whole open letter from Red & White though, the supposed we support but question Kroenke ownership. To be frank, even if you had Ferguson as manager here and still spent millions and not winning, it would still spell the same. Top players leaving. This is not just an Arsenal trend, it is a footballing trend. To take Arsenal as the most obvious scapegoat is for the convenience of those daming football writers.

Lets take some things in consideration, the supposed "Worst Arsenal Team in a century" last season climbed from a bloody well with EVERYONE, i mean it, EVERYONE taking the chance to kick us in the side and mocking us; to a respectable finish that showed fighting spirit i haven't seen in a while.

If one thing last season showed, without Fabregas, some players stepped up to take more responsibility in MF. They were primarily Song, Arteta, Rosicky, and yes even Ramsey even if he did fade out at the end but he started well in the first half. Because of this, the Arsenal MF actually had more resolve and bite to it as compared to when Fab4 was here. However last season also showed what we miss when Fab4 was here, off the ball running, availability to take a pass and pass and move forwards rather than sideways. This year it was obvious at times, we lacked a willing box-to-box man with the guile to sweep in between MF and take passes to release others into space. But hey, we have just the man, Wilshere and an improvingly consistent Rosicky.

So enough the doom and gloom gunners fans. It is good RVP mentioned it in early July that he will leave. Gives us time to see who we want to buy. And trust me this time, Wenger is different in the market, he has learnt from the past and is not stubborn anymore, he is buying into experience more and more. Enough of those fans with negative jibes and claiming they know better than Arsene. I say let the man work his wonders with 2 months to go. You will be surprised.

Lets expect a good season and look forward with anticipation. Who else is Le Boss going to buy?

By the way, to be honest with you, i always respected and admired RVP's technique and passing play. But never ever felt inspired by him like i was with Henry and Bergkamp. In fact in the current team, i am inspired by Kos6 who has in my opinion been the best player we had last season. You should see his gritty face when as usual his last ditch effort saves Arsenal again. So many times he saved the tactical mistakes of his partnering CBs and it is seldom the other way round. Watch carefully this year and you will see what i mean. I am going to be buying the new home jersey with his name on it this year.

So off to start work and all ya gooner fans, keep the faith. The world isn't always just abut Red & White.

Arsenal - Forward 126years.

James Chan
Long-time Arsenal fan in sunny Singapore

WCCF 11-12 Team with INIESTA's KP ILLUSION-ESTA

Some first looks into WCCF 11-12.

Thought the name was cool. Iniesta's specific and unique KP skill reads in Jap as ILLUSION-ESTA.

With the new system having all 3 types of KP, there seems to be many possible new pre-sets.

Wonder if we can change the 3 KP's during a match at halftime or something?

The team includes (From bottom up and left to right): Dida / Carvalho / Nesta / Puyol / Diarra / Pepe / Busquets / Ronaldinho / Xavi / Iniesta / Messi

Cheers!

Barca deck case - Nicest in my opinion from this series of cases

Barca Case - All the below shown cases range from $32-$34 and will be placed in my box soon. Please follow my thread for updates. Thanks.

AC Milan Deck Case

AC Milan Deck Case - Latest ver from Sega

Ajax Deck Case

4 NEW Deck Cases coming soon!

4 NEW Deck Cases coming soon!

Please support when i place in my box soon.

Man Utd

Finally! A workable and hungry England squad!

Not sure if this may shock some, but the line-up bar the banned Rooney is i think a very workable and effective squad.

Bash those egoes away! Thats quite clever Hodgson! Still debatable of course but my $$ on England to do better than people think they will.

Come come Euros! Lets see who will be crowned champions! Holland or England please!

Spain David Villa Deck Case

Limited Edition Holland World Cup 2010 Deck Case with Elia picture.

KOLE Cryuff Ver2.0 KUJI - BEST OF BOTH WORLDS!

Hi all,

It is finally here! You wont believe how much effort it is to keep buying buying many many foils that can make up a BIG KUJI like this AND to have them to send you before GOLDEN WEEK in Japan this week too.

Will be releasing the FULL DETAILS of pricing, starting packs and top foils on my thread and here when i am back from work late tonight!

Some things we know for sure:
IN EACH PACK is
1x unopened wrapper (Ver2.0) - inside had been assured are all Black/Whites but in past the Jap have ever got wrong..;)
1x 10-11 Ver1.0 or Ver2.0 foil or KOLE!!!
1x 08-09 Black / White card (Random)

Price is between $22-$25. Depends on the type of Ver2.0 foils cost i place in.

Please understand how many foils this encompasses and i think it is fair to say i need to cover costs and the efforts.

Watch this Space!

As for the Image poster, wont be ready till Monday morning i guess.

Thanks for all your support people!

Do visit J Cube at 12 if you wish see me putting the top foils in (PROOFING) and at 1pm when i release into the box inside HAKO.

Thanks for the kind support!

Ver 2.0 is out in Japan! Some new foils indeed! Nice!

WBE Messi - Again??? But hell ya, didnt like how the old WBE performed.

WBE Xavi - This i like. Stats should have improved i think.

Also kewl for Man Utd fans. Denis Irwin and Eric the king.

Looks like this Arsenal fan got to be happy with only YGS Wilshere (Not officially confirmed yet.)

The above two are definately confirmed.

DOUBLE MVP Messi KUJI is here!!! - Sales starts 20th April, Friday

Double MVP Messi Kuji is here!!!

2 x 10-11 MVP Messi's up for grabs!

TWICE the MVPs, TWO TIMES the fun for everyone.

Rules of the KUJI:

All packs once opened are considered sold.

Please refrain from bending of the packs to "Feel" because we all value good condition cards.

(Just for your information, i had bothered to get good condition cards from Japan for everyone so please respect everyone's chance to get good condition cards.)

TIME TO HAVE FUN!!

Starting from 1pm this Friday, the DOUBLE MVP Messi Kuji will be placed at my box 53B inside Hako shop for sale. Before that i would be placing in the foils at the WCCF machines at Zone X, J Cube.

If anyone "distrusts" my Kuji is authentic, please feel welcome to witness me placing the foils especially the two MVPs and other top foils. I believe that many have tried my previous KUJIs before and can atest that i am honest and do put in what i said.

Do note that at the start of the sales, there will be 50 packs. Please remember that it is up to the decision of the buyers to disclose or not if they "tio" MVP Messi. So remember i do not know at any point of time if the Messi is still inside the remaining packs.

But remember statistics, lesser packs increases your chance per pack of Messi. You never know in KUJI. Please do kindly support if you are able to as this KUJI is cheaper and higher chance of top foils (50 packs as compared to previous 80 packs at start).

Thanks everyone and have fun!