[Archived] Savage - The Bad Apple

[tcj_jones]

Really nice to read this today:

Savage Eyes Rovers Exit

He's quoted as saying that Hughes has been "absolutely brilliant" about the situation.

EDIT: For the record, I'm not at all happy that he is leaving and think that we will really, really miss him. I never understood why he was dropped in the first place.

A midfield tro of Savage, Dunn and Reid would be pretty good IMO.

Tugay and Mokoena just don't cut it at this level anymore.

[AggyBlue]

EDIT: For the record, I'm not at all happy that he is leaving and think that we will really, really miss him. I never understood why he was dropped in the first place.

Without throwing statistics about how many games we have won with/without him, anyone with eyes in their head can see he isn't a good footballer.

Add to that the fact he isn't the same since his broken leg, we need someone better.

[tcj_jones]

Well I disagree, I think he is a good footballer and my eye sight is pretty good.

Maybe he isn't quite the same since his broken leg, but he and Dunn were very good together at the start of the season and he is a far better option than Mokoena and Tugay, the two other deepest lying players in our squad. Until Reid gets more match practice, fitness and sharpness, he and Dunn would start together week in, week out for me.

Unless we sign a good replacement, he will be missed.

[Roost]

Without throwing statistics about how many games we have won with/without him, anyone with eyes in their head can see he isn't a good footballer.

Add to that the fact he isn't the same since his broken leg, we need someone better.

I have always thought this Aggy - I think he gets a bit of sympathy and support from fans because he 'trys hard' and is a player that we like more because other fans hate!

Looking forward to the short stroll next sunday to the breezeblock Aggy?

One Love - BRFC

[AggyBlue]

Well I disagree, I think he is a good footballer and my eye sight is pretty good.

:lol:

[tcj_jones]

I think he gets a bit of sympathy and support from fans because he 'trys hard' and is a player that we like more because other fans hate!

I doubt very much that that goes for the vast majority of Rovers fans. I can't believe I'm hearing people dismissing him so casually.

He's been vital to our resurgence under Mark Hughes and has been one of our most consistent performers over the years. We are harder to beat with him in the side. Maybe if he hadn't have got injured when he did, and maybe if he were in the team now, we wouldn't be playing so badly and wouldn't be shipping the goals that we have been.

[rebelmswar]

Derby fans opinions.

"My personal opinion on this scenario, is I hate Savage, but I've always said that you always hate him unless hes playing for you, then you love the guy. In short i'd be pleased to see him in a Rams shirt."

" reckon he's a better 'footballer' than people give him credit for (i reckon he's prat - but then i would imagine most footballers are..)"

"if we signed him , he would win some tackles in midfield - something we've not done a great deal of this season - infact has pearson won any...?"

"Wouldnt normally want to see him anywhere near Derby but we are so desperate for quality players ( and I have to admit he has some talent) that I'd welcome him in a Derby shirt now.

If he f*cks it up if/when he does come (red card specialist) I'll hate him with a vengeance."

"As much as we all hated him with a passion when he had the bust up with Burley, I think he could become a favourite....Savage and Ghaly in centre of park?......."

Maybe it is another case that we dont know what we have until its gone.

[philipl]

Maybe we will be proven wrong but from what I could see that cartilage operation was an operation too far and when Sav came back this last time, he didn't.

Otherwise of course there is no way he would not have been starting every game as he had done previously, especially as the old Savage was exactly what we needed and have been missing.

Although we only have Ooijer physically in the treatment room, to all intents and purposes we have been crippled by injuries as we no longer have the spine of the team- the Savage and Nelsen we all loved don't exist any more.

To be honest, we also don't have the old Dunn back but I guess we knew that when he was signed and we have yet to find out if we've got the old Reid back.

[they_think_its_all_rover]

Derby fans opinions.

If he f*cks it up if/when he does come (red card specialist) I'll hate him with a vengeance."

Maybe it is another case that we dont know what we have until its gone.

What... ONE!

[tcj_jones]

Savage has barely played since his latest injury, for me it is too soon to tell if he has lost his edge, same goes for Nelsen and for Reid.

[thenodrog]

Savage has barely played since his latest injury, for me it is too soon to tell if he has lost his edge, same goes for Nelsen and for Reid.

Good job it's Hughes in charge and not you then jonesy. I assume that he and Bowen etc have watched him very very carefully in training. From what I have seen imo that broken leg has done for him. A Sav that has to think twice about going in for tackles, as he has is as much use as a chocolate fireguard. Sav was brave to the point of being foolhardy but imo that aspect of his game has gone .... at the moment.

