This was the announcement that had Leeds United fans salivating.
BREAKING | Defender Sol Bamba joins #lufc from Palermo on a permanent deal. Full story: http://t.co/Qgx31J8daM pic.twitter.com/bmHAdjXfkS
— Leeds United (@LUFC) June 24, 2015
It’s been written about elsewhere and everywhere really; if you didn’t know it already, Sol Bamba has been signed on a permanent two-year contract for Leeds United. It had been foretold by almost everybody who has ever professed to supporting Leeds United that this was going to happen, it was more a case of when really. Well, the ‘when’ was today but I am not going to dwell on that, not at all. What I want to ponder is this: is Sol Bamba the key that locks in Leeds’ back line for next season?
If we cast aside the unlikely nature that we’ll sign Alvaro Pereira, the Uruguayan left-back currently readying himself for a quarter-final match-up against host Chile in the Copa America 2015, could this very well be the ‘back four’ that turns out for Leeds United in the opening game of the 2015/16 Championship season?
LB Gaetano Berardi, CB Giuseppe Bellusci, CB Sol Bamba, RB Sam Byram
Thing is, on a typical per 90 minute average game, what would be the returns that this defensive unit would produce should they take the field together?
- Tackles: 10 per 90 minutes (Bamba 3, Berardi 2.8, Bellusci 2.5, Byram 1.7)
- Interceptions: 11 per 90 minutes (Bamba 4, Bellusci 3.3, Berardi 2.3, Byram 1.4)
- Clearances: 23.2 per 90 minutes (Bamba 8.6, Bellusci 7.6, Berardi 4.1, Byram 2.9)
- Blocks: 7.6 per 90 minutes (Bamba 2.1, Berardi 1.9, Byram 1.9, Bellusci 1.8)
- Headed balls: 10.2 per 90 minutes (Bamba 4, Byram 2.4, Bellusci 2, Berardi 1.4)
Forget about the numbers for a moment and take a closer look at the one constant – Sol Bamba led the Leeds United team in every defensive category last season. Suddenly, the terrace clamouring for his signature can be understood, the protestations that Sol Bamba brought solidity and cohesion to what was considered, in the 2014 portion of the 2014/15 season, a fragile back line of ever-changing players and player combinations. Now it becomes clearer just why Leeds United fans were desperate to have Sol Bamba at the club before the season starts, he’s a leader and that’s just what the club needs. Also, his defensive performances and high returns per typical 90 minutes of action mean that he is a likely anchor at the back that The Whites can build a defence around.