Farke pressure at Leeds United mooted after what Patrick Bamford did last season
Simon Rix believes that Daniel Farke will come under pressure to start using Patrick Bamford more after he was a “catalyst” for Leeds United last season.
The polarising striker has missed a chunk of the campaign through injury but has found himself behind Mateo Joseph and Joel Piroe in the pecking order when fit.
Speaking on the Don’t Go To Bed Just Yet Podcast (2 December), Rix thinks Bamford will get his opportunity having been so influential in Leeds’ challenge for promotion last term.
“I think you’ve just got to give him [Bamford] a go haven’t you, if you’ve got a squad and we’ve discussed wanting a number nine and a number 10 in January, I just don’t think we’re going to get one,” he said.
“We’ve got Bamford, [Joel] Piroe and we’ve got [Mateo] Joseph. Most teams on paper with wages and all that stuff, we probably can’t afford anyone else.
“At some point, there’s a pressure on [Daniel] Farke to use Bamford.
“Last year he came back in January didn’t he and his goalscoring form was a bit of a catalyst for a little run of wins so I guess you’re kind of counting on him to do that again.”
Can Patrick Bamford be the saviour Leeds United have been looking for?
Leeds currently sit third in the Championship, which, on paper, might not seem all that bad, but for a team of the Whites’ quality, it’s likely far from where they want to be at this point in the season.
Indeed, there’s only a three-point gap that separates the West Yorkshire outfit from Sheffield United who are currently occupying the top spot but it’s still bigger than it should be and would be worse had the Blades not had a two-point deduction.
Farke spent an awful lot of money in the summer trying to bolster his ranks after the likes of Crysencio Summerville and Georginio Rutter were both sold on to Premier League teams.
Leeds’ attack was one of the main areas the German chose to strengthen in the summer, but despite their obvious need for a new number nine, a move never came to fruition.
Piroe and Joseph have been the ones called upon to lead the line but now the Englishman is back in action, it feels like the torch needs to be passed on, especially if they want to regain their Premier League status.
In other Leeds news, journalist Rory Smith has reacted to the “perfect” news that emerged from Elland Road on Monday evening.
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