No doubt what I write here will gain some boiling anger, but Leeds United fans do like to jump of the back of underperforming players and voice their concerns – it’s the same at any club I guess.
Twitter becomes a battlefield for opinion with shots fired barrage-like as Leeds fans vent their spleens, player performance being just the one topic discussed. The most recent discussions have concerned the performance of two players so far this season: Academy product Alex Mowatt and recent purchase Kemar Roofe.
Whilst many fans bemoan Mowatt’s lack of pace, some making out that he has the turning circle of an oil freighter, many are coming out and criticising the much-vaunted and high-value Kemar Roofe. Fans are not happy that a purported fee of around £3m was paid to secure the services of last year’s Sky Bet League Two Player of the Year from Oxford United.
These fans see this £3m as somewhat of a bad investment, considering what they are seeing as the repayment schedule suggested by his returns for the side over the performances that the former West Brom youngster has put in.
Leeds fans comment on Kemar Roofe – mixed bag
Shades of the past ring true for this Leeds fan.
Kemar Roofe just doesn't seem to have it for us in the Championship like Nicky Ajose all over again
— Darren Dunne (@UnitedLeeds_) October 18, 2016
This Leeds fan doesn’t see Roofe as up to speed or standard in the league yet.
https://twitter.com/stanners_1982/status/788502224460808192
No beating around the bush from this Leeds fan though.
Need to invest in the squad in Jan, no cover for Dallas, Roofe crap and need a striker to take some of the burden of a Wood! #lufc
— Andy Pears (@pearsy99) October 18, 2016
This Leeds fan thinks Roofe needs to do more to justify his place in the side.
Roofe needs to step up right now #lufc
— Scott Anderson (@DudecalledScott) October 18, 2016
But not all the mentions of Kemar Roofe on Twitter were of a negative slant, many Leeds United fans coming out and showing their support for the fleet-footed forward.
https://twitter.com/NickLUFCWilson/status/789050694821154820
This Leeds fan points out that where Roofe is being played could be the issue.
not been helpful to either Roofe or Grimes being played out of position. Need to have a plan B.
— Cumbrian White (@Cumbrian_LUFC30) October 19, 2016
This Leeds fan saw passion from the new signing.
#LUFC Great to see Roofe get a full 90 mins. Ran his socks off.
— Lee Boldison (@LeeBoldison) October 18, 2016
A verdict of sorts
Football is a results and performance driven game, Leeds fans know that as well as any other football fan. Results don’t trickle through then management are under threat, performances not good enough and players feel the heat – it’s the nature of the beast unfortunately. Still, Whites fans do have a history of looking at players and jumping on them as the ‘next bad thing‘; a line that stretches from Sol Bamba, back through Rudolph Austin, to Tom Lees and including players like Jason Pearce.
It seems that Kemar Roofe is bordering on that kind of divisive opinion at Elland Road that runs through the club at the moment. But is it fair? Kemar Roofe has made 12 appearances this season, only 3 starts and his last game in the Wigan draw was his first 90 minutes. He has appeared 9 times from the bench and over his total appearances has an average time on the field of only 34 minutes per appearance. Is that enough time to warrant criticism?
Or is it merely a case of disappointed Leeds fans and too high an expectation placed on the player? He scored 26 goals for Oxford last season, across all competitions. Were Leeds United fans expecting a return on this, a sliding scale moving downwards from 26 to take into account the step up in divisions? That is likely so, but as the old adage goes: form is temporary but class is permanent.
Whether Leeds fans have the patience to wait for the form to improve and the class to shine through is a matter best saved for a later day.
