---
title: "Leeds: Phil Hay ‘baffled’ by Junior Firpo’s shortcomings"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/leeds-premier-league-phil-hay-junior-firpo-news-updates/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Henry Jackson"
section: "Leeds United News"
published: "2022-10-24T18:21:53Z"
modified: "2022-10-24T18:21:53Z"
---

# Leeds: Phil Hay ‘baffled’ by Junior Firpo’s shortcomings

**Journalist Phil Hay admits he is ‘baffled’ by [Leeds United](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/leeds-united-news/) defender Junior Firpo’s shortcomings as a footballer during what has been a forgettable spell at Elland Road.**

### The Lowdown: Firpo struggling at Leeds

The Whites signed the Spaniard from Barcelona in the summer of 2021, which at the time felt like an exciting piece of business, considering the La Liga giants’ [stature](https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwiMscGZ2fj6AhWKilwKHarGC1cQFnoECDEQAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Ftalksport.com%2Ffootball%2F492769%2Fthe-30-biggest-clubs-world-football-manchester-united-liverpool-barcelona-celtic%2F&usg=AOvVaw3a6pxOWoJFRyZIvFPh7T-G).

The left-back has [failed to impress](https://www.footballfancast.com/leeds-united-news/leeds-united-transfers-junior-firpo-victor-orta-jesse-marsch-lufc-the-whites-premier-league) in his time at Leeds so far, though, making just [29 appearances](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/junior-firpo/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/374139/verein/399), failing to score and only registering two assists.

For a defender who had been [renowned](https://www.whoscored.com/Articles/zTxRaUI8rUyC0DukmA03rQ/Show/Who-is-Junior-Firpo-The-flying-full-back-Leed-have-rescued-from-Barcelona) for his attacking qualities during his time with Real Betis in the past, that is a hugely disappointing return.

### The Latest: Hay left ‘baffled’

Writing in a matchday Q&A for [The Athletic](https://theathletic.com/3717175/2022/10/22/leeds-fans-discuss-the-fulham-game-with-our-writer-phil-hay/) prior to Sunday’s Leeds’ 3-2 defeat at home to Fulham in the [Premier League](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/premier-league-news/), Hay didn’t hold back when discussing Firpo.

Replying to a supporter who was strongly critical of the 26-year-old, the journalist said:

> “We spoke about it at length on the podcast. I’m kind of baffled by him. Technically and tactically he consistently looks a long way short.”

[![Latest Leeds United news](https://cdn.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/cropped-2022-03-10T184055Z_1834933207_UP1EI3A1FW561_RTRMADP_3_SOCCER-ENGLAND-LEE-AVA-REPORT-1-scaled-1.jpg)](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/latest-leeds-united-news-53/)

### The Verdict: Not good enough

Sadly, this just feels like a signing that Leeds got badly wrong, with Firpo managing very few strong performances since making the move from Barca. Indeed, he ranks a lowly 16th among the squad according to [WhoScored](https://www.whoscored.com/Teams/19/Show/England-Leeds) performance metrics.

He looks [susceptible defensively](https://www.footballfancast.com/leeds-united-news/leeds-united-transfers-junior-firpo-victor-orta-jesse-marsch-lufc-the-whites-premier-league) and doesn’t do nearly enough going forward, as his aforementioned statistics highlight, and he also hasn’t been without [injury problems](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/junior-firpo/verletzungen/spieler/374139).

\[freshpress-quiz id=”410182″\]

The fact that Jesse Marsch seems more willing to play Pascal Struijk in an [auxiliary left-back role](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/pascal-struijk/leistungsdaten/spieler/410708) when both are fit – something [with which Hay agrees](https://theathletic.com/3717175/2022/10/22/leeds-fans-discuss-the-fulham-game-with-our-writer-phil-hay/#:~:text=we%20spoke%20about%20it%20at%20length%20on%20the%20podcast.%20I%27m%20kind%20of%20baffled%20by%20him.%20Technically%20and%20tactically%20he%20consistently%20looks%20a%20long%20way%20short.%20I%27d%20be%20playing%20Struijk%20without%20thinking%20twice%20today.) – is damning on Firpo’s part, and it could be that a summer exit next year makes sense for all parties.