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da jogodeouro： Speaking to Football Insider, Noel Whelan has gone on record to slate Stuart Dallas for being too attacking at left-back for Leeds United recently.
The Northern Irishman has had to step up due to injuries to Ezgjan Alioski and Barry Douglas, but the BBC pundit clearly isn’t a fan of him playing as a defender.
What’s been said then?
Whelan has dished out a harsh summary on Dallas’ abilities and performances in recent weeks.
Leeds’ defence have been poor as of late, conceding six in their last three, and the former striker has pointed the finger solely at the makeshift left-back.
Whelan said: “The defence has been reliable and one of the best in the league over the course of the season. Liam Cooper and Pontus Jansson have been outstanding at centre-back. But, since Cooper came back from a two-game lay-off, everyone seems to be getting pulled out of position.
“Dallas was shocking at Ipswich. He was nowhere to be seen for one of the Dozell goals, got caught completely out of position. That’s the problem when you have an attacking left-back who likes to go forward.”
Unfounded criticisms
If Whelan thinks that Dallas attacking too much from a full-back position is Leeds’ biggest issue at the back, he mustn’t have watched too much of the Whites this season.
He states that the 28-year-old leaves the team vulnerable because he likes to go forward, but just moments before says that their defence has been one of the best in the league this term.
Marcelo Bielsa’s side have played with an attacking left-back all season long. Alioski has seven goals and five assists, while Douglas also has five assists from a defensive position.
An attacking full-back isn’t just a new thing at Elland Road in recent weeks. Therefore, blame would be better placed on either Pontus Jansson or Liam Cooper for their poor performances as of late, rather than scapegoating Stuart Dallas just because he hasn’t been a consistent starter.