If you down those sour grapes any faster you'll choke. How does Barry Ferguson qualify as a waster? That's crap induced by bitterness. By all reports, he is homesick and his family want to return to Scotland too. What is he meant to do? Does he put his family's happiness first - or does he put his career ahead? Quite clearly, he's doing the former and I can't see how anyone can criticize him for that. Moving back to Scotland will be clear a backwards step as any. It'd be an admissal of failure. It'd probably be an end of a dream to prove himself in a top league and prove himself as a real luminary in the game. I doubt that he's taken the decision to put his career on the back-burner lightly. Ferguson doesn't gain a lot out of it but one thing he will get is the lifestyle that he yearns for. I can't blame him for that. And as for there being 'no precedent' for Ferguson being a matchwinner - consider where we'd be if he wasn't around this season. Flitcroft and Tugay in midfield - the dynamic duo that struggled so abjectly last season as a pairing and had there day in the finishing 6th season and everything has been downhill - and steeply. Ferguson has been influential in our revival under Hughes and losing him would be a major blow. Not a lethal blow but a blow nonetheless.

If he takes a pay cut or a 'performance-related' deal - maybe. Otherwise, no.

Messy? Farce? Maybe but what's the bottom line? Birmingham have got an exoribitant fee for a 30 year old. I very much doubt that during the rest of the transfer window and even in the summer, many 30 + year olds will be moving for approx 3 million pounds. Bruce's outburst(s) especially, considering his 'loyalty' record, were unsavoury and comments like Hughes being 'naive' and were simply insults because they were never backed up with proof of Savage being tapped. But, I have to admit that I can understand where there anger came from after Savage signed a 4 year contract and then decides he wants to move clubs. And it's not as if he's massively furthering his career by moving to us.

Sadly, I think that sort of behaviour might be part of the course at Rovers with Mr Robbie Savage set to become a regular. I have to say, it was a bizarre decision to move MGP up front. Surely, it'd have made more sense, if we were looking for more defensive solidarity, to sub MGP for Reid. Anyways, we live to fight another day. Which is the good thing.

Is Shevchenko not captain of Ukraine? I've stated all along that I believe we're paying too much for someone of his age and someone who lacks technical ability but makes it up with endeavour. But now he's signed, I hope he does us proud. But please, less of the cheating Robbie.

I think you have a point in that he is not one of the more 'tactically aware' players. If you saw the Russia v Wales play-off you would have seen him perform some 20/30 yard fist-pumping runs just to close down a full back or a defender. Hard graft and endeavour? Maybe but all he achieved was to knacker himself out and leave a gaping big hole in the midfield behind him. Maybe Hughes will correct those indiscretions but nonetheless the 3 million price tag does strike me as far too much when you think Michael Carrick moved for a similar fee. Imo we should have gambled on a younger, cheaper option from div 1/2. Granted, doing that is a big risk but so is signing a player who is arguably past his best now.

Couldn't he possibly have been lying so as to avoid rocking the boat UNTIL the transfer window when he can actually leave? Apparently, his wife really wants to get back to Scotland, so maybe he was trying to tough it out but his family weren't having any of it. I really am surprised and disappointed that people are turning on Ferguson because of this. He wants to leave, let him leave - his reasons to me seem genuine. Nothing nefarious like Mr Savage's idiotic excuses. Of course, if he joins Newcastle or another English club, my view would rapidly change. And I don't think people should be condemning Ferguson for not being the superstar people were expecting. Imo he has been a good player and no doubt has the talent to be a good Premiership central midfielder. It was Souness who was saying Ferguson would be competing with the likes of Vieira and Gerrard as one of the best midfielders in England. It was Souness who willed the board to splash 7.5 on Ferguson when Everton pulled out when the value went over 5 million. ( Maybe Moyes had financial constraints but maybe he knew that going over 5 was too much). Let Ferguson go for a fair fee with respect intact and lets see if Thommo can't do a job of replacing him in the middle of the park.

Ah...but he's so weedy the armband would just slip off... I would go for Andy Todd. Captains need to earn their role, I don't like it when a new signing comes in and is immediately awarded the captaincy (as sort of happened with Ferguson).

