Neil Redfearn has admitted that he thought that Joel Piroe looked a little lost for Leeds United after his performance in the stalemate with Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday.
Redfearn was speaking on BBC Radio Leeds after Daniel Farke’s side failed to score past a team which had previously failed to take a single point from their opening games.
Joel Piroe marked his Leeds debut with a goal against Ipswich Town last weekend. Unfortunately, there was to be no second goal for the Dutchman as he struggled to make an impact in a more withdrawn role.
Instead, Georginio Rutter seemed to be given the chance to start up front. Piroe meanwhile, seemed to be trying to get more involved in the build-up. However, the plan did not pay off. And the 24-year-old failed to hit the target with either of his attempts on goal.
Redfearn thinks Piroe looked lost in Leeds draw
Of course, a front four which includes Piroe, Rutter, Willy Gnonto and Crysencio Summerville should strike fear into plenty of Championship sides.
But Redfearn believes that the decision to use Piroe in a deeper role did the striker no favours at all.
“Well I thought they were going to play 4-4-2 at first, like they did at Ipswich. But obviously, they played more of a midfield role for Piroe. I just thought Piroe got lost in the game,” he told BBC Radio Leeds.
“When he got on the ball, I think he showed some nice touches. And then as the game degenerated – Sheffield Wednesday’s doing, getting bodies behind the ball, making it scrappy and breaking stuff up – then his influence got less and less.”
Piroe is not going to score in every game. But the worry for many supporters will be how quiet he proved to be in the game. And there will be some concerns that that role is what Daniel Farke has planned for him.
Ultimately, Piroe was one of the most lethal goalscorers in the Championship over the last couple of years. And he is now surrounded by so much quality in the likes of Gnonto and Summerville. There is also Jaidon Anthony to come into the side at some stage.
Hopefully, it was just an off-day for all of the attackers on Saturday. Certainly, they have the ability to make amends in the near future.
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