Patrick Bamford ‘getting pelters’ at Leeds United as striker can’t win amid retirement claim
Leeds United are a better team with Patrick Bamford in it whatever opinions people might hold about the striker “getting pelters” over his injured knee, according to Adam Pope.
The BBC journalist commented on the 30-year-old’s situation on Don’t Go To Bed Just Yet on 29 April after he missed the nightmare 4-0 loss at QPR on Friday night (26 April), with manager Daniel Farke highlighting the extreme views around his player after the game.
The German had claimed people want Bamford to retire when he underperforms then pin all the Whites’ hopes on him if he is out [Phil Hay, 26 April], and Pope agrees that the forward can’t win either way.
He said (14m): “Farke said afterwards that one minute people want him to retire, the next minute people think he’s God’s gift when he’s not playing. Look, it’s true.
“That’s why I was so surprised he dropped him the other week, and people can say all they like, we don’t know the medical situation behind his knee, ‘Ooh he’s got a little bruise’. He’s getting pelters for that.
“He can’t catch a break can he either way? He goes and scores on Monday night in a vital 4-3 win so they are better for him in the side, whether you agree or not the facts are Leeds are better with Bamford in the side.”
Daniel Farke calls for moderation around Leeds United striker
Bamford has been a polarising figure inside and outside the fanbase over the past couple of seasons, but despite his difficulties he still appears to be the best number nine at Elland Road.
His high-profile penalty misses last season and earlier in the current campaign at one point suggested he might have to leave the club due to the pressure he had put on himself from the fans.
And a red card for Asmir Begovic in the reverse fixture against QPR [Mirror, 5 October] and a goal scored with his hand against Rotherham in February have made him particularly unpopular outside the club.
But the eight goals scored since he was elevated into the regular starting XI in 2024 have been crucial, and with Joel Piroe struggling for form of late Leeds United have somehow fallen back into the situation they had been for the previous two seasons of needing Bamford to lead the line to be at their best.
Although his fitness has held up to greater degree this term it should probably be no surprise that he has still had to miss games considering the injury nightmare he had for months in the Premier League.
There seems to be little middle ground when it comes to Bamford as any opinion on him tends to be a strong one, but he could still end up being the difference to the club’s promotion hopes.
In other Leeds United news, a Whites star was spotted in a rage at an under-fire teammate during the disastrous collapse at QPR.
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