22 year-old new signing Sebastien Bassong has today paid tribute to the Newcastle fans today, for making him feel so welcome at Newcastle United.
Sebastien Bassong – thanks the Newcastle fans
Bassong is a young man who seems determined to be a success on Tyneside, and he’s already played two good games for the team, and if this kind of form continues he’ll be a big success at the club.
In fact he’s already a bit of a darling with the Toon Army, given both his good play and one terrific attitude.
Like any new lad at the club, he’s been getting to know his new team-mates on the trip to Mallorca.
And of course he had that strange debut, when no announcements were made at Doncaster, when he played the full game, the fans didn’t know who he was.
But they certainly liked what they saw in the number 46 shirt – that could be a debut to remember, if Bassong becomes a great at the club. :D.
And he told the Chronicle in his first interview:
“When I played, I didn’t hear the songs.”
“Afterwards, when I was told, I was very happy that they sang about me on my debut.”
“Maybe I will get a smaller number!â€
Manager Keegan has said he will use Seb this season as a back up for the first team, and the French Under-21 International continued:
“I am very happy to be at the club – it is a very good thing for me.” “The manager told me he was happy with me against Doncaster, and I was happy to sign for Newcastle.”
“He said he wanted to put me in the team in the future, but he also said if I am ready to play now, I will play. The best players will play.”
“Everybody has helped me settle in and feel good at Newcastle.” “I know it is a very, very big club with a very big history.”
“Some big players have played for this club and it’s like a dream for me here.” “I know I have to work hard to take this chance.â€
Isn’t it just great to hear the young lads talk like this, with their football futures all ahead of them?
Certainly, Seb seems right out of the top drawer, as both a player and a person, and it’s little wonder the lad is already a big favorite with the Newcastle fans.
And if he his last two displays at center-back are anything to go by, we think he’s going to play a lot more first team games than most people think this season for Newcastle.
It’s just tremendous to have youngsters like Seb join the Newcastle United club, and it seems like he’s another excellent signing for us.
Comments welcome.
91 comments so far
Teddy
Aug 4, 2008 at 2:03 PM
Comment #1give him taylors number if he wants it!
Stardust
Aug 4, 2008 at 2:03 PM
Comment #2Unlike Taylor against Mallorca he looked calm, assured, quick and strong on the ball – being a Geordie isnt a pre-requisite for a starting place.
mr_flibbles
Aug 4, 2008 at 2:07 PM
Comment #3http://ie.youtube.com/watch?v=ojjdP01ydqo&feature=related
ronaldo! How would joey barton get out of this? Anyone?
Chris H
Aug 4, 2008 at 2:08 PM
Comment #4He did look a good player last night. He’s quick, strong and seems confident on the ball.
Let’s see how he fairs in the Premiership, when the real pressure is on to judge him, but I must admit he’s impressed me so far.
harrier
Aug 4, 2008 at 2:09 PM
Comment #5As I posted in the other thread:
“I thought he looked sharp. He made some really nice tackles where he didn’t just take the ball, but controlled it and played it out. Oh and he was quick. I am willing to bet that he gets paired next to Coloccini at some point in the not too distant future. Especially as Taylor was responsible for the goal.”
Tom
Aug 4, 2008 at 2:12 PM
Comment #6From what I’ve read about the last game, it seems we may have uncovered a gem in Bassong. As Harrier said, I can see him being paired with Coloccini soon. Perhaps in one of the upcoming friendlies against PSV or Valencia, if Curly signs in time!
Davies
Aug 4, 2008 at 2:15 PM
Comment #7Taylor really is going to have to up his game to keep his starting place. I agree with everybody else; Bassong’s two performances for us have made him look like a much older and more experienced player than he actually is. He’s been very very good so far.
