As the rumour mills work themselves into a lather about whether Christian Bassedas is in Newcastle finalising a move, I thought I would seize the opportunity to use my brand new text book "Larn yersel Spanish, why don't you?" and do a spot of critical research on the web. I hereby proudly present a potted history of his career highlights and some startling, not to mention completely baffling, insights into what makes the man tick

Name: Christian Gustavo Bassedas Born: 16-02-1973, Capital Federal (Buenos Aries I presume) Height: 1,76 mts (not quite Dennis Wise then) Weight: 73 kg (a bit of a lightweight ?) Position Played: Right or left steering wheel (!!) Club: Velez Sarsfield

1st Team Debut: 03-03-1991

1996: THE OLYMPIC YEARS Made the Argentine Olympic ie. U23 (ish) team, managed by Daniel Passarella. Notable moments included:

Vs Peru, 07/07/96 (whose Number 7 was a certain Nobby Solano, and who also included Roberto Palacios at No.10, another reported Toon target of late). Argentinian starting line-up included likes of Claudio Caniggia, Diego Simeone, Abel Balbo & Ariel Ortega. Substitutions included: 46' on Bassedas, off Morales. Cautions included: 80' Bassedas (OK , seems competitive).

Vs Spain, 07/27/96 Bassedas made the starting team as an attacking midfielder alongside most of the big names above and a certain Marcelo Gallardo (remember him, Teamtwaddle watchers ?).

Vs Portugal (Olympic semi final), 30/7/96 And Christian Bassedas starts ahead of the likes of Marcelo Delgardo, Pablo Paz & Gallardo, in a fairly forward role supporting Hernan Crespo. Substitutions included: 74' on Simeone, off Bassedas. Cautions included: 41' Bassedas (hmmmm, hopefully not another Batty then). Match Summary: Argentina earned a place in the gold medal game for men's football in front of 78,212 fans at Sanford Stadium, scoring two second half goals in a seven-minute span to pick up a well-deserved 2-0 win. Portugal rarely threatened the Argentina net and was outshot 26-13, but forward Dominguez (ie. diminutive Spurs whinger) made several dynamic solo dribbling runs before running into a solid Argentine back line (is there any other kind ?).

1997: THE COPA AMERICA YEARS: Argentina 1 Paraguay 1 We see Bassedas take the field alongside Gallardo & Gooner-to-be Nelson Vivas, but in a team shorn of the top talent plying their trade in the European leagues. Arch madman Chilavert lines up in goal for Paraguay and scores their equaliser ! Substitutions included: Christian Bassedas off, Martin Posse on, '80 (still not played a full match then, but at least he wasn't cautioned).

Vs Colombia, and Bassedas makes the 18 man squad that now includes likes of Veron and Mr. 'Bati-Gol' Batistuta.

1998: THE WILDERNESS YEARS: Seemingly not the best of times for wor Christian, as evidenced by the following interview extracts. Maybe I had my Spanish dictionary upside down ? Did he have a brief and unsuccessful spell in France ? Was there a death in the family ? It's a complete and utter mystery to this correspondent at least.

" After a terrible summer, the steering wheel of Vilez recovered the titularidad and the smile. One knows that this he is the one of Mundial and Christian Bassedas is not other peoplis to it. With the first days of the summer it began to construct his French dream, in Tandil, but of return to Liniers, the steering wheel found that its place in Vilez already had owner. Thus, it lost rate of high competition and its dream to dress celestial and the white one in France was transformed almost into a nightmare. - I decide me that at that time she arrived at my house and was dead. It felt a terrible pain, too much to support, because he was something that did not hope; more knowing than everything it happened in Vilez, that is my house. Different it had been if it happened in another equipment. In that time it could not believe it and for that reason I reacted , commented Bassedas with the lost glance. - How you recovered? - Much Camps and Pandolfi helped me, that more than companions are friends. Thanks to them came well prearranged to train to me, although it was not of the best way and I did not like what happened. - For that reason arose your differences with Bielsa? (ie. The Argentine national coach at the time) - It is that when I returned of the selected one I thought that it had to play, because it had not left the equipment by low yield, but that was with the selection. I believe that I did not have the respect that deserved. - At its moment you raised to him to Bielsa that indirectly was harming to you? - It is that I cannot say to him to Bielsa: " Watch that if does not put to me I lose a place in the World-wide one ". That does not go with me, is like stooping. Being a player of the selection I do not consider myself essential. - You continue thinking that the training of Bielsa are boring? - I did not say that. Simply, Enrique Macaya Marquez asked to me if the tactical training are amused or boring and I responded, since it would make the 90 percent of the soccer players, who are boring. Later, in Oli they put that Bielsa is a boring trainer and a controversy was created that did not do to him well to anybody. More considering than the things between Bielsa and I they did not come from the best way. My old one was wanted to die. - What expectations tenis for today, that Passarella gives the list for the tour by Israel and Ireland? - To my I like that they call me by the level which I have at the moment of the call and not that does it because always it called to me. I am not an undisputed player and believe that I must recover my level to be in the plans of Passarella. Nobody never gave nothing to me.

