Gaetan Bong

[Statto]

Blast from the past:

https://twitter.com/NFFC/status/1518521446259175424?s=20&t=l0R0IvDRpoKdtyPu1CGZwg

Really don't like some of the responses.

Though he's clearly not a fans' favourite, he is still our player, he has still done his best when called upon, and may still have a role to play this season.

 

[Mr. Blonde]

I don't know what people's problem is with him. OK he's hardly been our greatest signing and will doubtless be let go when his contract is up but that's hardly his fault.

In the meantime as long as he turns up to training and puts the effort in then I have no issues with him.

 

[Ashley]

He's not very good, but does his best when selected. Which is more than can be said for some of our bomb squad players over the years.

 

[valspoodle]

I agree. If some clueless individual offers you a large amount of money to do very little. you'd be dumb not to take it.

When asked, he's played and made every effort for the team, so good luck to him.

 

[MaxiRobriguez]

He's absolutely shite but blame lies in whoever signed off the transfer in the first place.

Alf flare sent up, obviously.

 

[Ilson]

Not even in todays second string squad.

 

[GOBIAS]

Not even in todays second string squad.

As a left back I guess you know you are surplus when an injury prone attacking right winger plays left back instead of you.

 

[Statto]

He's absolutely shite but blame lies in whoever signed off the transfer in the first place.

Alf flare sent up, obviously.

Lamouchi. That window really did set us back in so many ways. We needed a striker and some cover players, we got a stoner, someone who couldn't trap a ball and a striker who tried his best but ended up being played as a winger and couldn't score for us.

I don't dislike Bong though. He always did his best for us even though it was shite, and he'd been presumably told several times he wasn't in the club's plans.

 

[Statto]

Not even in todays second string squad.

Not sure he could've been. Injuries aside, 10 of our 18 had to have been in the 18 on Tuesday. Blame scruddies for that one.

So once you'd made the decision to rotate, your bench players going into the 11 is the obvious starting point. With no Colback or Lowe, McKenna as the left footed CB or swapping Laryea or moving Panzo was the cover option for Lolley.

 

[Statto]

As a left back I guess you know you are surplus when an injury prone attacking right winger plays left back instead of you.

I don't get it.

Lolley is left footed, so hardly a right winger, in reality it's probably as logical as playing colback there. Joe is tactically adaptable enough to manage it.

I guess part of me still hates this inverted winger nonsense. Play them on their natural sides and have the cutting in as the plan B. But that depends how two-footed you are.

 

[GOBIAS]

I don't get it.

Lolley is left footed, so hardly a right winger, in reality it's probably as logical as playing colback there. Joe is tactically adaptable enough to manage it.

I guess part of me still hates this inverted winger nonsense. Play them on their natural sides and have the cutting in as the plan B. But that depends how two-footed you are.

It was a throw away joke and I tried to make it sound as ridiculous as possible. But he probably played his best football for Forest as a right winger just ahead of cash.

I’d say when lolley first came and he used to plough up and down the left side with great athleticism he would have probably fitted that lwb quite well in certain games when you are likely to be attacking.

Anyway, thankfully bong is presumably out the door which is more good news. Although as you say he is far from the worst character to grace nffc down the years.

 

[cheapseats]

Lamouchi. That window really did set us back in so many ways. We needed a striker and some cover players, we got a stoner, someone who couldn't trap a ball and a striker who tried his best but ended up being played as a winger and couldn't score for us.

I don't dislike Bong though. He always did his best for us even though it was shite, and he'd been presumably told several times he wasn't in the club's plans.

We got Bong 3 years too late and he then conveniently slipped into that role as one of the lads the fans love to hate (we seem to need 'em but we are not always right).
Ironically I could see a younger Bong fitting in quite well with Coops wing back formation. He was shit at defending but not bad going forward and who knows that might have worked under different circumstances...

Is he out of contract at the end of the season?

 

[Statto]

We got Bong 3 years too late and he then conveniently slipped into that role as one of the lads the fans love to hate (we seem to need 'em but we are not always right).
Ironically I could see a younger Bong fitting in quite well with Coops wing back formation. He was shit at defending but not bad going forward and who knows that might have worked under different circumstances...

Is he out of contract at the end of the season?

Yes.

I think at the time we had both people seemed to over-rate Yuri and under-rate Bong, though Yuri was the better player there was less between them than people used to make out.

