Surely, this is common sense right? We brought in two strikers in the summer – yeah, I know. On free transfers, while failing to sign any really of note (I’m still not sure if the board made it look like we at least tried just to placate the fans), though Dominic Calvert-Lewin has only scored once (a glancing header) in our 3-1 away win against Wolves and Lukas Nmecha from the penalty spot in our first game of the season – a narrow 1-0 win at home to Everton.
Both are injury prone/trying to rediscover their best form and the latter appears to be more of a second-choice than anything, so I find myself wondering, why oh why, does Daniel Farke keep persisting with the former when we have a proven goal-scorer sitting on the bench?!
Joel Piroe banged in 19 Championship goals for us last season on our way to winning the league, while he was also the division’s top scorer. Yet, Farke isn’t giving him a chance. We’ve struggled for goals (at least in most of our games) and yet, Calvert-Lewin is being preferred over a forward who I’m sure must have gone into pre-season high on confidence.
Just Give Piroe A Chance
Look, I’m not saying Farke should automatically declare him first choice striker, though why not start him in two or three games in a row? It’s about as many as Calvert-Lewin has had and, to be honest, I think he’s forgotten where the goal is.
🎯 "𝗥𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝗯𝘆 𝗣𝗶𝗿𝗼𝗲!"#LUFC x #GoalOfTheDay pic.twitter.com/bWyfYdcsO6
— Leeds United (@LUFC) March 15, 2024
I know it might take Piroe a while to get to grips with the step up in quality, but when you think about others who have successfully made the transition over the years, it’s definitely possible. The likes’ of Ivan Toney, Ollie Watkins, our own Patrick Bamford of course, who attracted interest from Liverpool and others have transferred their goal-scoring talents to England’s top tier.
Also, he already has an established on-field relationship with Daniel James, Brenden Aaronson – who is really starting to show what he’s capable of, and Willy Gnonto, while I’m sure it won’t take long for him to do so with Noah Okafor.
Make This Change Right Now
For me, with the game at Brighton coming up, I think this would be the perfect opportunity to make this change. Because, firstly, they are a tough team at the best of occasions and will be smarting after being pummelled at Old Trafford.
Secondly, they wouldn’t be expecting it. Most of their planning will have been around containing Calvert-Lewin; it wouldn’t have entered their thinking that Piroe (an actual goal-scorer) might start. And also, for Piroe, there could be somewhat of a competitive opportunity to outshine former teammate Georginio Rutter, who he had a great relationship with for us.
So, yeah, I think now is the perfect time to make the change and, I think it would be hailed as genius by fans – especially if he made an impact – which I really believe he could.
Afterall, we have nothing to lose. We need goals from strikers. Our supporting cast (Okafor, Aaronson etc) has done a respectable job; it is fair to say, though we need a frontman who can hit the net.
Starting Piroe against Brighton and then, why not for a few more games after (should he score), might just prove to be a masterstroke, while also putting a rocket up the rear of Calvert-Lewin.
