🔗 Share this article

The Newcastle manager isn't typically prone to dramatics or sweeping media statements. So by his standards, his media briefing following Sunday’s loss to West Ham qualifies as a furious outburst. His side scored first but the opposition were ahead by half-time, as well as hitting the post and having a penalty revoked by VAR, prompting Howe to make a triple change at the half-time.

“That was the frustrating thing about the first half,” Howe stated. “I almost could have taken anyone off 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. In fact, I don’t think having done so since I’ve been head coach of Newcastle, therefore I believed the squad required a significant change at half-time. That’s why I made what I did.”

Three key players all came off at half-time and the team managed to steady to an extent in the latter period, without ever appearing like they could fight back into the game against a side that had won only one of their last nine league matches. Given how packed the centre of the standings currently is, with just three points dividing the top spots from mid-table, and a nine-point margin between second and 17th, a run of 12 points from ten matches has not left Newcastle adrift but, similarly, they must not finish the season in thirteenth place.

The Problem of Expectations

The problem partially is one of public view. With the Saudi PIF, the club possess the richest backers in the world. The expectation when the Saudi fund acquired 80% of the team in recent years was that it would have a transformative effect, as Roman Abramovich achieved at Stamford Bridge or the City Group did at the Etihad. The difference is that both of those owners assumed control prior to the advent of financial fair play rules (while the ongoing allegations against Manchester City concern if they breached those regulations after they were in place).

Financial restrictions limit the ability of proprietors, however rich, to spend money on their teams and therefore likely might have slowed any Middle Eastern attempt to raise Newcastle to the standard of City. However it wasn't necessary for Newcastle’s expenditure to have been quite as cautious as it has been; they might have invested further and stayed inside the threshold – or just accepted a fairly minor European penalty since their major problem is primarily with the European than the Premier League regulation.

Stadium Spending and PSR Regulations

Additionally, infrastructure spending is exempted from PSR calculations; the easiest way to increase revenue to create additional PSR flexibility would be to extend or redevelop the stadium. Considering the site of the home ground, with protected structures on multiple sides, practically that probably means building an completely new venue. There was talk in March of potentially undertaking the nearby relocation to Leazes Park – resistance from community organizations might have been overcome with a commitment to create a replacement green space on the current ground location – but there has not been no movement on that proposal. There has occurred significant retrenchment from the Saudi fund on a variety of initiatives as it shifts focus on local investments; the attitude to the football club appears entirely in alignment with that strategic shift.

Player Sales Saga

The star striker saga was born of that conflict. A more confident management could have framed his sale as necessary to release funds for additional investment; rather there was a unsuccessful attempt to keep him. That meant the team began the season amid a feeling of frustration despite the acquisitions of Woltemade, Yoane Wissa, Jacob Ramsey, Malick Thiaw and Anthony Elanga. The start was mixed: a single victory in their first six fixtures.

Yet it seemed a corner was reached. They secured five victories in six matches before the weekend, a run that featured convincing wins of a Belgian side and Benfica in the Champions League. This explains the performance against the Hammers was so surprising. The problem perhaps is that the team's approach is extremely intense, high-energy; a minor decrease in intensity can have significant effects. Maybe the pressure of Premier League, Champions League and cup matches, five fixtures in a fortnight, had got to them. Woltemade started each of those games and looked particularly fatigued.

Reality of Contemporary Soccer

This is the nature of today's football. Managers must be prepared to make changes. Howe has been unfortunate that the forward's injury has left him lacking forward choices but, regardless of how valid the explanations, the weekend's showing was unacceptable –especially after taking the lead at a ground ready to turn on its home team.

Howe will wish it was just a blip, one of those days when everybody is below par at once, but if Newcastle are to qualify for the European competition in the future, let alone eventually mount an actual championship bid, they cannot be as unreliable as this.