'Bozos' - Adrian Durham slams 'anti-Leeds stance' from 'Bielsa deniers'

The Whites have built up a reputation for their high-tempo, open tactical approach under the Argentine, and have regularly been at the centre of debates over how wise and sustainable his unique brand of football is in the Premier League.

Leeds have recorded a number of eye-catching scorelines this term, and were on the wrong end of a heavy 4-2 defeat against Arsenal at the weekend.

But speaking on his show on talkSPORT, Durham delivered an impassioned defence of the Whites, and fired back at those who have questioned Bielsa’s tactics.

He said: “At Arsenal, Leeds were four down early in the second half.

"The usual football bozos slithered to the surface on social media to declare that Leeds are not entertaining, and they thankfully slithered away again when they realised that Leeds carried on playing the way they were playing, got themselves back into the game, and actually it was a very entertaining game.

"I’d like to ask all those football expert who are slithering away, why is Leeds’ style not considered entertaining to you? Explain that to me. If you lose a game or concede goals, does that automatically mean you’re not entertaining, or is that oversimplifying it to justify some sort of anti-Leeds stance that you’ve always had for whatever reason?

"All the Bielsa deniers, are they aware that only one of Leeds’ back four was in his proper position because of all the injuries they’ve got? Apparently it’s okay for Liverpool to use that as an excuse, but not a newly-promoted side who are going to survive comfortably, which is a bit weird.

"Shackleton and Alioski are not natural back-four material, Ayling is a full-back more than a centre-back. Cooper is the only one, and he probably wouldn’t be in the team if everybody was fit – it might well be Llorente and Koch who are at centre-half.

"They had all sorts of problems, with Phillips out as well, that is the same as taking Jack Grealish out of the Villa side, I would say – that’s the big impact it has on the way Leeds play.

"On top of that, it’s amazing that none of the doubters spotted that for three of the goals, the young keeper had a shocker – two were at the near post and the other he's got caught on the ball, dilly-dallying. Off days do happen, that’s why the goals were conceded. It wasn’t really down to the way Leeds played.

"The fourth goal actually highlighted how attractive the risky game Bielsa plays really is. Leeds in possession in their own half, and they committed men forward. However, Costa lost the ball in an area you’re not allowed to lose the ball in when you play the Leeds way.

"We’ve got a newly-promoted team, committed to playing high-tempo, attractive, attacking football. It means they will score, it means they will concede.

"Playing that way they are staying up comfortably – what’s not to love?”