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Eddie Howe isn't typically given to histrionics or grand media pronouncements. Based on his standards, his press conference following Sunday’s loss to West Ham qualifies as a furious tirade. His side scored first but the opposition took the lead by the interval, as well as striking the woodwork and having a penalty overturned by VAR, leading Howe to execute a three substitutions at the break.

“The opening period was particularly irritating,” Howe stated. “Virtually any player could have been substituted and I believe this indicated of where we were in that moment during the match and it's extremely uncommon for me to feel that way. Actually, I don’t think I have during my tenure as manager of Newcastle, so I felt the team required a significant change at half-time. This explains why I made what I did.”

Three key players were substituted at the interval and Newcastle managed to steady to an extent in the latter period, without ever appearing like they could fight back into the contest against an opponent that had won only one of their previous nine league matches. Considering how packed the centre of the standings is, with just three points separating third from 11th, and nine points between second and 17th, a run of twelve points from 10 games has not left the Magpies stranded but, similarly, they cannot finish the season in thirteenth place.

The Issue of Expectations

The challenge partially is one of public view. In the Saudi Public Investment Fund, Newcastle have the wealthiest owners in the world. The expectation when the Saudi fund bought 80% of the team in 2021 was that it would bring a transformative effect, similar to the former Chelsea owner achieved at Stamford Bridge or Sheikh Mansour had at Manchester City. The distinction is that those two owners assumed control before the introduction of financial fair play rules (while the current allegations against Manchester City relate to if they violated those guidelines after they were in place).

Profit and sustainability restrictions restrict the capacity of proprietors, no matter how wealthy, to invest funds on their teams and so in that sense likely might have hindered any Saudi attempt to elevate Newcastle to the standard of City. However it wasn't necessary for Newcastle’s spending to have been so restrained as it has been; they could have spent more and stayed inside the threshold – or just accepted a fairly minor European fine given their big problem is more with the continental than the domestic rules.

Infrastructure Investment and Financial Rules

Besides which, stadium development is exempted from PSR assessments; the easiest method to raise income to create more financial headroom would be to extend or redevelop the stadium. Given the site of the home ground, with listed buildings on two sides, in reality that likely implies building an completely new venue. There was talk in spring of possibly undertaking the nearby relocation to Leazes Park – resistance from community organizations might have been surmounted with a commitment to create a replacement green space on the existing stadium site – 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 Newcastle seems completely in keeping with that change of approach.

The Alexander Isak Situation

The star striker episode was arose from that tension. A more confident leadership could have portrayed his transfer as necessary to free up funds for additional investment; rather there was a unsuccessful attempt to keep him. That meant Newcastle started the campaign amidst a feeling of disappointment despite the acquisitions of several new players. The opening was mixed: one win in their initial six fixtures.

But it appeared a corner had been turned. They secured five in six prior to Sunday, a run that included convincing wins of a Belgian side and Benfica in the Champions League. This explains the display against the Hammers was so surprising. The issue perhaps is that the team's style is very aggressive, very high-octane; a minor decrease in energy can have profound effects. Maybe the pressure of domestic, European and cup matches, five fixtures in 15 days, had got to them. Woltemade featured in each of those games and appeared particularly fatigued.

Reality of Contemporary Soccer

That’s the reality of modern the sport. Coaches have to be prepared to make changes. The manager has been unlucky that the forward's fitness issue has meant he is lacking forward choices but, no matter how valid the reasons, the weekend's showing was unacceptable –especially after scoring first at a stadium ready to turn on its own side.

The Newcastle boss will hope it was merely a temporary setback, one of those days when all players is off-colour at once, but if the Magpies are to qualify for the European competition next season, not to mention eventually launch an actual championship bid, they must not be as inconsistent as they have been.