Joel Piroe 2021/22: The “big character” Dutchman who is the new Swansea hero – scout report

Swansea’s performance in Championship this season is rather inconsistent despite the efforts of their leading goalscorer Joël Piroe. The 22-year-old has scored 14 goals in the league so far, but his contribution isn’t enough to push the team to a better position in the table and give them hopes for joining the Premier League.

The Dutchman arrived from PSV in the summer and made an immediate impact, becoming one of the leading figures in attack.  His strong positioning and attacking flair earned him the centre forward spot, although he has also been used in other positions in the final third lately.

Piroe doesn’t tend to shoot frequently but relies on his efficiency which is a result of his positional sense and strong decision-making. He moves around the box effortlessly and doesn’t hesitate to shoot from distance too. He also tries to support the team by setting them up into goalscoring positions and has contributed with four assists as well.

In this scout report, we use tactical analysis to explain how he fits Swansea’s tactics and what qualities make him a successful signing so far.

Swansea’s set-up in possession and his role there 

The 36-year-old head coach Russell Martin struggles to find the balance in the team’s performance. He came on charge at the beginning of the season after his first managing job at Milton Keynes Dons. His team prefer to stay considerably low and compact in their most-used 3-4-2-1 and 3-4-3 formations. They employ a possession-based strategy and rely on frequent short passing, resulting in their first place in Championship in terms of pass frequency per 90. They average 523.38 passes per game with the highest completion rate of 87.4%.

That is reflected in their high average possession percentile of 62.04% as well. They try to retain possession for long periods of time and despite the low and compact shape they constantly supply the final third with balls.

They usually prefer to exploit the flanks, although they don’t rely on a frequent crossing to create goalscoring opportunities but would rather use the players’ dribbling skills and creativity to create chances with through balls and smart passes.

That affects the frequency of their actions in the box, though, resulting in having a rather low number of shots and in many of their efforts on the goal being from distance. The team have scored 10 goals from outside the box so far this season, five of which are a result of Piroe’s efforts.

The 22-year-old is used as a striker, but he does move deeper to support the team movement and help with progressing the ball. He often occupies the half-spaces too and tries to provide a direct threat both from distance and from the box.

His composure and strong decision-making help the team in converting their chances into goals. He is often the target of his teammates’ passes and they rely on him to take on defenders in the final third and create chances. Very frequently he and his fellow attackers stay in the same line with the midfielders, creating overloads and providing more options in their build-up. Despite his CF position, his impact in midfield is immense.