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Eddie Howe isn't typically prone to dramatics or sweeping public statements. Based on his usual demeanor, his press conference after the weekend's loss to West Ham qualifies as a furious tirade. Newcastle scored first but the opposition took the lead by the interval, while also striking the woodwork and seeing a spot-kick overturned by VAR, prompting Howe to execute a triple change at the half-time.

“The opening period was particularly irritating,” Howe said. “I almost could have taken anyone off and I think that was a reflection of where we were at that stage during the match and it’s very, very rare for me to have that impression. Actually, I don’t think I have since I’ve been head coach of Newcastle, therefore I believed the squad needed some shaking up at the break. This explains why I made those decisions.”

Three key players all came off at half-time and Newcastle managed to steady to an extent in the latter period, but never appearing like they might get back into the game against an opponent that had won only one of their last nine fixtures. Given the congestion the centre of the standings currently is, with a mere three-point gap dividing third from 11th, and nine points between second and 17th, a sequence of twelve points from ten matches has not placed the Magpies adrift but, similarly, they must not finish the season in thirteenth place.

The Problem of Perception

The challenge to an extent is one of perception. In the Saudi Public Investment Fund, the club possess the wealthiest backers in the world. The expectation when the Saudi fund acquired a majority stake of the team in 2021 was that it would have a transformative effect, as the former Chelsea owner achieved at Stamford Bridge or Sheikh Mansour had at Manchester City. The difference is that both of those owners took over prior to the advent of financial fair play regulations (and the ongoing charges against City relate to whether they breached those guidelines after they were in place).

Financial restrictions restrict the capacity of owners, however rich, to invest funds on their squads and so in that sense likely might have hindered any Saudi effort to raise the team to the standard of City. However there is no need for the club's spending to have been quite as cautious as it has; they might have invested further and stayed inside the limit – or just accepted a relatively meagre European fine given their major issue is more with the European than the Premier League regulation.

Stadium Investment and PSR Rules

Besides which, stadium development is exempted from PSR calculations; the easiest way to raise income to create additional PSR headroom would be to extend or renovate the stadium. Given the site of St James’ Park, with protected structures on two sides, practically that probably implies constructing an entirely new stadium. There was talk in spring of potentially undertaking the nearby relocation to a local park – resistance from community organizations might have been overcome with a promise to create a replacement green space on the current ground location – but there has been no movement on that plan. There has occurred significant cutbacks from the Saudi fund on a variety of initiatives as it shifts focus on local investments; the attitude to Newcastle appears completely in keeping with that change of approach.

Player Sales Saga

The Alexander Isak episode was born of that tension. A bolder leadership could have portrayed his sale as essential to free up funds for further investment; instead there was a vain attempt to retain him. That meant Newcastle began the season amidst a sense of disappointment despite the signings of several new players. The start was mixed: a single victory in their initial six fixtures.

Yet it appeared a corner had been turned. They secured five victories in six matches before the weekend, a streak that featured convincing wins of Union Saint-Gilloise and a Portuguese club in the Champions League. That’s why the performance against the Hammers was so surprising. The issue maybe is that the team's approach is extremely intense, very high-octane; a minor decrease in intensity can have profound effects. Maybe the strain of domestic, Champions League and cup competition, five games in 15 days, had got to them. The German forward started each of those matches and looked especially weary.

The Nature of Contemporary Soccer

This is the reality of modern the sport. Coaches have to be ready to make changes. The manager has been unfortunate that Wissa’s injury has left him lacking forward choices but, no matter how valid the reasons, the weekend's performance was inexcusable –especially after scoring first at a ground ready to turn on its own side.

The Newcastle boss will wish it was just a blip, an off-day when everybody is off-colour at once, but if the Magpies are to secure the Champions League in the future, not to mention one day launch an genuine title challenge, they cannot be as inconsistent as this.