Sportsmail's Craig Hope explains: Why I gave Newcastle's Florian Thauvin just 1/10 for his display in Capital One Cup defeat

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Sheffield Wednesday knocked Newcastle out of the Capital One Cup
Sportsmail's Craig Hope gave Florian Thauvin a lowly mark of just 1/10
French midfielder was dreadful before being hooked at half-time
Thauvin incurred the wrath of Newcastle head coach Steve McClaren

Published: 09:40 EST, 24 September 2015 | Updated: 14:36 EST, 24 September 2015

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Sportsmail's Craig Hope gave Newcastle United's Florian Thauvin a merit mark of '1' during their 1-0 defeat by Sheffield Wednesday in the Capital One Cup. Here, he explains the extreme decision.

For the first time in nine years covering football matches, I awarded a merit mark of '1' this week.

Newcastle winger Florian Thauvin was the recipient of the paltry point. It was not, however, a decision I arrived at lightly.

But when I asked myself the question, 'On a scale of 1 to 10, what does the '1' actually exist for?', I had my answer.

Florian Thauvin was dreadful for Newcastle as they crashed out of the Capital One Cup to Sheffield Wednesday

The French midfielder earned himself a mark of just one out of 10 from Sportsmail reporter Craig Hope

Thauvin's performance was the worst 45-minute individual showing that Hope has witnessed as a reporter

For this was the worst 45-minute performance by an individual that I have witnessed in my capacity as a reporter. Not just that, but I also considered the opposition – in effect, Sheffield Wednesday's reserves – and the fact that Thauvin is a £13million France Under 21 international who hopes to win a place at Euro 2016.

Surely on a balmy night under the lights at St James' Park the 22-year-old would seize his chance to shine? He certainly stood out, I'll give him that.

His first contribution was to run into unsuspecting team-mate Vurnon Anita, flooring both of them and allowing Wednesday to attack. Mike Williamson was actually forced to take a booking to curtail the offensive.

From then on he proceeded to squander possession every time he touched the ball – one commentator noted seven straight wayward passes or failed dribbles.

But what really brought home his wastefulness was the reaction of Newcastle boss Steve McClaren.

My seat in the press box is two rows back from the dugout and the frustrations of the head coach were obvious.

After a mistake by Thauvin, defender Mike Williamson was forced into a challenge for which he was booked

Manager Steve McClaren spat the words 'F****** Thauvin' towards the dugout after one of a string of errors

'F****** Thauvin' he spat towards the dugout after yet another episode of profligacy. If you remove the asterisks that would not spell out 'Florian', by the way.

Next, it was the chewing-gum packet hurled into the ground when Thauvin again ran into trouble and lost the ball.

But it was the player's body language which caused most alarm, a laissez-faire acceptance of not being very good and seemingly unwilling to work hard to right his wrongs.

Perhaps Newcastle's transfer committee should have taken more notice of L'Equipe's readers when they voted him into the worst XI in Ligue 1 last season.

McClaren elected to bring Thauvin off at half-time but in truth he could have withdrawn him during the first half

When news that Thauvin had been replaced spread around the ground, there was an ironic cheer from the fans

Eventually, McClaren flipped and ordered Ayoze Perez to warm up. With 15 minutes of the first half remaining he should have made the substitution there and then, for at least it might have snapped Thauvin's equally docile team-mates from their slumber.

As it was, the former Marseille man was hooked during the break and an ironic cheer from the home crowd greeted news of the change. By full-time and the 1-0 defeat which has left McClaren under mounting pressure, Thauvin would have been showered and changed back into the tuxedo suit in which he arrived.

In fact, dressing so smartly is the only reason his mark was not closer to zero.