RUDY GESTEDE SPEAKS OUT ABOUT RE-BRANDING & NEW ARRIVAL

YOUNG striker Rudy Gestede has become the first Bluebirds player to speak out about the club’s controversial kit change, insisting what matters is representing Cardiff City, not the colour of the shirt.

City will play their home games in red this season in a move which has angered many fans and led to some demanding refunds on their season tickets.

Gestede, who enjoyed a impressive first season in British football last term, said he understood the emotions being experienced by fans over the switch.

But, as the 23-year-old looks to make an even bigger impact under boss Malky Mackay this campaign, he said the new shirt will make no difference to the level of commitment from him and his City team-mates.

“For fans I can understand it is a very difficult situation,” said the French marksman.

“Tradition and history are a very important part of football, it has always been that way.

“But what I promise our fans is that I will never forget the city I am representing when I go out onto the pitch.

“I know my team-mates feel the same, we are representing Cardiff and its people and that will never change, I don’t care if I am playing in a blue shirt, a red shirt or a black one, I will never forget the people who I am lucky enough to represent.

“Our supporters have been brilliant last season, to me and all the players. I do hope they keep supporting us like that because it does make a big difference for us.

“Personally I will never give anything but my maximum for Cardiff and it does not matter what colour my shirt is.”

Cardiff return to pre-season training on July 11 determined to improve on their last campaign which saw them lose out in the play-offs at the hands of West Ham.

Gestede said he and his team-mates were determined to a make it a memorable campaign.

“Three times now this club has come close and we want to get promoted to the Premier League,” added Gestede.

“But the season is very long. You go into it with ambition, of course, but to say you will finish first is a difficult thing to say.”


THERE may be a few sleepless nights ahead for Cardiff City frontman Rudy Gestede, but he is determined to keep his mind focused on making an even bigger impact in the Welsh capital this season.

The 23-year-old striker and his wife Hawa have this summer welcomed their first child, Elijah, into the world.

And, as he looks to help manager Malky Mackay make it an even better campaign this time around, Gestede is determined his duties as a new father will always come first.

Indeed the charismatic Frenchman is likely to send female hearts fluttering more when he says: “Of course I’ll be getting up in the night, he’s my baby too!”

The 23-year-old striker and his wife Hawa have this summer welcomed their first child, Elijah, into the world.

And, as he looks to help manager Malky Mackay make it an even better campaign this time around, Gestede is determined his duties as a new father will always come first.

Indeed the charismatic Frenchman is likely to send female hearts fluttering more when he says: “Of course I’ll be getting up in the night, he’s my baby too!”

Since his arrival in Cardiff, Gestede has certainly been making a good impression all round.

Tall, rangy and powerful, up front Mackay admitted Gestede was the one player who offered him something a bit different.

Plucked from relative obscurity by Mackay from French outfit Metz last summer, Gestede went on to make 31 appearances for the Bluebirds last campaign.

He only managed three goals, but the fact he only made five Championship starts tells its own story and Gestede admits he was very much feeling his way into Championship football last season.

“It was a hard season I must admit that, but I have come away at the end of it with a good feeling,” said Gestede.

“There is a difference from the game in France in the Championship, the game is not so compact here it is much more open. But I do not really think it was a step up.

“I think the first thing you discover is just how many games you play here. In France a full season might be maybe 38 games, here I think it was 51 and it makes big difference.

“Obviously you go into every match trying to give your best, but it is natural that at some point you will feel some fatigue.

“But for me I feel it was a positive first season and I have taken good feelings from it.”

The Frenchman’s commitment obviously impressed his boss with Mackay handing the striker a new contract in April which keeps him at the club until 2014.

If there was one black mark against his debut City campaign it was a lingering hamstring problem which saw him sit out more time than he would have liked.

It was the first time Gestede had suffered with such an injury and he puts it down to the fact he missed out on much of pre-season last year as his move to Cardiff was finalised.

“I came on trial at Cardiff then had to wait quite a while before I was signed and I did miss out a lot in preparations,” said Gestede.

“It was not good for me at all. A good pre-season is vital and you feel the benefit of it right through and I feel that was what led to the injuries. My body feels ready now. It feels ready to play 50 games.”

And indeed nothing is being left to chance this time with Gestede already back in Cardiff working with the club’s physios more than a week before pre-season training officially starts.

When it comes to surprise packages at Cardiff last campaign Gestede found himself playing second fiddle to fellow frontman Joe Mason, who, after arriving from Plymouth, immediately proved an important Bluebirds’ player.

Gestede is full of praise for his team-mate and is now looking to emulate the 21-year-old’s progress.

