Billy! Your career is over, not your contract!

The much expected inevitable has happened. Arsene Wenger has bid for Wiliam Gallas and expects him in part exchange for Ashley Cole. This is one of those rare win-win situations. Now what good is Gallas to Chelsea and Ashley Cole to Arsenal. Reportedly Chelsea has offered 16.5 million pounds which is half a million above the break clause that may have never been there. Now that Arsene Wenger has bid for Gallas, Jose can return the favour by valuing Gallas at 20 million pounds or something. But I think he may not behave as badly as Arsene did. I would still love it if he does so.

Chelsea has been very proactive and has bought the Hamburg defender Khalid Boulahrouz who play anywhere at the back and has no problem with this. Man, he takes pride in saying that he plays anywhere. And may be, he won’t cry like a baby after winning two league titles, a champions league trophy, FA Cup and big fat paycheck. With Wayne Bridge coming so good in the last match against Man City, looks like Chelsea are really sitting pretty. Now even if Ashley Cole deal breaks down, Gallas might play which is good or warm the bench while Bridge, Boulahrouz, Carvalho, Ferreira, Geremi & Huth fight for the three places other than the one cemented by captain John. That’s a nice problem.

In case of the deal not coming through, I would prefer Billy Gallas to spend he rest of his contract in the reserves and this way he would more than enjoy his new challenge he was always craving for. Let him be a Chelsea player and let him be in reserves, play no football, get all the money. I get really pissed off with these players who hold the clubs at ransom after being paid 80k pounds a week and winning the titles and getting fat bonuses. I believe in just honouring the contract or if the player does not want to honour it, he should be taught a lesson or two in discipline. The moment I learnt that Gallas has not turned up for the training and pre-season tour in USA, I was thinking that Gallas career should be over in Chelsea but not the contract. He hurt quite a few egos there and surely he rubbed Jose on the wrong side. If he stays, he will have to get an overdose of his own medicine.

It is public knowledge that Gallas wants to play in centre instead of left where Jose always plays him. Had he waited little longer, Boulahrouz and Ashley Cole would have arrived and with Bridge returning from loan, there are enough left backs other than Gallas. He could have then partnered with Terry and it could be bye-bye Carvalho.

When players sign a four year or five year contract, they never think about the expectations of a new challenge that might come up later in two or three years. And when someone comes knocking the door, greed, more than anything steps in. This is what I feel about all the players who want to leave their club before their contract and whose approach is fundamentally wrong. Same is the problem for Reyes. He has a contract with Arsenal and he is a regular first team player and he has joining Real Madrid is always his dream and he begs to leave, shoot him. Yes, Sheva left his club, and he had a reason which was not very convincing. At least he left with dignity and there was no disrespect. But, Damien Duff and Eidur Gudjohnsen left in a very cultured manner. Tiago left the club even while Jose was very particular in having him.

Gallas’ behaviour is very unfortunate because, he has been such a wonderful player for the club and his contribution has been immense. At the same time, the absence of Gallas will not rock the boat. I wish he never wins the Champions League, wherever he goes. If I were Jose Mourinho, I would buy Ashley Cole at my price or forget about that. And Billy Gallas I would say, be a good boy or rot in the reserves, may be no champions league club would want him by next season.