Ah! I should have recognised the name Mallet. Derby fan here, from England. This news broke on our local radio station tonight and they played an interview with Sav. He sounds quite keen and did mention he could be joining the Whitecaps in March, but it also sounded like he was more than prepared to see the season out with us. It's only a few weeks either way, but it sounds like that part of the decision is up to Nigel Clough and whether we could manage without Sav 'til May. Also, Savage said he may be interested in going to coaching with a Championship or League One club and that there was interest in him as a player from another Championship club. Over the past year or two Sav's also been doing some TV and radio work, so I guess that will come into his thoughts too. However, it sounds like he won't be at Derby next year and he's more than interested in going to Vancouver. One thing's for sure, beyond the dental work, the hair and the media persona, he puts in one helluva shift every game.
if the caps sign savage, he will be the color guy on and off the field-- i wonder how much gas he has left in his legs, especially with the different playing surfaces and traveling in MLS? he will add depth and experience to the mid-field and his committment will be 100%... but it will be a short-term arrangement, maybe more to get the media hounds interested in the caps and the fans stirred up
I really like the move for Vancouver if they can get him. The Whitecaps need people to fill the roster spots and a quality veteran guy like Savage would be great even if it is only for a year or two. Savage and DeMerit make 2 tough defenders and a couple of good leaders. Wouldn't Kitchen be a good understudy for those 2?
Ahahahahahahahahahahaha. I will immediately hate Vancouver if he signs. This guy is one of the most divisive characters in British football. He's a complete football troll. I wouldn't say he's quite as 'dirty' as he used to be, but he's constantly guilty of gamesmanship and winding up opposing players, managers and fans. It's quite funny at times, but he's a complete arsehole. People either love him (as he's a bit of a character and doesn't take himself too seriously) or they hate him, because he's a massive cheat and a wind up merchent. I hate him because he plays for Derby County. What you will get is 100% commitment. He won't tone if down for MLS and he won't be here to just take things easy. He'll wind up those Portland and Seattle fans like nobody's business. He'll also stick up for his teammates and managers, no matter what. He'll make a good captain. Robbie Savage (below)... Watch this and tell me you still want to sign him... [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wEcbht3c0z0"]YouTube - Robbie Savage theme tune[/ame]
I've seen him once or twice on Fox Soccer Plus this year playing for Derby and he definitely still has some game left. Still, he's 36, and isn't Vancouver going to have field turf for their home games? I'd be worried how those 36 year old legs are goign to hold up on that. Plus, I'd really want him to take 3 weeks off or so before jumping right into a 7 month long MLS season. If he didn't take a break that would mean he'd have to play about 14 straight months, which seems like a big risk to take for all parties concerned.
He said no. Makes sense though. If a media career in Britain is what he wants next, moving to Canada to play for a year or two would take him off the media radar in Britain and make it hard for him to recover that career. I wish him the best, even tho it might have been fun to have him in the White.
reading between the lines, i think robbie's wife was the major reason for him not coming-- she did not want to uproot the family; as all men know-- unless we are stupid and deaf--women rule the relationship, especially in a marriage with children as far as a media career, i think that might have been on the map in vancouver