Phil Hay feels Leeds United manager Daniel Farke should take a “gamble” and start Mateo Joseph against Middlesbrough.
Leeds travel to the Riverside Stadium on Monday (22 April), hoping to rebound from a 1-0 loss to Blackburn Rovers and a 0-0 draw with Sunderland in their previous two games.
After failing to score in the two home games, The Athletic’s Hay has suggested that Joseph replace Joel Piroe and Patrick Bamford up front.
“I cannot see Farke going with the system he went with against Blackburn, with Piroe up front,” Hay stated on The Square Ball Podcast [18 April, 25m 50s].
“It simply didn’t work and didn’t get anything out of Piroe. Based on what we’ve seen from Farke, it’s reasonable to presume Bamford will fill that position.
“But I’d be tempted to play Joseph, I must admit, but I understand that it’s a gamble.
“It is quite easy to offer ideas for modifications that are not tested. It’s simple to say, ‘If he doesn’t play, he needs to play and score goals.'”
Who will start for Leeds United against Middlesbrough?
Farke has a few significant decisions to make following some dismal outcomes recently. We are now at a moment in the season where Leeds just must win.
Bamford needed to be benched against Blackburn, but Piroe failed to step up and fill the gap. While the centre-forward is not solely responsible for scoring goals, they do bear the brunt of the responsibility.
Starting Joseph at the Riverside is, of course, a gamble, but he has made an impact when called upon in recent weeks.
He scored two goals in his only FA Cup start away at Chelsea, followed by a potentially critical late equaliser away at Watford after coming on as a substitute.
Joseph hasn’t scored in four games since then, although he’s played only 70 minutes. As Hay correctly points out, it is simple to argue what Farke should and should not do, but the German is the one who lives and dies by his choices.
