Daniel Farke has responded to claims Leeds United need to improve from set-pieces by suggesting the data looks much better this season in comparison to last.
Leeds have not actually scored from a corner since February’s 4-0 win away at Swansea City, though even then it actually came via a deflected Crysencio Summerville strike after it was played short.
The last time Leeds actually scored directly from such a situation was the 4-0 victory over Ipswich Town at Elland Road, when Pascal Struijk nodded in after Joel Piroe’s initial header was saved.
Leeds have had 35 corners in the Championship so far this season with only five other sides averaging more per match.
This is an area that could be so useful to Leeds in matches where they are struggling to break sides down in open play as it is effectively a free opportunity to get the ball inside the box.
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Farke makes claim about Pascal Struijk at Leeds this season
Leeds’ set-piece struggles last season directly correlated with when Struijk picked up an injury that ended up ruling him out for the last five months of the campaign.
Struijk’s return has made Leeds look more dangerous during the opening month or so of this season, though unfortunately they have been unable to turn that into goals.
The 24-year-old is the man Leeds often aim at from corners and while he does make the first contact a lot, the accuracy of his headers do leave a lot to be desired.
Speaking in his pre-Cardiff City press conference, Farke believes Struijk could quite easily have added at least two more goals to the penalty he scored on the opening day against Portsmouth.
He said: “If you play with these type of players, you get magic and creativity but they rarely come from a set-piece. If you play with Dan James you get forward running, pace. We don’t have the team who is so strong in set-pieces, that’s a fact.
“But we want to be better because it’s an important topic. It’s more or less like the takers, I was not happy how we took corners last season, I think we’re much improved. In the box, we always want to improve.
“Having Pascal back helps. I have to praise how much workload we put into this topic, our data people with support from the Americans, we have a company we work with. In pre-season we scored at least two goals from set-pieces.
“Right now we have many more first touches and also xG (expected goals) from set-pieces we are really good. Pascal could’ve scored two or three but we haven’t, we have to take it on the chin but I think it’s not long until we score from this situation. The feeling is we’re edging closer. The trend is your friend.”
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Joe Rodon needs to improve at corners for Leeds
It is not only Struijk who should be taking the blame for Leeds’ lack of set-piece goals, but Joe Rodon too.
Considering how much of a presence he is in the air, Rodon should be able to get his head onto more deliveries than he actually does.
Rodon had a decent opportunity to do exactly that against Burnley but somehow missed the ball completely and so clearly he can improve significantly.
If Leeds can find a way where both Struijk and Rodon become dangerous, then surely it is only a matter of time before they start making use of them.
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