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The Newcastle manager isn't typically given to histrionics or sweeping media statements. So by his standards, his press conference after the weekend's 3-1 defeat qualifies as a furious tirade. Newcastle scored first but West Ham took the lead by the interval, while also hitting the post and seeing a spot-kick revoked by VAR, prompting Howe to make a three substitutions at the half-time.

“The opening period was particularly irritating,” the coach said. “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. In fact, I cannot recall I have since I’ve been head coach of the club, so I felt the team needed a significant change at the break. That’s why I made what I did.”

Anthony Gordon, Nick Woltemade and Emil Krafth were substituted at half-time and the team managed to steady to an extent in the second half, but never really looking like they could get back into the contest against a side that had won only one of their last nine fixtures. Considering how packed the middle of the table currently is, with just three points dividing the top spots from mid-table, and nine points between the upper and lower ranks, a sequence of twelve points from 10 games has not left Newcastle stranded but, similarly, they cannot finish the season in 13th.

The Issue of Expectations

The problem to an extent is one of public view. With the Saudi PIF, Newcastle possess the wealthiest backers in the world. The assumption when the PIF bought 80% of the team in 2021 was that it would have a transformative effect, as Roman Abramovich had at Chelsea or the City Group had at Manchester City. The distinction is that those two investors took over prior to the introduction of FFP regulations (while the current charges against City concern if they violated those regulations once they were implemented).

Financial restrictions restrict the ability of proprietors, however rich, to spend money on their teams and so in that sense probably might have hindered every Middle Eastern attempt to raise the team to the standard of Manchester City. But it wasn't necessary for the club's spending to have been so restrained as it has; they could have invested further and stayed inside the limit – or just accepted a relatively meagre European penalty since their major problem is more with the European than the domestic rules.

Stadium Spending and PSR Regulations

Besides which, infrastructure spending is exempted from PSR assessments; the simplest way to raise income to generate additional PSR flexibility would be to expand or renovate the stadium. Considering the site of the home ground, with listed buildings on two sides, in reality that probably implies constructing an completely new stadium. Rumors circulated in March of potentially undertaking the nearby relocation to Leazes Park – resistance from local groups could surely have been surmounted with a promise to build a new park on the current ground location – but there has not been any progress on that plan. There has occurred substantial retrenchment from the PIF on a variety of projects as it refocuses on domestic affairs; the attitude to the football club appears completely in alignment with that change of approach.

The Alexander Isak Saga

The star striker episode was arose from that conflict. A more confident management might have portrayed his sale as essential to release capital for further spending; rather there was a vain attempt to retain him. That meant the team started the campaign amid a sense of disappointment despite the acquisitions of Woltemade, Yoane Wissa, Jacob Ramsey, Malick Thiaw and Anthony Elanga. The opening was indifferent: a single victory in their initial six games.

Yet it seemed a turning point was reached. They had won five in six prior to the weekend, a run that included convincing wins of a Belgian side and Benfica in the Champions League. This explains the performance against the Hammers was so surprising. 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 cup matches, five games in 15 days, had got to them. Woltemade featured in all five games and looked especially fatigued.

Reality of Modern Football

This is the reality of modern the sport. Managers must be prepared to rotate. Howe has been unfortunate that Wissa’s fitness issue has left him lacking forward choices but, regardless of how valid the explanations, Sunday’s showing was unacceptable –particularly after scoring first at a stadium ready to criticize its home team.

The Newcastle boss will hope it was just a blip, an off-day when all players is off-colour at once, but if Newcastle are to secure the European competition in the future, let alone eventually mount an genuine title challenge, they cannot be as inconsistent as this.