5. Too Small A Squad
Although this topic has been mentioned over and over there's no getting away from it, it
is the main reason behind a quite frankly appalling season by any teams standards. Bringing in players for the future was Ashley's idea of improvement, instead of building on what was a solid platform gained from the blood and sweat the season prior. Last Summer was
the time to invest in fresh talent, strike while the iron is hot is always a good motto in any aspect of life. A fifth place finish, European football to look forward to is exactly what prospective future signings would of been looking at. The club did make some good signings in January transfer window, although better players could of been brought in during pre-season. An early, season ending injury to Ryan Taylor had Pardew worried from day one. It is also widely renowned to be more difficult to sign good quality players during the January transfer window, these players are tied up to their respective clubs, while most players don't prefer to move anywhere during this window. You pay over the odds for the players that do arrive as clubs take advantage of the last gasp, desperate signings that managers and chairmen alike try to complete.