Phil Hay shares what he’s been told about Joel Piroe at Leeds United after what happened v Leicester City
By Farah Ben Gamra
Phill Hay admits Joel Piroe is not in top shape right now but says Daniel Farke’s system is functioning even if the Leeds United striker does not have a busy day at the office.
Although Leeds’ Piroe is not scoring as many goals as predicted, the strange style of his play still yields results.
The Dutch forward, aged 24, has scored five goals in 12 matches for Leeds. He scored his first four goals in only five games, where he played mainly as an advanced playmaker behind Georginio Rutter, making positional interchanges with the Frenchman in the course of the matches.
The Athletic journalist said on The Square Ball Podcast: “A few people said to me that Piroe had a quiet game on Friday in comparison to others, and he did, but you cannot argue that it is working.
“Whatever he is doing, his contribution, it is working.”
Leeds’ Winning Formula
Although Piroe’s form changes throughout the game, Leeds maintain their good play. It was the fifth victory out of six games for the Yorkshire club against Leicester. They are still in the third position in the Championship table but are closing in on the top two, which also contains an impressive Ipswich side.
The role of Piroe as number ten was not anticipated from the start; however, it has worked.
In the end, it might not even turn out that Piroe will be suitable for this role, and according to Hay, this is so far the best alternative they have. He may not have scored much of late, but it remains impossible to overvalue his input into the system.
The unorthodox strategy seems to work for Farke at Elland Road, and if it would produce results, Piroe’s place in the lineup is worth keeping for the promotion-hunting Whites.
In other Leeds United news, a Leeds takeover has been recommended to a US group amid a £1billion-plus verdict.