William Gallas has launched yet another withering attack on his Arsenal colleagues, this time while away on international duty with France.
The 31-year-old central defender has been dismayed by the poor performances and lack of team spirit amongst his teammates this season. As reported by the Daily Telegraph, Gallas said:
"We are coming up against teams who are not scared to play football against us. We are not brave enough in battle. I think we need to be soldiers. We have to be warriors."
"Against Tottenham, there was a problem at half-time. The only thing I could say to them was that we resolve these problems after the match, not in the break.
“There are things that can’t be said and can’t be tolerated.”
Gallas—who infamously sat on the St. Andrews pitch in a public display of a disaffection after a disappointing 2-2 draw with Birmingham—believes that he ends up being the scapegoat for a lot of the team’s criticism, and it is unfair:
“When, as captain, some players come up to you and talk to you about a player...complaining about him...and then during the match you speak to this player and the player in question insults us, there comes a time where we can no longer comprehend how this can happen.
“I am trying to defend myself a bit without giving names. Otherwise I’m taking it all [the blame]. It’s very frustrating. I’m 31, the player is six years younger than me.”
If Gallas’ maths is correct, then either Robin van Persie or Bacary Sagna is the villain of the Frenchman’s piece. Whether attacking the two players publicly is the right way of going about things, however, is another matter.
The complaint may be valid—but will either man appreciate and respond positively to such a public attack on their character?
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about 1 month ago
It doesn't help Gallas that he's a former Chelsea player - Arsenal fans have never really got behind him due to that. Same goes for Silvestre and his United association.
about 1 month ago
"Gallas—who infamously sat on the St. Andrews pitch in a public display of a disaffection after a disappointing 2-2 draw with Birmingham". So what!!! The man was tired of losing matches because of politics and not sports, maybe the whole team should do that.
from about 1 month ago
And that is why many people, including me, love Gallas. At least he wears his heart on his sleeve.
about 1 month ago
You have to wonder what Gallas is up to? Is he trying to engineer a move away or what? Who would take him with these antics?
Either way its a disgrace the way he is acting. God knows, not many managers would put up with that. I dont know how Wenger is....
from about 1 month ago
Wenger isn't...
armband and team place gone for City, au revoir William!!
from about 1 month ago
As a Manchester United fan, you should probably be the last to write what you've just wrote. Have you already forgotten your own Roy Keane? I bet the fact that he quit Man Utd shortly after his scathing attack on Rio Ferdinand makes it clear that he was actually trying to engineer a move or that Sir Alex gave him the boot.
about 1 month ago
Good piece Alex and something that was discussed at the gym swimming pool yesterday between myself and a friend.
Gallas is not captain material, something I mention in my newest article, and the fact of the matter is, his ego rules his head in most matters. Overrated by many, shipped out by Mourinho in favour of Ashley Cole, leaving Chelsea short of Central Defenders at the time, which was a strange move but one that proves how unharmonious life with Billy Gallas can be.
I honestly think the player he is talking about is Adebayor, I can see him as something of a trouble causer, especially with all the trouble with the dealings to AC Milan rumours amidst other things!
Who can step up now for Arsenal? They truly are a club in crisis, Fabregas is far too young although a future candidate without doubt. Toure is a good choice but not ideal. They certainly lack a Tony Adams or a Patrick Vieira type player who will strike fear into opponents and courage into the team.
from about 1 month ago
Very good point Liam — it is not unimaginable that Gallas didn't quite get his maths spot on, which would bput the 24-year-old Adebayor squarely in the firing line. Having said that, I can certainly see Robin van Persie having a bit of chat about him.
Certainly the club is in trouble — I wonder if there is any player out there in the January transfer window who can almost immediately fill the dual roles of being the holding midfielder and captain?
about 1 month ago
Hey Im 21 and if a 16 year old disrespects me I do something about it. Gallas has every right to be frustrated because when youngster disrespects you, its hard to take. Seeing he is the captain, he has take to course of action. What i dont agree with is the way he has gone about doing it. He must been able to figure out a better way of dealing with these delicate issues..
Either way, Im with Gallas on this one. Reports came out that he has complained about the exact same thing with the French national squad. Maybe he has a dislikable personality that youngsters feel the need to "talk shit" to him.
from about 1 month ago
Quite possibly, Jermaine. I have to admit that I too am with Gallas. I love the fact he just says and does what he feels. Refreshing in the modern game.
about 1 month ago
Gallas is a coward, on and off the pitch. His cowardice and immaturity has cost Arsenal games, and it is no wonder he gets flack back from young players who don't exactly see him leading by example.
