With 30-goal striker Chris Wood swanning off to Premier League Burnley ahead of the Whites’ 2-0 victory over Sunderland, Leeds United were in need of a goal threat to lead the line. Enter Pierre-Michel Lasogga.
Lasogga joined the Whites late in the summer transfer window, signing on transfer deadline day and making his first start against Burton Albion. What a start it was for the 6ft 2in former German Under 21 striker. In that 5-0 drubbing of the Brewers, Lasogga scored twice and set up two assists – instantly endearing himself to the Leeds United faithful.
That relationship did not really remain constant with some seeing his displays as below par and inconsistent to the level that they were almost pleading for him to be sent back to Germany. However, sent back he wasn’t and fans are beginning to see glimpses of what made him a striker to be reckoned with earlier in is career back in Germany.
Leeds United fans have seen him grow in to the role that he has at Elland Road, something that has been aided by the better possession granted to him by his teammates. The bottom line of this is that Lasogga is now the club’s leading scorer with 10 goals and has also provided three assists for the Whites.
Five factoids for Leeds United fans about Pierre-Michel Lasogga
- He’s scored five goals in his last six appearances for the Whites. These goals come after a span of 12 games since last scoring against Derby at Elland Road at the end of October in a 2-1 loss. In fairness to the German, he was out injured with a thigh muscle injury for six games.
- On a ‘per 90 minute’ basis (measuring typical expected output across a typical 90 minutes) he takes 3.8 shots (1.4 out of box/0.7 six yard box/1.7 in area) and is accurate with 1.5 of these shots (39.5% accuracy)
- Of his 60 total shots taken this season, Lasogga has shown that he is mainly right-footed (33 shots), with headed attempts (20) and left foot (6), ‘other’ body part (1) making up the total.
- His 10 goals for Leeds United have come from 24 on-target shots, this giving the powerful German striker a conversion rate of 41.7% from on-target shots versus an overall conversion rate of 16.7% from all shots taken.
- Over the last six games (five goals), he has taken 22 shots at goal, being on target with nine of these (41% accuracy). His five goals have come from the nine on-target shots (55.5% conversion).
