I found a way around it.
C:\Users\me\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe
--new-tab-page
That extension of --new-tab-page reverts the tabs to the previous interface and now everything swaps around again. I lose the extra things like the trashcan at the bottom arrows each side for the extra screens and the sheen that each tab had with the new chrome 15, but not bothered.