Vertical Game

I've listened to a couple of interviews with the new manager and he's referred a few times to playing a 'vertical game'.

I've not heard this expression before in relation to football. Not being funny or owt but what does it mean exactly?

Cheers

 

Getting the ball up the field.

 

Playing up n darn the pitch rather than sideways

 

More direct.

We played more direct post lockdown under Struber and it worked a treat. We reverted to a more patient style at the start of this season and it didn't.

 

Putting balls into areas that hurt teams, press from a position of strength. Clear your lines quickly at worst win a throw in at half way. Control the tempo from there and play percentage football. Reason why Klopp's got a throw in coach. Once you've got the ball in a dangerous area use your skill and abilities to make it count. Worked a treat last night, won a penalty, got a player sent off, scored a scruffy goal by being in right place at right time, and causing an own goal.

It'll be given a fancy name this approach, but it's no different to what Cloughy used to do. He had a grewt spine and let the team play football in the areas that mattered the opposition half and 18 yard box.

 

Simply put, it's getting the ball up the field but more safely and reliably i.e. first and foremost look for the forward pass. It isn't lump ball - where you just launch the ball up the field hoping it goes close to an attacking player

 

I have a job keeping vertical, but I like the concept. Bravo.

 

Stop fannying around at the back.

 

That was clearly evident last night, but it wasn't all "hit & hope" either. Just TBH what many of us have said. On occasions, just clear your lines, don't invite problems.

 

Thanks for your replies,think I've got it now ☺️

 

Hoof ball. Some consultant has come up with a new fancy name for it.

 

That's exactly what it isn't though. We played "vertical football" to some extent on Tuesday but how many lump balls did we play? We don't have the players to play that type of game for a start off.

 

He just means it will be an uphill struggle.

 

As long as it's not in reference to the Sheffield united neck pain game lol

 

Its obvious.
It's the difference between a vlookup and a hlookup game. The spreadsheet dictates which one is used.

 

guess the humour failed then. Mind didn’t you watch the first 20 mins?

 

lol mate, I was quite serious wasn't I? Agreed, yes the first 20 minutes we were definitely "finding our feet"

 

All our coaches, apart from Adam Murray, have had their own version of vertical football.

It was just a matter of when they took off.

 

Jenga, thats vertical in't it?

 

I remember watching the footage of Struber taking a coaching session at the England camp (I forget what it's called now) in preseason. Anyway, he was telling the players not to be in a rush to get the ball into the area, switching it around, looking for the perfect opportunity, not wanting to give up possession.

I thought that was terrible advice, squandering the opportunities afforded by the high press, losing the moment when the opposition defence are compromised. But I just shrugged; what do I know, being 'outside the game'? In Struber we trust(ed).

But it's wonderful to hear the first words of the new coach, backed up by actions on the pitch, being attack while the iron's hot. It makes so much sense and made such an immediate impact. For me this one fundamental change could address Barnsley's creativity issues. Early days mind you.