Honeymoon period over for Joel Piroe at Leeds United, he needs addressing
Leeds United manager Daniel Farke needs to address the role of Joel Piroe after his performance against Leicester City, according to journalist Beren Cross.
The summer signing from Swansea City has now scored just once in his past seven appearances for Leeds – each of those starts – with his latest blank coming at the King Power Stadium on Friday [3 November].
Piroe’s lack of goals and assists in recent weeks has not exactly hampered Leeds, as they have won five of their past six games, but Cross believes it is an issue that needs resolving.
The reporter posted on his personal Twitter account on Saturday [4 November]: “Glen Kamara: undroppable. Joel Piroe: needs addressing.”
Cross added in an article for Leeds Live [4 November]: “Piroe is not expected to be pulling the strings in an away match at the league leaders and controlling proceedings, but this is now four consecutive games, against a range of opponents, he has struggled to assert himself in.
“No doubt about it, the honeymoon period is over and the forward is not himself in front of goal.”
Minimal impact
There is no doubt that Piroe has not quite had the impact many had hoped for over these past seven matches, yet Leeds have still won five and drawn one of those.
Piroe had a couple of shots against Leicester, one of which tested Mads Hermansen, but he did not register a single key pass in his 84 minutes on the field [WhoScored].
To put that in some perspective, Daniel James, Georginio Rutter, Crysencio Summerville and Glen Kamara all registered multiple key passes, while Sam Byram also had one to his name.
When you factor in that Piroe has just one assist over that seven-game run, the obvious question is exactly why is he still being used as a number 10?
However, at the same time, Farke would be silly to disrupt a winning formula. Should Leeds drop points against Plymouth Argyle next weekend and Piroe again fail to fire, then maybe the Dutchman’s place in the side will be at risk.
For now, though, there is no reason for Farke to change anything.
In other Leeds United news, an injury expert expects one player to miss the match with Plymouth.