I take it back...

I don't mind being proved wrong. That is fine.

Arsenal 2 - 1 Manchester United proved me wrong.

I love being proved wrong sometimes.

Go on the Arsenal!

What's happened?

Nothing has happened. Well it's actually a lack of happening. Arsenal are not happening.

Today's game against Stoke was a must win. Once the second half had started and the slightest chance of us bringing some kind of form to the game dissipated it was never going to be anything else other then loss we deserved. I hate to say this but we have serious problems that need acting on now.

We lack big time in defence. I believe we have players there who are great but we are lacking a Tony Adams or a John Terry or even a Rio Ferdinand. We seriously need that kind of player who can dominate the defence and, if need be, scare them into playing well. Playing by example and leading the team.

We twice conceded goals to the long Delap throw ins of which he is well known. I felt before the game he could be our downfall and when there is a throw in near the area its like they have another corner. It's the same to them and they make good use of it. They deserved the win because we didn't show any class today at all.

At the beginning of the season Stoke would have looked at the fixtures and dreaded this game. They weren't showing that dread when they met us today though.

Arsenal have lost 3 games already this season. The same amount we lost all together in the previous season. We all had hopes of at least challenging for the title as close as last year this season but that is now, with other results in, looking unlikely with us 9 points behind the leaders Liverpool.

Wenger needs to go back to basics with this team now and slowly build up the confidence of this quite fragile side. He needs to try and keep some hope for honours alive and when January comes he must get the signings right; and we do need signings.

Wenger must rue losing Flamini. He needs to buy another one of them. Maybe Yaya Toure could be the answer and with his brother already at Arsenal it wouldn't take long to settle in. We need an Adams. A strong, tall, commanding defender who players fear but I'm not sure who the best candidate for this role is. The best ones are already at Chelsea, Liverpool and Man U aren't they? And I hate to add to this but is Almunia a stable enough No. 1? Some games he looks fantastic and when the team play high tempo - like against Fenebache - then if we concede one or two its not the end of the world but when we play the likes of Stoke he needs to be very very commanding especially at set pieces.

I have always been a big fan of RVP but I'm lost for words to his actions today. To me it looked blatant and I'm very disappointed in him.

The worry is with the injuries we got today we may have lost Walcott, Adebayor and Sagna for I don't know how long. Can some of them be fit for next Saturdays game?

It's Man United next in the premier league. Can Wenger do enough this week to at least give us a chance in this one? Man United's form is picking up as ours is going. There is no way I want to see a reply of that FA Cup game from last season. We needn't have bothered turning up.

It's a must win game for the sake of any hopes of honors and a huge must win for confidence but to beat united you have to be at your best. We need to find that against Fenebache this week and then we need to continue it on Saturday.

We can still make this season work but Wenger must steady the ship and think now about those January transfers.

Ghost Town

We saw Ghost Town yesterday evening. I Found it pretty funny.

It involves a Dentist who after an operation finds he can see the dead. There is a bit of the Scrooge story line going on here but not so that it's nicked straight from Dickens' book; its done with a twist.

After beating West Ham 0-2 today we play Spurs on Wednesday. Should be good.

Football Dreamland

What a great game to watch Fenabahce vs Arsenal was. 2-5 and was 1-3 to us within the first twenty-two minutes of the game too. We were open at the back a bit but because of this the game flowed from end to end for a while and must have given the neutrals a hell of something to watch.

Almumia said, via Arsenal.com, that it was a strange match to play in, felt like a training match, but must have been great for the fans. Yes it was thanks, Al.

We play West Ham on Sunday, it's on Sky Sports I believe, and then its on to Tottenham. If we can find that attacking potency from mid-week this could be a dream game.

Seeing rumours emerge on the web of a possible Rambo 5 (or Rambo V) and a remake of the original Hellraiser - please keep Doug Bradley and not replace him as it just wouldn't be the same. Also read an interview with Robert Englund who said the Freddy mask will get worn at least once more.

Red Dwarf is back next year. 4 new episodes of which two are makings of and so on but two of them are brand spanking new dwarf. Oh yes, bring it on.

Delorean are playing a show at Haldens (WGC) on Saturday 1st November. It looks like it should be quite some show, I walked into one of their practices a week or so ago and they sound fantastic. Make it if you can.

I'm hoping to get a new computer soon. I want something that can play WOW perfectly smooth but also something that can last me at least a few years before I need to upgrade again. Any tips anyone?

