To bad Bassedas isnt doing well football-wise because he again proves he's top class off the pitch:

"I have not spoken to the manager about my lack of first-team opportunities because there is no need to." "I still feel I made the right decision coming here and I am still happy at Newcastle," he added. "I won't go to the manager and ask for a change because I prefer to let my football do the talking."

-- Anonymous, October 18, 2001

Answers

Agreed....absolutely top notch professional :((

-- Anonymous, October 18, 2001

Bassedas has been a major disappointment to me. Argentina is a great footballing power and has been for years. Bassedas has some 20 odd caps so when he joined I thought fantastic. It seems the lad's attitude and professionalism are first class and he's very popular with the other players so I believe. He always comes across in the press as a brainy lad also. I have been patience, hoping the adjustment to the ELP & speaking English & different food & different culture & different weather would be problems he faced and dealt with.

I’ve never seen him have one good game.

-- Anonymous, October 18, 2001

At what exactly did Bassedas represent Argentina?.....snooker, darts....certainly couldn't have been football.

-- Anonymous, October 18, 2001

HEs a top bloke , he lives near my mate just nehind the wills factory, my mate asked him around for a drink and he came with his wife no problems he chatted about the toon and life over here. Basically he was worried that his performances were leaving the fans cold and he was worried that we thought he was no good. Of course i told him he was class cos thats the type of two faces git i am.

Ken

-- Anonymous, October 18, 2001

'twas said on here recently that he represented them as an amateur/Olympian or summat. Not quite the Argy-bargy first team :-(

-- Anonymous, October 18, 2001

Seems Bassedas may have a possible escape route. Also confirmation he won a silver medal in the Olympics.

-- Anonymous, October 18, 2001

Kennyboy, Bassedas lives next door to one of my mates. Ask your mate if he knows George Prior. Another Heaton connection rears it's mug.

-- Anonymous, October 18, 2001

"I prefer to let my football do the talking".

Then in future can it please say something other than "what the f*&k do I do with this round thing?"

-- Anonymous, October 18, 2001

Good blerk he may be: PL footballer he certainly ain't, unfortunately.

-- Anonymous, October 18, 2001

Syme I dont see him often but ask your mate if he knows Mitch. (Kieth)...

-- Anonymous, October 18, 2001

I'm undecided really, I don't think he's had much of a shot, he was injured most of last season, and although he may be having problems breaking into the side, so it would seem do a bunch of reserves (i.e. everyone's saviour Bernard). He also needs to assume his natural position, on the right side of midfield, a lot of his problems lie in that he has not really played there. I think we may yet see some light come from him, but unfortunately it may come in another side.

-- Anonymous, October 18, 2001

That's pretty much my feeling, Sparxx. He has shown he can be pure class (Leeds Boxing Day last season!), but hasn't gotten enough chances to play in his preferred position to show if that really was a fluke, or if that's normal. Somehow I get the feeling he just isn't going to make it with our team, though.

-- Anonymous, October 18, 2001

sparxx - Bassedas missed the start of the last season after breaking a bone in his foot during the pre-season in the US. I seem to recall he missed about 6-8 weeks. After that he was available for the rest of the season.

You're correct in saying that he was played out of position quite a lot - usually wide left, where he was invariably hopeless. However, he did play perhaps 6-8 games in his preferred position in central m/f, where he was similarly ineffective. He also played a few games in the middle earlier this season.

He's the sort of guy you really want to succeed, and he's as brave as a lion. However, he simply hasn't shown that he has what it takes to make it in the PL, and to me he always looks as though he needs a little more time on the ball than he is going to get at this level.

While Bassedas hasn't shown his ability, Acuna in smilar circumstances has demonstrated that he can do a job in the squad, and has been rewarded with a fair number of starts. If Bassedas was going to make it, I really feel he would have taken the place that Acuna has occupied, and sadly I just can't see the lad now making it.

-- Anonymous, October 18, 2001

Answered perfectly by Clarky

and makes the Rob Lee situation and how it is dealt with even more crucial.

There is nothing I would wish more than Lee to get an extra year on his contract, on the assumption that we have at least one central midfield power house in place.If this happens then Lee may have a role to play.

Bassedas is simply not the answer, as much as I wish he was.

-- Anonymous, October 18, 2001

It can't be easy not playing regularly. Anybody know how many times he's played for the Resorves? I don;t think I've seen him turn out for the 2nd string. Perhaps a stint at KP would do him good - assuming he can warrant selection ahead of Jamie McClen ;-)

-- Anonymous, October 18, 2001

Although nothing he has done suggests that he will make it big here, a run in the side for an extended period may make him come good. Just look at Juan Pablo Angel at Villa. He was hopeless last season, yet Gregory stuck with him despite criticism from fans. He looked to be on his way out but the offers were rejected. Finally it looks like the decision has come good and Angel is repaying Gregory.

It probably won't happen, but you never know. Remember that Solano was also a disappointment in his first season here.

-- Anonymous, October 18, 2001