I have to wonder what kind of leader lashes out at his team mates (and indirectly, his Manager) via the press in this way. I guess the answer has to be a frustrated one who sees the press as the arena in which he needs to defend himself, instead of being mature enough to inspire respect and admiration from his team maters on the field and in the dressing room.
Gallas was handed the armband by Arsene, and likely was not, and is not, the player's choice; that man was and likely still is Gilberto, but Arsene made a huge mistake in forcing the captaincy on Gallas, who clearly doesn't want the responsibility and would rather be a participant (much like how he is a better participant in defense beside a much stronger physical presence like Terry or Senderos was) than the man in the spotlight.
It will be very very interesting to see what Arsene says about this. I expect the bottom line from Arsene in the press will be "Gallas is a frustrated warrior" and he'll likely blame the press for provoking something from William in some way. Arsene always defends his players; through good and bad, then he manages them out of the club in some fashion. He likely will look at Gallas' ability to score important goals as a neutralizing force against defensive lapses in judgment and concentration. Such is the focus of Arsene in terms of team play, which may also be fueled by his apparent frustrations with having a solid defense which would be answered through either (or both) transfer window action and youth team promotion to the senior squad.
Arsenal are a very frustrated team and a very frustrating team to support. The inconsistency is maddening.
Einstein said "Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results."
Its not working Arsene; you need to try something else. He needs to manage Gallas out of the captaincy, out of the team, and soon. Otherwise, I fear a worsening season for Arsenal ahead, and perhaps worse than predicted outcomes in both domestic and European aspirations.
from about 1 month ago
Excellent response to Alex's original thread, the last paragraph is especially poignant. Arsenal are a team most people like, but when you have footballing renegades like Gallas throwing his toys out of the pram it's just not worth it.
from about 1 month ago
Oh how convenient for you to say stuff like these when the very "cowardice and immaturity" has won Arsenal matches and points. Oh how some can have such short selective memory. I think Gallas should just pick a line from Bobo Vieri's comment to journalist at Euro 2004. It's even more cowardice for insignificant critics to jump for joy when the player scores or saves a goal-bound shot only for the same people to turn around and say this a nd that about him for daring to point out the real problems affecting the team. Oh how pathetic.......
about 1 month ago
good article alex.
about 1 month ago
No one springs to mind immediately, Arsenal were definitely after Gareth Barry along with ourselves so maybe that is a route they could go down?
Would Barry be made Captain immediately? I don't think that's going to happen.
I can honestly see Arsene giving Van Persie, Toure or Fabregas the captaincy. Don't rule out a surprise choice like Almunia or even Silvestre!
about 1 month ago
There has been rumours that Gallas has had the captaincy stripped off him and is dropped for the game tomorrow but that is only rumours, nothing confirmed. Arsenal are short at the back, more so than usual so it'll be interesting what'll happen.
While Gallas does wear his heart on his sleeve Alex for us Arsenal fans it can often come across that he is acting like a prize prat. The end of the Birmingham match was him acting the muppet, the last thing the team needed : He walked to the half way line, kick a billboard, didn't watch as the penalty was taken and then sat down on the field and sulked - imagine a Vieira, a Keane, a Adams, a Maldini doing that, it would never happen.
He goes on and on about the winning mentality at Chelsea, sometimes I wish we could post him back. He has been good on and off for Arsenal, but on and off is not good enough. While some of what he said in that interview was correct it was totally incorrect in the manner he did it.
Oh, did you know he has just brought a book out in France - could this be the reason for his comments? eeeeeeeeeeemh I wonder...
from about 1 month ago
You cynic, Maire! Unbelievable thoughts!
Heard on Sky Sports that Gallas has been stripped of the captaincy and is not traveling to the match at Man City — has been replaced as captain by Almunia. I don't think Arsene Wenger had any choice, but I wonder if deep down the Arsenal manager wishes all his players had the sort of determination to win that Gallas clearly does?
I know he shows it in the wrong way, but surely part of that is the frustration that his teammates simply don't pull their weight like they should.
As for the Birmingham incident — would you have preferred it if he had displayed no emotion at all?
from about 1 month ago
Number one: Yipee Arsene has some balls with regards his team. This should serve as a warning to the others maybe Le Boss has finally taken off the velvet glove.
Number two: I wonder how often you see Gallas play for Arsenal Alex. He can be brilliant in the big games like against United and then be crap against lower teams. Sometimes I think we would be better than a scarecrow defending our goal it might scare away the big bad forwards.
Number three: Why the determination now? oh wait agh yes the book
Number four: If that was his version of emotion then yes I would rather he had shown none at all, that was an act of "poor me" syndrome.
