Former Newcastle United striker Michael Chopra has criticised new manager Steve Bruce for failing to prepare his players adequately this season.
Newcastle have slumped to a 1-0 defeat to Arsenal and 3-0 loss to Norwich in their opening games of the season, and next face a tricky-looking trip to Tottenham on Sunday.
Chopra claimed he has spoken to a number of players at the club who have told him very little is being done with regards to explaining tactics and their roles in the team.
Speaking to talkSPORT Chopra said: "I’ve spoken to some senior players at the club – I won’t mention their names – and under Benitez everything was drilled into them on the training pitch: the team shape, how they were going to play – every day.
"Bruce has come in, and some of the players don’t know their jobs – they are not really working on their shape.
"At Newcastle for two or three years those players have overachieved under Benitez.
"But I don’t think some of the players are good enough for the Premier League. They need coaching – they are not good enough."
Chopra, who last played for Indian side Kerala Blasters, did add that Newcastle's problems do not all lie with Bruce, and blasted the mentality he saw from some of the squad in the loss to Norwich.
"The attitude from the players was disgusting," he said.
"Once the first goal went in some of them dropped their heads and you’re expecting to go to Norwich and at least to try get a point – or three points.
"They are a newly-promoted team who have come into the Premier League and you’d expect Newcastle to be doing better than how they did.
"I feel sorry for Bruce because he’s a Geordie. A lot of Newcastle fans want a Geordie as a manager but it’s a difficult time because he’s coming to replace Benitez."
