🔗 Share this article

The Newcastle manager is not prone to dramatics or grand public statements. So by his usual demeanor, his media briefing after Sunday’s 3-1 defeat qualifies as a furious outburst. His side scored first but West Ham took the lead by the interval, while also hitting the post and seeing a spot-kick revoked by VAR, leading Howe to make a three substitutions at the half-time.

“That was the frustrating thing about the first half,” Howe stated. “Virtually any player could have been substituted and I believe that was a reflection of our performance level in that moment during the match and it’s very, very rare for me to feel that way. Actually, I cannot recall I have since I’ve been manager of Newcastle, therefore I believed the squad required some shaking up at the break. That’s why I did those decisions.”

Three key players were substituted at the interval and Newcastle did stabilise to an extent in the latter period, but never appearing like they could fight back into the game against an opponent that had won only one of their last nine fixtures. Considering how packed the centre of the table currently 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 10 games has not left Newcastle stranded but, similarly, they cannot finish the season in 13th.

The Problem of Perception

The problem partially is one of public view. With the Saudi PIF, Newcastle have the wealthiest backers in the globe. The expectation at the time the PIF acquired 80% of the club in recent years was that it would bring a game-changing impact, as the former Chelsea owner achieved at Stamford Bridge or Sheikh Mansour did at the Etihad. The distinction is that those two owners assumed control before the introduction of financial fair play rules (while the current charges against City concern if they violated those guidelines once they were implemented).

Financial regulations restrict the ability of owners, however rich, to invest funds on their squads and therefore probably would have slowed every Saudi effort to elevate Newcastle to the standard of City. However it wasn't necessary for Newcastle’s spending to have been quite as cautious as it has; they might have invested further and stayed inside the threshold – or just accepted a relatively meagre Uefa penalty given their major problem is more with the continental than the domestic rules.

Infrastructure Investment and Financial Regulations

Besides which, stadium development is exempted from Profit and Sustainability assessments; the simplest way to raise income to generate more PSR flexibility would be to expand or renovate the arena. Considering the site of St James’ Park, with protected structures on multiple sides, practically that probably implies constructing an entirely new stadium. Rumors circulated in spring of potentially undertaking the nearby relocation to a local park – opposition from local groups could surely have been overcome with a promise to create a new park on the existing ground location – but there has been no movement on that plan. There has occurred significant cutbacks from the Saudi fund on a range of projects as it shifts focus on domestic affairs; the attitude to Newcastle appears entirely in keeping with that change of approach.

The Alexander Isak Saga

The Alexander Isak episode was arose from that tension. A more confident leadership could have portrayed his transfer as essential to release funds for further spending; instead there was a unsuccessful effort to retain him. That meant the team began the season amidst a sense of disappointment despite the acquisitions of Woltemade, Yoane Wissa, Jacob Ramsey, Malick Thiaw and Anthony Elanga. The start was mixed: one win in their first six fixtures.

Yet it appeared a turning point had been turned. They secured five in six before Sunday, a streak that featured demolitions of a Belgian side and Benfica in the Champions League. That’s why the performance against West Ham was so surprising. The issue perhaps is that Newcastle’s style is extremely intense, very high-octane; a slight drop-off in intensity can have significant effects. Perhaps the strain of Premier League, Champions League and cup matches, five fixtures in a fortnight, had got to them. The German forward featured in each of those matches and looked especially weary.

The Nature of Modern Football

That’s the reality of today's football. Coaches must be ready to make changes. The manager has been unfortunate that the forward's fitness issue has left him short of forward choices but, regardless of how reasonable the explanations, the weekend's performance was unacceptable –especially after taking the lead at a ground primed to turn on its home team.

The Newcastle boss will wish it was just a blip, one of those days when all players is below par at once, but if Newcastle are to qualify for the Champions League next season, not to mention eventually mount an actual championship bid, they cannot be as inconsistent as this.