Well on todays Pressy Farke was really backing Bamford said he was an important player for us. but, with all his time out added with a interrupted pre season others have got ahead of him and he will have to wait his turn. Agree with Lol nobody is going to touch him with a fee due to his injury record of late and wages. only way he will probably go is on loan but listening to Farke in the pressy not that a loan was talked about he bigged him up and still called him a Prem player so I doubt a loan will come into action. not only that we are short of bodies to start with. Am happy for him to stay and fight for his place but has went down the pecking order. obviously he will be pizzed off not playing but he can't expect just to slot straight back in first he needs to find his peak fitness and then show something to make Farke even think about starting him. As on Wilder I don't give a flying fook what he says he's a clown just like the sky commentators in Hinchciffe and Goodman they all talk drivel and are jealous coz they never played or managed our club.
Ok LoL hows this for positivity. By the end of this season, we will have not lost to either Forest or Palace in the league for 2 seasons
I think it's a combination of things. Yes, his body is struggling. Couple that with the knowledge he is no longer in Farkes first team plans and a very ungrateful fan base maybe he isn't putting in the effort he used to. Not getting into the is he good enough/ has he ever been debate look at it this way. He has always tried his best for leeds imo. He has clearly lived being here for the most part and was a large part of some of the best recent years of our history. Despite that he has constantly faced questioning and boos from a large part of the fan base. This has even led to death threats and fans, scratch that, morons turning up to his house scaring his wife. Now as he is nearing the twilight of his career and he is finding it harder to play to the level he has and his body is struggling would you try your hardest because of the above? I would hope he is, all that being said, because I've always been a fan and hope he is a true professional. Again, that being said, if he could find a loan move away in January I think that might be the best thing. Maybe to a mid table champ team where he could help us by helping teams points off promotion rivals.
I think Bamford is a talented footballer who always worked hard off the ball and provided a target, whilst also stretching defences, when we were in possession. The team often played better with him in it, even if he didn’t look that good himself. My beef with him from a playing perspective was his finishing… he just wasn’t a natural in front of goal. For all his bravado talk I think he was a choker… he often scored some great goals where there was no embarrassment at missing, but give him a decent chance he should score from and invariably he wouldn’t. Too much time to think maybe? Obviously also a confidence thing as he’d sometimes go on a good run after shinning one in. Biggest problem though is obviously the injuries… hard to get a head of steam up from the treatment table. Frustrating for the fans frustrating for him too- and not his fault. Neither is his salary.
I think choker is the best description of him when it comes to his finishing. You’re right he used to work very hard in closing defenders down and being an outlet to hold up the ball. Trouble is if the injuries have taken a toll, preventing him from doing that, how does he expect to be in Farke’s first team plans. I know that working off the ball is not the forte for Piroe but at least he is a good finisher. It’s coming across as more of a dig at Paddy than I meant, it was more a question of whether the his injuries means he can’t get back to the player he was?
I don’t think anyone deserves that sort of treatment from so called fans. If he’s not trying his hardest to get back to the levels he was then he should leave.
His best run in front of goal was during covid with no fans present. Think you're likely right re his injuries. Who knows whether he expects or think he has a right to play, but if he's unlikely to be first choice for Farke and wants to play (injuries permitting obviously!) then i wouldn't blame him from wanting out at this stage of his career. His career has kind of fizzled out as it is. From a club perspective, I think we have a number of players who can play as a striker but only Joseph in terms of style/physicality who's close to like for like, so i'd be wary of letting him go from a squad depth perspective
Thing is, if the injuries means he’s not the player he was then he’s not adding to the squad depth, he is just another body.
If he’s willing or wanting to leave he’ll have to accept playing at a lower level than he’s currently at and for a lot less money. There’s no way any team near top of championship would touch him
