Source: Telegraph
Sebastien Bassong: your number's up
1: Number of weeks spent on trial at Derbyshire giants Alfreton Town. Bassong made his debut for the Reds in a pre-season friendly against Doncaster Rovers in July 2008, before he was then signed by Dennis Wise, Newcastle's much-maligned former executive director (football).
10,000: Amount in pounds Bassong was fined for missing Newcastle's pre-season trip to Dundee United. Amazingly, that amounts to two weeks’ wages, meaning Wise not only signed a bloody good player, but also got him on the cheap. Xisco, on the other hand...
2: Matches for which Bassong was suspended after his red card against Fulham on May 16. One of those matches was served (Newcastle v Villa, May 26) but it was thought the Liverpool game would be the second match of that ban. However, Tottenham successfully appealed to the Football Association, and Bassong was made available. Many Liverpool fans are now asking why…
30: Number of Newcastle appearances made by Bassong without scoring a single goal. He scored just one in 79 appearances for FC Metz in France. Fantasy Footballers beware: Sunday was misleading.
5: Maximum number of Premier League games that could be missed by Bassong if he makes the Cameroon squad for the African Nations Cup. Although born in France, Bassong was called up by the Indomitable Lions for their World Cup qualifier against Morocco in June.
0: Chance of Bassong leaving Newcastle had Alan Shearer been appointed manager. Harry Redknapp: "Alan said 'if I stay at the club there is no way he'll ever leave'. Alan didn't get the job and he (Bassong) was the first person we went for."
2,034: Number of fans which Bassong has on the Facebook page: "Become a fan of Sebastien Bassong." A distinctly touristy profile picture shows him sat on the bench at Old Trafford.
