Leeds United crashed out of this season’s EFL Cup yesterday evening to Championship rivals Preston North End but a number of fans have been philosophical about the result given the main focus this year is the Championship itself and also the number of changes manager Marcelo Bielsa made as we fell to our first defeat of the year.
One man given a shot in the game was Irishman Conor Shaughnessy, the 22-year-old has only made 15 appearances for the club since coming through our youth ranks, and he didn’t really impress in his first game of the campaign in midweek.
It is, however, fair to say the youngster was far from the only one to put in a poor performance in the opening 45 minutes as we fell two goals down, and he was making his return from injury still so you could argue in his defence he isn’t yet quite up to speed and 100% sharp from training efforts alone.
Having come in as a midfielder and been semi-converted to a defender as well carries its own risks on top of that.
Hope Bielsa has seen the lack of quality in the squad now in particular Shaughnessy don't wanna slate the kid but he is never championship standard not a chance
— Mark Ramm (@LufcRammy) August 28, 2018
If we leave the cup today, then how will Shaughnessy get a practice game? I don’t believe in him …
— Alex Krasnov (@lufc_rus) August 28, 2018
Wow. Just wow. #LUFC
Great goal by Brandon Barker but Shaughnessy is woeful. No fluidity. No pressing??! No creativity. Passing is off and most look uninterested. Garbage 1st half.— KaiserChief82 (@KaiserChief82) August 28, 2018
Shaughnessy has never been anything but poor, if Saiz gets injured we will be in a world of trouble #lufc https://t.co/r8gA8Ls59X
— Transfer time?? (@GazzaF83) August 28, 2018
Shaughnessy definitely isn’t the answer to our lack of centre backs ???? #LUFC
— Austin (@AustinLDN86) August 28, 2018
Tell me how we're going to get back in the game then…. Shaughnessy is a liability….. #LUFC
— BIELSALONA ???????? (@ConnorALAW) August 28, 2018
I’ve seen milk turn faster than Shaughnessy did for their second goal. #lufc
— Leah (@leahlufc) August 28, 2018
These players we’ve brought in aren’t showing any signs of breaking into the starting line up are they!
Shaughnessy no where near ready either! #LUFC— Glynn (@GlynnTQ) August 28, 2018
No one has been great. A few have been alright. Shaughnessy's defending on the second goal was pub level at best. #lufc #MOT
— Mighty Whites Pod (@mightywhitespod) August 28, 2018
He did well at centre back last season …. give him chance long lay off and not much footy under his belt
— Yorkielad (@Yorkie2929) August 28, 2018
Having been substituted at the halftime break for Samu Saiz, the above comments tell their own story and the question as to why we haven’t brought in additional cover – purely to loan out Shaughnessy and get him some much-needed game time – is a valid question in my mind.
Players only improve with games and by making mistakes, so it’s harsh to judge him as not Championship ready when a spell in League One or Two and 40 plus games could potentially do him wonders and bring him on massively.