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The Newcastle manager is not prone to histrionics or grand public pronouncements. So by his standards, his press conference after the weekend's loss to West Ham qualifies as a furious outburst. His side took an early lead but the opposition took the lead by the interval, while also striking the woodwork and seeing a spot-kick revoked by VAR, prompting Howe to execute a three substitutions at the break.

“The opening period was particularly irritating,” the coach stated. “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 extremely uncommon for me to feel that way. Actually, I don’t think I have during my tenure as head coach of Newcastle, therefore I believed the team required a significant change at the break. That’s why I made those decisions.”

Anthony Gordon, Nick Woltemade and Emil Krafth all came off at half-time and Newcastle did stabilise to an extent in the second half, without ever really looking like they could fight back into the contest against a side that had secured just a single victory of their last nine fixtures. Given how packed the centre of the table currently is, with a mere three-point gap separating the top spots from mid-table, and nine points between second and 17th, a sequence of 12 points from 10 games has not placed the Magpies adrift but, similarly, they cannot end the campaign in thirteenth place.

The Issue of Expectations

The challenge partially is one of perception. In the Saudi Public Investment Fund, the club possess the wealthiest backers in the world. The expectation at the time the Saudi fund acquired a majority stake of the team 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 had at Manchester City. The difference is that both of those owners assumed control prior to the introduction of financial fair play rules (and the current allegations against City concern if they violated those regulations once they were in place).

Financial restrictions limit the capacity of proprietors, however rich, to invest funds on their teams and therefore probably might have hindered any Saudi attempt to elevate Newcastle to the standard of City. But it wasn't necessary for the club's expenditure to have been so restrained as it has been; they might have invested further and stayed inside the limit – or just accepted a relatively meagre Uefa fine given their major problem is primarily with the European than the domestic rules.

Infrastructure Investment and PSR Regulations

Besides which, stadium development is excluded from PSR calculations; the simplest method to increase revenue to create additional PSR flexibility would be to extend or renovate the stadium. Given the location of St James’ Park, with protected structures on two sides, in reality that likely implies building an entirely new venue. There was talk in spring of possibly undertaking the short move to Leazes Park – opposition from community organizations might have been surmounted with a commitment to build a replacement green space on the existing ground location – but there has been any progress on that plan. There has occurred substantial cutbacks from the Saudi fund on a variety of initiatives as it refocuses on local investments; the approach to the football club appears entirely in keeping with that change of approach.

Player Sales Saga

The Alexander Isak saga was born of that conflict. A bolder leadership could have portrayed his sale as essential to free up capital for further spending; instead there was a vain attempt to retain him. That meant Newcastle began the season amid a feeling of disappointment despite the acquisitions of Woltemade, Yoane Wissa, Jacob Ramsey, Malick Thiaw and Anthony Elanga. The opening was indifferent: one win in their initial six fixtures.

Yet it seemed a corner had been turned. They had won five victories in six matches prior to the weekend, a run that included convincing wins of a Belgian side and a Portuguese club in the European competition. That’s why the display against West Ham was so surprising. The problem perhaps is that the team's approach is very aggressive, very high-octane; a slight drop-off in intensity can have profound effects. Perhaps the strain of domestic, Champions League and cup matches, five fixtures in 15 days, had taken its toll. The German forward featured in all five matches and appeared especially weary.

Reality of Contemporary Soccer

That’s the nature of modern the sport. Managers must be prepared to make changes. Howe has been unlucky that Wissa’s fitness issue has meant he is short of forward choices but, no matter how reasonable the reasons, Sunday’s showing was unacceptable –especially after taking the lead at a stadium ready to criticize its home team.

The Newcastle boss will wish it was merely a temporary setback, an off-day when all players is below par at once, but if Newcastle are to qualify for the European competition in the future, not to mention eventually mount an genuine title challenge, they cannot be as unreliable as they have been.