The French Revolution... where are they now..?
Graham Carr started recommending players in 2011 and it lasted until 2016 - so where are those players now? NUFC Editor Mark Douglas considers the impact of Carr’s 16
NEWCASTLE United’s French revolution was over a long time ago – but the curtain will be pulled this summer when Massadio Haidara and, most likely, Henri Saivet depart.
A five-year period that began with Hatem Ben Arfa signing from Marseille will come to an end when the last two of Chief Scout Graham Carr’s Gallic picks leaves United.
It was a period that came to define United under Mike Ashley – an attempt to extract value from the transfer market that had a profound impact on the club’s fortunes.
Carr was given free rein to “embed” United in Ligue 1 and 16 players arrived from French clubs. Some were successes, more were mediocre but most have disappeared off the radar of Newcastle fans since.
HATEM BEN ARFA
Where now? Paris Saint Germain
Few realised when Ben Arfa turned up at Newcastle Airport – in a move not sanctioned by his club Marseille – that this was the first act of a revolution in recruitment at St James’ Park.
Carr had been tasked with embedding the club in the French market and Ben Arfa, one of the most gifted players in his class at French football’s talent factory Clairefontaine, was the considerable coup that would launch Newcastle into the conscious of Ligue 1 clubs, players, agents and management.
Spying the chance to bring in a transformative talent at a knockdown price – the move had been mooted to Ben Arfa’s agents long before he arrived in the North East – Newcastle were able to beat considerable competition for his signature.
What happened next is a cause for regret. He was certainly able, but Newcastle insiders often questioned whether he was willing.
At his devastating best he had creative ability to rival anyone in the Premier League but too often his character was called into question and not just at United, the club he left in 2014 after falling out with Alan Pardew.
For all that Ben Arfa is a maverick capable of captivating crowds, he has only briefly burned as brightly as Newcastle hoped he would. At 31 years of age, his career will surely be classed as one of unfulfilled potential. A Newcastle success? Yes. For £6million, he made a good impact. Since then? Mixed. Has returned to an elite European club, but barely plays.
SYLVAIN MARVEAUX
Where now? FC Lorient
Newcastle took a chance on Marveaux when he had failed a medical at Liverpool. Signed in the summer when the revolution really stepped up Marveaux was a £6million signing from Rennes who was intended to bring pace and scoring potential from wide areas. But it did not work out: a series of injuries blighted his progress and there were questions about his mentality in the later stages of his Newcastle career. A Newcastle success? No – with the mitigation of injuries. Since then? A return to lower-table clubs in France suggests Newcastle overestimated his ability.
YOHAN CABAYE
Where now? Crystal Palace
Cabaye was the signing that convinced Newcastle’s hierarchy they were on to something. Snuck into Newcastle under the noses of other Premier League clubs who were scouting him but not sure whether he was a midfielder to build a team around, United triggered a contract clause to pinch Cabaye on the cheap.
And he was a revelation at St James’ Park: the midfield talisman capable of scoring, setting goals up and coping with the physicality of the Premier League. It was little surprise when Arsenal showed interest in him three seasons after he arrived – or that he felt aggrieved when he was denied the sort of move that was part of the sales pitch when he joined United. A wildcat strike was forgotten and not punished but he did join Paris Saint Germain in the January of the same season, blowing a huge hole in Newcastle’s midfield and setting in motion the decline which resulted in the relegation of 2015/16. United’s replacement for him – Jonjo Shelvey – came 18 months after he left, which is a perfect example of the muddled planning of the Mike Ashley era. He has been offered to Newcastle since and thought to be keen on a return, but Newcastle opted for Georginio Wijnaldum instead because Carr felt Cabaye had hit a glass ceiling while Wijnaldum had the potential to star at Champions League level. A Newcastle success? 100%. One of the best value signings of recent times. Since then? A mixed bag. Poor at PSG but a valuable player for Crystal Palace.
MEHDI ABEID
Where now? Dijon.
Abeid was the first of Newcastle’s French signings who was intended to blossom into a first-team player from the development squad.
He signed from Lens on a longterm contract and almost immediately promoted into the first team squad after impressing Pardew with initial performances.
But despite a belated, impressive debut in 2014 – three years after signing – he was never able to replicate that 90 minutes against Liverpool. A Newcastle success? No – despite occasional glimpses. Since then? Has had a good career but arguably has found his level.
ROMAIN AMALFITANO
Where now? Dijon.
Amalfitano was seen as a cheap, no-risk signing from France to bulk out the squad when he joined in 2012 at the age of 22. But even if he didn’t cost the club much, he contributed even less.
A Newcastle success? Simply not good enough.
Since then? A regular at Dijon suggests he should not have left France.
MATHIEU DEBUCHY
Where now? St Etienne.
Debuchy was meant to sign in the summer that followed United’s fifthplaced finish but the club couldn’t agree a fee with Lille for Cabaye’s best man and friend. Newcastle swallowed their pride the following January when their season was heading towards relegation – and Debuchy did not disappoint – earning a move to Arsenal that did not work out.
A Newcastle success? Certainly. Since then? After injuries at Arsenal, his return to Ligue 1 has been a success.
MAPOU YANGA MBIWA Where now? Lyon.
