Stephen Warnock has stated that he ‘isn’t convinced’ by Patrick Bamford at Leeds United and how he does too much work outside of the penalty area.
The former Leeds United left-back feels that Patrick Bamford has never been considered ‘prolific’, in terms of his goalscoring, as he dunked claims that he is having a possible hangover of running around too much from the Marcelo Bielsa days.
When Bielsa was in the Leeds dugout, you had to work, work and work like your batteries were ever-lasting.
Under the Argentine, Bamford was one of his favourites and a constant starter, even when he went through troubling periods on their way from the Championship.
Whilst the 29-year-old scored 17 goals in his first full season in the Premier League with Leeds, he has only found the back of the net five times since, although, he has had his injury problems during that period – should he be replaced by Coventry star, Viktor Gyokeres?
One of those goals came on Sunday when Javi Gracia’s side were smashed 5-1 by Crystal Palace and it’s fair to say that Warnock didn’t like what he saw, as he told the Football Show on Sky Sports.
“I’m not convinced with Bamford,” said Warnock. “I am not convinced with him. I watched some of his movements against Crystal Palace.
“He doesn’t get in goalscoring positions. He wants to link up on the edge of the box. I am thinking ‘Get between the goalposts, get yourself in the centre of the goal and get yourself on the end of things’.
“I think there are a lot of times where he is trying to make unselfish runs and I am thinking ‘be selfish’. You just mentioned players there, Sinisterra, Gnonto and Jack Harrison as well. Let them do the work in wide areas. You say to them ‘You do that work and provide for me’.
“Not so sure (if Bamford’s constant running is a hangover from Bielsa). I just think it’s his way. We don’t look at Patrick Bamford and say he is prolific, do we?! I think he had a great spell when there were no crowds in, but not now.”
LEEDS NEED TO MAKE BAMFORD CALL
Whether Leeds are in the Championship or in the Premier League, and they will be hoping it’s the latter, they need to make a call on Bamford.
They can’t go another season where he spends more time in the treatment room or he just doesn’t perform when out on the pitch.
That goalscorer needs to be brought in, and whilst Georginio Rutter was added in January, he has struggled to get going and more depth is required during the summer transfer window.
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