Cape Town - Newcastle manager Alan Pardew has bemoaned a lack of quality players in his squad following a disappointing start to the season.
Pardew faced heavy criticism last season after headbutting Hull City's David Meyler in a touchline confrontation, with the 53-year-old subsequently slapped with a £60,000 fine and seven-game touchline ban by the FA.
His position at the club was called into question at the end of the season but Magpies owner Mike Ashley opted to stick with the controversial boss.
However, Pardew's performance has once again been criticised this term, with the Toon currently languishing in 18th place with just four points.
And the former West Ham tactician feels the Tynesiders struggling because of their transfer policy.
Pardew told the Chronicle: "Our policy here has been the same since I've been at the club - we have bought players we think have good market value and that means mainly the younger players.
"I've had to deal with younger players and some have been massively successful and some haven't. At the moment we are not having as much success as we've had.
"We've produced some fantastic players for this club and we need to start producing a few more.
"I didn't think we were strong enough in the last part of the season and that's been held against me that I've been making excuses, but I just felt that we needed more and we didn't have it after the loss of (Yohan) Cabaye.
"This club needs big players because we are a big scalp for any team. Forget where we are in the league. We need big players and our big players need to stand up.
"We also need to create more big players and that's what we are trying to do."
Pardew faced heavy criticism last season after headbutting Hull City's David Meyler in a touchline confrontation, with the 53-year-old subsequently slapped with a £60,000 fine and seven-game touchline ban by the FA.
His position at the club was called into question at the end of the season but Magpies owner Mike Ashley opted to stick with the controversial boss.
However, Pardew's performance has once again been criticised this term, with the Toon currently languishing in 18th place with just four points.
And the former West Ham tactician feels the Tynesiders struggling because of their transfer policy.
Pardew told the Chronicle: "Our policy here has been the same since I've been at the club - we have bought players we think have good market value and that means mainly the younger players.
"I've had to deal with younger players and some have been massively successful and some haven't. At the moment we are not having as much success as we've had.
"We've produced some fantastic players for this club and we need to start producing a few more.
"I didn't think we were strong enough in the last part of the season and that's been held against me that I've been making excuses, but I just felt that we needed more and we didn't have it after the loss of (Yohan) Cabaye.
"This club needs big players because we are a big scalp for any team. Forget where we are in the league. We need big players and our big players need to stand up.
"We also need to create more big players and that's what we are trying to do."