Robbie Savage returns to the Carlisle cauldron tonight, but wants the football to do the talking.
The Forest Green boss was on the receiving end of abuse from a section of Carlisle fans during last October’s meeting, with Savage later describing it as “vile abuse”. The incident prompted a Football Association investigation and a subsequent reminder from Carlisle about fan behaviour.
“It will be a great atmosphere. I got a bit of stick there last year which crossed the line,” Savage said. “I want it to be about the two teams and how good the two teams are, how both teams play brilliant football, how both teams want to attack and want to get the ball in the box, you know, the proper way, and have a go at each other.”
Turning to the data, Savage insists Carlisle and Rovers share the same principles.
“They’ve got a new manager who, all the data suggests, is very much similar to us. I think they’re a front-footed, attacking side.
“In fact, they’ve got the most shots in the league. I think they’ve had the second-most touches in the opposition box. We’re third. They’ve got the most crosses, I think.
“So again, all the data suggests that they’re a more front-footed, attacking side than the one last year who got 95 points in the league under Mark Hughes
“So Rob (Elliot) will be seeing the same data as us. And that’s why, as a manager, when you see the work on the training ground, when you see the performance on a weekend, even if you’re not getting the right result, I’m sure that Rob will stick to all his principles because everything suggests that they will be up there come the end of the season because they can’t keep having this many shots, this many opportunities, this many final-third entries and it then not click.”
Savage also defended the new Carlisle boss, who suffered personal abuse from a section of Brunton Park supporters during his side’s 2-2 draw against Southend United.
“I’ve seen Rob’s interview at the weekend. It was a minority and it will be a minority having a go, like a minority of our fans were having a go at me. It’s football, but again, it’s so short-term.
“Listen, Rob’s been in a job, what is it? Two months, three months. And he’s had to rebuild and they’ve recruited really well. And he’s got to get his philosophy on the team and he’s certainly doing that in such a short period and it will click and they will be up there at the end of the season.”
Rovers will be without Kyle Ajayi after he limped off in the first half of the 4-0 victory over Gateshead last time out.
Savage said: “He’s got a scan today (Monday). I believe it’s the hamstring. So again, it’s disappointing just coming to the team, waited his chance. But again, Gabe (Kircough) came on and did really well.”
Savage also revealed Forest Green are expected to include England Under-20 midfielder Preston Fearon on a one-month loan from West Ham.
Savage said: “This is a great acquisition for us again. We’re excited about him as are West Ham and it’s just maybe his first regular taste of senior football, so he’s got to get up to the speed of it.
“It’ll be a learning, a brand new learning for him, but it would be great for his development as we’ve shown with lots of loan players in the 14 months I’ve been there – and the big thing is the club trust us where their best young players go.”
Savage says his experience as the father of Reading midfielder Charlie Savage has given him a greater understanding of the challenges young players face when moving away from their parent clubs.
“I know how to try and get the best out of young players. And I know what their mentality is, I know what their mindset is.
“I know what it’s like when they go away for the first time on their own. At times they’ll be lonely, at times they need an arm around them, at times they’ll be frustrated.
“So my son’s been through the academy system (Manchester United), a huge club. You know, he’s 23 now, he’s doing 150 games now for Reading, which is unbelievable. Credit to him.
“So again, I think because I’ve had Charlie in the same situation and he’s at Reading, I think parents of young players and clubs realise that, you know, as a manager, you know, I’ve had a son going through the same situation.
“So I think there’s even more trust there and what I try and do is I try and treat every player like I would want my Charlie to be treated.”
Last season’s loanees Harry Whitwell and Chibby Nwoko have kicked on at their parent clubs, West Brom and Fulham respectively, and Savage believes their progress has helped establish Forest Green as an attractive destination for young players.
“Harry (Whitwell) was brilliant, he messaged me after the game against Hornchurch and said, ‘Well done, Gaffer.’
“Jili Buyabu texted me, and again, it’s really nice that your old player, who might believe that I did well for them, but they also did well for us, as they’re still keeping contact and they’re grateful, but they’re all doing really well.
“And when I speak to these clubs, like Liverpool, look at Kyle Kelly. I think the biggest thing is that I can pick up the phone to most clubs, directly to the manager or the sporting director, and they’ll answer the phone directly to me.”
Meanwhile, Savage was full of praise for Gabe Kircough, who impressed after coming on against Gateshead.
Asked about the youngster’s development, he said: “He’s worked really hard. He’s one of the first in, one of the last to leave. You know, he’s learning.
“We’re doing his individual learning programme with him as well when we’re showing him clips, so he’s getting better.
“We knew that Gabe wouldn’t be instantly the player he’s going to be. When we brought him in, it was going to take time and he’s adapting to full-time football.
“He’s done well. You know, he got thrown in last year right at the deep end. It was York away, Rochdale away and he wasn’t quite ready. And now if he gets the opportunity, it’s up to him to build and show everybody what you can do.”
Savage believes Saturday’s 4-0 victory over Gateshead demonstrated the attacking football Forest Green are trying to develop, with the manager particularly pleased with the quality of the goals.
“We’ve got the most regains in the league. We’ve got the most regains leading to shots, you know, the way we play.
“And we’ve been working more this season on if that happens, how do we find solutions? And again, it’s been more patient.
“The first goal was what we’re all about in terms of that break. But that’s a rarity at home when teams are on us and we can break away with space.
“The first goal was amazing.
“The second goal of all the patience and the build-up and the once-touch football, the passing forward, running forward.
“Freddie Sass, which we worked on in the week, was getting into a number 10 position when the ball was on the opposite side. And they did that really well.
“So it was a brilliant goal. Ricardo (Rees), you know, don’t want anybody else in the league in that position at that time, probably with acceptance of a Rush from Boreham Wood.
“So again, it was a brilliant goal. It’s the kind of football we want to play. It’s the kind of football we’ve played. And it was a brilliant, brilliant day, which we knew the data. It was telling us that we would have a performance like that.
“But we know this team and this squad is new. We know we’ve got to be patient. And we know though that this team could achieve so much together because they’re a very, very good side.”
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