Leeds United’s final pre-season clash before the start of the campaign takes place today and Daniel Farke’s lineup should give us a clear view of his best XI to begin the promotion push.
Pre-season has been encouraging for Leeds so far in terms of what we’ve seen on the pitch, as Daniel Farke looks to sharpen his tactical structure for the club after missing out on promotion.
Despite his side not looking totally complete in the transfer market, he boasts a very strong setup for next week’s kick-off against Portsmouth.
The main debate at the moment for Farke’s best lineup is who starts up front from minute one, with Mateo Joseph and Joel Piroe doing their bit to stake their claim, while Patrick Bamford recovers from knee surgery.
It’ll no doubt be very pleasing for Farke in pre-season clashes that both Joseph and Piroe have proven their ability to play as lone strikers, scoring two apiece from the spearhead of the attack and looking every bit as sharp as they need to be to hit the ground running.
In terms of discourse amongst Leeds fans, Joseph looks to be the popular choice to start the season up front, a player with undoubted talent primed to burst into serious goalscoring form, if given the chance.
Piroe, meanwhile, is in need of a breakthrough of sorts when it comes to finding his way in Farke’s setup, looking a tough fit for his approach despite being a lethal finisher from inside the 18-yard box.
Should Farke tap into the 25-year-old’s strengths more consistently in this hopefully more balanced system, Leeds could find his 20-plus Swansea tally quite easily.
Who should start up front for Leeds this season?
Patrick Bamford
Joel Piroe
Mateo Joseph
Today’s Valencia clash should tell Leeds fans which striker is preferred
There are equally justifiable arguments to be made about either player in this debate, with Piroe’s 55 goals across three Championship seasons, and Joseph’s obvious talent as a clinical and all-round number nine despite his inexperience.
Today’s home clash against Valencia should surely see Farke name the lineup that he expects to start against Portsmouth in seven days’ time.
In attack, it’s a two-way battle for that starting spot between Piroe and Joseph, with this fixture our last opportunity to hone in on the tweaks the German has been implementing over the past month.
Whichever way it goes with these two and who ends up getting the nod, it would suggest quite strongly that they are going to be the man Farke backs to start most weeks in the early knockings of the season.
