Robbie Savage

Paully D · 07-05-2011 12:48pm #1

Savage is currently playing his final game today. What are your thoughts of him as a player and a person?

I liked him as a player. I've always thought he was very underrated and he has done a good job wherever he's gone. He might not be the most skilful or prettiest player on the ball to watch, but what he lacked he made up for in determination and effort. So many more players have had more natural ability but didn't have half the career he has had, simply because they didn't put in the work. People will say he's dirty, but although he's been booked a lot he's only been sent off a couple of times (once at international level, once in the Premier League AFAIK). He knew where the line was and didn't usually tend to cross it. I was gutted when he decided to join Derby instead of Sunderland a few years ago, as he would have been loved at the Stadium of Light.

As a pundit he's one of my favourite. He seems to be one of the only pundits around who will praise the smaller teams and criticise the bigger teams (when justified, of course). For example, if a weaker team beats a team they're expected to lose to, he'll say ''lets give the weaker team credit rather than saying the bigger team were poor''.

He's done a lot of charity work too and raised awareness for issues such as depression and dementia.

He's one of my favourite players and he's a great character as well as being a better footballer than he should have been, purely through dedication and hard work.

Some of my favourite Robbie Savage moments:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wcoQf7ILkM0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wEcbht3c0z0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4L6qfoqHjs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F6RXcmidP1M

And some decent reading:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/nov/06/robbie-savage-interview

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/derby-county/8498522/Robbie-Savage-off-to-tackle-life-in-the-media-as-curtain-falls-on-Derby-playing-career.html

His autobiography is quite a good read too. It's quite light-hearted, but there's also some heavy reading too when he speaks about his dad's condition and how he tried to commit suicide.

So lads, your thoughts on Savage?

Mr.Crinklewood · 07-05-2011 12:49pm

Poor mans Vinny Jones.

Pauleta · 07-05-2011 12:51pm

Solid player over the years. Very cunning and seems a likable guy apart from when he is playing against you.

UpTheSlashers · 07-05-2011 12:53pm

Hes done a few dickheaded things but he seems fairly sound. Had the championship POTY in his pocket the other week.

population · 07-05-2011 1:02pm

I know somebody who was a youth team player with him. Said he was barking but great craic. Only thing that used to p..s him off though was how long it took him to get ready for a night out. He was OBSESSIVE about his hair and would spend a solid hour touching it up in the mirror. Mad to see he is in his late 30s know and the samson locks are still pride of place:D

Dozen Wicked Words · 07-05-2011 1:06pm

Like a dog chasing a ball in the park, bull in a china shop and headless chicken (and many other animal anologys I am sure) on the pitch. Seems like he has a good sense of humour off it, and I don't think he ever thought he was the most skillful, just a 100% tryer. Decent pundit, who actually gives his opinion about things rather than sitting on the fence.

Blatter · 07-05-2011 1:23pm

Top lad. Love him or hate him, football needs these type of characters, there's not enough of them around these days.

On the field, he was like a wasp. Dangerous at times, but guaranteed to buzz around the place and píss people off.

th3 s1aught3r · 07-05-2011 2:22pm

Has he ever won anything ?

flahavaj · 07-05-2011 2:27pm

I think he's a good lad and a decent enough pundit.

Jax Teller · 07-05-2011 2:29pm

th3 s1aught3r wrote: »

Has he ever won anything ?

Fa youth cup with United 92 - league cup with Leicester 00

Woody_FX · 07-05-2011 2:40pm

Aye he is a character! Bit of a tool.

mike65 · 07-05-2011 3:30pm

He's Welsh! :mad:

As a player he mixed talent and low cunning a bit too much of the latter at times, as a pundit he is awful when allowed to go 'off on one' doing 606 (last refuge of the football idiocracy I admit) but as a co-commentator in games he's quite good.

El Weirdo · 07-05-2011 4:11pm

Pauleta wrote: »

Solid player over the years. Very cunning and seems a likable guy apart from when he is playing against you.

^This. Don't mind Robbie Savage. Very average player but a likeable character.

07-05-2011 4:25pm

Bacon and Cabbage

Turtyturd · 07-05-2011 4:41pm

Didn't know he played for United until I read his column a few weeks ago and he mentioned it at least 5 times...noticed it again the other day and it got another 5 mentions...seems like he lives on that.

07-05-2011 4:48pm

Turtyturd wrote: »

Didn't know he played for United until I read his column a few weeks ago and he mentioned it at least 5 times...noticed it again the other day and it got another 5 mentions...seems like he lives on that.

