🔗 Share this article

Eddie Howe isn't typically prone to histrionics or grand media statements. So by his standards, his media briefing after Sunday’s 3-1 defeat counts as a angry outburst. Newcastle scored first but West Ham took the lead by half-time, while also striking the woodwork and seeing a spot-kick overturned by VAR, prompting Howe to execute a triple change at the half-time.

“That was the frustrating thing about the first half,” Howe said. “I almost could have taken anyone off and I believe this indicated of our performance level in that moment in the game and it's extremely uncommon for me to feel that way. Actually, I cannot recall having done so during my tenure as manager of the club, therefore I believed the squad required some shaking up at half-time. This explains why I made what I did.”

Anthony Gordon, Nick Woltemade and Emil Krafth were substituted at the interval and the team managed to steady somewhat in the latter period, but never appearing like they could get back into the game against a side that had secured just a single victory of their previous nine league matches. Given how packed the centre of the table currently is, with a mere three-point gap separating third from 11th, and a nine-point margin between second and 17th, a run of twelve points from ten matches has not left Newcastle stranded but, similarly, they cannot finish the season in thirteenth place.

The Issue of Perception

The problem partially is one of perception. With the Saudi PIF, Newcastle possess the richest backers in the globe. The expectation at the time the PIF bought a majority stake of the team in 2021 was that it would have a transformative effect, as the former Chelsea owner had at Chelsea or Sheikh Mansour had at Manchester City. The difference is that both of those investors took over prior to the introduction of FFP rules (and the ongoing charges against City concern whether they violated those regulations after they were in place).

Profit and sustainability restrictions restrict the capacity of owners, however rich, to spend money on their teams and so in that sense likely might have hindered every Saudi effort to elevate Newcastle to the level of Manchester City. However it wasn't necessary for the club's expenditure to have been so restrained as it has; they might have spent more and remained within the limit – or just accepted a relatively meagre European penalty given their big problem is primarily with the European than the Premier League rules.

Infrastructure Spending and PSR Rules

Besides which, stadium development is exempted from Profit and Sustainability assessments; the easiest method to increase revenue to generate additional PSR headroom would be to expand or redevelop the stadium. Considering the site of the home ground, with protected structures on multiple sides, practically that likely means building an completely new stadium. There was talk in spring of possibly undertaking the short move to Leazes Park – opposition from local groups could surely have been surmounted with a commitment to create a new park on the existing stadium site – but there has not been no movement on that plan. There has occurred substantial cutbacks from the PIF on a variety of initiatives as it refocuses on domestic affairs; the attitude to Newcastle seems entirely in alignment with that strategic shift.

Player Sales Situation

The star striker episode was born of that tension. A bolder leadership might have portrayed his transfer as essential to free up funds for additional spending; instead there was a unsuccessful effort to retain him. That meant the team began the season amid a sense of frustration despite the acquisitions of several new players. The opening was mixed: one win in their initial six games.

Yet it seemed a corner had been turned. They secured five in six prior to the weekend, a streak that included convincing wins of a Belgian side and a Portuguese club in the Champions League. That’s why the display against the Hammers was such a shock. The issue maybe is that Newcastle’s style is extremely intense, very high-octane; a slight drop-off in energy can have profound effects. Maybe the pressure of Premier League, European and Carabao Cup matches, five fixtures in a fortnight, had taken its toll. The German forward started all five games and appeared particularly fatigued.

The Nature of Modern Soccer

This is the nature of today's football. Coaches have to be prepared to rotate. The manager has been unfortunate that Wissa’s injury has left him lacking forward choices but, no matter how valid the reasons, the weekend's showing was inexcusable –especially following taking the lead at a ground primed to criticize its own side.

Howe will wish it was merely a temporary setback, one of those days when everybody is below par at once, but if Newcastle are to qualify for the European competition in the future, not to mention eventually mount an actual title challenge, they must not be as inconsistent as this.