Bassong Voices Frustration With Playing Time

Sebastien Bassong has had a tough season so far in 2011-12. He entered the year fifth on the Tottenham depth chart, behind Michael Dawson, Ledley King, Younes Kaboul, and William Gallas in the center back ranks. Bassong has only earned one league start despite a plethora of injuries to the defensive ranks.

International football has offered no reprieve as well. Bassong, a starter for the Cameroonian National Team, saw the Indomitable Lions fail to qualify in disappointing fashion for this month's African Cup of Nations. Bassong, at age 25 with his career stalling, is unsurprisingly unhappy.

"Whether I stay or go, a solution has to be found," Bassong told L'Equipe. "I need to play."

Unfortunately for Bassong, his status is very much in limbo with Spurs. Ledley King and William Gallas have suffered long term injury, leaving the team perilously thin at center back. But Michael Dawson has just come back from injury, likely making Bassong a substitute once again.

For Daniel Levy, the most likely scenario seems perhaps the acquisition of a center back, then the selling of Bassong. Rumors have linked Tottenham with numerous starting caliber center backs, while Bassong has been rumored to be the target of QPR and West Ham. Still, it looks like the Bassong era at Tottenham may be coming to a disappointing end.