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Eddie Howe isn't typically given to dramatics or sweeping media pronouncements. So by his usual demeanor, his press conference after the weekend's 3-1 defeat counts as a angry tirade. His side took an early lead but West Ham took the lead by half-time, while also striking the woodwork and having a penalty revoked by VAR, prompting Howe to make a three substitutions at the break.

“The opening period was particularly irritating,” Howe stated. “Virtually any player could have been substituted and I think this indicated of our performance level at that stage in the game and it’s very, very rare for me to have that impression. In fact, I don’t think having done so during my tenure as manager of the club, so I felt the squad required a significant change at the break. This explains why I made what I did.”

Anthony Gordon, Nick Woltemade and Emil Krafth all came off at the interval and Newcastle managed to steady to an extent in the second half, without ever really looking like they could fight back into the contest against a side that had won only one of their previous nine fixtures. Considering the congestion the middle of the standings currently is, with a mere three-point gap dividing third from 11th, and nine points between second and 17th, a run of twelve points from 10 games has not left Newcastle stranded but, equally, they must not end the campaign in 13th.

The Problem of Expectations

The challenge partially is one of perception. With the Saudi PIF, the club have the richest backers in the world. The assumption at the time the PIF acquired a majority stake of the team in 2021 was that it would bring a transformative effect, similar to the former Chelsea owner had at Chelsea or the City Group had at Manchester City. The difference is that those two investors assumed control prior to the advent of financial fair play rules (while the current charges against City concern whether they violated those guidelines after they were implemented).

Profit and sustainability regulations restrict the capacity of owners, no matter how wealthy, to invest funds on their teams and therefore probably might have hindered every Middle Eastern attempt to raise Newcastle to the level of City. But there is no need for Newcastle’s expenditure to have been quite as cautious as it has; they could have spent more and stayed inside the threshold – or just accepted a relatively meagre Uefa penalty since their big problem is more with the European than the domestic regulation.

Infrastructure Spending and Financial Rules

Additionally, infrastructure spending is excluded from Profit and Sustainability assessments; the easiest method to raise income to generate additional PSR flexibility would be to extend or redevelop the arena. Considering the location of St James’ Park, with protected structures on multiple sides, practically that probably means building an completely new venue. Rumors circulated in spring of possibly undertaking the short move to Leazes Park – opposition from community organizations might have been surmounted with a promise to create a replacement green space on the existing ground location – but there has been no movement on that plan. There has been significant cutbacks from the Saudi fund on a variety of initiatives as it refocuses on domestic affairs; the approach to Newcastle appears completely in keeping with that strategic shift.

Player Sales Saga

The Alexander Isak saga was born of that tension. A more confident leadership might have framed his sale as essential to free up capital for further investment; rather there was a unsuccessful effort to retain him. That meant the team began the season amidst a feeling of disappointment despite the signings of several new players. The start was mixed: a single victory in their initial six fixtures.

But it appeared a turning point was reached. They secured five victories in six matches prior to Sunday, a streak that included convincing wins of a Belgian side and Benfica in the Champions League. That’s why the display against West Ham was such a shock. The problem perhaps is that Newcastle’s style is extremely intense, very high-octane; a minor decrease in energy can have significant effects. Maybe the pressure of domestic, European and cup competition, five games in a fortnight, had taken its toll. Woltemade started all five matches and looked especially fatigued.

The Nature of Modern Football

This is the reality of today's football. Managers have to be prepared to rotate. Howe has been unfortunate that the forward's injury has left him short of forward choices but, no matter how valid the explanations, the weekend's performance was inexcusable –especially after scoring first at a ground primed to turn on its own side.

Howe will hope it was just a blip, one of those days when all players is below par simultaneously, but if the Magpies are to secure the Champions League next season, let alone eventually launch an genuine title challenge, they must not be as unreliable as this.