I speak of the news that Arsenal’s 18-man squad has an average age of 20, and is pretty much the Carling Cup squad. We’ve qualified already, need to store some energy – and minimize more potential injuries – so Wenger is letting his reserve boys run the town tonight. And I can’t wait, as it means my boys Kyle Bartley and Francis Coqeulin are going to have Champions League experience before they’re even 20! Some players never get this opportunity in their whole careers! Hence: amazing.

They all have a point to prove now, in this trough of Arsenal’s season – so many injuries and dropped points are making people point fingers towards potential January buys. It’s the job of this squad tonight to prove splashing the cash isn’t the only option. Players like Kyle and Francis will be wanting to start breaking into the first team within the next 12 months – others like Vela and Song need to prove they’re first-team status is already warranted.

It’s gonna be a tough game, a much more intimidating atmosphere than they’re used to, a more physical approach from the opposition – but hopefully they can hold their own in Greece this evening. They need to stay calm, play as a team, show resilience and belief. 

Can’t wait for my boys to show their stuff – on ITV too!

As intrigue I tried calling with the dialling colde and got through to Trey’s voicemail. “Don’t forget to leave a message”, he purred. I obviously hung up immediately. Holy mother. Talk to Trey? See, this number corresponds to his Ustream account. Ustream is basically a website where artists have a live webchat with their fans. This month Trey is doing an approx. hour-long web chat every Thursday and giving away $500 dollars to a lucky caller who sings one of five Christmas songs to him…

Because my sleep-pattern is wack, I was actually awake at the 8pm EST when he was due to appear… While I didn’t try to be Trey’s 25th caller (I have NO idea how much mobile calls to US SayNow numbers cost!!!) I did watch the streaming, out of intrigue – and my love of Tremaine. 

Damn technology, kept freezing and disappearing – but I did have some sort of 45-minute long web-cam experience with Trey Songz! Amazing. It’s crazy how many girls call up and sound moody!? or just say nothing. WTF. Say something people!! 

It was cool though… enough that I may well click-in for a bit after work tomorrow. It’s midnight-ish on Ustream/treysongz I believe… in case you wanna see too.

I hate the fact the album has to have a moral debate that suggests buying the album advocates domestic violence – it’s a real shame, but something that is unfortunately unavoidable. Though I really don’t get the point of bootlegging the CD on download and liking the songs, but not buying it on moral grounds – surely listening to it in the first place is a self-styled act of hypocrisy?

Anyway, like I said already, I like the album. I’ve been a Chris Breezy fan for time and, feigning ignorance of the non-music stories surrounding Chris, decided to take the album on merit for the tracks alone. That’s why I like it – he’s a good r&b musician and has some great collabs on the album. There are some unexpected nuances of 80s synth (I.Y.A. particularly), and the usual hip-hop, synths and sick beats. He hasn’t opted for a morbid platform for apologising (again), instead Chris is focussing on the music. As he says: “Hey, it’s what I do”. 

And he does it well. 

It’s easy to take his power ballads for disingenuous, and all to easy to get sucked into a battle of morality when reviewing his songs. I think it just depends on where you sit with Chris and how much opportunity one is willing to give him to have a clean slate. Those willing to give Brown time of day will see tracks like ‘Crawl’, ‘So Cold’ and ‘I’ll Go’ as a small insight into his state of mind and will find notes of sadness and pain in the lyrics, the melody and his voice. 

Others will question the overall message he’s trying to send in the album due to the dichotomy of the songs. Like I said in the previous blog – it’s half ‘I’m sad and want her back’ and half ‘I’m rich, single, famous – I can still get the ladies’. While it may seem like some of the songs contradict themselves, I think they are more of a marker that Chris is ready to move on. And no matter how cocky or bullish you think he seems with lyrics like:

‘throwing up cash, acting like money ain’t a thing’

‘what you want, you can have that. My black card ain’t gon’ decline that’

‘leaving by myself is highly unlikely’… 

Most of these sentiments are undeniably true. He is Chris Brown, afterall. 

