Soccer 24-7 Blog

The Interview: Gunners/Gers

Tell us a bit about yourself …
Hi! I'm Adam, I'm 20, and I live in Aberdeen at the moment. I'm staying in a flat in the city centre, with my mate and my younger brother. I have two parents, and they live in Linlithgow (20 minutes west of Edinburgh by train) where I grew up. One set of grandparents - my Dad's parents died when I was 8. I'm obviously a Rangers and an Arsenal fan, to which I owe mainly to my Grandpa (Dad's dad) but I'll explain that later. My Dad grew up in South Shields and is a huge Sunderland fan, as is my brother. Funnily enough, my mums side of the family are all Newcastle fans!

In Aberdeen, I'm studying Computing for Graphics and Animation at Robert Gordon University. I'm in my third year of a four year course. I play squash and that's about the only sport - i do some general fitness work when i can be bothered though. Used to play tennis and football, but im mince at footy really. Most will know I'm a huge Metallica fan, but I'll give any type of music a chance - I'm into a lot of hiphop, trance, dance as well as metal, rock and indie etc. I have a guilty pleasure for some chart music when out drinking too!

It’s derby day next week! Think you’ll beat Spurs?
Of course! I'm ever the optimist. Seriously though, I think it'll be a close game, but we've got more quality. The West Ham result will act as a reminder to the players following our wee unbeaten run in the league, and we'll get the victory. That's not to say I don't rate the Spurs team - they've got some classy players (Hutton!), but I don't think they're good enough to challenge for a top 4 place this season.

If it was Arsenal vs. Spurs and Celtic vs. Rangers on the same day, which match would you attend?
The Old Firm match every time I'm afraid. The football would be nowhere near as good, but it's a bigger game. I'm a Rangers fan first - as depressing as that can be at times!

Would you like to see Rangers in the Premier League?
Ah, I had a feeling this would crop up. Yes, I would. I think the SPL is heading to a dark place financially - the tv deal fiasco was a killer. Pretty soon, with the terrible euro performances, we'll lose our automatic Champions League group place. That means our champions will need to face the 4th best side in England or something in order to qualify.

So no champions league - wages will be capped around £25k a week, which gets you little today when sides like Hull can afford to pay players 50k a week. Players won't want to come to play in the backwaters of the SPL only, we'll need to rely on youth and other SPL players. It's a depressing forecast, but without moving or some sort of sugar daddy coming in, it's all I can see.

Of course, I can understand why English clubs wouldn't want us. They don't need us, but we desperately need the cash thats being thrown around down there if we're to realise the potential of the club once again.

If Arsenal continue to go trophy less for a season or 2, will it be time for Mr Wenger to depart?
Difficult question. I'd be inclined to say no, but it would totally depend on how the seasons in question pan out. There's so much competition for silverware now in England, that it's a very possible situation - personally, I believe we'll win something this year. If the team performs well and just misses out, i wouldn't get rid of him. Who would you replace him with anyway?

What do you look forward to most, birthday or Christmas?
Birthdays definitely lose significance as you grow older - although my next one is 21, which is a big deal for whatever reason. So birthday this year, Christmas in the future I reckon.

What’s your opinion on the beach ball goal for Sunderland vs. Liverpool? Hard luck on Liverpool or a fair goal for Sunderland?
Well as i mentioned earlier, my Dad and brother are both Sunderland fans, so i quite enjoyed it! I think it's both actually - i'd have given the goal, but it's terrible luck for Liverpool you'd have to say. I think everyone forgotten though, that Sunderland deserved to win that game on the performance - they should've scored more in truth.

What do you need more? Car to get to work or work to get a car?
I don't have a job, and I don't have a car I don't need one at the minute, I'm in the centre of Aberdeen - everythings a 5 or 10 minute walk away. I do have a drivers license though, and im insured to drive my Mums mini cooper back home.

Would you ever consider moving to England, especially if it meant you could go and see Arsenal more?
I'd definitely consider it, depending on the situation. It'd be a long time away though - but im not particularly a fan of the busy London city scene.

At a movie theatre which arm rest is yours?
Right - unless im at the furthest left seat. I'm not unreasonable.

Why does a round pizza come in a square box?
So it's easier to get you hand in to pick up the pizza I would guess!

Did you enjoy losing to enzo in xpert 11? You can say what you want about the titles you won but how did it feel to lose that season to him? it probably hurt a lot didn't it?
That was the flukiest season ever. Enzo couldn't handle the heat in the end though, and bowed out a beaten man

If Rangers or Arsenal were to change their strip colour to pink, would you wear the shirt?
Probably not. I never buy the kit if I don't like it - I've got the current Arsenal and Rangers home shirts, but not the away ones, not a big fan of them.

How are you finding university?
It's going quite well thank you! I recieved a £250 cash award at the RGU prizegiving in the summer for hard work, so i must be doing something right. This semester has been quite boring so far though - lots of lectures and not much practical work on the computers.

What made you get into graphics and arts and so forth?
I've always been quite artistic - i get that from my gran apparently. I never got into computer graphics work until I joined this forum though - I did a tutorial by Reville, and the rest is history. I did Graphic Communication at higher and advanced higher in high school, and this course im studying now just sounded perfect.

What annoys you in the forum?
Foley

Do you have any interest in politics?
No, not really. I try to stay current and watch the news and Question Time etc, but it's not a subject that captivates me. I certainly wouldn't feel comfortable getting into a political debate on the forum for instance.

Why Arsenal and Rangers?

The golden question!

