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Eddie Howe isn't typically prone to dramatics or grand public pronouncements. Based on his usual demeanor, his press conference after Sunday’s loss to West Ham counts as a furious outburst. His side took an early lead but the opposition were ahead by the interval, while also hitting the post and seeing a spot-kick overturned by VAR, leading Howe to make a triple change at the half-time.

“That was the frustrating thing about the first half,” Howe stated. “I almost could have taken anyone off and I believe that was a reflection of our performance level in that moment in the game and it’s very, very rare for me to have that impression. Actually, I don’t think I have since I’ve been head coach of the club, so I felt the team needed some shaking up at the break. That’s why I made what I did.”

Three key players all came off at half-time and Newcastle did stabilise somewhat in the latter period, without ever appearing like they might get back into the game against a side that had secured just a single victory of their previous nine league matches. Given the congestion the middle of the standings currently 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 placed Newcastle adrift but, equally, they cannot finish the season in 13th.

The Problem of Expectations

The challenge partially is one of perception. In the Saudi Public Investment Fund, the club have the wealthiest owners in the world. The assumption when the PIF acquired a majority stake of the team in recent years was that it would have a transformative effect, as the former Chelsea owner had at Chelsea or Sheikh Mansour did at the Etihad. The difference is that both of those investors took over before the advent of FFP rules (and the current allegations against City relate to if they breached those regulations after they were in place).

Profit and sustainability restrictions restrict the capacity of owners, no matter how wealthy, to invest funds on their teams and therefore likely might have slowed every Middle Eastern effort to raise the team to the standard of Manchester City. But there is no need for Newcastle’s expenditure to have been quite as cautious as it has; they might have invested further and remained within the threshold – or simply taken a fairly minor Uefa penalty since their big problem is primarily with the continental than the domestic regulation.

Infrastructure Spending and PSR Regulations

Besides which, infrastructure spending is excluded from Profit and Sustainability calculations; the easiest method to increase revenue to generate more PSR flexibility would be to expand or renovate the arena. Considering the location of St James’ Park, with listed buildings on two sides, practically that probably means building an completely new stadium. There was talk in spring of possibly undertaking the nearby relocation to Leazes Park – resistance from local groups might have been overcome with a promise to build a replacement green space on the existing ground location – but there has been any progress on that plan. There has occurred substantial retrenchment from the Saudi fund on a variety of projects as it refocuses on domestic affairs; the approach to the football club appears completely in keeping with that strategic shift.

The Alexander Isak Situation

The Alexander Isak saga was born of that tension. A bolder leadership could have framed his transfer as essential to release funds for further spending; rather there was a unsuccessful attempt to retain him. That meant Newcastle began the season amidst a feeling of disappointment despite the signings of several new players. The start was mixed: a single victory in their initial six fixtures.

But it appeared a corner was reached. They had won five victories in six matches prior to the weekend, a run that featured convincing wins of Union Saint-Gilloise and a Portuguese club in the Champions League. That’s why the display against the Hammers was such a shock. The issue perhaps is that Newcastle’s style is extremely intense, high-energy; a minor decrease in intensity can have profound effects. Perhaps the strain of domestic, European and Carabao Cup competition, five fixtures in a fortnight, had got to them. Woltemade started all five games and appeared especially fatigued.

The Nature of Contemporary Football

That’s the nature of modern the sport. Coaches have to be prepared to rotate. The manager has been unfortunate that Wissa’s injury has left him lacking forward choices but, no matter how valid the reasons, Sunday’s showing was unacceptable –particularly after scoring first at a ground primed to turn on its own side.

Howe will wish it was just a blip, one of those days when all players is off-colour at once, but if Newcastle are to secure the European competition next season, let alone one day launch an actual title challenge, they cannot be as unreliable as this.