🔗 Share this article

The Newcastle manager is not given to histrionics or grand media statements. Based on his standards, his press conference after the weekend's 3-1 defeat counts as a furious tirade. His side took an early lead but the opposition took the lead by the interval, as well as striking the woodwork and having a penalty revoked by VAR, prompting Howe to make a triple change at the break.

“That was the frustrating thing about the first half,” Howe said. “I almost could have taken anyone off and I think this indicated of our performance level at that stage in the game and it's extremely uncommon for me to feel that way. In fact, I cannot recall having done so during my tenure as head coach of the club, therefore I believed the team required a significant change at half-time. That’s why I made what I did.”

Three key players were substituted at the interval and Newcastle managed to steady somewhat in the latter period, but never really looking like they might fight back into the contest against an opponent that had secured just a single victory of their previous nine fixtures. Considering the congestion the middle of the table currently is, with a mere three-point gap dividing third from 11th, and nine points between second and 17th, a sequence of 12 points from 10 games has not left Newcastle adrift but, equally, they cannot finish the season in 13th.

The Problem of Perception

The challenge to an extent is one of public view. With the Saudi PIF, Newcastle have the wealthiest backers in the globe. The expectation at the time the Saudi fund bought a majority stake of the club in recent years was that it would bring a game-changing impact, as the former Chelsea owner had at Chelsea or the City Group had at Manchester City. The difference is that both of those owners took over prior to the introduction of FFP regulations (and the ongoing charges against Manchester City concern whether they breached those guidelines after they were in place).

Profit and sustainability regulations restrict the ability of proprietors, no matter how wealthy, to invest funds on their teams and therefore likely would have slowed every Saudi effort to raise Newcastle to the standard of City. But there is no need for Newcastle’s expenditure to have been quite as cautious as it has been; they could have invested further and remained within the threshold – or simply taken a relatively meagre European fine given their big problem is primarily with the continental than the domestic rules.

Infrastructure Spending and Financial Regulations

Besides which, stadium development is exempted from Profit and Sustainability assessments; the easiest method to increase revenue to generate more PSR flexibility would be to expand or redevelop the arena. Considering the site of the home ground, with listed buildings on two sides, in reality that probably implies building an entirely new venue. Rumors circulated in March of possibly undertaking the short move to Leazes Park – resistance from local groups might have been surmounted with a promise to build a replacement green space on the existing ground location – but there has not been no movement on that plan. There has been substantial retrenchment from the Saudi fund on a range of initiatives as it refocuses on local investments; the attitude to the football club appears entirely in alignment with that strategic shift.

Player Sales Saga

The star striker saga was arose from that conflict. A more confident management could have portrayed his sale as necessary to release funds for further investment; instead there was a vain attempt to retain him. That meant the team began the season amidst a feeling of disappointment despite the acquisitions of several new players. The start was indifferent: one win in their initial six fixtures.

But it appeared a turning point had been turned. They secured five in six before Sunday, a run that included convincing wins of Union Saint-Gilloise and a Portuguese club in the European competition. This explains the display against West Ham was such a shock. The issue maybe is that the team's approach is very aggressive, high-energy; a slight drop-off in energy can have significant consequences. Maybe the pressure of Premier League, European and cup matches, five games in 15 days, had got to them. Woltemade featured in all five games and looked particularly weary.

Reality of Contemporary Football

This is the reality of modern football. Managers have to be ready to make changes. Howe has been unlucky that the forward's injury has left him lacking attacking options but, no matter how reasonable the explanations, the weekend's performance was inexcusable –especially after scoring first at a stadium primed to turn on its home team.

The Newcastle boss will hope it was just a blip, one of those days when everybody is below par simultaneously, but if the Magpies are to secure the Champions League next season, not to mention eventually launch an genuine championship bid, they cannot be as unreliable as they have been.