Leeds United fell to their 3rd league defeat at the weekend, with Sheffield Wednesday schooling the Whites 3-nil at the Hillsborough Stadium.
Back to back losses saw the Elland Road outfit drop to 5th on the Championship log heading into the international break, and the club’s former striker and BBC Radio Leeds Matchday co-commentator Noel Whelan believes summer signing Felix Wiedwald hasn’t been particularly helpful to the side’s cause.
The German shotstopper was brought in by manager Thomas Christiansen during the off-season to replace Rob Green, but he hasn’t really been impressive in goal as many hoped.
Wiedwald failed to put in a convincing performance against Wednesday despite some decent saves, and Whelan believes it boils down to a sheer lack of confidence and bravery.
He told BBC Radio Leeds: “There is a weakness in that goalkeeper that doesn’t fill me with confidence.
“That’s even when the ball is on the ground and going back to him.
“His decision making when playing out from the back at times is woeful.
“You think about it’s a high press – why are you playing balls into areas to your players when there is no need, go longer, bypass the dangers, win the ball back in midfield.
“He seems a bit of a coward – and that’s the last thing you want for a goalkeeper. They’ve got to be brave.
“They are usually big men, come out, knees up, claim the ball.
“It’s usually centre forwards that are cowards now because with some of these challenges they know they will come off second best
“For the first goal, he should have been taking everything. There’s no reason it should’ve gone to Hooper.”
There are growing calls for the manager to let Andy Lonergan replace the former Werder Bremen goalie, but it remains to be seen if a change at the position will happen anytime soon.
