This article is part of Football FanCast’s The Chalkboard series, which provides a tactical insight into teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…Â
Leeds United haven’t been scoring bucketloads of goals this season.
The Whites are underperforming their xG tally by more than nine goals, and this is at least partly down to their ineffectiveness from set-pieces.
The Yorkshire outfit have scored just three times from dead-ball situations this term, and recent stats that have emerged indicate that the Whites should really be doing better.
On the chalkboard
Stats recently came out that highlighted just how good Kalvin Phillips is at delivering these set-pieces.
Indeed, the Yorkshire Pirlo has delivered more successful corners than any other player in the Championship this term, yet Leeds have scored just three times from those scenarios, with two of those goals coming very early in the season.
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Ok, Phillips’ stats may be down to the fact Leeds take more corners than any other side in the division, but surely that is even more reason to want to improve on their strike rate from these situations?
Need to improve
When you’re delivering more successful corners than anyone else in the division but your assist tally stands at just one then you know something isn’t right.
The fact that Phillips is able to pick out his man in the box more often than anyone else in the league while playing in a team not blessed with height is a testament to how good his delivery has been.
Just six outfield players in Leeds’ squad stand at 6 foot or above and none are over 6 foot 2, so perhaps it’s time for Bielsa to look at improving that area.
Of course, you shouldn’t sacrifice quality for height, but having a great set-piece taker like Phillips is wasted if nobody is sticking the ball in the net.
This is a simple and effective way for Leeds to score more goals, and the Whites should be making the most of Phillips’ prowess from these situations, and to do that they may need to add some more height to their squad.
