Journalist Phil Hay believes that Patrick Bamford is someone Jesse Marsch would love to get in his Leeds United starting lineup more often to give the team some consistency.
If Bamford is indeed the key piece of the jigsaw when it comes to Marsch’s system and tactics, then it’s no surprise that it hasn’t been the most free-flowing time under the American of late, given they’ve won just twice all season and Bamford has had a lot of injury problems since Marsch arrived.
Many may have even hoped to see the England international start on Sunday at home to Aston Villa, but after he was named on the bench, it emerged that he’d picked up yet another knock in training which resulted in him having to settle for a spot in the dugout.
Hay has now claimed on The Phil Hay Show that Marsch would love to have consistency in his team selection by having Bamford through the middle.
He said: “It still feels to me that we’ve got a team in which Marsch would love to be playing Bamford up front if he could.
“I still think it’s yet to find that consistent rhythm or that consistent flow that means you know exactly what you’re going to get from Leeds week after week, or more to the point, that you can feel confident about getting a really strong performance from them.”
Is Bamford good enough for Leeds?
Yes!
No!
TIF Thoughts on Bamford’s role at Leeds…
During Bamford’s time in the Championship with Leeds, he was very rarely injured, and the striker was even able to stay fit and healthy during his first season in the Premier League under Marcelo Bielsa.
However, since the start of last season, Bamford has simply had a torrid time and it now appears that he is an injury-prone player, with the slightest knocks constantly setting him back in his recovery to full fitness.
It’s no surprise that Marsch is so keen to get Bamford in his starting lineup as his record for the Whites in the top flight is impressive with 19 goals in 46 league starts, but the task is keeping him fit as his body continues to age and struggle with the intensity that the top flight demands.