The #LUFC Breakfast Debate (Thursday 10th April) Should Bamford start against Preston

[JoeDenver]

No. His head drops and he becomes ineffective if he can’t get into the game, and our style of play in the first part of a match against bus-parkers and cloggers (ie Preston) doesn’t play to his strengths.
Piroe isn’t much better but there is a chance he could nick one. Bamford’s (goal) against Boro was a no- think reaction, his problems often arise when he has time to think and options to consider.
For me, Bamford should be used to repeat Tuesdays game and run around pulling tired defenders out of position late on the game. He was excellent in that role.

Would like the halftime sub tactic deployed with Piroe on 1st. If it’s known to both players beforehand, we might just get the best out of both. Just a thought.

[whiteswan]

I'm hoping that him being subbed for Bamford and Bamford playing well and scoring a goal might give Piroe the kick up the pants he needs. ie food for thought about possibly being dropped.

[1964white]

True there's not been many.

Edmonson
Poleon
Gelhardt
Max Dean

I'd say Joseph is at least as good a prospect as Noel Whelan and Alan Smith who both had excellent careers.

None have progressed forward since their initial outings for Leeds

Smith & Whelan played in PL, beginning their youth careers almost thirty years ago.

[ruttermania]

When Bamford got a run of starts after Christmas last season he scored a decent amount of goals unfortunately interrupted by injury . Since then he hasn't really got a start and I believe it makes sense to star him There are only 5 games left and if he plays 40 to 60 minutes in each of those games it will give him a decent opportunity to make a valuable contribution and I for one think he is entitled to that chance . The 'goal' against Boro showed that he retains that genuine No. 9 capacity and a start will boost his confidence . He will stretch the Preston defence because his work off the ball is much better than Piroe and because his experience gives him the capacity to get into the right striking positions which seems to elude Joseph . While Piroe is probably the best goal poacher we have he is much better coming on to the ball from slightly deeper and doesn't have the same skill set that Bamford has .

[Phild]

Not a Bamford fan and not getting carried away with a couple of good touches the other night.
Having said that he has to be a better option than Joseph who has contributed nothing all season

[John in Louisiana]

If we're unsure about how many minutes Bamford can give us it makes sense to start him and bring him off when he runs out of gas.

Based on what we've seen in the last couple of games he's clearly our best option up top.

[Johnthewhite]

With the number of subs we have nowadays we could afford to start Bamford, let him run himself out, then bring on Piroe against tired legs. Still room for Joseph on the bench as a precaution against injury. As stated above, lets go all out to smash them and send out a real message to the other two. It's Preston North End not Barcelona.
Come on Leeds....

[airedale]

Bamford on for last 30 ,gnonto on the right, aaronson runs his socks off for 60min then piroe to 10.

[Orange Box]

With the number of subs we have nowadays we could afford to start Bamford, let him run himself out, then bring on Piroe against tired legs. Still room for Joseph on the bench as a precaution against injury. As stated above, lets go all out to smash them and send out a real message to the other two. It's Preston North End not Barcelona.
Come on Leeds....

And that’s what bothers me. If it was Barca we’d run our blood to water and up our game to level 13. As it’s Preston we’ll tippy tippy at the back and try and weave through an 11-man penalty area. Saturday is so important, I hope we don’t melt.

[Orange Box]

Bamford on for last 30 ,gnonto on the right, aaronson runs his socks off for 60min then piroe to 10.

Sounds like a good plan.

[CHAPELALLMAN]

Bamford's contract runs out at the end of June doesn't it ? If so this means that he must be super motivated right now - whether it's to win say a one year contract with us, or a transfer to another club. Whatever happens to him, you can be sure that right now he needs, and wants to impress. So it's not really surprising that his cameo was so impressive. I think he will bust a gut from now until the end of the season ( not literally I hope - as we don't want him back on the treatment table when it's still almost warm from his last sojourn there )

So start him, and then bring Piroe on when Paddy tires.

[The Subhuman]

None have progressed forward since their initial outings for Leeds

Smith & Whelan played in PL, beginning their youth careers almost thirty years ago.

