In a recent interview with The Daily Mirror Jermaine Jenas paid tribute to the personality of Juande Ramos' assistant Gus Poyet who the England midfielder describes as a "good coach and a funny man". That the former Chelsea midfielder, who also had a decent spell for the club as a player, is so jovial means that he is an ideal foil for the more serious and disciplined approach of his Spanish counterpart. Poyet's nature and sense of humour also offer the new regime a connection to the previous regime at the club, with his personal and approachable demeanour not dissimilar to that of the affable Martin Jol, a coach who really connected with the fans at White Hart Lane. It's also a similarity that doesn't end at a cheeky smile and a few humorous quips.
Listening to Poyet speak after the side conceded two sloppy goals against Aston Villa in January, a lot of the frankness that characterised Jol's post match interviews were evident in Poyet's displeasure with a shambolic defensive display. "This time it's enough - we have to change. It does not look like there is room for improvement so we have to change," raged the Uruguayan, and change his side did; in the past four league games the side have conceded just one goal, an improvement that no doubt has something to do with Poyet's brutal honesty. Furthermore, the players seem to have responded the the style of football Ramos wishes to play and according to Jenas, Poyet's attitude on the training ground has contributed to the side adopting the new bosses ethos.
"You have to enjoy your football and that's what we're doing. Gus is a big part of that for us. He is a character and it is great to have him around", said Jenas who scored his first goal for England against Switzerland at Wembley last Wednesday and has enjoyed the best form of his career since Ramos and Poyet took over from Jol. Though one of two eyebrows were raised when Daniel Levy poached the new assistant manager from Leeds United, few fans would question the impact he has had particularly in his handling of the media which is quickly earning him respect across the English game.
If the impact of a new manager is often difficult to gauge or quantify then the same can be said for his assistant, and then some. That there are such positive noises coming from the dressing room regarding Poyet's personality and connection with the players can only be positive for the club and it would be nice if, among all the tributes to the Juande Ramos revolution, a few kind words and no small amount of credit could be sent the way of Gus Poyet, a man who is rapidly cementing a place in the hearts of even the most cynical Tottenham fans.