Joel Piroe doubts emphatically dismissed amid ‘really pleasing’ Leeds United situation – Sky Sports pundit
We’re delighted to welcome former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson as our exclusive columnist as each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at Leeds United …
Paul Robinson doesn’t feel there is “an issue at all” with how Joel Piroe is performing for Leeds United as long as the team keeps winning games.
The former Whites and England keeper believes that the Dutchman is performing his role in a team that is “performing particularly well” so questions about how Daniel Farke is utilising the striker in a deeper role are unfounded.
Piroe has only found the net once in his past seven appearances but Robinson doesn’t mind that when the run has ultimately produced five wins and 12 goals as a collective.
Speaking exclusively to MOT Leeds News the Sky Sports pundit said: “I think he’s playing as a team player. I’m watching Leeds United and I’m seeing lots of positive things.
“It’s very, very hard to pick out individual poor performances.
“Piroe, yes his goal count has dropped from what it was but he’s playing a little bit deeper, in that 10 role behind Rutter.
“Rutter got the goal at Leicester last week and I just think the team as a whole, he’s [Piroe] playing his part in the team that’s performing particularly well, when you look at the results that they’ve had.
“It was the performance at Leicester that was really pleasing.
“They’ve had a couple of bumps in the road, the defeat at Southampton, the defeat midweek against Stoke, they are results that the manager will want to iron out.
“But if you look at the way the team’s playing as a whole I’d rather look at a team’s performance as a collective because I think Piroe plays a big part in that.
“I don’t think that there’s any issue in the way that he’s being used because the team’s winning games and the team’s scoring goals.
“If that continues to happen and he’s contributing to that I don’t think there’s an issue at all.”
It is difficult to argue with Farke’s management currently when Leeds United are third in the league and have just knocked off the runaway leaders.
But there remains a suspicion that unlocking Piroe would improve that form even further, and perhaps help avoid the untimely off-days that crop up every now and then.
The 24-year-old hasn’t been a disaster of late by any means but there are times when he appears to be contributing very little, and until he starts scoring again it is bound to be a question that remains in focus.
In other Leeds United news, Phil Hay has shared a confirmed transfer update on an “important” point ahead of January.