Calvin Bassey

[demeant0r]

Watched the MotD highlights and it did underline how his positioning causes us a lot of problems. He's not occupying the left central zone for the first which is how they slide it into space. For other chances he wanders a little bit forward and then tries to hurry back. It's like he goes walkabout.

Definitely needs to get more discipline positionally.

As @vancouver says though, I think he's the kind of personality you need in a midtable team. But defensively he has been a bit of a liability at times lately.

But we need our defenders, CBs at least, to defend first and foremost. Not to bomb forward and leave huge gaps for counterattacks. Maybe my view on CBs are a bit old school but defenders should first and foremost defend.

[hopper]

Watched the MotD highlights and it did underline how his positioning causes us a lot of problems. He's not occupying the left central zone for the first which is how they slide it into space. For other chances he wanders a little bit forward and then tries to hurry back. It's like he goes walkabout.

Definitely needs to get more discipline positionally.

As @vancouver says though, I think he's the kind of personality you need in a midtable team. But defensively he has been a bit of a liability at times lately.

But we need our defenders, CBs at least, to defend first and foremost. Not to bomb forward and leave huge gaps for counterattacks. Maybe my view on CBs are a bit old school but defenders should first and foremost defend.

My post critiques exactly how his positioning is a liability, not praising him bombing on for counters, so I'm slightly confused at your reply? Him pushing high to try get the ball back in an advanced position cost us the game against Palace as well.

[Thailand Mick]

Didn't see the whole game but watched 10 minutes of extended highlights, for me we seemed to play like we had five at the back but with only four. The fullbacks pushed up so the CB's were pulled across to cover leaving either a big gap between them or a big gap at the back post. This happened even for the first Leno save were Anderson move over to cover Tete.

[demeant0r]

Watched the MotD highlights and it did underline how his positioning causes us a lot of problems. He's not occupying the left central zone for the first which is how they slide it into space. For other chances he wanders a little bit forward and then tries to hurry back. It's like he goes walkabout.

Definitely needs to get more discipline positionally.

As @vancouver says though, I think he's the kind of personality you need in a midtable team. But defensively he has been a bit of a liability at times lately.

But we need our defenders, CBs at least, to defend first and foremost. Not to bomb forward and leave huge gaps for counterattacks. Maybe my view on CBs are a bit old school but defenders should first and foremost defend.

My post critiques exactly how his positioning is a liability, not praising him bombing on for counters, so I'm slightly confused at your reply? Him pushing high to try get the ball back in an advanced position cost us the game against Palace as well.

Sorry my post wasn't a critique at you praising him for the counters, just a comment at how bad he has been this season. It's like he wants to play the box-to-box role but he's stuck being a defender. Maybe he's been instructed to do this by Marco but it has got to stop. It's costing us goals.

[hopper]

Watched the MotD highlights and it did underline how his positioning causes us a lot of problems. He's not occupying the left central zone for the first which is how they slide it into space. For other chances he wanders a little bit forward and then tries to hurry back. It's like he goes walkabout.

Definitely needs to get more discipline positionally.

As @vancouver says though, I think he's the kind of personality you need in a midtable team. But defensively he has been a bit of a liability at times lately.

But we need our defenders, CBs at least, to defend first and foremost. Not to bomb forward and leave huge gaps for counterattacks. Maybe my view on CBs are a bit old school but defenders should first and foremost defend.

My post critiques exactly how his positioning is a liability, not praising him bombing on for counters, so I'm slightly confused at your reply? Him pushing high to try get the ball back in an advanced position cost us the game against Palace as well.

Sorry my post wasn't a critique at you praising him for the counters, just a comment at how bad he has been this season. It's like he wants to play the box-to-box role but he's stuck being a defender. Maybe he's been instructed to do this by Marco but it has got to stop. It's costing us goals.

Yeah, it's absolute chaos. That all action thing is his game, and loved him last season. But we need to score 2 or 3 most weeks to win a game. We must be so much fun for opposition front lines to play against. You've got Andersen who turns as fast as a cargo ship, which leaves lots of space. Or you'll have Bassey going walkabout and leaving tonnes of space himself. Thankfully our full backs are pretty good at compensating for this.

I find them as a pair the inverse of Hughes and Hangeland who knew how to complement each other. It's like as a pair they're still learning each other's names.

Spurs game was a notable exception to this though, where they were both pretty heroic.

Looking forward to Cuenca time.

[I Ronic]

I think CB is one of those rare positions in football where you are half of something. We had it with Hughes and Hangeland. I don't see it with Andersen and Calvin. I'm honest I'd prefer to see Issa and Calvin.
AFCON is going to force Marco (or his replacement) to make some changes. I hope Cuenca seizes his chance.

[The Little Dave]

Don't understand the criticism of a player whose positioning and lack of attention caused one big chance and two goals??

Not sure what to make of this post.

[Twig]

I think CB is one of those rare positions in football where you are half of something. We had it with Hughes and Hangeland. I don't see it with Andersen and Calvin. I'm honest I'd prefer to see Issa and Calvin.
AFCON is going to force Marco (or his replacement) to make some changes. I hope Cuenca seizes his chance.

"His replacement", you think Marco is out before AFCON (and a replacement signed as well)? On what basis can you imply that? Absolutely no chance!

