Alan Shearer tears Patrick Bamford to shreds as Match of the Day airs Leeds United footage v Manchester City
Alan Shearer tore Patrick Bamford’s performance against Manchester City to shreds on Saturday as Leeds United lost 2-1 at the Etihad.
It was Sam Allardyce’s first match in charge and although it ended in defeat for the Whites, a lot of encouragement can come from the result when the Yorkshire side was expected to be completely thrashed.
Shearer believes if Big Sam is going to keep playing the same system, he needs to get more out of 29-year-old Bamford, who disappointed the Newcastle legend with his hold-up play in Manchester.
Speaking on Match of the Day on Saturday night (6 May, 17m24s), Shearer said: “What they have to improve on is when the ball goes up to him (Bamford), he’s got to do better, he’s got to give his teammates a chance.
“I know it’s very difficult for him because there’s no one within 20 yards of him but he’s got to hold the ball up better to get them up the pitch. Not only that but it also gives his defence a bit of a breather because if they don’t, the ball keeps coming back at them straight away.
“That’s a simple touch to keep control of that ball and again here, he gives a handball. It’s just poor play.
“What happens is it’s relentless, when you’re playing against better teams if you keep doing that, then they keep on coming at you and eventually they’re going to score.
“I think this is a really good run but again, it’s a poor touch in there and you’ve got to get that into the corner to allow your teammates to get up.”
Unfair
We’ve regularly criticised Bamford over the last couple of seasons because when he has been fit, he’s been nowhere near good enough in goals.
And his injury record for the last 24 months suggests, in our opinion, that he’s not a player who can be relied upon any more and a replacement should have been signed for him a very long time ago.
But Shearer’s criticism of Bamford was a bit harsh on Saturday.
Bamford has been asked to play the role of a striker that he’s not used to.
Bamford is more used to being in control of possession, dropping deep, getting involved with the play with the ball at his feet and passing it out to the wide, more advanced players.
That’s Bamford’s strength. Hold-up play isn’t his forte.
Allardyce was bound to ask this of the one-time England international but he proved he wasn’t up for it at Man City, which is to be expected.
He doesn’t do well when defenders are breathing down his neck and he has a split-second decision to make on what to do with the ball.
It looks simple – but it’s not going to be.
In other Leeds United news, a new relegation prediction has been made for Leeds after their defeat at the Etihad.