On the 23rd of August, Harry Redknapp confirmed the signing of William Gallas. ‘Former Arsenal player William Gallas’, as he was rechristened in the press, was signed as a centre-back with vital Champions League experience to boost Harry’s Euro dream, but there can be few who could have predicted the impact he would have had on the early part of Tottenham’s season.
Gallas has started Spurs’ last eight matches in all competitions, which is quite an achievement for a player who’s fitness was in question prior to his signing and declared that he was ‘burnt out’ only a month ago.
The rise to first team prominence of Gallas has been as much about necessity as choice. Signed to a one year deal, Gallas would be a short-term solution to Jonathon Woodgate’s injury woes and could provide cover when Ledley King was unfit to play. But Tottenham’s defensive injury crisis is very well documented and with Ledley King, Michael Dawson and Jonathon Woodgate all out for the upcoming games, Gallas is set to feature for the foreseeable future.
The stats would tell you that Gallas’ run in the team hasn’t been a particular success. Prior to Saturday’s victory against Blackburn, Spurs didn’t have a league win in four and got into a habit of conceding silly goals. But while prone to the odd mistake, Spurs fans need to ask themselves where they would be in the league without Gallas.
Sebastian Bassong has had more than one wobbly performance this season and has fallen out of favour with Harry Redknapp, so to have a player of Gallas’ stature, ability and experience, albeit short of full-fitness, to step in has proved to be invaluable. Despite the chopping and changing that has occurred within the Tottenham defence this season Younes Kaboul and Gallas have played together in the last six games, and the spotlight will be on them more than ever at the weekend when Spurs go to Arsenal. The partnership needs time to develop and with Dawson out until Christmas time it may well have time to improve, but as ever Spurs will be judged on how they perform at The Emirates and Kaboul and Gallas will need to be on top form if Spurs are going to get anything from the game.
Tottenham’s win against Inter Milan will rightly go down in the history books as a momentous occasion. Gareth Bale was brilliant that day, but no one should forget the performance of the back four from that Wednesday evening which was led by Gallas.
The fitter Gallas gets the better he will become, and even though he has had some worrying moments in games he has done a crucial job for Spurs this year and so should be exempt from too much criticism. However I don’t see Gallas having much long-term value for Spurs past this season. He’s come in and done a shift, but I think that next year Spurs will get far more value by replacing Gallas and having a shake-up of their defence by bringing through youngsters such as Steven Caulker, the gifted centre-half currently on loan at Bristol City.
