Cesc is captain…now what?
Posted by Arsenalist on November 24th, 2008
So we got Cesc as our captain now. This was an inevitable move which came a year too late. Don’t know what AW was thinking when he gave Gallas the armband but I’m glad he’s recanted his sin. To be fair to Gallas he was leading the team well enough during the first part of last season, the Birmingham game was his undoing. Crying about and pointing fingers at his mates isn’t what a captain does. That was some sad stuff to watch and I think those of us that were starting to warm up to him changed our opinion of him after that game. It’s going to be tough for him to take orders from a young Cesc knowing that he once he had the role and royally fucked it up. I don’t think the two can co-exist unless Gallas becomes the ultimate team-player and puts his emotion and ego aside. I don’t think its going to happen and his days in an Arsenal uni have to be numbered.
Arseblogger has a whole thing on what Cesc brings as a captain and he’s right but that doesn’t change the product on the pitch. Our midfield isn’t going to get a boost by Cesc wearing an armband, the only thing it’ll do is boost the morale of the team and give them a change of direction which can do wonders for a team that has the talent but can’t find the motivation. I don’t think motivation’s an issue with Arsenal though, it’s the lack of experience in midfield and quality in the back four. If anyone’s expecting this switch to have an impact in the type of results we’re getting they’re mistaken. This is definitely a new direction of Arsenal FC but one that’ll take some time to give back dividends. Cesc has to learn to be a leader, a captain and a person who everybody looks at for direction. He’s got to mature and stop being petulant, lead by example and keep his head high even when the team’s down 1-0 to Stoke. He’s got a long ways to go before he becomes a captain in nature and not just in name. Cesc says:
“It is a great honour for me to captain one of the biggest clubs in the world. It is a proud moment. I know it’s a big responsibility but together with my team-mates, I know we have the spirit and commitment to get back to winning ways and fulfil our potential.”
Can’t help but think a large part of this move has to do with Arsenal baiting Fabregas to stay in England after this year.
As for Gallas, I think we should sell him in the transfer window for whatever we can get. Good luck to Cesc. Kiev should be a test. Champions League is the way to go…
November 24th, 2008 at 6:20 pm
Arsene completely watered down the message by publicly backing Gallas and saying that he will start him against Kiev. What a mixed message!
November 24th, 2008 at 6:24 pm
You think so? I think he’s go to start Gallas simply because he remains one of our better defenders. Shows you how thin we are at the back. I think at this point AW is also thinking to up Gallas’ value because I really don’t see him staying with us past the January transfer window.
November 24th, 2008 at 10:53 pm
In my opinion, this change of captain is to represent a new mindset, a new day where in this particular case with arsenal, the player actually commands the respect of his peers. A captain is supposed to inspire his teammates, even if they are 2-0 down because of rory delop’s throws. He’ll find a way to will his team to win because he bleeds for the club. At the very least, he will tell his troops to keep fighting even just to maintain the respect of the club.
Gallas did none of this and he absolutely failed in this role. I don’t buy any of this nonense that the beginning was great, because any of the eleven players could have been captain and I would argue the results up to Birmingham would have been the same.
Gallas should not be on the team because he was everything our current captain isn’t and because of this, he will not respect Cesc. I am positive Gallas will not knell down to Cesc. I am sure he would be thinking, “Why would me, a proud 31 french international, suddenly start listening to instruction to a 21 year old who took the captaincy from me?’ Therefore he would fail to show his captain the respect he deserves.
Gallas will forever be blamed for sitting on the half-line crying when the penalty was taken at St. Andrews. He did not inspire his teammates there, he let them down. As the results got worse, so did his handling of the captaincy. He publicly said some very questionable things; information that should be kept in-house.
Finally, he does not share the same bloodlines as Cesc. Cesc is grateful that Wenger gave him his opportunity to be a star, and learnt from the likes of Viera, Henry, and Gilberto. Gallas, on the other hand. will and always will bleed Chelsea blue. I am convinced of this. He constantly compares our team to his chelsea one.
I do not care if he is the best defender at the team, he is such a poor fit with the current team its unbelivable. I assume the youngsters would not respect him anymore (if they ever did) and he has only contributed to a negative atmosphere. The only way we can get rid of this atmosphere is to get rid of the cancer.
Wenger backs him and tells the press he has a future at the club. What nonesense! How do you signify a time of change for the better (Cesc as captain) and then re-instate gallas for the next game? Where is the punishment for letting the entire team down? How does this signify it is now Cesc’s team? Frankly, it doesn’t and i can honestly say i am willing to wait (i know it has been so long already) if it means we can finally see some progress. We need to buy this January, if only for Cesc’s confidence.
Lastly, the ‘increasing value’ argument holds no water. Any team wanting to purchase him know they are at an advantage regardless of the form gallas is in. We do not need to make a profit on every transfer and this is one sunk cost I am willing to take for the reasons above.
November 25th, 2008 at 10:28 am
Dino, good points all around but I think you’re taking his inclusion in the CL squad as an endorsement by Wenger which it is not. Considering the shape of the back four you have to look past Gallas’ attitude and leadership problems and go with him just for football sakes.
In fairness to Gallas he has scored some very clutch late goals for us against big clubs and the CL. I like to give credit where its due. Could anybody have handled the captaincy last year? Maybe, its a moot point to discuss.
As for him respecting Cesc, I think his ego is too big to allow him to do that and thats why I think his days are numbered.