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The Newcastle manager is not given to dramatics or sweeping media pronouncements. Based on his usual demeanor, his press conference after the weekend's loss to West Ham qualifies as a angry tirade. Newcastle took an early lead but the opposition were ahead by the interval, as well as striking the woodwork and seeing a spot-kick overturned by VAR, prompting Howe to execute a three substitutions at the break.

“The opening period was particularly irritating,” Howe stated. “I almost could have taken anyone off and I believe that was a reflection of our performance level in that moment during the match and it’s very, very rare for me to feel that way. In fact, I don’t think I have during my tenure as head coach of the club, so I felt the team required a significant change at the break. That’s why I did those decisions.”

Three key players all came off at the interval and the team did stabilise to an extent in the second half, without ever appearing like they could fight back into the contest against a side that had secured just a single victory of their last nine league matches. Considering how packed the middle of the table currently is, with just three points separating third from 11th, and a nine-point margin between second and 17th, a run of 12 points from 10 games has not placed the Magpies stranded but, similarly, they must not end the campaign in thirteenth place.

The Issue of Perception

The challenge partially is one of perception. With the Saudi PIF, the club possess the wealthiest owners in the globe. The expectation when the Saudi fund bought a majority stake of the club in 2021 was that it would have a game-changing impact, similar to the former Chelsea owner achieved at Stamford Bridge or the City Group did at the Etihad. The distinction is that those two investors assumed control before the introduction of FFP regulations (while the ongoing allegations against City relate to whether they violated those guidelines after they were implemented).

Financial regulations restrict the capacity of owners, however rich, to invest funds on their squads and so in that sense probably might have slowed every Middle Eastern effort to elevate Newcastle to the level of City. However there is no need for Newcastle’s expenditure to have been quite as cautious as it has been; they could have invested further and stayed inside the threshold – or just accepted a relatively meagre Uefa penalty since their major issue is more with the European than the domestic regulation.

Stadium Spending and Financial Rules

Besides which, infrastructure spending is excluded from Profit and Sustainability calculations; the simplest way to raise income to generate more PSR headroom would be to expand or redevelop the stadium. Considering the site of St James’ Park, with listed buildings on two sides, practically that probably means building an entirely new venue. Rumors circulated in March of potentially undertaking the nearby relocation to a local park – opposition from local groups could surely have been surmounted with a commitment to build a new park on the existing ground location – but there has not been any progress on that plan. There has occurred significant retrenchment from the Saudi fund on a range of projects as it shifts focus on local investments; the attitude to the football club seems entirely in alignment with that strategic shift.

Player Sales Situation

The Alexander Isak saga was arose from that tension. A more confident management could have portrayed his sale as necessary to release funds for additional spending; instead there was a vain attempt to retain him. That meant the team started the campaign amidst a feeling of disappointment even with the acquisitions of several new players. The start was indifferent: a single victory in their initial six fixtures.

Yet it appeared a corner was reached. They secured five in six prior to Sunday, a run that featured demolitions of a Belgian side and Benfica in the European competition. That’s why the display against West Ham 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 significant consequences. Maybe the strain of Premier League, Champions League and cup competition, five games in 15 days, had got to them. Woltemade started all five matches and appeared especially fatigued.

Reality of Contemporary Football

This is the reality of modern the sport. Managers must be prepared to make changes. The manager has been unfortunate that the forward's fitness issue has left him lacking attacking options but, no matter how valid the reasons, Sunday’s performance was unacceptable –especially following scoring first at a stadium primed to criticize its own side.

The Newcastle boss will wish it was just a blip, an off-day when everybody is off-colour simultaneously, but if the Magpies are to secure the European competition next season, let alone eventually mount an genuine title challenge, they cannot be as unreliable as this.