Leeds United spent £100million this summer, with fans very optimistic about the promises made by Paraag Marathe. But that optimism turned into disappointment heading towards the end of the summer.
Most fans felt that most of the money should have been invested into the attack – Leeds signed 10 players and only three of them were attackers. That, coupled with failed moves in the last week of the window caused a lot of uproar.
But Leeds’ start to the season was enough to calm some fans down. And two months into the season, the Whites are in 15th place, with eight points from seven games. Daniel Farke’s side also beat Everton, Wolves and held Newcastle and Bournemouth to draws.
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Adam Pope agrees with Daniel Farke’s decision
Joel Piroe Credit: Imago
Despite signing 10 new players, only a handful of them have even played this season. Daniel Farke has made some key changes to the lineup. As the season has gone on, his preferred starting lineup took shape. Regulars from last season like Ao Tanaka and Joel Piroe are now on the bench for new boys Sean Longstaff and Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
Some around the club have called for Piroe to return to the team after Calvert-Lewin’s recent goalless run. BBC Sport’s Adam Pope thinks Daniel Farke is right to have dropped last season’s top scorer:
“It’s a 4-3-3. If you bring Piroe in, you don’t get what Calvert-Lewin offers, or Nmecha probably brings in terms of that robust centre-forward.
“If you drop him in behind, who are you losing? One in the midfield?
“Stach? Tanaka? Or are you taking a winger off? It doesn’t make sense in the geometry of the team that he starts.
“But, he was last season’s top scorer. How much would that cost to buy if they didn’t have him?
“£20m? A decent amount of money, they won’t want to lose that player. When they’re having to chase a game, like 3 at the back [against Spurs], there’s room. Unless there are injuries, I don’t see him starting.”
Leeds United striker has not done enough this season
Compared to the other options at center forward, Joel Piroe just does not offer enough. Daniel Farke recently said that Piroe is one of the best finishers he has worked with, but at this level, Leeds do not dominate games enough for him to be effective.
This explains why Calvert-Lewin is the first choice, and Lukas Nmecha comes off the bench in recent games. The three players’ statistics this season show exactly why that decision was made.
- Dominic Calvert-Lewin: 357 minutes, 1 goal scored, 1.34 expected goals (xG), 5 big chances missed
- Lukas Nmecha: 148 minutes, 1 goal scored, 0.97xG, 0 big chances missed
- Joel Piroe: 147 minutes, 0 goals scored, 0.38xG, 1 big chance missed
