Patrick Bamford unseen influence emerges amid unfair ‘doesn’t care’ rap at Leeds United
Patrick Bamford has been given an “unfair rap” at Leeds United when he remains to committed to the club winning, says Graham Smyth.
The Yorkshire Evening Post journalist mounted a strong defence of the striker on the Inside Elland Road podcast on 7 November, insisting claims that he doesn’t care about the Whites when he’s not playing is a long way wide of the mark.
Smyth considers it the “most unfair criticism you can have of a player” to question their commitment when injured, and highlighted how often the Englishman contributes towards helping teammates, including those that are keeping him out of the side.
Smyth said (38m 20s): “What I would say on Patrick Bamford, yes it’s very, very frustrating that his fitness has been such an issue the last couple of years. Wasteful finishing has also been a problem for Patrick Bamford.
“However, this notion that there seems to be amongst some people that he’s just picking up a wage, he’s doing his podcast, he doesn’t care, he’s not making himself available, that’s what people seem to think. You want to watch Patrick Bamford when he’s warming up Patrick Bamford when he’s warming up late in games when Leeds need a goal or it’s tight.
“He is almost constantly geeing players up. [Against Millwall] Willy Gnonto made a wrong decision in the final third and the ball went out of play. Bamford was there in his ear, clapping, telling him to go again. We’ve seen that quite a few times this season, we’ve seen him pull Mateo Joseph aside to give him some advice from the touchline. You can’t tell me that he doesn’t care about Leeds United winning games.
“Even when he’s not on the pitch he’s investing something trying to get Leeds to win the game, even with players who are keeping him out of the line-up, so I think he’s getting quite an unfair rap at the minute.”
Daniel Farke still values Leeds United striker
The relationship between Bamford and the fans has been a complicated one in recent seasons, and at times he hasn’t helped it.
But if anything it has been exacerbated by caring too much about his contributions to the team than too little, as he has at times found himself in a vicious circle of rushing back from injury but being less than 100%, then underperforming or getting hurt again.
Part of the responsibility for that lies with the team itself for never having an adequate alternative, but Bamford’s repeated attempts to prove himself again have often backfired, with high profile misses and saved penalties standing out.
Ultimately he is a professional and Smyth’s argument proves as much, and it is surely no coincidence that Daniel Farke still values his contribution despite a general expectation that a parting of the ways after relegation was on the cards.
In light of the mental baggage built up for Bamford, and arguably for the supporters as well, it often feels like a new start elsewhere is what the 31-year-old needs, but his contract and his patchy fitness record have largely made that impossible.
He recently admitted on the BBC’s Football Daily podcast (9 October) the that he was ready to go two summers ago but again decided he didn’t want to take the easy way out.
His image seems to rub some people up the wrong way, and at times he causes more difficulties himself with his behaviour on the pitch, but when he does eventually move on he likely will be remembered more favourably than he often is now.
In other Leeds United news, a club are likely to enter into negotiations over an eight-figure fee to sign a “reliable” Whites defender.
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