Top and bottom of it is our rivals strengthened and we didn't. They matched us on points and bought the league's top scorer who compliments what they had whereas our signings are all working progresses rather than immediate impact players.
Our weaknesses last season was lack of width and no CM competition for Yaya. We addressed neither. You cannot say the warnings signs weren't there and the question is why were they not sorted.
Sugarcoat as much as you want. It's there for all to see, just depends on whether you want to take blinkers off and see it.