“Joe had a much better season than me for sure,” said Gestede.

“He’s a very good player, he’s got good technique and a good understanding of the game. He does not look physically strong, but he is difficult to get the ball off.

“He is a player who can only get better.”

And, as if to show the camaraderie in the Cardiff squad, Gestede adds with a chuckle: “And to make things worse Joe’s younger than me!”

Gestede is determined now to force himself further in Mackay’s first-team plans.

Last season, as the Cardiff boss went with Kenny Miller as his lone striker, Gestede found himself often bit-part player. It is a situation he is determined to put right.

“It does not matter for me if I play alone or with another striker I will always give my best,” said Gestede.

“It will be up to the manager of course, but what I want to do is impress a lot in training and hopefully that will be enough to get me into the side.

“When I look at the new season from a team point of view I want us to get promoted to the Premier League.

“For me the plan is to play more games and definitely to score more goals.

“I do feel we can do something in the Championship this time. We have a good side and there are more players I expect to come in during the summer.”

And during his long sleepless nights looking after his new baby, Gestede can at least reflect on a more than satisfactory first season with the Bluebirds.

Looking back now he admits his best moment so far was probably his worst too, Cardiff’s defeat at the hands of Liverpool in the Carling Cup final at Wembley back in February.

There is pride at gracing the showpiece occasion, but that is tempered with personal despair as Gestede crashed his spot-kick against the woodwork in a penalty shoot-out the Merseysiders were to win to take the trophy.

“It was a fantastic occasion to play at such a great venue against such a big club,” added Gestede.

“But the feeling when you miss a penalty in such a big occasion as that is just terrible.

“I could not believe it. It was the first penalty I’d ever missed and I’ve been taking them since I was 10 years old.

“I felt like just turning around, walking out of the stadium and going home to be on my own.

“But you can’t do that. You have your team-mates to think of too, they are there to help you and you them. You know you have to take it, pick yourself up quickly and prepare yourself for the next challenge.”


Read More http://www.walesonline.co.uk/footballna ... z1zbVP0ng5

The first player to speak out about the issue, good on him.

YOUNG striker Rudy Gestede has become the first Bluebirds player to speak out about the club’s controversial kit change, insisting what matters is representing Cardiff City, not the colour of the shirt.

City will play their home games in red this season in a move which has angered many fans and led to some demanding refunds on their season tickets.

Gestede, who enjoyed a impressive first season in British football last term, said he understood the emotions being experienced by fans over the switch.

But, as the 23-year-old looks to make an even bigger impact under boss Malky Mackay this campaign, he said the new shirt will make no difference to the level of commitment from him and his City team-mates.

“For fans I can understand it is a very difficult situation,” said the French marksman.

“Tradition and history are a very important part of football, it has always been that way.

“But what I promise our fans is that I will never forget the city I am representing when I go out onto the pitch.

“I know my team-mates feel the same, we are representing Cardiff and its people and that will never change, I don’t care if I am playing in a blue shirt, a red shirt or a black one, I will never forget the people who I am lucky enough to represent.

“Our supporters have been brilliant last season, to me and all the players. I do hope they keep supporting us like that because it does make a big difference for us.

“Personally I will never give anything but my maximum for Cardiff and it does not matter what colour my shirt is.”

Cardiff return to pre-season training on July 11 determined to improve on their last campaign which saw them lose out in the play-offs at the hands of West Ham.

Gestede said he and his team-mates were determined to a make it a memorable campaign.

“Three times now this club has come close and we want to get promoted to the Premier League,” added Gestede.

“But the season is very long. You go into it with ambition, of course, but to say you will finish first is a difficult thing to say.”


THERE may be a few sleepless nights ahead for Cardiff City frontman Rudy Gestede, but he is determined to keep his mind focused on making an even bigger impact in the Welsh capital this season.

The 23-year-old striker and his wife Hawa have this summer welcomed their first child, Elijah, into the world.

And, as he looks to help manager Malky Mackay make it an even better campaign this time around, Gestede is determined his duties as a new father will always come first.

Indeed the charismatic Frenchman is likely to send female hearts fluttering more when he says: “Of course I’ll be getting up in the night, he’s my baby too!”

The 23-year-old striker and his wife Hawa have this summer welcomed their first child, Elijah, into the world.

And, as he looks to help manager Malky Mackay make it an even better campaign this time around, Gestede is determined his duties as a new father will always come first.

Indeed the charismatic Frenchman is likely to send female hearts fluttering more when he says: “Of course I’ll be getting up in the night, he’s my baby too!”

Since his arrival in Cardiff, Gestede has certainly been making a good impression all round.

