With Leeds United missing promotion just by a fair margin last season, they’ll be tasked with being back at it again and fighting for a spot that can guarantee them Premier League football next season. To match the expectations of the fans and continue their fine form into next season, one such transfer they’ve gone on to prioritise is that of the promising Welsh international Joe Rodon.
He spent last season on loan at Leeds United itself and had a solid spell, to say the least, in the Championship. Often synonymous with his reliability in the heart of the defence, his defensive awareness, and the ample amount of experience he brings to the table.
Rodon Returns!
Leeds United moved in the transfer market in search for a defender, albeit to replace Joe Rodon, as Elland Road’s return looking highly unlikely for the Welshman. But somehow Leeds managed to convince Tottenham Hotspur into agreeing on a permanent move for the defender in a bargain fee.
Rodon has displayed basic defensive principles as a centre-back — ground duels, aerial duels, and reading of the game, all of which are top-notch in his game. As a matter of fact that he’s been built around the foundation of a strong Leeds United side going into last season’s performances; he knows the manager and the expectations, and he’s predominantly set a level of quality that wouldn’t be easy to match.
Personally, for Rodon as a player, he’s taken his opportunity to ignite his career in both hands and done fairly well to take it. Instead of starting from scratch, Leeds could stick to signing Joe Rodon as their “statement” signing going into next season.
Joe Rodon is a very technical CB of all sorts, a traditional CB that shows hunger and determination to win and wants to do well with his actions. Played almost every minute in the Whites last season and conceded the second-least goals in the league (44).
Let’s try to learn more about Joe Rodon’s game as we dive into the depths of his player profile.
Joe Rodon Player Profile
Age: 26
Club: Leeds United
Position: CB
Foot: Right
Nationality: Welsh
Value: €10M
Height: 6’4
Avg. SofaScore rating: 7.18
Strengths: Anticipation, Tackling, Ball Carrying, Spatial Awareness, Passing, Leadership
Weaknesses: Decision-Making
In possession:
Leeds United being a side that prioritises retaining the ball from opposition attacks and building from the back, Rodon does the job of providing the best from the first phase of buildup for the forward-thinking Daniel Farke’s side. When we talk of his passing range, it’s a more than decent composition of passes on his plate.
He’s very good at pinging long balls and finding channels of space for runners to pounce into while exquisitely looping the ball in the air. Broadcasts this with his ground passes and also long passes. He does his job of finding the right passes perfectly, albeit not always being the most creative defender in risk-taking.
He also has his biases when playing passes in the direction of the RB, which is his comfort zone.
Rodon managed to play 92% accurate passes per 90 last season, while 82% of them were forward passes. He could still refine his passing technique when it comes to the timing of distribution and also risk taking actions to speed up the process of buildup at times.
Ball-carrying tendencies in possession help him dominate his proceedings when on the ball. He uses stop-and-start movements and his rapid pace to get the better of the oncoming pressure and complete an action.
Out of possession:
Defensively, he was one of the most compact defenders in the championship last season. For someone who was there consistently slotting at the back and making his presence felt with his defensive actions, it’s quite absurd to not appreciate his quality.
The statistics go on to only do justice
Winning 80% of his defensive duels last season, averaging 4.8 per 90, he was the best CB to do so. He is physically dominant with every action that makes his tenacity and intensity felt on the pitch.
The Welshman’s 6’4 frame helps him make the most of his height. He makes his commanding presence felt while leaping to head the ball away from danger, particularly from long ball situations, while also remaining a very handy option to defend set pieces. Averages: 3.00 successful aerial duels won per 90
While he tries to tackle a runner, he usually stands his ground and waits for the opponent to take him on rather than committing himself forward. In situations where he’s anticipating a runner, he tends to use his body and hands in order to win the ball back in a fair manner. An old-school method that does the trick
As a defender, he’s gotten the natural leadership skills through the experience he’s had in the different stints he’s had— in England and France. He makes his commanding presence felt through not only his actions but also his communication on the pitch.
Pointing out the danger, asking his teammates to position themselves, or even shouting for pressure—he’s got the communicative trait in himself naturally. That being said, he’s also mature enough to know when to call the keeper into action.
Rodon possesses natural bursts of pace in 10/15 yards that help him make recovery runs by mixing his pace. It is very effective on transitions when the defensive line is opened up and is tasked with tracking a runner and making a tackle. A no-nonsense approach that helps him outpace opponents and win the ball back.
One of his most impressive defensive abilities is his timing of tackles and ability to anticipate the ball while being one step ahead of the opposing player. He is best used as a sweeper keeper at RCB, where he can cover the aggressors besides him and help retain the ball wider.
The importance of maintaining partnerships in squad building
Last season saw Rodon build a formidable partnership with Pascal Struijk from the start of the season until the latter got injured. Then came the important period with Ethan Ampadu, which proved to be crucial in Leeds United’s run at the end. Joe Rodon has managed to not only improve his game but also learn from the matches played together. You tend to learn from each other and push for the best from each other.
We’ve seen this happen in the very best defensive duos over the years, may it be Sol Campbell and Kolo Toure, Ramos and Pepe, Maldini and Nesta, or even Ferdinand and Vidic. One thing common here is the understanding of others games: one could tackle and the other could cover the open space. It helps you dictate the game better—who you mark, when to commit, how to build up, keep maintaining positional awareness, etc.
Continuity is always going to be key to building something that is successful. Change is inevitable, but when you can maintain the momentum of a defensive partnership that has seen failures and managed to learn from them and make it successful, that makes it special.
Joe Rodon to Leeds United — Conclusion
Something that every Leeds fan points out in Joe Roden’s short stint at Leeds United was the passion and determination he had in every minute he played for the club. Vividly backed by an eye test, you can see him participate in duels and challenge his own potential. A very good sign of “playing for the badge”
While some regarded Joe Rodon as having been the best CB in the championship last season, Rodon prefers to quietly make his noise on the pitch with his monstrous performances. Interest from Premier League clubs after a solid spell on loan didn’t stop him from signing permanently for Leeds, which goes on to speak of how Joe Rodon has put his belief and trust into Leeds United’s pathway of vision going forward as a club.
He’s come to understand that working under the right setup gives him the opportunity to put his solidarity into a long-term project of playing in the Premier League, winning trophies, and building a successful career through smaller but smarter steps.
