The inside track on Newcastle United’s French love affair
LIAM KENNEDY SPEAKS TO GET FRENCH FOOTBALL NEWS’ RICH ALLEN ON THE SUBJECT
A troubled Frenchman? Damaged reputation, moody or argumentative manner, plenty of baggage? Tyneside is the definitely the place for you.
Newcastle United have a love affair, of sorts, with all things rouge, blanc et bleu – and even more so if there’s an interesting back story.
From David Ginola’s arrival in 1995 from Paris Saint Germ a in, through‘ World Cup winner’ Stephane Guivarch, the thunderbolt of a left peg of Laurent Robert, the talented but troubled Charles N’Zogbia, picket line Yohan Cabaye, the Hatem Bomb all the way to the present day and Allan Saint-Maximin, a player whose attitude has been questioned in recent times by none other than Premier League legend Patrick Viera.
The journey has been excited and frustrating in equal measure. But what keeps attracting the Magpies back to their French sweethearts? And what keeps bringing them back to this most northerly outpost?
Our Newcastle United writer Liam Kennedy has spoken to Get French Football News journalist Rich Allen about for a special Q&A on the subject of United’s obsession with French football.
Q1. The United love affair with French talent started with David Ginola. His success at Newcastle in the Kevin Keegan nearly years is welldocumented. Then on to Laurent Robert, with a flirt with Stephane Guivarch in the middle. Hat em Ben A rf a came much later but carried similar baggage. All players with supreme talent, but troubled in their own ways. What do you think connects the club with this kind of signing - the enigmatic Frenchman?
Answer: “I think most of this comes down to Newcastle being a club willing to look deeper into the French market. Ginola certainly put Newcastle’s name on the map in France. Fans really do get behind players, if they succeed, and so many see it as a place where they can go and become a fan favourite.
“Obviously, with a recent drop off inform the calibre has dropped but they are always known as a team with fanatical fans. There is also the club being viewed as a gateway to the Premier League and potentially bigger clubs.”
Q2. Why did David Ginola, Laurent Robert and Hatem Ben Arfa not get the internationalrecognition their talent suggests they should have?
Answer: “Attitude mainly – certainly with the latter two. No doubting their talent but they also carried a huge amount of ego.
“Both Robert and Ben Arfa have frequently clashed with managers and team-mates throughout their career. Ego, as has been the case with many, was sadly their biggest weakness. Ginola was sadly used as the scapegoat for the French failure to qualify for the 1994 World Cup.”
Q3. Will Ben Arfa - with a skill set not seen at United since the likes of Peter Beardsley and Paul Gascoigne - go down as one of the biggest world talents unfulfilled? And is heap layer who only ever fits as a big fish in a small pond using his failed PSG stint as an example? What next for the player?
Answer: “He would certainly be up there. As Newcastle fans would be able to attest but also fans of Nice and to an extent Rennes and even Marseille, the words best used to describe Ben Arfa would be enigmatic and frustrating.
“It is clear to absolutely everyonethat on the pitch Ben A rf a was capable of the utterly sublime. However his attitude left a lotto be desired. He’ s fallenout with so many clubs over the years leading to his departures.Sadly he always had that self-destruct button. You are left feeling he’s had a bit of a wasted career.”
Q4. Allan Saint-Maximin has excited more off the field - Twitter, going to the Metro Centre in his NUFC top, food bank help - than he has on the park. Do you think he has the tools to be a success in England? Is he worth the wait? And how was his move viewed in France?
Answer: “Newcastle fans may very quickly see what many mean when they say he will continue the theme of frustrating players moving to England. He is another who is full of confidence and will occasionally do something fantastic.However, there will also be many moments of him pulling off those tricks only to not deliver a final product or run down a dead end.
“He certainly is a character but is someone who needs to focus on his football. Towards the end of his time with Nice, it looked like he was getting distracted by the bright lights and big name clubs being linked with a move for him.”
Q5. Do you think United's love affair with France is set to continue? The days of bargains across the Channel seems to be fading into the distance with Ligue 1 now awash with cash. Will the trend of players leaving France for the Premier League steady somewhat?
Answer: “I think Premier League teams will always continue to monitor the French market. Whilst the sums involved have risen, there are still “bargains” to be had – just doesn’t look as cheap any more. Things will change though. More money is coming into France from investors. PSG and Monaco led the way but with foreign investors now owning Marseille, Bordeauxand most recently Nice, French clubs will continue to ask for rising prices for their star players.”
“You are left feeling he’s had a bit of a wasted career.”