Leeds Utd v Reading Match Thread - Bielsa names unchanged line-up

[Cjay]

Bamfords body language sucks ! I think he's just going through the motions until end of season and do I wish he's binned off at that point. He's a striker who is there to score goals but with no skill, pace, vision or even an ability to put any power into a shot it's not surprising he's the biggest waster by far.

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And yet he is a former Championship player of the year who that season scored 17 goals and got 5 assists in just 31 games of minutes.

Even now he averages 1 in 2 during his entire Championship career.

Its not talent imo, he wasnt 1st choice remember he was someone Orta went for once it became clear he couldn't get Vydra who MB wanted.

Bamford was never known for his work rate or his battling skills, he was a technical player not a battering ram or a workhorse.

Imo Paddy has had to try and adapt his game, maybe he has lost something in doing that?

Talentless players dont win Players of the year, but players who have had to adapt to do things unnatural to them who arent used to the pressure that comes with playing for a big club can wilt under pressure.

Remember when Pep went to City people thought he may not use Aguero because he may not suit the style.

Aguero adapted because he is a world class talent and went on to become one of if not the best Premier league strikers ever.

Paddy isnt Aguero and if you ask a player to play an unnatural style imo it can impact them negatively.

[John in Louisiana]

Faaip made his sentiments on Bamford clear some time ago and promised to bite his tongue going forward. I respect his commitment to his word (although I think it's a shame because I enjoy his take on things).

Amen, brother. Absolutely a shame.

[1964white]

Leeds continue to stifle opponents’ creativity. Reading created just 1 chance against Leeds, their lowest amount in a single Championship match this season. They’ve averaged 9 chances per game. The Royals completed just 4 passes into the Leeds penalty area.

Leeds have conceded just 5 shots on-target (3 from inside the penalty area), faced 7 chances and conceded just once in the last 270 minutes of football.

Superb!

[The Subhuman]

Cheers both

[John in Louisiana]

Indeed Bamford won three defensive headers with Reading corners, I know he didn't hold up the ball as well as he generally does yesterday but if we take Paddy out of the team who is capable of playing this role?

Paddy frustrates me to hell in front of goal, I always have in my mind when he screws up that the likes of Wood, Beckford & Becchio who have played in the championship would have done so much better!

So what we're saying is we need a striker who does all those things Bamford does for us defensively AND scores goals. Hmmmmmm......

I wonder if Karim Benzema is available.

I share everyone's frustration with Bamford's inability to finish, but I also trust in Bielsa's judgment. I'm sure he's just as frustrated as we are. He knows best what options are available to him and has weighed all these pros and cons and has decided Bamford is still the best option. He's decided that subbing Bamford causes more problems than it solves. I suppose we'll just have to trust him since we have precious little evidence on which to evaluate JKA.

[1964white]

So what we're saying is we need a striker who does all those things Bamford does for us defensively AND scores goals. Hmmmmmm......

I wonder if Karim Benzema is available.

I share everyone's frustration with Bamford's inability to finish, but I also trust in Bielsa's judgment. I'm sure he's just as frustrated as we are. He knows best what options are available to him and has weighed all these pros and cons and has decided Bamford is still the best option. He's decided that subbing Bamford causes more problems than it solves. I suppose we'll just have to trust him since we have precious little evidence on which to evaluate JKA.

Becchio use to play a similar role to Paddy, apart from his hold-up play & goals upfront Luciano always helped out his colleagues at set-pieces with his defensive headers.

[John in Louisiana]

This is my take on it. For the rest, I expect that Bielsa is doing his sums and picking the 11 that works best on balance. So far, the table is proving him right, galling as it is to watch Bamford miss chance after chance.

Pretty much the way I feel.

[Doire_Boi]

Give JKA a start for gods sake MB. At least then you can show your critics why you do what you do!