Gallas – you gotta go!
By Avenell Dave
There’s been a healthy debate going on between me and my fellow Addicts over the last few weeks.
The arrival of Thomas Vermaelen suggests a defender may be on his way and as we discussed here last week, that probably means more than just Big Phil Senderos.
Reports today suggest that William Gallas is angling for a move, despite statements to the contrary.
There are some of you who believe this is all mischief making – but in fact, in many cases, it’s ass-covering on the part of the player.
I suspect Gallas himself doesn’t know where he will play next season – and if it is to be at Arsenal for one more year, he can’t really say he wants out openly.
Remember, Alex Hleb made statements about his commitment last summer and within days he was off to clean boots at Barca.
There’s no doubt that Gallas was our best defender last season, chipping in with vital goals and shoring up a defence that was lacklustre for much of the campaign.
The stats say that our defensive abilities dropped significantly once he got injured and keeping him, with all his experience, would make a lot of sense.
But a man deposed as king doesn’t often remain in the royal court, and Gallas has had to eat a lot of humble pie.
He ‘s one of the highest paid players at the club, has fallen out with Kolo Toure and Samir Nasri at the very least and with only a year left on his contract, it makes sense to sell him now.
There is a lot of talk of us buying another defender, such s Naldo from Werder Bremen, and that may well be so – because with Toure and Alex Song off for the African Nations Cup in January (why oh why doesn’t that competition get moved to a fallow summer such as this one or the one after next??), being left with Vermaelen, Djourou and Silvestre will not be enough.
Signing a player with real height and aggression is just what Arsenal needs in defence and the current crop are not going to be quite enough, I fear, however well Vermaelen turns out.
We’ve lost Bobby Pires, Edu, Sylvain Wiltord, Mathieu Flamini and others to expiring contracts and the least we can do, with money so tight at Arsenal, is get something back for a player who needs to be playing week in, week out, ahead of the World Cup finals in South Africa next summer.
DA
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Reader Comments (25)
I would love to see him go, as at the of Eduardo's when he was supposed to lead by example, what did he do, he went and sat at the other end of the pitch and did nothing to aid the other players who were obviously upset at what had happened, so I say get rid and if we can get a fee, all well and good. We don't need players who obviously want to leave but are afraid to come right out and ask for a transfer.
Gallas absolutely must stay, he had a brilliant second half of the season before the injury and we will really need his experience and combative attitude on the pitch. Haven't ever heard of Naldo, but have read some rave reviews of him. Anyone know if there is still the possibility of Sakho, he looks a very promising talent.
Don't forget that we will probably see a bit more of Nordveit next season and hopefully Ayling will get minutes.
shut the f'ck up.
Gallas is the best defender we have and was right to say what he did earlier this season, maybe went about it the wrong way but what he said was true.
Gallas, Cesc, Arshavin and RVP are the only players of any real pedigree and quality.
To answer your question about why the tourney hasn't been moved to the summer? Have you ever been to Africa? It's ridiculously hot in the 'winter' let alone the summer , players would die from dehydration if they played in june or july.
Gotta stay..best defender at club and most experienced and scores goals
We should keep Gallas - and here is why:
if we did sell him we wouldn;t get much
he is still our best defender
the African Nations is around the corner
even if he doesn't start it will gives us strength in depth
When we won the league in 2004 we had a big squad and its no coincidence that we flopped last season when Gallas got injured
some cunts cant stop moaning about the birmingham game upto today GET A LIFE people learn from mistakes and we all make mistakes - no need to keep bringing it up everytime ur miserable
If some of u were to coach Arsenal the team wud be in league 3 not even championship. We need experienced and quality players
Fuck Gallas. 32. Past it. Give me Vidic.
I know we can't get him but we can DO BETTER. GALLAS OUT. Brilliant second half of the season? Yeah right. He was so good we lost everything and conceded shitloads of goals.
It's funny how the bloggers and fans criticize players but when Gallas as captain say the same thing about these players lacking back bone then we call him the bad apple. I for one sees nothing wrong with what he did. Clichy needs to stop tripping on himself period. These other players needs to play like they want to and not jog around. Gallas played with winners all his career so he has the winning mantality so yes he will get mad when these younging act as if this is a joke or play ground thing. Gallas should stay. If he goes where are u gonna get the money to buy a good replacement. I can't see gallas being sold for more than 7 mill. The article is all based on media speculations.... the same media who tell lies when ever they say Cesc wants to leave.... oh my fellow Arsenal fans live in reality and stop being in denial and give other players their props not only cesc. it's a team game.
