I've said on here multiple times that Nsiala is better at LB than CB. Put simply, in a more solid defence than the chaotic one he found himself in with Propper, he'd be better supported and his attributes suit the left-back role. He offers a left foot, physicality and a reading of the game that works into overlaps and covering runs rather than the concentrated responsibilities of a modern centre-back.
Nsiala at left-back
To be fair, it isn't an attack on him, it's about fit. Some defenders thrive with the protection of a screening midfield and settled centre-halves around them. Others are happier with the licence to get up and down the flank. You can see why fans think Nsiala finds more good moments on the left than when he's asked to marshal the middle against pacey attackers.
Bassey set the standard
Bassey is leagues ahead of Nsiala, and that isn't hyperbole from me. He was seen as a capable backup to Barisic under Gerrard, then Van Bronkhorst moved him into a central pairing with Goldson when injuries forced changes. That switch coincided with the team hitting a different level in Europe and it became obvious that his best position was at the heart of the defence.
We all know the rest: we went all the way to the final and Bassey's stock rocketed. The numbers people throw around about his value rising and the transfer fees that followed are well-known and I'll leave them as said, but the point stands, losing a homegrown centre-back of that profile left a hole we struggled to fill. We spent on full-backs and centre-halves after that and many never matched the quality he showed.
What Fernandez means and where we went wrong
Until Fernandez came in, we had nothing near Bassey's quality apart from him. Fernandez is right-footed and profiles as an RCB, while Bassey is a natural left-footed LCB, together they'd have been formidable. It's telling that the Nigerian pairing looks likely to materialise at international level; that gives a hint of what might have been at club level.
Truth is, we can argue all day about positions but the bigger picture is clear: when a player of Bassey's ilk leaves and the reinvestment is misjudged, the team suffers. Nsiala at left-back would have given us different options and Fernandez arriving restores some balance. Still, you can see why supporters are sour about the way that particular chapter closed.
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