Billy Sharp slams Georginio Rutter after what he and Troy Deeney noticed in Leeds United v Norwich
Billy Sharp has described Georginio Rutter as looking “lost” whilst playing up front his own as Leeds United drew 0-0 with Norwich City in the Championship play-off semi-finals.
Former Leeds striker Sharp gave the critique of Rutter at half-time of the first leg at Carrow Road on Sky Sports.
Daniel Farke began the game with what some thought to be an experimental line-up, dropping Joel Piroe for Archie Gray whilst pushing Rutter forward.
“I said to Troy [Deeney] that Rutter hasn’t seen much of the ball, he’s having to come a lot deeper,” explained Sharp.
“He looks a bit lost in that position at the minute because he’s not been playing there, and there have been a couple of times when Leeds have had the ball in the final third and no one’s making the run.
“I do think Piroe should be on there later to occupy the centre-halves a bit more.”
Rutter had also come into criticism from Andy Hinchcliffe during the first half of the Sky coverage, as he looks to operate further upfield.
Georginio Rutter, better in a number 10 role for Leeds?
There are just two reasons why Rutter is coming into some stick over the course of the Norwich first leg: his different position and the standards he has himself set this season.
A club-record fee of up to £36m halfway through last season in the Premier League commanded the sale of the Frenchman from German outfit Hoffenheim, and both excitement and expectations surrounded him.
He has contributed with 21 goal contributions including 15 assists this term, and has also proven his fitness in the tenacious nature of the English game.
One must question why Farke chose in a play-off match to drop Piroe, who had scored last week against Southampton, and opted to fix a non-existent break when he pushed Rutter further up the pitch. If it was to accommodate Archie Gray as a number 10, that could turn out well in the long-term but is a brave call to make when Premier League football is very much a need for the Leeds hierarchy.
In other Leeds news, clubs are circling to sign Luke Ayling.
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