Premier League - Cole v Gallas: Who won?

Eurosport - Fri, 27 Nov 10:06:00 2009

As Arsenal prepare to host Chelsea on Sunday, Eurosport-Yahoo! considers who has done best out of the controversial swap deal involving Ashley Cole and William Gallas.

2009-10 Premier League Chelsea Ashley Cole - 0

It may seem strange now, but Cole used to play for Arsenal while Gallas turned out each week for Chelsea. Both defenders were popular with the fans and helped bring success to their clubs.

Yet their respective relationships soured due to perceived mistreatment by club bosses, resulting in two of the most acrimonious departures seen in this country for many years.

In 2006, with the transfer deadline already passed, it came to light that Cole had moved to West London for only £5 million in cash - with Gallas headed in the other direction.

So which of them has gone on to stick it best to their former taskmasters in the colours of their top-four rivals?

Ashley Cole

'Cashley', as he was christened by irate Arsenal fans waving fake £20 notes, famously wrote in his autobiography that he almost swerved off the road when informed that the Gunners would not up their offer of £55,000 a week to £60,000, such was his anger.

The fact that he was still at the club when the book was published did not help his case. The memory of two league titles, three FA Cup triumphs and a Champions League final appearance receded quickly in the minds of Highbury regulars.

Since arriving at Chelsea, Cole has failed to win another Premier League crown, having joined just after the second of Jose Mourinho's triumphs. However, two FA Cups and a League Cup have softened the blow somewhat.

Then came that Champions League final in Moscow, where Blues captain John Terry's penalty slip again denied Cole his first European crown.

Things have not always been so rosy away from the pitch: Avram Grant left him out altogether for the 2008 Carling Cup final loss to Tottenham. The media had a field day.

And Cole found himself the target of England fans after seeming to disrespect referee Mike Riley, turning his back when the official had the temerity to book him for a horrific challenge on Spurs' Alan Hutton. Cole's behaviour was held up by the media as proof of plummeting levels of integrity within the game.

Cole, who is well-liked at Stamford Bridge, also underwent the ignominy of a kiss-and-tell tabloid expose which threatened to end his marriage to Girls Aloud singer and X-Factor judge Cheryl. He was also arrested early this year for swearing at a policeman.

However, the dressing-down he may or may not have been given by Cheryl has worked wonders: he is now concentrating on his game and putting in top performances both for Chelsea and England.

Ratings since move:

Titles won (not including Community Shield): 3

Avoidance of controversy: 1/10

Relationship with team-mates/manager: 8/10

Relationship with fans: 10/10

Standard of performance: 9/10

International career: 9/10

William Gallas

Soon after Gallas was shipped out, much to Mourinho's chagrin, Chelsea issued a statement declaring that the Frenchman had threatened to score own-goals if he were not granted permission to leave the Bridge.

The trouble stemmed from Gallas's failure to turn up for a pre-season tour of the United States. Gallas cited fatigue following France's run to the World Cup final, but it did not him getting abuse from many Chelsea supporters.

After winning those two league titles under Mourinho - as well as a League Cup - Gallas has won nothing under Arsene Wenger at Arsenal, while also courting his share of controversy.

A year after joining the North London club, Wenger made him skipper, a decision criticised by many. Gilberto Silva was expected to get the job and Gallas faced calls to be stripped of the captaincy after a sit-down protest at Birmingham.

Arsenal striker Eduardo Da Silva's leg had been broken in the third minute by City's Martin Taylor and, when a spot-kick was awarded to the Blues in the last minute with Arsenal 2-1 up, Gallas retreated to the home side's half in protest while it was scored by James McFadden.

While the other players heading down the tunnel after the final whistle, Gallas sat down on the turf until Wenger returned to console him.

Last season he was also dropped from the squad and replaced as captain by Cesc Fabregas after he criticised the courage of younger players within the club, prompting many to predict that he would be sold before long.

However, this season he has found much better form alongside new arrival Thomas Vermaelen. The pair were free-scoring in the opening games and Arsenal are now challenging Chelsea and Manchester United at the top of the table.

Gallas scored the controversial goal, set up with the help of Thierry Henry's hand, that saw a stuttering France pip Ireland to a World Cup place last week - and he is a regular under Raymond Domenech for Les Bleus.

