Florian Thauvin was again pursued by Newcastle last summer and it turned out to be third time lucky for us because we had been after him a couple of times before – starting with when he was at Bastia in January of 2013 but moved to Lille before then surprisingly moving to Marseille the following summer.
But when Thauvin was signed in August – it was well received by Newcastle fans – although we wondered how a player like Thauvin could make the grade on Tyneside when Remy Cabella has failed miserably the previous season.
Florian Thauvin – wasteful signing by Newcastle?
Florian and Remy are the same kind of build and have kind of similar skills, although Florian was apparently brought in because of his ability to cross a ball – according to head coach Steve McClaren – who didn’t have much to do with the signing.
Those skills were shown off well in the League Cup game against Northampton Town when he scored one and had three assists, but he hasn’t been able to produce that form in the Premier League.
The deal Newcastle finally struck with Marseille was to pay out £12M plus loan out Remy Cabella to them to get Thauvin – and they had to buy Remy once he made 12 appearances for them.
Remy’s done that now and the permanent transfer will take place in January – rumored to be for £6M.
So Newcastle have essentially paid out £6M and Remy Cabella to get a player who looks like failing as badly as Remy Cabella did last season.
That’s not looking like a good deal – at least at the moment.
You have to ask how people like Graham Carr – who had been after the player for years – could explain why he thought Florian would succeed where Remy had just failed.
That was always the worry with bringing Thauvin in, although we still hope he can make it on Tyneside.
And Thauvin also had a poor season for Marseille last term and it was a risk that looks like it may not pay off.
And it seems like another case of Newcastle failing to learn from previous mistakes.
We really do hope for Florian’s sake and for the sake of Newcastle that he can come through – but at the moment it’s not looking too good.
Newcastle have had some brilliant transfers since Graham Carr joined us back in February of 2010 – with signing players like Cheick Tiote, Demba Ba, Yohan Cabaye, Davide Santon, Papiss Cisse, Moussa Sissoko, Mathieu Debuchy, Daryl Janmaat and Ayoze Perez.
But we’ve also had the ones that failed like Dan Gosling, Sylvain Marveaux, Gabby Obertan, Gael Bigirimana, Romain Amalfitano, Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa, Yoan Gouffran and Remy Cabella.
With six of those failures being Frenchmen, Newcastle are now looking at countries like Holland, Spain, Germany and Belgium for new recruits.
What do you think?
Comments welcome.
67 comments so far
Reyantoon
Nov 16, 2015 at 9:49 AM
Comment #1Poor signing? I wouldn’t say that just yet!
Laurent Robert 32
Nov 16, 2015 at 9:56 AM
Comment #2Many people were laughing at Drogba when he first arrived as well. Jibes that he was clumsy, a waste of money etc. Now a Premier League legend.
Thauvin probably won’t be, but every player must be given time to adapt. I’ve said it before, Thauvin has some very good attributes, we’ll have to see if he can develop them.
Those ‘failures’ that Ed described, had to be led by a career-long failure of a management team and diabolical tactics. They may have achieved better things had the team attempted a better style of play.
Marveaux’s ‘failure’ was to provide the assists which actually kept us in the league.
Jib
Nov 16, 2015 at 9:57 AM
Comment #3Edward
How can you profess footy knowledge , then say a player is a bad signing after 12 league games and only 5 starts (3 in the PL)
Jib
Nov 16, 2015 at 10:00 AM
Comment #4I’m pretty sure Dan Gosling from Everton and Gabby Obertan from Manure had very little to do with Graham Carr.
Mag52
Nov 16, 2015 at 10:02 AM
Comment #5Come of it Ed. He’s hardly played 90 minutes for us so far.
the broons
Nov 16, 2015 at 10:03 AM
Comment #6I missed the cisse post but just to let people know, not a chance sell in January. He would struggle in championship now, Armstrong actually is ahead of him. Even Riverie…
mindshaft
Nov 16, 2015 at 10:05 AM
Comment #7bit harsh judging Thauvin after 3 starts although there was a feeling in France that we had overspent … we looked better when he came on against Bournemouth and he gave us an outlet.
