Loads of Leeds United supporters have been sharing their hope that Marcelo Bielsa changes his tactics at Elland Road after Tuesday night’s draw with Preston North End, starting with dropping Patrick Bamford for Eddie Nketiah.
Nketiah entered the action at Preston as a 77th-minute substitute for Bamford, who maintained his perfect starting record in the second-tier (WhoScored) when Bielsa tasked the former Middlesbrough forward with opening things up front.
Arsenal loanee Nketiah, on the other hand, is still waiting for his maiden start in the Championship, with each of his nine league outings to date coming from the bench.
And it was from his backup role during the midweek clash at Deepdale that Nketiah struck his third goal of the season to salvage a draw after Bielsa’s Whites fell behind to a Tom Barkhuizen strike moments before the Argentine head coach made his first changes of the night.
Nketiah may have been one of the smaller players on the field, standing at 5 ft 7, but was able to get the perfect leap at the back post to burry home the equalising goal (Leeds Live). The 20-year-old also won the free-kick which led to his chance to score, when he was clipped by Preston right-back Darnell Fisher around 25-yards from goal.
Finding the net in the 87th-minute made it one-all, with a point enough for Leeds to remain in the top-two of the Championship standings. It was also Nketiah’s third in the league for a strike rate of one every 73.3 minutes
Plenty of United fans now hope that Bielsa starts Nketiah against Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday…
Imagine if you started him ?
— Ashley Hall (@oxajh) October 22, 2019
START HIM NEXT TIME ABEG
— . (@regixta) October 22, 2019
If he doesn’t start now people will riot
— Tyler (@LUFCTy) October 22, 2019
What more does this kid have to do ?
— Craig & charlie the chocolate labrador. (@bandforgood) October 22, 2019
While many Leeds fans shared messages calling for Nketiah to start in reply to the Whites’ post on Twitter announcing that he had equalised against Preston, many replied with messages focusing on Bamford.
Some still expect Bielsa to trust the 26-year-old for what would be his 14th start of the league season against Sheffield Wednesday, despite Bamford now being without a goal in his last eight appearances and spurning six shots at Preston on Tuesday night (WhoScored).
No player for either side attempted as many shots at Deepdale as Bamford recorded, while the former Boro man also failed to hit the target with any of his six shots on goal, with just one of those being blocked.
Bamford also misplaced 31% of his passes, did not attempt any dribbles, and was dispossessed once before being hooked midway through the second half.
Eddie! Eddie! Eddie!!!!
Give him a start Saturday, a few constant games and he will score more, Bamford has been given too many chances, too many— Wayne Henn (@WayneHenn) October 22, 2019
Dont you dare start Bamford after this. Hasn’t scored since August. Dont care if he puts in a shift. He’s a good player that’s all good but strikers are supposed to score. START EDDIE
— Danny Rai (@R9Rai) October 22, 2019
that’s Bamford starting on Saturday then
— 🙂 (@Max_LUFC) October 22, 2019
Seemingly, part of the reason why some Leeds fans still expect Bielsa to start Bamford over Nketiah at the weekend is that they feel the Argentine is perhaps scared to use or develop a player that his club do not own, as one support has put it.
Other supporters have suggested that if Bielsa does not begin handing Nketiah starting roles soon, the Arsenal loanee will be heading out of West Yorkshire, and the Elland Road outfit may struggle to leave the Championship.
Well that’s ended the Bamford v Nketiah debate. Unless of course, you’re Marcelo Bielsa. #LUFC
— LUFCDATA (@LUFCDATA) October 22, 2019
You are a genius coach – but please for the love of Christ – play this man from the start – otherwise we ain’t going nowhere
— Mr Perfect (@28_rowan) October 22, 2019
Why doesn’t Bielsa play Eddie from the start? He’ll be off soon. Need more strikers, not good enough
— listermeister (@listermeister) October 22, 2019
Us leeds fans do…….bielsa doesn’t.
— Rich wordsworth (@Wordmeister78) October 22, 2019
it’s as if Bielsa is scared to use/develop what isn’t his
— joe (@ftbljj_) October 22, 2019