Seb Bassong

[ShelfSide18]

Thought I'd start a thread to say how bloody impressive Seb has been this season after his move in the summer, it looks to me like we've made a terrific signing.

When I heard we were after a Newcastle CB I'll admit I was a little sceptical, but the way he has come in, played more than anyone would have expected and done his job with a minimum of fuss, helping us towards our best defensive season for god knows how long is mightily impressive. He's quick, strong, reads the game brilliantly, can use both feet and for a young defender he doesn't often get carried away, flying into tackles and getting himself booked and leaving big gaps behind him - in fact I regularly see him reading and dealing with mistakes made by other players in the team.

It's been Daws who has received a majority of the plaudits this season, and that's fine and totally justified, but I think Seb's unfussy and confident defensive displays have been equally as impressive, perhaps even more impressive. For a relative youngster at a new club, the way he has seamlessly fitted into the set up and turned out consistently assured displays has been a real bonus, and has really dampened the blow of losing Woody and King for large periods, in fact, we hardly even mention it.

I think Seb's excellent season has largely flown under the radar on SC, and amongst Spurs fans in general, but the fact we hardly notice him I think shows how good he's been, he just does his job and he's done it bloody well and thought it was about time we gave the guy some real credit.

Well done Seb Bassong.

 

[Delboy10]

Need to start singing his name!

 

[rez9000]

He's been a great purchase. In fact, this season, we haven't really put a foot wrong in the transfer market, I'd say. But Bassong has been a good buy. More power to him!

 

[Goldman]

There have only been a handful of errors i can remember from Seb this season, he really has hit the ground running. (Especially with that fantastic goal against Liverpool).

I like the way he has settled into our team, and is on the whole a very consistent performer.

His future looks bright alongside Daws.

 

[Timberwolf]

Seb is awesome! I love his little runs out of defence- I think part of him wants to be a CM. This can get me a little tetchy at times, but he is excellent in possession, good in the air and far less rash than most other centre backs are at his age. All in all an excellent purchase!

I heard both Kevin Keegan and Shearer had great things to say about the lad at Newcastle and you can really tell why... looks like the geordies have finally done us a favour...

 

[BorisTM]

world class imo.

 

[garyhopkins]

I thought he was the best thing about Newcastle last season and was pleased we got him in. However, with their record I thought he'd just be a good addition to the squad. I didn't expect him to start so often and play so well.
Actually it's probably good that his performances have slipped under the radar a bit. We don't want to get carried away too soon!
I have to say that our back four have done very well again this season. It wasn't so long ago that we had a porous defence for season after season after season. In fact I can't remember a better 18 months for our defence! Long may it continue.

 

[davros]

Brilliant player this season. Just what we needed with King and Woody crocked. Bassong and Dawson look like a very decent partnership. I was unsure when we first signed him but he fitted in straight away. I think his qualities have been pointed out a few times on here, but another thread of praise is well deserved.

 

[Lanh]

It wasn't so long ago that we had a porous defence for season after season after season.

Like the defence of Lee King/Gardner/Naybet Dawson Stalteri perhaps?

Everybody's right though, Bassong has done extremely well!

 

[ShelfSide18]

This can't be happening, a consensus on SC? Someone needs to through a cat amonst the pigeons surely?

So... that Jermaine Jenas, what do people think of him?

 

[spurious1]

I never would have thought it a year ago, but it seems that the pairing of Dawson/Bassong can really be top notch for years to come.

Our defence this year has been unspurishly good this season, and can be for years to come. Once I compared the average age of our back 5 to the other defences in the top of the PL, and we were by far the youngest. I lost that scrap of paper but we were 2-3 years younger than any of the top teams' back five. And I did that with BAE and Bale who will probably be our long term LB (until snatched by ManU).

Plus, none of our defenders is really in his prime yet, so they should get better individually and as a unit over the next few years, if we can keep them together.

Don't know what would happen if King and/of Woodgate (remember him) would come back

 

[rez9000]

This can't be happening, a consensus on SC? Someone needs to through a cat amonst the pigeons surely?

So... that Jermaine Jenas, what do people think of him?

Ssssssssh! Enjoy it while it lasts! :grin:

 

[Dr Know]

Its always good to point out when players have good games but for me I think this season we have a team of great players, not just an individual who can win games for us and I think losing Lennon showed our strength in depth

 

[WhiteHart4Ever]

If we need an argument, I'll plant the seed: If Woodgate and King cannot play week in-week out they should not be considered first choice when they for once are fit. Dawson and Bassong have been our two best CBs this season, and they've formed a killer partnership. I don't want King back in the starting 11 to mess up that partnership once he regains fitness.

 

[double0]

Absolute Bargain. If we get to the final he deserves to play.

 

[Son_Of]

We are pretty canny with transfers overall now; bassong, kranjcar, gudjohnsen
Hope the trend continues with Sandro
Seb is calm and athletic and seems to work hard and level headed (judging by haircut!)

 

[3Dnata]

Was my player of the half season in I think it ws BC's thread.
His form seems to have dropped slightly then possibly unstabilized by not having a regular partner.
But he is the future and should get his hands on bucket loads of trophies.

 

[DJS]

Been very happy with him and it's is very pleasing that he and Dawson (who previously needed King or Woody to gently hold his hand) have both stepped up to the mark and shown to be a very good partnership.

 

[StartingPrice]

I think it was a very good purchase.

But he is young and still not the finished article.

He sometimes dwells on the ball - especially irritating in the area. His positioning could be better at times (against Fulham, midweek, for instance, he should have either went to the ball - which wasn't actually required, or fallen back into line with the rest of the defence, in which case Zamora would have been running into him and not past him).

But all-in-all, minor criticism, given that all players, even teh greatest, make mistakes, even at the top of their game.

 

[robbiesavagehasbreasts]

My favorite Bassong moment (ok, apart from the L'pool goal) was when he was singing "Defoe Yiddo" in some Defoe interview.