‘Too static’… Leeds United player criticises his and another teammate’s early-season form

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Joel Piroe believes he and Georginio Rutter did not click straight away at Leeds United because they were ‘too static’.

The two players have started every game alongside one another since Piroe’s arrival from Swansea City in August, with both actually scoring on the Dutchman’s debut in the win at Ipswich Town.

However, in some of the matches during their early weeks together, their link-up was sporadic, with 0-0 draws against Sheffield Wednesday and Hull City both clear examples of that.

In the latest episode of the Official Leeds United Podcast, Piroe has explained the reasons he feels that was the case given how strong it has looked over the past few weeks.

Both have contributed enormously to Leeds‘ attacking numbers so far this season. Piroe has scored six and set-up one, with Rutter having netted three goals and provided five assists.

Piroe says he and Rutter now rotating a lot more in attack

Piroe believes the key to their recent success as a partnership is that they are now rotating a lot more between positions, in comparison to how ‘static’ they were earlier in the season.

“The boss has explained really well to me and Georginio as well and he tries to make us swap positions more often. At the start we have been a bit too static about it.

“I would say that’s maybe because we are both young and not as experienced as other players who would maybe feel it a little bit more or say I don’t listen as much to the boss as the younger guys do, who hear him say one thing and think about it a little bit too much.

“That is where we are deciding a little bit more for ourselves when we swap and how long before and that’s something I think we can still improve even more, especially when you are playing an opponent when you know that it works if you don’t change, you just keep on doing it.”

Rotation was seen fleetingly in their early time together on the pitch, with Piroe’s opening goal away at Millwall a far too infrequent occurrence. It was, however, a sign of things to come.

However, it is now evident that Piroe has learned when he needs to push on and lead the line given how much Rutter likes to drop deep and get involved with the play.

It is promising to hear that Piroe knows it is important to the team’s structure that he does lead the line occasionally as at the start of the season, Leeds were too often left without a number nine.