Former England and Liverpool forward Stan Collymore has delivered a brutal verdict on the management style of Newcastle boss Steve Bruce.
Newcastle fans expressed their frustration again yesterday after another drab display in their side's 2-0 defeat to Chelsea.
The Magpies mustered just one shot on target and yielded only 28 per cent of the ball and it followed on from previous poor displays against Southampton, Manchester United, Tottenham and Brighton.
Some fans have lost patience with Bruce, prominent fan groups NUFC 360 and Wor Flags among them, citing Newcastle's lack of ambition and substance.
The Magpies are bottom of the Premier League standings for shots on goal, touches in the opposition box and passes into the final third and have the third worst possession stats in the division.
Collymore, who is an Aston Villa fan, has seen a lot of Bruce during his time as manager of the Villans.
And he offered a brutal verdict of the Newcastle boss' decision to operate with a back five when asked about the difference in Tottenham's defensive approach in their win over Manchester City compared to Newcastle's in their loss to Chelsea.
"He loves a back five does Steve," Collymore tweeted.
"(He) Tries to sell it as attacking wing backs but eventually it settles beautifully as a line of five who lose the will to live after a few games."
