Rob Edwards is a person refreshed. A supervisor re-energised.
He’s even sleeping higher than earlier than, presently based mostly at Middlesbrough’s Rockliffe Park coaching floor.
“Living on site has helped me manage my energy better,” he tells Sky Sports activities. “I can even sneak an extra 10 minutes in bed and be in by seven!”
Friday nineteenth September 7:30pm
Kick off 8:00pm
Outcomes all the time assist with rejuvenation, and Middlesbrough’s have been wonderful. 4 wins and a draw up to now, they head into Friday night time’s conflict with West Brom – reside on Sky Sports activities – prime of the Championship.
However even for the reason that begin of the season, Edwards has reduce a really totally different determine to the one he ended at Luton City in January.
The 5 months he had off have been the longest break he had ever actually had away from the sport. The time was used correctly – each personally and professionally.
“I had a couple of holidays after leaving Luton and spent some time with the family,” he remembers. “I loved regular issues – college runs, canine walks – after which gave myself time to mirror.
“Any manager who’s had time out gets the chance to relax, re-energise and heal a little. I thought about areas to learn from, what we could do better, and also reminded myself of the good things we achieved at Luton. We did some remarkable stuff and created incredible memories at that club.
“Final 12 months was a troublesome interval for plenty of totally different causes. I felt we acquired judged slightly on that and folks forgot among the good work we had carried out.”
Rob Edwards together with his Middlesbrough employees after choosing up the Sky Guess Championship Supervisor of the Month award for August
That break and the change in atmosphere has clearly carried out Edwards a variety of good.
“I feel refreshed and I’m enjoying it here,” he says. “It’s a great place to be, a great place to work with really good people and very good players. The supporters have been amazing and welcoming. I’ve felt real warmth from them. At the moment, it’s good.
“It actually makes me smile to be at an enormous soccer membership. It’s an actual privilege to be head coach right here and that is not misplaced on me. I felt that from the second I arrived.
“We’ve got amazing facilities and a great fan base. It’s a wonderful area and I love it already. The people have been brilliant and really welcoming. My family have been up a lot during the school holidays, which has been nice. I’ve even enjoyed my couple of Parmos.”
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Highlights of the Sky Guess Championship match between Preston and Middlesbrough
Edwards additionally loved the rarity for a brand new supervisor of being appointed early in the summertime, giving him a full pre-season and a full switch window to start out reshaping the squad left behind by Michael Carrick.
“It’s quite rare these days not to arrive in a job mid-season,” he says. “Having that time has been important. Pre-season gave me a chance to work with the group and put my own ideas across.
“Michael did such job right here and constructed a very sturdy squad. There was a variety of change within the squad, in all probability double figures by way of incomings and a few outgoings as properly.
“But those few weeks before the season helped us build not just on the pitch but also off it, trying to create a good culture and environment. It gave me the chance to get to know people, which is important.
“From day one in all pre-season we’ve come straight in with concepts and joined some actually good work that was already happening. There are nice individuals right here and we’ve tried so as to add our bits as properly. With outcomes comes perception, not simply from the gamers but additionally the supporters.
“There’s a nice feeling around the place at the moment. It’s great to get results early on. It’s not the be-all and end-all, but what’s been good is the performances have matched the results. What’s exciting is that there’s more to come.”
Edwards has his smile again, his vitality restored, and a squad shopping for into his concepts. For Middlesbrough, that may solely imply one factor: perception.
