“Pundit Claims £16m Leeds Player Was ‘Much Improved’ on Saturday, but Lacks a Nasty Edge”
"Mateo Joseph and Joel Piroe Score First Goals of the Season in Leeds United’s 2-0 Win Over Hull City"
Leeds secured their third consecutive clean sheet and a second straight win, heading into the September international break with a more positive outlook, despite a challenging transfer window.
Losing key players like Archie Gray, Georginio Rutter, Crysencio Summerville, and Glen Kamara has left Leeds seemingly weaker compared to the 2023-24 season.
Nevertheless, several Leeds players, including new signings, have something to prove.
Manor Solomon, making his first professional start in almost a year, made some headway in demonstrating his worth.
Neil Redfearn noted improvements in Joel Piroe’s performance on Saturday. Piroe has faced criticism this season, often being played out of position as a no. 10, which has affected his form.
Notably, he struggled at West Brom and has yet to justify his £16m transfer fee.
Piroe has shown flashes of his quality, having scored 44 goals in two seasons with Swansea before moving to Elland Road.
Redfearn commented to BBC Radio Leeds that Piroe was much better but still lacked a certain “nastiness” in his game.
“I thought he was much improved today. It seemed to matter more to him.
There have been times when games have passed him by and he hasn’t been involved.
When he’s fully committed, he’s a strong player,” Redfearn said.
However, Redfearn also observed, “He still needs a bit more menace, a bit of nastiness, which I don’t think he has.”
There were reports that Leeds included Piroe in a last-minute bid to acquire Gustavo Hamer during the transfer window, a claim Leeds has denied.
Even if false, the speculation heightened pressure on Piroe.
If Leeds did indeed try to offload him, it suggests he may be deemed expendable by The 49ers, just a year after his arrival.
Regardless of the accuracy of these reports, Piroe would have felt the need to prove his value to the club.
Redfearn’s assessment was that Piroe’s recent performance indicated a greater sense of urgency and commitment.
Whether Piroe will earn a starting position in the coming weeks remains uncertain, especially with Joseph performing well upfront.
