Yes I know what you mean.City got an Arab with gazillions and bought whatever the fvck they wanted.We haven't got that,so our journey will be sweeter just remaining in the PL and seeing our ground redeveloped imo.

.. back to the question .. it is so glaringly obvious and as I, and many others, have repeatedly pointed out: we have no creative midfield.

Passes sideways, backwards, abortive one-twos and the get-rid-of-it-quick mentality just doesn't work, not for us anyway.

That is why Gayle had no chance - he didn't get the through balls he thrives on. Similarly with Murray. Both will now prosper and in Gayle's case I am confident he will make the PL grade if Newcastle get promoted.
Any player we've had with holding and passing skill gets ignored:
Bannan, Garvan, Williams and now, Lee - what a waste!

Our eggs seem all to be in the one basket - Benteke. For all his ability he can't expect to convert the few crosses he gets if he is marked by two or three defenders, as by West Ham.

Although past their prime I am sure that the likes of Scott Parker, Lee Tomlin, even Ben Watson would be a temporary fix until we can get a young, genuine ball-holding player who can move it forward while the forwards get in position. We have absolutely no one at present, apart from Lee, who can fill this vital role.

That's the main reason we lost, and it will continue because we don't have the skills for the 'new style of play'

Having said the same numerous of times, but why does the manager not forbid DD to do it unless he is under heavy pressure?

Its not a Physics Thesis its Football,its about passion and living in the moment as all sport is.You seem incapable of enjoying where we are you would rather pick holes and predict misery,its a glass half empty pessimistic viewpoint that imo shows you have an underlying issue with the club.Obviously its the manager and anyone that supports him,i stated what I thought he did wrong on Saturday but the game wasn't lost because of him.Bilic changed the formation out of nowhere after an international break and it caught us out but why wouldn't it given the circumstances?AP did his job,adapted at half time and sent the team out with the best possible chance of getting something out of the game.What more can he do as a manager on the day? You don't mention McArthur making a schoolboy error that cost us the only goal of the game.And Benetekes penalty miss was only worth a quick mention after youd berated AP for getting tactics wrong and being average and stating that you thought we would lose before the game even kicked off.I feel like you are almost in the group that hope we lose for personal justification just because you have a dislike of the manager.I struggle to remember any positive posts from you really,i imagine you to be a real life version of Mr You-Don't-Wanna-Do-It-Like-That

They do, but probably not as much as when he tries to play the ball out. I think whilst we wait for Dann's return we have to accept his punts out.But, I agree they don't do us many favours.

All PL managers inc Mr Pardew are paid to have a plan 'B' if another manager decides to do things a little differently. They played a 3-5-2 knowing that we would only play one up front. The 5 man midfield allowed them to deny Palace space and additionally they pressed the ball meaning Palace lost possession and were forced into errors. Once they got possession they kept it very well. Even though I dislike Noble due to his constant berating of referees, he didn't stop moving and geeing up his players. I didn't see that with us.
As they had the 5 man midfield they were also able to quickly stifle Townsend's possession so that he wasn't able to make runs or put balls into the box.
Tactically and AP is in charge of this we seem unable against this formation to know how to counter it which, normally means waiting to half time. We lack the ability to change into a Plan 'B' or even 'C' quickly.
This is I consider to be our biggest weakness and one that has to be resolved and quickly.
and one last thing....ZaZa up front worked his socks off for them unlike Benteke. All round they wanted it far more than us and had the right tactics with it.

Bring back Brolin