One particular track that stands out dangerously for it’s contradiction  -or naivity – is ‘Lucky Me’. While I don’t doubt life for Chris has been unimaginably difficult of late; he is still blessed. I think he does appreciate this fact, but ‘Lucky Me’ has a risk of being read as cocky or boastful. I don’t think he is asking for sympathy with this track – a lot of people would still love to be in his shoes (rich, successful, handsome 20 y/o R&B star!) – he is just reaching out for a bit of empathy. 

Unfortunately, his long-term critics will bax the album no matter what; slating his crass attitude towards “the cars, and the girls and the cribs”, and his refusal to pen a morose 45-minute long apology. But Chris has gone the right route in ignoring their wants, as for the most part, the proliferation of upbeat songs that Chris is recognised for come-off a success. And the fact that he hasn’t penned a tortuous, soul-exploring, apologetic album are what will grant ‘Graffiti’ a high place – probably number one – in the album charts. It is all the better for it.

Chris alludes to his hurt, lonliness, regret and confusion in a selection of the tracks – but has made the move to avoid this theme for the album in favour of the club thumpers and happy disco synths that he has a great knack for. This is what his long-term fans want, and this is what will prove his credibility to the doubters. 

His promo video for the album refers to starting all over again; the only PR route he can really venture. I feel this ad is perhaps more his team’s idea than his… but I get the point. I’m not saying his sentiments feel faux, moreover that I don’t think he is starting again. There are some people who ‘are not fraterning’, but the fans that were there from the start, a lot of them remain true to his music and will still support him. Chris is gonna have to hope that his music is what re-convinces anyone sitting on the fence. 

Having done what I usually do with a new album – play it on repeat about 10x – I absolutely love it.

Now forgetting all the stories outside of the music, I love Chris Brown and have from the beginning. This album though, I think is fantastic. I listened before I went to bed and noted that the 80′s “IYA” beat made me supremely happy ^_^ it’s just a happy kinda song!

For me, the quality starts great and then worsens – but ‘worsens’ is too harsh a word, as it implies the latter songs are bad and they’re not. It’s just that I loved the first, um…six! songs so much that it put the rating bar pretty high!

I think he’s got a good balance – of course the promo for this album is a bit different to usual, needing to give it a more intense kind of sell. The first three tracks were pre-released as singles, and two more: “Famous Girl” and “Lucky Me” were sort of leaked prematurely as well. 

“I Can Transform Ya”, obviously a big one. Weezy features with Swizz Beats. Y’all know about that. I loved “Sing Like Me” as soon as Chris linked it on his Twitter (MechanicalDummy for those that want to know/follow), but less so now I’ve heard other tracks on the album. “Crawl” was released as a single, and I think it’s beautiful  - like “So Cold” – I hope they’re truthful and honestly penned, as opposed to a callous publicity stunt to evoke empathy… Either way it worked. And I think his voice is sounding better too. 

Graffiti is a dichotomy of “I was wrong and want you back” tracks, versus “Well, now I’m single, rich, and famous… holla”. Of these latter tracks, I love “What I Do” for it’s catchy hook in the chorus and the melody – like in “Famous Girl”, I love love love the quick escalating/descending note combination in the melodies.

Last, but very certainly not least, have got to holla out “Wait” – because it features my boy TREY SONGZ! Now. Prince of VA certainly bosses this track… It might just be my love for him, but simply the way he says his signature: “Yuuup”, and “C’mown”… and his verse of course… makes me totally love this song too much! Haha!

I do hope people go out and buy his CD tomorrow…

One of the things that makes me a loser is that I have an Arsenal calendar. Another thing is that I get a tiny bit of secret joy when I change my calendar page… 

Unless it’s December. And it’s Adebayor!

