Robbie Who? If you know you know but I seriously doubt that any FGR supporter had not heard of their new head coach before the announcement was made. But is he the man for the job?
I suppose the first thing to address is the sacking of Steve Cotterill. Was the change necessary? He had a good go at keeping Rovers in the Football League when they looked absolutely dead and buried in his first season when he took over in late January. That was followed by a bitter play-off defeat this year that meant that Rovers would not be heading back to the League at the first attempt. Close but no cigar, however was it so far away as to warrant a change?
I doubt the supporters will ever know the reason behind the decision because there will be a Non Disclosure Agreement in place for sure but it’s likely that the appointment of a Director of Football would not have been to Steve’s liking.
It’s a shame, I was never a friend of his although we were El Glosico rivals for a few years but I remember when Dale appointed him how the owner waxed lyrical about his experience. Cotterill had managed Stoke, Burnley, Portsmouth, Nottingham Forest, Bristol City and Birmingham City as well as others. That is some CV. Now he’s gone, there’s the trendy myth being banded about that his experience places him in the dinosaur category.
Absolute drivel, Sir Bobby Robson was a great man manager in his later years. Steve has evolved with the game as has his tactics. They weren’t to everyone’s liking but a manager/head coach can only work with what he has at his disposal. Fine, fine margins. Had promotion been gained all would be sunshine, laughs and pats on the back in Nailsworth now.
Robbie Savage arrives at the New Lawn with very little coaching experience.
He has spent more time behind a microphone than on a training pitch since his playing days ended. In this instance I don’t think that is a problem, in fact, it may well work to his benefit. He is charismatic and appears to be the type of guy that will be easy to get on with. And that is what I hope and to some extent believe is what Forest Green need right now.
The club has everything going for it. An owner who has repeatedly put his money where his ambitions are, a new stadium to look forward to, a brilliant new training facility and a playing infrastructure that is the envy of clubs in higher divisions. What it needs now is players that can put the ball in the back of the net more times than the opposition during the vast majority of matches. Now that is dinosaur speak, it took me five years to get my UEFA “A” License just so I could pass on those words of wisdom!
But seriously, that is where I think Robbie’s buoyant personality will come to the fore. He needs to sit down with every player individually and get to know them as well as their mother’s do. He should know their dreams and their fears and make them all aware of how much the club values their work and how the club can help them to be better players.
Collectively, they should be bonded together and know exactly what role they play within their playing pod and the team as a whole. They should be drilled to understand patterns of play as they happen, have in place systems to counteract individual errors, reaction to transition and an embedded system of their own to be effective on the counterattack. He has to stamp his own brand on the team and his own tactics using a proven template like that above. I’m sure he has the confidence and desire to do so and will quickly decide who is onboard and who needs to leave the ship.
Many people scoff at big name ex-players taking charge in the Conference but it does work. In my time both Brian Talbot formerly of Arsenal and England won the league as did Jan Molby. Let’s hope Robbie Savage adds his name to that list. Looking at it from a long way off, I think he can. He has to be his own man with his own plans but use the counsel of others and then he can utilise that infectious persona to give a huge lift to the entire club. That would be Savage!
Frank Gregan
Now living in Spain and a published author, the former sergeant major joined Rovers in 1994 – leading his side to back-to-back promotions and Wembley final. Frank transformed the club from non-league minnows, charting the way for what they have gone on to achieve under the late Trevor Horsley’s successor Dale Vince.
Follow Frank on Twitter: @Greegers