Trouble is that half the team look useless and we’re around relegation do it’s unlikely McClaren will risk him starting
Munster Mag
Nov 16, 2015 at 10:08 AM
Comment #8Fair play to ed for making a judgement call. I agree with him, and dont think thauvin will make the grade. Carr has been overrated for years and from what i can see, thauvin looks a bit too slow for a kick off. By the way santon was not a successful buy either.
Laurent Robert 32
Nov 16, 2015 at 10:09 AM
Comment #9Headline grabbing or actual opinion, Ed?
croftus5678
Nov 16, 2015 at 10:09 AM
Comment #10(facepalm)
i’ve heard this a fair bit and once a player has been with us a while i do the same thing a-la obertan as i’m the first to admit i dont see him good enough and have wanted him out for a long time.
but come on thauvin has just joined us and had a few really good games ! ok yes one was against lower league team and another was as sub but the skill and accuracy is there !
i just think people are jumping on the bandwagon and saying he’s slow/fragile because one person said it instead of watching him themselves ! he’s not that slow or that weak and he has great movement with a decent cross in the right areas.
tbf i’d pick rolando ahead of him on the left as i think he’s better but on the right when sissoko has that cant be bothered game i dont see any negative in playing him as he will take time to adapt.
mindshaft
Nov 16, 2015 at 10:10 AM
Comment #11Thought the Dyer comment was quite funny last night … not sure why people were getting upset
Rotonda heights
Nov 16, 2015 at 10:15 AM
Comment #12shameless click bait
hibbitt
Nov 16, 2015 at 10:15 AM
Comment #13munster………..fair play to ED bollocks ED’S looking for hits nothing more nothing less
Laurent Robert 32
Nov 16, 2015 at 10:15 AM
Comment #14Munster, I’ve seen Santon have numerous good games and man of the matches. In the right style of play, he could have been even better, although needed to work on his delivery more. I liked him a lot and was quite disappointed he left.
robertsleftfoot
Nov 16, 2015 at 10:23 AM
Comment #15Its not Thauvins fault. We all seemed to know his strengths and weaknesses before we signed him but none the less Graham Carr went and splashed out on him.
He has probably doubled his money by signing for us and lets be honest if someone offered to double my wages for the same job I would snap their hand off……
Graham Carr is hugely overrated in the scouting division.
Sav
Nov 16, 2015 at 10:28 AM
Comment #16At least Thauvin is fit enough to walk to the airport unaided. Can’t say the same for de Jong. Thauvin was bad the season before we got him. de Jong had injury problems. Why does Carr always expect to resurrect players at Newcastle? Next time, I couldn’t care less what nationality they are but suggest Carr limit his list to players who are both able-bodied AND in the form of their lives.
nut meg
Nov 16, 2015 at 10:30 AM
Comment #17Gosling, Marveaux, Amalfitano, = free
Oba =3m ?
Bigi 1m?
Gouffran =1m?
Mapou =????
Cabella = ????
Not really expensive failures imho. at least not enough to whinge about.
Toe van….give him time !
croftus5678
Nov 16, 2015 at 10:35 AM
Comment #18@15 robert
if we are to judge we should judge on all his signings not just the stand out ones.
i agree he’s not as prolific as some make him out to be but he’s also not as bad as others say so would make a good debate of all him hits and misses if someone can find all his signings.
defenders needed
Nov 16, 2015 at 10:37 AM
Comment #19Give him a chance on the left I say, the first half at Bournemouth we got played off the park. When he came on he broke the game down and at least got the ball out of our half. Stop playing Anita move gini to the middle and play thauvin on the left give the fella a chance.
