The 22-year-old has signed a five-year contract at St James’ Park in a deal which will see Remy Cabella depart Tyneside for Marseille on an initial season-long loan deal which could be made permanent next summer subject to certain conditions being met.
I’m intrigued with this one. The sounds from France seem to suggest that Marseille have got the better end of the deal as Cabella is, or was, a full French international while Thauvin has just potential to unlock. But a 22-year-old has the time to unlock that potential and it seems that within the corridors of St James’ Park he has been deemed as worth the risk.
The club have been tracking him for a long time and now it seems as though they finally have their man. Described by Arsene Wenger a couple of years ago as the brightest young talent in French football the attacker doesn’t have a hassle free past. He rather publicly fell out with fans at Marseille after a recent defeat to Caen and got himself involved with a fan after reportedly being spat on. Mind you if someone gobbed at me I’d give much the same response…
There was also the time he signed for Lille only to get loaned back to Bastia. That summer, without playing a game for Lille, Marseille became interested and he then basically went on strike to force a move. But hey, a Frenchman going on strike isn’t exactly surprising is it?
Anyway, let’s have a look at what Thauvin has had to say about his move to Newcastle and the Premier League:
“I am delighted to be a Newcastle United player. I have come from France to a really big club and am very happy to be here,” said Thauvin.
He added: “It is a big honour to know that Newcastle have been after me for such a long time and that they wanted me that much. They have put their trust in me and I am looking forward to playing for the team.”
Meanwhile, the guy who is tasked with unlocking the potential had this to say: “Florian is a player the club have been watching for a long time and I am delighted that we have been able to sign him.”
“He is a perfect signing for this club – someone who is young, with great potential and is one of the best young players in Europe. He is an exciting, creative talent who can score goals and make assists, and we believe he will have a very bright future at Newcastle.”
*Obligatory YouTube video below*
So signing number five then alongside Georginio Wijnaldum, Aleksandar Mitrovic, Chancel M’Bemba and the yung lad for the future, maybe, Ivan Toney.
What do you make of this piece of business?
I am not sure, as McC publicly stated that one of the first things he said to Charnley was that he wanted to keep Sissoko, but, yeah, if it was me and the choice really was Sissoko or Matip/ Abdennour, i think now i would definitely go for the latter. Hope that isn’t the choice.
TDS, you may be right about going in with those 4 but, and i am very supportive of our players, I think there is no way we can risk going in with those 4. And, as McC has consistently referred to the importance of getting quality in, it would lead me to believe he values quality, which would equally lead me to believe he would not be happy to go in with those 4. As i said above, if Colo had hit the ground running and looked like a new man post-pardew and Carver, ok, i was prepared to go with Colo, Mbemba and Taylor but Lascelles definitely isn’t ready yet, and Colo does not look good, or lets say, not good enough. We just cannot be this susceptible to balls into the box.
Lionel Speed(Quote)
And TDS: if you have Ginola, Shearer, Beardsley and Sir Les then the other team has to worry more about we do than attacking us.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
ERIC
Which is why Lascelles will be 4th choice! We’re not a CL team where we should have 4 top internationals at centre back!
Mbemba and Colo as first choice for me (said before the season started) with Taylor, Lascelles and Dummett providing cover. Dummett can provide cover to LB and CB at the same time you know…
Try comparing that defence to other clubs in our kind of position. Ok, I’d take Williams from Swansea but he’d cost a fortune. Have Villa or Everton got better central defenders?
ToonDarnSarf(Quote)
Stones is better for a start!
Stuart79(Quote)
TDS: Villa and Everton don’t give me a panic attack every time the other team gets a corner. Last time I looked Chelsea were ready to pay 35 mil for Stones and Jagielka isn’t a bad player.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Look at our centre backs…
Colo – just been given a 1 year contract extension, McClaren publically supported him and stopped him from leaving. Plenty of experience but also not entirely match fit. Will be given more time.
Mbemba – newly signed so will play.
Taylor – I’d be concerned about playing him with Mbemba as Mbemba doesn’t know this league and Taylor is brainless but he looked good with Colo when both were fit last season.
