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.
Derbys 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: Im sure
hell like me. And if he doesnt, Im not bothered.
I havent seen him since I rattled him. But hes a good player and
this is a good move for him.
I dont really know him as a person but Im sure Ill 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 were older and maturer now!
Savs 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.
Savs 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 Savages arrival on a 2½-year deal from Blackburn
for £1.5million.
The Pride Park chief admitted: Savs an irritant. I know hes
irritated me on countless occasions!
But hes also infectious round the dressing room and thats 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 Im 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 Im
better at darts than him!
Im always quiet the first week. Youve 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!
Im not a nasty person, I just try to get the best out of
everyone. Ive come here for footballing reasons. I havent been
able to get into the Blackburn team recently and I dont 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.
Ive 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: Ill have to change my car-seat numbers to 44 now itll
cost me a fortune!
