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The Newcastle manager isn't typically given to histrionics or sweeping public statements. So by his usual demeanor, his press conference after the weekend's loss to West Ham qualifies as a furious outburst. His side took an early lead but the opposition took the lead by half-time, while also striking the woodwork and having a penalty revoked by VAR, leading Howe to make a triple change at the half-time.

“The opening period was particularly irritating,” the coach said. “I almost could have taken anyone off and I believe this indicated of where we were at that stage in the game and it's extremely uncommon for me to have that impression. Actually, I don’t think I have since I’ve been manager of Newcastle, therefore I believed the squad required a significant change at the break. This explains why I did those decisions.”

Anthony Gordon, Nick Woltemade and Emil Krafth all came off at the interval and Newcastle managed to steady somewhat in the latter period, but never appearing like they might fight back into the game against an opponent that had secured just a single victory of their previous nine fixtures. Given the congestion the centre of the table is, with just three points separating the top spots from mid-table, and a nine-point margin between second and 17th, a sequence of twelve points from 10 games has not placed Newcastle stranded but, similarly, they cannot end the campaign in 13th.

The Problem of Perception

The problem to an extent is one of perception. In the Saudi Public Investment Fund, Newcastle possess the wealthiest owners in the world. The expectation when the Saudi fund acquired a majority stake of the team in recent years was that it would bring a transformative effect, similar to the former Chelsea owner achieved at Stamford Bridge or Sheikh Mansour did at the Etihad. The distinction is that those two investors assumed control prior to the advent of financial fair play rules (while the current allegations against City concern if they violated those guidelines once they were in place).

Profit and sustainability restrictions restrict the ability of proprietors, no matter how wealthy, to invest funds on their teams and therefore probably would have slowed any Middle Eastern effort to elevate the team to the level of Manchester City. But there is no need for Newcastle’s expenditure to have been so restrained as it has been; they might have invested further and stayed inside the threshold – or simply taken a fairly minor European fine since their major problem is primarily with the European than the Premier League rules.

Infrastructure Investment and Financial Rules

Besides which, infrastructure spending is exempted from Profit and Sustainability assessments; the simplest way to increase revenue to create more financial flexibility would be to extend or renovate the arena. Considering the site of St James’ Park, with listed buildings on two sides, in reality that probably means building an completely new stadium. Rumors circulated in March of possibly making the nearby relocation to Leazes Park – resistance from community organizations could surely have been surmounted with a promise to create a new park on the current stadium site – but there has been no movement on that plan. There has occurred substantial cutbacks from the Saudi fund on a variety of initiatives as it refocuses on local investments; the attitude to Newcastle seems completely in alignment with that change of approach.

The Alexander Isak Situation

The star striker saga was born of that tension. A bolder management could have portrayed his sale as essential to release funds for further investment; instead there was a unsuccessful effort to retain him. That meant the team began the season amidst a sense of frustration even with the signings of several new players. The opening was mixed: a single victory in their first six games.

But it seemed a turning point was reached. They had won five in six prior to Sunday, a run that featured demolitions of Union Saint-Gilloise and Benfica in the European competition. That’s why the display against West Ham was such a shock. The issue perhaps is that Newcastle’s style is extremely intense, high-energy; a minor decrease in intensity can have significant effects. Perhaps the pressure of Premier League, European and cup competition, five fixtures in 15 days, had taken its toll. Woltemade started all five matches and looked especially fatigued.

Reality of Modern Football

This is the nature of today's the sport. Coaches must be prepared to rotate. Howe has been unfortunate that Wissa’s fitness issue has meant he is short of attacking options but, no matter how valid the reasons, Sunday’s performance was unacceptable –especially following scoring first at a ground primed to criticize its home team.

The Newcastle boss will wish it was merely a temporary setback, an off-day when everybody is below par simultaneously, but if Newcastle are to qualify for the Champions League next season, let alone eventually launch an actual championship bid, they must not be as unreliable as this.