This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers…
Eddie Nketiah’s career at Leeds United hasn’t gone the way he would have hoped thus far has it?
The striker hasn’t started a single league game for the Whites, and he’s recently been described as Leeds’ most disappointing player this season.
However, Patrick Bamford’s recent admission may have given us a little bit of insight into why Nketiah hasn’t been at his best this term.
What’s been said then?
The striker reiterated a point that Marcelo Bielsa had made a few weeks back as the Argentine stated that he’s more hands-off than he was last term.
The former Middlesbrough man was asked if the way the team are coached this season has changed.
Bamford indicated that the team are more used to the way the manager wants them to play this term as it’s all about repeating what happened last season as it’s now etched in each players brain.
The striker’s comments were nicely paraphrased by Leeds Live in their press conference live blog.
“We’re more used to the way he wants to play. All repetition. Etched in your brain as second nature. Become more apparent. Not getting across the style he wants will become more consistent.”
“It’s not about the 11 players who play. Majority of people who score, our squad is quite small compared to others. Youngsters have their part to play. Casey looked right at home. Put that belief into every single player.”
Impact on Nketiah?
Bielsa relying on his players remembering their lessons from last term may explain Nketiah’s slow start at Leeds.
The striker has recently been labelled as Leeds’ most disappointing player this season, but that isn’t necessarily his fault.
Nketiah was the last player to arrive at Elland Road this summer as he arrived on deadline day, so he didn’t get a pre-season, unlike other summer arrivals.
At that time, Bamford was in pretty handy form, scoring four in his opening five matches.
If Bamford is right that the majority of Leeds’ training is about repetition then Bielsa is the one to blame for Nketiah’s slow start as it’s simply impossible for the Arsenal loanee to repeat drills that he wasn’t there to learn.
Perhaps a more thorough and rigorous process for the 20-year-old would have been beneficial.
Meanwhile, we’ve assessed which election outcome will most benefit Leeds’ chances of getting investment from QSI.