Newcastle United head coach Matthias Jaissle is facing mounting criticism over his "vertical football" tactics as the team hurtles toward a Premier League relegation fight. The approach, described as modern jargon for the long ball game, has been neither pretty nor effective with this squad.
What Is Vertical Football?
Vertical football is the modern term for the long-ball style associated with Jack Charlton's Newcastle, combined with a high press. Critics say it amounts to "kick and rush" under another name, with the ball being sent forward as quickly as possible only to come straight back.
When Charlton played the long game, he deliberately brought in two target men in Tony Cunningham and George Reilly. The current squad lacks such physical presence, with Yoane Wissa and Matias Fernandez-Pardo considered too lightweight for the approach. Jaissle would need the combative power of Will Osula to make it work.
Stubborn Reputation and Past Adaptation
There is a growing swell of opinion that Jaissle must do something drastic, but parallels are being drawn with Eddie Howe, who remained stubborn tactically in his final days at the club. However, there is proof Jaissle can change, having done so during his time in Saudi Arabia.
At Al-Ahli, Jaissle faced pressure from the board and media rather than the crowd. In late 2024, with the club slipping to eighth in the Saudi Pro League after a derby loss to Al-Ittihad, executives reportedly moved to sack him and line up Massimiliano Allegri as his replacement. Supporters organised major protests demanding the club keep their German coach, and the club confirmed he would stay.
Turning Point at Al-Ahli
Jaissle repaid that loyalty by guiding Al-Ahli to back-to-back AFC Champions League Elite titles in 2025 and 2026 before departing for Newcastle. He achieved this through a tactical rethink, having been criticised for being too rigid with his 4-2-3-1 formation.
While the 4-2-3-1 remained the core foundation, used in about 40 per cent of matches, he began heavily rotating a fluid 4-3-3 variation, utilised in 22 per cent of games, to match technically superior midfields. He also occasionally deployed a pure counter-attacking low block.
Upcoming Fixtures and Defensive Woes
Newcastle's next four matches over league and cup see three away games, following back-to-back 4-1 away defeats, plus a visit from champions Arsenal and a trip to Brighton. This comes after the team was beaten by Coventry City and Aston Villa.
Both Newcastle and their upcoming opponents Crystal Palace have conceded heavily: 14 goals in seven starts for Newcastle and 17 for Palace, the most in the league. Jaissle and Palace's Pierre Sage, both new managers, are desperately in need of a turnaround. The Frenchman faces a Europa League trip to Besiktas on Thursday before hosting Newcastle on Sunday.