People always mention that Charlton match, but that was another occasion when the manager shuffled a lot, so not only was Bong making his debut it was in the middle of a bunch of fringe players.

The signing also wasn't bad on paper. Bong had won promotion with Brighton (who were managed by Hughton at the time, who later managed him here) was an established PL player after that, and was presumably known to the board because he played for Oly. And we needed LB cover as I think we'd let Robinson and Chema go in the same window, so we had no real cover at all for Yuri.

To be fair with Bong he wasn't a bad defender and he wasn't too bad going forwards either. Most of the issues were down to his positioning, which is possibly a coaching issue, Cooper may well have been able to improve that, who knows what work Hughton did on the shape of the side in training etc.

It's definitely a position they will be looking at, Lowe is a bit injury prone I fear, and maybe not quite what we need in the PL or a promotion chasing side (and will probably be going back from loan), Colback isn't really a wing back though he's doing a great job filling in there (and isn't getting younger), Panzo is probably more of a LCB than a LWB, and Laryea can play there but will probably be RWB assuming Spence is going to a bigger club even if we go up.

Bong won't be the answer anyway given he's probably on a high wage and he's 34 now.

 

[Notcher]

Yes.

I think at the time we had both people seemed to over-rate Yuri and under-rate Bong, though Yuri was the better player there was less between them than people used to make out.

People always mention that Charlton match, but that was another occasion when the manager shuffled a lot, so not only was Bong making his debut it was in the middle of a bunch of fringe players.

The signing also wasn't bad on paper. Bong had won promotion with Brighton (who were managed by Hughton at the time, who later managed him here) was an established PL player after that, and was presumably known to the board because he played for Oly. And we needed LB cover as I think we'd let Robinson and Chema go in the same window, so we had no real cover at all for Yuri.

To be fair with Bong he wasn't a bad defender and he wasn't too bad going forwards either. Most of the issues were down to his positioning, which is possibly a coaching issue, Cooper may well have been able to improve that, who knows what work Hughton did on the shape of the side in training etc.

It's definitely a position they will be looking at, Lowe is a bit injury prone I fear, and maybe not quite what we need in the PL or a promotion chasing side (and will probably be going back from loan), Colback isn't really a wing back though he's doing a great job filling in there (and isn't getting younger), Panzo is probably more of a LCB than a LWB, and Laryea can play there but will probably be RWB assuming Spence is going to a bigger club even if we go up.

Bong won't be the answer anyway given he's probably on a high wage and he's 34 now.

Yuri was miles ahead of Bong and his athleticism and style would probably do very in Cooper's side. I'm sure with coops coaching he would have improved in those wide crossing areas too.

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[Master Yates]

Jesus there’s a hell of a lot of revisionism going on in this thread. Bong is, was and always has been terrible for us. Probably the only non-League-One era player who could legitimately challenge for the worst Forest eleven I’ve seen.

Edit: Dumitru and Diakhaby

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[cheapseats]

Jesus there’s a hell of a lot of revisionism going on in this thread. Bong is, was and always has been terrible for us. Probably the only non-League-One era player who could legitimately challenge for the worst Forest eleven I’ve seen.

Edit: Dumitru and Diakhaby

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I think that’s a little unfair. Truth is he’s never had much of a run in the team to judge. I’m not saying he would rip up any trees if he did or that he was a “good” signing but to put him in the worst 11 is pushing it. Let’s face it there’s titanic competition

 

[Oakwood Red]

His "efforts" being in the team against Coventry start of the season, made me happy to not see him play for the 1st team
EVER AGAIN, NUFF SAID!

 

[Statto]

Jesus there’s a hell of a lot of revisionism going on in this thread. Bong is, was and always has been terrible for us. Probably the only non-League-One era player who could legitimately challenge for the worst Forest eleven I’ve seen.

Edit: Dumitru and Diakhaby

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Pretty sure we have had left-backs as bad as Bong if not worse.

Aside from Megson's crap, we had Davy Oyen who spent more time injured than available (at least Bong has been selectable), Gregor Robertson, Wes Morgan played there and got turned over a lot when he got into the side, Joel Lynch (primarily a CB), that lad we had on loan from Wolves in the cotternil era, Dan Harding, Danny Fox, Armand Traore...

Considering each of those as a left-back and for us, probably equally shit as Bong has been.

