Without a shadow of doubt Lewis Cook had that spark of prodigy and potential about him that set him apart from his peers at Leeds United. This all makes the Whites decision to sell him even more bitter a pill to swallow.
Cook left Leeds in early July last year, after what was his second season of regular football at Elland Road, for the usually disclosed ‘undisclosed fee’ – which is commonly seen to be in the region of £5 million.
In his final season at Leeds, the 2015/16 Sky Bet Championship campaign, Cook played 43 times, only missing three games due to a red card suspension earned in a cup tie. These 43 games brought his total to 85 Leeds United appearances that yielded two goals and five assists.
In his first season at Bournemouth, Cook has found his season limited to just six appearances due to a mix of not being selected and an ankle injury that robbed him of 13 games. He appeared for 81 minutes of the 3-1 opening day defeat against Manchester United, not appearing again until game day 33 and a 4-0 loss to Spurs.
But over recent weeks, the highly thought of 20-year-old has been captaining England’s ‘Young Lions’ in the Under-20 World Cup. Not only has he carried his captaincy well, he has also helped the Under-20s to a 1-0 victory over Venezuela this afternoon.
🎉🎉🎉 pic.twitter.com/22Ymmms7S8
— England (@England) June 11, 2017
With the Leeds history still both recent and the wounds of his leaving still open, Twitter has become a cathartic place for these fans to both vent and congratulate in equal measure.
https://twitter.com/WALM0T33/status/873879439591038976
Leeds United fans comment on Lewis Cook and England Under-20 World Cup win
As you’d expect, the massive majority of comments are from Leeds United fans who see the loss of Cook in terms of the bigger picture for Leeds United. Whichever way you look at it, without getting in to the usual drum-beating of who is ultimately to blame for his leaving, Lewis Cook leaving Leeds United has been a massive loss to the club. That is something that is seen amongst the many tweets congratulating the former Leeds United academy product on his achievement today.
#LUFC better have a 99.99% sell on clause for the Lewis Cook deal to look decent. But congratulations to you @lewiscook_ for winning.
— AllLeedsAren'tWe (@leeds_all) June 11, 2017
https://twitter.com/DannylufcRuane/status/873880599899058178
Well done 🦁 🦁 🦁!!! Massive that lads!! Well done Lewis cook! Not to bad are ya mate 🤦🏻♂️ #lufc
— Matt Ski (@dzialowskimatt) June 11, 2017
Where's that Lewis cook from?Oh yeah Leeds 😉🤔 #lufc
— Ben (@ben_seldon) June 11, 2017
Feel like a proud dad watching Lewis Cook lift that trophy. What a player and what a team! 😍 #FIFAU20WC #YoungLions #LUFC
— Jack Lee (@JackLee91) June 11, 2017
https://twitter.com/mishLUFC/status/873877519988121600
Delighted for Lewis Cook, obviously… but also totally heartbroken. How much talent can one club fritter away? #lufc
— EastStandUpper (@EastStandUpper) June 11, 2017
For other Leeds fans though, the sentiment is different in the way that they feel and respond to Lewis Cook’s achievement. This Leeds fan isn’t gushing with praise, but he does give a quite stark warning.
https://twitter.com/BilliardsCue/status/873873482387509248
There are others too that aren’t fully in the ‘Leeds United love-in for Lewis’ movement. This fan isn’t critical, rather he is pragmatic that the achievement that Cook has helped earn today for the England Under-20s is because he moved on from Elland Road.
Everyone getting upset about Lewis Cook just satisfy yourself that he would never have done this at #lufc needed the move
— dαvє (wimpy) 💙💛 (@clements_lufc) June 11, 2017
For other fans, like the following group, it’s a case of shut up/move on when it comes to Lewis Cook and Leeds United.
Sooner we get to the EPL the better.
Getting tired of this bleedin obsession with ex players.
Cook, Byram etc have gone so FFS move on #Lufc— Ayub Patel (@AyubPatel123) June 11, 2017
Please stop going on about Cook, he is playing well for England under 20's hardly got a look in last season .. he has gone move on #lufc
— Kershaw (@Kershaw444) June 11, 2017
Fair enough, the kid Cook has potential, bags of it…but so did Francis Jeffers #lufc
— MDH the I (@Denton91) June 11, 2017