It was always going to take a monumental effort to knock Ange Postecoglou’s appointment as Socceroos boss out of the headlines.
And the biggest announcement in West Australian football could’ve come at a better time than one hour before Holger Osieck’s successor took the mic.
But a man who has made his career out of writing headlines – oft for the wrong reasons – tried his darndest.
William Gallas is headed for Australian shores in a salvation job well worth the painstaking negotiations Perth Glory would have had to undertake to lock in the former France international.
Many on the East Coast, in fact the rest of Australia, semi-grumbled at the news of Glory’s capture. “He’s like an older Balotelli”. “He turns like a snail”. What say you?!
For all the naysayers’ excuses for Perth not to sign Gallas – his injury record, off-field discrepancies etc. – there are many more to validate the achievements of Tony Sage and Jason Brewer.
To Perth, Gallas is more than Melbourne Victory’s sloppy seconds. By no means is he a saviour, but he is the second wind that promises to breathe life back into Alistair Edwards’ team.
A place in the finals last season was a gallant effort, but there has always been something missing in the west. Things have typically been stable, never booming. The failed approach for Manchester United and Liverpool great Michael Owen – an obvious attempt to cater to the large sector of English folk in Perth – provided a significant barrier.
The biggest coup to date has been that of Shane Smeltz, which has paid dividends on the field. But what Gallas brings is the kind of profile that has made Sydney, Western Sydney and Newcastle the envy of their A-League rivals.
What has made the “big three” of Del Piero, Ono and Heskey even more successful are their performances. It’ll be a surprise if Gallas doesn’t deliver in a similar way.
Just seven months ago that he played in a Europa League match against Basel, albeit to end a season in which he struggled for regular football. His international pedigree and Premier League experience matters a great deal – enough to compensate his fading legs for at least another year.
It will take Gallas two or three games to get match fit once more, but provided he doesn’t throw an elbow in his debut and utilises the publicity he will garner, he’ll have done better than Victory’s Chilean Pablo Contreras to start his career in Australia.
Michael Thwaite may be no Michael Dawson, Mikael Silvestre or John Terry, but the partnership will provide cause for concern amongst the A-League’s strikers and the veteran is likely to have a strong influence on Perth’s younger brigade.
There is a certain level of respect for a player of Gallas’ stature in Australia, something he might not have received from his previous team-mates and it is unlikely we will see a repeat of the tantrums that have near tainted the 36-year-old’s career.
Glory have pushed all the right buttons in their pursuit of Gallas, promising no guarantee of a big name recruit but delivering well beyond expectation.
Lest we forget Gallas’ sit down protest or that infamous Kevin Muscat-style swipe at Nani’s legs, but let’s acknowledge everything good this man could bring. And thank Ljubo Milicevic for paving the way.
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Here is the way the Roar expert panel sees all the action unfolding across the final weekend of play prior to the semi-finals.
Mathew Leckie played a pivotal part in Melbourne City claiming an 8-nil win; playing a role in several of his team's goals.
The loser of the Sydney Derby will be under immense pressure entering the final three matches of the season.
A good performance from Michael Ruhs, scoring twice to beat Macarthur and doubling his season goal tally in the process.
Sydney moved into fourth with their point but Glory's finals hopes are now officially extinguished.
Anthony Caceres is a player with immense talent and has a fantastic work rate, broke the deadlock against the Mariners in the 74th minute.
