Leeds United chose not to pay up for Kyle Bartley in the summer.
Leeds United’s desire to sign loanee Kyle Bartley was halted in the summer by Swansea City, who were determined to hang onto the centre-back.
The Mirror (18/6) reported Swansea wanted £7.5 million if they were to sell Bartley – a fee more than double the highest figure (£3m) Leeds have spent since their 2004 relegation from the Premier League.
The Whites of course did have the money available after selling Chris Wood for £15 million, but put their faith in the defenders they have available.
So far it appears to have been a shrewd decision. Or at least it was until the last two matches.
Even with injuries and suspensions, Leeds have defended well this season and stemmed the flow of goals.
This season they have conceded an average of 1 goal per game. Through 11 games last season that figure stood at 1.12.
Over the course of the season last season Leeds conceded 1.02 goals per game on average, showing that they are presently no worse off without Bartley – according to the figures.
However six goals against have come in the last two matches, in away defeats against Cardiff City and Sheffield Wednesday.
Anybody who watched those games would be hard pressed to argue that Bartley would not have improved the Leeds side.
Liam Cooper missed the Owls defeat due to injury and his return will give Leeds a boost.
Even those two losses are not quite enough to say Leeds were wrong not to pay up for Bartley when looking at the season as a whole – but how they cope between now and the end of the season will dictate how it is looked back upon.
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