He didn't play a game for utd though afaik ?

flahavaj · 07-05-2011 4:51pm

Turtyturd wrote: »

Didn't know he played for United until I read his column a few weeks ago and he mentioned it at least 5 times...noticed it again the other day and it got another 5 mentions...seems like he lives on that.

How can he be living off his United past when you yourself say you only found out he ever played for them last week??? Makes no sense.

Turtyturd · 07-05-2011 9:37pm

rarnes1 wrote: »

He didn't play a game for utd though afaik ?

I think it was just reserve games or under age

flahavaj wrote: »

How can he be living off his United past when you yourself say you only found out he ever played for them last week??? Makes no sense.

Care to point out the part of my post where I said he was living off it??? Your post makes no sense.

Mushy · 07-05-2011 9:49pm

Turtyturd wrote: »

I think it was just reserve games or under age

Care to point out the part of my post where I said he was living off it??? Your post makes no sense.

Eh I'll take a wild guess and say its where you said 'seens like he lives on that'.

flahavaj · 07-05-2011 9:50pm

Turtyturd wrote: »

Care to point out the part of my post where I said he was living off it??? Your post makes no sense.

What did "he's living on it" mean then? That makes no sense.

Jazzy · 07-05-2011 9:59pm

i like him. complete dick to play against but hes a good lad

bonerm · 07-05-2011 10:11pm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRXvw4PeEYg

I always enjoyed this rant.

Paully D · 07-05-2011 10:49pm

bonerm wrote: »

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRXvw4PeEYg

I always enjoyed this rant.

Yep, that's a good one.

I thought Savage was spot on there. A 31 year old experienced player playing for a top 6 Premier League side and couldn't get a call-up for Wales? Madness, and the only reason was because Toshack didn't like him as Savage was more popular than he was.

keane2097 · 07-05-2011 10:53pm

Was always a huge fan, seems like a very happy go lucky sort, good player too.

grenache · 07-05-2011 11:15pm

As a player i didn't like him, but by god i respected him. And truth be told i would have loved him in my team. Been to enough Forest - Derby games where he got dog loads of abuse and he always gave as good as he got.

A proper pro.

eagle eye · 07-05-2011 11:42pm

He was great for Rovers when he was with us, let Tugay do his thing and just broke up play when the opposition tried to break. He had so much energy, never stopped running all over the pitch. Very underrated player imo.

Off the pitch he was great to fans. He is a really down to earth guy, bit of a nutter going by his youtubes etc. but he speaks his mind and enjoys life. He is a good pundit too.

applehunter · 08-05-2011 2:15am

A thread devoted to Robbie "****ing" Savage.

FFS

weldoninhio · 08-05-2011 3:35am

Absolute legend!! A perfect example of hard work getting you further than talent that doesn't work hard. How many better players haven't played as long as him??

You can play the what has he won card, but i reckon someone like Lee Sharpe who won the Prem would have given that medal up to have as long a career at the top as Sav.

Jazzy · 08-05-2011 3:59am

applehunter wrote: »

A thread devoted to Robbie "****ing" Savage.

FFS

BARBRA STREISAND!

That_Guy · 08-05-2011 11:15am

Not the most gifted of players by any stretch but put a lot of hard work and graft into his play.

Paully D · 11-05-2011 12:11am

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/13336750.stm

curry-muff · 11-05-2011 12:15am

Seen him posting on twitter that he is considering running a competition for him to turn out for a sunday league side next season, that would be class if he actually did it :pac:

Paparazzo · 11-05-2011 6:59am

The stereotypical overpaid footballer. I remember a 2 journalists talking about him on off the ball, they reckoned he was a genuinely nasty person.

Paully D · 07-09-2011 6:50pm

Robbie's going to be on the new series of Strictly Come Dancing starting this Saturday. Should be a good laugh :pac:

kfallon · 08-09-2011 11:16am

One of the worst players to ever grace the game, another square ball merchant, couldn't pass water. As big a joke as a pundit.

Says it all that Derby were in a relegation battle last year when he was there, get him off the wage bill (he was by far highest paid there) which allows Derby to sign a few players in the summer and hey presto Derby win 4 out of their first 5 league games!

I've seen boats turn quicker than him. Absolutely useless, made Neil Lennon look good! :rolleyes:

fred funk }{ · 08-09-2011 11:33am

Never really had an opinion on him either way until I started to follow him on Twitter and listen to him on 5 live. Now I can't stand the man and he's shockingly bad as a pundit. I don't listen to 5 live if he's on and I have unfollowed him on twitter.