[bigcol]

Derby agree fee for Savage reports on BBC sport website say.

[modes98]

Derby agree fee for Savage reports on BBC sport website say.

Cheerio Robbie. Thanks for a good few years.

[krislu]

All the best to Robbie! He did put in some very good performances for us, now hopefully we can get in someone with real passing and technical skill. To bad that lad Barry Ferguson ain't with us, that is the kind of player we need now.

[jonv]

1.5 plus 500k of add ons.. a good bit of business?

[rover6]

To get any sort of money for a 33 year old Savage is a good deal.

Derby are going down. What has Savage got to offer them? I can't see him doing a Christophe Duggary and salvaging a doomed team, so Jewell must think that he'll be of use in the Championship. Not so sure about that bearing in mind his likely wage and the fact that level of football is full of gallivanting central midfielders with an excess of energy but too few brain cells.

Garry Flitcroft and Nils Eric Johnansson got a nasty shock when they went down to that level to collect their pensions.

[gazsimm]

good luck Robbie, thanks for a few good seasons, i just wish it was not you going to Derby and it was the axe going instead

[bellamy11]

I'd like to echo the thoughts of everyone who is wishing Robbie well. I think he has been excellent in his time here, especially in the part of the Hughes era where we had to battle teams to avoid relegation. He has always been good with the fans and it seemed like the players loved to have him around. I can't understand why he is joining such an obviously-doomed team but all the best for him. I'm sure he'll get a great reception when Derby visit Ewood and I hope he is fit so that he can receive the applause from us.

I think for the money we're getting it's a decent deal. I rate him better than Mokoena but something significant seems to have happened. TNR may well have it right in that he might not be going in 100% now after the leg break. It's unfortunately a psychological barrier which can be impossible to overcome. If that is the case then we have no option but to sell.

[USABlue]

For all his faults I have to say I am sad to see him go, one thing we could always count on is commitment from him. Sadly, if as is rumoured he has caused unrest then he has to go. I suppose we can expect some form of mouthing off from him in the not too distant future. I think there is a link between ourpoor results and him being out of the team, good luck to him and thanks for the service.

[thenodrog]

All the best to Robbie! He did put in some very good performances for us, now hopefully we can get in someone with real passing and technical skill. To bad that lad Barry Ferguson ain't with us, that is the kind of player we need now.

How you gonna do that without a getter and giver in the middle then Krislu? Answers on a post card to Sparky please.

As for your ludicrous second point...... We need that little scottish weasel about as much as we all need a tape worm in our intestinal tract.

[roversmum]

Good luck Robbie! We will miss your feisty character around Ewood. Thanks for everything and best of luck to you and your family for the future.

[Hughesy]

Tom Huddlestone in as replacement hopefully!

[Boz]

Good luck to Robbie and thanks for his endeavours.

A good bit of business for all parties, Rovers, level of fee generated considering age and fitness; Robbie, regular footy; Derby, experienced campaigner/leader in the middle of the park.

I had concerns about his fitness following his serious injury last season, in my opinion he did not come back the same player. A little bit slower and appeared worried whenever involved in a tackle which was the the major part of his game.

But a great team player/leader in the middle, which at present we appear short of.

Leaders from within our current squad are sadly missing and is the root cause of our current demise.

Regular players who are technically gifted (Gamst, McCarthey, Bentley, Tugay, Dunn, RSC) are not leaders in my opinion, as they are mostly interested in their own performances, yes possibly lead by example, but are not going to stick their heads up when the other team are rampaging; our experienced senior pros (Nelson, Emerton, Zurab) are all rather quiet and don't lead; youngsters/inexperienced at this level (Warnock, Derbyshire, Samba, Peter, Treacy, Rigters, Berner) can't be expected to provide leadership; disaffected players (Roberts, Mokoena) are not going to be leading from the front; and in my opinion goalkeepers despite being fantastic cannot influence and take the lead. This only leaves Reidy & Ooijer who in my opinion might possibly provide the inspiration and leadership, but too many doubts about their own fitness currently exist.

In conclusion an inspirational leader with technical ability and confidence is required in the middle of the park, for our current team.

[den]

Tom Huddlestone in as replacement hopefully!

Hopefully not. That would show a move away from Hughesy's "work ethic". That's what he's built rovers around, up until now. You wouldn't get the top clubs queing up for someone like him, - talented as he undoubtedly is.

[bubblerrovers]

Only good business if can replace him with a better player (shouldn't be too hard) real shame as not so long ago he was vice captain, and looked the part never the same after the leg break