Lascelles – totally unproven! We have no idea whether he’ll fail to make it or end up making a huge impact like Stones did early on.
Dummett – can also do a job
Satka and others – who knows…
It’s just not realistic to think we’ll sign another centre back for £10m or so. Colo wouldn’t be happy to be 3rd choice, we’d probably have a centre back partnership with very little PL experience and Lascelles would be miles away from a game.
ToonDarnSarf(Quote)
Stuart: I was typing when you said the same thing 🙂
Eric Sykes(Quote)
As long as Colo is happy then
Stuart79(Quote)
TDS: Who cares if Laschelles is miles away from a game, is he your brother in law or summink? All teams make mistakes with their recruits, we just admitted to one by sending Cabella back to France.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
TDS@153, Well if you go by goals conceded over the last 3 seasons then yes they have defended better than us 129 over 3 seasons and we conceded 190.
kimtoon(Quote)
I think it is stating the bleeding obvious to say we won’t bring in another defender until we let one or two go.
Stuart79(Quote)
That’s Everton by the way TDS
kimtoon(Quote)
TDS, the point is not have other teams got better defenses on paper, it is not even have we got a decent defense on paper. I, like you, was prepared to give Colo a go and see him with Mbemba, or swap either in or out with Taylor before the season started. But these two games have rammed the point down all our throats, we concede too many goals from balls into the box, and that has to change. If you ask me now what is the best way to change that, I would say we need another CB to replace Colo. I wasn’t saying that a fee weeks ago, I am now, because, one, his general manner on the pitch is poor to appalling, and two, we cannot go on conceding like this and it doesn’t look like it is going to change overnight. You could argue that not all the goals have come from Colo, but as you argued he is our experienced man, who should be getting them all organized and do the job himself, he is doing neither particularly well. I was reading a good piece about Gini’s captaincy, and how even when they were playing well, including Depay, Gini would be laying into them to concentrate and improve certain aspects. As our lead CB, and obviously as captain, Colo should be doing that, he is not.
Lionel Speed(Quote)
TDS – Cambiasso did alright for Leicester didn’t he? Buying an older player “On the way down” isn’t necessarily bad – you just need to buy the right player. Unfortunately our experience of that was terrible, because we signed people like Viduka, Owen, Alan Smith, ****, etc etc.
Adam Johnson has been hit and miss at scum, but he’s caned us two or three times in the Derby, and that has saved Sunderland in two consecutive seasons from relegation, so I’d say he was worht their 10 mil payout. Okore was signed two seasons ago, so still possible, fair enough if you don’t rate him – personally from the look of Mbemba he can play a hell of a lot more football than Taylor or willo, so he could easily replace Colo in being our only central defender able to think and be creative with the ball at his feet. I feel Okore can do that as well, and one thing is for certain – we need more than one strong, fast central defender to make up for the fact that Janmaat and Haidara are useless competing in the air. No point having one solid central defender if all the opposition need to do is get two competent headerers into our box. People seem to think in the old fashioned sense about centre backs that they need to be opposite, like a big number 9 and a small number 10 – it doesn’t have to work that way. Especially when our full backs and our keeper give virtually no aerial protection. Same goes for our midfield, Anita and Sissoko (despite his size) are useless at clearing the ball with their heads. Colback is feisty but there’s not a lot on him.
TDS – Mate, if I wanted to leave for my family, and I had enough money to pay my way out of a contract AND live a wealthy and comfortable life before my mid 30s then I would do it. What I wouldn’t do is try and find a way to get released whilst not having to part with any cash – seriously what planet is the lad living on there? It’s quite simple, if he wants to go he pays up, if he wants to stay he stays professional and does his job. I don’t think he’s done that second part for the better part of two years. It’s not just physical decline (Colo has never been blessed with pace or strength, so age isn’t affecting him there) – he just doesn’t seem bothered. I agree, should have let him go and signed someone else, let Taylor and Willo go as they are holding up spaces for our youngsters, and been done with it.
