KICK Backs

Bad break for pantomime villain

NOBBY PILES

Among a number of Premiership players succumbing to bad injuries last week was Blackburn's Robbie Savage who suffered a broken leg after being tackled in the match against Watford. Not being the most popular player in the Premiership, it will probably come as no surprise that some opposing fans could barely disguise their delight, citing the ''what goes around comes around'' argument. But you can't wish an injury on a player however annoying he might be. With the possible exception of the serial spitter, Bolton's El-Hadji Djouf, the combative Blackburn midfielder is arguably one of the most vilified players in the Premiership, although there are a few other candidates knocking at the door.

Savage is one of those players who always attracts boos whenever he gets the ball and one suspects he thrives off it. Fans don't boo nobodies. The fans wouldn't admit it, but they would miss him if he was not in the opposition line up. It gives them something to do, someone to scream abuse at. He is in effect, a pantomime villain.

There is no questioning his energy levels and he definitely plays his heart out each week. But at times his efforts resemble more a a headless chicken than an inspired footballer. If he slowed down a bit and put more thought into it he might be a more effective player.

One thing Savage is certainly very gifted at is irritating other players to the extent that the red mist descends and they retaliate, often receiving a red card.

There was a good example of this only last week when key Arsenal player Gilberto received a red card after allowing himself to be wound up by Savage. This was how the Daily Mail saw the incident:

''Gilberto's crime was to push out a leg at Savage's ankle after the irksome Welshman had twice run into him and then kicked him when the referee was not looking. Savage reacted to Gilberto's flick as if he had been hit with a metal bar, jumping up several feet in the air and falling like an Olympic diver.''

Despite his aggressive style of play, Savage has surprisingly only picked up one red card in the Premiership and one while playing for Wales, but he has an admirable collection of yellows.

Martin O'Neill was manager when Savage played at Leicester. Although he was impressed by Savage's energy, O'Neill was less than enamoured with his tan in the middle of winter and his flowing peroxide locks. ''He looks as if he should be surfing in California,'' remarked O'Neill.

Alan Birchenall was Leicester public relations officer at the time and never really knew what to make of Savage. ''Even when he has a poor game he thinks he should be man of the match,'' said Birchenall. ''He's always saying 'Didn't you think I was great today?' and I'm always saying 'Well, not exactly great'.''

It would probably be fair to say Birchenall was not overly impressed by Savage. On one occasion he commented: ''If brains were chocolate, he wouldn't have enough to fill a Smartie.''

While Savage is normally brimming with self-confidence, he does occasionally come down to earth and accept reality. ''I am not Pele or Maradona'' he said after a match last season, and no one argued with him about that.

For all the controversy, Savage has been involved in some lighter moments. A couple of years ago when he was playing for Leicester at Newcastle, the referee accidentally flattened him with his elbow when they were running alongside one another. When the ref stopped to see what was wrong with Savage, Alan Shearer joined in the fun by grabbing a red card and showing it to the ref.

Then there was the time, while playing for Birmingham, Savage was caught short just before kick-off and made use of the referee's toilet, much to Graham Poll's annoyance. The incensed Poll reported Savage who was subsequently fined two weeks wages for that infraction, which perhaps reflects more on Poll's pettiness than Savage's rascality.

As with the other footballers who suffered severe injuries last week, Nobby wishes Savage a speedy recovery. Life won't be quite the same in the Premiership without him. Hiss! Boo!

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Bangkok Post
Saturday January 27, 2007