Many Leeds United fans have been reacting on social media after Marcelo Bielsa addressed the potential uncertainty surrounding Robbie Gotts’ future at Elland Road.
The boss has rarely been afraid to trust youngsters since arriving in West Yorkshire last year, with nine different players given their Championship breakthroughs under the Argentine.
Gotts, though, has not yet been given the same opportunity as the likes of Jack Clarke and Jamie Shackleton were last season, with the Harrogate-born right-back yet to make his senior United debut.
The 20-year-old right-back regularly thrives in the Under 23s under the stewardship of Carlos Corberan, though his only time with the first-team thus far has been spent watching the action from the bench.
Bielsa named Gotts as one of his substitutes 15 times in all competitions last season, and has already listed the 5 ft 9 stalwart among his back-ups a further 15 times this term.
The boss has now addressed Gotts’ situation, and that of the other youngsters waiting for their breakthroughs, and suggested the versatile defender – capable of playing in midfield – may have to leave Elland Road to further his career.
“In Gotts’ situation, I feel guilty about what is happening because he does everything to achieve his goal even though he didn’t have minutes on the pitch,” Bielsa said in his pre-Cardiff City press conference, via quotes by Leeds Live.
What should Bielsa do with Gotts?
Keep doing what he's doing
Bring him on as a sub late-on if we're winning
Start him v Arsenal in the FA Cup
Send him out on loan in January
“The only way I have, I have to be convinced he is better than the options I mentioned and there’s something true how I am going to prove this if he doesn’t have minutes.
“It’s a situation unfair for Gotts. It’s very, very difficult for me to resolve. It’s difficult, but the reality is they are young players forced to say nothing and accept what the manager decides. This increases the feeling I have I am worrying about.
“Gotts is in a special situation because he got a lot less than what he deserves. At the moment, I am not finding a fair situation to resolve this. In another moment I said to Robbie: ‘I really wish you stay with us’, but I would understand if he thought it was better for him to leave.”
Here are some of the messages shared as fans reacted to Bielsa’s comments addressing Gotts’, perhaps, uncertain future at Elland Road…
Hope he doesn’t leave, maybe a loan for second half of the season?
— Christopher 🕴 (@CM4892) December 12, 2019
Don’t need to do anything at the moment other than carry on what we are currently doing. Gotts will get his chance he’s versatile and will be needed at some point but no room for sentiment at the minute.
— Sean G (@SeanyGee) December 12, 2019
Then he needs to go out on loan, he’s too good a talent to just sell off.
— Kernow (@RogerNPyke) December 12, 2019
Think of the players who will leave at the end of the season:
Eddie
Harrison
Clarke
Whiteand Pablo isn’t getting any younger.
There will be spaces open up for the young players like Gotts, Alfie M, Stevens, Edmondson etc…
They could be Premier League subs next season.
— Pete Stones (@PeteStones123) December 12, 2019
I know everyone’s always banging on about how there’s always a reason behind what Bielsa is doing, but why can’t he come on against boro when we’re 4-0 up or something?? Unless he’s prime iniesta and saving him till the Arsenal??
— Olliejk92 (@olliejk92) December 12, 2019
@TheSquareBall will be happy he’s at least been spoke of.
— Lord Bielsa (@LordBielsa) December 12, 2019
We want Bogusz!
— Luke (@TurfLUFC) December 12, 2019
Anything on Edmondson? He’s barely mentioned any more, despite doing consistently well for the 23s
— Tom Mullen (@Tom_Mullen) December 12, 2019
In other Leeds United news, the club are in talks to sell a 5 ft 6 Bielsa outcast in January.