THE Riverside revellers who experienced both delight and despair during Bryan Robson's reign as Middlesbrough manager should prepare themselves for something of a culture shock.

Robson may never have delivered the silverware for which Boro fans so desperately yearn, but no-one can claim his seven years in charge were ever dull.

With wildly controversial characters like Fabrizio Ravanelli, Emerson, Paul Merson and Paul Gascoigne around, it was at least always interesting.

Big-spending Robson also brought Boro the Brazilian brilliance of Juninho, the player fans voted the best in the club's history.

But now those cavalier days are gone. Sanity, it seems, prevails and under new boss Steve McClaren, a measured strategy is being mapped out.

For a start, if there are any headcases in the ranks, they had better beware; the meticulous McClaren is leaving nothing to chance and has proved what an innovative coach he is by naming top sports psychologist Bill Beswick as his assistant manager.

In marked contrast to the Robson regime, which during last season's frantic fight against relegation featured former England boss Terry Venables as head coach and saviour, McClaren's backroom staff are a more circumspect bunch.

Steve Harrison, the former Watford manager, arrived from Aston Villa as first-team coach along with goalkeeping specialist Paul Barron, and the little-known Steve Round moved from Derby County to become reserve-team coach.

McClaren, who quit his post as assistant to Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United to venture into the world of management, believes the support team he has assembled is the envy of most Premiership clubs.

On the playing side, McClaren's key signing has been that of Villa defender Gareth Southgate. The £6.5m England international brings with him experience and leadership qualities, and his recruitment helps to offset the loss of old warhorse Gary Pallister, who was forced to retire from the game this summer through injury.

McClaren also began the process of clearing the decks when he agreed the £3.5m sale of World-Cup winning Frenchman Christian Karembeu to Olympiakos.

Few on Teesside will bemoan the departure of the vastly-overrated Karembeu, who was a huge disappointment during his one season with Boro. But many will be sorry to see the back - as opposed to the front - of his wonderbra wife Adriana.

She at least added a dash of glamour to the Riverside in what was otherwise a grim season.

Those fans who were first drawn to Boro by a new stadium and Robson's ability to attract big-name signings, may now have to get used to more mundane fare.

Despite what his detractors might say, Robson is a hard act to follow. He was instrumental in transforming Boro from unfashionable also-rans into a club who made front-page news, if not always for the right reasons.

But McClaren is very much his own man and has quickly demonstrated that he is determined to do the job his way.

Whereas Robson scoured the world for stars with cheque book at the ready, McClaren has already spoken enthusiastically about the home-grown talent he is eager to nurture.

His pragmatic approach could yet prove to be a bit too bland for those supporters who have grown accustomed to the high-octane entertainment of the Robson years.

That is why McClaren's appointment is a litmus test of the lasting loyalty of the new breed of Boro fans who have come out of the woodwork since 1994. Patience, a virtue for which Boro fans are hardly renowned, may have to be the watchword.

But if McClaren succeeds where all his managerial predecessors have failed, and leads Boro to trophy-winning glory, surely even the most hard-to-please Teessider won't be complaining.

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