Neil Redfearn makes ‘dream’ Joel Piroe admission after Leeds United win v Plymouth
Neil Redfearn reckons midfielders would “dream” of playing with Joel Piroe after he shone for Leeds United against Plymouth on Saturday.
The 25-year-old netted one of the Whites’ three goals as they cruised to a 3-0 victory over Wayne Rooney’s side in the Championship at Elland Road on Saturday, 2 November.
Redfearn heaped praise on the Dutchman for displaying immense composure in front of the goal to poke the ball into the back of the net.
The former Leeds manager also lauded Piroe’s ability to find space and draw opposition players out of position, which he feels makes the player easy to play with.
“I thought his [Piroe’s] goal epitomises what he is about as a player”, Redfearn said on BBC Radio Leeds (2 November).
“The ball drops to him in the box awkwardly, he sort of stuns with the first touch and then he keeps his composure.
“He could have lashed at that and the keeper might have blocked it, but he keeps his composure and just pokes it past the keeper, it just rolls under him into the back of the net.
“I thought he was involved a lot more, particularly first half. I thought he did a lot of good things with his back to play.
“I like how he drifts into little pockets of space, he must be a dream to play with as a midfield player because he is just aware of sucking players under the ball and the space in behind, and he brings other people into the game.
“He’s got great touch and awareness.”
Joel Piroe repays Daniel Farke faith in Leeds United v Plymouth
There had been increasing shouts for Piroe to be axed in favour of Mateo Joseph prior to Saturday, but the forward repaid Daniel Farke’s trust by producing a fine performance. He would also have been delighted to end a three-game run without a goal.
Piroe notably began the season as an option for the bench and earned his way into the starting lineup with three goals from such cameos.
However, having previously netted only once in four games as a starter, there was a case to be made about Joseph being drafted back into the first XI.
The goalscoring performance against Plymouth will have taken some pressure off Piroe’s shoulders, but it is now up to him to maintain his form and justify Farke’s decision to trust him.
Nevertheless, this shows how competition for places often gets the best out of players. There is no doubt that Joseph is working hard behind the scenes to pip Piroe for a starting berth.
In other Leeds United news, this is what Farke told Josuha Guilavogui to convince him to move to Elland Road.
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