'He plays up to it': Charlie Austin shares how he feels about Newcastle United assistant manager Jason Tindall
There aren't many assistant managers in football who have created such a presence for themselves as Jason Tindall has. Newcastle United's assistant manager has been beside Eddie Howe for years, and the two are practically inseparable.
The duo come across as polar opposites, while Eddie Howe is very stoic and measured, Jason Tindall is animated, feisty and well, if you're an opposition manager, you probably think the man is an absolute weapon.
Newcastle fans didn't christen him "Mad Dog' for no reason, as Tindall is often the one on the touchline winding up the opposition, nagging in the ear of the fourth official and creating chaos.
Tindall and Howe's partnership even led to the Premier League introducing a rule that meant only one person at a time was allowed in the technical area during the game. It was a direct response to the cries of top managers like Jurgen Klopp and Mikel Arteta being upset by Tindall's shenanigans. Thankfully, they quickly stopped enforcing that rule when they realised that nobody was taking notice of it.
Charlie Austin says Jason Tindall plays into his perceived persona
The thing is, Tindall isn't just all bark and no bite in terms of his coaching ability. He actually brings a lot more to the table than simply being Eddie Howe's attack dog which former striker Charlie Austin, who played under Howe and Tindall at Burnley, has told the Undr the Cosh podcast.
"I liked him. When you only see him on Match of the Day or see a clip of it, you'll be like: 'what a d**k'. When you get to know him and you are with him every day, he is an all right fella.
"You'd get found out, not only in the changing room but by the manager. The manager [Eddie Howe] takes him everywhere. So if he was a belter he wouldn't be getting in the situation, especially in the scenario he is in now with the top end players, you'd get found out even more.
"So I think he plays up to it but he is a top fella. I like it when he jumps in front of Eddie and tries to shake the manager's hand. That tickles me, like he is the boss and that, but I liked him. Don't get me wrong, he's not everyone's cup of tea, that's fine, but I thought he was a top fella."
Tindall has proved that he's more than just an attack dog
Tindall has had to step up to be the main man once or twice for Newcastle, most notably when Howe was hospitalised with pneumonia, and Newcastle fared well under his direction.
There is definitely a lot more to him than just being an annoying presence for the 'big six' managers to cry about.
But that's definitely what we all love him for.
