Newcastle's French revolution gathering pace

Sylvain Marveaux was a surprise signing for Newcastle after he was apparently set for Liverpool

Newcastle stepped up their recruitment drive with two more signings in the last week, with Demba Ba and Sylvain Marveaux joining on free transfers.

Marveaux is French while Ba is French-born, meaning the club's last six permanent signings emanate from the Gallic region.

There is a certain hint of the Arsenal model to Newcastle's transfer dealings this summer, with the Magpies looking to sign cheap, hungry and young players with good resale values and, like Arsenal, much of their recruits are from France. It is perhaps fitting the sides will face each other on the first day of next season as Arsenal will provide a real example of where Mike Ashley and Derek Llambias want their club to be.

The board have referred to the way Arsenal do things in the past, particularly in the days Dennis Wise was at the club, and now appear to have refocused their efforts into emulating the Gunners.

Of course, that policy has its risks.

Nicolas Anelka was one of the early signings in Arsenal's French revolution

When Arsene Wenger started it at Arsenal, it worked because he managed to strike a good mix to his squad to bring the young Frenchmen through. Experienced English professionals like Tony Adams, Martin Keown and Lee Dixon were there to nurture them through and help them adapt to the English game.

Newcastle, though, look set to have a team full of young players inexperienced in England next season. They are all talented, no doubt, but they will find it extremely difficult to acclimatise themselves quickly.

Captain Kevin Nolan's departure could prove crucial as he would have been an ideal figure to help these youngsters out and would have provided a real example for them to follow.

Kevin Nolan's loss will be felt on and off the field at Newcastle

He wanted a five-year contract for his own long-term security but, at almost 29 years of age, the club felt they couldn't offer him such a long deal and he eventually left to join West Ham. They may live to regret that decision.

Every team needs experienced heads or the talented youngsters will learn a lot slower.

Joey Barton also looks set to leave so players with strong experiences in English football, with a real all-action style on the field, will be few and far between at Newcastle next season.

It will be left to the likes of Steve Harper and Steven Taylor to lead the way but a better balance needs to be struck between youth and experience.

The club certainly needs more experienced heads but the Gallic flair players signed by Newcastle offer real excitement for the fans.

The club snatched Marveaux from under Liverpool's noses and that will please fans still reeling from Andy Carroll's transfer to Anfield.

Marveaux had spent his entire career at Rennes before joining Newcastle

Marveaux may not have played since November after groin problems but the 25-year-old left-sided midfielder is an exciting player who fans will love to watch.

Fans would like the club to spend more money but the fact Marveaux was captured without a fee should free up more funds to strengthen more areas.

Attack is an area which still needs much improvement but the signing of Ba will certainly help.

Ba had attracted interest from a number of Premier League clubs

Ba looked very good in a poor West Ham side after joining in January and scored seven goals in 12 appearances despite the Hammers' relegation.

He is quick, strong and good in the air, meaning he could be the ideal man to lead the line for the Magpies next term.

Mevlut Erding is thought to be the next major target on Newcastle's striker shortlist although it remains to be seen whether they will pay the reported £10million asking price.

Erding, a French-born Turkish international, is seen by many as the ideal foil for Ba but some supporters may be worried at his potential signing as he is another player unproven in the English game.

Graham Carr and his team of scouts have done much good work at Newcastle - spotting the likes of Hatem Ben Arfa, Cheik Tiote and Yohan Cabaye among others - but not every player who looks good in France's Ligue One will be a success in England's Premier League.

Chief scout Graham Carr appears to be the figurehead of all Newcastle's transfer business

Carr is judged mainly on the capture of Tiote - who has proved to be one of Newcastle's best-ever bargain buys - but the club should be cautious as having a team full of foreign bargain buys may sound nice but deliver very little.

Carr is clearly controlling Newcastle's transfer strategy, with manager Alan Pardew seemingly having little say in it, but Pardew needs to have some input to ensure he has a squad with the kind of balance he would like.

More players, such as Tranquillo Barnetta, Charles N'Zogbia and Blaise Matuidi, are being heavily linked and it seems clear the Magpies' transfer business is far from over for this summer.

Several areas of the squad still need improving while the potential departures of players like Joey Barton, Jose Enrique, Fabricio Coloccini, Jonas Gutierrez, Leon Best, Danny Simpson and Nile Ranger will leave more gaping holes which will need to be filled.

Joey Barton says he wants to stay with the Magpies but a contract extension appears unlikely

As Barton said last week, you can't build a house without having solid foundations and Newcastle may be about to find that out.

The squad is undergoing a major overhaul, with Gallic flair being added and English steel departing, so while there is much to be optimistic about at St James' Park, as ever there is also worry.

Newcastle should be an attractive team to watch next season but how many of these signings will work?

They need their new players to settle quickly as there may not be many current players left come the start of the new season.

Of course, not all Newcastle's summer signings will have links to France but that seems to be the main area they are targeting and supporters will be looking back at the club's past dealings in that region to offer hope these acquisitions will work.

Some have been excellent while others have been woeful, so Carr's ability to spot talent is about to be put under the microscope.

Supporters will certainly be hoping this summer's incomings are more of the David Ginola and Laurent Robert variety than Jean-Alain Boumsong and Stephane Guivarc'h.