What have we become?

Losing influence? If you are a fan of Alan Pardew then look away now. This is not backed up by stats, it's purely my opinion based on what I have observed with my own eyes - so if you don't like it, that's your bag. But you're wrong! Haha.

Every single member of our squad is absolutely clueless in the final third. They don't know what to do with themselves when they find the ball at their feet with a chance of shooting or putting in that final pass! It was painful watching us against West Ham. The only time we genuinely threatened them was when Sammy Ameobi fluked a cross onto the opposition post and even then Gouffran bricked himself.

I used to think Obertan was a headless chicken, but maybe Pardew just got to him faster than he got to everyone else?!

OK we have not been helped by a lack of spending, but would it matter if we did sign more players? It's obvious to every man and his dog that Pardew has no idea how to set these players up in a style that suits their natural game.

It's like he has intentionally gone out to find square pegs (the players - Cabaye, Sissoko etc) and tried to force them into round holes (his own rigid style of play). We are screwed. I'm not saying it's all down to him. Our players have to take some of the blame for a complete failure to show any pride in their own performances, but I see no intention by Pards to allow certain players to approach the game according to their own positive attributes.

I have quickly realised recently that our signings have been cheap because THAT IS WHAT THEY ARE WORTH. Yes we have one or two players capable of the odd bit of magic, so so do most teams in the Premier League. The truth is, we have a squad full of average players being managed by yet another English head coach who's head is stuck in the early 90's.

We don't have one out and out winger capable of consistently crossing the ball, we only have one decent striker and our back line is not convincing. For all the positives that come with Santon - he is a full back that appears incapable of putting a string of strong defensive displays together! Why is he so special exactly? Debuchy? I know he needs bedding in time, but right now Simpson is the better player for me. Steven Taylor is still prone to the odd complete implosion.

Take a look at central midfield, where we are 'well stocked'. With what exactly? Our only holding midfielder Tiote lost the plot about 18 months ago and not managed to find form since. Cabaye is clearly on his way out. Anita is a steady player, but does not pull up trees going forward or back - leaving who? Gosling? Sicknote that never lived up to the hype. Bigi? Sissoko is a proper midfielder, but seems stunted by our game plan. A lot of potential, but we all now what Pardew and company do to prospects!

The only player capable of turning a game on it's head is Benny - and he is constantly stunted by being played out of position, or surrounded by players that have NO CLUE how to express themselves or put pressure on the opposition. My point is our midfield is well stocked with ok, steady players. But Benny aside not one of them is actually top notch at anything specific such as tacking, scoring, crossing or even passing. You know, the basics.....

I am struggling to remember a more boring Newcastle United team. We lack imagination, drive, zeal, heart. I cant even accuse the lads of playing 'Wimbledon' style football. At least they had a purpose, a unity and a plan. We just clear the lines then dither a bit before giving the aback. It's embarrassing to think that these are the same colours being worn as the 'entertainers' era. What a disgrace.

If we played to our guys' strengths and just went for it - what would we have to lose? We might lose the odd game? We do anyway. All the time! If we are ever going to compete with the likes of Spurs on the world market again, we need to focus on a brand. People still remember the 'entertainers' all over the world. We can still get that back. We just need a coach to bring a similar kind of football back and some clever PR to draw the fans in. Yes it's a bit risky, but why not give ourselves an identity that the neutrals want to be a part of, regardless of the results? I really don't see how it can go any worse than our current course is taking us. Hell it might even pay of Ashley's loan a bit quicker if it takes off!

I'm not convinced this squad is a genuine topeight side even with a top notch manager at the helm, but I am sure as hell that what quality our players do have is not being utilised by our current coaching staff. Look at all the 'quality' youth players we have ahem...nurtured...over the past three seasons. Thank God at least that's successful because with these players taking off we don't need to spend money on new recruits. Oh wait... Hmm yeah that's right the FOOL and his back room staff have screwed every prospect they have touched too. Round of applause everybody! Another fine job!

It's about time we put in a manager that knows what he's doing and gave him some bloody money to spend - unless of course Mike is happy having us flirt with relegation every year... A dangerous game but it would not surprise me in the least! Yes he was saddled with unforeseen debt when he took this place on, but that's his mistake for not doing his homework properly - it's a bit harsh to make the fans pay for his mistake year after bloody year.

I see Joe Kinnear had the cheek to point out Pardew has signed 16 players and spent £60m in the last 2/3 years. He forgot to mention the outgoings. In the last five years we are UP almost £20 million in transfer fees alone.

I appreciate the whole Financial Fair Play framework, but one minute we are told we re making signings - the next we are being told we have to sell to buy. Which is it?! Why bring in Joe Kinnear if we had no intention of spending money this summer? Baffling. We need to make two changes, because Mike Ashley is going nowhere. 1) - Get a proper commercial director in and increase our global brand and 2) - Drop Pardew and his backroom staff and bring in a modern thinking team that can get our players expressing themselves whilst delivering a brand of football we can all be proud of again, regardless of results.

The end.