There you are then. Thankfully, things seemed to be looking up for young Christian once Passarella had resumed control of the national team from Bielsa (him with the not-at-all-boring training sessions).

1999 MORE COPA AMERICA YEARS: Christian is again included in the Argentine squad. Third choice keeper is the intriguingly-named Carlos Nibbles. Which of course is neither here nor there.

2000: EURO-BOUND, OR STAYING PUT ? And so to the year 2000, and the on-again, off-again saga with the Toon as reported at the turn of the year by nufc.cock :

" Christian Bassedas is back home in Argentina knowing his dream of a move to the English Premier League is in tatters. His club, Buenos Aires based Velez Sarsfield, say they can not agree a suitable deal with Newcastle as they want #3.6M now, or the bulk of it anyway, while they claim United wanted to defer payment until August. Optasoccer report the player as being disappointed that the move broke down, saying: "These things happen. It is disillusioning because I thought this was more serious. We were speaking for three months without making sense because there was no opposition from us, it is only that they did not have the money." Velez Vice-President Juan Carlos Gonzalez backed up these comments, stating: "They wanted to sign him on loan until August and then begin to pay. As they are quoted on the stock market, they cannot exceed their budget and it is impossible for them to dispense the amount before then. We did not accept." Velez still have huge debts and are desperate to raise funds so Bassedas may instead move to Boca Juniors, as coach Carlos Bianchi has a long-standing interest in the player. "

So it's Bassedas to Boca then is it ? In typical fashion, the possibility of a move to regional rivals Boca Juniors (known locally, it would seem, as "The Mouth") is categorically denied :

" The president of Vilez Sarsfield, Eduardo Mousseaud, assured yesterday that "any negotiation with Juniors Mouth does not exist" by passes of the mediocampista Christian Bassedas to the club of the Shore. "With Mouth there was nor there is no negotiation by the transference of Bassedas, I deny", affirmed it totally Mousseaud. In the last hours he circulated like version that happens of the mediocampista to the equipment that directs to Carlos Bianchi technically was on the verge of defining itself, something that Mousseaud denied categorically. According to those versions, Vilez was arranged to sell the 50 percent of happens of Bassedas in a sum near the four million dollars, number of money that the president of the institution of Liniers described as "barbarism". "The sum of money Is a barbarism that left published in means", Mousseaud expressed. During the last week it was speculated on whereupon Bassedas could be transferred to the Newcastle of England, but until the moment there were no answers. "

Well thank God that's all cleared up then. Or is it ? Into February, and it seems that there remains no limit to the amount of unusual mushrooms being consumed by the respective boards of Boca and Velez Sarsfield :

" For Macri, one fell happens of Christian Bassedas to Mouth. The president of Mouth Juniors, Mauricio Macri, confirmed yesterday the definitive failure of the managements by the steering wheel of Vilez Sarsfield Christian Bassedas when expressing that "he would discard of plane" the possibility. The holder blamed the ex- president of the club of Liniers, Raul Gamez, like the person in charge from which the operation has not arrived at good port. "Lamentably, it has not changed anything. We passed the supply in writing - it related -, said that yes and later they said that they had not read the papers. But it does not concern, the reality is that we more effort than the one than have done we cannot do ". Here we are not speculating with a necessity of Vilez nor with the difficulties that the country has - it explained -, but that we are assuming that is a pile of silver. "

And so it would appear that the sale of Bassedas, that they said would never be done with Boca Juniors, has after all been done:

Boca Juniors have signed Argentine international Christian Bassedas from Velez Sarsfield. Bassedas will replace Diego Cagna, who was recently transferred to Villareal. Boca have paid Velez half the $6 million transfer fee for the 26-year-old Bassedas, who could have gone to Newcastle United had their offer been to Velez' liking. The transfer is Boca's second in preparation for the upcoming Argentine league Clausura and Copa Libertadores. Their first was Marcelo "Chelo" Delgado, bought from Racing. They face Independiente in their opening Clausura match on Sunday.

Or has it ? So what were NUFC representatives doing in Argentina earlier this month ? And is it true that Mr. Bassedas has been spotted within the past 24 hours buying stotties in Greggs. Tune in for the latest exciting instalment of 'the Christian Files'.

-- Anonymous, May 31, 2000

Answers

The Steering Wheel....I can only assume he absoluteley bosses the midfield for Velez. Is this man the solution to our left wing problem? While he may not be an out and out left winger like, say, Giggs, would he be able to fill the berth. At about 5'8" and 11.5 stones he isn't the biggest which suggests he may be better off on the wing.

