One Last Goodbye…

By: Sairax | June 9th, 2011

Here we are, just a week after Martin said his goodbyes, and now I will be saying goodbye too. This will be my last post here at Arsenal Offside.

I almost don’t know what to say. I’m not very good with goodbyes, so I’ll try to keep things short. I basically came to this blog like the rest of you, as a fan and a frequent contributor to the comments section. I lurked around other blogs, but mostly I commented here and on LadyArse. I got to know LadyArse well enough that she asked me to fill in for her a couple of times when she was away. I guess that was around the same time that Martin was looking for someone to help him out here on Arsenal Offside. Readership was going up and he was moving and switching jobs, so he asked me if I’d like to come aboard. I wasn’t sure if I could do it at first, but I thought it might be interesting to take on the challenge. I don’t really consider myself a writer, but I thought maybe writing on this blog would help me open up more and express myself in a different way. Looking back, it’s been a really good experience for me overall, and I’m glad that I took the opportunity.

I realize it’s a bit much for both me and Martin to be leaving at the same time. I’m sorry the transition couldn’t have been more gradual. While Martin is off getting married and drowning in legal briefs (or whatever the hell lawyers do), I will be studying again. I had to leave University a while back because of health issues, so now that I have the chance again, I will be doing a course over the summer to gradually work my way back into school. Hopefully, I’ll complete my degree before I’ve turned completely gray.

I’d just like to say thank you to all of you who have read the blog, commented, emailed me, and told others to come visit here. Sometimes I forget that people actually read what we write here, so it’s nice to hear the feedback sometimes. I really appreciate all of the readers and people who follow us on twitter. Speaking of twitter, Martin and I will be keeping our @ArsenalOffside twitter running. We have over 4100 followers now, which just blows my mind. If I or Martin end up writing anywhere else, we’ll let you know through twitter. It’s great interacting with the gooner community on there. It is definitely the most active fanbase on twitter of all the clubs, as far as I know. So, again, thank you. Thank you, also, to LadyArse, who gave me that first break and encouraged me to take the opportunity to write on this blog. And, of course, thank you to Martin. He has been so great at running this blog and writing balanced and thoughtful posts that I always enjoy reading. It was Martin’s world, I was just living in it. He helped me whenever I needed it, and he was a pleasure to work with, sincerely.

That’s all from me. Luckily, you all don’t have to put up with my random ramblings and never-ending optimism. I also clearly jinxed the season since my writing here coincided with Arsenal’s worst season of the last few years. Hopefully that will end now and we’ll start winning trophies again! Keep the faith and keep loving the Arsenal. Remember why you started watching and why you love football. Tomorrow’s a new day, and soon we will be in the middle of another season. It’s all about sticking with the team during the ups and the downs. You can’t appreciate the highs if you haven’t truly experienced the lows. That is what I will keep in mind. I’ll see you again in the 2011/12 season.

Come on Arsenal!

Help keep alive the beast that is Theo van Nasregas. Coming up with that name shall be my legacy!
TvN06

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Category: Arsenal News

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Homey_Mills

Another little update... I e-mailed the higher ups again this morning, and haven't heard anything back yet. However, I exchanged e-mails with the Martin, and it sounds like he's going to be able to post the blog I wrote a couple days ago. So we'll at least have something up, even though it won't be under my name. And it won't be quite what we're hoping for. But it should keep us going for another day or so. Sorry for the technical issues. It's way beyond our control at the moment.
Alexinho

How cool would it be if Bergkamp or Henry got their coaching badges and came back to manage Arsenal? Henry always has said that he would like a future role at the club after he retires.
Homey_Mills

Well Gigi, if you ever wanted to brag about the Panama national team, this would probably be the time.
Gigi_man

