Latest news with #JoelPiroe
New York Times
a day ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Manchester United 0-0 Leeds United: A new formation, a new-look attack, goodbye Bamford?
Leeds United got their 2025 pre-season programme underway with a 0-0 draw against Manchester United in Stockholm on Saturday. There were debuts for the five new arrivals Leeds have drafted in this summer, while Patrick Bamford's absence arguably commanded the biggest headline of the day. Quality in both boxes was lacking from the two attacks, but this was always about the Leeds players banking minutes in their first outing of the summer. The majority of the squad Farke took to Sweden was given 45 minutes apiece, with a few minor exceptions. The team travels to Germany next for a week-long training camp, where two further friendlies will be played behind closed doors… Rumours of Bamford's omission began to circulate on Friday night. Saturday's teamsheet confirmed the club's No 9 of the last seven years had been left at home. After 205 appearances, 60 goals, two Championship titles and one England cap, Farke is ready to draw a line under Bamford's time as a Leeds player. The centre-forward has only started 40 of the club's 171 league games since August 2021 and did not start at all in the Championship last term. Advertisement With the arrival of Lukas Nmecha, who has actually played fewer minutes than Bamford over the past four seasons, the continued pursuit of Rodrigo Muniz, Joel Piroe's golden boot and the rise of Harry Gray, the writing was arguably on the wall for Bamford. In his absence, Nmecha and Piroe got the nod on Saturday. The former's biggest battle this season is likely to be with his body, but if he can stay fit, he offers another physical outlet for the team. The Germany international dropped deep to link up play at Strawberry Arena and showed strength when he took the ball down with his chest, defenders at his back. He missed one or two passes in behind for an on-running Wilfried Gnonto, but that will come with more minutes alongside each other. Piroe did, by stark contrast, see and execute those passes. No conclusions can be drawn from this one game about what the coming season holds, but as the Dutchman dropped in, he showed poise, flair and vision in threading passes into space for Daniel James and Largie Ramazani. The through-balls were not perfect, but there was promise in what Piroe was trying to do. Mateo Joseph was the other striker conspicuous by his absence from the matchday squad. Farke was far less definitive with his comments on the Spaniard's future. He seemed to suggest it was Joseph's decision to sit the game out because he did not feel ready after a slightly delayed return to training after Spain under-21 duty. If Leeds do land Muniz, as they hope to, that leaves him, Piroe, Nmecha and Joseph competing for one berth, with Gray hoping to pick up cameos. That's a crowded striker department and the interest in Joseph from Spain has never gone away. As a low-cost arrival, Joseph would generate meaningful profit and sustainability (PSR) headroom if he fetched an eight-figure fee too. However, Leeds insisted he was not for sale when they rejected a loan (with purchase option) offer from Real Betis this week. While Jayden Bogle seemed to pick up where he left off last season, this was a first sight of Gabriel Gudmundsson as United's left-back following his transfer from Lille. As early as the fourth minute, Bogle was getting bums off seats. The right-back darted into an ocean of space on the opponents' left flank and carried the ball into the penalty box. He put in a dangerous cross, but it did not result in anything too troubling for the Manchester outfit. Advertisement Piroe's aforementioned creativity combined with Bogle to create one of United's best chances in the second half. The forward took a lovely touch around pressure and then slid Bogle in down the right channel after a smart run in behind. Evidently, Bogle will need to do a lot more defending next season than last, but this was a refreshing reminder of the damage he can wreak when he raids forward. Gudmundsson's highlight reels suggested he was an aggressive and progressive ball carrier, but we got to see it in Leeds colours on Saturday. The Sweden international lost the ball once or twice, but impressed with his front-foot defending. He was happy to get forward too, underlapping and even joining Piroe in the penalty box on a couple of occasions. The sheer number of midfielders Leeds have been linked with this summer had always suggested Farke may be pivoting to a three-man central unit. Captain Ethan Ampadu, Ao Tanaka and Ilia Gruev came into the summer with hopes of starting regularly next term, but Sean Longstaff has arrived on a package worth up to £15million ($20.1m) and Anton Stach will