I hope he hasn't signed for Boca, though!

-- Anonymous, May 31, 2000

God, sounds like it was written by Buff. :@)

-- Anonymous, May 31, 2000

He better bloody not have. The bleating that'll be coming from the board will be deafening...

-- Anonymous, May 31, 2000

He sounds like Geoff Nulty to me

-- Anonymous, May 31, 2000

Can you get a refund on that book Loony??

Well done you will soon be abley y espanyol with the best of them!!!

Regarding your cryptic clue re France, was there not (as in wasn't) there some sort of kick about there in 98 I seem to remember a lot about it while I was driving the back roads of Burgundy. Something about Football coming home and Vindaloo?

-- Anonymous, May 31, 2000

Also for anyone who missed this last week.......

Former Magpie David McCreery, who has strong links with Argentinian football, said: "I saw Bassedas play for Velez Sarsfield against Boca and he has vision, experience and ability.

"I have talked to officials of Boca Juniors and they mentioned that it looked as though Bassedas was coming to Tyneside.

"They've seen him a lot more than me, of course, and they were full of praise for him. They reckon Newcastle are getting a cracking player.

"Argentinian footballers have a high skill level and once he settles in Bassedas should be a great acquisition for Bobby Robson," McCreery told the Newcastle Evening Chronicle

-- Anonymous, May 31, 2000

The Orrificial Site says that Bassedas has now signed for Newcastle for 6 million dollars (4 million quid). For that amount of money I hope he's good. Mind you, a 27 year old Argentinian international with a European passport shouldn't be too hard to shift if he isn't.

-- Anonymous, May 31, 2000

One snippet from the article mentioned by Si above raises all kinds of possibilities:

"The Argentinian played in the 1995 U-23 national side that took the Pan American Games title and Newcastle fans will be hoping that he can turn on the South American flare for Bobby Robson."

Why, has the poor auld fella's eyesight deteriorated so much that he needs Bassedas to nick him one of those bright beacons when catching the boat over from Argentina ? Or maybe YBR has been unsuccessful rummaging around second-hand shops in the Caribbean on the lookout for 70s revivalist troosas and has asked Christian to bring a pair with him ? We deserve to be told. (Now do I win your pedant Gus ?)

-- Anonymous, June 01, 2000

Good to here from you Loony, Just saw on the news about that plane crash in South Oz, It said one of the passengers killed was a 50 year old from Sydney.

I thought it might have been you;o))

Although close no pedant. You can claim that the bright smokey thing as a flare, however the troosas I believe are spoken in the plural as "Flares". When did you last gan oot in a pair of Flare?

-- Anonymous, June 01, 2000

>>When did you last gan oot in a pair of Flare?

We woz too poor where I came from (sniff sniff), so me and my elder brother had to share and get by with one flare each. Me mam was always telling us to "hop along now".

By the way, I can only assume 50 was a typo. I've never been confused with a 50 year old. A 5 year old, frequently, but never a 50 year old.

-- Anonymous, June 01, 2000

No typo, the report definately said 50 yo from Sydney.

You know how accurate these journos are, he was probably 20 from Melbourne.

-- Anonymous, June 01, 2000

Good taste in music as well!

From The Journal

>>And Bassedas (right) revealed AC/DC's Geordie frontman Brian Johnson played a big part in tempting him to pursue his career on Tyneside!

"I am a big fan of the band and I heard Brian Johnson was from Newcastle," said the 27-year-old. "I'm looking forward to meeting him next season."

-- Anonymous, June 01, 2000

Now we're cooking with gas! A headbanger in midfield can't hurt at all. Any chance of getting the crowd to sing Bassedas to the tune of 'Back in black'? Suddenly I have a new favourite player :-)

-- Anonymous, June 01, 2000

First attempt at posting a jpg image. Fingers crossed.

Badedas signs on the dotted line.

-- Anonymous, June 01, 2000

Oh well, back to the drawing board! *>:/$^!*|\*&%!!!

-- Anonymous, June 01, 2000

Try this

-- Anonymous, June 02, 2000

Thanks Steph.
I already feel entirely inadequate, in a cyberplank kind of way - no need to rub it in.

-- Anonymous, June 02, 2000

Clarky, try one of these [this had better bloody work!]:

./\ /D\

-- Anonymous, June 02, 2000

Somehow, I really should have expected that, shouldn't I? :-D

-- Anonymous, June 02, 2000

Clarky,

Easiest way to post an image from the net is to right-click on it, go to Properties then just cut'n'paste the url. Post as "img src=url" in angled brackets (no quotes).

-- Anonymous, June 02, 2000