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Eddie Howe is not prone to histrionics or grand media statements. So by his usual demeanor, his press conference after Sunday’s loss to West Ham qualifies as a angry tirade. His side took an early lead but West Ham took the lead by half-time, as well as striking the woodwork and seeing a spot-kick overturned by VAR, leading Howe to make a triple change at the half-time.

“The opening period was particularly irritating,” Howe stated. “I almost could have taken anyone off and I believe that was a reflection of our performance level in that moment in the game and it’s very, very rare for me to have that impression. Actually, I cannot recall having done so during my tenure as manager of the club, so I felt the squad required a significant change at half-time. That’s why I made what I did.”

Three key players all came off at the interval 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 previous nine league matches. Given the congestion the middle of the table is, with a mere three-point gap dividing the top spots from mid-table, and nine points between second and 17th, a sequence of 12 points from ten matches has not left Newcastle stranded but, similarly, they cannot finish the season in thirteenth place.

The Problem of Expectations

The problem to an extent is one of perception. With the Saudi PIF, Newcastle possess the wealthiest backers in the world. The expectation at the time the PIF bought a majority stake of the team in recent years was that it would have a transformative effect, as the former Chelsea owner had at Chelsea or the City Group had at Manchester City. The difference is that both of those investors took over before the advent of FFP rules (and the current charges against City relate to if they violated those regulations after they were in place).

Profit and sustainability regulations restrict the capacity of owners, however rich, to spend money on their teams and therefore probably might have hindered every Saudi effort to raise Newcastle to the level of City. However it wasn't necessary for the club's spending to have been quite as cautious as it has been; they could have invested further and stayed inside the limit – or just accepted a fairly minor European fine since their big issue is primarily with the continental than the Premier League regulation.

Infrastructure Investment and PSR Rules

Besides which, stadium development is exempted from PSR assessments; the simplest method to increase revenue to generate more financial flexibility would be to extend or redevelop the arena. Considering the location of the home ground, with listed buildings on two sides, in reality that likely implies constructing an entirely new venue. There was talk in March of potentially undertaking the short move to a local park – opposition from community organizations could surely have been surmounted with a promise to create a replacement green space on the existing ground location – but there has been any progress on that proposal. There has occurred significant cutbacks from the Saudi fund on a variety of projects as it shifts focus on local investments; the attitude to Newcastle appears completely in keeping with that change of approach.

The Alexander Isak Situation

The Alexander Isak saga was born of that conflict. A bolder management might have portrayed his transfer as necessary to release capital for further spending; instead there was a unsuccessful attempt to retain him. That meant the team began the season amid a sense of disappointment despite the acquisitions of several new players. The opening was indifferent: one win in their first six fixtures.

Yet it appeared a turning point had been turned. They secured five victories in six matches before Sunday, a streak that included demolitions of a Belgian side and Benfica in the European competition. That’s why the performance against the Hammers was so surprising. The issue perhaps is that the team's approach is very aggressive, high-energy; a slight drop-off in energy can have significant effects. Perhaps the pressure of Premier League, European and cup competition, five fixtures in a fortnight, had taken its toll. The German forward featured in all five matches and appeared especially weary.

The Nature of Modern Football

This is the reality of modern the sport. Managers have to be ready to make changes. The manager has been unfortunate that the forward's fitness issue has left him short of forward choices but, no matter how reasonable the reasons, Sunday’s performance was unacceptable –especially after taking the lead at a stadium ready to criticize its home team.

Howe will hope it was just a blip, an off-day when all players is below par simultaneously, but if the Magpies are to qualify for the European competition next season, not to mention one day mount an genuine title challenge, they must not be as inconsistent as they have been.