Former Chelsea midfielder Scott Minto’s claim that number nines no longer need to score goals does not apply to Leeds United, as shown by Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s performance this season.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin has enjoyed a solid start to life at Leeds United after joining the club on a free transfer at the start of the Premier League season.
Although Leeds are understood to be happy with his performances so far, Calvert-Lewin has missed a string of big chances to provide one dark cloud over Leeds’ season.
Daniel Farke has elected to play Calvert-Lewin as a lone striker for the majority of the season to date, limiting Joel Piroe’s chances in the first team in the process.
Although Calvert-Lewin has generally impressed with his hold-up play, his finishing still has room for improvement. Leeds still need more from their number nine this season, despite Minto’s assertion that the demands on the number nine have changed in the modern game.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin looks dejected during Leeds United v Bournemouth - Premier League
Photo by Michael Driver/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images
What did Scott Minto say about the role of the striker in the Premier League?
Speaking on TalkSport, Minto claimed that Didier Drogba changed the role of the number nine during his time in the English game with his ability to effectively play the role of two strikers.
According to Minto, that means that the likes of Arsenal’s Viktor Gyokeres can afford to score fewer goals, as long as they are contributing to their team’s performance with their off-the-ball work.
Minto said: “I think Didier Drogba kind of killed off the second striker in that way, because he could do everything. And that’s what I think a lot of managers sort of try to copy and have that extra man in midfield.
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“But I think what we’re seeing now more than ever is because there isn’t that kind of fox in the box, or people aren’t trained to be a fox in the box anymore. Managers want more than that.
“They want their striker to hold the ball up, to run the channels, yes, but to have the inverted wingers almost going in behind them, or that sort of number eight running in behind.
“So, the managers themselves don’t judge the number nines purely on goals, even if a lot of journalists do. I look at Gyokeres, the bottom line is, as long as Arsenal are winning, it absolutely doesn’t matter whether he scores goals or not.”
Viktor Gyokeres of Arsenal celebrates after scoring.
Photo by Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images
Leeds United cannot afford their own Viktor Gyokeres in Dominic Calvert-Lewin
As things stand after nine games, Arsenal top the Premier League table, and Gyokeres is their top scorer with three goals.
However, according to the data from FotMob, 11 different players have scored for Arsenal in the Premier League this season.
By contrast, only seven Leeds players have scored this season, with Joe Rodon and Noah Okafor topping the charts with two goals each, and Calvert-Lewin on one.
Big Chances missed by Dominic Calvert-Lewin
Fulham 1-0 Leeds – 1 Big Chance Missed
Leeds 2-2 Bournemouth – 3 Big Chances Missed
Leeds 1-2 Tottenham – 1 Big Chance Missed
Herein lies the problem for Leeds. Although Calvert-Lewin has contributed well overall, his missed chances have already cost his side points. The former England international missed one big chance in the 2-1 defeat against Tottenham and three in the 2-2 draw against Bournemouth.
Calvert-Lewin also missed a big chance in the 1-0 defeat against Fulham, which could have changed the course of the game.
If you add those four points to Leeds’ total, they could be sitting comfortably in the top half, level on points with defending champions, Liverpool. With goals at a premium in the Premier League, Leeds still need some goals from their number nine this season.