Ezgjan Alioski and Leeds United: A mad love affair

When Leeds signed Ezgjan Alioski, he was coming off a simply remarkable campaign.

The then 25-year-old had scored 16 goals in 34 games, whilst also accumulating an impressive 14 assists. Not only a frequent contributor to goals, but Alioski played in six different positions in the 2016-17 season according to Transfermarkt. From left-wing, to centre-forward, to attacking midfield, Alioski had done it all.

Leeds fans were equally excited and surprised when the North Macedonian arrived at Elland Road. They were excited, understandably, due to the incredible numbers he had recorded. The surprise stemmed from Alioski being the ninth signing of the season. It was a rarity for Leeds to buy so freely.

Of course, his numbers were for FC Lugano in the Swiss Super League. The Swiss League and the Championship are perhaps hard to compare in certain aspects, but Leeds fans had little to cling on to when Alioski arrived. He had assisted a lot of goals, and scored even more, so fans were very intrigued to see their new winger in action.

Over the course of his first season and a half at Leeds, Alioski can perhaps best be described as frustrating. His numbers, of course, were down from what he had attained in his last season in Switzerland, but he still maintained a keen eye for goal. His overall game was fairly solid, and he finished his first season in England with seven goals and five assists.

The issue with Alioski, more than anything, was his positioning. Countless times, a Leeds attacking move would be ruined only by a mistimed run from their number 10. It was strange for a player who, across his career, had clearly been so accustomed to being a central point of his team’s attack.

Again, there is no doubt a difference between the Super League and the Championship, the same could be said when comparing any two leagues. It made little sense, though, that the one thing that had become so poor was a simple timing issue. Offside is offside. For that, the country in which you play the game is irrelevant.

When Bielsa arrived, we began seeing Alioski as a full-back in sporadic bursts. Ahead of a home clash against Derby County in January 2019, Barry Douglas had been ruled out injured. With no-one else to call upon, Alioski was moved to left-back for the game, his first start as a full-back. For his now deserted place on the wing, Jack Clarke was drafted in.

Leeds went on to win the tie against Derby 2-0, with Alioski being the one to create the second goal. Alioski looked much calmer in his new position. After continuing to impress as a wing-back, a full conversion to that position seemed inevitable.

At left-back, the risk of running offside was virtually nullified. As such, the next six months of the season included some of Alioski’s best performances in the white of Leeds United. His defending, already good for a winger, just bettered itself each game. His attacking capabilities were still put to use, through each of the fairly consistent overlapping runs he made.

Now, over two years on from his first start as a wing-back, Gjanni Alioski has solidified himself as a competent defender at Elland Road, whilst too perhaps being the only full-back in world football that wears the number 10. With his contract due to expire at the end of the season, it seemed fitting to take a look at Alioski’s time in West Yorkshire. Particularly, how he has fared in the highest division of English football.

Upon United’s ascension to the top flight, questions were asked about the majority of their personnel. Would Patrick Bamford be enough up top? Will Marcelo Bielsa leave this season? Are the likes of Alioski good enough for the Premier League?

Now, investing in a left-back is a must for Leeds United in the coming summer window. Many targets have (supposedly) been identified, but that doesn’t necessarily mean Alioski should leave the Whites. The notion of Alioski dropping to the bench and becoming a rotational piece is one that most fans are happy with.

Over the 2020/21 season, Alioski has shown glimpses of pure class. For a makeshift left-back, he has had games where he has been one of the best players on the pitch.

For example, when Leeds travelled to the Etihad, it was Alioski’s pass that set up the second goal. When Tottenham visited Elland Road, Alioski nullified Bale to the point of invisibility. The Welshman, though still present in the first half, failed to create anything of worth. In the second half, he disappeared, before being benched in the 67th minute.

Gjanni Alioski vs. Tottenham:

73 touches
34 successful passes
11/17 succ. final third passes
7 ball recoveries
5/8 succ. long passes
5 duels won
4 clearances
2 headed clearances
3 crosses
3 times fouled
2 tackles won
1 interception
1 assist ?️
1 Gareth Bale in his pocket ? pic.twitter.com/mursFZWsUR

— LUFCDATA (@LUFCDATA) May 8, 2021

The issue for Alioski, however, is his consistency. Be it as a winger or a full-back, it has often felt as though Gjanni is the best player on the pitch, or as though he isn’t actually on it. Whilst his display against Spurs was man of the match calibre, his performance in the game prior was appalling, and it is this that has been his main issue.

