Rangers fans may have wondered just what has happened to Calvin Bassey after his display for Fulham against Tottenham Hotspur.
Defender Calvin Bassey is a perfect example of developing a cheap signing into a star.
Rangers paid a bargain £230,000 fee to sign Bassey from Leicester City back in 2020, originally signing him as a left back.
The Nigerian ended up becoming a very impressive centre back for Rangers, shining during the run to the Europa League final in 2022.
Rangers cashed in, selling Bassey for around £23million to Ajax – a staggering windfall just two years on from a bargain move to Ibrox.
Bassey didn’t really shine in Amsterdam though, and was sold again this past summer as Fulham struck a £19.3million deal.
Calvin Bassey struggles in Fulham defeat
Bassey is still trying to rediscover his Rangers form but Monday was not the night for him.
The 23-year-old started as the right-sided centre back for Fulham against Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham Hotspur.
Bassey was, unfortunately, at fault for both goals in a 2-0 Spurs win.
Two wayward passes in his own half saw Tottenham cash in, punishing Bassey in brutal fashion with two well-taken goals.
This was a horror show for Bassey and the London Evening Standard rated him at just three out of 10.
They suggested that his performance was a ‘shocker’ for Bassey, highlighting his errors for the two Tottenham goals.
90Min went even lower with a one out of 10 rating, but Fulhamish went with five out of 10 and were understanding to the positional issue Bassey faced against Tottenham…
Bassey as a right centre back is asking for trouble
Rangers fans know Bassey as an outstanding left-sided centre back but Fulham played him on the right side against Tottenham.
Tim Ream is Fulham’s left-sided centre back and with Issa Diop ruled out, Bassey was forced into action on the right side.
Many will say that professional footballers should be good on both feet, but the reality is that many players have a dominant side.
Bassey is one of those with almost all of his senior action coming either as a left back or left-sided centre back.
Throwing Bassey in on the right side was unlikely to end well and both Tottenham goals came from right-footed clearances by Bassey which missed the target.
Marco Silva had few other options but playing Bassey on the right side will have raised eyebrows in the Rangers fanbase.
Rangers supporters will feel that Bassey would give better performances in a more natural position, and we hope he gets the chance to show Fulham fans what he can do on the left side of Silva’s back four.
