Even the most Pro-Pardew supporters out there must have thought at the end of the summer transfer window, why did we not sign a proper long term defensive midfielder? to provide that shield we are missing and to protect defenders that are now being exposed.

You can still play attacking exciting football, but the best teams can mix it up. That is what a supposed tactical genius is meant to look at!!! But we don't mix it up, and because of our blinkered approach to just signing only attack minded players, we cannot come up with Plan B's and C's. Also the fact that we did not get better cover for both our full back positions was unbelievably short sighted