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Eddie Howe isn't typically given to dramatics or sweeping public statements. Based on his usual demeanor, his media briefing after Sunday’s loss to West Ham counts as a furious tirade. His side scored first but West Ham were ahead by the interval, while also hitting the post and having a penalty revoked by VAR, prompting Howe to execute a triple change at the break.

“The opening period was particularly irritating,” Howe stated. “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 cannot recall I have since I’ve been head coach of Newcastle, so I felt the squad required a significant change at half-time. That’s why I made what I did.”

Three key players were substituted at half-time and the team did stabilise somewhat in the second half, without ever really looking like they could fight back into the game against an opponent that had secured just a single victory of their previous nine fixtures. Considering how packed the middle of the table is, with just three points dividing the top spots from mid-table, and nine points between second and 17th, a sequence of 12 points from ten matches has not placed the Magpies stranded but, equally, they must not finish the season in thirteenth place.

The Issue of Perception

The challenge partially is one of public view. With the Saudi PIF, Newcastle possess the wealthiest backers in the world. The assumption when the Saudi fund acquired a majority stake of the club in 2021 was that it would have a transformative effect, similar to Roman Abramovich had at Chelsea or Sheikh Mansour had at Manchester City. The distinction is that those two owners took over prior to the advent of financial fair play rules (and the current charges against Manchester City concern if they breached those regulations after they were implemented).

Profit and sustainability regulations restrict the capacity of owners, no matter how wealthy, to spend money on their teams and therefore probably might have hindered any Middle Eastern attempt to elevate the team to the standard of Manchester City. But there is no need for the club's spending to have been so restrained as it has; they could have invested further and remained within the limit – or simply taken a relatively meagre Uefa penalty given their major problem is more with the continental than the Premier League regulation.

Infrastructure Spending and Financial Rules

Besides which, infrastructure spending is excluded from PSR assessments; the easiest way to raise income to create additional financial flexibility would be to expand or renovate the stadium. Given the location of St James’ Park, with listed buildings on two sides, in reality that probably implies constructing an entirely new venue. Rumors circulated in spring of potentially undertaking the short move to a local park – opposition from local groups might have been surmounted with a promise to build a replacement green space on the existing stadium site – but there has not been no movement on that plan. There has been substantial cutbacks from the Saudi fund on a range of initiatives as it refocuses on local investments; the approach to Newcastle seems completely in keeping with that strategic shift.

The Alexander Isak Saga

The Alexander Isak episode was arose from that conflict. A more confident leadership could have framed his sale as essential to free up funds for further investment; rather there was a vain effort to retain him. This resulted in Newcastle began the season amid a feeling of disappointment despite the signings of several new players. The start was indifferent: one win in their first six fixtures.

But it seemed a corner had been turned. They secured five in six before Sunday, a run that featured convincing wins of a Belgian side and Benfica in the European competition. This explains the display against the Hammers was such a shock. The issue maybe is that the team's style is very aggressive, very high-octane; a minor decrease in intensity can have profound consequences. Maybe the pressure of Premier League, European and cup competition, five games in 15 days, had taken its toll. Woltemade featured in all five matches and appeared especially fatigued.

Reality of Modern Soccer

That’s the nature of today's football. Managers must be prepared to make changes. Howe has been unfortunate that Wissa’s fitness issue has meant he is lacking attacking options but, no matter how valid the explanations, the weekend's showing was inexcusable –particularly after taking the lead at a ground ready to criticize its home team.

The Newcastle boss will hope it was just a blip, one of those days when everybody is below par at once, but if the Magpies are to qualify for the European competition next season, let alone one day launch an genuine championship bid, they cannot be as unreliable as they have been.