Simon Jordan ‘could strangle’ Patrick Bamford as he slams exit-linked Leeds United striker alongside Sam Allardyce
Simon Jordan claims he “could strangle” Patrick Bamford as he laid into the Leeds United striker for his struggles during the relegation battle alongside Sam Allardyce.
The 29-year-old is reportedly “expected” to leave [Daily Mail, 26 July] after deciding he is “ready” to move on this summer [Mail Plus, 10 July], following a difficult end to another injury-hit season.
A miss at the end of the draw with Leicester (25 April), followed by a saved penalty in another draw with Newcastle (13 May), saw him subjected to abuse which the then-Elland Road boss Allardyce had suggested should see the police get involved [Sky Sports, 19 May], but he was happy to let Jordan again be highly critical during their latest interview.
Speaking on his Up Front with Simon Jordan podcast (27 July, 46m 45s) Jordan asked the ex-White boss if he’d have kept the club up with extra games in charge and was told: “It would have been touch and go, but I think we’d have been really close. We were really close in the four games, because in the game against Newcastle we should have won…”
Jordan cut in: “That was the moment wasn’t it? I know you should [have won]. Bamford missed a penalty, could strangle him.”
“We gave away two penalties and had a lad sent off,” Allardyce continued, “that was the changing moment.”
After he had gone on to point out that Leeds United had also played well in the final day defeat to Tottenham except for “shambolic” defending Jordan turned it back to Bamford.
“It was the Newcastle game that changed the direction of travel,” he said. “I remember watching the Man City game and thinking, ‘Jesus Christ, Patrick Bamford has got a 50p head, will he hold the ball up for crying out loud?'”
“I know,” replied Allardyce.
Can’t live it down
Bamford would likely be the first to admit that things didn’t go how he wanted at the end of last season, and there is no doubt he was a long way short of his best for the majority of the campaign.
He shouldn’t be immune to criticism, and some supporters will probably remain frustrated with him forever more.
But given the situation off the pitch at the end of the campaign it probably won’t have been very encouraging for the English forward to see his former manager sitting with Jordan and nodding along as the talkSPORT pundit had a go at him again.
On the face of it Bamford probably could do with a move, but who will come in for him at this stage and put worthwhile money on the table, with his recent fitness record, is hard to see.
Victor Orta and the previous regime have to take a certain amount of responsibility for his struggles as well, as he spent the entirety of last season as the only senior number nine at the club, with the pressure to come back from repeated fitness issues on his shoulders in order to lead the line.
Rodrigo rose the occasion as best he could, but the arrival of Willy Gnonto, Luis Sinisterra, Brenden Aaronson and then club-record signing Georginio Rutter all seemed to be geared around a central striker, which essentially meant Bamford.
Daniel Farke is still looking for that illusive substitute option in this window, so for now it looks like the exit that has been mooted might evade the one-time England international once more.
In other Leeds United news, yet another first-team exit is now a “done deal” with the official announcement date now arranged reports a Sky Sports journalist.