If William Gallas had something special lined up for his other half this evening, following Andre Villas-Boas’ comments yesterday, he might want to try taking the gaffer out for a slap-up Valentines meal instead.
Because after AVB’s pre-Europa League press conference, it appears that our manager’s unflappable demeanor extends to heartbreaking, too. Short of telling Gallas “It’s not you, it’s me,” yesterday, he couldn’t really have been much clearer as to where the Frenchman’s fate may lie during the summer.
“We won‘t start another season with five [central defenders],” Villas-Boas told reporters.
“We have five top central defenders at the moment, a mixture of young players coming through with lots of experience, and then you have such tremendous central defenders as William [Gallas], Dawson and Younès Kaboul.
“William has been a massive player for us this season … he’s a player we trust a lot. Whatever we decide regarding his future, we’ll have to wait and see, but we are aware of what a presence he’s been for us this season.”
So there it is. “Ruthless AVB set to part with ageing centre-half who’s heading for the knackers yard,” is hardly much in the way of a headline, although judging by the reaction of some today, it might aswell be. Which is strange, considering Gallas was viewed as something approaching the anti-Christ by many earlier on this season.
Let’s face facts here – Gallas didn’t perform nearly half as bad as what was publicized earlier on this season and for a 35-year-old bloke, he’s done a pretty admirable job of managing to rack up 18 games already this season. Should Champions League football be attained at the end of the term, then Gallas will have played his part in getting us there.
Although while he might have resembled something of a scapegoat when the side were hemorrhaging goals for fun earlier on this season, there isn’t smoke without fire, as the saying goes. And at times this year, he’s had about as much mobility as a senile Alsatian.
He’s hinted that he’d like to stay and on around £60,000-a-week, I’m sure he’d love to, but with Michael Dawson managing to change Villas-Boas’ opinion of him and the trio of Jan Vertonghen, Steven Caulker and Younes Kaboul within the ranks, five into four simply doesn’t go.
When he joined Spurs, he came at a time when the side needed a wily old head and a bit of seasoned experience as the club look to fight on in both the Premier League and its debut Champions League campaign. Two-and-a-half years on, and it’s mission complete for Gallas.
He could well serve to be a valuable asset to another Premier League club and he’s certainly fit enough to play on for another season of top-flight football. Whether he’s good enough to do so however, is another story.
Cheers for the Champions League nights Willy, the lack of fuss and that superb tackle against Samir Nasri during the 3-2 win at the Arse back in 2010. It’s been a blast.
COYS
