Newcastle Legend "Worried" That Thauvin Will Be "Too Lightweight"

Rob Lee is not sure NUFC should be splashing the cash on Florian Thauvin.

by Chris Waugh
Newcastle United legend Rob Lee has admitted he has a "worry" that Florian Thauvin will fail in England due to the physicality of the Barclays Premier League. Thauvin is set to sign for the Magpies in a deal worth in the region of £14 million in the coming days, with Remy Cabella going the other way to Marseille. And, citing Cabella's failure to make an impact in the Premier League - the Frenchman netted just once last season - Lee suggests Thauvin may prove to be too "lightweight" to succeed in England.
Writing on his Kicca account, Lee - who scored 56 goals in 379 Magpies appearances between 1992 and 2002 - said:
"From what I hear Marseille€™s Florian Thauvin (he) definitely has the pace to make it in the Premier League but can he handle the physical side? "The lad tipped to leave Newcastle United as part of the Thauvin deal - Remy Cabella - certainly couldn€™t. "Cabella was a bit of a lightweight and just didn€™t get going. He will be no real loss if he does leave the club. "I obviously hope Thauvin is a success but he€™s not proven in the Premier League and that is always a worry."
Although Cabella and Thauvin have been compared due to the fact they are effectively switching places in this transfer, they are not like-for-like players. Thauvin is taller, more direct and can operate up top and out on the wing, while Cabella is more a No 10, playmaker type. For all the latest NUFC News, Views and Transfers make sure to follow WhatCulture.com/NUFC on Twitter and Facebook.
Contributor
Contributor

NUFC editor for WhatCulture.com/NUFC. History graduate (University of Edinburgh) and NCTJ-trained journalist. I love sports, hopelessly following Newcastle United and Newcastle Falcons. My pastimes include watching and attending sports matches religiously, reading spy books and sampling ales.