🔗 Share this article

Eddie Howe is not prone to histrionics or sweeping media statements. So by his usual demeanor, his press conference following Sunday’s 3-1 defeat counts as a angry tirade. His side scored first but the opposition took the lead by the interval, as well as hitting the post and having a penalty overturned by VAR, prompting Howe to execute a three substitutions at the half-time.

“The opening period was particularly irritating,” the coach said. “Virtually any player could have been substituted and I think this indicated of where we were at that stage in the game and it’s very, very rare for me to have that impression. Actually, I don’t think having done so during my tenure as manager of the club, so I felt the squad needed a significant change at the break. This explains why I did what I did.”

Three key players all came off at half-time and the team did stabilise somewhat in the second half, without ever really looking like they might fight back into the contest against an opponent that had won only one of their last nine league matches. Given 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 second and 17th, a run of 12 points from ten matches has not placed the Magpies adrift but, similarly, they cannot end the campaign in 13th.

The Problem of Perception

The challenge to an extent is one of public view. With the Saudi PIF, Newcastle have the wealthiest owners in the world. The assumption when the PIF acquired a majority stake of the club in 2021 was that it would bring a game-changing impact, similar to Roman Abramovich had at Chelsea or the City Group did at the Etihad. The difference is that both of those owners took over before the advent of FFP regulations (while the current allegations against City concern whether they violated those regulations once they were in place).

Financial regulations limit the capacity of owners, no matter how wealthy, to invest funds on their teams and therefore probably would have hindered every Saudi attempt to elevate Newcastle to the level of City. But it wasn't necessary for the club's spending to have been quite as cautious as it has; they might have invested further and remained within the limit – or just accepted a fairly minor Uefa penalty given their major issue is more with the continental than the Premier League rules.

Stadium Spending and Financial Rules

Besides which, infrastructure spending is exempted from Profit and Sustainability calculations; the easiest way to raise income to create more financial headroom would be to expand or redevelop the stadium. Considering the location of St James’ Park, with listed buildings on two sides, in reality that likely means building an completely new stadium. Rumors circulated in March of possibly making the short move to Leazes Park – opposition from local groups might have been surmounted with a promise to create a replacement green space on the current stadium site – but there has not been any progress on that plan. There has been significant cutbacks from the Saudi fund on a range of projects as it shifts focus on local investments; the attitude to the football club appears completely in keeping with that strategic shift.

Player Sales Saga

The Alexander Isak saga was arose from that tension. A bolder management might have framed his transfer as necessary to free up capital for further investment; rather there was a unsuccessful effort to retain him. This resulted in the team started the campaign amidst a feeling of frustration despite the acquisitions of several new players. The start was indifferent: one win in their initial six games.

Yet it seemed a corner had been turned. They had won five victories in six matches before the weekend, a streak that included demolitions of Union Saint-Gilloise and Benfica in the European competition. That’s why the display against the Hammers 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. Maybe the pressure of Premier League, European and Carabao Cup matches, five games in 15 days, had taken its toll. The German forward started all five games and appeared particularly weary.

Reality of Contemporary Soccer

That’s the reality of modern football. Coaches must be ready to rotate. Howe has been unlucky that the forward's fitness issue has meant he is short of attacking options but, no matter how valid the explanations, Sunday’s showing was inexcusable –particularly following taking the lead at a ground ready to turn on its own side.

The Newcastle boss will wish it was just a blip, one of those days when all players is below par simultaneously, but if the Magpies are to secure the European competition in the future, not to mention one day mount an actual title challenge, they cannot be as unreliable as they have been.