I would sell Gallas now. He may be our best defender but there are well documented problems involving him. I would prefer to sell him this summer rather than have him go on a free next summer and we have no money to re invest.
I dont rate Naldo either. He may be huge but his heading ability leaves a lot to be desired. He is just tall, no aggression. My pick for defence would be Roland Juhasz. 25, 6ft 4. and an established international for a Hungarian team 2nd in their WC qualifying group ahead of Portugal.
So: Vermaelen, Juhasz, Toure and Djourou.
Sell Gallas & Senderos for about 10m, and just release the hapless Silvestre.
3 main defenders and 1 young understudy with Song as emergency back up.
I dont know whether its a coincidence or what, but i do find it odd that we have won nothing since Gallas and Adebayor have been at the club. Time to sell them imo.
Stu:
Your are a complete idiot.
When Cesc has been playing as our best midfielder we haven't won anything. Should we sell Cesc.
Arshavin has never won anything with this club - coincidence, I dont think so we must sell him.
Your commments contain no credibility.
Gallas is an outstanding defender. He is more of a leader now than he ever was as captain and is a great consistent player. Him and the Verminator will be a brilliant partnership.
One defender I would like is Sakho. The guy could be the basis of our defence for over a decade if Wenger signs him which given the his African descent and position in the French Ligue 1 is quite likely.
Gallas has to stay - it would be madness to sell him.
His attitude may be suspect, but he is a professional, experienced, quality defender - something we are in short supply of. Selling our best defrender when defence is our key weakness is insane.
Gallas is a cancer who cares only about himself. A careful review of his individual performances last season will reveal that his marking against the better teams was miserable. His teamates can't stand him, he is in his last year, he is one of the top paid players at Arsneal, let him go . . . .
dont sell willy keep him.we are getting a strong squad together nwo
dont sell willy keep him.we are getting a strong squad together now
We should def keep Willy. I have long forgiven him. Some people can't handle the pressure of captaincy. It happens. Botham was a shit capitain too. But like Beefy, Gallas is class. He was our best player by a country mile last year once he was stripped of the captaincy. Proper proper world class.
OK he is the best defender at the club but he also getting old and in the final year of a contract that he will not extend. that means he goes for free next summer. if wenger can replace him with a younger defender and get in £5m this summer, I can see wenger doing so. wenger will say to gallas either extend or be sold. Gallas will opt for the latter. that would mean Toure MUST stay.
Can anyone make a point without having to refer to foul language. Not alone does it take from your point but its not necessary. Anyways, we need to hold to our squad and keep the likes of Gallas , Adebayor Toure etc. Constantly seling gets you no-where only adds to fragility. Look at Utd with Giggs , scholes etc , they are or were up to last season , important players on field and in the dressing room. Same for our lads. Hold what you have, buy in one or two and promote from the academy.
To be fair, the defence would've shipped in as many goals had it been Toure that was injured.
I don't see any player remaining a top defender with Silvestre as his partner.
Their was some notable strenghtening when Song paired up with Toure.
I thinking Toure was over compensating for the lack of balance to the back line when Silvestre was there.
Are y'all DIZZY?!!
All this talk about getting rid of players when we should be adding is so stupid.
As you correctly pointed out losing Kolo and Alex to Africa Cup of Nations will leave us thin.
Imagine a couple of the defenders get injured; now what????!!!!!!!!
Bare Arsenal supporters are plain daft.
Thanks for calling me an idiot Gooner. I guess stating a act makes me thick.
And yeah, you're right. Arshavin is shit because he didnt win anything for us in about 4 months. Well done.
Gallas is a great defender but as i already pointed out he will leave for nothing next sumer. Then we will be left a defender short and no money to replace him.
*fact!
Vermalaen increases competition which is good and we need at least 3 top quality centre backs Gallas, Toure and Vermalaen. Sendeross and Silvestre to go and Djourou and Song to add even more depth. During African Nations Cup it can be Vermalaen, Gallas and Djourou. Gallas is one of our best players whether anyone wants to accept that or not. The moment he got injured at the Villareal game our defending began to lack even more than it did before. The Chelsea game in the prem. serves as a painful reminder where we proved to be the superior team attacking but the unacceptably inferior team defensively.
It wasnt just Gallas' absense that made us shite defensively. It was a lot to do with Silvestre being there. More Silvestre than Gallas.