Leeds United: Bamford hoping to return as Piroe nets against Norwich
Leeds United: Bamford hoping to return as Piroe nets against Norwich
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00:00 Now looking more towards the forward line at Leeds United, of course, Joel Perrault had a very good game against Norwich City in the second leg, scoring that goal.
00:10 And he's been starting of course of late because of the injury to Patrick Bamford.
00:14 Now Bamford, of course, as we've mentioned, you know, Leeds have missed him.
00:19 I think that's very clear, certainly towards the running of the season.
00:23 But Perrault has done, as I say, well in that last game against Norwich.
00:26 So should Bamford be available for the playoff final, which is still of course up in the air at the time of recording?
00:33 We don't know. I mean, I was going to say, does he come straight back in?
00:39 But given the fact that he's missed a few games, probably not is the answer.
00:42 But how much of an impact could he have if he is available in any way, shape or form off the bench?
00:49 Yeah, I think that's the key. I think if Bamford is fit, and it's a big if,
00:52 and he said it himself on the podcast that he was on this week, that if he is fit,
00:57 that he can't see himself starting because obviously he'll have been out for basically a month
01:00 and obviously he's not going to be much sharp and stuff. And to play 70, 80 minutes would be a big ask.
01:04 So I think it almost answers itself really that, you know, I can't see him starting if he is fit.
01:09 And we obviously hope he is fit because if he is fit, he could have an enormous impact off the bench, you know, 100 percent sure.
01:15 But going back to Perrault, yeah, I mean, like that was obviously just what he needed in that second leg.
01:21 He was the one obviously who came out of the team in the first leg via sort of this reshuffle,
01:25 which obviously led to Archie Gray in midfield, a sort of like three-man midfield.
01:29 I mean, it would have been interesting because, I mean, I wouldn't say Daniel Farke's hand was forced,
01:35 but it was to a degree because obviously he was forced into a change in the second leg via Sam Byron being injured,
01:39 which obviously meant that someone else had to play it right back.
01:42 And obviously Archie was the one who then dropped back, which then led to an opening in the team.
01:46 And Perrault was the one who obviously came in. And it just all seemed to make sense that obviously,
01:50 like going with him up front and then obviously like having a bit more of an attacking sort of splendidly team and whatever.
01:55 But he's, yeah, it's an interesting one, Joel Perrault, because when Leeds signed him,
01:59 obviously everybody was kind of like, well, this is the number nine we've been wanting for ages, etc.
02:03 And because of all the goals he got at Swansea and he's shown it in fits and starts this season.
02:07 But then there's been lots of games as well where you've got to be honest, he just hasn't played very well at all.
02:11 I mean, some of the games he's had, he has had pretty low ratings that we've given him and deservedly so,
02:15 because he hasn't been that good. He hasn't been the only one at times.
02:17 But then, you know, when it happens for him, he's a real handful.
02:21 And Daniel Farkas obviously was faced with this question a lot during the start of the season, early stage of the season.
02:27 You know, why are you playing him as a number 10 when he's a number nine?
02:29 He gave a very long answer on it and really defended it.
02:32 I think he made the sort of point he didn't really want to have to answer it again, really,
02:35 which was that, you know, often a lot of his goals at Swansea were done from arriving deep and whatnot.
02:39 But there's still a suspicion that when he just plays as a number nine, that that just seems to fit.
02:44 And that goal, obviously, his header, I mean, it was just real centre-forward play.
02:48 You had Nonto going with the ball down the wing. You had Peru making the run for the middle.
02:51 And Peru actually pointed to where he wanted it, you know, and it just felt like a real centre-forward's goal and stuff.
02:56 And obviously, confidence is a big thing as well. His confidence will be thriving after that.
03:00 So, yeah, I mean, it just looks a natural call.
03:02 I mean, the thing with him as well, obviously, you know, it costs around ÂŁ10 million, but he's still only 24.
03:07 He's still fairly young. There's probably still a bit more improvement to come.
03:10 He has got 14 goals this season. That's like just outside the top 10 of the division.
03:14 So although it's been, you know, at times the jury's been a little bit out on him, I suppose,
03:18 that is still not a bad return for your first season at a new club and stuff.
03:22 And yeah, I mean, I think it almost just picks itself, really, in terms of what happens in the playoff final.
03:27 Because of Bamford, obviously, if he is fit, and we hope he is, then obviously, he said himself, he isn't going to be fit enough to start.
03:34 The only thing that could potentially complicate matters is if Daniel Farker chooses to go a bit more defensive,
03:39 you know, and like obviously make him harder to beat, well, harder to break down solid through the middle,
03:43 a bit like they did in the Norwich first leg. And we'll come to the game in a minute, whether or not he'll do that,
03:48 whether he should do that. But yeah, Peru certainly ending the season with a ban.
03:52 And he does seem to do quite well in big games. And it wouldn't surprise me at all if he got one at Wembley.
03:56 I mean, let's hope so. But yeah, we've got him on a long contract. As I say, he's a decent age.
04:02 And there's no doubt, you know, he's a good finisher. So he's got most things in his game, really.
04:06 And quite often, a lot of people in their second season are even better. So let's hope that's the case for him
04:10 because he's definitely a talented player. There's no doubt about that, whether it's at nine or ten,
04:13 but number nine, I would say, personally.