sign for a fee in excess of £17.3million ($23.2m). In a 4-2-3-1 system, that's three quality players missing out every week. Here, Farke experimented with a 4-3-3, though he tried a back-three in last summer's opener at Harrogate Town and we barely saw it again after that, so don't read too much into it. Ampadu played at the base of the three as the anchor in front of the defence, while Gruev and Tanaka alternated between No 8 and No 10 roles on either side of him. Their main task was to contest the middle of the field, but show a willingness to break into the final third when the front three had possession. Tanaka showed some especially neat synergy with Gnonto as the first-half's right winger. Gruev was keen to join in with attacks, while Ampadu got his hands dirty with Bruno Fernandes in the engine room. Advertisement Longstaff showed some classy touches and patience on the ball, but, again, it's hard to take too much from 45 minutes in a friendly after barely 48 hours with his new team-mates. While Bamford was unequivocally excommunicated on Saturday, the door was left ajar for the man who hadn't played in United colours for more than two years. Not only was Jack Harrison in Sweden, but he was starting on the left flank. A shirt number of 38 for a winger who previously wore 22 and 11 at the club does not scream 'first choice starter on August 16'. If Harrison was definitely going to figure in Farke's plans next season, he surely would have been given a far more considered shirt like those worn by Longstaff (eight), Gudmundsson (three) or Jaka Bijol (15). And yet, his presence in Sweden shows Farke has not consigned him to the same cast-off list as Bamford, Joe Gelhardt, Sam Greenwood et al. Harrison's got another three years on his contract, his wages are significant and his attacking output with Everton did not turn heads. Wherever he ends up at the end of the transfer window, Harrison has at least, as of mid-July, been given an olive branch he may not have expected when he returned for pre-season. All he can do is train to the best of his ability and carry out everything Farke asks for. For now, the manager is citing the examples of Junior Firpo and Brenden Aaronson as out-of-favour Leeds players who have won the crowd back. Whatever your stance on that pair's respective arcs, Farke's describing them that way and mapping out how it's possible for Harrison to reintegrate. Harrison did not catch the eye during his 45 minutes in the Swedish capital. We await the coming friendlies to see how the narrative around him develops. Top photo:
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
31-05-2025
- Sport
- Business Standard
Premier League: Which teams got promoted to top flight from Championship?
Promotion to the Premier League remains one of the most financially rewarding achievements in global football, and for the 2024/25 EFL Championship season, 24 teams battled for the coveted three spots in the top flight. With the season now concluded, Burnley, Leeds United, and Sunderland have earned their place in the Premier League for the 2025/26 campaign. Teams promoted to the Premier League Leeds United Burnley Sunderland Leeds end season as champions Leeds United claimed the Championship title in dominant fashion, finishing the season with 100 points and securing their return to the Premier League after two years in the second tier. Having narrowly missed promotion last season via the playoffs, Leeds bounced back strongly this time. Joel Piroe led the scoring charts for the Whites with 19 goals, while Daniel James and Manor Solomon also made key attacking contributions. Burnley fetch automatic promotion back to the top flight Burnley joined them through the second automatic promotion spot, narrowly missing out on the title due to goal difference. Their promotion comes just a year after being relegated from the Premier League. It's the fourth consecutive season that has seen Burnley switch divisions. Midfielder Josh Brownhill was instrumental in their campaign, scoring 18 goals and leading a team packed with experienced players and impactful loanees. Sunderland grab final PL spot with playoff final win The final promotion place went to Sunderland, who triumphed 2-1 over Sheffield United in a dramatic playoff final. A last-gasp winner by Tom Watson sealed their return to the Premier League after an eight-year absence. Sunderland's rise is particularly remarkable given they were in League One just a few seasons ago, highlighting their steady rebuild and successful resurgence. The next big challenge for these sides will be to maintain their level of performances in order to battle with the other 17 teams from the top flight and try to mainatin their Premier League status for the future.
BBC News
20-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
What next for Vardy?