Guy:Incognito · 08-09-2011 12:20pm

kfallon wrote: »

Says it all that Derby were in a relegation battle last year when he was there, get him off the wage bill (he was by far highest paid there) which allows Derby to sign a few players in the summer and hey presto Derby win 4 out of their first 5 league games!
:

I says it all that he's not as good in the team as 4 or 5 players? Really? Is it his fault they agreed to make him their highest paid player? I assume if you were a pro your contract negotiations would go along the lines of " Ok Mr Fallon, we're going to offer you 80k a week" . "ah here no, I'm not worth anywhere near that, pay me 20k"

kfallon · 08-09-2011 6:20pm

Guy:Incognito wrote: »

I says it all that he's not as good in the team as 4 or 5 players? Really? Is it his fault they agreed to make him their highest paid player? I assume if you were a pro your contract negotiations would go along the lines of " Ok Mr Fallon, we're going to offer you 80k a week" . "ah here no, I'm not worth anywhere near that, pay me 20k"

No it says it all that he was the worst player in the team.....by a country mile! And he was the one dragging the team down!

He made out he loved the club but in fact he was bleeding them dry and then had to gaul to ask them to make a 606 studio for him at Pride Park so he could broadcast his radio show straight after games. Hardly focused was he?

Anyone who thinks Robbie Savage was or is a good player obviously knows nothing about football!

Big Pussy Bonpensiero · 08-09-2011 7:35pm

kfallon wrote: »

Anyone who thinks Robbie Savage was or is a good player obviously knows nothing about football!

I hate when people say "(their own opinion) and anyone who says otherwise knows nothing about football..."

Absolute horse shít. Says more about the maturity of the poster tbh.

Paully D · 08-09-2011 7:56pm

kfallon wrote: »

Anyone who thinks Robbie Savage was or is a good player obviously knows nothing about football!

So Dario Gradi, Martin O'Neill, Steve Bruce, and Mark Hughes know nothing about football.

Thanks for that insight.

markie29 · 08-09-2011 8:35pm

I kind of admire Robbie Savage....he had limited talent but he made the most of his opportunities in the game which is more that can be said for a lot of the players who are getting ridiculous amounts of money and they dont even care.

killwill · 08-09-2011 10:01pm

I love Robbie Savage, absolute legend.
Mad as a hatter and very funny, would love him as a drinking buddy!!

LuckyLloyd · 08-09-2011 11:41pm

kfallon wrote: »

Anyone who thinks Robbie Savage was or is a good player obviously knows nothing about football!

Robbie Savage was a good player.

I'm very comfortable taking an opposing position to you on this. Very comfortable indeed.

Guy:Incognito · 08-09-2011 11:46pm

kfallon wrote: »

No it says it all that he was the worst player in the team.....by a country mile! And he was the one dragging the team down!

He made out he loved the club but in fact he was bleeding them dry and then had to gaul to ask them to make a 606 studio for him at Pride Park so he could broadcast his radio show straight after games. Hardly focused was he?

Anyone who thinks Robbie Savage was or is a good player obviously knows nothing about football!

He bled them dry or took the money THEY offered him?

Kev_ps3 · 09-09-2011 7:55am

I think he is a good pundit. listen to him on the 606 football phone in, speaks him mind, he is not always right, who is.

Your Airbag · 09-09-2011 8:59am

As a player a real grafter. Always put in a good shift.

As a pundit, not so good. States the obvious a lot and no great insight into the tactical side. Not saying he doesn't know his stuff but it doesn't come across. He's always on ESPN these days and he tries to be funny too much, some of his stuff is cringe worthy.

As a person, seems like a decent guy. Bit of an ego. He grates on me big time. The voice, the attitude etc but he seems friendly without a malicious streak.

In summary, a decent bloke I wish him the best. I couldn't stand him as a friend though.

gnfnrhead · 09-09-2011 2:23pm

I didnt mind him as a player (Provided he wasnt playing against us) but as a pundit he is crap. Seems to be the latest in the ever growing line of retired players who have nothing else to do so become a pundit regardless of how good they are at it. To me, he comes across as a guy who thinks he knows it all but in reality is saying the first thing that comes to mind and hoping it's right.

He was on ESPN a few times during the pre-season and every time he spoke I was hoping Keown would headbutt him to shut him up. Unfortunatly it didnt happen.

Robbie Savage

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