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The Newcastle manager isn't typically prone to histrionics or sweeping public statements. Based on his standards, his press conference after the weekend's 3-1 defeat counts as a furious outburst. Newcastle scored first but the opposition were ahead by the interval, as well as striking the woodwork and having a penalty overturned by VAR, prompting Howe to execute a three substitutions at the half-time.

“That was the frustrating thing about the first half,” the coach stated. “I almost could have taken anyone off and I think that was a reflection of our performance level at that stage during the match and it's extremely uncommon for me to have that impression. Actually, I cannot recall having done so during my tenure as manager of the club, so I felt the squad required some shaking up at half-time. That’s why I did what I did.”

Three key players all came off at half-time and the team managed to steady to an extent 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 last nine league matches. Given the congestion the middle of the table is, with a mere three-point gap dividing the top spots from mid-table, and nine points between second and 17th, a run of twelve points from 10 games has not left Newcastle stranded but, equally, they cannot finish the season in thirteenth place.

The Problem of Expectations

The challenge partially is one of public view. In the Saudi Public Investment Fund, the club have the richest backers in the globe. The assumption when the Saudi fund bought 80% of the club in recent years was that it would bring a transformative effect, similar to the former Chelsea owner had at Chelsea or the City Group had at Manchester City. The distinction is that those two owners took over prior to the introduction of FFP regulations (while the current allegations against Manchester City relate to whether they violated those guidelines after they were in place).

Profit and sustainability restrictions limit the ability of owners, however rich, to invest funds on their squads and therefore probably would have hindered every Middle Eastern effort to elevate Newcastle to the standard of City. But there is no need for Newcastle’s spending to have been quite as cautious as it has; they could have invested further and stayed inside the threshold – or just accepted a fairly minor Uefa penalty given their major problem is more with the continental than the Premier League regulation.

Stadium Investment and PSR Regulations

Besides which, infrastructure spending is excluded from Profit and Sustainability calculations; the easiest way to raise income to generate additional PSR headroom would be to expand or redevelop the arena. Given the site of the home ground, with listed buildings on multiple sides, practically that likely means constructing an completely new venue. There was talk in March of potentially undertaking the nearby relocation to Leazes Park – opposition from community organizations could surely have been overcome with a commitment to create a new park on the existing ground location – but there has been no movement on that proposal. There has been substantial cutbacks from the PIF on a variety of projects as it refocuses on local investments; the attitude to Newcastle appears completely in alignment with that strategic shift.

Player Sales Saga

The Alexander Isak saga was born of that tension. A more confident leadership might have framed his sale as necessary to free up capital for further spending; instead there was a vain attempt to keep him. This resulted in the team began the season amidst a feeling of frustration despite the signings of several new players. The start was indifferent: one win in their initial six games.

Yet it appeared a turning point was reached. They had won five in six before Sunday, a streak that featured demolitions of a Belgian side and Benfica in the European competition. This explains the performance against West Ham was such a shock. The problem maybe is that Newcastle’s style is extremely intense, high-energy; a slight drop-off in intensity can have profound consequences. Maybe the pressure of Premier League, Champions League and Carabao Cup competition, five games in a fortnight, had taken its toll. Woltemade started all five matches and appeared particularly fatigued.

Reality of Contemporary Soccer

This is the reality of modern the sport. Managers must be ready to make changes. The manager has been unlucky that Wissa’s injury has meant he is short of forward choices but, regardless of how valid the explanations, Sunday’s performance was unacceptable –particularly following taking the lead at a stadium ready to criticize 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 the Magpies are to secure the European competition in the future, not to mention one day mount an genuine title challenge, they must not be as inconsistent as they have been.