Alex and Seb

S

Salopian

New Member
It seems that Bassong is now back after his loan, and that the new manager will be talking to him today.

The big question is whether Alex can fire up Bassong to be the player we saw at first. Was it just the presence of Adams, or was it the club that turned Bassong away?

If the Scot can fire up the centre back, it could solve our CB weakness. Otherwise, I fear we mist part with the CB and get what we can for him. He has been too long in his own world.
 
The Great Mass Debater

The Great Mass Debater

New Member
Title of this post freaked me out - These are my kid's names!  :wacko:
 
morty

morty

Moderator
Staff member
I watched Watford a few times and saw the best and worst of Seb, sometimes commanding, other times distracted and anonymous. Watford fans opinions I saw said one week he was amazing, the next average.

Really not sure what the right thing to do here is, to be honest, if we try to sell, I don't think there will be clubs beating our door down for him.

I guess the best result is that we get his head right and he plays well for us. I'm not convinced though. Perhaps it was just Chris Hughton who could get the very best out of him.
 
Canaryboy

Canaryboy

Well-Known Member
Watford were 3rd in the league when they signed him. He's played 11 games since then and he has left them in 6th place, so let's not assume that Bassong is the solution to all of our problems and will propel us up the league table. 

If the man has any sense though he will have missed Carrow Road whilst playing in front of 14000 people in a mediocre Championship stadium with no corner stands, he didn't exactly move up in the world did he! 
 
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The Great Mass Debater

The Great Mass Debater

New Member
Seb has an opportunity to resolve this messy situation now. It is entirely up to him whether he wishes to take it
 
The Great Mass Debater

The Great Mass Debater

New Member
If we were to get a decent fee for him then I dont think letting him move on would be a bad thing. Nevertheless he has (during a certain period) been an outstanding player for us (POTS lest we forget). Unlike RvW who we all wanted to succeed but never had a period of success.

If Bassong has a good second half of the season and is functional he becomes a more saleable asset, so that can only be a good thing if ultimately we decide to move him on. He probably isnt very sought after with his relegation CV and his poor attitude, which means unless someone who has worked with him before comes in for him, a loan is only really likely.

Wouldnt be surprised to see Brighton come in for a loan - cant see anyone buying him, not even his 'Dad'.

Personally if there is a chance we could get the original Bassong back I think we should pursue this. As I said, he has the opportunity to rectify this now. Neil with his attitude may even take the position that he is the clubs player and whilst he is the manager Bassong will do what he is told.

Neil might force him to play to enforce his authority. Or he might put an arm around him and whisper sweet nothings into his ear, after all, you attract more bees with honey than you do with vinegar.

How he manages the Bassong situation will be a real marker of how he intends to approach being our manager. Will he be a tough authoritarian like Sir Alex (my way or the high way)? Or will he nurture the egos with a softly softly approach?

Fascinating really. Does he want to resolve the Bassong situation effectively? Or is he more interested in setting out his stall?

He is supposed to be a good man-manager, so this will be interesting. I'll be surprised if he has dealt with an ego like Bassong's before. Phelan's input on this could be invaluable
 
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The Great Mass Debater

The Great Mass Debater

New Member
Reading that back, being a football manager is almost like being a parent!
 
eatonparkboy

eatonparkboy

New Member
It appears that AN won't suffer fools and to a certain extent, he is not far removed from Adams in his experience. SO if Bassong thinks he disrespect him then I think he will be told to find another club on a free. AN obviously likes the right atmosphere in a dressing room.
 
Dubai Mark

Dubai Mark

Active Member
Big fan of Bassong, BUT just cant see him playing again for us and perhaps Morty hits the nail on the head regarding Bassong playing for Hughton.
 
I

It's Character Forming

New Member
My big problem with Bassong is really that his form dropped off while Hughton was still here - he'd lost his way fairly early on that season which was a big reason we struggled last season.

So I just can't see him ever recapturing his first season form under Hughton when he was our main defensive leader - it doesn't really work when you're being inconsistent and people know you've been a bit petulant about managerial changes.

It's down to him but I'm not particuarly hopeful.
 
Yellow Fever

Yellow Fever

New Member
If he leaves on a free then we're the losers. I have my doubts about his coming back, but will trust AN's decision on that. If he doesn't come back, then either sell or loan him to Brighton where at least he can do some damage to the teams we're competing against. I never understood why we loaned him to Watford.
 
Surgeryman

Surgeryman

New Member
I'd rather have him at CB than Russell Martin.

I've go no problem with him coming back and doing a job. If it goes well as Yellow says he will be more saleable. Its all speculation about what has really happened and yes last season he was mixed performance wise but if we get that player of the season form back, that can only benefit us. Good from set pieces also.
 
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eatonparkboy

eatonparkboy

New Member
I think people are forgetting that many looked poor under Hughton and we were playing in the Prem. As a defender, I think he might still be technically our best CB. But I woudn't want him doing a Pietersen. And who would pay much for him?
 
Canaryboy

Canaryboy

Well-Known Member
Whether we should be open to having him back should hinge, I feel, on whether his teammates want him back. 
 
Yellow Fever

Yellow Fever

New Member
At last a genuine supermarket sighting with a definite response as well. I wouldn't object to his coming back if Neil, Phelan, Holt and the players are happy with that.
 
Dandy Mountfarto

Dandy Mountfarto

New Member
https://twitter.com/browno_/status/554745557047332865
Is it just me that things inside media tags don't show up for? video and img tags all work but stuff from twitter and vine there's just nothing there (using desktop firefox).
 
I

It's Character Forming

New Member
Reminds me of when I found myself in the queue in Argos next to Darren Eadie, I was too embarrassed to speak to him.

I think the Bassong comment "are we supposed to know who you are" to Adams has been pretty well confirmed so I don think that part of the story is really just speculation. But what he's thinking now is of course pure guesswork.

He can be excellent on his day but at the same time, you can have a top class player but if he's disruptive awkward and not performing, you're better off without him even if it means you have Russell Martin at CB
 

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