Ratings since move:

Titles won: 0

Avoidance of controversy: 2/10

Relationship with team-mates/manager: 5/10

Relationship with fans: 8/10

Standard of performance: 8/10

International career: 8/10

TOTALS:

Cole: 37/50 plus three pots

Gallas: 31/50 without any silverware

Jonathan Symcox / Eurosport

Comment 78 - 97 of 97

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  1. Wenger has come out and said his team are no longer­ kids and shouldn't be treated like it!

    UH-OH­ Arsenal 'fans', what excuse are you going to­ use now, I suppose it will have to be your paper thin­ squad.

    From Joe B, on Sun 29 Nov 10:44AM

  2. chelsea!!! chelsea 3-0 arsenal­
    chelsea!!!! chelsea 3-0 arsenal­
    chelsea!!!!! chelsea 3-0 arsenal

    From Amin, on Sun 29 Nov 6:26AM

  3. Where were you when you were @#$%?
    Where were you,
    when­ you were @#$%?

    From Donnchadh, on Sat 28 Nov 9:10PM

  4. Viva John Terry
    Viva John Terry
    Could've won the­ cup
    but he f*cked it up
    Viva John Terry

    From Donnchadh, on Sat 28 Nov 9:09PM

  5. hu cares both are sh%t compared 2 da likes of vidic­ brown evra o shea ferdinand rafael fabio jonny evans

    From Donnchadh, on Sat 28 Nov 9:08PM

  6. hu cares both are sh%t compared 2 da likes of vidic­ brown evra o shea ferdinand rafael fabio jonny evans

    From Donnchadh, on Sat 28 Nov 9:08PM

  7. chelsea reject have you ever seen gallas win the­ league? have you f**k

    From headhunters, on Sat 28 Nov 9:04PM

  8. Arcenal for a team so confident that use would win this­ season i dont see it anymore all use are doing is­ making ureself look like idiots, I mean saying if­ blablabla are playing well we will win is bull, your­ balls. CHELSEA are easily the best this season use are­ playing well to but now ure in the top flight your all­ arcewholes all respect for gunners is gone ure as bad­ as man u allways making excuses before u play the game,­ why not wait till use win or lose then there are no­ excuses cause the best team CHELSEA will win

    chelsea­ for life!!!

    From johnathonyau, on Sat 28 Nov 1:23PM

  9. At least our medical seem up to scratch, unlike­ Arsenals!

    Van Persie out for 5 monnths after medical­ team miss damage on scan and allow him to have deep­ massage sessions on top of 'extensive­ damage'.

    Gutted for him, truly.

    Looks good for us­ though!

    COME ON YOU BLUES.

    From Joe B, on Sat 28 Nov 10:14AM

  10. dfdgsththrywrkgvr4gtuh8gy4g8w3bvfgf5tbuig6i6bw3ut5e4ytg­ jydrdfgfjhhdfdnndfdrgbrfmmhsaysufdjkfhdsghgsefvefghhhhd­ hfuetr78ol7ru,ydf,jfgjhsr uweisdfj yuskerkw uter­ yuerufv behjhjgrulgtluertril lt­ ryieruieeriruliuyuirurityyt­ tr7itrrieurtuiruirtyklryuykty;;ggfgghfghghdgjkjhgxdfdfd­ fjkljdjdgjkrjkjktjkjhjklsdfdfbgmb ­ ­ dfjkjhukfjfgfkgkfh

    gfhffhghghghghghghghghghghgh­ ghghghghghghghghghghghghghghghghghghghghghghghghghghghg­ hghghghghghghghghghghghghghghghghghghghghghghghghghghgh­ ghghghghghghghghghghghghghghghghghghghghghghghfffffffff­ ffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffff ­

    ­ gghgfdfhgh gh

    From barkat, on Sat 28 Nov 9:59AM
  11. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Ashley Cole 1 William Gallas 2

    From barkat, on Sat 28 Nov 9:56AM

  12. Paul, I agree going unbeaten in the league was one hell­ of an achievement. Although you would have still­ finished second to our record breaking points tally­ under Jose.

    Also if you are going to harp on about­ youth coming through maybe you should:

    1, check out­ our current crop coming through.
    2, realise that­ Arsenes policy is to trawl Africa and Europe for young­ kids, take loads on only to cast them off and scoop the­ cream. Yours so called kids are not from your academy­ or youth system more often than not.

    Had enough of­ this annoying little tyke now, cut him loose.

