Leeds United fans have been reacting on social media to Izzy Brown’s long-awaited Whites debut, but the 22-year-old did not earn glowing praise at the final whistle.
It was our 34th Championship game of the season against Queens Park Rangers, and one that we had to win in order to move back atop the table, yet Brown had not featured in any of the previous 33.
His fitness following extensive injuries was the main concern as to why he had not made his debut before Tuesday night, though Marcelo Bielsa had included the attacking midfielder in the previous three matchday squads without turning to his services.
Now that he has debuted for United, his win record sits at 0%, as his late second-half outing was insufficient to the overall result. So much so that Bielsa himself later revealed that he was not sure the game was right for Brown.
Bielsa thought the game tonight didn’t suit Izzy Brown particularly well. Also took umbrage with a question about whether Leeds are running out of energy. Said it was obvious from the performance that they aren’t. #lufc
— Phil Hay (@PhilHayYEP) February 26, 2019
It is almost as worrying as his performance itself that we are this far into the season and the manager is stating that he is unconvinced a game we must win suits the summer arrival when the London affair was also the player’s debut.
A quick look at Brown’s stats from the game suggests Bielsa had a point, though, as the 22-year-old only managed to take a single touch after coming on in the 81st minute, did not attempt a pass or tackle, yet earned a yellow card, per WhoScored stats.
A performance like that earned a lot of heat on social media…
I’ve got a lot of time for Izzy Brown embracing the Leeds culture of making poorly timed tackles #lufc
— Scott (@esspeelufc) February 27, 2019
Getafe what a deal they got .. have now pay later don’t worry about it Leeds.. people wax lyrical about orta but again for me another poor deal feel for brown but he ain’t gonna be at it til next season imo
— #LUFC (@THEGAFFASOFFICE) February 26, 2019
So did he think the game didn’t suit Izzy before he brought him on but brought him on anyway … or did he think it didn’t suit him after he subbed him on? He was only on 15 mins, not sure how you can come to that conclusion in such a short space of time.
— ????????☆sarah☆???????? (@s4r4hlufc) February 26, 2019
I think even Brown thought it wasn’t a game for him, he tried to get sent off after 5 minutes
— Cunners (LUFC)???????????????????????????? (@LeeCunners2) February 26, 2019
Not replacing Saiz was the worst part
— Keyser Soze (@PatrickM8364) February 26, 2019
Bielsa is not a magician. If this game doesn’t suit Izzy Brown then why have we waited so bloody long!
— @Ian1973 (@Ian19732) February 27, 2019
So basically its been a waste of time having Izzy Brown on loan. He has missed 35 matches this season.
— Martyn???????? (@Martynho87) February 27, 2019
It was suicide letting Saiz leave with no fee to get a ready made number 10 in. You can’t tell me there were none out there.
— Josh Hobbs (@JoshAHobbs) February 27, 2019
Brown has been nothing more than an enigma since the day he walked in. Whether the club admit it or not, number 10 has been a problem position all season, and apart from the first few weeks, so has number 9. Too late to do owt now, apart from maybe spring a few surprises.
— Bielsa Bubb ???????? (@bellhouse_mike) February 27, 2019