Middlesbrough weakness is now a weapon: How Rob Edwards has changed it without spending a penny | OneFootball

Boro appear to have seriously improved in one specific area under their new head coach.

Rob Edwards already appears to have significantly improved his new Middlesbrough side in one key area, and it hasn't cost the club a single penny either.

Boro are entering a new era on Teesside in 2025/26.

It's out with Michael Carrick and his 4-2-3-1 possession-oriented system, and in with Edwards and his high-energy, aggressive tactical approach.

As such, there's a real element of mystery surrounding the club at the start of the new campaign, with both fans and neutrals alike seemingly split on how they foresee Edwards' Riverside reign panning out.

Middlesbrough have already sharpened their cutting edge without needing to spend a penny

Depending on who you ask, Middlesbrough are being tipped to be anything from a play-off team to a relegation contender this season, such is the air of uncertainty surrounding them.

Both schools of thought are understandable too. When you cast your eyes over Boro's squad, there's undeniable talent littered throughout their ranks.

Tommy Conway, Hayden Hackney, Aidan Morris, Finn Azaz, Dael Fry, Morgan Whittaker, Riley McGree; all of these players have proven themselves to be top-quality performers at second tier level.

Meanwhile, new signings in the form of Alfie Jones and Callum Brittain are also in that category too, whilst young midfielder Abdoulaye Kante has already made himself a cult hero on Teesside after his excellent 20-minute debut cameo appearance for Boro in the 1-0 opening day win over Swansea City.

However, the club have been on a slight decline when it comes to their league placings over the last few years, having gone from a fourth-placed finish in 2022/23, to finishing eighth and 10th over the last two campaigns respectively.

So there are big question marks over how much improvement Edwards will be able to get out of this Middlesbrough side this season, but whilst it's still early days, he does appear to have made significant strides in bolstering his team's performance in one key area: set-pieces.

Boro's dismal displays in this department in recent times need no introduction to Teessiders, with Middlesbrough finishing joint-bottom of the Championship in 2024/25 alongside Blackburn Rovers for goals scored from set-pieces with eight.

But, there are some highly encouraging signs that this won't be the case under Edwards, as his side have already found the net four times (including pre-season games) from set-pieces so far under their new boss.

Dael Fry has nodded home from a couple of corners so far under the new regime including v Swansea in the Championship, whilst also scoring from a free-kick v Rangers in pre-season - a game that saw Neto Borges also score from a corner.

Rob Edwards will significantly bolster Boro's promotion chances if set-piece success continues

This immediate upturn in threat and goals from set-pieces has been a refreshing and welcome addition to Middlesbrough's attacking arsenal.

For so long, Boro fans have dismissed and rolled their eyes when a corner or free-kick in a dangerous area has been won, with a sense of inevitability that the opportunity to strike will be wasted.

So far under Edwards, however, eyes are glued to the situation in anticipation that, with a good delivery, Boro will create a goalscoring chance for themselves.

This marked improvement shouldn't come as much of a surprise either, as his Luton Town team was renowned for their aerial threat and set-piece prowess, with the Hatters finished fourth in the Championship in their 2022/23 promotion season for set-piece goals, bagging 16 from them.

What Edwards and Middlesbrough must now ensure is that this isn't a purple patch before reverting to Boro type in this department. Instead, they must continue to work and maintain their new-found attacking element throughout the season.

The good news for Boro fans is that there's no reason why this can't be the case. Indeed, with the addition of the aforementioned Alfie Jones adding to a group that includes the likes of Fry, Luke Ayling, George Edmundson and Darragh Lenihan, it's not as if the side doesn't have its fair share of siege weapons.

With Whittaker, McGree and Hackney all capable of providing excellent service when it comes to crosses into the box too, there should be a significant amount of ammunition provided to ensure those set-piece threats continue to find avenues to goal.

What's more, Middlesbrough have added this string to their bow without needing to spend a penny either, as none of the club's new signings played a minute for the club in pre-season when it had become apparent that Boro had already improved their set-piece quality.

Rather, the Boro boss has simply got to work on the training ground with his new players, identified it as an area of weakness, and has evidently put a plan in place that has immediately began showing signs of success.

So, if Boro can keep this up, they could potentially add another 10-15 goals this season to their tally purely from set-piece situations, which could make all the difference when it comes to determining the outcome of their campaign.