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The Newcastle manager is not given to dramatics or grand media statements. Based on his standards, his media briefing following Sunday’s loss to West Ham qualifies as a furious outburst. His side took an early lead but the opposition were ahead by the interval, as well as hitting the post and seeing a spot-kick revoked by VAR, leading Howe to make a triple change at the half-time.

“That was the frustrating thing about the first half,” Howe said. “I almost could have taken anyone off and I think that was a reflection of where we were in that moment in the game and it’s very, very rare for me to feel that way. Actually, I don’t think I have since I’ve been head coach of Newcastle, therefore I believed the team needed some shaking up at half-time. This explains why I did what I did.”

Anthony Gordon, Nick Woltemade and Emil Krafth were substituted at half-time and Newcastle did stabilise to an extent in the second half, without ever appearing like they might fight back into the contest against a side that had secured just a single victory of their last nine fixtures. Considering how packed the middle of the standings is, with just three points separating the top spots from mid-table, and nine points between the upper and lower ranks, a sequence of twelve points from 10 games has not left Newcastle stranded but, similarly, they cannot finish the season in 13th.

The Issue of Expectations

The problem to an extent is one of public view. With the Saudi PIF, the club possess the richest backers in the world. The expectation at the time the PIF acquired 80% of the team in recent years was that it would bring a transformative effect, similar to Roman Abramovich achieved at Stamford Bridge or Sheikh Mansour had at Manchester City. The difference is that both of those investors assumed control prior to the advent of FFP regulations (and the current allegations against Manchester City relate to whether they violated those guidelines once they were in place).

Profit and sustainability restrictions restrict the capacity of owners, no matter how wealthy, to invest funds on their teams and so in that sense likely might have slowed any Saudi effort to elevate Newcastle to the standard of Manchester City. But there is no need for the club's spending to have been quite as cautious as it has; they might have spent more and stayed inside the threshold – or simply taken a relatively meagre European fine given their major problem is primarily with the European than the Premier League regulation.

Infrastructure Investment and Financial Regulations

Additionally, stadium development is exempted from PSR calculations; the easiest method to increase revenue to create additional PSR headroom would be to expand or redevelop the arena. Considering the site of St James’ Park, with protected structures on multiple sides, practically that probably means constructing an completely new venue. Rumors circulated in March of possibly undertaking the short move to a local park – opposition from community organizations might have been overcome with a commitment to create a replacement green space on the existing stadium site – but there has been any progress on that plan. There has occurred substantial retrenchment from the Saudi fund on a variety of initiatives as it shifts focus on local investments; the attitude to Newcastle seems completely in keeping with that change of approach.

The Alexander Isak Situation

The star striker episode was arose from that tension. A bolder management could have framed his transfer as essential to release funds for further investment; rather there was a unsuccessful attempt to retain him. That meant Newcastle began the season amid a feeling of frustration despite the acquisitions of several new players. The opening was indifferent: one win in their initial six fixtures.

But it seemed a turning point was reached. They secured five in six prior to Sunday, a streak that included demolitions of Union Saint-Gilloise and a Portuguese club in the Champions League. That’s why the performance against the Hammers was such a shock. The issue maybe is that the team's approach is very aggressive, high-energy; a slight drop-off in intensity can have profound consequences. Perhaps the pressure of domestic, European and cup matches, five games in a fortnight, had taken its toll. Woltemade started each of those games and appeared particularly weary.

The Nature of Modern Soccer

That’s the reality of today's football. Coaches must be prepared to rotate. The manager has been unlucky that Wissa’s fitness issue has left him lacking forward choices but, no matter how valid the explanations, the weekend's showing was inexcusable –especially following scoring first at a ground ready to criticize its own side.

Howe will hope it was merely a temporary setback, an off-day when all players is off-colour at once, but if the Magpies are to secure the European competition in the future, let alone eventually launch an genuine title challenge, they must not be as inconsistent as this.