Why it’s all gone wrong for Newcastle as Saudi revolution heads into reverse after Mike Ashley-style defeat to West Ham

THREE years connected from the euphoria of the Geordie Arabia takeover, it each looked a spot ‘Mike Ashley’ astatine St James’ Park connected Monday.

A mid-table team, ­scoring less than 1 extremity per location match, deservedly losing to West Ham and their dreams of satellite domination a distant memory.

The Saudi gyration connected Tyneside has not conscionable stagnated implicit the past year, it has headed into reverse.

During those past 12 months, Eddie Howe’s Newcastle person won 15 and mislaid 14 successful the Premier League.

They person amended players than successful the miserable epoch nether Ashley — the Saudis person spent the crisp extremity of fractional a cardinal successful the transportation marketplace — yet they are bang-average each the same.

There is inactive greater ambition and optimism than successful the wretched years earlier the Saudi Public Investment Fund’s morally dubious influx of cash.

A location Carabao Cup quarter-final with Brentford adjacent period whitethorn not vie with the dizzy heights of thrashing Kylian Mbappe’s Paris Saint-Germain 4-1 aboriginal past season.

But it offers the anticipation of silverware — 70 years connected from the Toon’s past home trophy — and immoderate specified triumph would beryllium greeted with elation passim the ­Geordie nation.

Although Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester United and Tottenham person besides reached the past 8 — each portion of the Big Six ‘cartel’ who fearfulness Newcastle’s  owners and are down the Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) which person hindered them.

Since the Newcastle takeover, the PIF has showered wealth connected the Saudi Pro League, arsenic good arsenic connected the sports of boxing and golf.

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Newcastle person go little of a precedence for the Saudis than primitively planned due to the fact that of PSR.

While outsiders whitethorn rejoice astatine the stifling of a sportswashing task by a quality rights-abusing regime, determination are wider questions present astir the competitiveness of the Premier League.

PSR has slowed Newcastle’s spending truthful overmuch that Lloyd Kelly — a escaped transportation from Bournemouth — was the lone summertime accomplishment to diagnostic connected Monday nighttime — and helium was severely astatine responsibility for West Ham’s opener.

PSR forced Aston Villa, who broke into the apical 4 past year, to merchantability Douglas Luiz successful the summer.

Unai Emery’s men big Juventus tonight  but — similar Newcastle past word — are struggling to  juggle Premier League and Champions League shot and are winless successful six games.

Neither Emery — the Saudis’ archetypal prime arsenic Newcastle brag aft their takeover — nor Howe bask the squad extent of the Big Six.

And those ambitious characters who arrived connected Tyneside amid that question of euphoria successful 2021 person since go restless.

Sporting manager Dan Ashworth discontinue for Manchester United, portion it is believed Howe would person been funny successful the England occupation had the FA been consenting to wage £6million successful compensation.

Anthony Gordon, Alexander Isak and Bruno Guimaraes — 3 players of undoubted  Champions League prime —  volition beryllium frustrated Newcastle are not successful elite European competition.

The summertime exits of Amanda Staveley and her hubby Mehrdad Ghodoussi — seen arsenic the acceptable look of the takeover — aft an interior powerfulness struggle, hinted astatine further problems down the scenes.

A feeling of positivity and unstoppable momentum has been replaced by discord and stasis.

Howe overachieved successful his archetypal afloat run arsenic brag by securing Champions League shot and reaching a archetypal home knock-out last for 24 years.

While past season’s regression was mitigated by fixture congestion and terrible wounded problems, determination are nary specified excuses this clip around.

If results bash not amended soon — and Newcastle person immoderate benignant fixtures before  Christmas — past Howe  could beryllium warring to prevention his job.

Unless the Saudis truly person taken their eyes disconnected the ball.

Plans for a large redevelopment of St James’ Park, oregon a wholly caller stadium, whitethorn uncover the grade of their continued ambition.

But portion PSR has enactment a roadblock successful the mode of the Saudi juggernaut, Newcastle inactive ought to beryllium overmuch amended than this.