Former Leeds United defender Jon Newsome has slammed fullback Junior Firpo for his performance on Friday as the Peacocks dropped two points against Rotherham United in the White Rose Derby.
Despite taking the lead early on in the game through a brilliant seventh-minute strike from in-form attacker Crysencio Summerville, Daniel Farke’s men failed to put the game to bed and a goal from Hakeem Odoffin late in the first half earned a point for the managerless hosts.
The result has been made even more disappointing for the Whites as second-place Ipswich Town dropped three points away at West Bromwich Albion on Saturday evening. A win on Friday for Leeds would have moved them to within five points of the Tractor Boys.
Farke’s side dominated the game, holding 75 percent of the ball and having 18 shots on goal, accumulating an xG of 1.64 to the home team’s 0.66. However, the Millers still managed to defend for their lives and dig out a point from the proceedings.
After the game, one Leeds United star was singled out for criticism by Jon Newsome, who played at Elland Road from 1991 to 1994. Speaking on BBC Radio Leeds on Friday night, Newsome slated Firpo for his display and questioned his defensive nous [quotes via Inside Futbol]:
“I think the biggest thing is that we do all want him to succeed and do well, but there are so many parts of his game that I question. Especially, the defensive side of it and I do scratch my head.
“I think he is a long way off. I thought his performance tonight was very mediocre at best and so yes, poor.
“I don’t think he has any awareness of what’s around him,” he continued.
“He doesn’t recognise danger, he doesn’t know when to fill in, he doesn’t know when he can play short, when he can’t play short and when he can go long.
“He doesn’t want to stop a cross, doesn’t want to defend and all bits that I would expect to be the norm from a left-back playing at this football club.”
Writer’s View
Firpo’s main strength has never been defending, as peculiar as that sounds when describing a fullback. Having come from Real Betis’ esteemed academy and being schooled at Barcelona too, the Spaniard is at his very best going forward.
Firpo’s defending was also an issue during Marcelo Bielsa’s time in charge but is something that managers have turned a blind eye to as a result of his attacking prowess. It will be interesting to see whether Farke feels the same as Newsome ahead of Leeds’ clash at home to Swansea City on Wednesday.
Deputy Head of Writing
