Arsenal News 24/7Writer: Rocky7 
Date:Friday August 10 2007
Time: 12:19PM
UK time is: 03:12:23
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Arsenal - Gallas Gifted Armband
So, we have a new captain, not everyone's personal choice, but few could argue that Billy G isn't a winner.
Arsene Wenger named William Gallas as captain yesterday, and it's not a move that surprised me very much after seeing Billy don the captains armband for every pre-season game he played in.
Gallas was gifted the honour despite quiet man, Gilberto, playing the role of skipper (and very well may I add) for the large part of last season.
Since the retirement of Tony Adams, Monsieur Wenger seem to have developed a nasty habit of choosing captains who go on to leave after spending a couple of seasons of flirting with, shall we say, more glamorous clubs.
While I'm not doubting Gallas' leadership credentials, I just hope that Wenger's choice was based on that very thing rather than pandering to another media whore's massive ego.
Good luck in the role Billy.
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Goofle
WTF are you talking about Goofle? What has this got to do with Gallas?
Rocky7
3 french captains in a row. but as you say he is a winner and maybe our team needs some of that mentality.
ArsenalRob
id rather see bertie lift our trophies but i have a feeling gallas is the best choice to get them
ArsenalRob
Yes, he's a controversial choice to say the least. But I hope the Gunners fans can ignore the moronic calls from the members of such site like Arseblog who are calling for him to be boo'ed. Whether we like it or not, we need to get behind the team if we want to win things. Negativety will get us nowhere.
Rocky7
I agree with Arsenalrob up there. It seems to me a strange decision by AW, tho not one i'm unhappy with. Gilberto was a good captain, in a quiet, get on with things way! But you know that Billy isn't adverse to running upto someone and letting rip if they're not producing the goods. I was extremely shocked when I heard this. But now I've had time to let it sink in it seems to me the best decision (as long as it doesn't affect Bert's or Kolo's attitude by being passed over by AW!)
scooch
goofle go out in the sun... you are spending too much time in front of the PC
G4L
That makes sense scootch, I think you are right, I do think he genuinely cares for the club, you could see that after the Whammers v Gooners last year, I do cringe when i read some of the things he has said in the media, but having a greater responsibility may channel some of the frustrations that may happen in a more constructive way. Gilberto/Toure would have been a more natural choice due to their service, but as scootch says Gallas is more capable of grabbing the team by the boll0x and giving them the shaking they need at times.
TR7
agreed rocky!! I love Arseblog but his constant bickering and slagging of Gallas is based on articles from the Sun. As LD pointed out on few occasions, and on the Arseblog commen ts as well, if people bothered to actually READ the exact words they would see that he is just stating the plain effin obvious - something that we've all been bangin' on the whole of last season. And the comments about him slating the medical staff at AFC is another fabricated lie. Gallas is a winner and he looks mean and determined to lead the troops this season. I am sure Bert and Kolo acknowledge that as well
G4L
Bring it on... I want to see Gallas sneering at Drogba and hopefully instead of hugging Theo Walcott, he'll give him a slap on the shoulder and say "make sure you kick John Terry in the nuts as you fly past the facker!"
Andy-bayor
ha ha ha, gallas as captain. this has got to be the biggest joke to come out of arsenal. how does it go ? "how can we stop gallas mouthing off all the time?", "i know, let's make him captain". wouldn't it be better to have a captain that players and fans have some respect for ?
TT
How about a captain who's good at being a captain? This ain't a popularity contest, it's the captaincy. I'm behind the decision.
Little Dutch
TT, poor attempt of a wind-up.
G4L
TT how will it stop Gallas mouthing off? We will now hear even more from him as he will have to write for the programme every other week. The Guy is a winner, If we are 1-0 down away oop north in the winter I want a Gallas type driving us on. whilst Gilberto was a great captain last year we still lost a lot of tough away games and lacked a bit of driving force.
iceman10
Gallas doesn't care about your club. It's a fact. He only bothers about himself.Mark my words.
k_chelski
iceman, I agree. Plus, a stroke of genius, the guy literally has his own weekly column :-) Gallas cares about winning, I care about Arsenal winning.
Little Dutch
But it's a double ended dildo Kevin. Even if you are right that Gallas only cares about himself, that means he has to drive the team on to achieve his goals.......that in turn will bring sucess. Either way he should make a great captain.