There's only one Egil Ostenstad.

Yes, Rooney, I think they know you need surgery to pin those ears back.

I certainly agree Savage is over-rated. Were people raving about him when he was at Leicester? Not really. In fact, he was just one of those anonymous/average midfielders who are respected but not admired. The Gavin McCann type that doesn't feature on a lot of fans 'wish lists' but gets a regular game in the Prem and is a useful player. 3 million - too much for Savage at his age, but we don't know how that money is structured. It could well be a better deal than that general fee gives justice. He'll improve our team but in two years, or even less than that, we'll be looking for a replacement.

Reid reckons he may play right back...

Link.

That is a very harsh resume on Ferguson's time here. I agree, he hasn't been the 7.5 million midfielder people might have been expecting but he hasn't been a total flop. In fact, he's improved with games and is now a crucial player for us.

Don't bring my armchair into this, it's never done anything to you.

40k a week. Somehow I find it hard to believe that Rovers would be able to top that by any significant value. So where do the stories that we're going to hike up his wages coming from? Birmingham.

Nowt like making stuff up. I think you might be confusing me with Cuidado. I was not hailing him as the Messiah and I have not said that he should be starting games. What I have said is that he should have had more than the meagre sub appearances he's had. In fact, apart from the Bournemouth match, he hasn't had any. There's is no doubt that Emerton and Thommo should start the next games if fit. And sorry if I misinterpreted you because from what you initially posted, I got the impression you didn't want to see MGP in a Rovers shirt again. I'll repeat it until I'm senseless, Thierry Henry made a habit of hitting the ad hoardings in his first season. He needed patience from the fans and so will MGP.

But don't you think he did enough to justify more involvement in the first team in the future. And when I say involvement, I don't mean definite starts but perhaps sub appearances. yeah disappearing into oblivion for more than half the game was very impressive. Not sure id like to see it again though. He got muscled off the ball lots as well. Very intelligent. A young player comes in to start a game for the first time 3 months, scores a goal in an OK performance and you don't want to see him in a Rovers shirt again. In which case, you must dread the sight of that Brett Emerton. The guy was very disappointing for most of last season. And that Steven Reid, getting sent off on his debut and looked like a non-league player whenever his injuries allowed him to play last year - both should have been sold immediately because if they don't play like Zinedine Zidane immediately they must be rubbish.

But don't you think he did enough to justify more involvement in the first team in the future. And when I say involvement, I don't mean definite starts but perhaps sub appearances.

Great news. I wonder if the appearance fee applies to league matches only, hence, MGP playing last against Bournemouth and now in the FA cup against Cardiff??? Yes, I can feel the cyber tomatoes hitting me as you read this. But I don't understand the formation - there seems to be 5 defenders and 1 striker. Edit: Just checked the official site and it's Stead partnering Dickov up front, not Amoruso as Skysports have got...

Is it true that his nickname is Nellie? That's gotta change.

I think a holding midfielder like him is exactly what we need. However the price needs to reflect his age and the fact that no other clubs appear to want him - so we should just wait until Birmingham just have to let him go. Savage's behaviour kind of puts that of Duff and Dunn in perspective. Duff obviously wanted to go to Chelsea and even when Liverpool were linked, he kept his trap well and truly shut. Dunn did the same - unless I've forgotten something.

Now that was uncalled for. I can't help agreeing with Sullivan's conclusion that Savage's desire to leave is motivated by 'greed' but footballers are greedy, that's a fact. Actually, most humans are greedy.

Give the man a contract... And Nisse probably deserves one too.

Claus Jensen moved for 1.25 million to Fulham. Faye is going for 2 million apparently. Matt Holland moved for under a million (admittedly from a relegated side). I am certain Savage will improve us. However, as thenodrog states, his main quality is his combative style. At 30 now, how long will he be able to maintain that combative style? Two seasons at most, I believe, before age will take its toll as it has so clear happened with Roy Keane. If Birmingham hold out for a ridiculous price, as Rangers did for Ferguson and Man U did for Andy Cole - we should wise up and look elsewhere.