Rodrigo could be dropped by Marcelo Bielsa for Leeds United v Wolves – Phil Hay
Phil Hay suggests Rodrigo will be dropped by Marcelo Bielsa if Patrick Bamford is available to play for Leeds United against Wolves next week.
Leeds dropped to 17th in the Premier League table with an awful 1-0 defeat away at Southampton on Saturday.
Bamford missed the game due to an injury while Rodrigo put in a wretched display in the centre-forward position.
If Bamford is fit to play against Wolves at Elland Road next Saturday, The Athletic journalist Hay feels the England international will come in and replace Rodrigo.
Writing on The Athletic website about Rodrigo, Hay said: “I don’t doubt he’s a good player, genuinely. But it’s hard to be convinced that he’s the right player for this team or this system.
“Put it this way. If Bamford is fit next weekend then your inclination would be to start him.”
Please, get Bamford back
Bielsa has always made it clear he’s happy to have a small squad of players and for the most part of his reign at Elland Road, his decision has been justified.
However, injury and selection issues plagued the team news at Southampton on Saturday and it was always going to be a tough game to win if the starting 11 didn’t perform.
Unsurprisingly, a team lacking Raphinha, Kalvin Phillips and Bamford struggled and when that happened, the bench offered no alternatives for Bielsa, who relies so much on these three being in the squad.
We’ve needed a back-up striker for Rodrigo. We’ve needed depth in the centre of the midfield and we didn’t need to splurge so much on Daniel James when there were other issues in the squad to contend with.
Bielsa’s stubbornness on squad depth could haunt him this season if Leeds’ form doesn’t improve soon.
We’re failing to win winnable games and that’s where issues really start to come to a head.
In other Leeds United news, a BBC pundit has mooted a mega-money move to a rich club for this Elland Road ace.