Leeds United’s Jack Harrison has become a divisive player during his time at Elland Road, often criticised for his lack of end product while others believe he is unfairly made into a scapegoat. And if his performances were splitting opinion before Wednesday’s clash against Middlesbrough, his display in the 1-0 win did little to settle the debate.
1. Possession fire sale… There’s wasteful, and then there’s Harrison against Middlesbrough wasteful. According to Sofascore, the 23 year-old lost possession a quite ridiculous 30 times, perhaps due to his indecision on the ball. Several fans noted how he took too long to get the ball into the box, while he also completed just 70% of his passes.
I’d pay jack harrison serious money to cross the ball first time i swear
— Joe Turton (@joeyturton95) February 26, 2020
Jack harrison has to cross that first time. 4 leeds players in the box including white.
— ABC THE DRUMMER 💙💛🏆 (@ABCaudioworks) February 26, 2020
https://twitter.com/MrJD83JohnDay/status/1232768110928760833
2. Left his crossing boots at home… If Harrison’s indecision before crossing the ball was bad, then his actual success with his balls into the box was even worse. The former Manchester City loanee attempted 11 crosses, six more than any other player, but only completed one, which results in a 9% success rate.
3. Silver lining… Despite all this, Harrison certainly had a positive influence in some aspects of the game. The youngster never stops running and this was evidenced in the statistics as he led the side in ground duels attempted, winning eight out of 16. His constant desire to drive forward was also beneficial on the ball, leading the Whites in successful dribbles with four out of five attempted.
Given the tempo Marcelo Bielsa demands from his players, Harrison’s work ethic and ability with the ball at his feet appears to fit perfectly into the Argentine’s philosophy. However, if he cannot improve his decision-making and end product in the final third, the club may well have to think twice about exercising the option to buy in his loan deal.
Leeds fans, do you want Harrison signed permanently at the end of the season? Join the discussion in the comments below!
