When Rudy Gestede scored his first goal for Aston Villa, in the first game against Bournemouth. It seemed as though we may have found a replacement with Benteke, after scoring a towering header. 5 games and that statement couldn’t be any further away from the truth. Gestede arrived at Aston Villa for a fee of £6 million from Blackburn. Since then, he hasn’t really done much for Aston Villa.
For such a big player, he struggles to outmuscle opposition defenders nor does he actually win too many headers in the air. The tactic of hoofing the ball to Gestede is something I’m not a fan off, but can’t understand why Sherwood keeps utilising. Neither Agbonlahor or Gestede are really winning the ball, and that style of play isn’t what the fans call attractive either. We have creative players this year with Gil, Grealish, Sinclair and Traore. We need to change our style of football.
When it comes to protecting the ball, Gestede doesn’t fair much better. Agbonlahor knows how to use his body more affectively, and did win a few freekicks for Villa. Gestede on the other hand, looks rather invisible whenever he plays.
The worrying thing is that, whilst I feel it’s time to give either Ayew or Kozak more game time it seems as though Sherwood is convinced that Gestede can step up.
‘We looked a little bit more threatening in the second period when Rudy came on and we loaded the box up with more bodies.’
‘On Saturday I don’t think they got an awful lot of service to feed off so I couldn’t be critical of them and they worked very hard’
‘We’re hoping it’ll just click and something will fall for them in front of goal’ – Tim Sherwood
It appears Sherwood is hoping for lady luck to turn Gestede’s form around. But as thing stand, other forwards are more deserving of a chance rather than Gestede. If this form continues, it seems very likely that Gestede will not be at the club next season.
For what it’s worth, I think we will 100% spank them tomorrow, after reading TS’s comments about Kozac today it’s clear he ain’t playing, so start with Gestede and let him shut us all up, and perhaps put Sinclair back in the position where he started the season, back out wide, co’s prior to moving him, he was actually banging them in.
A good win tomorrow, backed up with a draw on Saturday, both of which we are capable of, and this knee jerk to Saturday can stop and we can all move on.
UTV,
I think Gestede is completely out of his depth in the premier league. Just like A few others, I’m afraid. The annoying thing is Gestede + Ayew would have pretty much been 1 Charlie Austin.
I was full of confidence going into the new season, but that confidence has been sapped. Tim Sherwood may be the manager but on Saturdays showing it may as well have been Paul Lambert in the dugout.
I know it’s still early and players need to find their feet etc, but looking at the next handful of fixtures, I’m struggling to see where we are going to pick up any points at all. It would not surprise me if we dont pick up another point over the course of September and October, which will probably leave us rock bottom going into the winter period. And this time, we have no player like Benteke to drag us out of the mire.
As for the game tomorrow night, I’m absolutely dreading it. They will come at us full throttle, and we will again collapse at the back. I have even backed them at 4/1 to win. Here’s hoping I lose my £20 stake, and lose it convincingly too.
Pray god I’m not sat next to you tomorrow……except you won’t be there will you, you have a pop at the team, then the manager and then confirm you’ve bet against us. Disgrace, absolute disgrace, words genuinely fail me.
There’s no disgrace in being a realist.
Save for Amavi, Gana, Gil and Traore, We have 2 has beens as centre backs, defensive midfielders who either/or give the ball away too often or pass sideways/backwards, and a set of strikers who couldnt hit the backside of a cow with a banjo.
And absolutely, I wont be there. I would rather spend my money on other entertainment rather than paying to watch a bunch of overpaid millionaires who are a shower of shit anyway.
Keep pulling the wool over your eyes mate.
Difference between being a realist and a pessimist. Do you even watch our games? Richards has been very good since his awful first game. Sanchez has been one of, if not our best player and doesn’t give the ball away half as often as claimed, neither does Westwood. We’ve played 1 striker, 1 out and out striker, not a set of strikers, 1, in Gestede. Until Ayew and Kozak are played as strikers, you can’t claim we have a set of strikers who couldn’t hit the backside of a cow with a banjo.
You’ve rumbled me Bum Bum, I’m ok with being the leader of the Country but being a Villa fan just stressed me out too much and pushed me over the edge. Putting my privates in a dead pigs mouth seemed the logical thing to do!!
You’re right about Gabby, can’t stop scoring off the pitch, wish he could score on it!
Oh dear Gana off to France about his hamstring.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/34318358
Are we going to end up with more crocks than fit players again?
Sounds like you guys need some more optimistic news. Here is a list of our next six games: Liverpool (A) – Stoke (H) – Chelsea (A) – Swansea (H) – Tottenham (A) – Man City (H)
Our form my improve, but getting results may be near impossible. Realistically I see us picking up 4-5 pts at best.
That looks like us being in the bottom three after ten games!
You’re right of course – Gestede is not a replacement for Benteke but neither is Kozac nor Charlie Austin nor anyone else available during the transfer window. It’s not up front where the problem lies but in midfield which has been the case for some years. Take the best forward on the planet and starve him of service and what do you end up with ………….zip. That’s not to say that Gestede is the answer either.
The side looks unbalanced – weak on the right side and lacking solidity in the middle of the park when Gana isn’t playing (and it’s beginning to look like he’s out for some time). We just aren’t good enough to be able to play Gil and Grealish together which is a bl***y shame because it’s an exciting prospect. Then there’s Vertout and Traore…………
Maybe TS will solve the puzzle and get the balance right and then again………?
In the meantime don’t assume too much ahead of the game against Blues – sadly (no tragically) they might just add insult to a week of injury!
I really hope I’m wrong.
H60 I hope you’re wrong too!
We surely must be able to beat the noses yet I’ll be watching the game tonight from behind the settee with a Plan B to disappear to the pub if it all goes pear shaped.
Luckily live 120 miles away from B’ham so not subject to the post-match banter.
Anyway let’s hope we’re rubbing their noses in it tonight!
UTV