Probing Newcastle’s new signings – Sylvain Marveaux.
Posted on June 25th, 2011 | 9 Comments |
Like the previous subject in this series, Yohan Cabaye, Marveaux is another very versatile little Frenchman with silky skills on the ball. He is just over 5’7″, has a very good turn of speed, and can play in a variety of midfield places with aplomb, though he has been mostly employed as a left sided or central attacking midfielder. He received 11 caps with the French Under 21 side, scoring 4 times, which isn’t bad at all really. However unlike Cabaye, he is yet to play with the full national side. His club scoring record At Rennes was 18 goals in 118 games.
Although a deal for Marveaux has been fully agreed, he will not become a Newcastle United player until July 1st when his current contract with Rennes expires and he becomes a free agent. On his agreement to join the club, manager Alan Pardew said:
“It’s a great coup to have signed Sylvain, who has received interest from a number of other clubs.
“He may not be well known to many of our fans but he is a real talent and a player we have been keeping an eye on for some time.”
One of those “other clubs” were Liverpool FC, who were allegedly on the verge of signing the player when Newcastle United made a daring ‘swoop’ for the player as the football hack parlance goes.
Once again like Cabaye, Marveaux is not the only footballer in his family, his older brother Joris is a also a midfielder for another French Ligue Un side, Montpellier HSC.
In yet another similarity with his compatriot and fellow new Toon signing, his best league season as an individual was probably the season before last (2009/10) at Rennes, when he made a total of 38 appearences, scoring 12 goals and providing 5 assists. In his last season there however, he suffered the recurrence of a major groin injury which also afflicted his 2008/9 season, resulting in him playing only 6 games that year. This time he required surgery and played in only 10 games for the club, scoring a single goal and providing two goal assists. It has been speculated in the media that Marveaux’s move to Liverpool was scuppered by the player failing a medical there because of this, however the story has been vehemently denied by Marveaux, with him stating that a failure to agree on contract terms was the real reason behind the move falling through.
He lloks like he’s got a bit skill and a good eye for a pass/ footballing brain that you rairly see in english players. He could probably play on the right wing aswell, looks like he can dribble and drift inside. Two things he will add to our team is PACE and CREATIVITY. Thank the lord.