"The team captain has a unique position in English football," writes Dan Bryant. And few things in soccer irk an English fan more than "a perceived lack of effort from a player; a captain represents something the rest of the team can look up to, a shining example, leading his team to glory."

Arsenal's French captain William Gallas, however, doesn't quite conform to this image. "He may wear his heart on his sleeve," says Bryant, "but only when he wants to. If anything, he's the antithesis of a captain -- self-centered, unpredictable and not exactly leading from the front either. Perhaps imploding from within would be a more valid description."

Gallas has criticized teammates, staged numerous temper tantrums and "become more and more volatile," and with Arsenal having lost four of its first 12 league, "this team is without a leader when they need it most." As part of his latest rant to the press, Gallas claimed "one of the most experienced members of the squad was being 'a disruptive influence on and off the pitch'. Was he referring to himself?"

 

 

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