;) ;) definitely.
Last night was a high note on our team, historic, Dely Valdes is an amazing coach. Tejada and Blas were outstanding and Gomez with the penalty so cool I didnt believe it.
The US is a great team, and I dont say that to be polite to all Americans here, but because they are. (actually I was kind of shy on writing about it beacuse of all you guys, but you opened the door so I guess its ok).
It kind of healed my scars from our last run in the season, but, I am not ashamed to say that I love more the Arsenal, dont know how, just do.
Funny thing when they interviewed Tejada after the ga,e, thought the guy would be all proud, and all he did was to say that the coach told yhem: you can win, but its not granted, you have to focus for not only 90, but ALL the minutes. I think they did, I just hope they dont do one a la Arsenal now.
Would e interesting to read any of you guys thoughts on that game.
Great game BtW and it could have gone for any team imo.
Homey_Mills

Well, I just finished writing my first Arsenal blog. It's about the Nasri situation. Only problem is, I have no way to post it. I suppose I could here in the comments section, but that's no fun. I want to be able to insert some links and other stuff.
Anyway, as soon as the technical glitch is worked out, I'll get something up right away. Not sure when that will be though. I'm waiting to hear back from the higher ups.
Orion

I'm both anxious and excited to read your first post. I'm sure you guys will be doing a great job, right up there with mommy and daddy's fine standard. Good luck :)
Chris

Just wondering what the general feeling out there is on the Nasri situation. From what I can gather (and how much is true ??) one year left on his contract and discussions are stalling. Are wages just the issue, or is he resigned to never winning anyting with Arsenal ? Man U are / or maybe are not interested, depending who you listen to, and Samir hasn't ruled out anything at this stage. But an £8 million figure that has been banded around seems ludicrously low for a player of his age and ability. Difficulty is that with only one year left on his contract he can of course go for a free this time next year, and presumably use that to command a three figure weekly wage from any suitors. My own feeling is that Arsenal should give him the wages a player of his quality can command and get him to commit to the club for another four years. I seriously do not see that we can afford to lose such a valuable player. But who am I to know ?? What's the general consensus ...?
FredJacob

if Arsene gives Nasri a new contract, that still wont stop him from leaving next year and i wonder if next season if Nasri would do the same thing Cesc did in having a horrible campaign

give if more money for him to have a bad season hmm
Chris

That is always a possibility (is Rooney a permanent fixture at MnU, despite re-signing ?) but even if he does re-sign and then leave, we would get a much better and more realistic figure for him with several years of a new contract left to run, rather than now with only 12 mths left and the pressure on the club to let him go for at least "something" now, rather than nothing next year. Of course, I hope he re-signs, has a spectacular season and helps Arsenal win three cups.
Gigi_man

I agree with you, it will cost less to give hoim the wages than to receive only 8 million or nothing and not e ale to replace him fast enough.

On the transfers issues, there is a lot eing said ut AW doesnt really seems to e doing what he said he d do....
Homey_Mills

I've had an idea in mind for a blog on that very topic... but again, just waiting for the go ahead on it. Apparently there's a technical glitch or something.
Gigi_man

Looking fwd to it.
Chris

Me too. Looks like this blog's gonna stay alive, despite Martin defecting to the Spuds and Sairax burying her head in studies.
Zito_v2

I'm too young for this heartbreak
Gigi_man

Well I will miss you mommy...not too many words come to mind, but I sure will.
Reading your posts was like reading my own thoughts (very very inner thoughts) because what came out of me was always the pain and whinning, but deep inside I had the same feelings and to read your optimism was simply a pleasure.
Thx for all your dedication, drop by every now and then so we wont miss you too much, after all, we started as brothers and sisters before you became mommy hahaha
Sairax

lol Thanks Gigi. Appreciate your comments on here as always!
Gigi_man

Thx!
Gigi_man

Sairax, a late goodbye, I had a little car accident so I am late on all,
Will get back later,
Sairax

My god, I hope you're ok Gigi
Gigi_man

THX sAIRAX, LUCKY ME IT WAS ALL CAR DAMMAGEs, (oops locked jeys sorry) and the other guy took the blame, (he was literally across the street crossing a 4 lane way and perpendicular to me, so it was tough not to be to blame, if i could send you guys the pic for laughs I would).
Sairax

Glad to hear you're ok
Gigi_man

Thx for the concern...man I will really miss this mommy!!
JG

Hope you're ok!
Gigi_man

Thx JG, I am ok. ..hey great to see that one of new daddy's care haha.
Are you guys taking over then?
Homey_Mills

