Jaka Bijol for me, is fast emerging as one of the centre-backs to keep an eye on in the Premier League. I remember being ecstatic when we first signed him; certainly he for me, was a standout in Serie A last season and I thought we’d landed a coup. Especially for the price.
While it has taken him a while to find his feet, I think at last, he looks at home in Daniel Farke’s new 5-3-2 system, which has proved to be somewhat of a masterstroke.
I wrote when we signed him, that he could be our answer to Nottingham Forest’s Nikola Milenkovic (who also arrived from the Serie A), the Serbian being a key player for them last season. In this system change, I think Bijol is enjoying himself.
With Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s resurgent form, it could well be a toss up for who our signing of the season could be, though there is a long way to go yet.
Bijol looks at home in the centre of our defence, especially with Pascal Struijk and Joe Rodon either side of him who can provide cover as, when and if it is needed. From set-pieces, as I knew we would eventually, we look formidable and Bijol is a key reason for that, both defensive and offensive.
A Major Goal Threat
As he proved in our recent 3-1 tearing-apart of Chelsea at home, has a goal in his locker. In fact, his opener exemplified the way you should attack a corner, timing his run to perfection as he leapt onto a brilliant delivery to power a header into the back of the net. It was quite simply, textbook.
Bijol should be making runs like that at every attacking set-piece and, with the right deliveries he can prove to be an unstoppable force.
He’s one of quite a few goal threats in the box with his height, which is great for us and I think there are definitely more goals to come from attacking set-pieces for us of which, Bijol can be more than a part of.
Also, there will be certain teams against which he can take advantage of his aerial presence in the box, who may well find him hard to defend against.
In a three at the back, I’m especially intrigued as to how he would perform with fellow new signing, Sebastiaan Bornauw who has yet to really feature, but is also a significant presence.
An Imposing Force Who Can Become A Mainstay
I honestly think that he is our best and most important centre-back at the minute and I believe he will only get better. My main worry is that a big club might come in for him and his head will be turned, though for now, he definitely appears to be enjoying life at Elland Road.
Those of you old enough to remember, will look back fondly to the period when we, effectively had four top class centre-backs (when we played 4-4-2), with Lucas Radebe, Rio Ferdinand, Jonathan Woodgate and Dominic Matteo (who could also play at left-back and central midfield).
While we are someway off this level, I think Bijol is proving that he can be the start of a top-class centre-back revolution at Leeds United.