Laurent Robert 32
Nov 16, 2015 at 10:38 AM
Comment #20Another point on Santon, no matter the score (and there were some very bad scores) he’d always make his way, often on his own, over to around the edge of the 18 yard line in the Gallowgate (Strawberry corner) to applaud the fans. That was highly respectful and was done pretty much after every single home game and no doubt many away games as well. I was always very appreciative of him doing that.
Jail for Ashley
Nov 16, 2015 at 10:44 AM
Comment #21Jib going on about footy knowledge. AGAIN, what a shameless tw@t, he is constantly dropping clangers then calling people out for the slightest mistake and people wonder why the blog is quiet. Never have we had such a hypocritical,obnoxious, petty know fcuk all to spend this much time hanging around !!!
Lilongwe Geordie
Nov 16, 2015 at 11:02 AM
Comment #22Howay Ed, give the lad a chance. He is far more direct when compared to Cabella and still has a chance of cutting it. If he doesn’t he doesn’t, but now is way too early to write him off. I wasn’t a fan of signing him, but now he is here, writing him off so quickly is just daft.
After Mitro’s first few appearances people on here were writing him off. The words clumsy, oaf, lumbering and thug were commonly used. He is now viewed as integral to the system.
martoon
Nov 16, 2015 at 11:02 AM
Comment #23I have to say apart from Northampton he hasn’t really impressed. However unlike others I will not dismiss him yet as he may need time to settle. I think people forget it’s not just a new league it’s a complete new way of life for him i.e. new country, new language, new team, new house etc. Once he feels settled the football may well improve.
Jib
Nov 16, 2015 at 11:14 AM
Comment #24I feel a quiet satisfaction that I get under the skin of a plug like Jail for Ashley 😎
Jail for Ashley
Nov 16, 2015 at 11:16 AM
Comment #25Not only is he new to the league, country and language but he has come into a team woefully short of confidence and identity, the damage that John Carver was allowed to inflict was criminal, maybe if we start picking up some wins then the lad can be introduced to the team without so much pressure on him.
croftus5678
Nov 16, 2015 at 11:18 AM
Comment #26@21 jfa
everyone has an opinion and unfotunatly we can not all be right !
one thing jib has proven like it or not is that the amount of time he’s spent on the blog he is a toon fan.
what is stopping some people from commenting is the personal attacks that if they make a comment someone doesnt like they get abused and this is aimed at everyone who does it !
we are all toon fans and we all should have that as a good thing in our lives we shouldnt be turning on eachother.
Jail for Ashley
Nov 16, 2015 at 11:18 AM
Comment #27Jib,
I obviously get under yours a lot more as you as you have called me out gawd knows how many times under your different guises over the last year and a half !
Jail for Ashley
Nov 16, 2015 at 11:25 AM
Comment #28croftus,
I am making the point because the man is constantly digging people out for lack of footy knowledge while constantly making errors himself, we don’t all use Google before expressing ourselves on here, I just find it hugely hypocritical and shameless to constantly dig out people for mistakes. Btw why don’t you leap to my defence when he’s having a pop at me, is it because you agree more with his stance on Mike Ashley than mine ?
Thump
Nov 16, 2015 at 11:31 AM
Comment #29@nut meg: Mbiwa was around £8.5m, Cabella was £8m (we’ll say £2m due to the clause in his loan deal). Lest we forget the wages these players are on.
@croftus: I’ve been on this blog since 07ish and I would put money on JFA being right on the implication that people such as Jib/Jeff/Jane keep people away from the blog.
we are all toon fans and we all should have that as a good thing in our lives we shouldnt be turning on eachother.
Agreed. Unfortunately some are more combative than others, and want to be “top dog” of the blog. It’s been like that since Keegan walked tbh.
croftus5678
Nov 16, 2015 at 11:32 AM
Comment #30@28 jfa
i dont know what his stance is on ashley tbh i tend to only ski through certain things esp when theres fightig lol.
and no mate i would stick up for you also but i just logged on and noticed how quite it was and put 2 and 2 together.
like i said it’s aimed at everyone who does it not you personally ! as far as i’m concerned your all mates to me as we all want the best for our team.