Recruited not just for his ability but also for his leadership qualities – he was Montpellier captain and seen as a shooin to succeed in the Premier League – this was when it started to go wrong for Newcastle’s French revolution.
YangaMbiwa had ability but Pardew did not rate him at all. His aerial ability was questioned from the outset and Pardew preferred Mike Williamson, feeling he was more reliable. This caused friction between warring factions in Newcastle’s transfer committee: when Pardew then asked for a new centre-back the following summer he was told to play the French defender. A Newcastle success? A flop. Since then? Has never played like he deserved to be the cause celebre he was made.
YOAN GOUFFRAN Where now? Goztepe
Few would have thought Yoan Gouffran would have been one of the great survivors of United’s French revolution.
Signed as a cheap, versatile forward who would be back-up for United’s more high-profile signings, he ended up playing more than 100 games for Newcastle. Never prolific, he could nonetheless never be accused of shirking in a black and white shirt and convinced Pardew, John Carver and even Benitez of his usefulness. A Newcastle success? Most certainly. Since then? Has played well for Goztepe.
MOUSSA SISSOKO Where now? Spurs
Sissoko splits opinion at St James’ Park but few would argue that his signing was an inspired piece of business by United. Sold on for £35million in the relegation season, his up and down performances for United mean his time will never be looked upon fondly. But after a poor first season at Tottenham – when they would have listened to offers in the close season – he has improved to the point where Mauricio Pochettino called him “one of our most important players” at the turn of the year.
A Newcastle success? He was – even if he will never be universally liked by Newcastle fans.
Since then? Starting to find his feet at Spurs, even if he will never be the most aesthetically pleasing player at such a free-flowing football team.
OLIVIER KEMEN
Where now? Ajaccio (on loan)
A big talent in the Metz Academy, Newcastle signed him for their development squad with the intention that he would break into the first team. But he cut a frustrated figure as others were preferred in front of him – and demanded a move in 2015 after failing to make progress. A Newcastle success? No. Since then? Playing football – but not at the level he’d want to.
LOIC REMY Where now? Getafe (loan)
A big success when he did eventually make the loan move to United, he then switched to Chelsea – where opportunities were limited – before moves to Crystal Palace to re-join Pardew and then a permanent switch to Las Palmas. Injuries have prevented him ever replicating his form at Newcastle. A Newcastle success? A fine loan spell.
Since then? Injuries have stopped him from making a splash anywhere since St James’ Park.
REMY CABELLA Where now? St Etienne
Cabella was the big signing of the summer of 2014, compared to Chris Waddle and earmarked for a big impact at Newcastle.
But a combination of homesickness, inability to adapt to the physical demands of the league and a manager unsure of what the fuss was about made Cabella’s time at United an exercise in frustration. One of the few positives of John Carver’s time in charge was the time Cabella was given on the pitch but by then it was too late: the £8million deal was a bust. A Newcastle success? The conditions were hardly ideal for him to make a success of it, but a flop. Since then? Re-established himself as a good Ligue 1 player.
FLORIAN THAUVIN
Where now? Marseille
The one that got away? Newcastle’s final big money signing from France of the Carr era, he was not able to back up the faith that the former Magpies Chief Scout showed in him. United had tried to sign him three times before eventually making Marseille an offer that was too lucrative for player or club to turn down.
But his time at United was an unmitigated disaster. Thauvin was surliness personified, the football did not suit him and some fans turned on him when he looked less than impressive at Watford in an FA Cup game. That was the excuse Thauvin needed to push for an exit, which came when Marseille loaned him back in the January of the relegation season.
A Newcastle success? A disastrous signing.
Since then? His value has doubled, at a conservative estimate, from the £10million United sold him for.
MANU RIVIERE Where now? Metz
Carr had told club officials not to sign him as the frontline striker for the 2015/16 season, imploring the club to go for Remy and sign Riviere as a player who could learn below the first team.
But United brokered the deal anyway, signing him for £6million from Monaco.
It was not a success. The player was low on confidence when he arrived and was a work-in-progress – but Newcastle did not have time to develop him and Pardew did not trust him. He did score with an inadvertent lob at QPR during United’s battle against the drop under Carver but his last appearance for Newcastle saw him withdrawn at 45 minutes by Steve McClaren, who was sacked a few days later. A Newcastle success? Hopeless. Just not good enough. Since then? Has done nothing of note.
HENRI SAIVET Where now? Sivasspor (loan)
The last of Carr’s French buys and where the experiment ended. Newcastle believed he was good enough but even Carr by now recognised that the French recruitment drive came with PR difficulties. He had advised United not to sign him as the first of their January 2016 buys because of how it might appear to fans but his arrival was fast-tracked when Swansea, among others, started to show serious interest.
Benitez has been loathe to use him. A loan move to Turkey signals his time at Newcastle is coming to an end. A Newcastle success? No. Barely used but on a big contract. Since then? Still at United
MASSADIO HAIDARA Where now? Newcastle
Intended to be a long-term investment, Haidara was signed as a cheaper option when the club looked at Luke Shaw but his time at Newcastle has been undermined by injuries.
Less than 40 games in five years mean he will be released in the summer, when there will be takers for him. A Newcastle success? Injuries haven’t helped, but no.
Since then? Loan interest did not materialise, so he is still at United.