The only possible way of rectifying it so the final month of my year isn’t spent looking a constant reminder of the increase of mercenary players in football was to ‘edit’ my page. Now… what to do? Deface it? Write some sort of angry bitter comments about the f****r? Nope. Thought I’d go for an anger-free, positive-thinking edit. One that would make me happy instead of remind me of many feelings of resentment and grief…. TADA! God bless you Cesc Fabregas! ^_^

I did come up with a theory that players who are borderline predicted to leave should not be used for the latter calendar months… but then I realised… that would be terrible! All the boys would be nervously anticipating the print of the calendar to check their position – if they’re Mr November, they’re holding it down. Safe. But if they’re sunning it up as Mr July… Eep! Might be needed to pack more than just those holiday essentials… could be off to another club or country imminently! Not good!! Don’t do that!

Now, I am gonna say this conditionally – there is leeway for me to revoke all comments made in this post – but I don’t think I hate him anymore. I think I, like he, have grown up. 

This is the death of me referring to him as “Cashley” (except when I forget – it’s a bit habitual now!)

In his interview with Sky Sports before the Arsenal/Chelsea game (*cough*), I was busy doing other things but was immediately drawn to watch his interview – perhaps in part because he is a bit of an elusive interviewee – but I found what he had to say fair comment, and found myself quite taking to him again in some sort of twisted twilight-zone moment lol. I think he’s grown up and is over what happened. I think I am too. It made me realise how much I used to love him though, which was really actually quite devastating… I don’t recall any feelings other than anger when I think about the media stories and what I read from “My Defense” – this may well have been the first time, or at least the first time in a long while, that I felt upset about what happened. Cole used to be one of my favourites; I wanted him to be our Captain! And always stood-up for him when virtually everyone gave him stick while playing for England (he always played amazing and got slated/scape-goated – I never got that?!). Anyway, it made me realise I don’t love Clichy any way near as much as I used to love Ashley… and that’s a shame.

I do however have Kieran Gibbs ready to take over the mantle of “my favourite left-back” – I’m sure he can succeed!

Even if you think you don’t like it, or aren’t sure about it, TRUST ME if you listen again in a day or so you will be HOOKED to it! It’s just too amazing.

Got ‘em gazing at my necklace and my crazy sun-protectors. Gee, shucks! I got a crazy dunk collection. Haters I can’t fuck’n hear your perception!… Now where’s my fuckin’ clap, where’s my encore?!… I’ve been famous, I’m sorta known – and if your son doesn’t, I bet your daughter knows!

See, for me, and a selection of others, being an Arsenal fan doesn’t mean our support solely revolves around the First Team ilk of  Fabregas, Van Persie and Arshavin… We got big love for the Academy and Reserves too. I mean, I used to watch Cesc when he wore #57 and was 16-years-old and outshining everyone else at Barnet… My best and favourite article from my Final Year Major Project at LCC (Sports Journalism BA, people) was about the success of our Academy and Reserves. I LOVE them ^_^

Been watching more frequently for the past three years, as it’s been easier for me to get to the very North of North London! Of course everyone knows about Jack Wilshere - ‘the new Liam Brady’ – he, like Cesc, has that star quality that makes him stand out above the rest of the players. I have been lucky enough to see him play and mature, and witness a few killer passes and fantastic goals (notably vs West Ham a couple of seasons ago!)…

Same for Kieran Gibbs. I used to love watching him play in the reserve team and was gushing when he got his First Team chance – and just look at how successful he was in the role! It does annoy me that a lot of people hark back to one single error in his first team career – but even fewer of them mention how incredibly well he bounced back from it! It’s my belief that (as much as I like the guy) he will be a better left-back than Gael Clichy, and will be England’s #1 left-back after Ashley Cole’s finished… 

Next big thing to watch out for? FRANCIS COQUELIN! This boy, swear down, is gonna be a next hype! I literally adore him! His control and footwork is sublime; he just has the most delicate and perfect touch and handling. Can’t even explain, you just have to witness it. I’ve heard comparison to Makelele… but I do believe he has more deft than Claude, early days of course. But watch this space – or moreover, this player! #35. Any player that stands out JUST FROM RUNNING! needs some attention paid to them! I was sitting by the touchline where the players warm-up at Barnet, I saw a boy jogging (with at least two others) and was immediately compelled to find out who it was. By running alone, I asked myself urgently “who is that?!” – and checked who I didn’t already know on the team-sheet. That’s got to be a mark of star-quality if ever I’ve seen it!!

