With Leeds United heavily tipped to be in the hunt for former loanee Kyle Bartley, although it must be said with no actual confirmation of that other than the summers transfer rumour mill, yesterday’s development seeing him rock up at The Hawthorns and sign a three-year deal with West Bromwich Albion certainly didn’t go over well within the fanbase as Vital Leeds has covered previously.
There are two sides to every coin though and whilst it might feel like the whole fanbase is in meltdown over our failure to capture – or even approach as the case may be – the 27-year-old defender depending on your favoured choice of online outlet, there are certainly those who are completely comfortable that we didn’t spend the reported £4-7million on the centre-half as they judge his qualities as a player, slightly differently from others.
With the hype and hope surrounding new manager Marcelo Bielsa following his appointment at the club, a number of fans wondered if Bartley was even the type of player he’d move for – as irrespective of how slow we might be to act and strengthen this summer, they are hoping he uses his knowledge and contacts in the game to target better.
With our slow summer so far though, some are questioning how long he might be with us.
Hardly played since knee injury. Can’t play out very well from the back. High wage. Issues personality wise with Pontus when he was here. Manager didn’t want him and who are we to argue with such a good manager who has his own style of play.
— Liam Horsley (@liamhorsley18) July 16, 2018
Yes I'll remember to get back to a stranger in 3 years. ????
— Sam Jackson (@samjackson23) July 16, 2018
Good lad ☺️ #ALAW
— Liam Horsley (@liamhorsley18) July 16, 2018
Don't think they could risk his fitness
— stephen grosvenor (@Stevig66) July 16, 2018
Spot on mate ???????? I like him in most positions, but feel like ayling might be played at cb for this reason…
— Glen (@GRD373) July 17, 2018
We didn’t fail we didn’t go for him are you just acting stupid?
— James Barlow (@Jimmyb2018) July 16, 2018
Do people forget we blew the play offs with 8 games to go when he was here ? At 27 he is a bit of a journey man , injury plagued and inconsistent. 1 decent season doesn’t make him a must buy , Adam Flint would have been better or Huth from Foxes
— Andrew Kearns (@andrewkearns11) July 16, 2018
Well hes no Liam Cooper is he!!!FFS you can just picture cooper guiding us to promotion cant you!!!!
FROM LEAGUE FLIPPING 1!!!!
— Conor (@Conor2018) July 16, 2018
Didn’t need him you watch tomorrow night Cooper will@prove there’s life after Bartley lol ???????????? pic.twitter.com/QNI9IN7W6a
— Kenneth Roy Brown (@kennybrown1964) July 16, 2018
Are you trying to wind up the fans again, Phil? ????
If Bielsa didn't fancy Bartley, then that's good enough for me. #lufc— Ivor Lloyd ⚡️ (@GumZappersLtd) July 16, 2018
Oh well he had an ok loan spell with us and hasn’t played for a season don’t know why we were clutching at straws to bring him back #lufc #mot
— Dave Crawley (@Daviec83) July 16, 2018
Never liked him #LUFC
— Andrew Campbell (@andycampbell44) July 16, 2018