STAR GAZERS TURN TABLES ON BIELSA WITH SPY CAMERA
LEEDS manager Marcelo Bielsa might want to look into getting some security of his own.
The Argentine coach (below) rocked the sport by admitting he has spied on every team his club has played this season in a gripping ‘Spygate’ drama.
But as our photos prove, we were easily able to spy on Bielsa’s Championship table-toppers during their
Friday training session before yesterday’s 2-1 defeat at Stoke.
We watched from close quarters as the first-team squad were put through their paces at the club’s Thorp Arch training complex.
There was a chance to see new signing Kiko Casilla, signed from Real Madrid on Thursday. And there was an opportunity to cast an eye over hot prospect Jack Clarke, the winger, 18, wanted by a string of top clubs.
Chelsea’s on-loan midfielder Izzy Brown was also training as he continues his rehab from a knee injury. And the Leeds players saw the funny side when they spotted our man in the bushes.
Patrick Bamford had a broad smile when he noticed our lensman, even poking fun by cupping his hands and mimicking a pair of binoculars.
And defender Barry Douglas decided to get his own back by filming our photographer with his GoPro camera.
As a result the players moved pitches – proving they didn’t like being watched!
MARCELO BIELSA’S only crime is that he was caught. That’s the view of Dave Bassett, the only manager to achieve seven automatic promotions. He said: “We all did it. Only then we used video. Now they can turn on TV and make notes. “What baffles me is he still sends spies. That is so 007.You don’t need them anymore.The internet is your spy.”
Bassett, 74, led Wimbledon’s Crazy Gang from the fourth division to the top flight – and then managed Watford and Sheffield United.
He added: “I cannot understand the fuss over him admitting spying on clubs at their training ground. So what? Marcelo is simply silly.
“In the 70s we relied on videos and we had a chap called Vince Craven copying everything from TV. We often had local police sending us their clips on matches. It has been going on forever.”
TONY STENSON