Season with NUFC: 2008/09 Appearances: 34, Goals: 0 Amongst the many differences of opinion Kevin Keegan and Dennis Wise had experienced at Newcastle they found themselves in unequivocal agreement on Bassong after he impressed in a pre-season friendly against Doncaster in the summer of 2008. His unheralded arrival was greeted by chants of "If 46 scores, we'll be on the pitch" by the Newcastle supporters who had no clue as to the identity of the elegant and unhurried defender donning the no. 46 jersey. That was in part thanks to the PA announcer at the Keepmoat Stadium who'd chosen not to read out the team lineups as Doncaster wanted to keep the names of their three triallists under wraps. Debuting in a League Cup tie against Coventry in August and making his Premier League bow against Arsenal a few days later, Bassong was soon an automatic starter and a rose amongst the thorns in a disastrous season that saw us drop out of the top-flight, deservedly scooping the Player of the Year award. However, he risked the wrath of the Toon faithful after expressing a desire to leave in the wake of our relegation and the Club made a staggering £8 million profit when he joined Tottenham.
