After years of speculation surrounding Patrick Bamford’s ability (or to be more precise, his inability) to cut it in the Premier League, it would be cruel to deny him the spotlight following his maiden top-flight hat-trick – but we’re going to do it anyway.
The former Chelsea man’s three-goal haul saw his Leeds side take all three points from their trip to Aston Villa, with one of the early-season’s surprise packages brushed aside by Marcelo Bielsa’s men.
However, as delighted as the Argentine taskmaster will have been with his forward’s display on the night, a clean sheet against a Villa side whose last home game saw them put seven past the Premier League champions will have undoubtedly brought him just as much satisfaction.
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— 90min (@90min_Football) October 23, 2020
Despite the Whites being head and shoulders above every team in the Championship last season, questions were raised as to whether they possessed the defensive cohesion required to survive as they stepped up to the top tier for the first time in 16 years.
Creating chances in Bielsa’s fluid, free-flowing system was never likely to be cause for concern, but with star defender Ben White returning to parent club Brighton and number one goalkeeper Kiko Casilla’s pre-match ritual consisting of applying Fairy Liquid to his gloves (probably), it was beginning to look as though ‘we’ll score more than you’ football was their only hope.
And so it proved. Two heart-pounding 4-3 results marked their return to the Premier League, with football fans all over the country gripped by Bielsa’s attacking brand of play.
Since then it’s all gone a bit boring – but the Leeds boss will be absolutely loving it.
The Yorkshiremen have conceded a measly two goals from their following four games, a run of fixtures which has seen them face high-flying Villa and three sides from last season’s top half.
So what’s changed? Has Bielsa managed to transform Stuart Dallas into Paolo Maldini in the space of a month? No – even he’s not that good a manager – but he’s certainly beginning to see the best of some talented individuals.
When the club decided to sanction the permanent transfer of Illan Meslier in the summer, Leeds fans would have been forgiven for opting against hanging out the bunting. The Frenchman had spent the previous season on loan at Elland Road, and to say he was unconvincing would be rather kind.
The youngster was afforded just ten appearances in the Championship – a damning figure considering his stiffest competition for the number one spot was the haphazard Casilla – with his fleeting performances doing little to instil confidence in those in front of him.
Just a Good Friday ??♂️⛔️?
Clean Sheet + Hat Trick What Else ? pic.twitter.com/2q5YqwHrZh— Illan Meslier (@MeslierIllan) October 23, 2020
However, the 20-year-old has been given the nod for all of Leeds’ six Premier League fixtures this season, and following some early teething problems he’s evidently relishing the opportunity and the trust that Bielsa has put in him.
Life in a league as physical as the Championship is never going to be easy for a rookie goalkeeper, however – with the support of his manager – Meslier is beginning to shine, and his ability with the ball at his feet in particular means Leeds are far more comfortable in possession and less open to counter attacks.
Another of Leeds’ summer additions experienced a similar baptism of fire. Following his £13m move from German outfit Freiburg, Robin Koch endured something of a nightmare debut at Anfield, culpable for a number of the champions’ four goals as he clearly struggled to cope with the demands of Premier League life.
However, since then the German international has looked a rock at the back, with his performance at Bramall Lane in particular drawing plaudits as Leeds nullified any threat that Sheffield United looked like posing.
It would be amiss to overlook any involvement Bielsa may have had on his side’s sudden defensive transformation. The Whites have clearly put a lot of work into keeping hold of the ball in midfield and not committing so many bodies forward so not to be caught on the counter attack.
However, football is a simple game which can be over-analysed a little too much at times. Leeds have added some quality players to their squad this summer, and given time to find their feet and adapt to life in the Premier League, they’re beginning to reap the rewards.
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