Whilst Leeds certainly weren’t playing well, fans were still hopeful of at least a point at the Amex Stadium. That was before Alioski decided to drag Danny Welbeck to the ground, for no apparent reason. Despite still being unsure as to what possessed him to do such a thing in an actual football match, the issue is that he did it. In the Premier League.

Course, this isn’t a suggestion that this sort of action would be acceptable in any other league. In the Premier League, though, you’ve scarcely any space for error. It is understandable as to why there are calls for Alioski to leave the club in the summer. Regardless of the cult hero status he has cultivated for himself, it has to be secondary to talent.

Some seem adamant that Gjanni should leave. Others are insistent that he should sign an extension. It’s an oddly polarising topic for a fan base so often unified in their beliefs.

Defensively, Alioski is having quite a remarkable season. If you didn’t believe claims of his endurance, you would after seeing some of his numbers. Gjanni averages 19.63 pressures per 90, a testament to the work ethic he has on the pitch. Whilst his successful pressure percentage is low, he still manages to find success in 5.42 of those pressures per game, which ranks him amongst the best in Europe.

His work rate isn’t solely exclusive to the defensive third of the pitch. Understandably, the bulk of Alioski’s pressures are found there, but he still averages good pressure numbers as he advances forward.

Gjanni too finds himself averaging 9.28 ball recoveries per game, a reward of his team’s high pressing system that he fits so well. This, his pressures, and his 4.15 tackles and interceptions per game, are perhaps some of the best indicators towards Alioski’s defensive capabilities.

It too seems worth noting that Alioski ranks fifth amongst his squad for tackles and interceptions, with 101, ahead of the likes of Pascal Struijk and Mateusz Klich. (It seems right to clarify that this shouldn’t serve to say Alioski is ‘better’ than Struijk or Klich. They are entirely different from each other, and great in their own right. It is simply drawn as an intriguing figure).

Alioski is generally quite a well-rounded player. His FBRef scouting report is a general sea of green, contrasted only through paler shades of the same colour. On the attacking front, Alioski’s main role as a Leeds full-back is to carry the ball down the wing.

His game is dependent on quick thinking and even quicker passes. Whilst not opposed to long balls forward, Gjanni only attempts 7.27 long passes per game. His centre-backs and midfield are far better positioned to conduct such a play. Most of Alioski’s passes are of the short type, as is evidenced below.

Of Alioski’s attempted 60.84 passes per game, 26.58 are short range. He completes nearly 24 per 90, giving him an 89.6% success rate. He too is more than comfortable with mid-range passes, his completion rate sitting at 86.1% on over 26 attempted passes per game.

With the ability of Jack Harrison, Raphinha and Patrick Bamford (to name a few) in front of goal, Alioski is rarely needed to contribute to that aspect of his side’s attack. He averages only 0.9 shots per game, but it would be a lie to say that he is opposed to the occasional wonder-strike. West Brom away anyone?

In conclusion, it would be a shame to see Gjanni Alioski leave Elland Road. A loyal servant of the club, he has established himself as one of the most beloved figures at the club.

Links to Galatasaray have, of course, stirred anger amongst supporters. His West Yorkshire reputation would surely be tarnished should he opt to move to Istanbul, but rumours are just that, rumours.

Gjanni would no doubt continue to contribute should he stay at Leeds United. He has certainly come a long way in ironing out his sporadic bursts of lunacy on the pitch, and Brighton is one of the first games in a long time that many have voiced their concerns about such.

Otherwise, his almost child-like humour is something that fans have grown to adore. The infamous ‘#GjanniCam’, his round of applause to cardboard cut-outs, his jest towards Nicolas Pepe after their first encounter. He may be an acquired taste, but he’s Leeds United through and through.

? “I love the Leeds fans, kiss kiss” #GjanniCam pic.twitter.com/ZZKJIXfofV

— Leeds United (@LUFC) November 22, 2020

On his day, he can make the difference for Leeds. This is his first ever season in the Premier League, and should his stay continue, he will surely only grow more comfortable with his surroundings. At a time of change for Leeds United, a time where more new players will grace the ground than they have in recent years, a player who thoroughly knows Bielsa’s system will go a long way.

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