Fantastic, given the money we paid for him. Let’s just hope we can get Coloccini in beside him. Faye can always find room in DM, but I reckon Taylor Cacapa and Edgar will all struggle to get off the bench in the coming season.
harrier
Aug 4, 2008 at 2:16 PM
Comment #8Actually – I thought Edgar looked real good last night too – especially moving forward, and he seems faster now
Punk Skunk
Aug 4, 2008 at 2:18 PM
Comment #9He’s making a VERY strong case for a starting slot!..
…Whatever, about playing in the prem…Taylor still looked ‘unstable’ against Mallorca!..How will he fair?..
THELONGSHANKS
Aug 4, 2008 at 2:18 PM
Comment #10BASSONG AND EDGAR WERE GOOD LAST NIGHT. Really hope we get collocini in as he is the real deal.
harrier
Aug 4, 2008 at 2:19 PM
Comment #11I’d be happy with Edgar as backup to Beye personally
Matt
Aug 4, 2008 at 2:20 PM
Comment #12Bassong was motm last night by a long way for both sides. Very pleased we’ve got him.
Capt Darlin
Aug 4, 2008 at 2:20 PM
Comment #13Stardust, you obviously know nowt. The Newcastle United team without a geordie is like a marine company without a boat!!! Tayls is da man. The key to defending is to stop the supply. Did you see how much time and space their player had to put his cross in against Mallorca. There wasnt a toon player within ten yards of him…..
Toon1978
Aug 4, 2008 at 2:21 PM
Comment #14Toon have rubbished reports linking us to a take over AND the Colocinni saga is dragging on. Why is everything so slow a negative at NUFC. Just get the Colocinni deal wrapped up asap and Ashley wants to be more truthful with the fans. Everthing is to quiet.
scottish mag
Aug 4, 2008 at 2:23 PM
Comment #15capt darlin that would be cos it was a free kick lol
harrier
Aug 4, 2008 at 2:23 PM
Comment #16Toon1978 – all the reports said he would not come for his medical until today.
Spyro
Aug 4, 2008 at 2:24 PM
Comment #17“Tayls” is from greenwich, south london
how many players will manchester united have from manchester in their first team next season?
Toon1978
Aug 4, 2008 at 2:25 PM
Comment #18Ok Harrier but you must admit this is one long drawn out transfer.
Bmore
Aug 4, 2008 at 2:26 PM
Comment #19Darlin – that’s because it was a free kick!
Stardust
Aug 4, 2008 at 2:27 PM
Comment #20Aye Aye Captain – since when have i ever claimed to know anything!
Scottish Mag you walked into that one – a line waiting for a bite that one lol!
Taylor should join his ancestors and go back to sewing and making strips rather than wearing them – he could get some elf helpers like Milner, Smith and Nemo.
Ive finished typing and I can see loads more biting – personally I thought Ameobi was terrible last night, hardly noticed him again.
tom tomb
Aug 4, 2008 at 2:27 PM
Comment #21Actually looks like he can read the game like Woodgate. Rare talent in some one so young, looks like he has it all-very impressed. Edgar had a good game too- after that em em either keeper.
steve
Aug 4, 2008 at 2:27 PM
Comment #22Faye and Collo will be number one pairing with Bassong / Tayls as backup, personally I’d prefer Bassong to Taylor, he just hasn’t gotten past the “one for the future” stage and is making as many mistakes as Bramble used to – I dont care if he is a geordie or not, that shouldn’t qualify you to play.
Chris H
Aug 4, 2008 at 2:28 PM
Comment #23That’s funny Spyro, do people from Greenich usually talk with a Geordie accent.
Spyro
Aug 4, 2008 at 2:28 PM
Comment #24exactly steve
@ Chris H
moving to newcastle when you are young doesn’t make you a Geordie
harrier
Aug 4, 2008 at 2:28 PM
Comment #25Well, we all knew the details of the Majorca chairman yanking us around. They agreed the fee on Friday, and they said that Coloccini would come to Tyneside on Monday for a medical. It should be announced in the next 24 hours or so I would hope. They have already agreed terms
Spyro
Aug 4, 2008 at 2:30 PM
Comment #26moving to Newcastle when you are young doesnt make you a Geordie
ACD
Aug 4, 2008 at 2:30 PM
Comment #27Bassong looked very comfortable last night although i don’t think he really got tested but what he had to deal with, he dealt with very well ! He looked quick, strong and composed! cant wait to see him against some better quality strikers to see how he copes !
