‘Joel Piroe to be new Leeds penalty taker’ – fans react to latest

Tue 11 February 2025 6:45, UK

Leeds United fans have demanded that Daniel Farke chooses a new first-choice penalty taker after Pascal Struijk missed against Millwall on Saturday (8 February).

The Yorkshire giants were surprisingly knocked out of the FA Cup as they hosted Millwall at Elland Road in a 2-0 loss.

Leeds have been dominating in the Championship which has left them top of the league, but they were unable to take that form into the FA Cup after a brace from Femi Azeez set up a rare defeat for the Whites.

Farke’s men have only lost three times out of their 31 Championship fixtures, but they had no answers for Millwall this past weekend.

Leeds did have a good chance in the 60th minute from the penalty spot, but Struijk saw his effort saved by Millwall goalkeeper Liam Roberts.

Struijk is a rare example of a centre-back being the penalty taker, with most clubs opting to give the responsibility to more attacking members of the squad.

However, former PGMOL chief Keith Hackett exclusively told Football Insider that Wilfried Gnonto “went to ground too easily” to win the penalty in the first place.

Daniel Farke wants to increase his attacking options

Farke has opted to trust Struijk from the penalty spot, but he is still attempting to improve the attacking options he has available to him.

Football Insider revealed that Leeds are looking to sign an attacking midfielder in the future, with Eduard Spertsyan being a top target.

Increasing his squad size would give Farke more options to develop his squad, which is something he’s aiming to do ahead of a potential Premier League return.

Leeds United fans want a new penalty taker

Struijk has scored three out of the five penalties he has taken for Leeds since joining the club in 2020, but supporters believe it’s time to move on from the defender.

Supporters have called for Farke to “redefine the spot-kick pecking order,” with others claiming the squad lacks a “set piece taker across the board.”

Not to diss big Pascal because he’s a quality defender, but I’ve never been a fan of centre-halves taking penalties…
Should Farke, therefore, redefine the spot-kick pecking order?
My 1-5 would be
1) Piroe
2) Solomon
3) Gnonto
4) Rothwell
5) James
Thoughts?
— James Marshment (@marshyleeds) February 9, 2025

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We lack set piece raker across the board. We don't really have any danger form corners, fress around the box rarely deliver a goal. As well as you say a penalty taker.
— Ger (Leeds United The View) (@iGerLynch) February 9, 2025

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Yeah, agree re starting side. And not to doubt him as a manager but certain things change and need adjusting.
For example, this year he rotated a bit more around the festive fixtures. Not immune to changes! Penalty takers next
— James Marshment (@marshyleeds) February 9, 2025

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Definitely. Struijk looked terribly timid taking that penalty
— Pinoak (@MLPitchpiner) February 9, 2025

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A striker has to be wanting to take penalties surely? Just shows I think the lack of confidence that Joseph is having at the moment, surely he should be wanting to step up & take the pen with an ideal chance of adding to his goal tally
— JonR1973 (@jonnyroberts73) February 9, 2025

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Tanaka
Best striker of the ball we have. Plus Rothwell. He'd a set piece guy.
Both ahead of him imo..
Piroe
Tanaka
Rothwell
Solomon
Willy
Struijk
— YorkshireWolf (@leodis74) February 9, 2025

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Maybe he knew he’d probably miss, and didn’t want to get our hopes up to try and win the game, if we scored, as promotion is more important to us. That’s my opinion anyway. Farke knows what he’s doing, and I’m with him all the way.
— 💙💛 T🅰️YL🅾️R 💛💙 (@LeedSTUnited) February 9, 2025

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It has to come down to the individual and their own confidence & circumstance.
In terms of ball strikers I’d put Gnonto top of the list but he’s unlikely to start games.
Piroe would have taken yesterday’s if he was on.
Surprised it wasn’t handed to Joseph 🤷🏻‍♂️
— no “e” in Thorp 🏆💙🤍💛 (@SuperstarDJHWG) February 9, 2025

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100%, should never be a CD. How little bottle do the attacking players have OR how little faith does DF have in them?! It needs to be a striker for me. They should thrive on pens
— C Bielsa 007 💛💙🤍🏆 (@BielsasLB) February 9, 2025

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He's never looked particularly convincing with them.
Scored a couple when a keeper commits early, but that doesn't make him a good penalty taker
Given how good Leeds keep telling us Rothwell is on a dead ball (which isn't incidentally) you'd have said he was a candidate
— Faraway Fairways (@GolfScotland18) February 8, 2025

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Things learnt today
We need a new penalty taker
Gullavogui can never start a game again
We should have got another striker in the January transfer window
Never bet Leeds to win the Fa cup in the next 100 years
Farke sub changes far too late again
— Stephen Bailey (@STEPHENBAILEY38) February 8, 2025

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