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Eddie Howe paused for seven seconds and looked stumped by the question.
The Newcastle United manager was asked whether he believed his players shared the same “fire” to turn things around at St James’ Park that he had professed in the build up to Saturday’s clash with Bournemouth.
By the time he was speaking, it had become Newcastle’s eighth defeat in 11 games and fifth in their last six at home. "I'm hesitating because I'm speaking on behalf of other people and that's very difficult to do,” he said, eventually.
Eddie Howe's seven-second Newcastle press conference pause said more than what came after
"I believe they do and from what I see on the training ground, I don't see any sense of poor attitude or poor commitment to their work. I see a group of players that are always giving their all.
"Of course we all need to give more, the players need to give more, I need to give more, to turn the results around.”
It was not a convincing answer. Such a lack of certainty on such an important issue felt significant. Howe has always said he will protect his players, but it felt as though he was hinting at the worst kept secret on Tyneside at the moment, deliberately or not. Some players may be looking far beyond the season’s end, and even at potential moves this summer.
CEO David Hopkinson admitted over the international break that the Magpies will likely need to sell in order to meaningfully strengthen their squad. European qualification in any form now feels like a distant dream.
Anthony Gordon missed the game with a hip injury, but has been linked with Bayern Munich in recent weeks. He is a doubt for Arsenal next Saturday, while Tino Livramento, who many expect to depart, may miss some time with a groin problem.
"He [Gordon] missed training on Thursday and Friday with a problem he picked up on Wednesday,” Howe added.
"So, we knew he wasn’t going to be ready. It was an injury.
"He went for a scan on Thursday morning, so we knew it was going to be an injury that was going to take him out of the game.”
Some supporters have questioned the validity of Gordon’s injury amid the speculation, and that dictated the framing of Howe’s question.
The manner of the performance did little to suggest the squad is focussed on the job in hand. Perhaps they are more concerned with their exit strategy.
For the first time since the Saudi Arabian-led takeover in 2021, there are serious questions about its long-term direction.
Rumours that the Public Investment Fund selling the club had to be denied this week, as it reportedly prepares to step away from funding the LIV Golf project. It also reduced its stake in Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal.
Whether conspiracy theories about Gordon and PIF are true or not, they are being given air to spread. Throw in a polarising debate around Howe’s future, and it all feels very miserable with little to grab onto.
At their best, Newcastle have been together, fighting as a team with intensity, building momentum and ripping through opponents. That doesn’t happen by accident; it comes from total belief and backing in the manager and commitment from the players.
This team have none of those characteristics; there was no personality or leadership on show. In years gone by, Will Osula’s second half equaliser would have led to a roaring response from the crowd and a collective expectation Newcastle would go on to get the winner.
Just as Brentford, Everton and Sunderland did in the not so distant past at St James’, the Cherries went up a gear and grabbed a late winner.
Last week, following defeat in a similar manner at Crystal Palace, Howe described that soft centre late in games as “uncharacteristic”. Mounting evidence suggests it is in fact one of their most prominent traits.
A lack of recruitment, followed by a string of poor signings last summer, which Howe had a big say on albeit without the help of a sporting director, have eroded what made his side so effective.
Watching Newcastle now, they look like a team waiting for a refresh. Howe still maintained the support of some in the stadium throughout and after the game, but boos were also heard at full time again.
Change is coming on Tyneside, with or without Howe. One side of the fanbase believes his past successes affords him the opportunity to rebuild, the other that his message is stale and he is too rigid to evolve.
Ultimately, he will need the backing of his players. Whether he has that is at least up for debate off the back of that performance.
Most alarmingly, he’d didn’t seem to know either. His silence, brief as it was, spoke volumes.
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