Leeds United’s season is currently on lockdown with them only nine games away from ending a 16-year absence from the top-flight and given they are seven points clear of the dreaded playoffs, it is firmly in their hands – whenever the league resumes.
Top goalscorer for the west Yorkshire side this term has been Patrick Bamford with 13 goals having started all but two matches, so it can be argued that he has played a huge part to their success so far.
Despite this, supporters have been on his back from time-to-time throughout the campaign, as seen here following their win over Middlesbrough in February.
But how did they react to his arrival back in 2018? The 26-year-old made the switch from – funnily enough – Boro for £7m.
Here’s a throwback of what was once said…
Well, the arrival of the former Chelsea frontman had fans lauding it as being “cracking” as well as it being “fantastic business” but going by the reaction mentioned above, that’s clearly changed with many now slamming him for being a “fraud.”
One supporter’s claim that Bamford was guaranteed to be the top goalscorer last season was dispelled come may – he did manage to net nine league goals, but that was some 20 strikes behind eventual winner Teemu Pukki, who fired Norwich City to the title.
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While others were hugely quick to jump the gun, believing the £7m swoop was going to guide them to promotion, oh how that went disastrously wrong…
For a very long time, Leeds looked to be heading for that elusive return to the Premier League, fans at Elland Road had only been waiting 15 years after all, but the infamous ‘Bielsa burnout’ kickstarted a catastrophic collapse.
The Whites had occupied one of the automatic spots for 33 of their opening 42 matches and never dropped below fourth place. However, five defeats from their final ten Championship outings saw them finish third, six points from the top two.
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Thus, a myth about the players’ being pushed too hard in training evolved in the public eye, which was pondered by Sky Sports in one article.
There were even bold calls back in the summer of 2018 that Bamford could be the man to finally replace Chris Wood’s void at the club – the Burnley talisman bagged a hefty 30 goals for Leeds during the 2016/17 campaign before joining Sean Dyche’s Clarets.
But then again, it could’ve been worse as Elland Road had to witness the flailing talents of Pierre-Michel Lasogga, who had been on loan from Hamburger SV in the previous season and was a player brandished as lazy and weak.
Call yourself a Leeds expert? How much did each of these January signings cost?
It can be argued that the jury is still out on Bamford, even more so if they are indeed a Premier League club next term – one goal from 27 top-flight appearances is far from encouraging, but then again it has been three seasons since his last venture into the big time.
AND in other news, Leeds fans demand Illan Meslier permanent move ASAP…
