Patrick Bamford might be dropped from the starting lineup to make place for this powerhouse.
Leeds United head to Wales to face Swansea City in the Championship today, and they might finish the evening in the automatic promotion places.
The Whites are one point behind Southampton in second place and would overtake Russell Martin’s side if the Saints fail to win Bristol City away from home in their 8 p.m. kick-off and they defeat the Swans.
Daniel Farke’s side is looking for promotion back to the Premier League at the first time of asking, having been relegated to the second division at the end of last season, and are in contention for a top-two finish alongside Southampton, Ipswich, and Leicester.
The Yorkshire club comes into this meeting with Swansea off the back of a 3-0 win over bottom-of-the-league Rotherham, and the German manager may make some changes to his starting lineup to deal with the demanding match schedule.
The former Norwich City manager should bring Joel Piroe back into the squad to give him a chance to shine against his former team as the starting number nine.
This would entail removing Patrick Bamford from the team in order to reconstitute the front two that began the season with the Dutch ace alongside Georginio Rutter.
Patrick Bamford’s Performance Against Rotherham
On paper, dropping the English centre-forward from the starting lineup after he scored the opening goal against the Millers is harsh, but the attacker did not put in a great performance.
The 30-year-old marksman’s goal came in contentious circumstances, as Junior Firpo’s deflected cross appeared to be diverted into the back of the net by Bamford’s outstretched arm, but the officials who awarded the goal missed it.
If the referee had detected the handball and disallowed the goal, or if it had happened in the Premier League with VAR in place, the ex-Chelsea prospect’s performance could have been viewed differently.
As shown in the table above, the rest of his performance was subpar, as he battled to maintain possession throughout the game.
Rotherham’s defenders found it far too easy to beat Bamford, who lost three of his four ground clashes and both aerial bouts.
The seasoned striker’s lack of imagination, as well as his sloppy passing, could have been a greater problem if he hadn’t been awarded the opening goal, especially given that the Leeds front missed his other four shots.
Bamford’s problems against the Miller, along with three Championship games in a week, could see him replaced or rested, allowing Farke to unleash Piroe from the outset.
Joel Piroe’s Goalscoring Potential
The Dutch striker has only scored once in his past seven league games for the Whites, but his overall record in the division shows that his current form is not a hiccup.
He scored nine goals in his first 23 Championship games this season, all of which came in 20 appearances for Leeds following his move from Swansea in August.
Piroe joined the Whites from the Welsh side after establishing himself as a prolific scorer at that level during his two seasons with the Swans.
Piroe moved to Wales in the summer of 2021 and scored an eye-catching 22 goals and six assists in 40 appearances, despite an Expected Goals of only 16.67.
The left-footed dynamo followed it up with 19 goals and two assists in 43 Championship games, with an xG of 13.20 for the 2022/23 season.
Piroe, who was described as “clinical” by journalist Josh Bunting, then moved to Leeds and has scored ten goals with an xG of 7.73.
Since the start of the 2021/22 Championship season, the 24-year-old ace has scored an incredible 51 goals from just 37.6 xG, demonstrating his exceptional finishing and scoring abilities at that level.
He is a proven goalscorer in the second division, and his recent problems in front of goal should not deter Farke from starting him, especially against his previous team, where the striker may be motivated to make a difference.
Georginio Rutter’s creative genius
With Rutter in his new-look number 10 role, rather than starting as number nine, the Dutch centre-forward should have plenty of opportunity to score goals.
Leeds’ French wizard possesses the creative ability to break open the Swansea defensive at will, creating high-quality chances for Piroe in front of goal.
| 23/24 Championship (per 90) | Percentile rank |
|---|---|
| Shot-creating actions (4.43) | Top 2% |
| Assists (0.36) | Top 4% |
| Expected Assisted Goals (0.35) | Top 2% |
| Progressive passes (4.15) | Top 5% |
| Successful take-ons (3.04) | Top 1% |
| Rutter vs forwards (via FBref) | |
As shown in the table above, the former Hoffenheim prospect has been one of the greatest forwards in the Championship at creating chances and moving the ball through passes and take-ons for his club.
Rutter can pass and dribble through teams to assist his teammates, resulting in 19 ‘big opportunities’ and ten assists in 30 league games.
These statistics suggest that the 21-year-old has the ability to create opportunities for Piroe from the number ten position, perhaps allowing the 6’1 striker to thrive up front.
Earlier this season, Farke’s side started with the former Swansea star in the hole and Rutter as the main centre-forward, though they may interchange positions depending on the situation.
Overall, the pair have the potential to be a lethal combination at the top end of the pitch for Leeds, thanks to their respective inventiveness and finishing abilities in the final third, which is why the German manager should bench Bamford and unleash them against the Swans in Wales this evening.
