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The Newcastle manager is not given to histrionics or grand public statements. Based on his usual demeanor, his press conference after Sunday’s loss to West Ham counts as a furious outburst. Newcastle took an early lead but West Ham were ahead by the interval, while also hitting the post and having a penalty revoked by VAR, prompting Howe to make a triple change at the half-time.

“That was the frustrating thing about the first half,” Howe said. “Virtually any player could have been substituted and I believe that was a reflection of our performance level at that stage in the game 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 the club, therefore I believed the team needed a significant change at the break. This explains why I did what I did.”

Three key players 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 a side that had won only one of their last nine league matches. Considering how packed the centre of the standings currently is, with a mere three-point gap separating third from 11th, and nine points between second and 17th, a run of 12 points from 10 games has not placed the Magpies adrift but, equally, they cannot finish the season in thirteenth place.

The Problem of Expectations

The problem to an extent is one of public view. In the Saudi Public Investment Fund, Newcastle possess the wealthiest owners in the globe. The assumption when the Saudi fund bought 80% of the club in recent years was that it would bring a transformative effect, similar to Roman Abramovich achieved at Stamford Bridge or Sheikh Mansour did at the Etihad. The difference is that those two investors took over before the advent of financial fair play regulations (while the ongoing charges against City concern whether they violated those regulations after they were implemented).

Financial regulations restrict the ability of proprietors, however rich, to spend money on their squads and therefore likely might have slowed every Middle Eastern attempt to raise Newcastle to the level of City. However there is no need for Newcastle’s spending to have been so restrained as it has been; they might have invested further and remained within the threshold – or just accepted a fairly minor European fine since their big problem is more with the European than the domestic regulation.

Infrastructure Investment and PSR Regulations

Additionally, stadium development is excluded from PSR calculations; the simplest method to increase revenue to generate more financial flexibility would be to expand or redevelop the arena. Considering the location of St James’ Park, with protected structures on multiple sides, practically that likely implies building an entirely new venue. Rumors circulated in March of possibly undertaking the nearby relocation to a local park – opposition from local groups might have been overcome with a commitment to build a replacement green space on the existing stadium site – but there has not been any progress on that proposal. There has been significant cutbacks from the Saudi fund on a range of projects as it refocuses on domestic affairs; the approach to Newcastle seems completely in alignment with that strategic shift.

Player Sales Situation

The Alexander Isak episode was arose from that tension. A bolder leadership could have framed his transfer as necessary to release funds for additional spending; instead there was a vain effort to keep him. That meant Newcastle began the season amidst a sense of disappointment despite the signings of several new players. The opening was indifferent: one win in their initial six fixtures.

But it seemed a corner was reached. They had won five in six before Sunday, a run that included demolitions of a Belgian side and Benfica in the Champions League. That’s why the display against the Hammers was so surprising. The problem perhaps is that the team's style is extremely intense, high-energy; a slight drop-off in energy can have profound consequences. Perhaps the strain of domestic, European and cup competition, five fixtures in 15 days, had got to them. The German forward featured in all five matches and looked particularly weary.

Reality of Modern Football

That’s the reality of modern football. Managers have to be prepared to rotate. The manager has been unlucky that the forward's injury has left him short of attacking options but, no matter how valid the explanations, the weekend's showing was inexcusable –particularly after scoring first at a stadium ready to criticize its home team.

The Newcastle boss will wish it was just a blip, one of those days when everybody is below par at once, but if the Magpies are to secure the Champions League in the future, not to mention eventually mount an actual championship bid, they cannot be as unreliable as this.