It was nearing the end of a seemingly successful transfer window on Tyneside when Newcastle United finally landed Graham Carr’s long-term target, Florian Thauvin, for a fee of £13million plus Remy Cabella on loan.

Thauvin arrived with undeniably high expectations, but nonchalant Marseille supporters were relatively thrilled with the cash and former Montpellier star, Remy Cabella.

Loyal followers of Les Blues took to social media to warn the excited Geordie faithful of their former star winger’s playing abilities and questionable attitude.

Intrigued by what their beloved club was playing big bucks for, supporters of the Toon Army launched themselves onto YouTube to feast their eyes upon what looked like a serious talent.

Long-time Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger had been a keen admirer of the expressive 22-year-old, and Thauvin himself openly admitted that the French manager attempted to bring him to the Emirates only a few years ago.

When Thauvin made his debut for the Magpies against Northampton Town a few months back, his one goal and three assists wooed the fans that admirably watched on.

A few games later, the stylish winger arrived at St. James’ Park before Newcastle’s game against Arsenal, and from then on in, it has been a downward spiral for young Thauvin.

Club legend Alan Shearer blasted the Frenchman’s choice of clothing, claiming it was “not funny anymore”.

Fast forward five months.

Thauvin is reportedly on the verge of a stunning return to former club Marseille in what would be a loan move until the end of this season.

Graham Carr’s trophy boy now looks set to leave Newcastle after just five months at the club.

A multitude of questions are floating around my confused mind at the moment – Who’s to blame? Why are the club letting him go? Is he really that bad?

As Kristan Heneage interestingly points out in this tweet, Thauvin has hardly been given a sufficient chance to really showcase his abilities for Steve McClaren’s 19th-placed team.

https://twitter.com/KHeneage/status/687678764889817088

In my opinion, right from the time he arrived, it was easy to see that he was going to need time to adapt and bed into what is a ruthless and immensely physical league.

Thauvin’s impressive crossing ability, as well as his eagerness to get forward and take players on, is something that a regularly bland Newcastle side would find to be beneficial in creating chances these days.

An important thing to consider is the fact that we don’t see what he is producing on a daily basis on the Benton training ground – Steve McClaren and his backroom staff do.

Whether or not Thauvin’s mentally fragile character has been intensely hit by supposed boos from frustrated Newcastle fans in the game against Watford remains to be seen.

Any time the 22-year-old has come off the bench during games in which United are losing, he has shown glimpses of class down the left-flank.

One of the most important aspects of a football team is that it possesses variable dimensions to its style of play.

Thauvin offers that. His directness down the flanks and willingness to burst forward with the ball when options are limited give Newcastle a different dimension.

One thing that most certainly does not help his cause is who he often has behind him – Paul Dummett.

Thauvin thrives off of support from the left-back, and this is something that the defensive-minded Dummett does not offer in abundance.

Overlaps from the full-back behind a winger can often create ambivalence in the opposition defender’s mind, which then enables said winger to have a variety of options when on the ball.

I feel that if Thauvin was offered more playing time in front of a more attacking left-back, he would influence the majority of games more than he has done in recent months.

Letting hm go without a replacement would be utterly ludicrous, and if Thauvin has thrown a spanner in the works by requesting to leave United, then an exit would probably suit both parties.

If not, keep him. Patience is a virtue.