See Alex, you may think he is great from an objective point of view but as an Arsenal fan this was really, really the last thing we needed but hopefully Wenger will starting meaning business, too many primadonnas in the Arsenal dressing room.
from about 1 month ago
Alex, one of the hallmarks of being a professional footballer is being, um, well professional. As a pro you are expected to have passion and emotion, but to channel it constructively.
Remember Eric Cantona? He sure did display a lot of passion and emotion one fine day when he also thought it wise to display his horrible karate kick abilities.
There is a time and place for emotion, and sitting sulking on a football pitch is not something a grown man who is a professional footballer does. People (well-developed ones) in roles of captaincy and responsibility just don't do it. Its not inspiring and its not what the team needs.
When I was growing up playing, our long time coach would always keep saying to us "don't get frustrated" because he knew that if you left your emotions get the better of you, you start to lose focus and you stop seeing the possibilities in the game and that is a sure fire way to ruin any confidence you have left.
Gallas as a captain, as a player, and dare I say as a person, is and always will be a juvenile.
from about 1 month ago
But if you never speak up when you believe there is a problem, then nothing ever gets solved.
I don't doubt that the release of his book and the timing of his comments are more than a coincidence — but I genuinely believe Gallas wants to win things. He is not upsetting the applecart just for the sake of it.
about 1 month ago
how do you feel the player he publicly attacked would feel after reading his comments? the captain should always sort things out behind closed doors. feels as if no one is listening to him and that he is tired of being blamed, so he is acting like a little girl trying to divert blame on others. i cannot imagine any good captains in the world who would do such things.
remove him from the team and let toure return in centre half with the captain's armband.
about 1 month ago
how do you feel the player he publicly attacked would feel after reading his comments? the captain should always sort things out behind closed doors. feels as if no one is listening to him and that he is tired of being blamed, so he is acting like a little girl trying to divert blame on others. i cannot imagine any good captains in the world who would do such things.
remove him from the team and let toure return in centre half with the captain's armband.
from about 1 month ago
Hopefully the player he has publically attacked might, upon some self-reflection, realise that he has not been helping the team's cause (if Gallas' comments are true). As a result, he might — if he displays the maturity of most 25-year-olds — actually start pulling in the same direction as everyone else.
Gallas obviously has previous as being a bit of a maverick — but in all honesty a captain is not there to just be a cheerleader on the pitch. At least, they didn't do that back in the day.
about 1 month ago
by Vernon
Gallas should never have been captain in the first place.the role was a new experience for him and I think the pressure got to him.I tip Toure to takeover but I won`t rule out Fabregas juss to make him stay at Arsenal a bit longer
about 1 month ago
I love Gallas, I think he is a really technically gifted defender and tactician. I would have thought it was Van Persie, who seems to be a victim of his own hype at times. Isn't it better to say something and be damned than to say nothing and be damned anyway?
about 1 month ago
He is not captain material no way, not ever !!
He is complaining a younger player is giving him a hard time which makes me laugh.
Why would a younger player do this ? The only reason I can think of is because of the fact he has no respect whatsoever for Gallas !!
Think of two good captains - the first two I think of would be Roy Keane and Patrick Vieira. Can you imagine for one single second a youger player saying anything even remotely disrespectful to either of these guys.......it just wouldn't happen would it ?
Gallas is no good for the job with these tantrums - but like someone else has said, who can replace him ?
This is a big headache for Wenger for sure.
from about 1 month ago
The first I think of Keane on this subject is his criticism of Ferdinand and other younger players when things were not going right for Utd. By your own arguments, we would have to forget the brilliance of Keane and his leadrship skills and rate him useless for the "tantrums" he also threw. Right?
from about 1 month ago
Roy Keane was selective with his comments about his guys and did it all with the full knowledge and agreement of Fergie.
Gallas sits on the pitch and refuses to play, he criticises his players but doesn't have the balls to name them.
There's the big difference for you !!
from about 1 month ago
Big difference indeed! The substance of what Keane did and Gallas' outbursts are the same, with or without the managers consent. I wonder what exactly about Keane's outbursts were selective! Yes he could have mentioned a specific name to make all know the real villain in the team but he also spoke about the team in general just as Keane did albeit, giving specific names. I really think it makes very shallow argument to mention just one act of protestation as reason enough to judge a player.
about 1 month ago
Gallas is out, apparently.. Gavin Hoyte is starting at right-back tomorrow.. with Djourou playing as centre back.
That leaves Alex Song to replace Fabregas in the centre, with Diaby being the other midfielder.. don't ask me where they'll play.. I'm sure you won't get that even by watching them play!
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