Premier League - Gallas loses captaincy
Eurosport - Sat, 22 Nov 10:34:00 2008
William Gallas has been stripped of the Arsenal captaincy and has not travelled with the squad for Saturday's match at Manchester City.
France Football report that France international Gallas, 31, has been dropped by Gunners manager Arsene Wenger after revealing comments the defender made about disharmony within the squad.
The respected news source also claims that either goalkeeper Manuel Almunia or full-back Gael Clichy will captain the side at the City of Manchester Stadium.
Gallas revealed in an interview earlier in the week several incidents where he has had arguments on the pitch and in the dressing room during matches, including at half-time during the 4-4 draw with local rivals Tottenham Hotspur in October.
"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," Gallas told AP.
"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," he said.
"I'm 31, the player is six years younger than me." The 25-year-olds in the Arsenal squad are Robin van Persie, Emmanuel Eboue, Bacary Sagna and Eduardo da Silva, who has been out injured since February.
Another incident occurred during the recent 4-4 draw at home to North London rivals Tottenham, in which Arsenal surrendered a two-goal lead in the dying minutes.
Those revelations from the centre-back - who arrived from Chelsea in 2006 as part of the deal that saw Ashley Cole move to west London - were then followed the release of a part of his autobiography detailing a row with a young member of the France squad during Les Bleus's failed Euro 2008 finals campaign.
Gallas wrote: "I was also 20 years old once. I would never have allowed myself to speak in this tone to a footballer who was older than me.
"The youngsters from the Euros seem cheeky, very sure of themselves. They think they know it all, but they don't know anything.
"Faced with his contempt, I raised my voice. The young player said: 'Lower your voice, speak less loudly'.
"I replied: 'How are you speaking to me? Who do you think you are? You are only 20 years old. I am not your friend.
"He said: 'Me neither, I am not your friend'."
Gallas was made club captain following the departure of Thierry Henry during the summer of 2007.
His captaincy was called into question the following February at St Andrews when - following striker Eduardo sustaining a horrific broken ankle and James McFadden's last-gasp penalty securing a 2-2 draw for Birmingham - Gallas slumped down in the centre circle at the final whistle and remained sat there, visibly upset.
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Comment 89 - 108 of 168
oh mine oh mine. I am an die hard Arsenal fan but I think Gallas deserves it. it serves him right since the appointment of Gallas as captain and his arrival, Arsenal has been conceding so funny goal and moreover the back four has not be functioning well like the day of Tony and Campbell. We need good and experienced center back not a worn-out chelsea reject. But I strongly go for Toure and Almunia they will be good captain and vice for Arsenal.
LONG LIVE ARSENE,
LONG LIVE ARSENAL.
THE BEST IS YET TO COME.
"IN ARSENE WE TRUST"
without gallas ...arsenal will find it difficult if not impossible to stay at top of premier league table !!!
I'm an Arsenal fan & I love whats just happened!!! Toure n Gael for Cap & Vice!!!!
he deserves it..
hopefully manuel almunia would do a better job as captain.
I find this kind of sad. I'm not an Arsenal fan, but I loved the way they played. Arsenal plays an attacking, a passing game that is exciting and entertaining. They are always dangerous, but this will likely tear the team apart. I suspect the Gunners are done for this season and might even finish out of the Top 4.
katy whould you mARRY ME ?
while Gallas has his fault, everything he said is probably right.
Think of foolowing two scenarios
1. A company with an incompetent boss, but everyone follows orders without dissent, albeit grudgingly
2. A company with an incompetent boss, nobody follows orders and everyone's out there to undermine the authority of their boss.
Common sense people, just a simple common sense.... which company do you think will be more successful?
If you follow scenario 1, then things will improve eventually - the incompetent boss will be ousted sooner or later, and people would've still accomplished something in mean while. In sceneario 2, you accomplish nothing at all, which is precisely what arsenal has been for some time now.
As I said, Gallas has his faults, but some of these kids at Arsenal really need to grow up. Most of us have experience of working with an incompetent boss at work place - but most of us have learned how to manage the situation without kicking up a fuss.
Grow up kids.
gallas = @#$%!
who cares they are all prima donnas
Kathy, Arsenal will go 4 your 2 cities.
no doubt itll be clichy.all his captains are french
Hey D R,
The French may not be much, but your comments are sure sending the message that you are not that much smarter either. I think commenting about the actual issues would be a smarter thing to do, as it would address the issues with Arsenal that you all care about, but what do I know. I am French.
What on earth's all the fuss about?
As far as I can see it, all that's happened is a captain that is getting frustrated that his team isn't performing at the level they should has said his team has to have more courage and resolve so that they don't have these bad results after being in a leading position, etc.
He then mentions how his fellow team mates complain to him (as he's the captain) about a team mate who's either causing problems or not playing as he should, etc. As the captain, it's his responsibility to make sure his team is performing. Yet despite telling this guy what the others are saying and trying to find the problem, whoever he is, doesn't show the kind if respect you should towards your captain/elder.
How can a captain hope to steer his ship, if he has a key member of the crew isn't doing what he should be doing, and affecting the morale and performance of others. Gallas is understandably frustrated to a degree that he has to talk about this in public.
The part about youngsters at the Euros being disrespectful is simply an observation and opinion that he's made. Compared with a decade or so ago, young players looked up to the experienced players for tips and guidance - now tho, these 'kids with talent' are clearly much more cocky and arrogant than back then. That's quite an easy thing to see if you've watched the game long enough.
Fact of the matter is, I'd love for my team's captain have the strength and sense of duty to say what he thinks is right about problems with the club, shows they want the team to do much better than they are doing.
If this thing happened anywhere else we'd never here about it, but cos it's the Premiership - it's time to bring out the gallows and have him hung, drawn and quartered....get a grip.
Its been so long since the gooners have won anything, their fans cant even spell TROPHY!!
Also Gallas is a sulky little @#$%, just what you would expect from an Arsenal captain, no spine
Doesn't matter who's right or wrong. If dropping Gallas will help Arsenal win games, so be it.
arsenal are doom now.....man.city 4 vs arsenal 2
that is right for wenger decision, but i don't think that is the solution for the team, for the first time gonners having such problem.for wenger, please for God sake arsenal need just three experience players, one striker, midfielder and defender am telling you the team will be the best and start wining trouphy's.NICE WE LIKE GOOD FOOTBALL BUT OLD EXPERIENCE PLAYERS IN NEEDED TO WIN TROUPHY
i am just laughing at wenger nd arsenal.this is bad news for them.the morale of theeam will be low now.this is ery upsetting never seen this before.gallas is also very dumb i complete block head.i actually dont give 2 just hope mancity can take advantage of this and beat arsenal.this can cause them der top 4 place.not sure the team can get together quickly.there is no spririt in arsenal see united ther is a lot of spirit.by the way i am a united fan.
simone
We know Arsen fancies Gallas and they've had a lovers tiff! Obv that Gallas is c**k s**ker as is Arsen....If you allow horses and frogs legs passed your lips the a bit of seminal fluid aint gunner bother you! The French are all the same! Le sulks going round like they got a terminal disease....Saying that being French cannot be easy!
Is this Arsenal and Wenger finally seeing Gallas for what he is, past it, childish and disruptive, who thinks he can laud it over the younger players in the dressing room by being demontrative. Let's hope so. The sooner Gallas leaves English football the better. Overpaid, over-rated and over here!
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