Well that's the plan. It's been like pulling teeth trying to get the final approval and such though. I'm still really hoping to have something ready by tomorrow, but it's beyond my control for now.
Lana Dawood

I feel like I lost my best friend and I don't even know you! haha It's so sad to see both of you leave. I wish you the best and hope to see you write a guest post or something! GOOD LUCK :)
Sairax

That's very sweet! Thank you!
Julian

:( I'll miss you. You better stay around on Twitter so we can continue our secret/public love affair
Sairax

Yeah I'll still be on twitter.

For those who don't know, my other twitter is @IAmSairax:twitter if you want to follow me there
Homey_Mills

Hmm... I just posted a comment, but it didn't show up. Anyway, I'll type it again. I just wanted to echo all the thanks already given to Sairax. Her writing was up to the excellent standard that the Martin set for this blog.
My question to both mommy and daddy is if they'll still plan on coming by and commenting sometimes. If so, then I think this blog won't drop off all that much in the future.
JG

That has happened to me recently. As you can see know, you just double-posted. It seems Disqus doesn't automatically show your new comment once you post it. All you have to do is refresh the page and you'll be fine.
Homey_Mills

I did refresh a couple times, and it still wasn't showing up. So I dunno. Sorry for the "spam."
Homey_Mills

I would also like to echo the comments of the others by saying that there was no dropoff from Martin to Sairax. We got excellent writing from both, and it was a pleasure.
My one question is if mommy and daddy will continue to at least stop by and comment from time to time. If so, then I don't think the site will lose all that much quality.
Sairax

Thanks Homey. And thanks for being such a great contributor to the comments for so long.
Homey_Mills

Once again let me try to update the group as best I can. About a week ago, I tried to assemble a group of some of the better and more regular commenters, with hopes that we could start as the new blogging team. I'm by far the least-knowledgeable of the group, but still hope to help keep things going. The others are JG, Darren, and Brenton. Brenton already does nice work at the Vancouver MLS site.
Anyway, we contacted the "higher ups" about a week ago, and it's still dragging on. I got a "tentative" go ahead a few days ago, but still haven't received any formal password or permission. Brenton has been the main one working on it.
I absolutely don't want to lose any of the momentum or traffic on this site that mommy and daddy have built up in the last couple years. Of course it will be impossible to match their standard of excellence, but I at least don't want this site to go dormant for a period of time and have everyone scatter.
So please keep coming back to this site for the next few days, and hopefully there will be something else up soon.
chris wolff

I would definitely like to contribute as much as possible. I completely agree with keeping the traffic up.
Homey_Mills

Well it's looking more and more like we'll at least have a couple of days where there's nothing going on. I'm not sure if I'll get the go ahead over the weekend. Just keep checking in.
Gigi_man

you got my support!
Chris

A huge thanks to both Sairax and Martin for all their input. Although having followed Arsenal for over twenty years, it's only been in the past year or so since I stumbled on this blog and reading the excellent posts that my fascination and interest level in the club have moved to another level. That's thanks to you guys. It's been a real pleasure looking forward to and reading the (almost) daily posts on all issues Arsenal, to contributing on the odd occasion, to reading the comments, but most of all enjoying the debates that have raged back and forth, instigated by your brilliant writing. Thank you both of you, and good luck with your future writing / studying.
Sairax

Thank you!
JG

You were fantastic, Sairax! A pleasure to read, no less for you now legendary moniker you coined back in that Chelsea home game. Good luck in school and wherever you may choose to be and write and the future!
Sairax

Thank you :)
Orion

When I used to read your blogging, it was clear that, line by line, you were reading out my thoughts pretty much accurately. It used to blow my mind ! But you really stepped up when Martin was leaving an ever-widening gap through his increasing absence, through no fault of his own. Also, you were never discouraged by the fact that you were the only lass around ;) . For this, and for your support for Arsenal that never wavered in the slightest, I really do hope you stick around the Arsenal Offside and wish you the very best of luck in your studies and your life in general. :)
Sairax