Tall, rangy and powerful, up front Mackay admitted Gestede was the one player who offered him something a bit different.

Plucked from relative obscurity by Mackay from French outfit Metz last summer, Gestede went on to make 31 appearances for the Bluebirds last campaign.

He only managed three goals, but the fact he only made five Championship starts tells its own story and Gestede admits he was very much feeling his way into Championship football last season.

“It was a hard season I must admit that, but I have come away at the end of it with a good feeling,” said Gestede.

“There is a difference from the game in France in the Championship, the game is not so compact here it is much more open. But I do not really think it was a step up.

“I think the first thing you discover is just how many games you play here. In France a full season might be maybe 38 games, here I think it was 51 and it makes big difference.

“Obviously you go into every match trying to give your best, but it is natural that at some point you will feel some fatigue.

“But for me I feel it was a positive first season and I have taken good feelings from it.”

The Frenchman’s commitment obviously impressed his boss with Mackay handing the striker a new contract in April which keeps him at the club until 2014.

If there was one black mark against his debut City campaign it was a lingering hamstring problem which saw him sit out more time than he would have liked.

It was the first time Gestede had suffered with such an injury and he puts it down to the fact he missed out on much of pre-season last year as his move to Cardiff was finalised.

“I came on trial at Cardiff then had to wait quite a while before I was signed and I did miss out a lot in preparations,” said Gestede.

“It was not good for me at all. A good pre-season is vital and you feel the benefit of it right through and I feel that was what led to the injuries. My body feels ready now. It feels ready to play 50 games.”

And indeed nothing is being left to chance this time with Gestede already back in Cardiff working with the club’s physios more than a week before pre-season training officially starts.

When it comes to surprise packages at Cardiff last campaign Gestede found himself playing second fiddle to fellow frontman Joe Mason, who, after arriving from Plymouth, immediately proved an important Bluebirds’ player.

Gestede is full of praise for his team-mate and is now looking to emulate the 21-year-old’s progress.

“Joe had a much better season than me for sure,” said Gestede.

“He’s a very good player, he’s got good technique and a good understanding of the game. He does not look physically strong, but he is difficult to get the ball off.

“He is a player who can only get better.”

And, as if to show the camaraderie in the Cardiff squad, Gestede adds with a chuckle: “And to make things worse Joe’s younger than me!”

Gestede is determined now to force himself further in Mackay’s first-team plans.

Last season, as the Cardiff boss went with Kenny Miller as his lone striker, Gestede found himself often bit-part player. It is a situation he is determined to put right.

“It does not matter for me if I play alone or with another striker I will always give my best,” said Gestede.

“It will be up to the manager of course, but what I want to do is impress a lot in training and hopefully that will be enough to get me into the side.

“When I look at the new season from a team point of view I want us to get promoted to the Premier League.

“For me the plan is to play more games and definitely to score more goals.

“I do feel we can do something in the Championship this time. We have a good side and there are more players I expect to come in during the summer.”

And during his long sleepless nights looking after his new baby, Gestede can at least reflect on a more than satisfactory first season with the Bluebirds.

Looking back now he admits his best moment so far was probably his worst too, Cardiff’s defeat at the hands of Liverpool in the Carling Cup final at Wembley back in February.

There is pride at gracing the showpiece occasion, but that is tempered with personal despair as Gestede crashed his spot-kick against the woodwork in a penalty shoot-out the Merseysiders were to win to take the trophy.

“It was a fantastic occasion to play at such a great venue against such a big club,” added Gestede.

“But the feeling when you miss a penalty in such a big occasion as that is just terrible.

“I could not believe it. It was the first penalty I’d ever missed and I’ve been taking them since I was 10 years old.

“I felt like just turning around, walking out of the stadium and going home to be on my own.

“But you can’t do that. You have your team-mates to think of too, they are there to help you and you them. You know you have to take it, pick yourself up quickly and prepare yourself for the next challenge.”


Read More http://www.walesonline.co.uk/footballna ... z1zbVP0ng5

love the guy

He got 2 goals not 3. Error

He got 2 goals not 3. Error

Error.

Got 3 goals, 2 in the league v Ipswich and Peterborough and once in the cup v Leicester.

He got 2 goals not 3. Error

Error.

Got 3 goals, 2 in the league v Ipswich and Peterborough and once in the cup v Leicester.

Perhaps penalties in Carling Cup competitions counts!

He got 2 goals not 3. Error

Error.

Got 3 goals, 2 in the league v Ipswich and Peterborough and once in the cup v Leicester.

Perhaps penalties in Carling Cup competitions counts!

No he actually scored in open play. The equaliser to make it 2-2.

