Much has been made of a return to past ways in the Premier League, with long throws and set-pieces becoming more important, and Leeds United’s Joe Rodon is thriving.
Leeds United underwent surgery in the summer, as Daniel Farke and the Elland Road transfer team turned the technically gifted Championship title winners into gritty, battle-hardened fighters fighting relegation.
Nine of the 10 signings made by Leeds in the summer are above 6ft. Gabriel Gudmundsson is the only anomaly, but the Swedish left-back is still 5ft 11, which is largely considered quite tall for a full-back.
Daniel Farke has often underlined the importance of set-pieces, and much behind Leeds’ transfer strategy was to open up a new avenue of goals. It is working, with Joe Rodon becoming the central figure to that.
Leeds players celebrate with Joe Rodon.
Photo by OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images
Joe Rodon leads Premier League stat, four above Erling Haaland
Rodon scored his second goal of the season for Leeds in the win over West Ham, a goal that proved to be a winner in Leeds’ 2-1 home win. For club and country, it was Rodon’s fourth goal in the last four months.
Much has been made about Rodon’s lack of goals before the last few months. Before his four goals for club and country since June, Rodon had only scored twice – once for Leeds last season, once for Rennes.
But Sky Sports shared a stat this week that sees Rodon far and above any Premier League player. Rodon is the best in the Premier League for first contact from corners, winning nine so far. The next best is five.
Player Club First contact won from corners
Joe Rodon Leeds 9
Dan Ballard Sunderland 5
Lewis Dunk Brighton 5
Marc Guehi Crystal Palace 5
Erling Haaland Man City 5
Ibrahima Konate Liverpool 5
Malick Thiaw Newcastle 5
Leandro Trossard Arsenal 5
Rodon’s form in the opposition box is not only impressive because he is, of course, a defender, but also because he sits four headers ahead of Man City’s Erling Haaland among a handful of players on five.
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What Daniel Farke has said about improving Rodon’s threat
Farke has often exacerbated his alarm at Rodon’s inability to score goals from set-pieces and attacking positions, since he lured him to Leeds on loan from Tottenham in 2023. Rodon struggled to score goals.
Maybe it was timing, maybe it was avoiding opposition players to get a clear run. Farke says it is one of his proudest achievements to finally improve Rodon’s goal threat, admitting it was “poor” when joining.
Joe Rodon attempts a header as Leeds lose to Burnley.
Photo by Molly Darlington/Getty Images
“He is becoming a goal threat. I’m happy he’s scoring for us and Wales. You have to be able to win with set-pieces. No jokes, one of my proudest achievements, because it was so poor,” Farke said this month.
Rodon could have had another goal, clipping the post against old side Tottenham. What it gives Leeds is a chance out of nothing, they could be on the back foot but score a goal because Rodon is a threat.