Eddie Howe isn't typically given to histrionics or sweeping media statements. So by his usual demeanor, his media briefing after the weekend's 3-1 defeat counts as a furious tirade. His side took an early lead but West Ham took the lead by the interval, as well as striking the woodwork and having a penalty revoked by VAR, leading Howe to make a three substitutions at the half-time.
“The opening period was particularly irritating,” Howe said. “I almost could have taken anyone off and I believe that was a reflection of our performance level in that moment during the match 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 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 to an extent in the latter period, but never appearing like they could fight back into the game against an opponent that had won only one of their previous nine league matches. Given the congestion the middle of the standings is, with a mere three-point gap separating third from 11th, and nine points between the upper and lower ranks, a run of 12 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 have the wealthiest backers in the globe. The assumption when the PIF bought a majority stake of the club in 2021 was that it would bring a transformative effect, as Roman Abramovich achieved at Stamford Bridge or Sheikh Mansour did at the Etihad. The distinction is that both of those investors took over before the introduction of financial fair play rules (while the current charges against Manchester City concern if they violated those regulations after they were implemented).
Profit and sustainability restrictions limit the ability of proprietors, no matter how wealthy, to invest funds on their squads and therefore likely might have hindered any Middle Eastern effort to elevate Newcastle to the level of City. But there is no need for the club's expenditure to have been so restrained as it has been; they might have invested further and remained within the limit – or just accepted a relatively meagre Uefa penalty given their major issue is more with the European than the domestic rules.
Stadium Spending and Financial Regulations
Additionally, infrastructure spending is excluded from Profit and Sustainability assessments; the simplest method to raise income to generate more PSR headroom would be to extend or redevelop the arena. Considering the location of the home ground, with listed buildings on multiple sides, in reality that likely means constructing an completely new stadium. Rumors circulated in March of possibly undertaking the short move to a local park – opposition from local groups might have been surmounted with a promise to create a new park on the existing ground location – but there has been no movement on that plan. There has been substantial cutbacks from the PIF on a variety of initiatives as it refocuses on domestic affairs; the attitude to Newcastle seems completely in alignment with that change of approach.
The Alexander Isak Situation
The Alexander Isak saga was arose from that conflict. A more confident management could have framed his sale as necessary to free up funds for additional investment; instead there was a unsuccessful attempt to retain him. This resulted in the team started the campaign 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 first six games.
Yet it seemed a corner had been turned. They had won five victories in six matches before Sunday, a streak that featured convincing wins of Union Saint-Gilloise and a Portuguese club in the European competition. This explains the performance against the Hammers was so surprising. The problem perhaps is that Newcastle’s approach is extremely intense, very high-octane; a minor decrease in energy can have profound effects. Perhaps the strain of Premier League, European and cup competition, five fixtures in 15 days, had got to them. The German forward started all five matches and appeared particularly weary.
The Nature of Modern Football
That’s the nature of today's the sport. Managers must be ready to rotate. Howe has been unlucky that Wissa’s injury has meant he is short of attacking options but, no matter how reasonable the explanations, Sunday’s performance was inexcusable –particularly following taking the lead at a stadium ready to turn on its own side.
The Newcastle boss will hope it was merely a temporary setback, an off-day when everybody is off-colour simultaneously, but if the Magpies are to qualify for the Champions League next season, let alone eventually mount an genuine title challenge, they cannot be as unreliable as this.
