Leeds United have had an issue scoring from attacking set-pieces for a while now.
Excluding the short corner routine which led to Crysencio Summerville’s goal at Swansea City in February, Pascal Struijk’s opener against Sheffield United was the first time Leeds have scored directly from a corner since December last year.
Incredibly, Ilia Gruev’s strike in the play-off win over Norwich City back in May was also the first time Leeds had scored directly from a free-kick since Raphinha against Leicester City exactly three years ago today.
Leeds just simply haven’t been able to find a set-piece taker who plays regularly that is capable of putting it bang on the money every time.
Even during Summerville’s Championship POTS winning campaign last year, his free-kicks were always pretty dreadful.
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Bamford on what ‘ridiculous’ Sam Greenwood would do at Leeds
The only player on Leeds’ books that would be regarded as a set-piece specialist is currently out on loan at Preston North End – Sam Greenwood.
Farke hailed Greenwood as one of the best free-kick takers he has ever worked with last season but clearly does not rate other aspects of his game high enough, having also spent last season away from Elland Road at Middlesbrough.
Across his two loan spells, Greenwood has actually managed to find the back of the net with three free-kicks, two of which have come this season at PNE.
And Greenwood’s ability on free-kicks has drawn praise from Leeds teammate Patrick Bamford on the latest episode of the ‘My Mate’s A Footballer‘ Podcast.
Bamford says Greenwood is someone Leeds’ first team knew about straight away after his promotion from the U21s, describing his dead-ball ability as ‘ridiculous’.
He said: “Well, if I think back to when Jesse was manager, we had, under Marcelo, we’d seen the 21s play quite a bit. Sam Greenwood was in the 21s. He was honestly, every time there was a free kick, he was putting it in and he was ridiculous at it.
“And then he started training with the first team like a bit later. Anyway, when he finally came up to the first team and was playing, like as soon as he came on the pitch, like there wasn’t even a discussion. It was just like, Sam, you’re taking it. But honestly, he’s top drawer at free kicks.”
Jermaine Beckford makes prediction on Greenwood’s Leeds future
As mentioned, despite Greenwood’s amazing talent from set-pieces, he hasn’t ever really looked like making it at Leeds.
The vast majority of his appearances for Leeds have come as a substitute, and Farke decided pretty quickly his squad didn’t need him. Jermaine Beckford doesn’t think he suits Leeds’ style of play.
He said: “He’s a very creative player but his set pieces are fantastic. His distribution is really clever. While he was at Leeds, in PL2, goals and assists, every single game, they were coming thick and fast, on a regular basis.
“He didn’t get the same opportunities at Leeds, he just wasn’t quite suited. The pressure at Preston is not going to be as much as it is at Leeds, the expectation is not going to be as much as it is at Leeds United.”
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