Newcastle United have gone against the trend of employing a dedicated set-piece coach.
Indeed, many of Newcastle United’s Premier League rivals have gone down that route, to varying levels of success.
Arsenal’s Nicolas Jover and Aston Villa’s Austin MacPhee are some of the more high-profile ones strewn across the division but it’s not something Newcastle have explored.
While certainly a modern thing, employing a set-piece coach makes sense. Marginal gains are all the rage right now and the success Arsenal have had this season from corners in particular is not be sniffed at.
However, the reason why Newcastle haven’t copied some of their rivals in that respect is down to one man. The infamous Jason Tindall.
Jason Tindall is the reason Newcastle United haven’t employed a set-piece coach
Tindall is seen as something of a loveable rogue amongst Newcastle fans.
Eddie Howe’s assistant is a prominent figure on the touchline, much to the ire of some of his opponents. Tindall has exchanged heated words with the likes of Mikel Arteta among others.
A cult-hero at Newcastle, he’s been a major part of the club’s rebuild in the PIF era.
Still, to focus on purely his antics would be doing Tindall a disservice. He and Howe have done a brilliant job at St James’ Park and the Daily Mail have shared some interesting insight.
They claim his ingenious set-piece routines mean the club simply haven’t looked to employ a specialist coach in that department.
Newcastle United’s record on set-pieces this season
Newcastle certainly aren’t bad from set-pieces this season, albeit they aren’t up there with the very best.
As per WhoScored data, Newcastle have scored six times from set-pieces this season, which ranks them 11th in the Premier League. Interestingly, they’ve also conceded six, which sees them rank eighth.
| Set-piece goals scored | Set-piece goals conceded |
| 6 | 6 |
Tindall is doing a more than decent job, it would seem.
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