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The Newcastle manager is not prone to histrionics or sweeping media statements. So by his usual demeanor, his press conference after Sunday’s loss to West Ham counts as a angry outburst. His side took an early lead but the opposition took the lead by the interval, while also striking the woodwork and having a penalty overturned by VAR, leading Howe to execute a three substitutions at the half-time.

“The opening period was particularly irritating,” the coach said. “I almost could have taken anyone off and I believe that was a reflection of where we were at that stage in the game and it’s very, very rare for me to feel that way. In fact, I don’t think having done so during my tenure as manager of Newcastle, so I felt the squad needed a significant change at the break. This explains why I did those decisions.”

Anthony Gordon, Nick Woltemade and Emil Krafth were substituted at the interval and Newcastle did stabilise somewhat in the latter period, without ever really looking like they could get back into the contest against a side that had secured just a single victory of their previous nine fixtures. Considering the congestion the centre of the standings currently is, with just three points separating third from 11th, and a nine-point margin between second and 17th, a sequence of 12 points from 10 games has not left Newcastle stranded but, equally, they cannot end the campaign in thirteenth place.

The Issue of Perception

The challenge to an extent is one of perception. With the Saudi PIF, Newcastle possess the wealthiest backers in the world. The expectation at the time the Saudi fund bought a majority stake of the team in recent years was that it would have a game-changing impact, as the former Chelsea owner achieved at Stamford Bridge or the City Group had at Manchester City. The distinction is that both of those owners assumed control before the advent of financial fair play rules (while the ongoing allegations against Manchester City concern whether they violated those regulations once they were implemented).

Financial restrictions restrict the ability of owners, however rich, to spend money on their squads and therefore likely would have slowed every Middle Eastern effort to raise the team to the standard of Manchester City. However it wasn't necessary for Newcastle’s expenditure to have been so restrained as it has; they could have invested further and stayed inside the threshold – or just accepted a relatively meagre European fine since their major issue is more with the European than the Premier League rules.

Infrastructure Spending and Financial Regulations

Additionally, stadium development is excluded from Profit and Sustainability calculations; the simplest way to raise income to generate additional financial flexibility would be to extend or renovate the arena. Considering the location of St James’ Park, with protected structures on two sides, practically that probably implies building an completely new venue. Rumors circulated in spring of possibly making the nearby relocation to Leazes Park – resistance from local groups could surely have been overcome with a promise to build a new park on the existing stadium site – but there has not been any progress on that plan. There has been substantial cutbacks from the PIF on a variety of initiatives as it refocuses on domestic affairs; the approach to the football club seems entirely in keeping with that strategic shift.

Player Sales Situation

The Alexander Isak saga was born of that conflict. A bolder management might have portrayed his sale as essential to release capital for additional spending; instead there was a unsuccessful effort to keep him. That meant the team started the campaign amid a sense of disappointment even with the acquisitions of Woltemade, Yoane Wissa, Jacob Ramsey, Malick Thiaw and Anthony Elanga. The start was indifferent: a single victory in their initial six games.

Yet it seemed a turning point had been turned. They had won five in six prior to the weekend, a run that featured convincing wins of Union Saint-Gilloise and a Portuguese club in the Champions League. This explains the display against the Hammers was such a shock. The problem perhaps is that Newcastle’s approach is extremely intense, high-energy; a minor decrease in intensity can have significant consequences. Maybe the pressure of Premier League, Champions League and Carabao Cup competition, five games in a fortnight, had taken its toll. Woltemade featured in all five matches and appeared especially fatigued.

The Nature of Contemporary Soccer

That’s the nature of today's the sport. Coaches have to be prepared to rotate. Howe has been unlucky that the forward's fitness issue has meant he is lacking attacking options but, regardless of how valid the explanations, Sunday’s showing was unacceptable –especially after taking the lead at a stadium 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 secure the European competition in the future, let alone one day mount an genuine championship bid, they cannot be as unreliable as this.