The return of Bassong

[dvenn2]

A City of Yellow brings you its first player feature as we look at former captain Sebastien Bassong's fortunes at City following his recent return from a spell away! Enjoy!

www.acityofyellow.wordpress.com/2015/03/03/bassong-revitalised/

Any comments or improvement suggestion to do with the site are more than welcome!

 

[It's Character Forming]

First I'm sure that AN will prevent the players being infected with any complacency about tomorrow's game.  As a City fan for quite a few years, all too often we've won a more difficult game but then ended up losing against the relegation candidates.

It's great to have Basso back - basically a new signing for us.  I've never really understood why he went downhill last season under Hughton and it was a big part of us getting relegated.  It remains to be seen whether he can sustain his good form for us for a long period this time - let's hope.

 

[dj161]

It's great to have Basso back - basically a new signing for us.  I've never really understood why he went downhill last season under Hughton and it was a big part of us getting relegated.  It remains to be seen whether he can sustain his good form for us for a long period this time - let's hope.

For me I've always felt that Bassong was made somewhat of a scapegoat, we were conceding goals for fun at times last year, and with Bassong being captain and part of the defence and seemingly being Hughton's guy, got the brunt of the stick, especially when Adams came in and removed him from the squad it almost immediately said this guy is the problem, you have to remember though that we were asked to do so much more defending last year than we were used to and that mistakes were bound to happen, and when mistakes happen at the back its nearly always going to lead to trouble, especially when you're in the premiership with the quality of attacking players that you go up against.

 

[GJP]

Would always be in my team. 

Two questions I've been asking his critics over recent months:

• How many better central defenders have we had in the last 20 years?
• Has our defence improved without him?

 

[morty]

Not a critic, but for balance, lets not forget his spectacular dip in form season, and could the difference actually quite a lot to do with Alex Neil?

 

[Canaryboy]

Would always be in my team. 

Two questions I've been asking his critics over recent months:

• How many better central defenders have we had in the last 20 years?
• Has our defence improved without him?

I genuinely believe that he was terrible last season. I think it may have had something to do with him struggling with injuries and being played whilst not fully fit, and for that I apportion some of the blame on Hughton for putting an unfit player in the firing line.

I'm glad we have the old Bassong back and when playing like this he is probably our best centre defender, but he fully deserved the criticism that he got last season for his sloppy performances and the way that he looked so disinterested at times. He was also a terrible choice as captain, although we can blame Hughton for that too.

He's doing a good job for us at centre back at the moment and that's all that matters, football fans are fickle! 

 

[Gorlestongirl]

Totally agree CanaryBoy. And it's not just his performance that is heartening. He took time to applaud all sides of the ground on Sunday. As in 'real life' there is little more rewarding than settling differences when there is a common purpose. He is absolutely crucial at the moment, and his partnership with Martin is a joy. Neil clearly knows how to manage 'big players', another reason to be cheerful.

 

[Yellow Fever]

Totally agree CanaryBoy. And it's not just his performance that is heartening. He took time to applaud all sides of the ground on Sunday. As in 'real life' there is little more rewarding than settling differences when there is a common purpose. He is absolutely crucial at the moment, and his partnership with Martin is a joy. Neil clearly knows how to manage 'big players', another reason to be cheerful.

And I agree with you both, GG. It's great to see a more mobile back line. It's true to say that Seb came back into a winning team (we should remember that we had taken 10 points from the previous 5 games when AN came in and he has moved that up a notch). Seb is clearly enjoying his football again and you can see that in his demeanor and his applauding the fans and as you say, AN deserves credit for helping to create that. 

 

[GJP]

He wasn't terrible last season. He wasn't as good as the season before.