Leeds United fans had plenty to be positive about after the 3-1 win against Middlesbrough on Tuesday night. But there was one negative on the night.
Leeds United moved top of the Championship table after a commanding 3-1 win against Middlesbrough at Elland Road on Tuesday night.
Goals came from Wilfried Gnonto, Dan James, and Brenden Aaronson on the night. But there was debate around Mateo Joseph starting for Daniel Farke’s side.
Leeds United fans were torn between Joel Piroe and Joseph but after Piroe’s impressive cameo off the bench, setting up James for the second goal, there seems to be no more debate over the two.
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Leeds United fans say Mateo Joseph performance was the ‘only negative’ vs Middlesbrough
After the win against Middlesbrough, one Leeds fan described Joseph as the ‘only negative’ on the night, with another saying that the youngster was ‘out of his depth’.
Other comments suggested that ‘Joseph needs dropping’ and that ‘last night wasn’t great’ for the Spaniard, who simply ‘didn’t have that instinct’ in front of goal.
Another Leeds fan posted: “Hopefully today ends the Piroe vs Joseph debate for now. Great prospect, not the first choice as it stands,” as another added: “Can we now put to bed the ‘Joseph is good enough’ shenanigans.”
This Leeds fan then said: “Piroe’s been on for less than 10 mins and already done way more than Joseph.”
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Mateo Joseph backed for bright Leeds future, but patience needed
Joseph looked slightly out of his depth against Middlesbrough. Then when Piroe came on, his experience showed, and Leeds looked much better for it.
Joseph has an impressive goals tally for Spain’s U21s and this season he has two goals and three assists in 20 Championship outings for Leeds.
He remains a prospect at 21 years old. And speaking earlier in the season, former Leeds youth gem Max Dean tipped Joseph for a bright career in football.
Dean said: “When I was at Leeds, I was competing with Joffy [Joe Gelhardt] and Sam [Greenwood] who are unbelievable players, aren’t they? And then Mateo [Joseph] came in.
“They’re already doing unbelievable but the careers they’re going to have when they’ve finished, I can say I had to compete with them players.”
Expect Piroe to return to the starting XI when Leeds travel to Preston North End on Saturday lunchtime.
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