Cant remember the Peterbrough one

Was it a header from Don Cowies corner?

There you rembered it

Cant remember the Peterbrough one

Was it a header from Don Cowies corner?

I can't remember to be honest, I'm sure the Ipswich one was from Gunnarsson's throw, Leicester was a low strike from just outside the box, and I forgot the Peterbrough one, only remember Vuckic's goal and Whitts scoring straight from a corner.

...past Joe Lewis.

He got 2 goals not 3. Error

Error.

Got 3 goals, 2 in the league v Ipswich and Peterborough and once in the cup v Leicester.

Perhaps penalties in Carling Cup competitions counts!

No he actually scored in open play. The equaliser to make it 2-2.

Well I was only guessing because he scored so few, I'd forgotten about them!

The official site says he scored 2 in the league and one in the Carling Cup though:-

http://www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk/page/Pro ... 30,00.html

Ye he scored an header from a throw against Ipswich,and a goal against Peterborough,and in the carling cup against Leicester

He got 2 goals not 3. Error

Error.

Got 3 goals, 2 in the league v Ipswich and Peterborough and once in the cup v Leicester.

Perhaps penalties in Carling Cup competitions counts!

No he actually scored in open play. The equaliser to make it 2-2.

Well I was only guessing because he scored so few, I'd forgotten about them!

The official site says he scored 2 in the league and one in the Carling Cup though:-

http://www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk/page/Pro ... 30,00.html

Yeah the one against Leicester was in the Carling Cup.

If you remember we drew 0-0 at home and lost 2-1 away with Whitts scoring a penalty.

He scored from Gunnarssons throw like 15-20 minutes in the first half. Didnt he have a one and one against Stockdale with 15 minutes to go and watsed it?
He scored in the Carling Cup from what I remeber a little chip free kick by Blake in Gestede who controlled and turned and scored a beauty.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/15226214

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/16921870


http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/14910203

Last edited by Always Blue on Tue Jul 03, 2012 11:46 pm, edited 1 time in total.

He got 2 goals not 3. Error

Error.

Got 3 goals, 2 in the league v Ipswich and Peterborough and once in the cup v Leicester.

Perhaps penalties in Carling Cup competitions counts!

No he actually scored in open play. The equaliser to make it 2-2.

Well I was only guessing because he scored so few, I'd forgotten about them!

The official site says he scored 2 in the league and one in the Carling Cup though:-

http://www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk/page/Pro ... 30,00.html

Yeah the one against Leicester was in the Carling Cup.

If you remember we drew 0-0 at home and lost 2-1 away with Whitts scoring a penalty.

Sorry, I haven't been reading all the other posts in the thread, I forgot the goal he scored against Leicester, but I remembered him scoring a penalty in the Carling Cup against Palace as well, but as his stats only show one goal in that cup, I assume they don't count in his stats!

Yeah it only counts for goals in the game time and not penalty shootouts.

Yeah it only counts for goals in the game time and not penalty shootouts.

Funny story, for years I am sure I have heard thousands of City fans shouting play for the shirt/play for the badge.

I have even heard from some fans, comments like cut me and I bleed Blue or they bleed Blue.

So Rudy's going to be sending female hearts fluttering - I'd rather he concentrated on knocking over a few opposition defenders to be honest. He seems a nice guy and can't fault his commitment to the cause, but it seems he is out of his depth at this level to me. Maybe if he stays fit we'll see more from him this season, but the chances are he won't get us 20 goals in five seasons never mind one.

but we all know we bleed red Annis.

So Rudy's going to be sending female hearts fluttering - I'd rather he concentrated on knocking over a few opposition defenders to be honest. He seems a nice guy and can't fault his commitment to the cause, but it seems he is out of his depth at this level to me. Maybe if he stays fit we'll see more from him this season, but the chances are he won't get us 20 goals in five seasons never mind one.

Cant really judge him on one season he was new to the club and country he seems sensible im willing to give him a chance this season before judging him

Another player who sufferred from not having a full pre-season. Miller apparently blames his poor form on not having a full pre-season so I do hope that any new signings this season are made as soon as possible, otherwise it will be another year before we get the best out of them.

That it has taken a young French player to issue such a declaration/appeal says so much about many things about this whole sorry episode. I will leave you to draw your own conclusions, as I have mine.

StT.

If you dont have a pre-season then you lose the ability to control a football even though you are in training every day

That it has taken a the worst player to appear for City in the championship to issue such a declaration/appeal says so much about many things about this whole sorry episode. I will leave you to draw your own conclusions, as I have mine.

StT.

Hes not even young. Ive changed it for you.