Newcastle United legend Alan Shearer highlighted two big factors in the Magpies' poor form of late during Match of the Day.
Shearer, a close pal of Steve Bruce, did not hold back with his scathing verdict, but produced the type of captain's rant that used to drag Newcastle away from danger in the top-flight.
The Premier League's all-time leading scorer was critical of the current skipper Jamaal Lascelles and his observations chimed with Bruce's post-game Press conference.
In it, Bruce stated that Newcastle were playing "too deep" with Shearer referencing Lascelles' demand for more midfield cover, which is something of a surprise given the Magpies operated with a 5-4-1 formation and should have been tight enough against Chelsea.
Speaking on Match of the Day, Shearer slammed two of the club's main first-team stars in Lascelles and Allan Saint-Maximin when he said: "They have to braver in possession, work harder closing people down.
"Lascelles as a captain and a leader has to stop demanding protection from midfielders in front of him and Allan Saint-Maximin hasn't broken sweat since signing his new six year contract."
Bruce stated earlier in the year that his relationship with Shearer will never be ruined due to his punditry duties, insisting the England icon has a job to do with the BBC.
Whether Shearer has done Bruce a favour by waking up Saint-Maximin, with the French winger yet to hit the same heights as before he signed a deal, for the Crystal Palace game remains to be seen.
The reality is from all the players that have signed new contracts in recent months, only Karl Darlow is justifying his wage increase.
