Rudy Gestede - GONE

[Dave]

No argument he was awful for much of the time he was here. But at least he had 5 or 6 good games for us which ended up being key in keeping us up.

Crap player perhaps but surely not in the same waste of money category as Zog or Ireland? You are too harsh sir, too harsh I say!

But whether they were a waste of money isn't the question. The likes of Agathe, Osbourne and Salifou weren't much in the waste of money stakes either.

[RichardBatchelor]

Ivo Stas is a tad unfair as he didn't play a single competitive game! Maybe should be near the top of 'waste of money' league though.

[saunders_heroes]

Half a dozen good games under Sherwood doesn't hide that he was so shite before that his name was booed pre-match more than once.

In that case stick Westwood in there.

[OCD]

Beye
Ireland
Tonev
Zog
Djemba-Djemba
Cleverley

Ireland was a talented player but he was a lazy bastard that had no passion football and just collected his pay every week. Same could probably be said of N'Zogbia. Cleverley was largely just went missing except for one good run of 5 or 6 games. Gestede is just a target man with a poor touch. Not surprising Pulis was looking at him.

[Allan C]

David Hunt
Nigel Callaghan
Bosko Balaban
Najwan Grayib
Ivo Stas
Neale Cooper
Bernie Gallagher
Didier Agathe
Moustapha Salifou
Idaiah Osborne

There's ten without much thought.

Hmm fair call with most of them. But I quite liked Bernie Gallagher and Tom Cleverly should be nowhere near the list. Rudi should definitely in that ten

[oswald funkletrumpet]

Beye
Ireland
Tonev
Zog
Djemba-Djemba
Cleverley

Ireland was a talented player but he was a lazy bastard that had no passion football and just collected his pay every week. Same could probably be said of N'Zogbia. Cleverley was largely just went missing except for one good run of 5 or 6 games. Gestede is just a target man with a poor touch. Not surprising Pulis was looking at him.

Still cant believe ireland got player of the year

[SoccerHQ]

In recent times I'd have to say Tonev is one of the worst I've seen, hopeless shooting, passing etc.

In fairness I think he panned out exactly how he should've given he apparently was no great shakes in the Polish first division.

Players like Ireland and CNZ are far more infuriating as they do have talent and showed it in previous seasons before we signed them but with those players the problems are all in the mind.

[pauliewalnuts]

In recent times I'd have to say Tonev is one of the worst I've seen, hopeless shooting, passing etc.

I am far, far from a Gestede fan - a supposed aerial master unable to win much more than 10% of the aerial duels he faced. Really, not very good.

However, he at least offered something.

Tonev offered absolutely nothing. Truly dreadful player.

[paul_e]

In recent times I'd have to say Tonev is one of the worst I've seen, hopeless shooting, passing etc.

I am far, far from a Gestede fan - a supposed aerial master unable to win much more than 10% of the aerial duels he faced. Really, not very good.

However, he at least offered something.

Tonev offered absolutely nothing. Truly dreadful player.

The bold bit really isn't fair.  Aerial duels won is one of the stats they measure on whoscored.com and we come second overall this season with Jedinak and Gestede quite a long way ahead of the rest of the squad and Gestede is the 15th highest in that stat for the entire league.  The problem with him as a target man is that where the ball went was a bit of a lottery so you couldn't plan attacks around it, someone like Benteke didn't win quite as many but the service from the ones he won was exceptional.  Before any asks they only count it as won if the ball goes to your team from the header so it's not just counting loads where he headed it the opposition.

As I've said before he's only able to control headers when he's coming onto the ball and heading it forward, that's why if you put the ball in front of him in the box he'll get a head on it and work the keeper more often than not but anywhere else and he wins it but without any real control.

[SoccerHQ]

Yes Gestede is pretty good at reading a cross and attacking the cross.

I was just shocked at how poor his hold up play was. I wasn't expecting Benteke standard but many limited tall strikers can at least hold it up and pass it out to the wide players or nearest midfielder to build up attacks, Rudy just couldn't even do that.

[oswald funkletrumpet]

Gestede was gash

Zero physical presence, unable to hold up play, woeful first touch and unless he was running onto the ball shit in the air and couldnt read the game

boro must be mad

[Villa Lew]

Gestede, Guzan and Traore on the bench.

[villadelph]

Gestede, Guzan and Traore on the bench.

Barf.

[Nastylee]

I have no problem with RG leaving but found the timing odd. Surely, if Boro were that keen they would've waited a few weeks and we could've got ourselves some cover.

[themossman]

Nice goal today from Rudy.

http://m.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39018249