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Eddie Howe isn't typically given to dramatics or grand media statements. So by his standards, his media briefing after the weekend's loss to West Ham counts as a angry outburst. His side took an early lead but West Ham took the lead by the interval, as well as striking the woodwork and seeing a spot-kick overturned by VAR, prompting Howe to make a triple change at the half-time.

“The opening period was particularly irritating,” Howe said. “I almost could have taken anyone off and I believe this indicated of where we were at that stage in the game and it’s very, very rare for me to have that impression. Actually, I don’t think having done so since I’ve been manager of the club, so I felt the team needed a significant change at half-time. That’s why I made what I did.”

Three key players were substituted at half-time and Newcastle did stabilise somewhat in the latter period, without ever appearing like they could get back into the game against an opponent that had won only one of their last nine league matches. Given how packed the centre of the table is, with just three points separating third from 11th, and nine points between second and 17th, a run of 12 points from ten matches has not placed the Magpies stranded but, similarly, they must not end the campaign in thirteenth place.

The Issue of Perception

The challenge partially is one of perception. With the Saudi PIF, the club possess the wealthiest backers in the globe. The expectation at the time the Saudi fund bought 80% of the team in recent years was that it would bring a transformative effect, as the former Chelsea owner had at Chelsea or the City Group had at Manchester City. The distinction is that both of those investors took over prior to the introduction of financial fair play rules (and the current allegations against City concern if they violated those guidelines once they were in place).

Financial regulations restrict the ability of proprietors, however rich, to invest funds on their squads and so in that sense likely might have slowed any Saudi attempt to elevate the team to the level 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 stayed inside the limit – or just accepted a fairly minor European penalty since their big issue is more with the European than the Premier League regulation.

Stadium Spending and PSR Rules

Additionally, infrastructure spending is exempted from PSR assessments; the simplest way to increase revenue to create more financial headroom would be to extend or renovate the stadium. Considering the site of St James’ Park, with protected structures on two sides, practically that likely implies building an completely new stadium. Rumors circulated in spring of possibly making the short move to Leazes Park – opposition from community organizations could surely have been surmounted with a promise to build a replacement green space on the existing ground location – but there has been no movement on that plan. There has been significant cutbacks from the Saudi fund on a variety of projects as it refocuses on domestic affairs; the attitude to Newcastle seems entirely in alignment with that change of approach.

The Alexander Isak Situation

The Alexander Isak saga was arose from that conflict. A bolder management could have framed his transfer as necessary to release funds for further investment; instead there was a vain effort to keep him. That meant the team began the season amid a sense of disappointment despite the acquisitions of Woltemade, Yoane Wissa, Jacob Ramsey, Malick Thiaw and Anthony Elanga. The opening was indifferent: one win in their initial six games.

But it appeared a corner was reached. They had won five in six prior to the weekend, a streak that included convincing wins of Union Saint-Gilloise and Benfica in the Champions League. This explains the performance against West Ham was so surprising. The issue perhaps is that Newcastle’s approach is very aggressive, very high-octane; a minor decrease in intensity can have significant consequences. Perhaps the strain of Premier League, European and Carabao Cup competition, five games in a fortnight, had got to them. The German forward started all five matches and looked especially fatigued.

Reality of Contemporary Soccer

That’s the nature of modern the sport. Coaches have to be prepared to rotate. Howe has been unfortunate that Wissa’s injury has left him short of forward choices but, no matter how valid the reasons, Sunday’s performance was unacceptable –especially following scoring first at a stadium primed to criticize its home team.

Howe will hope it was just a blip, an off-day when all players is off-colour at once, but if the Magpies are to secure the Champions League in the future, not to mention eventually launch an actual title challenge, they must not be as inconsistent as they have been.