Savage, did anyone see?

[Nodge70]

Warnock could have been a little cleverer with his tactics last night IMO

Once it was clear Savage had Taarabt in his pocket - we should have shifted to a 4-4-2, pushing Adel and Routledge out to the flanks and putting Smith up top alongside Heidar.

Savage and Clough then have a decision to make, do you still follow Taarabt around, confusing the hell out of your full back and leaving a hole in the centre of the park or do you try to compensate in the middle. It was far easier for us to tinker tactically than Derby whose whole game plan revolved around negating Taarabt. Thought we lacked a little bit of ingenuity last night and became predictable.

Still, 83 points, 8 clear - deserve the benefit of the doubt!

[LoftusRoadLad]

Derby done a job on us and they done it well . We can be proud that teams HAVE to do a job on us otherwise they would get thumped by us. That is why we are top, teams respect us and they have to be at their very best to cope with the leaders and Derby did just that.
Don't think Cardiff have that same mentality cos unlike the rams they need to win so they cannot park the bus. Roll on Saturday.

[Stedders]

First of all, Savage is certainly not a player of limited ability. He can actually pass it well, reads a game properly and is obviously a good defensive midfielder.

I think we got it terribly wrong in the second half. We needed pace on wings to not only go round the back of them, but also to open up the central area. Buzz was tailor-made to come on, has he done something wrong? I would have kept Wayne on, personally and put Miller up front after Heidar was tired.

[The Godfather]

Agree that 'he did his job well' - but I felt he should have been sent off in the first half. I still haven't seen the highlights so will have to see the tackle again.

[Dale]

Savage really got to him yesterday and it showed with Adel's body language

Savage is a typical wind up merchant and Adel needs to learn how to handle these people as he lost it last night

[Goddard]

As Beagrie said on Sky... it's much easier to destroy, than to create.

But he did well.

Taarabt has had a dozen games this season when he's been frustrated, and has been subbed in many other games... so Robert is hardly unique in seeing the back of him.
He probably thinks he was the first and only player to do it... he's not.

But he's a character, and a decent player.

Like Dennis Wise, crossed with Keith Lemon.

[Mublock]

well pete for someone with limited ability hes a millionare and set for life .....Not bad for limited ability....Adel is an atitude on legs who spits the dummy when it dont go his way....Great player but has to sort out the dummy spits...

[3London]

I disagree with all this in his pocket talk...all he did was follow him around the pitch and foul him at every available oppotunity...man marking is the most negative aspect of football...derby were a horrible team who fouled at every available oppotunity a stronger ref would have had them a 9 men by the end....nigels dad must have been turning in his grave at the team his son put out last night!

[Mublock]

cloughie senior would have said" well done son a point nicked from the league leaders" and well done that savage lad..he did a job on that young morocan lad...

[Jamie]

Savage didn't have to do a job on Taarabt, Adel did it himself.

First 20 minutes Taarabt had the running of Savage and created several chances. The second Savage gave him the 'reducer', Taarabt embarked on a childish vendetta to get Savage sent off.

Several times in the first half Savage faced Taarabt up and gave him a yard knowing he couldn't get close, but instead of just offloading the ball and playing Round him like in the first 20 minutes, Taarabt tried numerous nutmegs that were never on and ended up throwing himself to the floor looking for a red card. Savage just did what any experienced pro would do and gave the ref no reason to send him off.

If Taarabt had continued playing him like a sensible professional there's no doubt at all Savage would've walked as he would've been forced to get too close and bring him down but Taarabt's childish attempts at showing him up played right into Savages hands. The big difference between someone like Taarabt who has all the tricks and the Messi's & Ronaldo's is that if their marker is booked they continue to run at them, give them problems and make them take the risk of a red. Taarabt last night just wanted to try and embarrass Savage and ended up embarrassing himself.

Savages actual play with the ball at feet is an embarrasment, a variety of sloppy short balls and attempts at Beckham style long balls that went into touch. Pub player in that respect. With regards winding up a player and getting into their heads though he still has a role to play.

Retirement has come at the right time for him.

[waterbuffalo]

I disagree with all this in his pocket talk...all he did was follow him around the pitch and foul him at every available oppotunity...man marking is the most negative aspect of football...derby were a horrible team who fouled at every available oppotunity a stronger ref would have had them a 9 men by the end....nigels dad must have been turning in his grave at the team his son put out last night!

exactly, Berti Vogts followed Cruyff everywhere in 74, tell me, who is the player that is remembered?

[waterbuffalo]

cloughie senior would have said" well done son a point nicked from the league leaders" and well done that savage lad..he did a job on that young morocan lad...

yeah and savage has been doing that since Leicester, big deal.

[dave58]

Think Savage has right to bragg kept Adel quiet other than 1 flash of magic didint let Adel get going, thought Sav done what was asked of him wind Adel up get him out of the game which he did in the end Sav won Adel was withdrawn because he was getting no joy the midfield was to conjested.He will be crowing on his show that he marked the best player in the league out of the game.

[Nodge70]

exactly, Berti Vogts followed Cruyff everywhere in 74, tell me, who is the player that is remembered?

Who walked away with the World Cup winners medal and who has remained a bitter man ever since?

[Devon Park Ranger]

We all know that technically Adel is head and shoulders above Savage but what Savage loses in ability he more than makes up for in experience... Adel's still a raw talent with lots to learn and Savage knew exactly how to exploit that inexperience... Remember Adel's is only 21 and this is only his second full season, he'll learn...