Daniel Wales speaks to Middlesbrough’s new Head Coach Rob Edwards, following his arrival on Teesside, ahead of the new Championship season, where he is aiming to create improvements at the Riverside.
00:00There's a new man in charge at the Riverside Stadium and, as expected, it's Rob Edwards who has taken up the reins following the dismissal of Michael Carrick.
00:13And so, I asked the former Luton boss why he feels this move is right.
00:18So, Rob, firstly, why Middlesbrough?
00:20A huge football club that I've got loads of respect for, an amazing fan base, all of the facilities, incredible facilities, everything's here for us to try and achieve really, really good things.
00:33I think there's a really good squad of players that are here already and I think we're going to be able to make improvements during this window as well, like every club will want to try and do.
00:43But also, as well, the people that I'll be working with, we've got an amazing owner who obviously cares deeply about the club and is really passionate, who's given, historically, head coaches time and support.
00:58And then, you know, a really aligned way of working, I think, now of how we want the football to look, but how we see the sort of recruitment side as well.
01:06So, there's loads of reasons, but the overriding one is just the support base as well.
01:13I've seen it a couple of years ago, first-hand, being here at the semi-final and it was just an incredible atmosphere where I got chills and it's, you know, it's stayed with me.
01:22So, I think that's the biggest one.
01:24Edwards may have steered Luton Town to the Premier League in 2023, but following their relegation back to the second tier and subsequent struggles in the Championship, he was sacked in January.
01:35So, what has he filled his time with since?
01:38Recharging, first of all.
01:39The job demands a lot of you and it was a little bit of, right, let's get some family time and recharge.
01:47And then it's been meeting people.
01:49Obviously, I'm working with a couple of new members of staff coming in with me as well now.
01:53So, it's been meeting people and trying to see what I need around me in the next one as well.
01:59And I'm starting to take more football matches in, reviewing and thinking, okay, what are the things that we did well and where can we improve, etc.
02:05The main frustration for Middlesbrough will be the recent successes of Newcastle United and promotions for Sunderland and Leeds United, which have left Borough languishing in the Championship alone.
02:17But look, we want to try and improve.
02:20Of course, long term, there's no doubt we want to try and be in the Premier League.
02:22I think everyone does, and especially a club of this size, no doubt about it.
02:25I'm not going to hide away from that.
02:26But that being said, this season now is trying to build on, you know, build on last season.
02:33There's some good things that are going on, of course.
02:35There's some good players here, like I've said.
02:37But there's areas that we want to try and improve.
02:39So, I think we're looking for improvement this year.
02:40We want to be competitive.
02:41We believe that we will be.
02:42But this is a really challenging league, as we all know.
02:45And with improvement needed on T-side, attention turns to the open transfer window and creating a squad that can deliver.
02:53There certainly will be movement.
02:55There will be ins and outs for that, we're pretty sure.
02:59But in terms of timescales, we'll have to see.
03:01And when it comes to your squad and your players, what sort of things do you demand from them?
03:05Hard work.
03:06Honesty, be respectful.
03:07But we want to see a team that plays with loads of intensity, that's aggressive, that's on the front foot.
03:13But off the back of that, then we'll hopefully have the ball and be exciting to watch.
03:18Edwards was keen to point out how impressed he has been with the support at Middlesbrough during visits with previous clubs.
03:25And how keeping them onside will be key to success for him and his staff.
03:30To have the supporters onside, good performances and results will do that.
03:34So, you know, it's all well and good, me talking, a good game and saying all this now.
03:38We've got to then go and deliver that and the players have then got to deliver that as well.
03:41But I've got amazing people I'll be working with.
03:43I think Adi and Harry that are coming in with me as well.
03:46Really good people, really good coaches.
03:48So I'm really excited about working with them and this group of players to try and, as I say, make those improvements that we think we can do.
03:56So I think if they can see a team that's working really hard and is passionate as well, is playing with passion, playing with their hearts as well as their heads, then that's great for us as well.
04:07But whenever I've come up here either as a player or as a manager to any of the big teams that are up this way, I've always felt there's a real knowledge and passion up here.
04:17So I can't wait to have that regularly.
04:19Ultimately, though, Edwards wants to create a team at Borough that the supporters can be proud of and encourage those at the Riverside to back the players throughout their journey.
04:31Yeah, back the lads, just get behind the players, you know, get behind the players and we'll try and give you a team that you're proud to watch and support.
04:39Yeah, going back then because they're the ones that go over that white line and have to do it.
