By Mike Parrott
Leeds striker Patrick Bamford has responded to pundits saying that Leeds United need to buy a top-class striker to perform in the Premier League. Bamford scored 16 goals in the 2019/20 season to secure promotion.
Leeds United are finally back in the English Premier League.
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After a 16-year hiatus amid the infamous financial trouble Leeds saw themselves in, they will finally be back after securing the EFL Championship title.
However, speculation and rumours have already started circulating surrounding their team. In particular, around Patrick Bamford and the supposed need for a top-class striker for Leeds to be successful in the Premier League.
Former Leeds manager, David O'Leary said that even though it must be a dream to play for current manager Marcelo Bielsa, Bamford has been too wasteful.
"For a forward it must be fantastic to play in this team, it must be a dream, because they create so many chances...But the flaw in anything is they take the game to people, they create an amazing amount of chance but don't score enough goals to put teams away."
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"In the Premier League in particular, when you take people on and create chances you've got to take them...Patrick Bamford has done great, but I still think another centre-forward would be very important for them, personally...I'd like to see them sign a really top-class centre-forward."
Bamford responded to these suggestions with sleeping emojis on Twitter.
The current Leeds striker has been wasteful for Leeds though, completely agreeing with O'Leary's response. Bamford has scored 16 goals this season in the Championship, however, according to Infogol, Bamford had an expected goal output of 34.97. This gap of over 18 goals is incredibly detrimental.
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To put it into perspective, Liverpool striker Roberto Firmino has had the worst xG to actual goal ratio in the Premier League of 16.28 to 8. Bamford has doubled that ratio and is one of the worst ratios in Europe.
Bamford is a wasteful player for the insane amount of chances he gets per game for Leeds United and if Leeds want to stay in the Premier League and ultimately thrive, another striker who can overtake Bamford should be their priority.
Featured Image Credit:Topics: Marcelo Bielsa, Premier League, Leeds United, Patrick Bamford
