Magic poured from Jesse Marsch’s mouth when he finally let our imaginations run wild with Patrick Bamford’s Leeds United return. As cautious as the head coach tried to be, it was clear the number nine is going to be on the bench at the very least this Sunday.
Who would blame him, Bamford or the club? This is do or die time and if there were any opportunity to chuck your best striker in at the deep end, it’s when you’re staring relegation in the face.
If I were in the dugout Bamford would be in from the start. I don’t care how rusty he will be. The one half he had from the start against Norwich City was so much better than anything else we have seen under Marsch it’s proof enough he’s a transformative presence in this side.
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There has been very little from the existing crop of players in attack to suggest they will do a better job without their number nine on the field. Plus, I would have him in attack with Joe Gelhardt.
The 20-year-old can bring legs, energy and some decent interplay of his own, as evidenced in his flick-ons and one-twos recently. Raphinha and Jack Harrison would have to support their full-backs in the 4-4-2 shape I’ve chosen, but the onus would be on them attacking as they did in Marcelo Bielsa’s 4-1-4-1.
Kalvin Phillips would remain on a defensive duty while Mateusz Klich has more licence to break forward with late arrivals into the Brentford box. Robin Koch was decent at right-back against Brighton & Hove Albion and remains there for me.
We all feel Leeds need to win the game, but there is a universe in which Burnley lose to Newcastle United and the Whites would only need a draw in that scenario. We have to be prepared for a 0-0 being enough.
Koch adds defensive solidity and Pascal Struijk gets my vote at left-back for the same reasons. Diego Llorente is taken out of the firing line after some fear-inducing moments of late.
Charlie Cresswell’s fearless youth gets the nod for me. His physicality at set-pieces would be important too.
Beren’s XI: Meslier; Koch, Cresswell, Cooper, Struijk; Raphinha, Phillips, Klich, Harrison; Gelhardt, Bamford.
