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The Newcastle manager is not given to histrionics or grand media statements. So by his standards, his press conference after Sunday’s loss to West Ham counts as a angry outburst. His side took an early lead but West Ham 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,” Howe stated. “I almost could have taken anyone off and I believe this indicated of our performance level in that moment in the game and it's extremely uncommon for me to have that impression. Actually, I cannot recall I have during my tenure as manager of Newcastle, so I felt the team required some shaking up at the break. This explains why I made those decisions.”

Anthony Gordon, Nick Woltemade and Emil Krafth all came off at the interval and Newcastle did stabilise to an extent in the second half, but never appearing like they could get back into the game against a side that had won only one of their last nine league matches. Considering how packed the middle of the table currently is, with just three points dividing third from 11th, and a nine-point margin between second and 17th, a sequence of twelve points from 10 games has not left Newcastle adrift but, similarly, they cannot finish the season in thirteenth place.

The Issue of Expectations

The challenge to an extent is one of public view. In the Saudi Public Investment Fund, Newcastle have the richest backers in the world. The expectation at the time the Saudi fund acquired 80% of the team in 2021 was that it would have a transformative effect, similar to Roman Abramovich achieved at Stamford Bridge or Sheikh Mansour had at Manchester City. The distinction is that both of those owners took over prior to the introduction of FFP regulations (and the ongoing allegations against Manchester City concern if they violated those guidelines once they were implemented).

Profit and sustainability restrictions restrict the ability of proprietors, however rich, to invest funds on their teams and so in that sense probably would have hindered any Middle Eastern effort to elevate the team to the standard of City. But there is no need for Newcastle’s expenditure to have been quite as cautious as it has been; they might have spent more and stayed inside the threshold – or just accepted a relatively meagre European fine given their big issue is more with the European than the domestic regulation.

Stadium Spending and PSR Regulations

Besides which, infrastructure spending is exempted from PSR assessments; the simplest method to increase revenue to generate more PSR headroom would be to expand or redevelop the arena. Considering the location of the home ground, with protected structures on two sides, practically that likely implies building an completely new stadium. Rumors circulated in spring of potentially undertaking the short move to Leazes Park – opposition from local groups could surely have been overcome with a commitment to create a new park on the current stadium site – but there has not been any progress on that proposal. There has been substantial retrenchment from the PIF on a range of initiatives as it shifts focus on local investments; the attitude to the football club seems entirely in alignment with that change of approach.

Player Sales Saga

The star striker episode was born of that tension. A more confident management might have framed his sale as essential to free up funds for additional investment; rather there was a unsuccessful effort to retain him. That meant the team began the season amid a feeling of frustration despite the acquisitions of Woltemade, Yoane Wissa, Jacob Ramsey, Malick Thiaw and Anthony Elanga. The start was indifferent: one win in their initial six fixtures.

But it appeared a turning point had been turned. They secured five in six prior to Sunday, a run that included demolitions of Union Saint-Gilloise and Benfica in the European competition. This explains the display against West Ham was such a shock. The problem maybe is that the team's style is very aggressive, very high-octane; a minor decrease in energy can have significant effects. Perhaps the strain of domestic, European and cup matches, five fixtures in 15 days, had got to them. The German forward started each of those matches and appeared especially weary.

The Nature of Contemporary Football

This is the reality of today's the sport. Coaches have to be prepared to make changes. Howe has been unlucky that the forward's fitness issue has meant he is short of forward choices but, regardless of how valid the explanations, Sunday’s performance was inexcusable –especially after scoring first at a stadium primed to criticize its own side.

Howe will hope it was merely a temporary setback, an off-day when all players is off-colour simultaneously, but if the Magpies are to secure the Champions League in the future, let alone eventually launch an genuine title challenge, they must not be as inconsistent as they have been.