The weekend is coming and the clocks go back this weekend so make sure you make the most of it and see you all soon.

The banks are crashing but it's ok...

...because Spurs are holding up the league.

I went to a fancy dress party for a friends 21st on Saturday. It was a great night and had the chance to meet some new people. Nice guys, great party.

Arsenal are having a strange season so far but it can only pick up and with the international break now upon us it will give time for Wenger to sort things out.

Have you seen the film 'Three & Out' yet? If not, do.

I have updated my picture here today. Thought it was time for a change.

It's been awhile...

I would have wrote more recently but I am stuck in a dull job which doesn't give me much to talk about.

I'd love to sit and write about the success I'm having. I can't.

I can write about the things I love though. My girlfriend, family, friends, football, games, music and writing in general. So I will.

I won't do it now but I will do this. So if anybody ever reads this I'll be back shortly. I have things to discuss. I'd like to write about World of Warcraft and Guitar Hero; Arsenal; The Strokes and why I suddenly like them; and anything else that springs to mind.

See you all soon.

Marcus

Wigan Vs Arsenal

I felt that this may be one game too far. It is not worth blaming the pitch although it didn't help our fluid passing style, especially within the last 30 yards towards goal.

Adebayor's chance after just 45 seconds was probably the best of the opportunities as he was clear through on goal - if only he'd lifted it over the keeper.

I don't think this means the seasons over though and anyone saying that obviously doesn't realise the quality this team has. The team played alright yesterday it just wasn't happening against a team who defended with all men behind the ball. They got a brilliant point and we got a lousy one. That is how the football world will see this.

Now we have a week to recover, it is great to see RVP back, and we can look forward to beating Middlesborough this weekend. Time for revenge for the one loss we have had in the league this year.

I have high hopes for this Arsenal team. We didn't lose yesterday. We learned some valuable lessons and can now be confident in winning the majority of the games we have left this season.

This is and still can be our year.

We love you Arsenal we do!

March the 8th 2008 - My final gig

On Saturday night in front of nearly 200 people we played our final gig.

Delorean will still exist but for now James, Frank and I have all left the band to pursue other things. Sean, Gary and Craig remain while Geoff will now, hopefully, get busier as he can tech for Delorean and my new project - once it is off the ground and running.

Delorean was a covers band although that is not where we started. We started back in February 2006 as an originals band with a different line up (slightly). The covers scene seemed to pull us in though and we ended up doing 3 gigs all in Welwyn Garden City between July 2007 and March 2008. Songs included - Summer of 69, Hold the Line, Paint it Black, Buck Rogers, Boys of Summer, Vertigo, Ain't Talking 'bout Love and many many more. (Saturdays set has approx 23-25 songs).

Sean on Guitar and vocals, a proper 1980's head as he loves that era and it shows in his style, he can play a great solo, fill a song with nice riffs and sing amazingly.

Gary on drums knows how to hold a beat yet keep it fun. His years of experience in several bands shines through and not only did he learn songs quick, his timing made it a lot easier for the others to do their bits right too.

Craig on bass worked brilliantly with Gary to glue the music together. He is a solid rock bass player and deserves good credit for it.

James on guitar and backing vocals was the youngest member of the band and technically a very very good player. He could do rhythm or play solo's and allowed for Sean to shine. Part of Delorean's genetics were that James and Sean seamlessly brought together each song through individual talent and poise. The final sound - fantastic.

Which brings it down to Frank, my brother, a keyboard legend, who, like me, wasn't really into the covers scene but brought the energy needed and the stardust, if you like, to the music. Here his fill ins, and verse riffs always impress me.

I was the singer along with Sean and how I got that role, in a covers band, I don't know but it was fun.

Delorean will continue in name and spirit with the 3 remaining members as they are now updating their set and bringing in the new musicians needed for a new direction with the covers set. When they start to gig again take the opportunity to see some masters at work.

Me and Frank are now in the planning stages of getting back to what we love most, our own songs, and we are going to tighten up the old ones and write some new ones and try to gig out there as soon as possible.

Hopefully, see you on the road.

Rambo

I went to see this film opening weekend and felt that now I am blogging about anything and everything that I should share some thoughts on it.

I loved this film but I definitely knew what to expect before hand; I had been reading up on it for months before release, reading every review I could find.

To me the Rambo films can be split into two categories. There is 'First Blood' probably my favourite action movie ever. There is one death in this film. It is not about killing, it is about surviving. It is a slick action movie in which we discover John Rambo, a Vietnam veteran, who on coming back to America after the Vietnam war discovers he doesn't really have a place in society any more.

