What can Robbie Savage bring to Forest Green Rovers following his Appointment?

Robbie Savage was recently appointed the new man to take charge of Forest Green Rovers as they seek new direction after parting ways with Steve Cotterill.

The club decided they needed to make a change after they failed to return to the Football League in their first season since following their relegation from League Two, having narrowly missed out after being eliminated in the playoffs by Southend United.

They were a strong favourite among fans and bettors at Betway and are once again among the leading contenders in the betting to achieve promotion this season. This is largely due to the appointment of Robbie Savage. But what will he bring to The New Lawn Stadium?

Can we expect success at FGR with Savage at the helm?

Savage could bring a unique approach to FGR that the club desperately needs, as they look to turn their fortunes around. While Cotterill is an experienced manager who has proven to operate successfully above the National League level, Savage also has experience managing in non-league football, albeit at a lower level.

During his tenure as head coach of the reformed Macclesfield FC, he led the team to the Northern Premier League title, earning promotion to the National League North in his first season. His team amassed 109 points and scored 109 goals, demonstrating his ability to build a winning side with attacking flair. This could get FGR fans on board, as scoring goals was a slight issue during their promotion push.

Although 69 were scored, it was 28 fewer than eventual champions Barnet (97) and 26 fewer than York City in second place (95), who finished with 13 more points. Savage will bring a direct approach to the club, as he has already admitted he wants to create an attacking, aggressive brand of football at Forest Green. If he manages to do this, goals should be flowing at the club, which will interest punters using sportsbooks like Betway once again this season.

The football should also be entertaining, as he values high pressing, a high defensive line, and creating an entertaining brand of football that features quick transitions and getting the ball forward rapidly.

Could there be issues with Savage’s approach?

Given his inexperience at this level, there is every chance that Savage could find the task difficult. Although an experienced player with a career at the top and international football experience, his managerial career is very limited.

Savage is also preparing to look to build the future of FGR by using youth, planning to integrate the academy into the first team. This could create a few issues on the pitch, as the National League is notoriously difficult to escape and requires experienced players on the field.

Still, there is every possibility that a young injection of talented footballers who are hungry to prove themselves at this level could work for Forest Green Rovers. Perhaps we will see what he aims to do and how effective it is when the 2025/26 season kicks off, with the fixtures to be released imminently.