Newkie(Quote)
TDS: On Lascelles, he didn’t cost that much, I think it was 6 mil for him AND Darlow. Forest didn’t play him every game last year, so that says something. He seems like he might be OK but he is untested in the PL just as much as Matip is and is the same age as MBemba. If MBemba is old enough to start and comes from a foreign league, then why not Laschelles? So I am not getting your “needs PL experience” argument.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Villa conceded 187 over last 3 seasons so pretty much on a par with us, but then most would admit they been seriously flirting with relegation for 3 or 4 seasons now.
kimtoon(Quote)
Georgio
128 confused me as well. 😉
Troy Stavers(Quote)
I am not trying to ***** that much about Coloccini, MBemba and Taylor. Or even Laschelles, because I haven’t seen that much of him. What I am saying is that it obvious to a blind man with a guide mole that we have a problem defending set pieces. It could be Timmy, it could be lack of height, it could be Coloccini’s mind is in Argentina. But it something that needs to be fixed when we concede more than Villa and a plank like Williamson plays 179 games for NUFC.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
TDS@148: Whatever you think of Warren Barton, I think he was the most expensive English fullback in history when we signed him.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
ERIC
You’ve seen enough of Lascelles to judge then? Despite him only being in training with us for a couple of months, you not being there every day and you not being a professional scout? Impressive…
ToonDarnSarf(Quote)
KIM
The past isn’t relevant though. They have different defenders and so do we. It’s all subjective for the coming season, I just don’t understand why our own fans are so quick to write off our players and so insulting to players who have served us well.
People were slating Jonas until he got cancer. Bloody double standards.
ToonDarnSarf(Quote)
TDS @170: I specifically said I hadn’t seen enough of Lascelles to judge @168: I will quote what I said in reference to me not seeing enough to judge: “Or even Laschelles, because I haven’t seen that much of him.”
Eric Sykes(Quote)
LIONEL
I just think it’s too early to judge on Colo. He didn’t play in pre-season, we have a new manager and it’s early days. I think he should be given until January to prove himself.
McClaren needs to make the big decisions and get them right. He’s made this one and I think we need to get behind it. It’s him who sees Colo in training every day.
ToonDarnSarf(Quote)
TDS @171: c’mon Man. Calling people out about Jonas and his cancer is a very low blow argument. I think a lot less of you for TRYING to make it.
By the way, I never criticised Jonas and his cancer didn’t make him more or less of a footballer to me.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
TDS, I beg to differ mate, The past tells us we have been consistently **** at the back. This should at least move us to change things there and more importantly consider who played in the 4 when most goals were conceded, who was culpable in each case. Any club worth their salt would keep stats on every game in that regard. But really we don’t need stats to know we are pathetic at defending set plays and corners. We are constantly outjumped for headers it’s embarrassing .
kimtoon(Quote)
TDS: Coloccini was given a contract extension and renewed as Captain. He has beyond January because he is almost undroppable as captain and Steve’s choice. He has 2 years on his contract now so saying he is on trial until January makes no sense.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Re- Jonas, saw him live and confirmed what a grafter he was, very underated player by a lot of fans but was 100% committed. We could do worse than a team full of Jonas’s .
kimtoon(Quote)
If the club can’t judge Colo by now after all this time then I give up.
kimtoon(Quote)
TDS @173: you say it is too early to judge Colo, he has been at NUFC for 7 years FFS 🙂
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Kimtoon: snap 🙂
Eric Sykes(Quote)
ERIC
Whoever I’ve called out for that **** well deserves to be called out! Don’t actually know names though.
There were loads of people slating Jonas and I defended him as a hard working player who always seemed to do his best. His cancer seemed to change some people’s views on him.
Bugs me that people slated the likes of Jonas and Ryan Taylor while lauding Ben Arfa as our apparent saviour. The former two tried harder for our club in one match than Ben Arfa did in his entire career with us.
ToonDarnSarf(Quote)
ERIC
He was ace a couple of seasons ago but only decent in spurts last season. Like I’ve said, I think he was trying to do too much last season because Willo is so limited and he was often unfit.
ToonDarnSarf(Quote)
KIM
You’re right, we’ve been **** at the back ever since we got into the PL the first time! But then isn’t that why we got so many fans? Trying to score one more than the opposition?
If we wanted to be tight at the back, we should have stuck with Big Sam…
ToonDarnSarf(Quote)
ERIC
I was referring to you post 159 regarding Lascelles.