Jail for Ashley
Nov 16, 2015 at 11:37 AM
Comment #31croftus,
You know fine well tat if Ashley took a dump in the centre circle Jib would say was to provide compost, as a regular reader on here don’t say you don’t know Jib’s supposed stance on the clubs hierarchy !
croftus5678
Nov 16, 2015 at 11:39 AM
Comment #32@29 thump
aye i’ve seen whats going on and has gone on in the past and know jib isnt innocent.
bit of winding up from all angles but it’s xmas soon 😉
think we can agree the only one thats truely wrong here is ed 😉 sorry ed only pulling your leg.
croftus5678
Nov 16, 2015 at 11:44 AM
Comment #33@31 jfa
so many have hatred for ashley and so many think the sun shines out his backside ! i read the comments then tend to forget the ones i think are two one sided.
with ash i’ve been on both sides and changed more than once tbh.
to start he was good with his finacial plan ect then went very very sour ! then got involved and made the sissoko+co signings and then again let himself down badly lol.
now i think the balance is right ! he’s spending money on better quality players but staying the fk away from the club which suits me perfectly!
i wont hold me breath though as tomoz is another day with fatman on the patrol.
nut meg
Nov 16, 2015 at 11:45 AM
Comment #34Thump
I’m not sure how much we paid for Mapou or Cabella, depending on what report you read they seemed to vary by several million on each player.That was why I put question marks next to their names.We also got or are getting fees back for both players so the cost is greatly reduced.I suppose the point I was trying to make was that Ed was highlighting free or very cheap transfers as failures.
Rotonda heights
Nov 16, 2015 at 11:49 AM
Comment #35Jib
How sad is is it that an alleged NUFC fan is continuously trying to wind up and get under the skin of real fans. Hard to guess the motivation. Is there really so little going on in your head?
John Tudor
Nov 16, 2015 at 11:50 AM
Comment #36im sure glib naws
nightfa11
Nov 16, 2015 at 12:04 PM
Comment #37I agree..Thauvin has skills and is built for epl..Now its all up to him..If hes mentally strong enough to find motivation when things dont go his ways.. Give him a year and we’ll see..
croftus5678
Nov 16, 2015 at 12:11 PM
Comment #38i’ll start a list of carr’s signings ect just add to it and correct it where possible as i’m far far far from knowing all the in’s and out’s.
(5mil) ben arfa (£0)
(3.5)cheik tiote
(1) james perch
(5.3) david santon (4mil ?)
(3.5?) sissoko
(2) loic remy loan (£0)
(5.5) debuchy (12)
(9.3) cisse
(£0) ba (8)
(5mil) janmaat
(4.5) cabaye (20mil)
(1.5) perez
(500k) good
(1) hairdryer
(12)thauvin
(14)wijnaldum
(£0) gosling (0)
(150k) moyo (0)
(150k) marvaux
(1) bigirimana
(6.7) anita
(0) amalitano (0)
(8.5) mbiwa (5)
(1) mbabu
(6) riviere
(12) cabella (?)
(6) siem
(8) mbemba
(0) colback
(?) toney
(500k) luuk (0)
no idea if colo was signed by carr and tbh i’ve got bored lol but gives you a starting point as to how good/bad carr is.
Blackley and Brownlie
Nov 16, 2015 at 12:16 PM
Comment #39Rolando is 20. Rarely played. Done next to nothing in the game. So many think he’s fantastic. Time to get rid.
Thump
Nov 16, 2015 at 12:17 PM
Comment #40@nut meg: Sure, but we can give a comfortable estimate. I think Cabella’s transfer fee also had clasues in it that would take it higher, which might be why we got rid and brought in Thauvin (very similar players, after all, though I’d say Cabella is probably the better talent).
Either way, I’d still argue the wages spent are much more important than the initial outlay which, as you say, can be made back – or at least heavily reduce.