Jason Tindall, king of touchline chaos, has Newcastle barking up right tree
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Newcastle are benefitting from ‘Mad Dog’s’ odd-couple relationship with Eddie Howe and his attention to detail. Name the assistant manager noted for clashing with, among several others, Mikel Arteta, Jürgen Klopp and Unai Emery on Premier League touchlines and, occasionally, in stadium tunnels?.
![[Louise Taylor]](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/uploads/2017/10/09/Louise-Taylor,-L.png?width=75&dpr=1&s=none&crop=none)
Given quiz questions rarely come much easier there are no prizes for supplying the correct answer: Newcastle’s Jason Tindall. The self-styled king of technical area chaos, affectionately referred to as “Mad Dog” on Tyneside, has been at Eddie Howe’s side pretty much ever since the pair formed a central defensive partnership as Bournemouth players. Indeed he ranks as one of the few people the ever-wary Newcastle manager really trusts.
![[Eddie Howe and Jason Tindall on the touchline.]](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/b5549babc2d7792117ef8e3e832cce72231b61e4/225_0_2937_1762/master/2937.jpg?width=445&dpr=1&s=none&crop=none)
There is much more to Tindall than the popular image of an assistant repeatedly “shushing” opposition managers. Admittedly he is subject to a Football Association charge for his part in provoking a 20-man tunnel brawl during half-time as Newcastle beat Aston Villa on Boxing Day at St James’ Park but his expertise extends well beyond elevating time-wasting ploys to an art form.
![[Jason Tindall hugs Sandro Tonali.]](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/0c1676af98f5b035a8bdb59780a1db8b99acd254/580_97_4021_2413/master/4021.jpg?width=445&dpr=1&s=none&crop=none)
Although Howe’s caring, holistic, public persona is not an act, Newcastle’s manager has a harder, more detached side and does not like being crossed but, unusually, he listens when his assistant disagrees with him. “Jason and I didn’t really have a relationship as players,” Howe says. “We’re very different people – he’s definitely more extrovert. But there’s a force when we come together that’s really powerful.”.
