OPINION
There have been a blizzard of Leeds United defender exits in recent days. As announced by the official Leeds website and Twitter account, Conor Shaughnessy became the third young defender to be loaned out in 96 hours on Monday afternoon, following Lewie Coyle and Liam Kitching. Supporters are wondering why on earth so many possible solutions to the club’s glaring need for defenders are being overlooked at a time when Marcelo Bielsa is selecting his line-up with one hand tied behind his back. Liam Cooper is on the comeback trail after playing for the Under-23s on Monday night, but Barry Douglas, Gaetano Berardi and Stuart Dallas are all long-time absentees, and there is a growing sense that it would not take too much for the wheels to totally come off. Surely, Bielsa would have been better off hanging on to Republic of Ireland Under-21 cap Shaughnessy for the rest of the campaign as an insurance policy, rather than loan him out to Hearts? Leeds have taken a gamble, and it is one that could backfire, as supporters are pointing out.
This Is Futbol has rounded up some of the best tweets below:
I really can't understand why we are reducing our numbers at the back
— White Rose Al (@White_Rose_Al) January 7, 2019
Genuinely thought he would fit in bielsa system #LUFC
— eddieleeds (@eddieleeds1) January 7, 2019
https://twitter.com/BilliardsCue/status/1082309749004292106
Incomings ????!?!
— Col (@colriley79) January 7, 2019
Thank God we've got lots of fit defenders….. oh wait.
— Shaun (@shaunpk92) January 7, 2019
Very disappointing with our current lack of depth in the squad and this guy is proving himself.
— Jake Hadfield (@JAHadfield) January 7, 2019
https://twitter.com/LordBielsa/status/1082314315187798016
Not like we don’t need defenders
— jake stevens (@jake_stevens99) January 7, 2019
Transfers out of Leeds as smooth as a baby's bottom….Coming in like putting together a large IKEA cabinet.
— Terry O' Brien (@tobtipp) January 7, 2019
Top of league and still skint
— Brooky (@brooky0001) January 7, 2019
There literally isn’t a single positive reply to this. Good luck for the rest of the season lads! ?? people screaming we need transfers were probably the same people in summer doing it. I believe we’re going up regardless, two quality additions will be all we need. GK, LW/RW
— Lloyd Sutcliffe (@lloyd_sutty) January 7, 2019