Don’t care about age. I care about who is ready for playing for us in the PL.
ToonDarnSarf(Quote)
TDS @181: you are making a specious link between people criticising Jonas for not playing very well for us and his cancer. The criticism came before anyone knew he had cancer so I don’t get your argument – although that wouldn’t be the first time.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I have shouted on since the end of the season for a good c/b to come in but one thing I hope with our coaching staff can work on and ime quite sure they are and that is to work on stopping crosses coming into the box as much in the first place from open play
icedog(Quote)
ERIC
My point was that people were slating him and I don’t think it was justified. His cancer doesn’t change his contribution as a player for us and it’s double standards for anyone who let that change their opinion.
My point is that if it wasn’t for his cancer, many would have continued to slate him.
ToonDarnSarf(Quote)
ICE
We signed one centre back already and he’s started both games! Already that puts us better than last season. Janmaat has had a full season, Haidara is more experienced and we now have Lascelles in too.
ToonDarnSarf(Quote)
TDS, you are right we’ve never been great shakes at the back but in fairness we always had good forwards who scored regularly and some decent creative players and set piece takers. I also can’t ever remember us being so poor at defending set pieces as the last few seasons mate.
kimtoon(Quote)
TDS, Mbemba cannot change things on his own and how can he stop Colo being out jumped for headers? Also we have conceded 3 headers already in 2 games 😳
kimtoon(Quote)
Haidara is not a full back imo, never in a million years. Winger good bursting forward, awful at defending, we should of kept Santon 🙄
kimtoon(Quote)
How often does Haidara stop a cross going in ?
kimtoon(Quote)
TDS @187: YOU were the one connecting Jonas’ cancer with people’s opinion of his football skills. Let’s get that one straight.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
KIM
Set pieces depend on training mostly. Hopefully the new coaching team can get the players working better together here. Big Sam was an expert at this. A lot of it is about working together and everyone knowing their roles. We need to give them a bit of time to see if they can improve in that area.
We now have several attack minded players. Did anyone at the beginning of summer really believe we’d get a young CB, a big number 9 striker, a top box to box midfielder and an upgrade on Cabella?
I reckon we could sign Evans and Austin and some would still complain saying that Haidara isn’t good enough, Janmaat is too reckless or Anita/Tiote should be sold…
ToonDarnSarf(Quote)
ERIC
I don’t know what you’re not getting. I was pointing out that if it wasn’t for his cancer, there would still be some who wouldn’t rate Jonas’ performances for us.
ToonDarnSarf(Quote)
KIM
Not conceding headers is mostly about positioning. I’m 6’5″ but I never played at CB because I didn’t get in the right place when a cross came in.
If Colo can rely on Mbemba and other defenders doing his role, then he can do his. It’s mostly about the training.
And yes, Haidara is very attacking but also quite young. Remember N’Zogbia and Bernard playing there?
ToonDarnSarf(Quote)
kimtoon
August 20, 2015
Haidara is not a full back imo, never in a million years. Winger good bursting forward, awful at defending
—————–
To be honest Kim, that’s exactly the way I always felt about Santon.
MDS(Quote)
Well something has to give as teams will just continually whip crosses in now.
Since I suspect our CBs are done growing, I would like to see the FBs and MFs pressure the ball a bit more
MDS(Quote)
TDS: I don’t think Jonas’ cancer had anything to do with how people rated his performance for us. After his cancer I think he only played the West Ham game and he was rightly commended for that performance. Before he got loaned Norwich, no-one knew he had cancer so there was no link between anyone’s criticism of him as a footballer and his cancer diagnosis. I am not sure how you are not getting this?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Why should the other defenders have to do Colocini’s work for him. They’ve got there own jobs to do. Colocini is one of our highest earner’s ffs. I’m not blaming him for every goal we’ve conceded but his not very good at organising the defence.
Terry(Quote)
Here, I will connect the dots for you – when Jonas played for us nobody knew he had cancer, they judged him purely on footballing ability. When he returned and had a great game against West Ham nobody used his cancer as the reason he had a great game although it was the feel good story of the year. If he had played **** then maybe people would have given him a break because of his medical problems.