In fact, looking back even since promotion largely our left backs have been brilliant or terrible. Not too many like Greg Cunningham have been average, Pinillos was decent when he wasn't injured, and the rest of the decent ones were on loan (Jokic, Shorey, Konchesky, Bertrand, Lowe).

In terms of general shit summer of 2016 has to be the worst aside from the 2020 Jan window (where at least we only brought in 3 players) - Pereira, Lam, Perquis, Stojkovic, Henderson, Traore, Bendtner, Dumitru, Lica, what a bunch of shite.

 

[Master Yates]

Pretty sure we have had left-backs as bad as Bong if not worse.

Aside from Megson's crap, we had Davy Oyen who spent more time injured than available (at least Bong has been selectable), Gregor Robertson, Wes Morgan played there and got turned over a lot when he got into the side, Joel Lynch (primarily a CB), that lad we had on loan from Wolves in the cotternil era, Dan Harding, Danny Fox, Armand Traore...

Considering each of those as a left-back and for us, probably equally shit as Bong has been.

In fact, looking back even since promotion largely our left backs have been brilliant or terrible. Not too many like Greg Cunningham have been average, Pinillos was decent when he wasn't injured, and the rest of the decent ones were on loan (Jokic, Shorey, Konchesky, Bertrand, Lowe).

In terms of general shit summer of 2016 has to be the worst aside from the 2020 Jan window (where at least we only brought in 3 players) - Pereira, Lam, Perquis, Stojkovic, Henderson, Traore, Bendtner, Dumitru, Lica, what a bunch of shite.

Oyen was much better than Bong when he was fit. Harding, Traore, Fox all better, Lynch much better too.

Only Gregor Robertson or Joe Heath could compete with Bong.


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[Master Yates]

I think that’s a little unfair. Truth is he’s never had much of a run in the team to judge. I’m not saying he would rip up any trees if he did or that he was a “good” signing but to put him in the worst 11 is pushing it. Let’s face it there’s titanic competition

He’s never had much of a run in the team because every time he’s played he’s looked like he’s been pulled from the crowd 5 minutes before kickoff.


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[Statto]

Oyen was much better than Bong when he was fit. Harding, Traore, Fox all better, Lynch much better too.

Only Gregor Robertson or Joe Heath could compete with Bong.


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I agree about how good Oyen was. He was definitely as good as Brennan who was the first choice LB at the time from what we saw of him. Sadly that was the precise issue - he may have been Roberto Carlos in terms of ability but that's no good when you're permanently injured.

Lynch was a LCB who was pushed into playing LB because we had no-one better, or didn't keep a loanee. Like when Calderwood played Chambers at RB, it didn't really work. He was a good CB but the same positioning faults happened with Bong when Lynch played LB, he used to go inside too much, and wasn't potent enough in the attacking side (which Bong is) for a Championship level full back. Good player, but as a left back, which was the point of the comparison, he wasn't really much better than Bong if at all.

Traore was utterly terrible, I think aside from that Arsenal match, did nothing for us and was part of one of our worst defences. No way he was better than Bong for us. And another who spent more time injured than useful.

As for Soton's promotion winning LBs, well, I actually thought as a LB Harding was much better for us than Fox, who was at least acceptable as a CB. It says a fair amount about both of them, that Soton saw it fit to replace Harding with Fox midway through their promotion season, then shortly after Fox lost his place to an 18 year old (OK, that was Luke Shaw, but still), so presumably they saw him as little improvement if at all. For us Harding was clearly a rush buy who didn't do too badly for us, but then his next stop was Eastleigh. I really think they're on the same level as Bong.

Don't forget Bong made the majority of his appearances for us in a Hughton side which was badly coached, but still solid at the back, in those situations, a player who needs coaching tactically (which I think he does, since his faults are mainly tactical) will usually look worse than they are. Even this season he was used sparingly and mainly a sub under a manager who is a good coach of the players in this sense.

Under Hughton he played
- 90 mins vs Cov, lost 2-1 (when he decided to assault a cov player and get suspended)
- 90 mins vs Stoke, lost 2-1
- 90 mins vs Derby, drew 1-1, 1 assist

And under Cooper
- 59 mins on as sub vs Reading when Lowe got injured - 1-1
- 21 mins on as sub vs Luton presumably when Colback was sent off - 0-0
- 90 mins vs WBA when Lowe was injured and Colback suspended - 0-0
- 1 min on as sub vs Swansea - 4-1
During that time the only goal we conceded was Scott Dann from the corner vs Reading, which probably wasn't down to Bong.

