@pedro - Glad it's not just me and my family who are enjoying/have enjoyed "Slow Horses".
@forever-dormo I've seen the trailers for slow horses, but refuse to subscribe to yet another pay for chain. So patiently waiting for it to show up on another chain we do have access to, as it is sure to do so at some time. I suppose it is the kind of patience one needs while waiting to hear who has accepted the poisoned chalice at the Riverside ...
Brilliant post Andy, well delivered.
It cannot be long now surely before, as werder said, it would have been a great Headliner to start his tenure.
If it comes to pass, it has to work, otherwise Scott will have egg on face if the rumours of the link are true.
One thing we do know is that Edwards has to be given sometime to organise his squad. With all the changes that are inevitable including probably losing at least two of our best players, he has a hard task ahead.
If the Internet is right, the majority of fans will want to see some semblance of hope from the off. Irrespective of the squad turnover, they will not be too patient.
Possibly that has been a big issue in the interviews. Mr Gibson and MFC need to show progress and some success, especially at home. Edwards needs to get his CV back on an upward trajectory.
Scott also needs to deliver the right tools.
An excellent post Andy. Balanced, fair and considered, as your posts always are. Greatly appreciated
It really is a good job that none of us here are holding our breath whilst we await the appointment of a new manager. If this was to facilitate a detailed forensic search to identify the manager who might best meet Boro's needs and who is capable of getting the players on board, who might enthuse the supporters with his plans for the future and who might employ flexible tactics in games to get the best out of the players available to him, then the wait would be worth it. The word "IF" is doing a lot of heavy lifting.
While there's seemingly nothing to hold our breath for in anticipation of Scott's placement of Rob Edwards - perhaps Steve Gibson is not breathing easily on the thought that he's the man to take Boro to the next level.
With Boro in a two-year decline in terms of finishing position, it would be an odd choice to choose a manager who is also in a two-year decline. This is also especially odd in terms of his tactical style that favours a high defensive line and a high press when currently Boro lack pace in defence and have a surplus of attacking players who don't look like pressing is their strength.
Perhaps the lack of announcement indicates that Edwards is not the ideal choice and despite endless advertorials that have been published in the local media singing his praises, maybe Steve Gibson is more keen to wait and see if someone like Danny Rohl becomes disentangled from Hillsborough in a more cost-effective manner.
Boro probably have another week before they must decide and since Bristol City's have seemingly opted to pass on him then there's less time pressure to make a final decision - though if he really was the one then Edwards would probably already be in place!
Is that what Middlesbrough FC as come to, lazy journalism, and bloggers, sitting their with hanging toungs and wet lips, hoping Villa will sell Roger's so we can make a few bob,
I for one find it low life, we should be expecting the club to get back to a time of ambition, and expectations, we should be as fans of the club, holding our heads high even through the tough times, think of the likes of Bury,
If we don't those two up the road will have more reason to fart on us, and we will be left behind, we're at a very serious point in time
COB
Of course we all speculate about what the thinking is going on at the club while it deliberates who is its best candidate. What we speculate rather less about is what the potential candidates think of Boro and its set up. Who knows who Boro has approached that may well have rejected the prospect. Maybe it is a bit of which interested candidate is left standing as much as, or maybe more than, which is the candidate the club chooses.
It is reported today on Sky Sports News that Rob Edwards is in advanced talks to become the new Boro manager, surprise, shock, horror.
Come on BORO.
Apparently Edwards has "beaten off the competition" - though it appears it was a one-horse race...
Writing on X, Sky Sports reporter Rob Dorsett has said Edwards is now in advanced talks ahead of a likely appointment as new Middlesbrough head coach.
Sheffield Wednesday boss Danny Rohl and the available Steve Cooper were also on the Boro shortlist, but Edwards has ‘beaten off competition’ to emerge as the preferred candidate.
@werdermouth Never, what a surprise, an outsider from nowhere just came up on the rails and surprised everyone. Particularly Diasboro.
Just goes to show you never can tell. All of Teesside must have a smile on its face. No wonder the Marton Oracle has been quiet, bet he's having a lie down in a cool dark place.
Yawn.
UTB,
John
Looking like everyone is coming out now to say it's a done deal but didn't expect we'd have to pay compensation to Luton 🤔
We understand that Middlesbrough have reached an agreement with Luton over compensation for Edwards – who has agreed terms to move to The Riverside.
