Former Leeds United defender Danny Mills has warned Jesse Marsch that Patrick Bamford's poor run of form in front of goal is a concern. It's approaching a year to the day since Bamford last scored for the Whites.
A statistic somewhat exaggerated given how long the striker missed with injury, but a concern nonetheless. The 29-year-old scored an impressive 17 goals in Leeds' first season back in the Premier League under Marcelo Bielsa, but has not been able to find that golden touch in front of goal and was once again missing on Saturday from the 4-3 win over Bournemouth.
"I think it is a bit of a concern because he's so heavily relied on," Mills told OLBG. "Under Bielsa, it wasn't just his goals, but it was the way he played and lead the line for Leeds.
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"This time around it's going to be more about his goals, putting the ball in the back of the net and getting those numbers up. Obviously, he's missed a penalty already and missed a couple of really good chances.
"Inadvertently he's blocked a couple of shots as well that were heading goalward. I think if you were to ask most Leeds fans and people who have watched Bamford for the majority of his career there, they would say it's a similar season before his wonder season.
"That season before they got into the Premier League, he would have moments of scoring some really good goals and have moments of missing some really big chances. He would miss one on ones and other opportunities; he wasn't anywhere near prolific.
"He's had one season in the Premier League where he was outstanding, everything he seemed to hit went into the back of the net. It was a phenomenal season, but he's didn't really do it before that, and he hasn't done it since.
"You do have to question whether it was a bit of a one off. When you look at other great goal scorers, they're still hitting those numbers.
"They might hit 20 one season, but they still hit 15 or in and around that every other season which Patrick Bamford has never really done in his career. Leeds have to find a way to score goals, it's not helping that they've gifted goals at times to the opposition.
"But you've got to have a goal threat because if you don't have that it allows other teams to push up higher and put your defence under much more pressure. If anything, Leeds have maybe got to look for strength in that position.
"January is never a good time to buy, but if you want to survive in the Premier League then it's a position they may have to look at. Joe Gelhardt has never really been given too much of a chance even when Bamford was out injured.
"Rodrigo is a senior player who's in the twilight of his career in terms of age, but again he's not going to be prolific. So, I think it's a concern and the reliant on Bamford was huge, but he's just not delivering at the moment."
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