Bassong rumour.

[lyb]

I saw this on Twitter, so can't say if it's true or not, but it does make a lot of sense of why he has been frozen out of the squad if it is true.

Supposedly during Neil Adams first team meeting stood up infront of the whole squad and said "are we supposed to know who you are?"

I don't think any manager can afford to tolerate that at all. On the other hand, I do think some of the criticism Bassong was subjected to last season was a bit over the top. He's still a useful player and although he does make the odd clanger, our defence as a whole was under ridiculous pressure last season to get us points because of our impotent attack and the season before that showed he has it in him to be a first class defender if he keeps his focus. If this rumour is true then I think Bassong should apologise and Adams should bring him back into the squad. Without an apology though I can't see that Adams has any choice but to freeze him out unless he's sold.

 

[Phillip J Fry]

I heard a rumour that Adams tried to talk to Bassong last season about some technical aspect of his game and Bassong replied that he didn't need advice from a youth-team coach (this was after Adams had been made caretaker BTW)

If either of these are true, then it's entirely understandable why Adams doesn't play Bassong.

(although I wish they could get over this issue and return Bassong to the starting line-up)

 

[Killiecanary]

Not for me I'm afraid. Bassong in his first seasons was great but last season he was a liability at times.

I can see no reason- either footballing or attitude - why he should play for us again.

 

[splutcho]

I saw this on Twitter, so can't say if it's true or not, but it does make a lot of sense of why he has been frozen out of the squad if it is true.

Supposedly during Neil Adams first team meeting stood up infront of the whole squad and said "are we supposed to know who you are?"

I don't think any manager can afford to tolerate that at all. On the other hand, I do think some of the criticism Bassong was subjected to last season was a bit over the top. He's still a useful player and although he does make the odd clanger, our defence as a whole was under ridiculous pressure last season to get us points because of our impotent attack and the season before that showed he has it in him to be a first class defender if he keeps his focus. If this rumour is true then I think Bassong should apologise and Adams should bring him back into the squad. Without an apology though I can't see that Adams has any choice but to freeze him out unless he's sold.

It was me that posted it on Twitter, and I heard it on this forum here

 

[Jimmy smith]

Well whatever has happened, it seems petty and I don't know why he's either not been shipped off somewhere or why they haven't had a word and dealt with it like men instead of b1tchy women and have him back involved.

 

[Killiecanary]

Well whatever has happened, it seems petty and I don't know why he's either not been shipped off somewhere or why they haven't had a word and dealt with it like men instead of b1tchy women and have him back involved.

Surely the answer to not shipping him off is that nobody wants him?

Three successive clubs relegated...something of a jinx?

 

[Canaryboy]

Well whatever has happened, it seems petty and I don't know why he's either not been shipped off somewhere or why they haven't had a word and dealt with it like men instead of b1tchy women and have him back involved.

Didn't sound petty to me mate, he is supposed to have said it in Adams' first meeting with the team, in front of all his team mates. We were in the heat of a relegation battle, facing 5 impossible games, and the captain has such a large ego that he thinks it appropriate to immediately undermine the caretaker manager at the first opportunity.

A sentiment which echoed around to some of our other big egos such as Guiterrez and Yobo (who apparently didn't fancy the run in). Adams has his new captain, no room for the old one - ship him out. In my humble opinion. If he is that full of his self-importance and can't take any personal responsibility for our relegation like some of our other players then best he goes and plays for QPR or somebody, to achieve his 4th Premier League relegation. 

Any reconciliation would need to start with a sincere apology from Bassong to manager and team mates. 

 

[The Great Mass Debater]

I suppose the real debate is, over the course of the season, was choosing to say this Bassong's poorest decision?

 

[Lake District Canary]

The best sportsmen are the ones that are big enough to treat everyone with respect, whatever their status.  It is usually the lesser sportmen that struggle to cope with the fact that they are not the best and then take it out on others.  Also, looking down on other professionals because you deem them to be lesser than you, is a road that will lead you nowhere in sport - or anywhere else for that matter. 

If Bassong has said these things and won't apologise, then he should go, as soon as possible.

 

[Jimmy smith]

Didn't sound petty to me mate, he is supposed to have said it in Adams' first meeting with the team, in front of all his team mates. We were in the heat of a relegation battle, facing 5 impossible games, and the captain has such a large ego that he thinks it appropriate to immediately undermine the caretaker manager at the first opportunity.

A sentiment which echoed around to some of our other big egos such as Guiterrez and Yobo (who apparently didn't fancy the run in). Adams has his new captain, no room for the old one - ship him out. In my humble opinion. If he is that full of his self-importance and can't take any personal responsibility for our relegation like some of our other players then best he goes and plays for QPR or somebody, to achieve his 4th Premier League relegation. 

