Forest Green boss Robbie Savage has never been shy about speaking his mind, but recent weeks have given him plenty to reflect on.
The release of the latest Macclesfield documentary offering a raw look behind the scenes, Savage has opened up about the challenges, pressures, and grounding forces that define his current journey.
Listen to Robbie Savage’s full-match press conference with Ash Loveridge and BBC Radio Gloucestershire’s Paul Furley
Robbie Savage Q & A
Q: Back to where it all started on the opening day of the season against the same opponents — how much have you and the players learned and improved since the 2-2 draw at Solihull?
Robbie Savage: “I keep improving every single day as a collective — myself, the players, my staff. The fans are learning more about me, my emotion, how passionate I am and how we change the dynamic of a football club. One thing hasn’t changed: the number of chances we create, our final-third entries, our XG. That day was frustrating against a Solihull side who got a great point with ten men. Nick Haughton made a brilliant introduction to life at Forest Green and we should have taken all three points, but we were magnificent that day and have been all season.”
Q: They’ve had a change of manager since that opening day. Do they still retain the same fight and determination?
Savage: “They defended so well that day — remember the clearance off the line from Mendy’s header. Chris Millington’s gone in there, and I know him well. He’s a brilliant manager who did great at Halifax. His teams are competitive and look to score goals, so it’ll be a tough test. He was helpful to me and John McMahon in the summer when we spoke about the league, and I’m sure he’ll be ready.”
Q: What’s going on with XG across the game at the moment?
Savage: “XG is expected goals — for example, a penalty has an XG of 0.7. A tap-in on the line might be 0.96. Our XG differential is the second highest across the top five divisions, just behind York, who are scoring for fun. We just need to be more clinical. People say, ‘You’re creating chances,’ but I want us to finish those chances.”
Q: In your last game there was a lot of unselfishness — players trying to square the ball to create better chances. Do you want that or do you want them to shoot earlier?
Savage: “Our second goal comes from Kyle McAllister taking a shot. The keeper should save it, and the XG is probably 0.1. My son Charlie’s last two goals have had an XG of 0.1 as well — tough chances. Dausch at the end should shoot instead of squaring it to Temi. Shooting can take deflections, the keeper can spill it, you might get a corner. In training John McMahon works on that final-third moment: touch out of your feet, shoot.”
Q: Team news — Adam May has left the club by mutual consent. Was that just the right timing for him?
Savage: “It works for everyone. Adam wants regular first-team football and couldn’t get that opportunity here. We wish him all the best. It’s also an opportunity for others and we’ll bring a couple in — no doubt about that.”
Q: You’ve also had a couple of injuries this week at centre-half.
Savage: “Yeah, amazing really. Against Southend we had Ryan Inniss and Jordie on the bench — Ryan pulled his calf in the warm-up and is out six weeks; Jordie blocked a shot in training and fractured his ankle, so that’s three months with surgery. We’ve gone from four first-choice centre-halves to Mendy and Kanu. With the way we play we probably only have three defensive-minded players right now. We’re discussing whether we bring in a centre-half or a six, because Harvey Bunker can play either. He’s been magnificent as a six — a controller who protects when Isaac Moore, Nick Haughton or Harry Whitwell go forward. We’ll assess targets using the metrics as always.
“Mendy will be captain for the foreseeable future — testament to him. All the young players have stepped up. Our five loan players have been huge for us, so any new signing probably needs to be permanent because we can’t have any of those five missing out. That’s what this club’s about — giving young players opportunities. We’ve sent our target list to the ownership and with injuries we may need to bring things forward. The good news is Max Robson is back in full training and should be on the bench, and Sean Etaluku and Kairo Mitchell are at 80% and should be 100% next week.”
Q: When you’ve been in difficult positions, how pleased have you been with the adaptability of the squad?
Savage: “I never make excuses. One player’s disappointment is another’s opportunity and everyone has taken theirs. Whatever happens Saturday, there’ll be no excuses about injuries or referees. We’ve got 22–23 players who are all first-team starters. Ideally I want 25 next season.”
Q: And you’re at home again. How useful is having a run of home games rather than being on a coach and stuck on the M6?
Savage: “Travelling isn’t an issue. The coach is brilliant, great food, great hotels. We’re fortunate to be in this industry. Nobody should moan about travel — we’re lucky.”
Q: How pleased have you been with Temi Babalola’s progress and how much more is to come from the big man?
Savage: “Brilliant. He leads the line well and impacts the game. Great lad, great personality, a joy to work with. He can get a lot better — as we all can — and he will.
“He works hard in training, but I want my forward players scoring more in training as well.”
Q: You’re six months into the job. You seem really dialled in at FGR?
Savage: “I love it. I’ve come to an unbelievable club with the best owner. He gives managers opportunities, he’s passionate, successful, and we get on well. I’m enjoying football more than ever. I’m emotional and passionate and fans can see that. There will be doubters, but if you give it out you’ve got to take it — and I’ve done that for for all my life. People say it’s all about me, but it’s about the players and the fans. I’ll celebrate with them, and when we lose I’ll take it. The documentary out on Macclesfield shows what we can do to galvanise a football club.
“I hope I’m here for my whole contract to repay the people who believed in me.”
Q: The BBC documentary covering your journey at Macclesfield is now out. What can you say about that period?
Savage: “I spent four and a half years there and helped build a football club. I left it in a great position. They’re in the FA Cup third round this weekend and I hope they win. There are brilliant people there and the documentary shows how you can galvanise a club and community — and that’s what we’re doing here. If we go up this season it’ll be unbelievable given the youth, loans, reduced budget, everything. Some fans might not reciprocate now but I’ve got to do what’s right for my family.”
Your mum has a cameo role in the documentary, how was that and will we see her at FGR?
“It was emotional for me because of course I wanted my father there. We lost him at 64 with Alzheimer’s, you know, he had it at 58. So for six years of his life, you know, not knowing who we were was very, very difficult. You know, it’s tough, but again, I’m a human being, a caring person, an emotional person with a great family. And that’s all I’m concerned about.
“My family come first. The hatred and the jealousy which comes with being me is there for all to see in the documentary and it’s been there to see, you know, in recent weeks in the National League.
“She loved it at Macclesfield. Everywhere I’ve been, her nerves were on edge. You know, she used to walk round, walk round the ground. My dad used to go to every game, but she couldn’t watch because of the nerves, so she used to walk round the ground for the entirety of the 90 minutes. That will happen now because she’s not great on her feet. You know, hip replacements and knees, can have a knee replacement. So, yeah, but I’m sure we’ll look after her when she comes.”
Q: In the documentary there’s a lot of abuse from away fans. What can football do about that?
Savage: “We’ve all seen it in the vlogs, we’ve heard about it in the documentary — there’s a line, isn’t there? I’ve spoken with the FA, and there are some brilliant people there, but once things cross that line, what can really be done? It’s difficult to take. I’m a human being.
“People say, ‘He gives it out, so he’s got to take it,’ and yes, to an extent that’s true, but there’s still a line. At the end of the day, my job is to make sure I get three points for my football club and answer the criticism in the best way possible — by winning, like we did at the weekend.
“The chant from the Southend fans — ‘Savage, what’s the score?’ — that was all in good fun, and I really enjoyed it. But some of the stuff you’ve heard in the vlog goes beyond banter. Still, it is what it is. It’s up to the FA to deal with it. I’ve had great conversations with them, and now we move forward.”
