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Eddie Howe isn't typically prone to histrionics or sweeping media statements. Based on his usual demeanor, his press conference after the weekend's loss to West Ham qualifies as a furious outburst. Newcastle took an early lead but West Ham were ahead by the interval, while also hitting the post and having a penalty overturned by VAR, prompting Howe to execute a three substitutions at the break.

“That was the frustrating thing about the first half,” Howe stated. “Virtually any player could have been substituted and I think this indicated of where we were in that moment during the match and it's extremely uncommon for me to feel that way. Actually, I cannot recall I have since I’ve been head coach of Newcastle, therefore I believed the squad needed a significant change at the break. That’s why I made what I did.”

Anthony Gordon, Nick Woltemade and Emil Krafth all came off at the interval and the team managed to steady somewhat in the latter period, but never appearing like they could get back into the game against a side that had secured just a single victory of their previous nine fixtures. Given how packed the centre of the table is, with just three points dividing the top spots from mid-table, and a nine-point margin between the upper and lower ranks, a run of 12 points from ten matches has not placed the Magpies stranded but, equally, they must not finish the season in thirteenth place.

The Issue of Expectations

The problem to an extent is one of perception. In the Saudi Public Investment Fund, the club have the richest backers in the globe. The assumption at the time the Saudi fund acquired 80% of the team in recent years was that it would bring a transformative effect, as Roman Abramovich had at Chelsea or Sheikh Mansour did at the Etihad. The difference is that both of those investors took over before the advent of FFP rules (and the ongoing charges against City concern whether they violated those regulations after they were implemented).

Financial regulations restrict the capacity of owners, however rich, to invest funds on their teams and so in that sense probably would have hindered any Saudi attempt to elevate Newcastle to the standard of City. However there is no need for the club's expenditure to have been so restrained as it has been; they might have spent more and remained within the limit – or just accepted a relatively meagre Uefa penalty since their major issue is more with the European than the Premier League regulation.

Stadium Investment and Financial Regulations

Additionally, stadium development is exempted from PSR calculations; the easiest way to raise income to generate more PSR headroom would be to expand or renovate the stadium. Considering the location of the home ground, with protected structures on multiple sides, in reality that probably means constructing an completely new stadium. There was talk in spring of possibly making the short move to a local park – opposition from community organizations might have been overcome with a commitment to build a new park on the current stadium site – but there has not been no movement on that plan. There has occurred significant retrenchment from the Saudi fund on a range of initiatives as it shifts focus on domestic affairs; the attitude to Newcastle appears entirely in alignment with that change of approach.

Player Sales Situation

The Alexander Isak episode was born of that conflict. A bolder leadership could have portrayed his transfer as essential to free up capital for additional spending; instead there was a vain effort to retain him. That meant Newcastle started the campaign amid a feeling of frustration despite the signings of Woltemade, Yoane Wissa, Jacob Ramsey, Malick Thiaw and Anthony Elanga. The opening was mixed: a single victory in their initial six games.

But it seemed a turning point had been turned. They had won five victories in six matches prior to Sunday, a streak that featured convincing wins of Union Saint-Gilloise and Benfica in the Champions League. That’s why the performance against West Ham was so surprising. The issue perhaps is that Newcastle’s approach is very aggressive, high-energy; a slight drop-off in intensity can have profound consequences. 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 looked particularly weary.

The Nature of Modern Soccer

This is the reality of modern football. Coaches must be prepared to make changes. The manager has been unfortunate that Wissa’s injury has meant he is lacking forward choices but, regardless of how valid the reasons, Sunday’s showing was inexcusable –particularly after scoring first at a ground primed to criticize its own side.

The Newcastle boss will wish it was merely a temporary setback, an off-day when everybody is off-colour simultaneously, but if the Magpies are to qualify for the Champions League next season, let alone eventually mount an genuine championship bid, they cannot be as unreliable as they have been.