Rocky7
We shall see kev. You chavs have been banging on about that for a while, and though I would rather have Gilberto as captain, I think Gallas will make a good captain for this young side. We will need someone to pick the kids up by the scruff of their neck and lift their performance, Time will tell if Billy will do that well, but I understadn the decision and behind it.
prits
That's true rocky. But I certainly wouldn't want a captain that was a legend in a rival club. I wouldn't want Ashley Cole to be our captain.And not only did wenger not promote Gilberto, he actually DEMOTED him. Now he is co-vice captain.
k_chelski
but somewhere i read saying gilberto is the captain is this confirmed?
karley
kevin, that's bolloxes. Let me explain this one for you: imagine you are a major working for an old colonel called Henry. He retires or is transferred to another unit, while a new colonel William is in to take his place. In the mean time, there is another young major brought in your unit and he is also under the command of col. William. You are still a major, not a lieutenant. So, he did not DEMOTE GIlberto, just promoted Kolo to the position of vice-captain. Hope that one's clear enough for you.
G4L
Gilberto hasnt been demoted as he was vice captain last year and is vice captain this year. Will he still be brazilian captain when the absentees from the copa America return or will he be truly demoted? Also Kev how do you feel about your vice captain trying to fleece every last penny from the stamford bridge coffers? Now there truly is a man who cares a lot for himself, if he loves the club so much why not just sign a deal that would make him one of the richest players in world football?
iceman10
imo, the comments gallas made about our transfer policy and the subsequent u-turn make him all the more qualified. He's not one to blindly toe the party line, his change of attitude is genuine and shows his belief in the squad came after critical appraisal. His criticism makes him more "real" - all of us were craving some big name signings after TH left, let's be honest. He's no different to us.
afri-gooner
For every time we hear someone say "Wenger knows"...I thought it was more than a mere catch phrase. Obviously AW sees something in Gallas as Captain material and based his decision on that. He also has given Mad Jens some leadership authority "off the pitch", so it's obvious he wants the last remaining senior players to lead the new young squad. I agree with LD that it's not a popularity contest, it's the manager's choice of whom he thinks is best to lead his young team by voice AND example on the pitch. The CB role is perfect for this as AW stated. Bert showed good leadership by his quiet command, but he is just that: quiet. I like the choice, and for God's sake, let's just see what he does with the honour before we lynch him. Remember, captains can only be demoted, so Willy has everything to lose if he's not up to snuff.
SUX2BU
Hmm, ok G4L, I have let's have a different look in your story. Imagine there is a legendary president in your company. But now, because of his huge greed, he goes to a rival company. Now the current vice-president, who was always loyal to the club, and never complained , and makes a very good president.Meanwhile, another guy was brought in from a rival company, he was brought in controversial circumstances, and he constantly complains about the company and about himself.So for being a whiner and only cares about himself and not the company. So he is made president, the vice-president doesn't get the promotion.Instead, the chairman adds yet another vice-president.So instead of being the immediate replacement when the president is absent, he'll have to discuss it with the other vice-president.
k_chelski
Iceman, I believe Gilberto will stay as captain, since he believed in us during a rought ime, where all odds were against us and the team was heavily criticised. About the Lampard stuff, he loves the club, and the fans.But, a footballers career is very short, what is he going to do after he finishes with football? Stay in the media for about a hour or two, then go in obscurity, like most footballers go. He wants a huge contract with chelsea, it will be his last contract, so he wants everything sorted.And I think chelsea doesn't want a contract so big and with a high wage.
k_chelski
Hoping for a big season from the big man, as I've got him in my Sun Dreamteam
DeanoVilla
i only hope it doesen't affect the spirit in the dressing room, because Gilberto and Toure definetly deserved it more than Billy. and if Arsene is saying making a centre back the skipper is the best thing, why did he appoint Henry two years ago then? this should not damage the team spirit and divides the dressing room..
luckys_10
kevin, still what you described is not DEMOTION. It is keeping the same status. Demotion is when you're stripped off of your rank. That's not the case with Gilberto.
G4L
G4L, he was Vice captain,now he's Co-Vice captain. It's like being a Co-King, not the same as king. But you guys won't admit it.
k_chelski
Maybe Boss's worst decition this summer
afghenry
That decison to give him the armband was simply to keep him at the club, it should have been gilberto.
rk1888
Rocky, I was showing by excitement with a YES YES YES!!! \the same one that he does on fanzone...
Goofle
And to all you lot who say I spend too much time on the PC, I have a Laptop and regularly take it to my mates house when we play Fifa and stuff. I look like a nerd but i am sometimes at my mates house when Im on it. Ill even be on it when Im at my Nans this weekend on a wireless landline (from her nextdoor neighbour hahahaha!) and watching the game on sopcast!"!!
Goofle
well done young man!
G4L
Well, my mates are Bolton fans so they dont get the rivalry between us and Spuds so when I take the ***** out of them on thier site they just tell me to go on the United site and call them...
Goofle
I´m sure he´ll be a splendid skipper untill he decides to abandon ship, and start scoring OGs. feckin muppet he is.
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