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The Newcastle manager isn't typically given to histrionics or sweeping public pronouncements. So by his usual demeanor, his press conference following Sunday’s loss to West Ham counts as a angry tirade. His side took an early lead but the opposition took the lead by the interval, while also hitting the post and having a penalty revoked by VAR, prompting Howe to execute a three substitutions at the half-time.

“The opening period was particularly irritating,” Howe said. “Virtually any player could have been substituted and I believe that was a reflection of where we were at that stage during the match and it’s very, very rare for me to have that impression. Actually, I don’t think I have during my tenure as manager of Newcastle, therefore I believed the team required some shaking up at the break. This explains why I did what I did.”

Anthony Gordon, Nick Woltemade and Emil Krafth all came off at the interval and Newcastle did stabilise to an extent in the latter period, but never appearing like they might fight back into the contest against a side that had secured just a single victory of their last nine fixtures. Considering the congestion the middle of the table currently is, with a mere three-point gap separating third from 11th, and a nine-point margin between the upper and lower ranks, a run of twelve points from 10 games has not placed Newcastle stranded but, similarly, they must not finish the season in thirteenth place.

The Issue of Expectations

The challenge to an extent is one of perception. In the Saudi Public Investment Fund, Newcastle possess the wealthiest backers in the globe. The expectation when the PIF acquired 80% of the club in recent years was that it would have a transformative effect, as the former Chelsea owner achieved at Stamford Bridge or Sheikh Mansour had at Manchester City. The distinction is that those two investors took over before the advent of financial fair play rules (and the current charges against City relate to if they breached those guidelines once they were implemented).

Profit and sustainability regulations restrict the capacity of proprietors, no matter how wealthy, to spend money on their squads and so in that sense probably might have hindered any Middle Eastern attempt to raise the team to the standard of City. But there is no need for Newcastle’s expenditure to have been so restrained as it has been; they might have spent more and remained within the threshold – or just accepted a relatively meagre European penalty since their big problem is more with the continental than the domestic rules.

Stadium Spending and PSR Rules

Additionally, stadium development is excluded from Profit and Sustainability calculations; the easiest method to increase revenue to generate more PSR flexibility would be to expand or redevelop the arena. Considering the site of St James’ Park, with protected structures on two sides, practically that likely means constructing an entirely new venue. Rumors circulated in March of potentially making the nearby relocation to Leazes Park – opposition from local groups might have been surmounted with a promise to create a replacement green space on the existing ground location – but there has not been any progress on that proposal. There has occurred substantial cutbacks from the Saudi fund on a range of projects as it shifts focus on domestic affairs; the approach to Newcastle appears completely in keeping with that strategic shift.

The Alexander Isak Situation

The star striker episode was arose from that conflict. A more confident management might have framed his sale as essential to release capital for further investment; instead there was a unsuccessful effort to retain him. That meant the team started the campaign amidst a sense of frustration even with the signings of Woltemade, Yoane Wissa, Jacob Ramsey, Malick Thiaw and Anthony Elanga. The opening was mixed: one win in their first six games.

Yet it appeared a corner had been turned. They secured five victories in six matches before the weekend, a run that included convincing wins of a Belgian side and Benfica in the Champions League. That’s why the display against West Ham was so surprising. The problem perhaps is that Newcastle’s approach is extremely intense, high-energy; a slight drop-off in energy can have significant consequences. Perhaps the pressure of Premier League, Champions League and Carabao Cup competition, five games in 15 days, had taken its toll. The German forward featured in each of those games and looked especially fatigued.

The Nature of Modern Football

That’s the reality of today's the sport. Managers have to be ready to make changes. The manager has been unlucky that the forward's fitness issue has left him short of forward choices but, no matter how valid the explanations, Sunday’s performance was inexcusable –especially following taking the lead at a stadium primed to criticize its home team.

Howe will hope it was merely a temporary setback, one of those days when everybody is below par at once, but if Newcastle are to qualify for the European competition next season, let alone eventually launch an genuine championship bid, they cannot be as inconsistent as this.