Former Leeds United defender Alex Bruce has exclusively told Football Insider how valuable he believes Patrick Bamford is to Marcelo Bielsa’s side.
The 35-year-old has defended the much-criticised centre-forward and said:
“You might not get the goals you want from a number nine, a little bit like Firmino for example. However, what he brings to the team is huge and when you watch him live you see what impact he has on the team.
“I’ve said it a few times, I remember a few years ago, our best player was Sone Aluko when we got promoted. He wasn’t an out and out goalscorer but he brought so much to the team in terms of creating space for others, creating chances.
“He got eight goals that season, Sone, and we got automatic promotion. Bamford strikes me as someone who has a similar impact.”
Can Patrick Bamford be compared to Roberto Firmino?
Yes
No
Bamford has scored 13 goals in 36 Championship appearances this season but in the eyes of many, that isn’t a good enough return and Bruce isn’t the first former Leeds player who has felt the need to publicly defend the former Middlesbrough man.
Brian Deane, who represented the club during two spells leapt to Bamford’s defence as recently as last month (via the Yorkshire Evening Post) so are the professionals seeing something that sections of the fanbase are missing?
TIF Tactics – Bielsa will not be swayed by public opinion
The 26-year-old, who is valued at £7.2 million (as per Transfermarkt), has started in 95% of Leeds United’s Championship fixtures this season, highlighting his value in Marcelo Bielsa’s eyes. His average performance rating this season currently stands at 6.75/10 according to WhoScored.com which is the 11th best in the squad.
It’s clear that his outputs don’t make spectacular reading but that has never stopped his coach believing that he is the right man to lead his forward line despite having had Arsenal’s Eddie Nketiah on loan at Elland Road earlier this season and recently signing Jean-Kevin Augustin on loan from RB Leipzig.
Regardless of what some of the club’s former players have had to say, we’re certain that Bamford will continue to divide opinion amongst the fans for as long as he wears the famous white strip.