Will the real Patrick Bamford please stand up? — The Athletic 2/1/24

By Phil Hay

The most surreal moment in Leeds United’s season so far? The 82nd minute of last month’s 3-2 win over Middlesbrough when Patrick Bamford stepped from the bench, peeled off a beanie hat and revealed to the world a shock of peroxide-blonde hair.

Something of nothing, one would think, but from the crowd at Elland Road came an audible intake of breath, as if Bamford, in an industry where weird and wonderful mops are a pedestrian thing, was the last person they expected to go down the road of mimicking Eminem.

The double-take in the stands was matched by those of club employees, including in the directors’ box. Very few people knew Bamford had changed his look — a fashion statement at a time when everyone was asking when he would next make a statement with his football.

Before the first weekend of December, his biggest contribution to Leeds’ season in a competitive sense had been away at Stoke City where he aggravated the firing squad by taking a penalty he should have advised himself not to take. His record on that front was not good. There were other players more in form and every bit as eligible from 12 yards. Bamford, incredibly, had not scored for Leeds in a league win since May 2021, some 31 months ago — until yesterday, when the dam broke with a goal against Birmingham City.

That run, mitigation for it notwithstanding, has compromised Bamford’s perceived value at Elland Road, he and the crowd seeming to understand and appreciate each other less and less as time goes by. Either Bamford was not fit, the legacy of the injury he suffered in a training-ground shooting drill in 2022, one which introduced Leeds to the foot condition known as plantar fascia. Or he was wasting chances, missing penalties, taking a hammering from xG calculations, putting his fingers to his ears when goals did go in, launching new podcasts. Little by little, the connection declined.

There can come a time in a club career when a parting of ways almost feels prudent and perhaps that thought occurred to Bamford himself. He was a stalwart of the Marcelo Bielsa promotion year, stuck in a cycle of trying to prove himself again. But coach after coach stuck with him.

Farke was no different in the summer and, had Bamford not pulled a hamstring in a friendly against Heart of Midlothian, he would have started him on the season’s first weekend. Whatever can be said about Bamford’s finishing, he is demonstrably a No 9 — and to judge by Farke’s tactics, more of one than Joel Piroe. He is able to play with his back to goal, making runs that move centre-backs around, hanging on the last shoulder, getting on the end of crosses. It was all there on Bielsa’s watch, just rarely with clinical finishing to match.

The question for some time now was whether Bamford had lead left in his pencil, at least in a Leeds shirt, because his recent outings off the bench have largely drifted by. But for this season to work, and for Farke to deliver on his targets, it was imperative that Bamford chipped in, primarily on days like yesterday when Farke dropped Piroe, jiggled his forward line, let Georginio Rutter have his fun as a 10 and gave Bamford the job of leading the line.

After two away defeats and an exacting Christmas, there was a hungover feel to the first half against Birmingham, but Bamford provided the hair of the dog on 34 minutes, hanging in the air at the back post to force in a cross from Dan James.

Farke was reliant on players stepping up yesterday and for more reasons than one. Three losses from six matches had driven Leeds into what he called their “first difficult spell” on his watch. Moreover, Karl Darlow dislocating a thumb with Illan Meslier suspended meant a full debut in goal for Kristoffer Klaesson, a green keeper who has hardly touched the ball in anger at any level this season. An injury to Sam Byram in the first half brought Junior Firpo to the fore at left-back, an extension of the battle to make his transfer make sense. Bamford himself came in fairly cold given it was his first competitive start since May.

A banging cross from Firpo, though, set James up for Leeds’ second goal just before half-time, condemning a Birmingham side who look lost. Bamford struck a post in the second half and had the Kop chanting for him in appreciation of his work up front, which had helped make things happen. Maybe it was because he had a start to go at rather than a cameo off the bench.

When Firpo sprang forward again in the 68th minute, Crysencio Summerville was the beneficiary of more good play, taking a touch and claiming his 12th goal of the season from a position where he just does not miss these days. Bamford would love to be sat on double figures, but in the circumstances, a first of the term was necessary progress.

Farke was asked last week if Bamford was happy at Elland Road; if, two-and-a-half years on from an England appearance which is highly unlikely to be repeated and with goals and minutes eluding him, the 30-year-old still wanted to be here.

Up until Friday’s defeat to West Bromwich Albion, he had taken to heading straight down the tunnel at the end of matches rather than engaging with Leeds’ support. Whether that was indicative of any underlying frustration, Farke could not say. “But his attitude and behaviour in the dressing room and on the training pitch is brilliant,” he insisted. “He’s so supportive.”

It was that, the strength of his performances in training, that persuaded Farke to start him, the next chapter in a delicate relationship between player and fanbase, one which has tested patience on both sides and needs days like yesterday to remind them of the better times. It was only one goal, only one game, but the pressure to stand up weighed on numerous people on New Year’s Day, Bamford not least. When the finish came, there were no histrionics and no loaded gestures. Just smiles, goodwill and a hint of relief.

In the spirit of Slim Shady, guess who’s back?