A lot of Leeds United fans believe that they are missing Pontus Jansson as LUFCDATA revealed that out of the 15 goals they have conceded this season, five have come from set-pieces.
Leeds still have the best defensive record in the league, but this number of goals conceded from set-pieces is a real worry, and it has led many Leeds fans to suggest that they are missing Jansson.
Do Leeds miss Jansson?
Yes, he was a dominant force in the air
No, good player but White is better
https://twitter.com/LUFCDATA/status/1208799280867225600
The amount of times Jansson won headers from corners was a joke. We do miss that side of him
— Teejay White (@teejaybess) December 22, 2019
Guess this is the cost of losing pontus, but would of thought Ben whites play makes up for the goals conceeded from corners? ????
— Flash (@gordy_97) December 22, 2019
6″4 Pontus Jansen was the difference there.
— Jonny (@cyclingjonny) December 22, 2019
We saw this early on in the season, it was pretty clear we’d struggle without Jansson at set pieces. Calculated gamble by Bielsa but a quick look at the table and you can hardly start panicking. All sides have a weakness, look at Man City v counter attacks.
— Ash Cook (@ashcook4) December 22, 2019
Other Whites supporters, though, think that everything will be fine.
Wow, that’s remarkable, feels bad but actually not so.
— Sean Brittain (@SeanBrittain) December 22, 2019
Statistically no reason not to be optimistic about the second half, the way Leeds have been playing. The challenge is to score more goals out of the chances. If Bielsa can continue to play Bamford and Nketiah together, we should be home and dry by May.
— LUFC Shah Alam (@AlamLufc) December 22, 2019
Exactly. It’s just one of those things. Have to keep going as we are
— Matt Massarella-Gill (@3788MG) December 22, 2019
What do we think?
Jansson, who is valued at £5.4m by Transfermarkt, stands at 6ft 4 and was a dominant force in the air.
Ben White, his replacement, is good in the air but usually relies on his reading of the game instead.
This could explain why Leeds have conceded so many goals from set-pieces – as they are missing the presence of Jansson.
This stat by LUFCDATA does not include the two penalties that the Whites have also conceded, so almost half of the goals that they have shipped have come from dead-ball situations.
However, their defence is still impressive, and if they can find a way to stop conceding goals from set-pieces, then the Whites should be in the top two by the end of the season.