The decision to send the Dutch player to stop number 10 is still a hot topic at Elland Road.
After seeing their six-match unbeaten run in the league end this weekend, promotion hopefuls Leeds United returned to winning ways after beating Queen’s Park Rangers on Wednesday night, thanks to an early goal by Crysencio Summerville.
While the 21-year-old enjoyed a fun evening after scoring his second goal of the season, it was a much more difficult affair for fellow Dutchman Joel Piroe, as the signing of the season Summer is struggling to make a mark in his country.
berth number ten.
As Leeds Live’s Beren Cross noted after that 1-0 win, “questions persist about how Piroe was used” by manager Daniel Farke, a prolific asset – who has scored 41 goals over the past two seasons combined for Swansea City – has not really shined recently.
How did Joel Piroe play against QPR?
As Farke himself admitted of the 24-year-old, he “didn’t have the best day” in attack as he was finally caught out just after the hour mark, after being limited in total 28 touches of the ball on the evening – less than him.
Teammate Illan Meslier (40 years old) at bat.
The former PSV Eindhoven asset was almost completely ineffective in his role as playmaker behind Georginio Rutter, failing to make a single key pass, while also failing to complete two dribble attempts ball and lost control seven times.
Those woes are only compounded by the fact that the 6ft 2in marksman – who signed a £12million deal in the summer – is also something of a liability off the ball.
after failing to win a total of 5 duels.
As the aforementioned Cross noted, it was ‘another match that didn’t stick for the Dutchman’, while Graham Smyth of the Yorkshire Evening Post even went as far as to say it was ‘a performance Slow performance’ of the former Dutch U21 international against Gareth.
Ainsworth’s people.
There will be supporters who will “wonder again about that experience with him behind a striker” – in Cross’s words – with that “experience” not having gone entirely to plan in recent times .
On the face of it, the incoming signing has certainly made his mark having scored four goals following his move to Yorkshire, a higher total than any other Leeds player has achieved so far this season.
This.
Such ability in front of goal could suggest the versatile talent is better suited to slot in his usual position as a centre-back, rather than as a link player, especially after the disappointing game against Southampton on Saturday.
As Cross wrote after that dismal 3-1 defeat, Piroe “didn’t help in any way, shape or form”, although the midfield duo behind him were “dominant”, while efforts His attack force is also “cumbersome, tame or not”.
-exists”, further confirming its lack of impact.
While it seems likely that Farke will continue to persevere with this combination of Rutter and Piroe – as The Athletic’s Phil Hay reveals – one has to wonder whether it will be worth finding a new solution in the coming weeks and months.
next month or not.
former Wigan Athletic gem currently attracting attention in Sean McGurk.
Although the 20-year-old is a winger, he has occupied the attacking midfield position in four of his six Premier League 2 appearances this season, proving his ability to turn ousted Piroe from this role in Farke’s team.
High-end configuration.
This emerging talent has thrived in this central role in recent times having scored 3 goals and provided 1 assist in the tournament so far, taking his tally for the U21 team The club’s tally is up 9 goals and 5 assists in 46 matches on all fronts.
Such a frantic start to the season even saw the Liverpool-born player named Leeds’ player of the month in this age group in September, coming at a time when the young prodigy found it difficult to can be overlooked when it comes to Farke.
.
As the player himself has admitted, he is someone who can be “interesting” in attack and make a difference, he said on the time of his arrival at Elland Road in 2021:
“People describe me as quite an exciting player, I like to create and score goals and I think that’s the biggest strength of my game.
There is clearly “a lot to like” about the precocious ace – as Smyth previously suggested – while Under-21 boss Michael Skubala insists he is “definitely a talent on the ball”.
While young McGurk clearly needs to work on his “overall game”, according to Skubala, it won’t be long before he gets his first chance to impress at first-team level, especially while Farke was also unlucky to do that.
Lots of depth in the attacking unit.
This well-deserved promotion could then allow Piroe to be moved to his preferred position of prominence, thus ending what has been a mixed experience to date.