Farewell To Robbie Savage

[Mendoza]

Was it a success? I know people have been quick to say he is shit, but I liked him in our team, and would like to thank him for turning our hoofing team into one which learned to pass the ball to him to his feet, so he could pass it to another player on our team first time.

I hope the players learned from him, even though he didnt score or do too much outstanding, he was still worth having in my opinion. He looked like he cared, and could have just taken a free ride, but he got angry when we were rubbish, and always wanted the ball.

Farewell, and good to see we could sign someone of his calibre

Savage is going back
7:55pm Wednesday 29th October 2008

Comments (3) Have your say »

By Brian Owen »

Robbie Savage's loan spell with Albion is over.

The Welsh international is suffering from a shin problem and does not figure in plans for Saturday's game with Millwall.

That fixture was due to be the last of his one-month stint on loan from Derby County.

Savage was taken off at half-time on Tuesday as Albion plotted their comeback to snatch a 3-2 win over Leicester.

Seagulls boss Micky Adams said: "Robbie has been a credit to himself with his professionalism while he has been here."

 

[Keeping The Dream Alive.]

Savage did not stop us from hoofing single-handedly. As I have said before, he picked the ball up off the back four a few times like many of our other midfielders do anyway, knocked a 5 yard pass then did f*** all else.

Please tell me something else he actually contributed to our side.

 

[Nemesis]

It didn't work out quite as well as we all hoped but a waste of money? I personally don't think it was. If nothing else he has shown some of the younger players what can be achieved in football if you apply yourself 100% all of the time.

 

[Barrel of Fun]

I expect some of the younger pros learned a bit from him. He has pretty much been there and seen it all. Whilst results would suggest otherwise, I would imagine that his loan spell was beneficial. Savage is not the most techinically gifted and he did not get to the top by mucking about. Maybe some of our wayward 'stars' might have picked up on the idea of working your way to the top.

Unquantifiable, but I am sure we saw some more bums on seats than we would have done otherwise.

 

[O Lads]

Inconsistent really, but i'd say it was certainly beneficial. Played some really good football for us at times and his leadership was top notch.

Good luck getting back into the Derby team Robbie.

 

[Keeping The Dream Alive.]

I think you have made the poll beneficial in favour of your answer as well, Mendoza.

A simple was he worth the time/money would have been fairer. He will have definitely have had some sort of positive impact on the players, how much of an impact and whether it out-weighs the negatives he has brought is open to debate. You're poll slants towards your side, as I dont think it was a complete waste of time, but he certainly wasnt worth it overall.

 

[Mendoza]

I think you have made the poll beneficial in favour of your answer as well, Mendoza.

A simple was he worth the time/money would have been fairer. He will have definitely have had some sort of positive impact on the players, how much of an impact and whether it out-weighs the negatives he has brought is open to debate. You're poll slants towards your side, as I dont think it was a complete waste of time, but he certainly wasnt worth it overall.

Fair enough, I dont think it slanted it at all as the scores are level.
What would you have put as the options in a poll then??

I didnt think the loan was as bad as some people made out, or his performances as some peoples player ratings gave him, but its all about opinion.

It is obvious his legs arent what they used to be, but it didnt stop him trying. 4 bookings would suggest he maybe off the pace and wont make it at a higher level than us.

 

[Keeping The Dream Alive.]

Fair enough, I dont think it slanted it at all as the scores are level.
What would you have put as the options in a poll then??

I didnt think the loan was as bad as some people made out, or his performances as some peoples player ratings gave him, but its all about opinion.

It is obvious his legs arent what they used to be, but it didnt stop him trying. 4 bookings would suggest he maybe off the pace and wont make it at a higher level than us.

I stated in my original post, but you're choice will definitely win this poll and so it probably should. But, I feel overall the negatvies from Savage out-weigh the positives:

He is unfit

The crux of his game is nearly all but gone

He really doesnt do much off the ball

The team seem to perform better without him.

 

[Mendoza]

I stated in my original post, but you're choice will definitely win this poll and so it probably should. But, I feel overall the negatvies from Savage out-weigh the positives:

He is unfit

The crux of his game is nearly all but gone

He really doesnt do much off the ball

The team seem to perform better without him.

Just read your original post. I dont really remember any of our centre midfielders dropping deep and getting the ball off the defence (not since Racon and O'Callaghan left)

They all seemed to run away from the ball, and the defenders just kicked it long to Cox of all people.

