‘Heckingbottom ruined him’: Some Leeds fans react to return of recent outcast
Soccer Football - Championship - Leeds United vs Norwich City - Elland Road, Leeds, Britain - December 16, 2017 Leeds United's Samuel Saiz hits the post with a shot on goal Action Images/Ed Sykes EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for further details.
Leeds United extended their fine run of recent form by defeating QPR 2-1 at the weekend, bolstering their position in the automatic promotion spots in the Championship.
Marcelo Bielsa’s side now stand five points clear of third-placed Sheffield United heading into the busy festive season, where Leeds have Bolton, Aston Villa, Blackburn and Hull City to play before the end of 2018.
Injury problems have had an impact on the squad and it has required Bielsa to shake things up regularly, which this week allowed Samuel Saiz to earn his first start in six weeks – and the Argentine boss admitted after the game he is short of confidence.
That led to responses from fans on social media, who praised Saiz for his display and made a number of assessments on his performances – with one suggesting former boss Paul Heckingbottom is to blame for his recent struggles.
We have gathered some of the comments below.
Saiz is very talented. As someone who watches a lot of la Liga he still thinks like a Spanish player ,players aren’t on his level of thinking only Hernandez gets it and makes those runs for him…he needs to dumb down to championship level or get more technical players around him
— Art Vandelay (@artvandelay2015) December 9, 2018
His passing game was superb yesterday I thought.
Linked up with both sides of pitch well too.I miss him running threw about 3/4 player’s with the ball.
And obviously scoring.I Honesty think heckingbottom ruined him playing him central midfield.
Ain’t looked reyt since imo.— Benjamin Thornton (@BenjaminTlufc) December 9, 2018
Very average but a lot of what was good came through him at some point. Maybe leaving him out has done more harm than good.
— LUFC South Stand (@SouthStand_LUFC) December 9, 2018
Lack of confidence. Needs to play more games. He will score against Bolton. You read here first #mot #lufc
— Lufc (@leedsufc61) December 9, 2018
How is he short on confidence? His ability is off the scale. He needs to man up and start showing off.
— Rob Wilkinson (@Robbydeux) December 9, 2018
He really is short on confidence poor lad, it opens up for him to shoot and he avoids it, he’s got a real shot on him too we need to encourage him to pull the trigger.
— Silky (@silkyjohn30) December 9, 2018
I’m going to be controversial here but I would personally welcome him being sold in January. He just doesn’t seem good enough, afraid to shoot and the fact klich has more goals than a centre attacking midfielder says it all. Not to mention he’s still thinking like he’s in la liga
— samuel gallagher (@samuelgallaghe2) December 9, 2018
I thought he was average, didn’t do too much wrong but did nothing spectacular and he hasn’t got a goal in him, I am really looking forward to seeing brown in that sort of role if he can stay fit
— Robert James (@Robertkas86) December 9, 2018
Previous article by Josh Challies
‘Improved so much’: These Leeds fans praise resurgence of key Bielsa man