Any reconciliation would need to start with a sincere apology from Bassong to manager and team mates. 

So if this is all true and if he's not been prepared to do this apology then what is he still doing here? I'm sure someone would take him for nothing at least?

 

[Killiecanary]

Don't see anyone beating the door down JS?!

 

[Canaryboy]

So if this is all true and if he's not been prepared to do this apology then what is he still doing here? I'm sure someone would take him for nothing at least?

If you were a Premier League manager would you take a player who has three Premier League relegation's on his CV, has ostracised himself from a team for the third time to force a move (did the same at Metz and Newcastle),and had reason to believe that he is unprofessional and potentially disruptive? 

At Newcastle he was said to be resented by team mates because Hughton would let him get away with things that they got fined for, such as turning up to training late. He also refused to get on a bus to a pre-season friendly, because he'd decided he was going to Tottenham. Read both of those things on a Newcastle forum. The bloke is a liability. 

 

[Bethnal Yellow and Green]

If you were a Premier League manager would you take a player who has three Premier League relegation's on his CV, has ostracised himself from a team for the third time to force a move (did the same at Metz and Newcastle),and had reason to believe that he is unprofessional and potentially disruptive? 

At Newcastle he was said to be resented by team mates because Hughton would let him get away with things that they got fined for, such as turning up to training late. He also refused to get on a bus to a pre-season friendly, because he'd decided he was going to Tottenham. Read both of those things on a Newcastle forum. The bloke is a liability. 

and even if you did want to sign him, you'd keep Norwich hanging in the knowledge they are desperate to get rid of him and you can get a better deal the closer to the window you wait.

I predict a loan move on deadline day to someone like WBA who'll use him as backup for the season.

 

[The Great Mass Debater]

The bad attitudes that came out seem to be centred around loyalty to Hughton. Hughtons men (Bassong and Gutierrez) would obviously show him loyalty, perhaps others who were signed by him, and probably felt he was harshly treated when he was sacked.

Its human nature to offload this resentment onto the new guy. I imagine its like your parents splitting up and you not liking thier new partners. Im not saying its acceptable behaviour from Bassong, far from it, but you can perhaps understand his feelings - the problem being the lack of professionalism at hand which governed how he acted on them.

Adams probably just copped the raw side of Bassongs feelings about the matter. It probably wasnt anything to do with Adams himself.

Incredibly arrogant, ignorant and ill-judged thing for Bassong to say though. Would explain a few of Adams' Roeder-like man-management decisions.

Pilkington I dont understand though. He was happy under Lambert, clearly unhappy under Hughton. I would have expected him to be one of the players to flourish once Hughton had left. Anyone know why particularly Pilks wanted out? I would understand why he'd want out for so long under Hughton's regime, but would have thought that would all change when Adams came in. Adams froze him out immediately though

 

[canaryfollower]

Liked Bassong-but realise something has happened-!!  Like others say-get rid-but no-one wants him!  Says it all!

 

[Canaryboy]

Pilkington I dont understand though. He was happy under Lambert, clearly unhappy under Hughton. I would have expected him to be one of the players to flourish once Hughton had left. Anyone know why particularly Pilks wanted out? I would understand why he'd want out for so long under Hughton's regime, but would have thought that would all change when Adams came in. Adams froze him out immediately though

Did you read that comments from Tilly (posted on another site) which somebody shared here yesterday? It quoted McNally from the Nelson Bar after the Watford game: 

To quote: "We got £2m cash up front for a player who had six different injuries last season and who missed 119 days training".

So maybe it wasn't Pilks who wanted out, but Adams & McNally just seeing it as a good bit of business. 

 

[mustard gas]

Just a moronic thing to say. For a start he would have seen Adams every day at Colney. Totally full of his own importance.

 

[The Great Mass Debater]

Did you read that comments from Tilly (posted on another site) which somebody shared here yesterday? It quoted McNally from the Nelson Bar after the Watford game: 

To quote: "We got £2m cash up front for a player who had six different injuries last season and who missed 119 days training".

So maybe it wasn't Pilks who wanted out, but Adams & McNally just seeing it as a good bit of business. 

Yeah, appreciate that, but I've read plenty on here that said Pilks has been angling for a move/wanted out for years

 

[splutcho]

Yeah, appreciate that, but I've read plenty on here that said Pilks has been angling for a move/wanted out for years

I don't know if that was just speculation to be honest.

 

[Jimmy smith]

and even if you did want to sign him, you'd keep Norwich hanging in the knowledge they are desperate to get rid of him and you can get a better deal the closer to the window you wait.

I predict a loan move on deadline day to someone like WBA who'll use him as backup for the season.

I suppose it must be that, we might end up with a Becchio situation again though where a loan move or 2 fall through and we're stuck with him until January. If that happens, we might as well try and get some use out of him. It'd be in his interests as well.