Savage completes switch to Derby
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Derby County have completed a £1.5m move for Blackburn midfielder Robbie Savage on a two-and-a-half year deal.
The Premier League's bottom club will unveil the former Wales international at a news conference at 1330 GMT.
Derby manager Paul Jewell told BBC Radio Derby on Tuesday: "We lack a bit of devilment and Robbie will bring that to the club."
Savage, 33, is likely to make his debut in Saturday's Premier League match against Jewell's former side Wigan.
Savage told BBC Sport before the move: "This is the hardest decision I've made in my career but I need to play, that's it." -
He seems very popular to relegation candidates
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Robbie Savage has joined the Rams for £1.5million
Derby's new signing Robbie Savage has revealed he has taken a pay cut to move from Blackburn in order to get more first team football. The 33-year-old has swapped a club challenging for European football for one odds-on to be relegated after one season in the top flight. -
ROBBIE SAVAGE will offer Danny Mills the hand of friendship today.
And Sav is hoping it does not finish with Mills trying to shake him warmly by the throat again.
DerbyÂ’s new midfield kingpin meets defender Mills, 30, for the first time since their famous bust-up nearly four years ago.
The pair will now be team-mates and Savage insisted: “I’m sure he’ll like me. And if he doesn’t, I’m not bothered.
“I haven’t seen him since I rattled him. But he’s a good player and this is a good move for him.
“I don’t really know him as a person but I’m sure I’ll find out.
Blond wig and Armani tattoo
“Maybe in our younger days, two of us in the same team would have scared other teams. But we’re older and maturer now!”
SavÂ’s history with Mills goes back to March 2004 when the Welshman was at Birmingham and the defender played for Middlesbrough.
Mills reacted furiously to a Savage tackle and grabbed his rival by the throat.
He later accused Savage of getting away with making a career-threatening challenge and said: “Maybe I should get myself a blond wig and Armani tattoo.”
Sav’s response was: “He went on and on about my blond hair and Armani tattoo, and all I can say is that with a face like his, any wig would look good on his head.”
Now both have been recruited by Rams boss Paul Jewell.
Savage, 33, who meets the whole squad for the first time today, joked yesterday: “I might show Danny my tattoo in training!”
Jewell has been concerned by his quiet squad but that will all change following Savage’s arrival on a 2½-year deal from Blackburn for £1.5million.
The Pride Park chief admitted: “Sav’s an irritant. I know he’s irritated me on countless occasions!
“But he’s also infectious round the dressing room and that’s what I want.
“He is also a very good footballer and he can play a big part in my plans for the future.” Savage, who wisecracked his way through his unveiling, said: “I might be more mature on the pitch but I’m still daft as a brush off it.
“I saw Chris Short the physio and Andy Todd on Tuesday and I know them both from Blackburn.
“I had a beard and they called me a thin Andy Fordham — but I’m better at darts than him!
“I’m always quiet the first week. You’ve got to know the characters you can have a go at, know the characters who might give you a thump — though I have never had a thump in my career!
“I’m not a nasty person, I just try to get the best out of everyone. I’ve come here for footballing reasons. I haven’t been able to get into the Blackburn team recently and I don’t know why.
“I think Mary the cook would have got a game before me.
Is this how many clubs you've had, Robbie?
Is this how many clubs you've had, Robbie?
“But Mark Hughes was very fair to me, allowing me to join Derby. We need a miracle to stay up but there is a way to get relegated.
“You can get beat easily or get beat showing some teeth and guts. I’ve always been a fighter.”
Jewell has recruited Argentine striker Emanuel Villa, Mills on loan from Manchester City and ex-Newcastle winger Laurent Robert this month.
And midfielder Hossam Ghaly should tie up a loan deal from Tottenham today. Derby are also close to agreeing a similar deal with Rangers keeper Roy Carroll.
Savage will wear the No 44 shirt as Matt Oakley already occupies his favourite No 8.
That means he will have to alter the personalised seats in his Bentley.
He said: “I’ll have to change my car-seat numbers to 44 now — it’ll cost me a fortune!” -
Mills reacted furiously to a Savage tackle and grabbed his rival by the throat.
I don't care if Mills doesn't forgive
ROBBIE SAVAGE will offer Danny Mills the hand of friendship today. And Sav is hoping it does not finish with Mills trying to shake him warmly by the throat again.
Derby’s new midfield kingpin meets defender Mills, 30, for the first time since their famous bust-up nearly four years ago. The pair will now be team-mates and Savage insisted: “I’m sure he’ll like me. And if he doesn’t, I’m not bothered. “I haven’t seen him since I rattled him. But he’s a good player and this is a good move for him. “I don’t really know him as a person but I’m sure I’ll find out.
