When 22-year-old Frenchman Florian Thauvin arrived in Newcastle from Marseille for a reported £12 million more than a few eyebrows were raised as he walked through the doors at St James Park, with a less than favourable reputation from his native country.
The winger did not have a good relationship with the fans at his most recent club, most evident by the verbal abuse directed toward Thauvin following a defeat to Caen last season. Initially, Newcastle fans must have thought they had another arrival on their hands who did not play for the shirt and would have expected a tumultuous relationship. Thauvin has only just began his career on Tyneside, but these possible perceptions could not be any more further from reality.
The Frenchman has been superb from the outset. The Toon Army first caught a glimpse of their newest signing away at Manchester United, when 30 seconds after coming off the bench, he successfully took on left-back Luke Shaw, reminiscent of the days when Hatem Ben Arfa had fans on the edge of their seats. Whilst Thauvin was inches away from claiming a last minute winner that day, he truly introduced himself to the fans three days later when three assists and a goal helped the Magpies win their League Cup tie over Northampton Town. The opposition was considerably weak, but it highlighted what Thauvin could achieve in the Premier League, given enough time to adapt to the top level.
Another positive aspect is the versatility of the 22-year-old. Thauvin can play on the right-wing, where he can cut back on-to his lef- side and shoot, or alternatively he could play on the left-wing where he can cross on his dominant foot to the target man in the middle. Newcastle fans have had the chance to see him play on both sides in his short career so far and on both occasions he looked threatening. Additionally, Thauvin has shown that he has the ability and the skill to competently play in the No.10 role just behind the main striker. His versatility means Steve McClaren should have no problem fitting him into any system that the Magpies could play this season.
Thauvin is blessed with exceptional close control and is more robust then Remy Cabella (who is also talented when running with the ball). The youngster has a great change of pace that makes him a handful for defenders to contain. The midfielder scored five goals and grabbed four assists last season as Marseille finished fourth in Ligue 1, widely regarded for a number of years as one of the hottest prospects in France.
Magpies fans were worried they had signed another Cabella, who dissapointed in 2014-15, but Thauvin’s first three games for the Toon has proven he has a stronger physical presence and is much more of a modern day attacking-midfielder. He is not afraid of a challenge and will run at defenders with confidence. His power is what sets him aside from Newcastle’s current No.20 and his contribution will be more well-rounded. There are similarities with former Magpies winger Ben Arfa, who recently signed for Nice after being exiled from Newcastle’s side during Alan Pardew’s reign on Tyneside. Thauvin is gifted with blistering pace, has a very good first touch and dribbling skills, which made him a difficult opponent for most defenders in Ligue 1, while his vision and passing from the midfield are precious to his team.
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At only 22 years-of-age and in the infancy of his football career, Thauvin has already attracted the eyes of some big clubs around Europe. Juventus and Roma were both interested in him, while Premier League sides Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea were also reportedly curious. Arsene Wenger referred to him as “one of the great hopes of French football,” and Newcastle fans will be hoping the Gunners boss is right.
When one of the greatest mangers of the Premier League era are saying this, you know he is a special player. Newcastle United are very lucky to count Thauvin among their ranks and he could very well play an instrumental part in turning around their fortunes.
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