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Eddie Howe isn't typically given to dramatics or sweeping media statements. Based on his usual demeanor, his press conference after the weekend's 3-1 defeat qualifies as a furious tirade. His side scored first but the opposition were ahead by the interval, while also hitting the post and seeing a spot-kick revoked by VAR, leading Howe to execute a three substitutions at the break.

“That was the frustrating thing about the first half,” Howe said. “I almost could have taken anyone off and I think this indicated of our performance level at that stage during the match and it's extremely uncommon for me to have that impression. In fact, I don’t think I have since I’ve been head coach of the club, therefore I believed the squad needed some shaking up at half-time. That’s why I made those decisions.”

Anthony Gordon, Nick Woltemade and Emil Krafth were substituted at half-time and Newcastle managed to steady to an extent in the second half, but never appearing like they might get back into the contest against a side that had secured just a single victory of their last nine fixtures. Given the congestion the middle of the table currently is, with just three points separating the top spots from mid-table, and a nine-point margin between second and 17th, a sequence of 12 points from ten matches has not left Newcastle stranded but, equally, they cannot end the campaign in 13th.

The Problem of Expectations

The problem to an extent is one of perception. With the Saudi PIF, the club have the richest backers in the world. The assumption at the time the PIF acquired 80% of the club in 2021 was that it would bring a transformative effect, similar to the former Chelsea owner had at Chelsea or Sheikh Mansour had at Manchester City. The distinction is that both of those owners took over before the introduction of financial fair play rules (while the ongoing charges against City concern if they violated those guidelines after they were in place).

Financial restrictions restrict the capacity of proprietors, however rich, to invest funds on their teams and so in that sense likely might have slowed every Saudi effort to raise the team to the level of Manchester City. But there is no need for Newcastle’s expenditure to have been so restrained as it has been; they could have spent more and stayed inside the limit – or simply taken a fairly minor European fine given their major issue is primarily with the European than the Premier League regulation.

Stadium Spending and PSR Rules

Additionally, stadium development is exempted from PSR assessments; the easiest method to increase revenue to create more PSR flexibility would be to expand or redevelop the stadium. Considering the location of St James’ Park, with protected structures on two sides, practically that probably means constructing an completely new venue. There was talk in March of possibly making the nearby relocation to a local park – resistance from local groups might have been surmounted with a promise to create a replacement green space on the existing stadium site – but there has been no movement on that proposal. There has been substantial cutbacks from the PIF on a range of initiatives as it shifts focus on local investments; the approach to Newcastle seems entirely in alignment with that change of approach.

Player Sales Saga

The Alexander Isak episode was born of that tension. A bolder management might have framed his transfer as essential to free up capital for additional spending; rather there was a vain effort to retain him. This resulted in the team started the campaign amid a sense of disappointment even with the acquisitions of Woltemade, Yoane Wissa, Jacob Ramsey, Malick Thiaw and Anthony Elanga. The opening was indifferent: a single victory in their first six games.

Yet it appeared a turning point was reached. They had won five in six before Sunday, a streak that included demolitions of a Belgian side and a Portuguese club in the Champions League. That’s why the display against West Ham was so surprising. The problem maybe is that Newcastle’s approach is very aggressive, very high-octane; a slight drop-off in energy can have profound consequences. Maybe the strain of domestic, European and Carabao Cup matches, five fixtures in 15 days, had taken its toll. Woltemade featured in all five matches and appeared particularly fatigued.

Reality of Contemporary Soccer

That’s the reality of today's the sport. Managers have to be prepared to make changes. The manager has been unfortunate that Wissa’s fitness issue has meant he is lacking attacking options but, regardless of how valid the explanations, Sunday’s showing was unacceptable –especially after taking the lead at a ground ready to turn on its home team.

The Newcastle boss will wish it was merely a temporary setback, an off-day when everybody is off-colour at once, but if the Magpies are to secure the Champions League next season, not to mention eventually mount an actual title challenge, they cannot be as unreliable as this.