Daniel Farke says Leeds have a truly ‘world-class’ 24-year-old in their ranks
The Elland Road manager acknowledged Piroe’s “world-class” finishing at his pre-game press conference.
Farke added that Piroe “is not always the perfect solution” and that he must take into account the fact that his Leeds striker must “fulfill some other tasks.”
“But because we are Leeds United we want the ball every moment so we need players to lead the intensity of the pressing.
“Because we are often dominant against teams parking the bus we need a striker who stretches the opponent with running in behind, with smart movements.
“I wouldn’t label his pressing qualities as the best in this league.
The Leeds manager emphasized that because he had experience teaching strikers in the Premier League and the Championship and had played as a striker himself, he knew exactly what he was doing. Piroe, who joined the team in the summer following a productive stint at Swansea, has six goals this season in 11 games (including four in ten in the Championship).
Some have questioned Piroe’s position at Leeds, wondering why he is not playing in the box instead of leading the line. But Farke has made it clear why this is so.
“There are elements of Joel’s game that would make me consider playing him as a lone striker,” he said. “He has world-class finishing and I find it hard to find better players in this country.”
“If the ball is close to the penalty area, you can come to the other half of the field for the next touch.”
“Patrick Bamford or Georginio Rutter are always pressing with intensity or running in behind. Joel’s not lightning quick and mobile like Speedy Gonzalez.
“Quite often at Swansea he liked to drop, there were quick players on the wing and he arrived late into the box with instinctive finishes.
“If we asked our lone striker always to drop, to link the play, to play the ball out, I would definitely play Joel as a striker but if our striker has to fulfill some other tasks he’s not always the perfect solution.”
Only a portion of Farke’s response to reporters regarding Piroe’s positioning is presented above.
After mentioning his experience working with forwards, Farke continued by citing two success stories that initially raised some eyebrows: Teemu Pukki and Marcus Thuram.
Although there was opposition to the Leeds manager’s decision to sign Pukki for Norwich on a free transfer, the Finn went on to flourish for the Canaries.
Additionally, Thuram was successfully transformed into a striker at Borussia Monchengladbach under Farke.
On the offensive front, it goes without saying that Farke is an expert.
