There has been a growing sense of unease surrounding Newcastle United for some time now.
Since the unforgettable Carabao Cup final victory (arguably the greatest moment for supporters in a generation), the club appears to have lost momentum, both on and off the pitch.
By modern standards, last season was underwhelming.
Balancing the demands of European football with domestic competition proved beyond us and our game management deteriorated dramatically.
Statistically, Newcastle United dropped 27 points from winning positions, being the worst record in the Premier League. Just a season earlier, we had dropped only seven, the best record in the division. That contrast is stark.
There is certainly an argument that Eddie Howe had built up enough goodwill to deserve more time. Equally, if you listened to some of the louder voices on social media, he would have been out of the door halfway through the campaign. The truth, as ever, probably lay somewhere between those two positions.
What ultimately appears to have sealed Eddie’s fate, however, was the club’s transfer strategy, or more accurately, the apparent lack of one. Losing key players without obvious succession plans hardly inspires confidence ahead of a new season.
From the outside looking in, the Newcastle United recruitment model often appears scattergun, as though someone has Football Manager open and is simply working through a shortlist of promising names. That approach can succeed if deals are completed quickly and decisively, but that has repeatedly not been the case.
PSR and SCR have undoubtedly played their part in restricting what the club could do. However, this summer has also shown that there is genuine money available following significant player sales. So far, we have replaced proven, experienced players with raw potential. That may prove to be the right strategy in time, but asking young, unproven players to make an immediate impact under what could also be an inexperienced Premier League manager is hardly a recipe that fills supporters with confidence.
Perhaps the biggest concern is the growing disconnect within the club since the departures of Amanda Staveley and Mehrdad Ghodoussi. There no longer appears to be a clear link between the football operation, the commercial side of the business and, most importantly, the supporters.
In fact, it increasingly feels as though fans are viewed primarily as a source of revenue, while opportunities to significantly grow commercial income elsewhere have been slow to materialise.
At the same time, the club seems to have lost experienced football people in key decision-making roles. That inevitably raises questions about the direction of travel.
Where is the football ambition?
It is uncomfortable to even ask the question but are we in danger of becoming a modern version of the Mike Ashley model only with greater financial backing?
Developing talent to be sold on rather than building a team capable of consistently competing at the highest level?
Sustainable success requires experienced football people making football decisions.
PSR has undoubtedly been a major obstacle but it cannot become a convenient shield for every shortcoming. Rather than pushing the boundaries of what is possible within the regulations, it often feels as though the club has become comfortable using those restrictions as an explanation. The danger now is that we find ourselves starting again.
The resources appear to be there. The ambition, however, is becoming increasingly difficult to identify.
If Newcastle United genuinely has money to spend, why are we struggling to convince elite players that this is the place to build their careers?
Eddie Howe’s departure is unlikely to make that task any easier, and replacing him with a manager untested in the Premier League only increases the uncertainty.
That brings us back to the Yasir Al Rumayyan quote from October 2021: “Most importantly, you can expect ambition.”
Five years on, it is fair to ask, where is that ambition, and what is the long-term vision for Newcastle United?