But that is not the point – you are making a link that doesn’t exist, because we didn’t know he had cancer until he returned from Norwich/Argentina.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
ERIC
That one performance from Jonas deserves credit for sure, but there have been many games where he’s put that amount of effort in and I’ve always given him credit for that.
I’m still not sure what you’re not getting. Before the cancer was made public, there were many fans on blogs slating Jonas and saying he was not good enough and we should get rid. Some being quite insulting. After the cancer, those fans either changed their minds or crawled back under their rocks. My point is, I don’t like to see our hard working players being slated. Jonas, Shola, Watson, Barton, Howey for example…all players who have put their bodies on the line and clearly love our club, Ok, they got paid a fortune to do so, but still, that puts them in the upper echelons for footballers in my book.
I’ve got a lot more time for those kinds of players than ones like Ben Arfa, Robert and N’Zogbia who didn’t maximise their talent. Or a player like Barton who always put himself first or Nolan (despite being one of those gritty players) who left for a long-term contract because we wouldn’t offer him one.
I get the impression that Colo could have left for a 3 year contract at another club but chose to stay. Surely that’s commendable?
ToonDarnSarf(Quote)
Colo is done. He’s 33 now and too small. You can’t put someone on the pitch who can’t do the complete job of a CB without paying for it. Our goal difference over the last few seasons is a team problem but it starts in goal and with the back 4. None of them, including Janmaat and Krul have been consistently good in defending. Janmaat can be very decent going forward but is only an average defender at best. Willo is shocking. Colo has skill but is not big enough and never has been. Saylor is an inconsistent sick note. Haidara is not a great defender either. Nor is Dummett a good, complete LB. We have a very weak defense. Bringing in one player (Mbemba) isn’t going to fix that. The club is blind when it comes to defending.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
TERRY
Every player has strengths and weaknesses. Mbemba is inexperienced but appears to have pace, whereas Colo has plenty of experience but isn’t as quick as he used to be. A bit like Cahill and Terry at Chelsea. I expect Colo to concentrate more on positioning and let Mbemba do the running. A bit like Willo is useful if the opposition bombard the box with crosses. Taylor is also very energetic but seems as dumb as a post and prone to getting a rush of blood to the head!
ToonDarnSarf(Quote)
The club can’t improve much on last season without at least 3 more incoming, all in the back 4. We have one of the worst defenses in the Prem (second worst goals allowed last season). That can’t be argued about. It is all there in the records. The only way to change that is to change the personnel.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
MDS @198 – good point. We need to do more as a unit to defend.
Shamrock(Quote)
G2 if we have better attacking options then we can increase pressure on opponents and spend less time defending ourselves – but I do think we still need a beast of an established CB we want to make the jump from mid bottom half to top 10.
Shamrock(Quote)
TDS Here: This is what you wrote @171 about fans judging our players now and comparing it to Jonas: “People were slating Jonas until he got cancer. Bloody double standards.” It is not a double standard FFS because people didn’t know he had cancer and were judging him on his footballing ability and the way he was playing.
I think it is called a “straw man” because you didn’t address the issue at hand.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
SHAM
That’s what I’ve been saying the whole time. Defending isn’t about getting in one more defender, it’s about defending as a unit, especially regarding set pieces. We have the players, it’s just a matter of drilling them to play together. Most of defending is about being in the right position. They should have to pull off a blinding tackle or flying header too often if they’re in the right position. The best defences make it look easy.
ToonDarnSarf(Quote)
ERIC
Double standards because they slated him before they knew he had cancer and didn’t slate him once they found out he was sick. Are you serious here or just enjoying picking an argument?
ToonDarnSarf(Quote)
The Colo thing is weird indeed. He’s wanted away for years now yet they continue to treat him like he’s still 25 and in his national side. Depay will have a field day against us on the weekend. If you watched him in the week against Club Brugges you’ll know what I mean mates.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Gotta go hit the gym anyway…have fun guys.
