A number of Leeds United supporters have been reacting on social media to Marcelo Bielsa’s post-game comments after drawing 1-1 with Preston North End, with fans voicing varying frustrations.
Leeds were held to a draw at Deepdale after falling behind in the 74th-minute and needing an 87th-minute equaliser from Eddie Nketiah to salvage a point and retain their position inside the top-two of the Championship standings.
The Whites could have moved top with a win after league leaders West Bromwich Albion were held to a draw at home to Barnsley, having slipped two-goals behind inside 25 minutes through a Cauley Woodrow brace.
Bielsa’s continued preference to start Patrick Bamford over Nketiah has seen many Leeds fans grow frustrated with their club chief’s decisions, as the Argentine is yet to hand the Arsenal loanee a starting call in the second-tier while ex-Middlesbrough man Bamford has kicked things off in each of the 13 league meetings thus far (WhoScored).
Bamford is also without a goal in eight second-tier games now, but Bielsa is unlikely to make changes to his line-up anytime soon.
Speaking after the Preston draw, the Whites boss said, via quotes by Leeds Live: “They can play together. They should play one behind the other. This player will be Bamford, naturally. Take this kind of decision you can take in two different ways. For one clear need of the team, or because you are convinced they can play together and combine movement between them.
“We never had proof of this kind of combination in our training. Nketiah is not with us in the international break, because we play twice a week. In the week, when we prepare there are few chances to try these things.
“The other reason is when you have a series of bad results and you have to find a different solution. That didn’t happen. I think all these around Bamford and Nketiah doesn’t help either of them. Nketiah has to make the function to try to change the course of the match when we are losing and he’s not playing.”
As well as going a sixth game without a goal on Tuesday night, Bamford spurned six shots on goal, with neither of his efforts falling on target and forcing Declan Rudd into action (WhoScored).
Of his six shots, five of them came in the opening 24 minutes, whereas Nketiah found the back of the net with his only effort of the game to add his third of the season to his account.
Fans are now begging Bielsa to hand Nketiah his first start in the Championship, as ‘at this stage, I would say even Bamford is telling Bielsa to play Nketiah instead of him’ as one supporter put it.
Tell Bielsa that it is the Leeds fans who PAY to go to ER every week who PAY his wages. And pretty much 100% of Leeds fans want to watch Nketiah play every week, NOT Bamford.
— Rufus (@Sherminator99) October 23, 2019
At this stage I would say even Bamford is telling Bielsa to play Nketia instead of him. That’s no joke
— OpelFruits (@FruitsOpel) October 23, 2019
He does not deserve any negative chanting obviously, but people cannot simply say Bamford deserves his place for his chasing. We have a midfield that should be doing that, Bamford should be using his abilities as a striker. Pablo (when back) and Eddie are needed from the start.
— Martin Birks (@BirksMartin) October 23, 2019
Marcelo, for God sake, play Eddie and Roberts from the start!!!!!!
— Greg (@iluvlufc001) October 23, 2019
Away from Bielsa’s decisions over whether to play Bamford or Nketiah, some Leeds fans have noted their concerns with the Argentine’s general tactics, and specifically his lack of a Plan B.
One supporter also suggested the 64-year-old should look at rotating his preferred line-up, having named the same combination of eleven players for the past three games – only changing for injuries to Liam Cooper, Jamie Shackleton and Pablo Hernandez.
Sorry to say this but I don’t think Marcelo has got a plan b for when things are not going to plan
— Brian????????? brexit (@LorrimerBrian) October 22, 2019
Biesla “I know best”
Yeah yeah when was your last success?
— For the fans (@St_Jigzy) October 22, 2019
Try not starting that same team on saturday
— Adam Green (@AdamGreen0823) October 22, 2019
Yet, while many supporters have voiced frustrations with Bielsa’s methods, one United fan has gone against the grain and suggested his fellow supporters should take a step back and ‘respect’ the Argentine and his decisions.
They suggest the former Argentina and Chile boss is trying to build a side that can secure promotion into the Premier League and one that can survive in the top-flight, having seen their efforts to go up fall short in the Play-Off Semi-Finals earlier in the year.
Lets all respect him, going up need a process, he is building a team that can be promoted and then stay at the premier league constitently. Lets just continue supporting and get back with the coach and team ?
— Deaigo Widias (@coachdeaigo) October 22, 2019