Jamie Redknapp has delivered a stark assessment of Newcastle United's current predicament following the defeat to Aston Villa.
Newcastle went down 2-0 at Villa Park on Saturday evening and have now gone 10 games without a win in all competitions - putting manager Steve Bruce under increasing pressure.
The Magpies have dropped to 16th in the Premier League table, though they remain seven points clear of the relegation zone.
Redknapp has voiced his concerned for Newcastle and feels there are a number of problems within the club.
Asked if he had seen anything to be encouraged about, the former Liverpool man told Sky Sports: "No, not really, especially when you see that run. You can't deny it, it's a rotten run.
"You can talk about the style of football all you like - it's just not been good enough, really.
"The fans will always accept results but if you're playing the style of football they are and still losing games, that's not good enough.
"But like Steve Bruce has said, this has been the situation for the last three or four years, since I've watched Newcastle in this period - Rafa (Benitez), Steve Bruce.
"I look at the manager and I feel sorry for him, because I like Steve Bruce. I played against him - he's a warrior. He's not a quitter.
"But he must think to himself: 'I don't need this'.
"(The fans) are sick to death of everything right now - and understandably, because it's not good. It's not good viewing.
"I didn't for one second think they'd get a result (against Villa). I didn't believe they'd beat Sheffield United last week.
"But even if they did change the manager - and there's a possibility they could - I don't see a new manager coming in and changing too much with that squad.
"I can't see too many Newcastle players you'd get money for. I think (Allan) Saint-Maximin maybe. There's not many and they are not good enough.
"You could go and get Rafa back. That might be something they look at, or that's the fans' dream maybe - but I don't think he changes anything with this squad."
Redknapp went on to suggest that Newcastle were not producing as many homegrown stars as they have done in the past.
"Fundamentally, there are so many things wrong with that club - and one of the biggest ones that has bothered me for a while is the Academy," he added.
"Years ago, they always had a superstar Geordie - you think of Gazza, Waddle, Beardsley - Lee Clark when I was coming through, Steve Watson, players like that.
"There are no kids coming through. That used to be a football hotbed, Newcastle. Where is the talent there? Why are they no producing their own players? That's what they used to do for so many years.
"Even the likes of Michael Carrick and Alan Shearer - Alan Shearer had to go to Southampton and Michael Carrick had to go to West Ham - but there were so many good Geordie players.
"I think there's a young kid, Elliot Anderson, 18 years of age, maybe he might be one for the future.
"(The Longstaff brothers) have done OK - but I'm talking about superstars.
"That club has always had a superstar player. There isn't one now."
Redknapp concluded by saying: "It's a mess right now. I feel for Steve Bruce, I feel for the fans. It's not good enough but he's trying his heart out. You could see it. You could see his pain there."
"It's tough. They're in a real predicament in so many places. It's almost impossible to nail one thing on it.
"They could get rid of Steve Bruce very easily but it won't change. Mark my words, it will still be the same football.
"It might give the players a bit of a lift for a while but unless they bring in a load of new players and make wholesale changes, until they get a proper takeover, it's going to be the same problems."
