The teenage “goal machine” for the Whites could be the ideal Joel Piroe teammate.
Although Leeds United‘s start to the Championship season has been far from ideal, last weekend’s 0-0 stalemate with Sheffield Wednesday was made all the more unpleasant by Daniel Farke‘s dubious rulings.
One particular choice made during the match that gave the newly promoted team their first point of the year received much criticism.
Joel Piroe plays what position?
Joel Piroe, who had just completed two incredibly successful years in Wales, had been signed by Swansea City as the solution to their strikers’ prayers.
It was thought that the Dutchman, who scored 19 and 22 goals in his two league seasons there, would fill the vacant number nine position for the Whites, much as he had under Russell Martin. especially after his close-range poacher’s finish on his first goal against Ipswich Town.
With the natural center-forward being explicitly urged to drop back into midfield while Georginio Rutter, a naturally more creative player, pushed forward, the 24-year-old’s deployment deeper against the Owls raised questions.
This, unsurprisingly, stopped an offensive that had scored four goals away from home the week before and raised concerns about Farke‘s judgement.
Although author Phil Hay did assert that Piroe‘s propensity for diving was nothing new, ex-Leeds manager Neil Redfearn offered his opinion on the choice to do so versus Wednesday: He told BBC Radio Leeds, “I initially believed they were going to play four-four-two, like they did at Ipswich. However, they clearly gave Piroe a midfielder’s role. Just getting lost in the game, I assumed.
“I believe he shown some good touches when he got the ball. His impact waned as the game deteriorated as a result of Sheffield Wednesday‘s actions, which included getting people behind the ball, making it rough and chaotic, and breaking things up.
Clearly a forward who enjoys moving deeper, Farke should take note of the criticism and keep in mind that Piroe must continue to be their focal point up top even when he occasionally finds himself in the middle of the pitch.
Is Joe Gelhardt any good?
That is, unless Farke tries to pair up his new player with another attacker who enjoys dropping in, which may create the ideal flowing attack. After all, Joe Gelhardt is primed and prepared for more first-team play after a fruitful season-long loan with Sunderland.
Despite his youth, the £1 million player who moved from Wigan Athletic back in 2020 has already made 47 professional appearances for his new team, even recording ten goal contributions.
He differs from most traditional number nines in that he can dribble and pass, but his finishing is still lethal. He rates in the top 29% of his European contemporaries for successful take-ons per 90 and the top 12% for progressive passes per 90. Hay called him a “goal machine” and praised him, after all.
When asked to be the only striker during his tenure on Wearside, he revealed in an interview with the Sunderland Echo his preferred approach: “I feel like sometimes I have to contribute in the build-up by dropping in, maybe an extra body to try and get out of the original press from the opponent.
“Then, when we get to the final third, I know he wants me in and around the box, in the middle of the box, so that when crosses come in from the wide players, I’m there to score.” It’s simply a matter of figuring out when to drop deep and when to sprint in behind, but I think I’m getting a better handle on it.”
He held his own in the Championship with three goals and three assists for the Black Cats.
The 21-year-old is definitely more skilled than Rutter, who has only scored one senior goal since joining in January, but he has the inventiveness to play alongside Piroe. Perhaps they could reach an agreement as a strike partnership, knowing that if one goes deep, the other can stay forward.
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