Gibson backs Monk to get Boro back in the habit of winning
GARRY Monk will be given full backing from the boardroom to develop his “project” at the Boro.
The former Leeds United boss, who will be officially unveiled as Boro’s new manager tomorrow, is fully focussed on how he wants to stamp his innovative vision on the club.
Monk will take a hands-on approach to every aspect of the football side of the club. He will work to instil a clear work ethic throughout.
He will make sure the players buy into his vision and that everybody is singing from the same hymn book.
Boro chairman Steve Gibson has a history of appointing first-time managers, but even at the relatively young managerial age of 38, Monk has already gained valuable experience both with Swansea City in the Premier League and with Leeds.
He will bring energy and hunger to the Boro job and immediately start to lay down strong foundations.
He will expect his players to work hard. Double sessions will be the norm. But Monk will also make his players better.
Gibson must be absolutely delighted to snap up Monk in the belief the former Swansea defender is the man to turn things around quickly.
The Boro chairman has already stressed that he wants to see no stone unturned in the battle to bounce back to the Premier League at the first attempt.
In this respect, Monk will find himself under some pressure to ensure the team hits the ground running in August.
As Swansea boss, he was known to be intense, living and breathing every second of the job. But once he went to Leeds, he loos
ened up and quickly made an impression with the players and supporters.
Monk is still keen to continue the learning curve, having based his basic managerial principles on what he learned from working under Brendan Rodgers at Swansea.
Monk spent just 12 months at Leeds but made a big impression during that time, taking the Elland Road club to the verge of the play-offs.
He put together Leeds’ best side for some years and it was only a disappointing run of one win in their final eight games which cost Leeds a place in the play-offs.
Following his shock resignation at Leeds two-and-a-half weeks ago, Monk will feel he has a bigger opportunity to reach the Premier League with the Boro.
Gibson will make cash available but Monk’s first task will be to assess his current squad of players when they return to training at the end of this month.
There will be lots of decisions to make. Monk must initially decide the future of several players who have been linked with interest from other clubs.
The main one concerns England defender Ben Gibson, who is a potential target for several leading Premier League clubs.
It’s a difficult one. In a perfect world, nobody wants Gibson to leave and even the player himself is torn between consolidating his future in the game and his love of the Boro.
However, there is a lot of money involved because Gibson would attract a £20m-plus transfer fee. This money could be put to good use by Monk in bolstering his team rebuilding.
On the other hand, Gibson is a top defender who would give Boro a massive presence defensively in the Championship.
Dutchman Marten de Roon is interesting several clubs both in England and on the Continent. So Monk may well cash in, while Danish winger Viktor Fischer has struggled to adapt to English football and may be moved on.
Further funds will be generated by the departure of Gaston Ramirez, who has surely played his last game for the club.
Any outside inquiries for further members of the Boro squad will probably be judged on their merits. Adama Traore is another possible departee.
The opportunity to wheel and deal will appeal to Monk. He will already have a list of potential targets and the cash to make things happen.
Monk and Gibson have met several times in the build-up to the appointment and both men have mapped out their plans.
One of Gibson’s requests is that Monk guarantees the job security of some of the coaching staff wherever possible.
Gibson will hope, in particular, that caretaker-manager Steve Agnew is allowed to carry on in a coaching capacity. Agnew is well respected in the Boro boardroom and also loved by the players.
While Monk will have a big impact on the Boro squad, his appointment will lift Boro supporters following the frustrations of the dismal relegation campaign.
It will increase expectations on Teesside, create a good atmosphere around the club and generate the belief that Boro can bounce back at the first attempt.