    Paul,­ you are a joke. You will see on Sunday, I wonder will­ you dare show your mug after the beating lol!

    From Joe B, on Sat 28 Nov 9:54AM

  13. I look forward to seeing a match played by either one­ of them where they have no played dirty. The first on­ to do it will be the winner.

    From Amarjeet S, on Sat 28 Nov 4:07AM

  14. ha ha ha ha ha ha ha paul....you sound a little bitter,­ no youth at chelsea, good lot your youth has done for­ your team, no trophies no chance in winning anything.

    From martin, on Sat 28 Nov 12:07AM

  15. oh if you think you have anybody to compare to henry­ and paddy v you are a fantasist and a­ t.........w..a............t

    walking along singing our­ song were walking in a wenger wonder land . ARSENE­ WENGER

    From Paul, on Fri 27 Nov 10:49PM

  16. lets see your team go unbeaten in the league and then­ you can compare your collective poo against the best­ side english football has seen . there is no youth at­ chelsea worth a place in there side any chelsea­ supporter worth a @#$% we tell u this . best team in­ europe u need to get ur head out ur bum i know arsenal­ have never been the best in europe no champions league­ proves this where is ur champions league. you are whats­ bad about chelsea overblown glory supporter who can­ make so many silly overblown statements . chelsea­ better than barca ave a laugh you should stop reading­ your beano comic and concentrate on football if you­ want to give the biggun. go to bed little boy.

    From Paul, on Fri 27 Nov 10:43PM

  17. heres to the best left back in world football,­ cole!

    zhirkov is probably the 2nd best left back in­ the league followed by evra then you need to slip down­ to average players for next place.

    to cole! the man­ who done the right thing and left to go to a winning­ club and won some trophies for doing so rather than­ have to babysit n give litlle gay cuddles to his team­ mates all the time that the gayest of men henry taught­ them all to do.

    super ashley cole. best left back in­ world!

    From Team Terry, on Fri 27 Nov 8:18PM

  18. paul you dont half talk rubbish. we have young players­ ready to step in for every position on the park, plus­ we can replace older players. players dont go from­ being the best to not being able to play over 1 summer.­ the team we have just now is much better than arsenals­ 5 years ago because we have a large brilliant squad of­ players. we have a 2nd team that could win the league.­ I find it funny how you lot of idiots seem to think­ chelsea will crumble all of a sudden but no other club­ would even though we are the only top club that has an­ owner who not only loves the club but loves football.­ what about all the spent force talk last season and how­ abramovich was going and we aould be left with nothing?­ what happened with that? oh thats right, we sorted out­ our management and went on to be the best team in­ europe this season without actually going out and­ spending hundreds of millions.

    you are a typical­ arsenal fan of late, I thought more of you lot than I­ did liverpool or man u fans but you just prove that you­ were just so quiet because your team were getting­ nowhere and now you's are 3rd in the league you­ think you can come out and run your mouth. why dont you­ delete your wee yahoo account and do us all a favour­ you arrogant @#$%. you'd suit being a liverpool fan

    From Team Terry, on Fri 27 Nov 8:11PM

  19. as for your silly inconsistent inaffective comment you­ are talking from your (probarly slack) bum whole

    From Paul, on Fri 27 Nov 7:48PM

  20. joe b . u r a silly little boy if u think arsenal­ are fading have a look at the two squads we have had­ our 5 year dip because of average old players this i­ can admit can u admit that chelsea squad is equal to­ arsenal squad of 5 years ago all your so called top­ players have maybe 1 or 2 seasons left at the top level­ and then its your 5 year dip or maybe 40 years like the­ one you had before big boy roman took charge .its quite­ sad hearing chelsea going on about what a big club you­ are, just like city , blackburn ,liverpoo and leeds, ­ there has been only two consistent premiership teams­ over the last 15 years chelsea are not one of them,­ money dosent make you great, when uefa reinstate your­ tranfer ban u will be up the thames without a paddle­ you have no homegrown quality thats good enough to come­ into your squad .when roman was buying all the big­ names for silly money proper football clubs were­ investing in young world class players who have made a­ great squad. two leauge titles dont make your club a ­ great club maybe 12 will lets not bother starting about­ other cups you dont know football you know chelsea and­ like half of the supporters of your club you probarly­ didnt know where stamford bride was untill the russian­ flag was flying. paul

    From Paul, on Fri 27 Nov 7:45PM
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