Top drawer from Rudy. I like Gestede. I really feel for him too because the managers this season haven't done him any favours. It's fair to say that Rudy is a very limited player. He obviously wasn't the replacement for Benteke. I feel he was more likely bought in as a squad player and we missed out on our main targets last summer (which clearly included Adebeyor). But we've not really set up in a way to get the best out of him. We've played without width. We've played without a wideman. Grealish can play wide. Traore seems to be a chalk booted winger but those two have barely featured. Rudy gets no service. He wins most of his aerial duels too but never has anyone near him because of the dip shit tactics we've employed. The full-backs are really the only ones who look to provide width and crosses but of course we're not blessed with fullbacks who can beat a man and cross, with the exception of Amavi who has missed most of the season. We've often asked too much of Gestede and on top of that not actually done enough to play to his abilities. He's had a tough old slog of it but one thing he's always done is to try. I always feel that Rudy gives his best. He's looked fitter as the season has worn on. Early season he was clearly getting up to swing after an injury he was recovering from at Blackburn.Gestede is one player I actually want us to keep for next season. For one, he appears to have the right attitude, and for another, if we get even a half decent manager, they will know how to utilize Gestede to his full potential and perhaps we'll sign 1-2 wingers to supply Gestede and any other forward we may sign. But the way we've set up and the way we've played the vast majority of this season, we might as well not have played Rudy.
Quote from: supertom on April 22, 2016, 11:12:05 PMTop drawer from Rudy. I like Gestede. I really feel for him too because the managers this season haven't done him any favours. It's fair to say that Rudy is a very limited player. He obviously wasn't the replacement for Benteke. I feel he was more likely bought in as a squad player and we missed out on our main targets last summer (which clearly included Adebeyor). But we've not really set up in a way to get the best out of him. We've played without width. We've played without a wideman. Grealish can play wide. Traore seems to be a chalk booted winger but those two have barely featured. Rudy gets no service. He wins most of his aerial duels too but never has anyone near him because of the dip shit tactics we've employed. The full-backs are really the only ones who look to provide width and crosses but of course we're not blessed with fullbacks who can beat a man and cross, with the exception of Amavi who has missed most of the season. We've often asked too much of Gestede and on top of that not actually done enough to play to his abilities. He's had a tough old slog of it but one thing he's always done is to try. I always feel that Rudy gives his best. He's looked fitter as the season has worn on. Early season he was clearly getting up to swing after an injury he was recovering from at Blackburn.Gestede is one player I actually want us to keep for next season. For one, he appears to have the right attitude, and for another, if we get even a half decent manager, they will know how to utilize Gestede to his full potential and perhaps we'll sign 1-2 wingers to supply Gestede and any other forward we may sign. But the way we've set up and the way we've played the vast majority of this season, we might as well not have played Rudy.Agree with every word ST
I think the comment Dave D that makes about missing Amavi is a big thing. The lad has a good cross and Gestede can head a ball for sure and will be a massive threat in the championship with good service. His actions show he is a decent person. As someone who used to do the soup run in London, you do see some sights. I was at a conference in Brum town hall the last couple of days and went for a walk round the centre last night and was amazed to see how many people were on the streets