Jaissle Says Long Balls Are Not Banned After Four Defeats in Five

• Newcastle head coach Matthias Jaissle says his Monday criticism of his players was lost in translation and that long balls are not forbidden (per Daily Mail).
• Jaissle says his door is open to any player who finds his instructions unclear, after talk that some are confused.
• Newcastle are 13th with 11 points from nine games and visit Fulham on Saturday at 15:00 GMT.

Jaissle Revisits the Message He Sent His Newcastle Players on Monday

Matthias Jaissle has gone back over what he said after Monday’s defeat, and he wants it heard differently. Asked on Thursday whether his criticism had been addressed with the squad this week, the Newcastle United head coach put part of the blame on the way his words were taken.

“I don’t know if it’s a misinterpretation or a language barrier, but there is an element of that when I explained that in the press conference.”

His original comments about long balls came after the 1-0 home defeat by Everton, when he said his players had failed to follow his instruction and bemoaned their use of long balls when the plan was to keep the ball on the floor. On Thursday he said long balls are not forbidden.

The No-Risk Zone and the Long Ball

Jaissle’s explanation rests on an idea he calls the no-risk zone. Newcastle had lost the ball in dangerous areas in earlier games, and those losses led to goals.

“But it is indeed (something) we address, because we talked sometimes about the no-risk zone, where we had previously critical-ball losses leading to goals. Of course, if there is a clear risk for ball loss, then I prefer playing a long ball to our striker and protecting the ball and develop the game from there.”

He added that the Monday comments were not aimed at individuals.

“It (my comments) are not to point any fingers, not at all. Sometimes you are willing to do something, but on that day it just did not work and you make the wrong decisions. It comes also with confidence.”

He still prefers a short build when a teammate is easy to find.

“If you have scenarios where you can find easily your team-mate on the ground and we build up from there with our patterns, then you should for sure also prefer that.”

He accepted that this is simpler to demand than to deliver.

“But it’s not easy, it’s easier said from outside. If the confidence is missing, then you prefer to be really safe and shooting maybe even more the long ball.”

Confused Players and an Open Door

The word this week was that some Newcastle players are confused by exactly what Jaissle wants from them. His answer was that the door is open.

“The door is always open if ever there is anything unclear. If you see the training then I’m pretty sure everyone understands and is fully committed. There was never a question, at least I’m not aware of it.”

“It’s important we listen to the players. If there is anything unclear, they will drop in.”

Jaissle also believes the players are united and “really clear” about his ideas.

“Yes, for sure. That is always good to see. That is the fundamental thing in the process at the moment that we can count on is the unity and togetherness,”

“We have such a good group and such a good relationship already that again, the door is always open and if anything is unclear they are more than welcome to talk about it.”

“When you see them in training and see how we are doing, I am pretty sure that everyone understands and are fully committed.”

Club Backing Behind a Struggling Side

Asked whether he has felt pressure on his position, Jaissle said: “I try to not follow things that are written but here and there you get some comments,”

“The nice part is that I got more of a feeling from within the club about how committed they are and that is something really important in a week where there is speculation or rumours.”

“It was good to know, good to feel but I try again in these aspects not to be distracted.”

He says he retains the support of the club hierarchy after a run of four defeats in five matches.

“That just shows me that everyone believes in the long-term project and that everyone is also aware and realistic about the journey and where we are right now.”

Where Newcastle Stand Before Fulham

Newcastle sit 13th in the Premier League with 11 points from nine games. The Magpies were booed at the end of the Everton defeat, and Jaissle has faced a booing crowd earlier this season. Everton also knocked Newcastle out of the Carabao Cup, winning 3-1 on 29 October. That cup tie and the league defeat sit alongside losses at Coventry City and at home to Aston Villa, which makes four defeats in the last five matches. The one exception was a win at Crystal Palace.

Jaissle is 38 and took over from Eddie Howe in the summer, when Newcastle confirmed him as head coach.

Newcastle play at Fulham on Saturday at 15:00 GMT. Jaissle says the players understand the plan, the door is open and the club stands behind the project. The match will show how much of that message survives a pitch where confidence is short and a long ball is always on offer.