Daniel Farke discloses his favorite ‘quality’ of Leeds United striker after discovering promising history
Leeds United manager Daniel Farke believes that scoring the ‘decisive’ first goal in a match is crucial, something that new striker Joel Piroe has shown a talent for throughout his tenure in English football.
Between his arrival in 2021 and the summer deal that brought him to Elland Road this year, the ex-Swansea City forward scored on a regular basis for the south Wales club.
Given how he has started life under Farke, it is highly likely that the Dutchman will hit a half-century of Championship goals in just his third season this year. His next goal for Leeds will be his 50th in all competitions since moving to the UK.
Piroe’s debut for the Whites has helped drive Leeds from the bottom of the Championship table to sixth place, one place behind Leicester City, Ipswich Town, Sunderland, Preston North End, Hull City, and Sunderland.
His £12 million signing was hailed as a statement addition by supporters, despite coming at the tail end of an emotionally draining summer transfer period.
Two of Piroe’s four goals in a Leeds shirt have given Farke’s side the lead, against Millwall and Watford. Such objectives are described as decisive by the German management.
Others in the football world refer to them as ‘go-ahead goals,’ although they simply refer to goals that give a team the lead.
Piroe scored 21 go-ahead goals for Swansea, 19 of which broke the deadlock in games. Given that the 24-year-old scored 46 goals for the Swans, nearly every second goal he scored for the team was what Farke would label “decisive.”
Piroe scored nine game-winning goals in his first season in British football, eight of which came as the game’s first goal. The following season, Piroe increased his goal total to 11, 10 of which were game-winners. He added to his score this season in the Carabao Cup First Round, netting Swansea’s first goal in a 3-0 win over Northampton Town.
Two of his four goals at Leeds have been of this type.
“I always tell my players, the most important goal is especially the first goal, even when it’s a tight game, a decisive goal,” Farke remarked after the 3-0 win against Watford last weekend, which Piroe scored.
“In the 4-0, or the 5-0 or the 7-1 everyone can score but be on it when it’s a tight game, it’s really crucial.”
Dan James’ perfect cross from the right found the Dutchman in space at the back post, where he finished, wearing out Watford’s crumbling defense after 67 minutes of dominance.
“Joel possesses this quality. He’s always there with lovely goals – and he’s entitled to score the fourth or fifth one – but you have to be there when it counts.”
Breaking the deadlock is an often-overlooked facet of modern football, given how frequently clubs that score first, especially at home, go on to win all three points. Having an attacker in Leeds with a track record of accomplishing just that will only benefit the team, something Farke is well aware of.
“I want us to demonstrate this all over the pitch because one thing is certain: we can’t rely solely on the goals of Joel Piroe, Georginio Rutter, or Patrick Bamford if he’s available.”
“It’s also critical that we score goals from midfield and defensive positions.” For that reason, I’m also thrilled that we got goals today from Jaidon [Anthony] and Sam Byram.
“It’s important for our defensive players to score goals, but to be there with a crucial, decisive goal is a quality, and it’s good that we demonstrated this today.”
