Since his arrival in January 2013 from Ligue 1 side Girondins de Bordeaux, for a reported £500,000, Newcastle fans have witnessed first hand the rise, closely followed by the demise, of one Yoan Gouffran.
First scouted during our Europa League campaign at St James’ Park against his former employers, Bordeaux, Gouffran showed glimpses of quality in an otherwise sub par side, who went on to lose 3-0 to Newcastle.
Months later, Yoan completed a winter move to Tyneside, looking to battle against potential relegation and give some much desired squad reinforcement, alongside messrs Mathieu Debuchy, Moussa Sissoko, Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa and Massadio Haidara.
Whilst two of those players have since moved on to pastures new for Champions League competing side, Gouffran has stayed on, vastly deteriorating in ability and confidence since the turn of 2014.
Why? There’s no hiding from it, Gouffran has been a passenger at times, who looked dis-interested and frustrated playing under former boss Alan Pardew.
You have to remember that Yoan was regularly leading Bordeaux’s front line for the best part of 5 years, winning the Ligue 1 title with them in 2009.
Gouffran’s first calendar year with the Magpies was sublime. Whilst playing left wing, Gouffran still managed to bag nine goals for Newcastle, as well as constantly putting in a shift up and down the left side – picking up from where Jonas Gutierrez left off.
Since then, the Frenchman’s enthusiasm has severely dropped, with Pardew failing to provide Yoan with the license to attack. Instead, he would expect Yoan to constantly track back and cover for the likes of Paul Dummett.
In one game at the Britannia versus Stoke, Gouffran’s position was left wing back. Yes, you read that correctly. Left wing back. In the space of 16 months, Yoan Gouffran has gone from Bordeaux’s CF to Newcastle’s LWB. Is it any wonder Gouffran seemed a bit lackadaisical under Alan Pardew?
Has Gouffran been sub-par for the past year or so? Of course. Is it strictly his fault? Personally, I think far from it.
Call me naive but, since Pardew’s departure and being dropped to the bench by Carver, Gouffran’s seemed to show a bit more determination to fight for his place in the starting eleven, with John also giving him more option to attack through the center of the final third.
After twelve months without a goal in a Newcastle jersey, Gouffran’s notched in 2 goals since Pardew’s departure. Yes, Hull’s defence was very suspect. Yes, his other against Southampton took a large deflection, but they all count.
What I’m trying to put across is Gouffran now has an opportunity to show that his lack of quality was due to his heavy defensive instructions under Alan Pardew’s reign. If Carver gives Yoan more freedom to get forward & take more chances, then perhaps we’ll see more glimpses of the center forward that arrived on Tyneside just over 2 years ago.
