The terms ‘boss’ and ‘gaffer’ are such staples of the English game that even non-football staff will use them despite never kicking a ball for the club.
Not only do players and assistant coaches address a manager like this, but so do members of the communications department, the medical team and the catering staff. If it sounds curious to the outsider, it feels like the most normal thing in the world to those inside the bubble.
Wolves head coach Rob Edwards sees it a little differently. ‘Call me Rob,’ he suggested, when replacing Vitor Pereira as manager last November. At first, staff found it a little unusual, and so did the players. Now, though, most of the squad refer to ‘Rob’.
The way players address a manager does not, of course, determine results. It does, however, indicate a manager comfortable in his own skin and determined to do it his way, even if it may seem unconventional. Everyone knows who is in charge. Why does the label matter?
After one of the most grim Premier League seasons imaginable, Wolves are finally taking baby steps in the right direction. Despite recent improvements, as shown in the two excellent wins over Aston Villa and Liverpool and Monday night’s superb fightback to earn a 2-2 draw at Brentford, Wolves staff remain understandably cautious. At this stage, the focus is not on a relegation escape for the ages, but on travelling into next season with the wind at their backs.
The mood at the club’s Compton training ground was understandably lighter two days after the Liverpool win. Just behind the glass doors that lead to the players’ area, a giant screen was showing the goals from Rodrigo Gomes and Andre that sunk the Reds, ahead of the sides meeting again in the FA Cup later that week.
There have not been many such moments this season, so who can blame Wolves for making the most of it?
Wolves head coach Rob Edwards has asked staff and players at the club to call him ‘Rob’ rather than ‘boss’ or ‘gaffer’ as is usual in the football world
Can Wolves stage the Great Escape?
In a word, no. Not even the most optimistic Wolves fan or employee really believes they can overhaul West Ham or Nottingham Forest between now and the end of the season. Instead, the plan is to enter the Championship with momentum.
Next season’s revised rules, meaning there will be eight teams in the play-offs rather than six, should also give Wolves a boost. They would hope to be in the top two, of course, but there is a heck of a safety net should they miss out.
| Team | Pld | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15th Leeds United | 30 | -11 | 32 |
| 16th Tottenham Hotspur | 30 | -7 | 30 |
| 17th Nottingham Forest | 30 | -15 | 29 |
| 18th West Ham United | 30 | -19 | 29 |
| 19th Burnley | 30 | -26 | 20 |
| 20th Wolverhampton Wanderers | 31 | -30 | 17 |
| Remaining fixtures: West Ham (a), Leeds (a), Spurs (h), Sunderland (h), Brighton (a), Fulham (h), Burnley (a) |
Since replacing Vitor Pereira, Edwards has demanded his players work harder and run more. It sounds simple stuff, but persuading wealthy young men to follow these instructions is the tricky part. Daily Mail Sport can reveal that Wolves completed 3km worth of sprints in that win over Liverpool, thought to be a season high. That suggests the message is finding its target.
‘We have bare minimum non-negotiables,’ Edwards explains. ‘It’s about work ethic, sprints, recoveries, duels, overall running speed. How we are running now compared with how we were running when I arrived is like night and day.
‘Maybe we will make mistakes on the ball but we can control how hard we work, how quickly we run. Make sure we are in the right positions. We’ve done that over the last 15 games and it’s why we’ve been much more competitive – though there is still a way to go.’
How to motivate a group who know they will be relegated and expect to be with different clubs by next season? Instead of a ‘one size fits all’ message, Edwards has tapped into the personal agendas of individuals. Some have World Cup places on the line. Others are determined to stay in top-flight football, others still to establish themselves at Wolves. The best way to fulfil those ambitions, according to Edwards, is to perform well in the Old Gold.
Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Andre celebrates his side’s winning goal against Liverpool
Why Edwards is different
Having played for the club from 2004-08 and had two coaching spells there, Edwards has Wolves in his heart. There is a genuine feeling that Edwards wants the club to do well for its own sake and not merely to further his own career.
That is why Edwards has been taking part in strategy meetings with other members of the leadership team, even if they do not relate directly to matters on the pitch.
When he arrived, Edwards engaged with as many club employees as he could. It might sound an obvious step to take, yet many managers do not. Plenty arrive with a large entourage, depart a year later with that entourage, and leave barely a trace. Edwards is determined to be different.
That does not mean he is a pushover. The 43-year-old has lost his rag at half-time on a number of occasions and has been openly harsh towards them, even asking his players if they were ‘scared’ during a 1-0 home defeat by Nottingham Forest early in his tenure.
Edwards is a similarly hard taskmaster in training but once those duties are done, he is generous with his time across departments.
These are still early days but those inclusive qualities are starting to have an effect across the club.
‘Culture’ is a classic buzzword of the corporate world that has found its way into modern football but those who work in the game set great store by it. Under Edwards, ‘culture’ is thought to be much better than it has been for a long time. Now is the time to make sure it lasts.
When he arrived, Edwards engaged with as many club employees as he could. It might sound an obvious step to take, yet many managers do not
A Shi change at Molineux
The switch in the dugout is not the most important change to happen at Wolves this season. The departure of executive chairman Jeff Shi in December, to be replaced by his namesake Nathan (no relation), has lifted a cloud among supporters.
| Feb 11 | Nottingham Forest (a) DREW 0-0 |
| Feb 18 | Arsenal (h) DREW 2-2 |
| Feb 21 | Crystal Palace (a) LOST 1-0 |
| Feb 27 | Aston Villa (h) WON 2-0 |
| Mar 3 | Liverpool (h) WON 2-1 |
| Monday | Brentford (A) DREW 2-2 |
By the end, Jeff was pilloried regularly by Wolves fans but it should be added that he and owners Fosun have presided over a hugely successful period in the club’s history. They have been in the top flight for eight straight seasons and reached an FA Cup semi-final and Europa League quarter-final in that time.
Yet Jeff had become a liability. There were too many foot-in-mouth moments, too many dire transfer deals, too many tone-deaf decisions. Jeff’s stubbornness ultimately undid him.
To his credit, Nathan is thought to understand that he is still learning the football industry and listens to the views of others with more experience. He talks often of ‘group wisdom’ and while his reign is still to be tested, at least he is behaving sensibly.
Changes are inevitable at Wolves over the summer but the club are determined to plan ahead to prevent a repeat of last year’s agent-led trolley dash
What of the summer?
Changes are inevitable but the coaching staff are in regular dialogue with the recruitment team, which should prevent a repeat of last year’s agent-led trolley dash.
Though it would be naive to think Jorge Mendes’ Gestifute agency are out of the picture completely, it is to be hoped Wolves will not rely so heavily on them now Jeff has moved on.
So well have Wolves played in their last three games that there is every chance they could end the season in good form and go into next year with real optimism – which looked extremely unlikely not so long ago. For that, Edwards deserves huge credit. Just remember not to call him ‘Gaffer’.