Agree he is unfit, but we knew that was the case, and that was the reason he came here. With him being unfit and older, indeed the crux of his game has gone. But he never did dribble it round people and score goals in his hayday, so why would he now.

I know he wasnt outstanding, and when he did come out the side, we replaced him with players that had more attacking edge (Thornton and now Johnson). I think Savages problem was he was playing in centre midfielders with 2 other holding centre midfielders, so he had no one to act as a foil for him, and do his attacking running (which El Abd and Thomson were never going to do)

 

[maffew]

think he probably brought a bit of experience to training and the dressing room, hopefully some lads benefited from that. A good loan I think

 

[Keeping The Dream Alive.]

Just read your original post. I dont really remember any of our centre midfielders dropping deep and getting the ball off the defence (not since Racon and O'Callaghan left)

They all seemed to run away from the ball, and the defenders just kicked it long to Cox of all people.

Agree he is unfit, but we knew that was the case, and that was the reason he came here. With him being unfit and older, indeed the crux of his game has gone. But he never did dribble it round people and score goals in his hayday, so why would he now.

I know he wasnt outstanding, and when he did come out the side, we replaced him with players that had more attacking edge (Thornton and now Johnson). I think Savages problem was he was playing in centre midfielders with 2 other holding centre midfielders, so he had no one to act as a foil for him, and do his attacking running (which El Abd and Thomson were never going to do)

That was a problem. Savage's game has never mainly been about his technical quality, he is used to having better, more creative players around him opening up teams while he steams around winning the ball back and keeping it moving; he's tried to do that here, but it hasnt really worked for him. Fair play to him for the effort he has put in, though.

 

[HG201]

Good ridance, i think we will play much better with thornton, just look at last night, first half with savage, played awful and did'nt create anything, second half with thornton we scored three goals and played much better as a team

 

[oh ah stantona]

in fairness...adams took a punt on player with a repuation and pedigree..didn't quite work out but hey well worth a try...thanks savage all the best

 

[Russell Slade's hat]

mmm I cant say he is much of a loss he hasnt done much is best game was probaly against cheltnam and we cocked it up, As said before me he picked it up a few times made a simple pass and then not much else !!

 

[Fourteenth Eye]

That was a problem. Savage's game has never mainly been about his technical quality, he is used to having better, more creative players around him opening up teams while he steams around winning the ball back and keeping it moving; he's tried to do that here, but it hasnt really worked for him. Fair play to him for the effort he has put in, though.

Nail head hit

 

[Brighton Breezy]

Absolute waste of money and a pure PR stunt to try and get bums on seats.

He did get the ball off our defence but just gave it back to them. That is fine if we didn't already have players capable of doing that.

I think as well you are giving Savage too much credit for the change in HOOF tactics. I'd say Adams told the team to be less direct.

The difference in having Thornton against Leicester was obvious and showed up the limitations of having Savage in the side. When Savage got the ball he passed it backwards. When Thornton, who was just as eager to get on the ball, got it he was driving forward.

Whatever wages we paid for Savage would have been better spent elsewhere.

 

[Harold]

For me it was a waste of money - nothing to do with him or his ability, he simply wasn't what we needed. If anything he took the best aspects out of our game by dragging it down to a plodding pace. He wasn't offering much more in taking the game forward than players we already have, and the number of backpasses were increasing as well (see first half against Leicester when we should have been protecting the rookie keeper). He did however put the effort in, make an interesting talking point, put a few extra on the gate, and raise the clubs profile in the media.

 

[bristolseagull]

I think he's a bit of a nob, glad he's off. Granted he gave us a bit of bite in midfield- but i'm not a fan of these brief loan spells.

 

[drew]

Savage was ok but I think Thornton and Johnson are far better. Both attack and keep the ball at their feet rather than looking for a long pass over the top, which has been our style of late.

If we can keep them for some time and get Forster and Murray up front instead of Virgo and Anyinsah then we may then look the force we were all hoping for at the start of the season.

 

[Scott29]

His fitness seemed to be his downfall. i thought he was good in places but not in others, well worth a flutter though could have and i think did make a big difference. Most of the player responded to his style of play, and i noticed it alot in the 0-0 draw to hereford, we were patient(maybe too patient) in our build up and for once didn't look in a hurry just kept the ball moving and i think in that respect he was a good signing. But like i say i dont think he was up to speed and his wages are a little too high!

Overall i think, well done come back on free and cut your wages!