And finally: Kyle Bartley ^_^ Now, first things first, I love him! haha… I’ve been watching Kyle on and off for a couple of seasons now and, like Francis, he always had some sort of star quality that made me keep an eye on him above a lot of the others. He was outstanding in last season’s FA Youth Cup – scoring the vital goal to take us to the Final! His performances and maturity has been rewarded this term of course with his Captaincy of the Reserves! :-) I was so thrilled/proud when I found out. This hopefully sparks faith in Kyle to remain at Arsenal for the near future, belief in his ability to be a leader – and of course a slightly lower-pressure scenario to learn and practice being in a superior role. I hope this means Arsenal are trusting Kyle because they see him having a long-term future at the Club. I’d be gutted if not. He’s got about another year of reserve times before he has really got to start making his mark in the First Team. I think he’s capable. Only thing is, it’s a lot harder breaking into the team as a defensive player – I think it shoulder’s more responsibility with the need for more maturity/experience in the role. 

See, I think an attacking player can be used experimentally a lot more easily as their predominant role is creative play, and not defense, so they will be commended for attempts to attack – even if possession is lost, or their tracking back/defensive capabilities are poor, it seems it is more excusable – people write it off as inexperience. Whereas if a defender were to come in experimentally and make an error, they would be lauded as not good enough, too young and inexperienced. While the latter too points may be true, the same opportunities aren’t balanced between attack and defence. Fans give more leeway to attacking plauyers, in my opinion, which I find unfair, as I love nothing more than good positioning and a well closed-down ball!! I hope this argument is making sense… I’m speed-writing and feel I’m veering off…

COME ON CAPTAIN KYLE!… And big up my unmentioned others: Sanchez Watt, Jay Thomas, Kerrea Gilbert, Craig Eastmond…. And I will openly declare now that I am NOT a fan of Mark Randall. Wenger keeps selecting him on the bench and for short appearances, but I just don’t rate the guy. Time will tell who’s right – and trust me, I virtually NEVER disagree with Arsene, but… hmm… just don’t get it.

I pretty much love the reserves as much as the first team ^_^ Hoping we can win the Reserve South League this season! xxx

Starting off with a big up to Skepta, recently laid down a couple of new tracks… “Blow my own Trumpet” and “English Breakfast”. I love love love the former. It’s another big track, great lyrics, real, but catchy still. I like it a lot – listened on repeat when he first linked it up so that’s always a good sign!

They wanna know how I’m the way to a £mil, but still I keep it so real. OK I’m ready to answer the question: “No Deal.”

On first impression I prefer “Blow my own Trumpet” to “English Breakfast” – but it does of course have that killer PAR lyric about my boy Thierry Henry – such harsh timing considering the whole Ireland/World Cup/Handball gate!

My man are United like Giggs; I will never leave my young Gunners like Thierry.

He knows this is a big metaphor of course, cos he gives himself his own rewind – “This metaphor’s scary”!! Fair play, can’t argue this though. It’s a next hype! 

And PS, the girly in me has to mention… how cute does he sound when he says “please” at the start?:

Can I have a tea yeah, pleeease…

Aww ^_^

“Put the code in the gate, pull up to the driveway, listening to Usher – I got a Confession”

Cue me listening to Usher old school… “Gotta let it burn.”

Then Musical D tweetpic-ing some of the albums on his iPhone and it featuring Pretty Ricky BlueStars album!?… I remember this! “Your Body”, “Grind With Me”, “Juicy”. LOL… Yeah I had to listen on the YouTube cos I don’t have this old stuff on my MacBaby!! Now I’m listening to Sean’a'Paul on 1xtra from backinthedaaaay… Memba his hype? All that dancehall.. Used to love this man. All about the ladies and the dro’ doe! haha… And weather?? (“Temperature”). Weird themes you know. JUS GIMME THA LIIIGHT AND PASS THE DROOO.