Definitely 3rd choice LB (behind a CM) but even so, he has been solid enough defensively for us under Cooper.

And I know these stats are usually misleading, but unbelievably last season he wasn't on the losing side for us.

I do think you're being a bit harsh on him - he's not good, but he's not as terrible as some make out

 

[Project Zeus]

Jesus there’s a hell of a lot of revisionism going on in this thread. Bong is, was and always has been terrible for us. Probably the only non-League-One era player who could legitimately challenge for the worst Forest eleven I’ve seen.

Edit: Dumitru and Diakhaby

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I will never forget that game where Diakhaby took his first touch close to the half-way line and knocked it out for a goal kick...

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[Statto]

I will never forget that game where Diakhaby took his first touch close to the half-way line and knocked it out for a goal kick...

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The funniest thing about Diakhaby is that at least he wasn't our player, we rightly sent him back. Scruddies paid 11m for him!

A tinpot Franz Carr style, all pace and absolutely no ability as a footballer or end product at all.

Of the three we brought in that window, at least Da Costa tried. People talk about that OG but he was the only one who was showing the determination to chase back and stop them scoring.

 

[Master Yates]

I agree about how good Oyen was. He was definitely as good as Brennan who was the first choice LB at the time from what we saw of him. Sadly that was the precise issue - he may have been Roberto Carlos in terms of ability but that's no good when you're permanently injured.

Lynch was a LCB who was pushed into playing LB because we had no-one better, or didn't keep a loanee. Like when Calderwood played Chambers at RB, it didn't really work. He was a good CB but the same positioning faults happened with Bong when Lynch played LB, he used to go inside too much, and wasn't potent enough in the attacking side (which Bong is) for a Championship level full back. Good player, but as a left back, which was the point of the comparison, he wasn't really much better than Bong if at all.

Traore was utterly terrible, I think aside from that Arsenal match, did nothing for us and was part of one of our worst defences. No way he was better than Bong for us. And another who spent more time injured than useful.

As for Soton's promotion winning LBs, well, I actually thought as a LB Harding was much better for us than Fox, who was at least acceptable as a CB. It says a fair amount about both of them, that Soton saw it fit to replace Harding with Fox midway through their promotion season, then shortly after Fox lost his place to an 18 year old (OK, that was Luke Shaw, but still), so presumably they saw him as little improvement if at all. For us Harding was clearly a rush buy who didn't do too badly for us, but then his next stop was Eastleigh. I really think they're on the same level as Bong.

Don't forget Bong made the majority of his appearances for us in a Hughton side which was badly coached, but still solid at the back, in those situations, a player who needs coaching tactically (which I think he does, since his faults are mainly tactical) will usually look worse than they are. Even this season he was used sparingly and mainly a sub under a manager who is a good coach of the players in this sense.

Under Hughton he played
- 90 mins vs Cov, lost 2-1 (when he decided to assault a cov player and get suspended)
- 90 mins vs Stoke, lost 2-1
- 90 mins vs Derby, drew 1-1, 1 assist

And under Cooper
- 59 mins on as sub vs Reading when Lowe got injured - 1-1
- 21 mins on as sub vs Luton presumably when Colback was sent off - 0-0
- 90 mins vs WBA when Lowe was injured and Colback suspended - 0-0
- 1 min on as sub vs Swansea - 4-1
During that time the only goal we conceded was Scott Dann from the corner vs Reading, which probably wasn't down to Bong.

Definitely 3rd choice LB (behind a CM) but even so, he has been solid enough defensively for us under Cooper.

And I know these stats are usually misleading, but unbelievably last season he wasn't on the losing side for us.

I do think you're being a bit harsh on him - he's not good, but he's not as terrible as some make out

I don’t think you are watching the same player as me. “Potent” in an attacking sense? “Faults are mainly tactical”? His faults are mainly because he can’t play football


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[GreeksBearingGifts]

I don’t think you are watching the same player as me. “Potent” in an attacking sense? “Faults are mainly tactical”? His faults are mainly because he can’t play football

The Bong hasn't got a clue what a left back is supposed to do. He's just an OK athlete with a decent cross in him. How he made money in Premier football is completely beyond me.