Max Dean is playing well in Belgium's top tier

[Carrick Dave]

Bamford's contract runs out at the end of June doesn't it ? If so this means that he must be super motivated right now - whether it's to win say a one year contract with us, or a transfer to another club. Whatever happens to him, you can be sure that right now he needs, and wants to impress. So it's not really surprising that his cameo was so impressive. I think he will bust a gut from now until the end of the season ( not literally I hope - as we don't want him back on the treatment table when it's still almost warm from his last sojourn there )

So start him, and then bring Piroe on when Paddy tires.

June 2026.

https://www.leedsunited.com/en/news/pat ... w-contract

[1964white]

Max Dean is playing well in Belgium's top tier

There are two Gent teams, Max plays for the worse one of the two.

Apart from two or three clubs, the Belgian League is equivalent of our Championship league.

[weasel]

Bamford's contract runs out at the end of June doesn't it ? If so this means that he must be super motivated right now - whether it's to win say a one year contract with us, or a transfer to another club. Whatever happens to him, you can be sure that right now he needs, and wants to impress. So it's not really surprising that his cameo was so impressive. I think he will bust a gut from now until the end of the season ( not literally I hope - as we don't want him back on the treatment table when it's still almost warm from his last sojourn there )

So start him, and then bring Piroe on when Paddy tires.

I don't see it that way. I saw it as Bamford wanting to end his Leeds career on a high. One last hurrah and try to play a part in us getting promtoed. For all the ups and downs if he got the goal that secured us promotion he'd end his career with us as a hero.

~ Likely though that his wages would go back up to full too if we got promoted so there is that too - he wouldn't get a deal anywhere so it would be one final year of maximum money even if he didn't play.

[CHAPELALLMAN]

I don't see it that way. I saw it as Bamford wanting to end his Leeds career on a high. One last hurrah and try to play a part in us getting promtoed. For all the ups and downs if he got the goal that secured us promotion he'd end his career with us as a hero.

~ Likely though that his wages would go back up to full too if we got promoted so there is that too - he wouldn't get a deal anywhere so it would be one final year of maximum money even if he didn't play.

It seems that his contract expires in June 2026.

Yes, there's a huge incentive of PL wages if he stays with us to the end of his contract. And if he does help achieve promotion, then he will have redeemed himself in the eyes of his critics most likely.

[CHAPELALLMAN]

June 2026.

https://www.leedsunited.com/en/news/pat ... w-contract

Ah, ok.

[whiteswan]

Bamford's contract runs out at the end of June doesn't it ? If so this means that he must be super motivated right now - whether it's to win say a one year contract with us, or a transfer to another club. Whatever happens to him, you can be sure that right now he needs, and wants to impress. So it's not really surprising that his cameo was so impressive. I think he will bust a gut from now until the end of the season ( not literally I hope - as we don't want him back on the treatment table when it's still almost warm from his last sojourn there )

So start him, and then bring Piroe on when Paddy tires.

Bust a gut - (not literally)... made me laugh That would be some injury even for Paddy.

[BlackHillsPaul]

I'll stick with what I said the other day. Paddy should be used off the bench for the remaining 5 matches this season. That's IF he can stay healthy. I would bring him on for the last half hour.

[malcolmw]

My match stats from the Middlesbro' game.

Most Ex/VG/G pieces of play
26 Ampadu
25 Rodon
19 James
18 Bogle
17 Firpo
15 Tanaka
14 Soloman
11 Piroe
11 Bamford
10 Aaronson
08 Gruev

After 100 errors in the Swansea game, the count was down to 50 at the Riverside last night

Errors made by our starting XI
7 Aaronson
7 Tanaka
6 Firpo
6 Soloman
5 James
4 Bogle
4 Piroe
3 Ampadu
2 Rodon
1 Gruev

Can't believe I'm saying this, but yes, Paddy should start on the weekend.
It's the strategy of disruption!!
He can be yanked off by the scruff of the jersey if he's doing his donkey impression.
But start him - just to freshen things up.