Newcastle: 6 Signs Pardew Actually HAS Changed Philosophy

4. The Redefinition Of The Number 10

In his interview with the Standard, Pardew admitted that Newcastle were now using Moussa Sissoko as a "battering ram" of an attacking midfielder/number 10, to punch through the opposition defence as he did against Man City. Previously, he used Yohan Cabaye in that position, and at times this season had played Remy Cabella there, but neither would play the same way Sissoko does. By his own admission, Pardew has brought Sissoko into the middle, which has hurt defences in a very specific way, and it's very obvious to anyone watching Newcastle that the Frenchman is not playing the same style number 10 role we've grown accustomed to over the past two years. So that's a definite change in the system and the philosophy, no matter how keen Pardew is to ignore the fact.