Rangers - My dad says he wanted to let me choose my own team, and wouldn't force Sunderland upon me. My Grandpa bought me a Rangers kit though - he was a big Rangers man - and since I was Scottish and he said i should support the best team in Scotland. I also really liked blue, so it was a perfect match!

Arsenal - When I was in primary school, everyone had an 'English' team - usually Man Utd. I used to think i started to support them because my Grandpa also did, but i asked my dad recently, and that wasn't true - he would talk about the Gunners, and i thought it was a cool name, so they became my English team. Some people dropped their English team when they got older, but I couldn't, and I can't stop now.

Some people get offended when you support two teams, because there is twice the chance of glory (especially with two successful sides like Rangers and Arsenal), but all I can say is that i get twice the heartache when they don't do well - which has happened a lot recently! It'd be a lot easier to just support one of them if I'm honest, but there's nothing I can do about it now.

Do you get paid for every sig you make?
I wish

Do you like cheesy Wotsits?
Is this some sort of innuendo? I like the crisps. I used to eat them a lot, but i put on too much weight in the summer of 2008 so i stopped eating them.

Opinion on Kris Boyd? Seems a very good goal scorer, but appears to not be liked by many
The enigmatic Kris Boyd. He'd be world class if he had some movement. As it is, he's an immobile lump and it's like playing with 10 men sometimes when he's on the park and not scoring. He'd be in my team every week in the SPL though (except maybe against celtic) because he's lethal against the smaller sides. I fully advocate not playing him in Europe - we can't afford to have a striker that won't work the line in these type of matches.

Are there any members that you would like to see back on the forum?
xaidensxghirlx, although not for the sleazy reasons of many She's a lovely girl and would add a lot to the Scottish section. I can see her pictures whenever on facebook anyway!

What’s your most memorable experience so far in life?
That difficult, I would say i haven't been around long enough or gone through anything huge yet. Passing my driving test was a big moment, if cliched. Moving to Aberdeen on my own was also quite a big step for me.

Do you class yourself as British or Scottish?
Both, and I'm proud to be both.

Favourite ever Rangers/Arsenal player?
Ally McCoist was my absolute hero when I was growing up, although I loved Albertz too - when i was too young to be interesting in watching full games, my dad would watch them for me, and i have a resounding memory of him running through every week saying "Albertz has scored a freekick!" or "Albertz has scored a penalty!". It seemed to happen all the time. For Arsenal, it would have to be Henry, and I'd love to see him back at the club.

Family guy or south park?
South Park is the best cartoon ever made, I love it. I do enjoy Family Guy though, but it's just not in the same league.

Who do you hate/dislike more, the Welsh, Irish or English?
I don't "hate" any in general - my parents are English, but I really hate the media furor around the English national team when they qualify for a major tournament. It's their year again next year, I don't know if you've heard?

I also hate the plastic paddy culture that surrounds Celtic, but I've nothing against Ireland in general.

I quite like the Welsh, the accent is funny - i couldn't take a Welsh person seriously.

Do you have any pet hates?
People going Madrid and Barca in PES - it infuriates me.

When my flatmate leaves a basin of dirty water with loads of plates in it in the sink.

Crowded streets.

Drivers that dont give you a wee wave when you do them a favour! Cvnts!

Should the war with Afghanistan come to an end now or are they right to be sending more troops out?
Big question. I don't know all the facts about Afghanistan, and I don't think I could make a judgment call on something like that without knowing my stuff so to speak. I know that sounds like a question dodge, but i really don't read enough on it.

You and Barca 009 are great at what you do and both are from Scotland, is there some art renaissance taking place there that we do not know about?
It's only because it's too wet to go outside, so we stay inside on our computers all day.

Have you met Barca 009 and what do you think of his work?
No, i haven't even spoken to him in years like. Is he still around? Must be hiding in the Barca forum! He was class back in the day, certainly better than me.

What members would you hit the town with? You can have up to 6 but no more!
Tough one, i dont speak to a lot of people outside the forum but...aidensghirl, Lil Yiddo, Trublustuuk, Albertz, Blue & CelticRugby

Who will get the light blues out of the financial mire?
Hopefully Dave King. Although there are rumours of a Graeme Souness fronted consortium...to be honest, it's got the point where I'd just about take anyone with a bit of cash.

If you could sign anyone from Celtic who would it be?
I really like Maloney as a player. I was hoping we'd buy him when he was going cheap at Villa actually...controversial. Other than that, I think Scott Brown is destined to end up at Rangers in the future.

Artur Boruc....discuss
Utter plank. I think that he's not all there mentally. Hates the Rangers fans more than he loves the Celtic ones. Prone to big errors, never good enough for atruly top side. He will stay at Celtic for the forseeable future, because nobody will pay more than £5m for him.

Why do you support the Arse as well as Rangers...it's a heck of a mixture innit...about as strange as Chesterfield and Rangers...urmmm...time to shut up
Haha, I answered this one earlier Blue! Rangers and Arsenal do actually have some history together i believe, although i could be wrong on that.

Who do you hate more and why, Celtic fans or Tottenham fans?
Celtic fans, because i know more. If you'd ever read the Huddleboard, you'd hate celtic fans too.

Your sensational at making sigs, what drives you to spend hours doing favours for people you barely know, are you Jesus?
Thank you! It's just something i enjoy doing, although i do sometimes lack the motivation for it. All i ask is people be considerate and patient, sometimesi don't have the time for it. Which they are on the most part, to be fair.

One poster you'd love to have a beer with?
I'd definately have two jugs with Kirstie.

Interview compiled by Lil Yiddo with questions submitted by members of Soccer 24-7.