Great Scapegoats of Our Time - Ross McCormack

[dave.woodhall]

Dave Collett remembers a man and a gate.

https://heroesandvillains.info/2026/08/01/great-scapegoats-of-our-time-ross-mccormack/

[Villan For Life]

Some of those memories are still unpleasant to recall.

Looking back with a more tolerant view of this player, I wonder what was going on in his life that lead to such unprofessional behaviour around timekeeping?

[Meanwood Villa]

Pound for pound our worst ever signing I think

[Brend'Watkins]

You can say that but he’s top of the charts for excuses for being late for training.

[Legion]

Done.

[Pete3206]

£1 million promotion bonus? What a grift.

[Flamingo Lane]

A great scapegoat? Don't think so.

[eamonn]

Can we not just forget he ever happened? Come on Dave C, you'll give yourself an ulcer revisiting toxic villanry.

[dcdavecollett]

Flamingo is 100% (sorry, completely) right. This one should have come under The Villa Park Misfits. My mistake.

In happier news, I remain an ulcer-free zone as I write.

[Rory]

Didn't he also go to a Hallowe'en party dressed in a Villa Kit? Somehow implying we were something bad.

When actually, we were the biggest club he'd ever play for, paid him the most he'd ever be paid, and he returned that by being shit and a twat?

Not only our worst ever signing, but also one of the few ex-players I genuinely dislike.

[Allan C]

Pound for pound our worst ever signing I think

A true awful period for the club but Gestede is the worst player I’ve ever seen down there

[Clark W Griswold]

N Zogbia the worst one for me, but McCormack certainly wouldn't be too far behind. Gestede was just a poor player but didn't have any of the extra shite. Gestede did score the winner in a Blues derby too, back when there wasn't too much between the two sides.

[AV82EC]

Pound for pound our worst ever signing I think

A true awful period for the club but Gestede is the worst player I’ve ever seen down there

I don’t know what happened with Gestede but he somehow managed to look worse than jobbing journeyman from the 3rd/4th tier Jordan Bowery.

[Chris Harte]

Good old Gategate.

If ever we get a bit grumpy, if ever we have a short run of poor results, at least we can read that and remember how bad it can get. How bad it has got in the past, and be grateful for what we have now.

[PeterWithesShin]

Gestede is nowhere near the worst of signings, scored a few winners and we got our money back from Boro.

Fun fact, Ayew often gets a pass from his time at Villa, and yet he and Gestede both scored 10 in 58 for us.