Apparently Edwards has "beaten off the competition" - though it appears it was a one-horse race...
Writing on X, Sky Sports reporter Rob Dorsett has said Edwards is now in advanced talks ahead of a likely appointment as new Middlesbrough head coach.
Sheffield Wednesday boss Danny Rohl and the available Steve Cooper were also on the Boro shortlist, but Edwards has ‘beaten off competition’ to emerge as the preferred candidate.
For "Preferred" read cheap
Compensation really, shakes head in disbelief, as pay for Edwards why not go whole hog and pay for Rohl
Why would we have to pay Luton compensation when Edwards left Luton in January 🤔🤔🤔. As said above if Boro are going to have to pay compensation, then Rohl was the fans choice.Compensation really, shakes head in disbelief, as pay for Edwards why not go whole hog and pay for Rohl
Come on BORO.
This is on Scott , a lazy pick , his buddy,
Scott couldn't deal with a Sean Dyche, who would eat him Alive , woke Gibson goes along. Maybe that Super Computer forecast was right.
Not impressed at all
Compensation? Yer jokin’ arn’ yer? Ive just choked on my tea.
I agree with everybody. This had better work out or there’ll be hell to pay.
@gt “woke Gibson”? What on earth does that mean? I know you’re not keen on the identity of our new manager, but I’d genuinely like you to explain that description of Steve Gibson.
Let the lack of professionalism, and competence of this disastrously pedestrian and possibly corrupt appointment, and its predictably disastrous consequences be Scott's final memorial.
The EG does print some utter rubbish these day, doesn’t it? What is this utter b***locks today about us being interested in Sam Greenwood? The guy was a failure last time. Why on earth would we want to sign him again? PNE didn’t seem to want to keep him.
I’m still holding on to a hope that everything they’ve published in recent days about Edwards turns out to be a mere smokescreen. Unfortunately, if Sky are now saying it’s more or less a done deal, then all hope is probably gone.
Well it's certainly looking like a matter of when Edwards is officially announced now rather than if - anyway, I've took the precaution of briefly writing something to post once it is official as a new topic as we're now on our tenth page of speculating (or rather expecting) 🙈
The club need to be prepared for the sound of indifference and shrugging of shoulders from fans if/when Edwards is announced as I have said before all very meh.....
@werdermouth - If he left (ie was sacked) by Luton in January it seems very odd that Boro should need to negotiate a settlement with Luton Town. If we'd taken someone else's serving manager that would be different. Matt Bloomfield is their manager...
Looks like this chap might be available soon: https://www.theguardian.com/football/2025/jun/17/sheffield-united-ruben-selles-take-over-from-chris-wilder-manager?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other
I appreciate we all have to take things we hear or read with “a of pinch of salt” regards the current Head Coach appointment.
If it turns out to be Edwards, irrespective of paying or not paying any compensation, then the majority of fans are not going to be overjoyed.
A thorough review, my ar**. Draw the episode into a three part drama and tell anyone who will listen, this man is the best choice to go forward.
Well I hope Mr Gibson and his crew are correct. We all want some kind of success with hope on the horizon.
As I said previously, he will have until game ten. The crowd at a depleted Riverside can be very unforgiving.
I agree, Clive. If I had to carry out a detailed forensic review of the situation, with the aim of producing a list of the Ten Potential Managers to Avoid, I would pretend to carry out that review. In reality I'd spend my time reading car and leisure vehicle magazines and watching thriller series on catch-up TV. After five weeks I'd have a cursory discussion with the bloke I sit next to at The Riverside. This bloke has seen many games involving teams coached by the man in question over the last five years or so. Pretending to put away all the information I had gleaned in that mythical review, I'd then announce to a fanfare of trumpets the name of the person I'd least like to appoint.
It just happens to be the person I'd have named after a cursory 10 second period of thinking. The leader by a mile of that list, The Ten Potential Managers to Avoid, is none other than Chris Wilder. He easily beats Gordon Strachan to take the biscuit - at least Strachan had some humour.
It's a bit like "name your 10 best Boro players". Interesting discussion ensues. But ask for a list of the 10 worst and you'd better get some drinks and snacks in, and set an evening aside, because the debate would be much more lively!
@martin-bellamy relax
I’m relaxed and on holiday (again) - I’d be relaxed and educated if you’d reply to my enquiry - I’ll try again: what did you mean by describing SG as woke?