Monday Night Club pundit Rory Smith believes a move to newly-promoted Leeds United would make sense for Jamie who will leave Leicester City at the end of the season, told Sky Sports he has no intention of retiring and believes he can continue to deliver in the Premier on who Vardy might be suitable for on BBC Radio 5 Live, Smith said: "I think he actually makes a lot of sense for Leeds if he can overcome his inherent Sheffield Wednesday fan status."The experience, there aren't that many proven goal scorers available. Leeds have plenty of goals in the team but they don't have a focal point."There's questions about whether Joel Piroe can make the step up. I think there's a logic to Leeds."Watch the full episode on BBC iPlayer
BBC News
05-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Piroe earns golden boot award
Leeds United striker Joel Piroe has a personal achievement to go along with the side's promotion and title win on Saturday - the Championship's golden Dutchman found the net 19 times to be named the second division's highest scorer, beating out Burnley's Josh Brownhill with 18."It's something I'm really happy with, personally," Piroe told BBC Radio Leeds."I said before if you become champion and you get the golden boot, you can't really complain as a striker, can you?"Goalkeeper Karl Darlow has also had a personally gratifying played second fiddle to number one stopper Illan Meslier since joining from Newcastle in July 2023, a series of errors from the Frenchman gave Darlow first call on the team sheet for the final seven games of the kept four clean sheets across those games to help his side clinch the title - though when it comes to pride, it's the collective that matters."I've stayed professional throughout the whole thing and waited and bided my time to get an opportunity, to get a chance to get into the side," Darlow said."I'm just proud of what we've done as a group and how we've got over the line. We've won the last six on the bounce, and it's an incredible way, under massive pressure from a young squad, to galvanise to get over the line."Listen to the full interviews and more on the Don't Go To Bed Just Yet podcast.
The Herald Scotland
03-05-2025
- Sport
- The Herald Scotland
Return of the century for Leeds and Burnley as promoted sides join 100 club
They joined League One champions Birmingham in the century club and here, the PA news agency looks at how they compare. Triple triumph – Before this season, only 16 teams had ever reached 100 points in an English league season. – Birmingham became the 17th and have gone on to set an all-time record, reaching 108 with Wednesday's win over Blackpool to pass Reading's previous mark of 106. – Leeds and Burnley both finished on exactly 100 in the Championship, with Leeds top on goal difference. – Daniel Farke's side won 29 games, drew 13 and lost four, scoring 95 goals with Joel Piroe's 19 making him the Championship's top scorer. – Burnley's success was built at the other end of the pitch, conceding only 16 goals and never more than one in a league game. Scott Parker's side lost only twice, with 28 wins and 16 draws – 12 of them 0-0 and the remainder 1-1. Century club A NEW @EFL POINTS RECORD. CHRIS DAVIES' BIRMINGHAM CITY. 🔵💫 — (C) Birmingham City FC (@BCFC) April 30, 2025 – Reading's previous record came in the 2005-06 Championship as they won 31 games and lost only two to secure promotion to the Premier League, scoring 99 goals in the process. – York were the first English league team ever to achieve a century with 101 points in the fourth tier in 1983-84, the third season under the system of three points for a win. – Swindon followed two years later and it was not until 1998-99 that a team hit three figures in a higher division – Sunderland finishing on 105 in the second tier and Fulham 101 in the third. – Manchester City in 2017-18 are the only team ever to reach 100 points in the top flight. We've never seen numbers like these before in the #PL… Congratulations @ManCity — Premier League (@premierleague) May 13, 2018 – For Burnley, it is a second century in three seasons after Vincent Kompany's 2022-23 champions racked up 101 points. Fulham and Plymouth are the only other teams with two 100-point seasons. – This is the first season ever with three EFL teams reaching 100 points, as well as the first time two in the same division have achieved the feat. – Before Burnley, the highest-scoring runners-up were Ipswich with 98 points in League one in 2022-23, when Plymouth finished top on 101. Liverpool set the Premier League record with 97 in 2018-19, finishing a point behind Manchester City. – Leeds are the 16th different club to record a 100-point season, a list completed by Wigan, Newcastle, Charlton, Leicester, Wolves and Sheffield United.
