Newcastle players 'confused' - It's all feeling a bit Steve Bruce

Newcastle's players are reportedly 'confused' by Matthias Jaissle's instructions, with a return to 4-3-3 still a possibility as pressure builds on the head coach.

Craig Hope's latest Newcastle Confidential column claims there is uncertainty over the playing style and system. He also says the squad remains supportive of Jaissle, with senior players accepting responsibility for getting things right.

Players reportedly questioning the No.10 role

Hope writes:

"I have been told some players are unsure as to the playing style and strategy, and that has led to those in deep positions getting the ball forward as quickly as possible, invariably with a long pass."

The report also claims some inside the dressing room are questioning the continued use of a No.10 when Newcastle don't have a specialist for that position.

A source close to a senior player apparently sees a return to 4-3-3 as the logical solution. Hope says Jaissle had already considered that change before last month's trip to Crystal Palace, so it remains a possibility.

Sean Steur could be central to any rethink. According to the report, Jaissle doesn't believe the Dutchman and Nico Gonzalez are suited to playing together as a midfield two. A three would offer a way of accommodating both while moving away from a No.10 role that has done little for us.

Uncomfortable reminders of the Bruce era

I'm always sceptical of these accounts from sources 'close to' the dressing room.

But if a player is briefing against the manager, that is a massive issue. Players can have questions about the system and take them to Jaissle. Letting those frustrations spill into the papers this early in his reign would be something else entirely.

It hardly screams siege mentality or a group determined to get through this together.

The unity Eddie Howe built feels a long way off. This already has more of the feel of the Steve Bruce era, when reports of discontent became part of the weekly noise around Newcastle. Bruce ended up publicly hunting the source of the leak after his row with Matt Ritchie reached the papers.

We really shouldn't be getting those reminders only a few months into Jaissle's tenure.

Schar briefly reading and then discarding the tactical note during Monday's game hardly helped the impression either. Fab was one of the culprits for hoofing the ball long against Everton, so between that and note-gate, don't be surprised if Thiaw comes in for him at Fulham on Saturday.

Jaissle did himself no favours with his comments after Monday's defeat. He was keen to stress that the long balls weren't part of his plan and that the players hadn't reproduced what they'd worked on in training. For me, that's throwing them under the bus. The message is that his instructions were right and the players failed to carry them out.

With player power as strong as it is, publicly pointing the finger at a squad already being described as confused feels like a dangerous move. He risks turning doubts about his tactics into a much bigger problem with his authority.

I don't know how much of Hope's report reflects what is actually being said inside the squad. But if this is already becoming a public argument over who is to blame, I fear the writing is on the wall for Jaissle. Once it gets to that stage, it usually only ends one way.