Gallas set to make Spurs debut
Recently-signed William Gallas has been rushed into the Tottenham Hotspur squad to play West Brom this weekend.
The former Arsenal and Chelsea defender is expected to start for Spurs after Michael Dawson picked up a knee injury while playing for England against Bulgaria.
"Thank God I went out and got William Gallas on a free transfer. That is looking an even better bit of business under the circumstances," said Redknapp.
Spurs manager Harry Redknapp has said that he has no issues about playing Gallas from the start this Saturday and has thanked his good fortune that he managed to sign the player before Dawson got injured.
Gallas has many skills and attributes that will help him settle in the Spurs team without any problems. However, it is less than ideal for Spurs who are trying to win games and are already experiencing an injury crisis.
Skills and attributes
Gallas' main attribute is his physical strength. He is not the quickest of defenders any more but his strength allows him to go shoulder to shoulder with many strikers. More often than not he will come out with the ball and this will aid Spurs.
He has great leadership qualities that will be key in Spurs' back four. As captain of Arsenal he made it no secret that he was very passionate about his side. His team talks before a game have made the news before and he is no stranger to shouting at his own players in the middle of a match.
Gallas is a very good header of the ball in both the defence and attack. This gives an extra edge to his game and makes him a valuable asset going forward for set-plays and corners.
Coach Tim Sherwood said: "It was William's first game for a while [reserve game] and it was excellent for the younger boys to play alongside him. He showed how he squeezes play up the pitch, how he uses his body and he manages the game superbly."
Injury crisis
There is a mini-injury crisis happening at Spurs right now, which has seen Dawson, Jermain Defoe and Niko Kranjcar all facing possible spells away from the first team. This will force Spurs in to playing Gallas when they may have preferred to wait a little longer.
Most players that join a club lacking a bit of fitness are given the chance to build up their stamina and match sharpness in the reserve team. However, such are the circumstances Gallas will not have this luxury but he is a good enough and experienced enough player to cope.
It is hardly ideal for Spurs because Gallas and the rest of the Spurs defence will not have played with each other in a match situation. This can often cause stress under pressure and mistakes appear as a result.
Betting advice
Spurs can think themselves very lucky due to the fact that they are playing West Brom next in the Premier League and not one of the top three or four sides. However, wait until the match has started before you bet because it will be interesting to see how Gallas blends into the defence of the first team.
Don't be scared to have a punt on Gallas scoring on his debut. He does have the habit of rushing forwards like a mad man and throwing himself towards balls that he has no right to win. You will get very good odds on him scoring because he is a defender.
Spurs should win this match but there's no harm betting in play to ensure you don't throw cash down the drain.
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