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The Newcastle manager isn't typically given to dramatics or grand media statements. Based on his standards, his media briefing after the weekend's loss to West Ham qualifies as a angry outburst. Newcastle took an early lead but the opposition were ahead by the interval, as well as hitting the post and having a penalty 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 having done so during my tenure as head coach of Newcastle, so I felt the squad needed some shaking up at the break. That’s why I made those decisions.”

Anthony Gordon, Nick Woltemade and Emil Krafth were substituted at half-time and Newcastle managed to steady somewhat in the second half, without ever appearing like they might 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 table is, with just three points separating third from 11th, and a nine-point margin between second and 17th, a sequence of 12 points from ten matches has not left Newcastle stranded but, similarly, they cannot finish the season in 13th.

The Issue of Expectations

The challenge partially is one of perception. In the Saudi Public Investment Fund, Newcastle possess the richest owners in the world. The assumption at the time the Saudi fund acquired 80% of the club in recent years was that it would have a transformative effect, similar to the former Chelsea owner achieved at Stamford Bridge or the City Group did at the Etihad. The distinction is that those two owners assumed control before the advent of FFP regulations (while the current charges against City relate to if they breached those regulations once they were in place).

Profit and sustainability restrictions limit the capacity of proprietors, however rich, to invest funds on their squads and therefore probably would have hindered every Saudi attempt to raise Newcastle to the standard of City. However there is no need for Newcastle’s spending to have been quite as cautious as it has; they might have spent more and stayed inside the limit – or just accepted a relatively meagre Uefa fine since their big issue is primarily with the continental than the Premier League regulation.

Infrastructure Spending and PSR Regulations

Additionally, infrastructure spending is exempted from Profit and Sustainability assessments; the easiest method to raise income to create additional financial headroom would be to expand or renovate the arena. Given the location of the home ground, with listed buildings on two sides, in reality that likely means building an entirely new stadium. Rumors circulated in spring of potentially making the short move to Leazes Park – opposition from local groups might have been surmounted with a commitment to create a new park on the current stadium site – but there has been any progress on that plan. There has been substantial cutbacks from the Saudi fund on a variety of projects as it refocuses on local investments; the attitude to the football club seems completely in alignment with that change of approach.

The Alexander Isak Saga

The star striker episode was arose from that tension. A bolder management could have portrayed his sale as essential to release funds for further spending; rather there was a vain attempt to retain him. This resulted in the team began the season amidst a sense of frustration even with the signings of Woltemade, Yoane Wissa, Jacob Ramsey, Malick Thiaw and Anthony Elanga. The opening was indifferent: a single victory in their initial six fixtures.

But it seemed a corner had been turned. They had won five in six before the weekend, a streak that featured convincing wins of a Belgian side and a Portuguese club in the Champions League. That’s why the display against West Ham was so surprising. The problem maybe is that Newcastle’s style is extremely intense, very high-octane; a slight drop-off in energy can have profound effects. Maybe the strain of domestic, European and cup matches, five games in 15 days, had taken its toll. Woltemade started each of those games and looked particularly weary.

The Nature of Contemporary Soccer

That’s the nature of modern football. Coaches have to be prepared to rotate. The manager has been unfortunate that the forward's injury has meant he is lacking attacking options but, regardless of how valid the reasons, Sunday’s showing was unacceptable –especially after scoring first at a stadium primed to criticize its own side.

The Newcastle boss will hope it was just a blip, an off-day when everybody is off-colour simultaneously, but if the Magpies are to qualify for the European competition next season, let alone eventually launch an genuine title challenge, they must not be as unreliable as they have been.