“Maybe in our younger days, two of us in the same team would have scared other teams. But we’re older and maturer now!” Sav’s history with Mills goes back to March 2004 when the Welshman was at Birmingham and the defender played for Middlesbrough.
Mills reacted furiously to a Savage tackle and grabbed his rival by the throat. He later accused Savage of getting away with making a career-threatening challenge and said: “Maybe I should get myself a blond wig and Armani tattoo.”
Sav’s response was: “He went on and on about my blond hair and Armani tattoo, and all I can say is that with a face like his, any wig would look good on his head.”
Now both have been recruited by Rams boss Paul Jewell. Savage, 33, who meets the whole squad for the first time today, joked yesterday: “I might show Danny my tattoo in training!” Jewell has been concerned by his quiet squad but that will all change following Savage’s arrival on a 2½-year deal from Blackburn for £1.5million.
The Pride Park chief admitted: “Sav’s an irritant. I know he’s irritated me on countless occasions! “But he’s also infectious round the dressing room and that’s what I want. “He is also a very good footballer and he can play a big part in my plans for the future.” Savage, who wisecracked his way through his unveiling, said: “I might be more mature on the pitch but I’m still daft as a brush off it.
“I saw Chris Short the physio and Andy Todd on Tuesday and I know them both from Blackburn. “I had a beard and they called me a thin Andy Fordham — but I’m better at darts than him! “I’m always quiet the first week. You’ve got to know the characters you can have a go at, know the characters who might give you a thump — though I have never had a thump in my career! “I’m not a nasty person, I just try to get the best out of everyone. I’ve come here for footballing reasons. I haven’t been able to get into the Blackburn team recently and I don’t know why.
“I think Mary the cook would have got a game before me. “But Mark Hughes was very fair to me, allowing me to join Derby. We need a miracle to stay up but there is a way to get relegated. “You can get beat easily or get beat showing some teeth and guts. I’ve always been a fighter.”
Jewell has recruited Argentine striker Emanuel Villa, Mills on loan from Manchester City and ex-Newcastle winger Laurent Robert this month. And midfielder Hossam Ghaly should tie up a loan deal from Tottenham today. Derby are also close to agreeing a similar deal with Rangers keeper Roy Carroll.
Savage will wear the No 44 shirt as Matt Oakley already occupies his favourite No 8. That means he will have to alter the personalised seats in his Bentley. He said: “I’ll have to change my car-seat numbers to 44 now — it’ll cost me a fortune!” -
Good number for Savage indeed.
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Savage: Sunderland have blown survival chance
Robbie Savage has accused relegation rivals Sunderland of blowing their big chance of Barclays Premier League survival after completing his £1.5million move to Derby on Wednesday.
Savage was openly courted by Black Cats boss Roy Keane but the Welshman insists he decided to sign for the rock-bottom Rams because Paul Jewell was more eager to secure his services.
Savage said: 'The chairman and manager wanted me more than any other club and that means a lot to me.
'It's well known that Sunderland put in a bid for me but I never really felt that they were too keen.
'If I was them, I would have gone the whole hog to get me because I'm the type of player who can keep a team in the Premier League.
'But after speaking to Paul and the chairman I knew Derby wanted me more. I'm excited about the challenge and I'm looking forward to my long-term future here.'
Former Leicester favourite Savage knows he will have to win over some Rams fans with whom he has had run-ins in the past but the 33-year-old is confident his form on the pitch will speak volumes.
'I've played in a lot of local derbies and whichever club you play at there is never anything better than beating your local rivals,' added Savage.
'When I was a Leicester player I did everything I could to beat Derby. If I was to play against Leicester next year, I would be doing the same for Derby.
'Obviously it looks like Derby will be playing Championship football next year but there's a way of going down and that will really help us as we regroup for next season wherever we are.
'Realistically if we can win a few more and go down fighting and not with a whimper, that will count for a lot.'
Boss Jewell is clearly intent on fulfilling his new midfielder's immediate goals with two new players, former Tottenham star Hossam Ghaly and goalkeeper Roy Carroll, poised to sign before Saturday's clash with his old club Wigan.
Ghaly has been at the Rams training ground this week and is awaiting a work permit, while Jewell has admitted making contact with Rangers boss Walter Smith over Carroll in a bid to solve his goalkeeping problems.
Jewell said: 'The chairman has spoken to his agent and Walter Smith and hopefully we can get that one over the line today or tomorrow. If he comes, Roy Carroll is a top-class goalkeeper.'