The Newcastle manager is not given to histrionics or sweeping public statements. So by his usual demeanor, his press conference after the weekend's 3-1 defeat qualifies as a angry outburst. His side took an early lead but the opposition were ahead by the interval, as well as striking the woodwork and seeing a spot-kick revoked by VAR, leading Howe to execute a triple change at the half-time.
“The opening period was particularly irritating,” Howe said. “I almost could have taken anyone off and I believe this indicated of our performance level at that stage during the match and it’s very, very rare for me to feel that way. In fact, I cannot recall having done so during my tenure as head coach of the club, therefore I believed the squad needed some shaking up at the break. This explains why I made what I did.”
Three key players were substituted at the interval and the team did stabilise to an extent in the second half, without ever really looking like they could fight back into the contest against a side 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 separating the top spots from mid-table, and a nine-point margin between the upper and lower ranks, a sequence of twelve points from ten matches has not placed Newcastle stranded but, equally, they must not end the campaign in thirteenth place.
The challenge to an extent is one of perception. With the Saudi PIF, Newcastle have the wealthiest backers in the globe. The expectation when the Saudi fund bought 80% of the club in 2021 was that it would bring a transformative effect, similar to Roman Abramovich achieved at Stamford Bridge or Sheikh Mansour did at the Etihad. The distinction is that those two owners assumed control before the introduction of FFP rules (and the current allegations against Manchester City relate to if they violated those guidelines after they were in place).
Financial restrictions limit the capacity of proprietors, however rich, to invest funds on their squads and so in that sense likely might have slowed any Middle Eastern effort to raise Newcastle to the standard of Manchester City. But it wasn't necessary for the club's spending to have been so restrained as it has; they might have spent more and remained within the limit – or simply taken a relatively meagre European penalty since their big problem is primarily with the European than the Premier League rules.
Besides which, infrastructure spending is exempted from Profit and Sustainability assessments; the easiest method to increase revenue to create additional financial headroom would be to extend or renovate the arena. Considering the location of St James’ Park, with listed buildings on two sides, practically that likely implies constructing an entirely new venue. There was talk in March of possibly undertaking the nearby relocation to Leazes Park – resistance from local groups might have been overcome with a commitment to create a replacement green space on the current stadium site – but there has not been any progress on that proposal. There has occurred substantial retrenchment from the Saudi fund on a range of initiatives as it shifts focus on domestic affairs; the approach to Newcastle seems completely in alignment with that change of approach.
The star striker episode was born of that conflict. A bolder leadership could have portrayed his sale as essential to release capital for additional spending; instead there was a unsuccessful effort to retain him. That meant Newcastle began the season amidst a feeling of disappointment despite the acquisitions of Woltemade, Yoane Wissa, Jacob Ramsey, Malick Thiaw and Anthony Elanga. The opening was mixed: a single victory in their initial six games.
Yet it appeared a corner had been turned. They had won five victories in six matches prior to the weekend, a run that included convincing wins of Union Saint-Gilloise and Benfica in the European competition. This explains the performance against the Hammers was such a shock. The issue maybe is that the team's approach is very aggressive, high-energy; a minor decrease in intensity can have profound consequences. Perhaps the strain of domestic, Champions League and cup competition, five fixtures in 15 days, had taken its toll. The German forward featured in each of those games and looked especially weary.
That’s the reality of today's the sport. Managers have to be prepared to rotate. The manager has been unlucky that the forward's fitness issue has left him lacking forward choices but, no matter how valid the explanations, Sunday’s performance was unacceptable –particularly following scoring first at a ground primed to criticize its home team.
Howe will wish it was merely a temporary setback, one of those days when all players is off-colour at once, but if Newcastle are to secure the European competition next season, not to mention eventually launch an genuine title challenge, they cannot be as unreliable as they have been.
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