Leeds United have had their fair share of strikers — loved and unloved — who know how to score goals.
From Rodrigo to Kemar Roofe, the past decade has seen an assorted cast of characters leading the line. This season, responsibility has sat with Mateo Joseph. But Joel Piroe has given manager Daniel Farke food for thought. There was his goal that wrapped up the win against Hull City before the international break. And then he did the same to secure the points in the 2-0 win against Cardiff City.
The win over Cardiff also saw a return to the bench for Patrick Bamford as he took the next step on his way back from a long-term absence with a knee injury, while Joe Gelhardt failed to make the squad, pointing to Farke’s preferences when it comes to his strikers.
This season there has been a changing of the guard up front for Leeds, with Farke backing 20-year-old Joseph to make the step up. It was a chance well earned after 20 league appearances off the bench last season brought a first league goal to rescue a point against Watford in March and a brace away at Chelsea in the FA Cup.
Joseph has shown the potential to be a true No 9. He was also popular with fans who favoured his skill set to Bamford’s last season. Even with those calls for change, Farke never wavered in his support of Bamford, who was twice Leeds’ top scorer with 16 and 17 goal seasons in 2019-20 and 2020-21.
Pre-season was Joseph’s time to prove his potential and he did, with four goals in as many games. He is young, confident and has had a decent start to the season with a goal and two assists for Leeds and two for Spain’s under-21 side.
Joseph works well with the team and holds the ball up to bring others into play while usually pressing effectively, like in the opening minutes against Burnley where he stole possession and was through on goal. Consistently burying chances like that one-on-one — he put it wide of the post, which ultimately proved costly in the 1-0 defeat — is the next challenge. It will not come to Joseph overnight and he is still contributing in other areas, with a pair of assists against Sheffield Wednesday and another for Largie Ramazani’s opener against Cardiff.
And while it is fair to say that neither Piroe nor Bamford would have been quick enough to steal in for the Burnley chance, the Dutchman’s clinical finishing from his first half-chance in the Cardiff game raises the question of whether he should get another run at No 9. The reality is, after a year of trying to make him a No 10 or second striker, Farke has not seen Piroe as the solo striker he needs. But as Leeds fail to inspire going forward, there is a case to be made for building a side around a player capable of getting the job done.
Piroe featured as a centre-forward 14 times last season compared to 23 times in an attacking midfield role. He has executed the latter role to mixed success and is less of a natural fit than Brenden Aaronson, who provided the assist for Piroe against Cardiff. A single player hitting a double-figure goal tally is a necessity rather than a luxury for any side with promotion ambitions and even with the wealth of attacking talents in other forward positions — Willy Gnonto, Manor Solomon, Ramazani and others — there is still pressure to fulfil that requirement.
Only Bamford and Piroe have the proven track record of that among the Leeds squad, whatever Joseph’s potential. Piroe scored the most goals for Leeds last season behind top scorer Crysencio Summerville, while Bamford netted eight goals in 33 league appearances. Fitness is key to 31-year-old Bamford being able to challenge Joseph or Piroe and offer a different outlet for Farke, even if off the bench.
“It’s not about individual statistics but Joel definitely deserves more praise,” Farke said. “He is an unbelievable finisher for us. For me, he is the best finisher in this league and when it comes to finishing there is not one player better than him. If you want to play for a big club like Leeds, when you have 46 games and cup competitions, you have to accept that you can’t play each and every minute. He is highly motivated to do this. I have to react a bit based on what is needed during the game. Sometimes other skills are needed.
“Whenever it comes down to needing a perfect finisher in the game or someone in the No 10 role, it’s up to him to play. It’s like against Hull, he was ice-cold in the situation. What I love about him is that it’s never about him. He’s never in a bad mood or moaning about the fact that I don’t play him every time. He’s thinking about what he can offer the team and then he comes in for 20 or 30 minutes and gives everything. He is a special character and you need these special characters to wear the shirt.”
Joseph has earned the right to more time in the role but while Leeds fail to produce the attacking fluidity that fans would like to see, it raises questions. If Farke only sees Piroe as an option at striker from the bench, should United have brought in another player in the position for depth in the transfer market? The raft of bumps and bruises suffered by Leeds players in the lead-up to the match with Cardiff points to areas of the squad which could lack depth should those injuries mount.
Other versatile attacking players can plug the gap up front should the worst happen and multiple absences leave Farke short. The manager has shown he is committed to his formation and willing to put square pegs in round holes if needed, rather than make sweeping changes.
Piroe represents a round peg for a round hole — the decision on when and if he deserves his chance to lead the team will fall to Farke.
(Top photo: Ryan Hiscott/Getty Images)
