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The Newcastle manager isn't typically prone to histrionics or grand media pronouncements. Based on his standards, his press conference after Sunday’s loss to West Ham counts as a furious outburst. Newcastle scored first but the opposition were ahead by half-time, while also hitting the post and having a penalty revoked by VAR, leading Howe to make a triple change at the half-time.

“That was the frustrating thing about the first half,” the coach said. “I almost could have taken anyone off and I think that was a reflection of where we were at that stage in the game and it's extremely uncommon for me to feel that way. In fact, I don’t think having done so since I’ve been manager of Newcastle, therefore I believed the team required a significant change at the break. This explains why I made those decisions.”

Three key players all came off at the interval and Newcastle did stabilise to an extent in the latter period, without ever appearing like they could fight back into the game against a side that had won only one of their previous nine league matches. Given how packed the centre of the standings is, with just three points separating the top spots from mid-table, and a nine-point margin between the upper and lower ranks, a run of 12 points from 10 games has not left Newcastle stranded but, equally, they must not finish the season in 13th.

The Problem of Expectations

The challenge partially is one of public view. With the Saudi PIF, Newcastle possess the wealthiest backers in the world. The assumption at the time the PIF acquired a majority stake of the club in 2021 was that it would bring a game-changing impact, as Roman Abramovich had at Chelsea or the City Group did at the Etihad. The difference is that those two owners assumed control prior to the introduction of FFP regulations (while the ongoing charges against Manchester City relate to whether they violated those regulations once they were implemented).

Profit and sustainability regulations restrict the ability of proprietors, however rich, to spend money on their squads and therefore probably would have slowed every Middle Eastern attempt to raise the team to the standard of City. But it wasn't necessary for the club's spending to have been quite as cautious as it has; they might have invested further and stayed inside the threshold – or simply taken a relatively meagre Uefa penalty since their big issue is primarily with the continental than the domestic rules.

Infrastructure Investment and Financial Rules

Additionally, infrastructure spending is excluded from Profit and Sustainability assessments; the easiest method to raise income to create more financial headroom would be to extend or redevelop the stadium. Given the site of St James’ Park, with protected structures on multiple sides, practically that probably implies building an completely new stadium. There was talk in March of potentially undertaking the short move to Leazes Park – opposition from local groups could surely have been surmounted with a commitment to build a new park on the existing ground location – but there has been any progress on that proposal. There has been substantial retrenchment from the Saudi fund on a variety of initiatives as it refocuses on domestic affairs; the approach to the football club appears completely in alignment with that change of approach.

Player Sales Situation

The Alexander Isak episode was born of that tension. A more confident management might have framed his transfer as essential to release funds for additional investment; rather there was a vain attempt to keep him. That meant the team started the campaign amid a sense of disappointment even with the acquisitions of several new players. The opening was indifferent: one win in their initial six games.

But it appeared a turning point had been turned. They secured five victories in six matches prior to the weekend, a streak that included demolitions of Union Saint-Gilloise and Benfica in the European competition. This explains the display against West Ham was such a shock. The problem maybe is that Newcastle’s style is very aggressive, high-energy; a slight drop-off in intensity can have profound effects. Perhaps the pressure of Premier League, Champions League and cup matches, five fixtures in a fortnight, had got to them. Woltemade featured in each of those games and appeared especially weary.

Reality of Contemporary Soccer

That’s the nature of modern football. Coaches have to be prepared to rotate. The manager has been unfortunate that the forward's injury has meant he is lacking attacking options but, no matter how valid the explanations, Sunday’s performance was inexcusable –particularly after taking the lead at a ground ready to criticize its own side.

The Newcastle boss will hope it was merely a temporary setback, an off-day when all players is below par at once, but if Newcastle are to secure the European competition next season, let alone one day launch an actual championship bid, they cannot be as inconsistent as this.