When he walks into the town of 'Hope' he is quickly driven out by the local Sheriff, who won't even allow him to eat anything there, just tells Rambo that the nearest truck-stop is 30 miles up the road.

Anyway one thing leads to the other and Rambo is arrested. Eventually, and we don't wait long, he cracks and through flashbacks we see the torment and pain he went through for his country. What he is going through now reminds him of this but we learn he dreams about this every night. It consumes his waking life too, he cannot get away from what he's seen, what he's done or how he has been treated.

Basically, Rambo fought for his Country to discover there is no place in it for him on his return.

What pursues is a film about survival as Rambo runs from the Police and hides up in the jagged Hills behind town. The Police mount a search mission but Rambo is always one step ahead.

By the time he is caught the carnage is complete. Many injured police officers, one dead officer, and a whole town is practically destroyed too.

The plot isn't the strongest but if you like the film, then read the book which was written in 1972 by David Morrell, for a different angle on the whole 'First Blood' story. It is fantastic.

The next two movies where not as much about stealth and survival as the first. These were two monster action movies where Rambo got the opportunity to kill, kill and kill. They were fun movies and it's always great to watch Rambo dish out the pain to those who deserve it but they totally lacked something that 'First Blood' brought to us. Soul.

Moving on to 'Rambo' we find him still living in Thailand and renting out a boat and catching snakes to make a living. A group of Christian missionaries want his help getting up river and eventually he offers to help.

They want to go into Burma. A country torn apart by civil war (yes, its really still happening and has been for 60 years.) What ensues here is not only one of the best action films ever made, its very gory and not the the weak of heart, but a return to form and the reminder of where Rambo came from. This film's John Rambo seems a lot more like the Rambo of old. The one from 'First Blood' not the two other sequels.

Whilst, yes the bodies mount up more then ever before, we learn a bit more about him and how even though he is now 60 he can do what he does.

It's a great movie. If you had to own any of these then own 'First Blood' and 'Rambo' you can forget the rest. They're great movies and yes I own them but to me 'Rambo' is the guy in parts 1 and 4 and not the one who appears in the middle who seems to be a comic version of himself as opposed to this Vietnam Vet we get in the others.

AC Milan 0 Arsenal 2

What can I say about that performance last night that probably has not already been said one thousand times? Fantastic, Mesmerizing, outstanding, prolific, exceptional and all other superlatives that could spring to mind.

I have been an Arsenal supporter for as long as I remember, since the day my Dad took me to Highbury back in the 1980's, and this is one the best, most thrilling, performances I have seen from them.

The way they moved the ball around. The way they ran Milan ragged and just wouldn't let them settle. You would have thought that Arsenal were the home team. That our new ground was the San Siro. Absolutely fantastic.

Fabregas and Flamini played like they were 3o years old; not 20. The rest of the team did their jobs too. Hleb deserves praise. Clichy and Sagna deserve it also. Walcott added an extra dimension with his introduction.

It was a night when Robin van Persie had returned to the bench and thankfully he got to rest a bit longer as he wasn't needed.

I can't think of much else to say right now except - here's one to Arsenal and to what the future could bring.

2-0 to the Arsenal, 2-0 to the Arsenal.

Drunk

What is it this makes us go out and drink more then we should? We know we'll pay for it the next day yet we still do it.

I can't have drunk more then 8 drinks yesterday and they consisted of about six lagers and two Jack Daniels' and Coke's. One of them was a double I'll admit.

It was a nice night out which ended with some friends coming to stay at ours for the night before going home early this morning.

God did I wake up rough this morning. Maybe I should have slept in but when you have people round you want to get up and have a cup of tea with them before they go.

I must have thrown up enough today to fill a decent size lake. It all reminds me of a brilliant episode of 'Men Behaving Badly' from years ago. The one where Gary and Tony go to the rave. Gary is so drunk he's trying to crawl into his own shoe. The next day they chat about how it's just nice to stay in, have a cup of tea, relax and watch stuff like the 'Antiques Road-show'. You don't need to drink to have fun they say.

This morning I know what they felt and meant. But they were out the same night raving in a pub. I won't be.

Welcome

The last blog I had seemed to go one way. It ended up being all about the band I was in. Well I want to write more then just that so have started this one now too.

I am hoping to post my thoughts on anything and everything here for the World to see, or not - as the case may be.

I'll see you out there in Blogsville.

M