[DadCreature]

Bassy was very poor yesterday.  Marked no one on the first goal leaving Robinson on an island to cover two.  I think Robinson should have covered inside to force a harder pass and ball out wide, but THATS NOT HIS JOB.   He covers the wide spaces and did not react to Bassy's mistake in time.

[I Ronic]

I think CB is one of those rare positions in football where you are half of something. We had it with Hughes and Hangeland. I don't see it with Andersen and Calvin. I'm honest I'd prefer to see Issa and Calvin.
AFCON is going to force Marco (or his replacement) to make some changes. I hope Cuenca seizes his chance.

"His replacement", you think Marco is out before AFCON (and a replacement signed as well)? On what basis can you imply that? Absolutely no chance!

I've no idea. Marco has yet to sign a new contract. Reportedly due to investment in the team. Club say they want him to stay. With the Window opening begining Jan to the begining Feb. AFCON finishing on 18th Jan. It's a bit of a crunch moment don't you think?

[Colton F.C.]

Effusive praise for Calvin this morning on.......Talk Sh*te.  Well faint praise if it comes from them but it shows opinion varies. I think he did ok and spent a lot of effort supporting a not ready Antonee.  Generally his gung ho style is often what we need.

[hovewhite]

I think CB is one of those rare positions in football where you are half of something. We had it with Hughes and Hangeland. I don't see it with Andersen and Calvin. I'm honest I'd prefer to see Issa and Calvin.
AFCON is going to force Marco (or his replacement) to make some changes. I hope Cuenca seizes his chance.

"His replacement", you think Marco is out before AFCON (and a replacement signed as well)? On what basis can you imply that? Absolutely no chance!

I've no idea. Marco has yet to sign a new contract. Reportedly due to investment in the team. Club say they want him to stay. With the Window opening begining Jan to the begining Feb. AFCON finishing on 18th Jan. It's a bit of a crunch moment don't you think?

so fed up with Marcos contract I will wish him well if he goes but I'm not worried and can see rosineior coming in.

[Jims Dentist]

I like Bassey's strength,power and total commitment.
However, he seems to struggle to get his big frame off the ground and so doesn't win the amount of headed duels that a centre back should.

[Twig]

I think CB is one of those rare positions in football where you are half of something. We had it with Hughes and Hangeland. I don't see it with Andersen and Calvin. I'm honest I'd prefer to see Issa and Calvin.
AFCON is going to force Marco (or his replacement) to make some changes. I hope Cuenca seizes his chance.

"His replacement", you think Marco is out before AFCON (and a replacement signed as well)? On what basis can you imply that? Absolutely no chance!

I've no idea. Marco has yet to sign a new contract. Reportedly due to investment in the team. Club say they want him to stay. With the Window opening begining Jan to the begining Feb. AFCON finishing on 18th Jan. It's a bit of a crunch moment don't you think?

so fed up with Marcos contract I will wish him well if he goes but I'm not worried and can see rosineior coming in.

We all want the Marco contract issue resolved, on that we can agree. However for I Ronic to talk about Marco's replacement being forced to make changes due to AFCON is just plain silly.

[Nero]

I really cannot understand the criticism of Calvin from some quarters. Very few, if any of the critics actually clarify what he is doing wrong. To me he is a monster and I was really happy that he scored this evening and don't forget, he was voted player of the season last year.

I always say what the problem is. He is wreckless. He is selfish... His run taking on burnley single handed was brilliant but rather than lay off the ball for a virtually certain good attempt he just had to have a wild slash at the goal which was bound to miss.
He takes way too long to release the ball when in possession at the back.

That is what is wrong with him

Despite all that I love him, he is a genuine character and if he thought a bit harder about the game he would be a way better player.

To be fair if a was a centre back and ran the lengh of the pitch and a chance of the goal of the season/ goal of my life i might have taken a shot

[Jim©]

To be fair if a was a centre back and ran the lengh of the pitch and a chance of the goal of the season/ goal of my life i might have taken a shot

But that sums him up a bit- he could have squared it for a tap in for the completely unmarked Chuk or ESR but he went for glory and himself. What a waste of a superb run. Imagine if Chuk hadn't squared it to Wilson? We'd probably have ended up with a point.

[sunburywhite]

Lets see how much we miss him during Afcon and come back and visit this thread then

[Super Mick]

I really cannot understand the criticism of Calvin from some quarters. Very few, if any of the critics actually clarify what he is doing wrong. To me he is a monster and I was really happy that he scored this evening and don't forget, he was voted player of the season last year.

I always say what the problem is. He is wreckless. He is selfish... His run taking on burnley single handed was brilliant but rather than lay off the ball for a virtually certain good attempt he just had to have a wild slash at the goal which was bound to miss.
He takes way too long to release the ball when in possession at the back.

That is what is wrong with him

Despite all that I love him, he is a genuine character and if he thought a bit harder about the game he would be a way better player.

A certain goal if he'd passed and 4.1 up would have been much better for the team! 

[FishaPrice]

Bassey is such a talent and has improved our backline. Is he perfect? No. But, overall he is improving with time and has a high ceiling in my opinion. He has the physicality, the height, the positioning, speed, and ball handling/passing abilities to succeed at the highest level.

[btffc]

By the way Marco singled out Robinson as the one to blame for the positioning on the first goal