Jon Newsome has told BBC Radio Leeds that manager Daniel Farke has got to pull Patrick Bamford aside at some point this week for a chat – and tell him he can no longer be in the hat to take penalties.
Bamford, 30, came off the bench for the fifth time in a row on Wednesday night the scoreline reading 0-0 at Stoke. It was the England man that won the penalty, a lovely bit of play with star Georginio Rutter.
Using his experience, Bamford leant into the tackle from Stoke captain Ben Pearson and there was no doubting the decision. Up until that point, it had been a game of half chances – neither side dominating.
But here, Leeds had the chance to maintain their winning run. Bamford was confident, despite missing penalties last season against Arsenal and then of course, in the 2-2 draw with Newcastle at Elland Road.
However, the £10m man blazed it over the bar. Five minutes later, Pascal Struijk inadvertently puts the ball in his own net from a corner – annoying Farke. Ex-Leeds man Newsome urged Farke to intervene.
“With hindsight, no. Hindsight is a wonderful thing. He’s penalty taking career, scored nine, missed five, not great is it. Missed one in three. Before you go out to a game, you sort out who is on penalties.
“I assume one of the players subbed off was taking penalties, maybe Piroe. They weren’t fighting to take it. You’d have to have a quiet word with him and say, you can’t take anymore. It’s not a good ratio.”
Daniel Farke told to pull Patrick Bamford aside for penalty chat
Rightly so. It was excellent to win the penalty and as a striker, you have to back yourselves in situations when it is about you, and scoring goals. So, it was good to see Bamford stepping up to the penalty spot.
Given, he has gone through so much with that spot on the pitch. Now, a decision has to be taken out of his hands. He cannot be in the mix, or allowed to take one. His ratio is alarmingly bad as a penalty taker.
Leeds will be looking to put things right come Saturday lunchtime, when the Whites welcome Yorkshire rivals Huddersfield Town to Elland Road – a side in a dismal run of form, losing 4-0 to Cardiff last time.
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