And we’ve already learnt a fair bit about what to expect from the new head coach and his side.
Here are five early conclusions from Edwards’ opening days in charge of Boro:
TRANSFER PLANNING
When it comes to transfer planning and strategy, both Edwards and a senior Boro figure used the same word in conversation with the Northern Echo this week – alignment.
Boro’s new head coach and the recruitment team are very much on the same page when it comes to what is needed this summer and the type of player who’ll be targeted.
Several top targets were identified before the confirmed arrival of Edwards, though they were obviously discussed in negotiations with the 42-year-old, who swiftly gave them the green light.
In some cases, Boro’s recruitment staff waited for the head coach appointment before pressing on with planning. At right-back, for example, the scouting and transfer team needed to know what type of player to pursue and whether it would be someone more comfortable in a back four or playing as a wing-back.
They now have their answers and Kieran Scott and his team will step up their transfer work.
Edwards wants to give everyone a chance but arrived with a “good idea of where he might want to go”.
He said: “We’ve got a good idea on where we want to take things and shape it, along with Kieran and everyone who’s involved with that team. We’re pretty aligned with how we see it.”
The recruitment and coaching team agreed on this week’s sale of Josh Coburn, who joined Millwall in a deal worth in excess of £5m.
With Tommy Conway having enjoyed an impressive first season on Teesside and with the capture of another striker a priority, Coburn would have been on the fringes at the Riverside next season and the 22-year-old was keen on making the Millwall switch permanent on the back of his loan spell last season.
It’s the start of what is likely to be a busy summer of trading on Teesside.
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PRE-SEASON RETURN
Within 48 hours of Edwards being confirmed as Boro’s boss, the players were back in to start their pre-season testing.
Or at least some of them were.
Those who have been involved in international football since the end of the season have been given an extended break, as has Alex Gilbert on the back of his campaign stretching into May because of the League One play-offs.
The fit-again Luke Ayling, Darragh Lenihan and Alex Bangura were among the players to report back. All three will be hoping to get a full pre-season under their belt and put last year’s frustrations behind them.
Edwards watched on and encouraged as Boro’s players went through a series of strength examinations in the gym, before taking on the bleep test, which Dan Barlaser won.
There looked to be warm words from Edwards to Sammy Silvera, who has returned to Boro after his two difficult loan spells last season. And there was an embrace for the new head coach from Neto Borges.
There was no sign in the club’s pictures or footage of Jonny Howson, however.
The future of the club captain remains uncertain, with Edwards saying this week he plans to sit down with the midfielder, whose contract is due to officially expire in the coming days.
Alan Fettis was pictured at Rockliffe this week. The popular and highly-rated goalkeeper coach remained at Boro after the exit of Michael Carrick, his brother Graeme and Jonathan Woodgate.
LUTON REFLECTIONS
“There were reasons for what happened at the end at Luton,” said Edwards this week.
One of the criticisms aimed at Boro’s new head coach from some supporters was the way things ended for him at Kenilworth Road, with a sacking in January on the back of a failure to deal with relegation from the Premier League.
But Edwards was pretty clear in his response to those questions – don’t judge him on six testing months.
Indeed, he thinks he’ll now be a better manager for the challenges he had to face at the back end of his time with the Hatters.
“It didn’t quite go our way in the last few months. But there aren’t many managers that haven’t had a few bad months or a difficult period,” he said.
“We had to go through that, but before that, we’d had three amazing years. It was three amazing years, then the last few months were quite tough. But in a weird way, I’m glad I got through that and had to handle that situation. It’s going to make me better and stronger going forward.”
PRIDE AND A PLAYING PROMISE
Edwards has seen, heard and felt the Riverside at its best and most raucous.
It was one of several factors that attracted him to the Boro job.
And he’ll soon have the Riverside regulars firmly on side if he can get his Boro side playing as he intends.
“I want my teams to be aggressive and on the front foot,” he said.
“I want us to play with bravery. I want control – I want complete control ideally, but as far away from our goal as possible. Action. That’s what I want.”
He knows it’s action that is needed rather than words, but what Edwards says will no doubt strike a chord with supporters.
“I don’t think I ask anything different or outrageous,” he said.
“Play with passion, heart, show fight, show spirit. You can get a long way just off that, particularly if you can be organised and have a good plan as well.
“I don’t know a fanbase that wouldn’t want to play with passion and emotion, working very hard and winning duels. Blocking crosses, sprinting forward, getting crosses and bodies in the box. Tackles, action, playing with passion. Of course, you have to control the passion and play with a tactical understanding as well.”
WEAKNESS QUICKLY IDENTIFIED
There was also a very early indication that Edwards plans to swiftly address one issue that was a glaring problem for Boro last season.
Throughout the campaign, Boro were criticised for having a soft underbelly, with Michael Carrick’s side throwing away countless points from positions of strength and conceding a string of shambolic goals.
Carrick always disputed that particular vulnerability, but in more than one interview after his appointment Edwards stressed the need for “steel”.
He said: “There’s a lot of talent, that’s obvious, that’s always been the way at this football club. We want to keep that going – we want to be attractive, we want to be great to watch.
“We want some steel with that substance. We want some fight, some intensity, and then keep a lot of the really good football and creating chances, those things, going as well. There’s some really exciting players that I’m really looking forward to working with.”
