Joel Piroe admits to being surprised by his job under Daniel Farke and taking it ‘very literally’ in the flop Leeds United and Sheffield Wednesday play to a draw.
Joel Piroe accepted responsibility for his bad performance as Leeds United drew with Sheffield Wednesday, stating it was “my own fault.”
Speaking to Adam Pope for BBC Radio Leeds on September 19, the Whites striker said that being fielded in the withdrawn role by Daniel Farke since his arrival from Swansea has been a “little bit of a surprise,” but that the staff have “explained it really well” and it is a role that “really suits me.”
However, after the 0-0 draw at Elland Road on September 2, the Dutchman revealed that he took the midfield assignment “too literally” and fell too far away from attack partner Georginio Rutter, but he has since worked to correct that.
The big-money signing has scored three goals in three games for Leeds United, including a goal on debut in the 4-3 win over Ipswich and two in the 3-0 win over Millwall, which sandwiched the poor home outing.
Adaptation
Piroe has been precisely as advertised since signing for an initial £10.5 million [Phil Hay, 24 August], averaging a goal per game.
The draw against struggling Wednesday was a letdown, as he barely got into the game, let alone into a position to threaten the scoreboard.
While it is perhaps surprising that Leeds United spent huge money for a striker only to play him off Rutter, who was previously viewed as more of a supporting attacker, it has paid off two out of three occasions.
It is perhaps less of a surprise that both the occasions it did work were away games where the opposition were more obliged to come at the Whites instead of sit back and crowd the space.
Piroe may end up being used as a number nine more frequently later in the season but clearly Farke thinks this is the best use of his assets for now.
And it is impossible to fault the 24-year-old in taking responsibility for his one poor game so far, while it sounds like he has already seen where he went wrong and worked to improve it, which judging by his opener at Millwall when played in by Rutter is already paying off.
