Former Leeds player Noel Whelan has laid into Ezgjan Alioski on BBC Radio Leeds on Friday evening (6pm).
Whelan was talking about manager Marcelo Bielsa’s decision to take Barry Douglas off with 19 minutes to go in the 4-1 defeat against West Brom, and stick winger Alioski at wing-back.
“You saw the disappointment when he [Douglas] came off [against West Brom] and I was a bit mystified by it,” Whelan.
“You’re taking off one of the best wing-backs in the Championship. Fact. And to put a kid [Alioski] who’s done absolutely nothing on the wing, and I’m sorry he’s done nothing in a number of games.
“Why would you take the best left-backs in the Championship, take him off, to put him there, it’s embarrassing.”
OPINION
Tough words but ones that are echoed by a lot of Leeds fans. Alioski has played all 17 of Leeds’ Championship games this season, scoring three goals and adding three assists. He’s actually created a lot of chances – one of the highest numbers in the Championship, which is why Bielsa is probably sticking with him. But he’s a frustrating player who gets caught offside way too often and has probably made the least progress of all the players under Bielsa this season. That’s why it’s tough to understand the method behind Bielsa taking Douglas off, one of Leeds’ most consistent players this season, to put Alioski back in his position. However, as much as fans are critical of Alioski, they still have full trust in Bielsa, despite the occasional head-scratcher like this. They’ll suffer Alioski while Bielsa thinks he deserves to play, but it won’t stop them asking questions and criticising him after the game.