Leeds United

Leeds United: Smyth would drop Rodrigo for Patrick Bamford

|
Image for Leeds United: Smyth would drop Rodrigo for Patrick Bamford

Yorkshire Evening Post journalist Graham Smyth has said that he’d like to see Leeds United striker Rodrigo dropped in place of Patrick Bamford this weekend.

Smyth was talking on the latest instalment of the Inside Elland Road podcast, as he looked ahead to this weekend’s visit of Bournemouth. 

Rodrigo has been Leeds’ top goal scorer so far this season, providing six goals and one assist according to BBC Sport, which is three goals clear of second-placed Luis Sinisterra. 

The 31-year-old scored the opening goal in Jesse Marsch’s side’s surprise 2-1 victory at Liverpool last weekend before Crysencio Summerville scored a late winner for the West Yorkshire side.

However, Smyth has suggested that the Spaniard should be dropped for Bamford, with the former not doing “a great deal else” apart from grabbing his goal last week.

“Rodrigo got a goal, but it was essentially handed to him, and I’m not sure he did a great deal else other than that.” 

“We’re kind of stuck in this horrendous, you either start Rodrigo and haul him off at half-time or shortly after half-time, or you start Bamford and hope that he can last 45 minutes/an hour. 

“I don’t know, with it being at home, maybe you go with Bamford because your plan has got to be to try and get that first goal and we know that his presence lends itself to chances, and at some stage one’s going to go in.

“It just can’t go on forever, can it? You can’t keep getting in these fantastic positions that he gets into without one finding the back of the net, so why not this weekend? 

“So maybe, I’d like to see Bamford from the start.”

1 of 15

Leeds United fans, who were these players sold to? Starting with an easy one: Alan Smith

TIF Thoughts on Smyth’s comments…

We have to agree with Smyth’s comments and would suggest that watching Rodrigo’s goal back, there was little else he could do but score given the opportunity provided to him. 

The journalist is also correct in the sense that the 27-time Spain international provided little else throughout the fixture, with his SofaScore stats that he could only produce a 67% pass completion rate, and just two key passes throughout the game. 

Therefore, we are inclined to agree with the journalist, and believe that now may be the time to bring Bamford back in from the start of the game, to see if the 29-year-old Englishman can regain his 2020/21 form.

Share this article

0 comments

  • John Burns says:

    What a great idea, at the moment poor Paddy could not hit a barn door from 2 yards, would rather play Joffy or Gnunto

Comments are closed.