The “best finisher” at Leeds now finally looks finished under Farke
Leeds United have been in excellent form over the last few weeks. The Whites suffered a last-minute defeat against Manchester City, before beating Chelsea 3-1 and then drawing with Liverpool 3-3 in consecutive games at Elland Road.
The number of goals scored across those three games is a real positive. They scored twice in East Manchester and bagged another six combined in the games at Elland Road.
That takes the West Yorkshire outfit up to 19 goals for the season, better than six sides in the Premier League.
There has been a real upturn in form for two of their strikers, Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Lukas Nmecha.
How Calvert-Lewin and Nmecha have turned it around
Leeds were savvy in the summer when it came to their business. Their two new number nines were a prime example of that, both of whom came on a free transfer.
Calvert-Lewin joined upon the expiry of his Everton contract, and Nmecha his Wolfsburg contract.
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26-year-old Nmecha has begun the season strongly. He already has four goals in 14 games for the Whites, including a goal against City.
He went on a run of three goals in as many games during November.
As for Calvert-Lewin, it was a slow start to life at Elland Road for the Sheffield-born attacker, but his form has really picked up of late.
He also has four goals in 13 appearances this term, bagging in each of the games against their last three opponents.
Someone who has been full of praise for the striker is his ex-teammate at Everton, Conor Coady. The defender described him as an “outstanding footballer” and said playing in a front two is beneficial for him.
However, this upturn in form in front of goal isn’t great news for all Leeds players, with someone on the periphery now seemingly set to struggle even more for a spot in the side.
Leeds' "best finisher" is now out of favour
It has certainly not been an easy campaign for a few of Leeds’ promotion heroes. Daniel Farke has not been able to find a regular place in the side for Ao Tanaka or Daniel James, who have become squad players.
However, it has perhaps hit Joel Piroe the most out of any Leeds star.
Last season, the former Swansea City striker was pivotal as Farke’s side got promoted at the second time of asking. Piroe bagged 19 times and assisted seven in 46 appearances.
His form last term in the Championship was summed up by some impressive underlying stats.
For example, the Dutchman averaged 0.8 goals and assists and created 1.1 chances per 90 minutes.
Goals and assists
0.8
26
Key passes
1.1
39
Dribbles completed
0.4
14
Aerial duels won
0.9
31
Expected goal involvements
0.59xGI
20.44xGI
He had some huge moments in the Whites’ title-winning season, too.
Perhaps the standout was when he bagged four goals inside the first half against Stoke City in the third-to-last game of the season, helping them to a 6-0 thrashing.
Things have not been so straightforward for the former PSV Eindhoven attacker. Piroe has only played eight times in the Premier League, racking up just 197 minutes in that time.
That is a surprise given his form last term, but even more so when you factor in Farke calling him “the best finisher” he’s ever coached.
Yet, it seems like time could be up for the 26-year-old in a Leeds shirt. The fact that he has played so little this term, combined with how well both Calvert-Lewin and Nmecha are playing, does not bode well for his future.
Leeds paid Swansea a reported £16m, including add-ons for the striker, back in 2023. He has certainly justified that price tag with his performances in the second tier, but the fact that there has been no opportunity for him this season is worrying.
It certainly seems as though the man who helped steer Leeds back to the Premier League might not have a future at Elland Road much longer.
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