When it is not working, why the slavish obsession with 4-2-3-1 from the Newcastle United coaching staff?

Jack Patterson believes it’s essential that Newcastle United can innovate on the pitch to make up for a lack of spending – but is Alan Pardew up to the job?

Newcastle boss, Alan Pardew, thinks Premier League safety will allow him to put players in ‘unusual positions’ for long-term benefits, due to league safety.

Writer Clayton Moore believes that either Graham Carr or Alan Pardew has to go, who and why does he believe should be the one?

If we have any number of our better players out then it is going to be struggle, especially when Ben Arfa and Cabaye are missing, exactly who is going to create chances on a regular basis, no matter what team formation they are playing in?

This formation allowed us to get the best out of Hatem Ben Arfa, whose pace, agility and ball control gave opposition defenders something to worry about. Cabaye also seemed to enjoy being in a midfield three which allowed him to move forward with more ease, creating numerous chances for Papiss Cisse.