Extracts from Bassong Times interview

About Alex Neil:

"I go into this office. I see this young, bald guy. Serious face. As weird as it sounds, I already kind of liked him.? A smile spreads as Sebastien Bassong recalls his first meeting with Alex Neil.

?I like tough people,? Bassong explains. ?And I?m an observer. I don?t know him; he doesn?t know me. We just look at each other. Straight in the eye. For a long time.?

Neil spoke, ?and the way he was talking, even if it was a bit . . . threatening . . . that?s what made me think, ?I can get along with this guy.? Because there?s no bull****.?

This was January and Bassong was back from a loan at Watford, having left after a fallout with Neil Adams, the previous Norwich manager. But their new one said: ?I don?t know what went on before and I don?t give a ****. You?re a good player. Do your job and you?ll play.?? Threatening? There was one more thing. ?Before you go, Seb.?

?Yes boss??

?If you **** around I?ll break your balls.? Bassong left, laughing gently to himself. ?Ah, gosh, that was good, I thought. He?s a man,? the defender says.

At Norwich?s promotion party, while standing with his partner, Bassong suddenly saw his boss pointing and crossing the room towards him. Neil put an arm round his neck and drew him in. What he said was ?mostly Scottish? but Bassong got the gist: well done. And then there was one more thing: ?But remember. I?ll break your balls.?

Posted By: Jim, Aug 30, 10:41:53