The Newcastle manager isn't typically given to histrionics or grand public pronouncements. So by his standards, his media briefing after Sunday’s loss to West Ham counts as a furious outburst. His side took an early lead but West Ham took the lead by the interval, while also striking the woodwork and having a penalty revoked by VAR, prompting Howe to make a three substitutions at the half-time.
“The opening period was particularly irritating,” the coach stated. “Virtually any player could have been substituted and I believe that was a reflection of where we were at that stage during the match and it's extremely uncommon for me to have that impression. Actually, I cannot recall I have during my tenure as manager of the club, so I felt the team needed some shaking up at the break. This explains why I made those decisions.”
Three key players were substituted at half-time and Newcastle managed to steady somewhat in the second half, without ever really looking like they might get back into the contest against an opponent that had won only one of their last nine league matches. Given the congestion the middle of the table is, with just three points separating third from 11th, and nine points between the upper and lower ranks, a run of 12 points from 10 games has not placed the Magpies adrift but, similarly, they must not finish the season in 13th.
The problem to an extent is one of perception. With the Saudi PIF, the club possess the wealthiest owners in the globe. The assumption at the time the PIF bought 80% of the team in recent years was that it would have a game-changing impact, similar to the former Chelsea owner had at Chelsea or Sheikh Mansour had at Manchester City. The distinction is that both of those owners assumed control prior to the advent of financial fair play rules (and the current allegations against City concern if they breached those guidelines after they were in place).
Profit and sustainability regulations limit the capacity of owners, no matter how wealthy, to invest funds on their teams and so in that sense likely might have hindered every Saudi attempt to raise Newcastle to the standard of City. However there is no need for the club's expenditure to have been quite as cautious as it has been; they could have spent more and stayed inside the limit – or simply taken a relatively meagre European fine since their big problem is primarily with the continental than the Premier League rules.
Besides which, stadium development is excluded from PSR assessments; the easiest method to raise income to generate more PSR headroom would be to extend or renovate the stadium. Considering the location of the home ground, with protected structures on two sides, practically that probably implies building an entirely new stadium. There was talk in spring of possibly making the nearby relocation to Leazes Park – opposition from local groups could surely have been overcome with a commitment to build a replacement green space on the existing stadium site – but there has been any progress on that plan. There has occurred substantial cutbacks from the Saudi fund on a variety of projects as it refocuses on local investments; the attitude to the football club seems completely in keeping with that strategic shift.
The star striker episode was arose from that tension. A more confident management could have framed his transfer as essential to release funds for additional spending; instead there was a unsuccessful effort to retain him. This resulted in Newcastle began the season amidst a feeling of frustration even with the signings of several new players. The start was indifferent: a single victory in their initial six games.
But it seemed a turning point had been turned. They secured five victories in six matches before the weekend, a streak that featured convincing wins of Union Saint-Gilloise and a Portuguese club in the European competition. This explains the performance against West Ham was so surprising. The issue perhaps is that the team's style is extremely intense, high-energy; a slight drop-off in energy can have significant consequences. Maybe the strain of domestic, European and cup competition, five games in 15 days, had taken its toll. Woltemade featured in each of those matches and looked particularly fatigued.
That’s the reality of today's football. Coaches have to be prepared to rotate. 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, the weekend's showing was inexcusable –especially after taking the lead at a ground ready to criticize its own side.
Howe will wish it was just a blip, an off-day when everybody is off-colour at once, but if Newcastle are to secure the European competition next season, not to mention eventually mount an genuine championship bid, they cannot be as unreliable as this.
A tech enthusiast and gaming aficionado with over a decade of experience in digital media and content creation.