Sadly, I think we’ll get battered at the weekend…
ToonDarnSarf(Quote)
Spot on Shamrock @207. Three more incoming on defense needed. A CB, an RB to stand in for Janmaat, and a very good LB. Dummett is not the answer there. Haidara is good going forward as people have said but not a great defender. These are now our main problem areas and little has been done. Very strange attitude within the club about defenders.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
TDS: People were not happy with Jonas’ form before he went on loan and didn’t know he had cancer so that didn’t come into it and I don’t know why you brought it up. When Jonas came back he played extremely well against West Ham and he was applauded for it. That is not a double standard – that is calling ’em as you see ’em.
I am not trying to pick a fight either. You brought up something that was totally unconnected to what was being discussed and tried to make a “what about the children” type of argument.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
TDS: And I don’t see why I cant criticise Shola either. He may have been a good servant of the club and good in the dressing room but he was shyte in most games and should never have been on the pitch.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
ToonDarnSarf
August 20, 2015
ICE
We signed one centre back already and he’s started both games! Already that puts us better than last season. Janmaat has had a full season, Haidara is more experienced and we now have Lascelles in too.
Doesn’t that comment above completely contradict you’re argument for not bringing in another defender without PL experience?
This is nonsensical. We’re in a position in this debate where TDS is tying himself in knots because he has a poor argument but instead of stepping back, thinking about it and accepting he might have been wrong he’s just coming up with more and more bizarre arguments.
Jeez, man! Colo has been on a steady downward spiral now for a couple of years and players at 33 don’t reverse that special I’m afraid. He’s never been great in the air to be fair so he ain’t getting better.
We need to sell Taylor and Williamson and bring in a decent defender.
Whether Colo has signed a contract extension or is captain is totally irrelevant. If he doesn’t perform he gets left out and replaced. Saying we should stay with him because he’s committed to us is just a licence for him to sit back, light a cig and cruise through games.
Stuart79(Quote)
STUART,i don’t normally debate with tds I know him from the past comments,he has his views and that’s fine,and I have mine and I decided Ican never understand where his views have any value,iI wonder after reading his comments of the past has he been to a live game or is he baseing his views on rag reports on games,nobody enjoys a debate more than me but I cannot see any value in his points he makes so I just skip past his comments,I only just read your comments that’s why I made a reply but I don’t wish to debate with TDs further
icedog(Quote)
Bit harsh, Ice. He’s allowed his opinion of course. Just a bizarre one on this occasion.
Although the one where he would prefer our current defence than one with Matip or the Monaco guy (due to no PL experience) was setting the bar bloody high on the bizarre scale!
Stuart79(Quote)
STUART you must have a very long fuse
icedog(Quote)
STUART I don’t find it harchI said I’ve had a debate in the past with him,he has his views that’s fine with me but not with me ime afraid,but quite happy he’s on the blog more the better imo
icedog(Quote)
When I saw Lascelles at York I thought he had the attributes to make it in the premier league. He is tall and built-up. He had decent pace, if not ‘quick’. His positioning and decision making will need work but I have confidence in Simpson & McClaren for that. It’s certainly far too early to write him off yet. Especially if we don’t sign anyone.
DJG(Quote)
DJG: I might be coming across as writing Laschelles off but from what I saw in pre-season he needs a bit more composure. Again, it is a catch 22 in that he probably wont get the composure without playing and wont play without the composure. A 6 month loan and return when Tayls gets injured 🙂
I actually don’t like to slag our players off, but we do need to defend better. Whether that is better players or better coaching, it has to happen.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Been at graft all day and just catching up with what’s went on. Doesn’t look like Charlie Austin will be joining WHU then 😆 They’ve slagged him right off there like 😯
Sharpy17(Quote)
TDS is a bit of an oddball (not in my class, I agree but still….). I’ve argued with him many times over the years. He seems to want to argue that we have been a good club during the Ashley years???? I can’t understand that point of view for the life of me. He supports what Ashley has done, argues we have made progress????? What progress? We were 15th with the second highest goals allowed last season. We were absolutely diabolical. Nobody forced Ashley to hire the likes of Joe Kinnear and put Johnny C. in charge of the club for half a season. Yet according to TDS Ashley is a good owner…..Hmmmm……
GeordieTwo(Quote)
G2 snap mate
icedog(Quote)