🔗 Share this article

The Newcastle manager isn't typically prone to dramatics or grand media statements. So by his standards, his press conference after the weekend's 3-1 defeat counts as a furious tirade. His side took an early lead but West Ham took the lead by half-time, while also hitting the post and seeing a spot-kick revoked by VAR, prompting Howe to make a three substitutions at the break.

“The opening period was particularly irritating,” Howe said. “I almost could have taken anyone off and I believe this indicated of our performance level in that moment in the game and it's extremely uncommon for me to feel that way. Actually, I don’t think having done so during my tenure as manager of Newcastle, so I felt the squad needed a significant change at half-time. That’s why I did what I did.”

Anthony Gordon, Nick Woltemade and Emil Krafth all came off at half-time and the team did stabilise to an extent in the latter period, without ever really looking like they might get back into the game against an opponent that had secured just a single victory of their previous nine league matches. Given the congestion the middle of the table is, with just three points separating the top spots from mid-table, and nine points between the upper and lower ranks, a run of 12 points from ten matches has not left the Magpies stranded 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, Newcastle have the richest owners in the globe. The assumption when the PIF acquired 80% of the team in 2021 was that it would bring a game-changing impact, as Roman Abramovich had at Chelsea or Sheikh Mansour did at the Etihad. The distinction is that those two investors assumed control before the introduction of FFP rules (and the current charges against Manchester City relate to whether they breached those regulations once they were implemented).

Profit and sustainability restrictions restrict the capacity of proprietors, no matter how wealthy, to spend money on their teams and therefore probably would have slowed every Saudi attempt to elevate the team to the standard of City. However it wasn't necessary for Newcastle’s spending to have been so restrained as it has; they could have invested further and stayed inside the limit – or just accepted a relatively meagre European fine given their big issue is more with the continental than the Premier League rules.

Infrastructure Spending and Financial Regulations

Additionally, infrastructure spending is exempted from PSR assessments; the easiest method to raise income to create additional financial headroom would be to extend or redevelop the stadium. Considering the location of St James’ Park, with listed buildings on two sides, in reality that likely implies constructing an completely new venue. There was talk in March of potentially undertaking the nearby relocation to a local park – resistance from community organizations could surely have been overcome with a promise to build a replacement green space on the existing ground location – but there has been no movement on that plan. There has been substantial cutbacks from the PIF on a variety of initiatives as it shifts focus on local investments; the attitude to Newcastle seems entirely in alignment with that strategic shift.

Player Sales Saga

The Alexander Isak episode was arose from that conflict. A more confident leadership might have portrayed his transfer as essential to free up funds for additional spending; instead there was a unsuccessful effort to retain him. This resulted in the team began the season amid a sense of disappointment even with the signings of Woltemade, Yoane Wissa, Jacob Ramsey, Malick Thiaw and Anthony Elanga. The start was mixed: one win in their initial six fixtures.

But it appeared a turning point was reached. They had won five in six before Sunday, a run that included demolitions of a Belgian side and Benfica in the European competition. That’s why the performance against West Ham was such a shock. The problem perhaps is that Newcastle’s style is very aggressive, very high-octane; a minor decrease in intensity can have profound effects. Maybe the strain of Premier League, Champions League and Carabao Cup competition, five games in a fortnight, had taken its toll. Woltemade featured in each of those matches and appeared especially weary.

The Nature of Contemporary Football

That’s the reality of today's football. Managers have to be ready to rotate. The manager has been unlucky that Wissa’s fitness issue has meant he is short of attacking options but, regardless of how valid the reasons, the weekend's showing was unacceptable –particularly after scoring first at a ground primed to turn on its own side.

The Newcastle boss will hope it was just a blip, an off-day when everybody is below par simultaneously, but if the Magpies are to qualify for the Champions League next season, not to mention eventually launch an genuine title challenge, they cannot be as inconsistent as they have been.