Florian Thauvin has recently told the French press why he left Newcastle’s fight against relegation after only six months at the club and returned to the comforts of playing his football back at Marseille in the south of France.
But the reason he brings up is an odd one – and he says it was because he was not getting first team football on Tyneside.
But it was widely reported that Steve McClaren did not want him to leave the Tyneside club at such an awkward time – and that the head coach had promised him playing time – albeit from the subs bench.
Florian Thauvin – back to France away from the battle
Here’s what Florian has said in the French press about his reasons for returning to the less physical and mental demands of the French League:
“It is true that I did not expect to return so soon, especially as early, six months later.”
“But I had the opportunity, I had a lack of playing time so I thought it was a very good thing for me.”
“It’s a pleasure to return to Marseille. Everyone knows my attachment to Marseille, I have never hidden that.”
“I am anyway very happy to be here to live this second adventure.”
If the reason is really that he wants playing time then he is unlikely to get it at Newcastle next season either, especially since we have signed another winger – England International Andros Townsend – who has quickly started to look the part on Tyneside.
The fact that Florian left the club in the middle of a tough season for us also has to cast some doubt on his character and also on his mental strength.
While he may return in the summer we’d be very surprised if that happens.
And if he does come back it is unlikely he will stay too long unless he is determined to make a success of things in England.
It doesn’t look like that to us.
It seems like Florian is like Remy Cabella and Emmanuel Riviere – they are just not cut out for the physically demanding Premier League – where pressure on players is so much greater than in France.
And when they return to France and do well – like Ben Arfa has famously done this season at Nice to his credit by the way – the press brings it up as though it’s something that Newcastle are now missing.
But the truth is it’s much more difficult to play well in the Premier League than it is in the French League – much harder – because there are better players playing in England – where the big big money is.
Maybe we are simply being too hard on Florian – that’s a possibility – but we’d be very surprised if he ever returns to Newcastle.
A better bet is that he gets a loan spell somewhere next season – maybe at Marseille – as Newcastle figure out how to claw back some of that £13M we spent on him last summer.
Comments welcome.
89 comments so far
Online Guy
Feb 11, 2016 at 3:38 PM
Comment #81HWA.. I wont mention his name ..he came back a few times and tread wearily ..easily sussed when he came back under new names as he quickly got frustrated and blurted out a load of shite ..dropping himself in it every time , if he’s back then he’s behaving because there has not been to much rubbish Wednesday and today ..
I can put up with the odd idiot and have a laugh at times but the latest idiot seemed to be getting all his school friends to join in ..ruining the blog ..Posting song after song and writing real embarrassing crap .. it was ridicule and farce..not a place to visit if it continues…some Mother’s
Mag52
Feb 11, 2016 at 3:38 PM
Comment #82Looks as if Ashley has a convert eh Rotunda ?
In a desperate attempt to avoid the loss of revenue which relegation would bring, he opens his wallet.
Doesn’t take much to win some people around does it.
beermonkey
Feb 11, 2016 at 3:44 PM
Comment #83online guy
another sicknote phil jones from man u
would suprise me if utd let him go
not top of my list but if mclaren is going for englands b team he might want him
Online Guy
Feb 11, 2016 at 3:48 PM
Comment #84With the thought in my head that Ashley had bid 24 million for Berahino ..I think I was more exited about the amount of the bid than The actual player .
When the mist cleared, I thought a lot on here were getting exited for the same reason , that Ash had finally decided this Club was worthy of him spending serious money
When it all settled down I was slightly less exited about Berehino coming here on account of his childish behaviour ..he might turn out to be a good Un’ but right now he ain’t puling up any trees so to speak.
Have we had a lucky escape ?..that amount of money should not be buying potential it should be buying the well proven finished article ..look what happened with Cabella the lightweight and Thuavin the wee Fairy .. money wasted and a complicated mess.
Online Guy
Feb 11, 2016 at 3:53 PM
Comment #85Aye Hibbet
Hello beer monkey me old china
Online Guy
Feb 11, 2016 at 3:55 PM
Comment #86hibbit even
got to dash lads.
giimps
Feb 11, 2016 at 3:57 PM
Comment #87Does anyone know if Carr is only scouting from a set few agents rather than the whole pool of players available to all scouts?
It would be interesting to see if he has been getting a finders fee from those agents and is why we are only after certain players (other than the restrictions on age, wages and competition from other clubs) rather than the players to fill needed positions within the formations attempted………..there must be a reason forCarr to be so determined to use imports other than cost
Online Guy
Feb 11, 2016 at 4:01 PM
Comment #88We got 3 England players now Taylor Townsend , Shelvey ..anymore ?
TroubledToon
Feb 11, 2016 at 5:44 PM
Comment #89Thauvin, u ain’t fit to play even in the championship!! Fcuking piece of shit. Carr shud face a life ban for the crime he committed by signing him for 14M!!