Why havnt we signed colloccini yet? wasnt the deal meant to go through today? im starting to worry =[
Chris H
Aug 4, 2008 at 2:31 PM
Comment #28It’s Deportivo, Harrier mate.
Will
Aug 4, 2008 at 2:31 PM
Comment #29I was very impressed with him, He was very composed and has a sound reading of the game for his age. The setanta sports commentators were having a sly dig at him to start with too about his appearances last year and his teams’ performance.
Chris H
Aug 4, 2008 at 2:34 PM
Comment #30Quote from Spyro “moving to Newcastle when you are young doesnt make you a Geordie”
It does in my view Spyro cause he doesn’t know anything other than being a Geordie. He’ll hardly remember living down south will he. He has a Geordie mentality, he’s lived here ever since he can remember.
Spyro
Aug 4, 2008 at 2:36 PM
Comment #31fair enough then chris
harrier
Aug 4, 2008 at 2:36 PM
Comment #32Of course Chris H, just had majorca on the brain from the friendly 🙂
JonGoodwyn
Aug 4, 2008 at 2:37 PM
Comment #33ACD, how many hours are there left today? have some patience!
Incognito
Aug 4, 2008 at 2:38 PM
Comment #34As long as Bassong is backup only to Faye and Coloccini, I’ll be happy. Taylor does not deserve automatic choice that he seems to get.
What REALLY winds me up about Taylor is when he makes a mistake (often) he’ll point at the nearest team mate and blame them. He takes no responsibility and shows this by the way he passes the ball as quick as possible, whether the receiving player is in a good position or not. Very irritating.
GordonO
Aug 4, 2008 at 2:39 PM
Comment #35Bassong may be good but the line up from yesterday frankly scarred me.
In my opinion Steve Harper, Steven Taylor, Claudio Cacapa, David Edgar, Geremi, Danny Guthrie and Alan Smith who started are all bottom of the league players.
Are that really a team that anybody inside the Newcastle United sports management believe, would be able to get anything out of a premier league match?
We lost to Doncaster 0-1 and Bolton beat them 5-0. That’s to say where one of the supposedly weaker teams of the league is.
What we are looking at right now is a league start with a number of consecutive losses and after that a number of panic-buys. That is my prediction.
I am very worried for the next season.
Spyro
Aug 4, 2008 at 2:39 PM
Comment #36Incognito thats maybe a bit harsh, Taylor tends to pass the ball quick because he is not composed and panics a lot when he has the ball. However you are right about his automatic choice, he certainly doesn’t deserve it and it will be shown this season unless he improves
micepie
Aug 4, 2008 at 2:41 PM
Comment #37Despite all the angst on this site these past few weeks, it’s still possible that most fans could be happy by the end of the window. Let’s see. Everyone is hoping for the Colo deal to go through.
Are the squad currently having their last sangrias and olives on the hotel patio in Mallorca, or travelling back from Spain or back on Toonside?
derekm
Aug 4, 2008 at 2:41 PM
Comment #38Is this another wisey and his team’s find?
If it is then just for once can we give the team credit – their job was described as being to find and land young talent, so far they appear to be doing this exceptionally well compared to the club’s previous efforts.
ACD
Aug 4, 2008 at 2:41 PM
Comment #39JonGoodwyn
your right ! but i really dont want us to miss out on him ! He could be the player we need to start the ball rolling this season !
Punk Skunk
Aug 4, 2008 at 2:42 PM
Comment #40Gordon, the clue is in what you wrote, if you honestly think that is our starting 11…Well i don’t know what to say man!..