Thank you so much :)
Gunnerlurker

Thank you for all the great reading and insight. Very best wishes for you to keep the optimism, keep the health, keep achieving at school, and keep from being infected by Martin's love of the Spurs.
Sairax

lol thanks!
DanKing9

:...(...... First of all, thank you Sairax for bringing me to this site. You, Martin, and the people commenting have made this one of my favorite blogs to read. You two have left big shoes for the next person to fill. I can guarantee that writing legal briefs and term papers won't be nearly as exciting as writing about Arsenal though
Sairax

Thanks!
ES

Thanks for all the time and effort, much appreciated :) and good luck on future endeavours.
Sairax

Cheers :)
Henrytheo14

Whos taking over?
Mike Howells

x2. Best wishes to Sairax and Martin, but it would be nice to know what's going to happen to this blog.
Homey_Mills

Hopefully there will be some news no later than tomorrow.
JoGadsby

Good news. It's Nick Hornby.
Henrytheo14

Sairax its been a honor to be a gooner with you and to read you articles about the team. Good luck with school and what not and hopefully youll be commenting from time to time
Sairax

Thank you!
Martin

(sniff) I know we'll talk over email and Twitter, but happy trails, Sairax, and good luck with school. It was a pleasure sharing a masthead with you.
Sairax

Cheers, Martin ;)

Also, looks like you were right to be worried about Nasri's contract situation. See, we should always listen to you! :)
Marloneious

Wow...this is a sad day. Not only is it my brothers last day of school, but Sairax is leaving :(. We shall miss you greatly, but good luck in life, and remember: Once a Gooner always a Gooner!
Sairax

Thank you!
Harrypartik

Lets move on. Out with the old and in with the new - Listen you deluded fools I am the editor here and I am planning a march against the cunt board and that french peado who needs to be bombarded out of the club. His evil ways has left us in a sorry state and i would not even be surprised if we didnt qualify for the champs lge. Lets do it
gooonerrrr 1

diaby needs to leave !!
he confessed to wearing a tottenham jersey given to him by his international team mate kaboul.
players exchange shirts but they normally frame it not FUCKING wear it around your house and let alone tell the world you wear your rival teams jersey. fucking twat !!!
sell him off cause he also stated he would like to play along side kaboul.
FredJacob

i totally agree he's a real jack, and i had liked him, if i was Arsene i never play him again
Alexinho

With that out of the way...

Thank you Sairax for your dedication. Personally I have always found your wit to be spot-on. It feels like just yesterday that you began posting as an addendum to Martin's posts, but now that you are officially gone, the blog feels empty, and obviously so. We will all miss you.

The one ray of hope, it seems is this--with a lawyer and a grad student finished with their blogging careers, the blog potentially belongs to the bachelors-degree-and-lower proletariat!! Rise up you customer service representatives and servers--and type about Arsenal with a lower-middle-class slant!!
Sairax

Thank you for the kind words, I appreciate it :)
Alexinho

Wow, no more posts on Arsenal Offside. It will only be the comments section apparently...

Transfer suggestion...why not bring Alex Hleb back? I sure would welcome that, and from what I've heard, so would he.
Javier

A truly sad moment. I wish you all the best out there. What will happen with the blog anyway, I'm a bit not up to date with the news Sairax.
Sairax

Thank you. There has been a change in who runs the Offside website, so at the moment it is unclear what will happen with the blog as far as I know.
Javier

well, at least we got you on twitter (mine is @javbrad:twitter ) Good luck with the university!
ASDF

Good bye Sairax and good luck with school!!You are an amazing commentator and your optimism was and is very infectious!!! I hope Arsenal win something next season and we all can celebrate it on twitter/martin's website :)
Sairax

Thanks, and let's hope so :)
sofreshnsoclean

wishing you well sairax, hope to see you reppin' the GREATEST city in the world in one way or another...
Sairax

Thanks!
Mahmoud Shadi

What the hell? HOW COME YOU AND MARTIN ARE LEAVING AT THE SAME TIME?
What's going to happen to the blog? This have been BY FAR my favourite website for a while... I can't believe this is happening.