Marcelo Bielsa will not draw Patrick Bamford conclusions based on Leeds United's first three games

MARCELO BIELSA says opinions on Patrick Bamford as a Premier League striker can only be formed after a longer period of time.
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Leeds United no 9 Bamford has scored in all three Premier League outings for Leeds having netted just once in 27 outings for Crystal Palace, Burnley, Norwich City and Middlesbrough between August 2015 and May 2017.

But asked why Bamford was excelling in such a fashion given a second crack at the top-flight with the Whites, United head coach Bielsa said firm opinions could not be formed based on three games.

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To further explain his viewpoint, Bielsa said it was a similar situation with 20-year-old goalkeeper Meslier who conceded seven goals in his first two Premier League games for Leeds but then kept a clean sheet in last weekend's 1-0 victory at Sheffield United.

ANOTHER ONE: Striker Patrick Bamford makes it three goals in three Premier League outings for Leeds United by netting a late winner in last weekend's 1-0 triumph at Sheffield United. Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images.ANOTHER ONE: Striker Patrick Bamford makes it three goals in three Premier League outings for Leeds United by netting a late winner in last weekend's 1-0 triumph at Sheffield United. Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images.
ANOTHER ONE: Striker Patrick Bamford makes it three goals in three Premier League outings for Leeds United by netting a late winner in last weekend's 1-0 triumph at Sheffield United. Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images.

Asked if he could explain why Bamford was doing so well ahead of tonight's Premier League hosting of Manchester City, Bielsa said: "It’s a very difficult question to answer because you have to make comparisons and in football it’s very difficult to make comparisons.

"To make conclusions ahead of time is also not good.

"What allows you to have good opinions or more concrete opinions are the performances over a period of time.

"For example, how do we judge Meslier, who conceded seven goals in his first two games and then he made important saves in the game against Sheffield United?

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"So we must wait a longer period of time to establish some more concrete opinions which would be better in the case of Bamford than to have an opinion on 27 games which I have not seen, or to consider his efficiency in the Championship, or the efficiency he currently has at the moment, which doesn’t really compare as we've only played three games."

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Thank you Laura Collins

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