Tomasz Pieńko – The Polish Gem by Francisco Maldonado
Player information:
Name: Tomasz Pieńko
Club: Zaglebie Lubin
Nationality: Poland
Age: 20 (05/01/2004)
Position: attacking midfielder, winger, second striker
Preferred foot: Right
Height: 1.85m
Tomasz Pieńko is a 20-year-old Polish midfielder currently plying his trade in the Ekstraklasa for Zaglebie Lubin. The Poland U21 international first made his debut for his club in the 2021/22 season and went on to appear a further 12 times in league play. He has been a constant in his club’s games ever since – 32 appearances in 2022/23 and 23 so far in 2023/24. He is not yet the finished product – he still has a few flaws to iron out. Despite this, clubs such as Fenerbahce have seen the potential in his performances and have been mentioned as a potential destination for Pieńko.
Lubin usually line up in a 4-2-3-1, with Pieńko usually on the left side of the 3 attacking midfielders. He serves as an attacking outlet for Lubin, usually progressing the ball via a carry or attempting a final pass into a teammate making a run ahead of him.
Technical:
First Touch
Tomasz has a great first touch. He can control his body well and use different parts of his body to receive the ball depending on the type of pass. He likes to execute first-time layoffs, especially when receiving with his back to goal. These layoffs are executed well, often accurate and properly weighted whether he is under direct pressure or not. He is comfortable doing these layoffs with different parts of his body such as his head or his chest. When he receives the ball in wide areas (usually the left wing), he uses his back foot to receive (left foot) but occasionally reaches across to control with his right foot. Using his front foot to receive sets him up for a carry towards the middle of the pitch which is something he likes to do from the left-hand side.
Close control/dribbling
Tomasz’s close control is arguably the most impressive aspect of his game right now. When he is carrying the ball up the pitch or running at a defender 1v1, he takes many small steps which allows him to take lots of small touches as he is dribbling. This style allows him to maintain control of the ball at all times, making it easy for him to constantly change direction to get past an opponent. This skill is invaluable in the box as well, you will often see him twisting past opponents with fast movements. He is very agile for someone of his size (6’0) and he knows how to use this well to weave past his opponents. He also dribbles with his back upright which adds disguise to his actions – this makes him more unpredictable to defenders. As he is someone who is comfortable cutting in or taking the ball towards the byline, he is difficult to stop in 1v1 situations, since defenders are hesitant to anticipate where he will take the ball. When he is on the ball and has an opponent closing him down, he is capable of executing clever turns and flicks to eliminate the defender in one touch.
Passing
Pieńko has a good eye for a pass, especially in the final third. Given his responsibility as one of the more creative players in the squad, he tries to execute different types of passes to find his teammates in goal-scoring/creating situations. Whether it be a reverse pass, a cross, a through ball, or even a scoop pass, he is not afraid to try them and find out what works for him. However, the weight on a lot of his ‘final passes’ could be improved. These riskier passes don’t reach their target consistently, resulting in good attacking moves breaking down. It is not a case of poor decision-making but rather of the execution not being consistent yet. The same applies to his outlet passes in attacking transition moments, they are occasionally overhit and guide his teammates away from the goal. In earlier phases of play, he is much more risk-averse. He hardly forces any passes – for example, if an easy pass or layoff is available, he will play it, not wanting to lose the ball in the middle of the pitch or in his own half.
Shooting
Although he is primarily right-footed, Pieńko is not afraid to shoot with either foot. He does not mind shooting from unorthodox angles, usually trying to catch goalkeepers or defenders off-guard. Pieńko occasionally shoots from distance – the connection with the ball is clean (no spin on the ball) but he could do better to keep his shots lower, as they occasionally sail over the crossbar. When he is 1 on 1 with the keeper, Tomasz usually opts for a side-foot finish, looking to find the corners of the goal. He could be a bit more clinical in this regard – he has not scored this season despite averaging 2.71 shots per 90 minutes.
Tactical:
Movement and positioning
When he starts the match, Pieńko is usually deployed as a #10 or on the left wing. His role within each position varies, but he loves to occupy the halfspaces, especially between the midfield and defensive lines of the opponent. He is comfortable receiving in these areas, always asking for the ball. Prior to receiving, he usually scans both shoulders, gathering information to properly decide his next action on the ball. Pieńko’s movement off the ball is top quality – he is constantly moving and looking for space to receive the ball in, whether this is beyond the opponent’s last line or between lines in the middle of the pitch. He likes to make in-to-out runs from the halfspaces into the wide areas, where he is comfortable taking his man on 1v1. Tomasz is also constantly moving after making a pass – he is constantly on the move. This shows great initiative to want to continue attacks but also great confidence in his own ability as he is always looking to receive the ball and create opportunities for himself or his teammates.
Out of possession
When playing on the left wing, Pieńko is responsible for tracking back and covering the opposition’s right back if they go forward. He does his job well, you will often see him tracking back and staying engaged defensively when his team does not have the ball. He attempts to read the opponent’s intentions so that he can step in and block the pass/cross. When Lubin turn over the ball on his side, Pieńko shows fantastic intensity and desire to win it back, often following the play all the way back to his own half. Tomasz also shows great intensity in his pressing, often being one of the leaders in the press for Zaglebie Lubin.
Physical:
Pieńko stands at 1.85 metres and does not have a very muscular build, so he has a lanky composition – a skinny upper body with long legs. He is very agile and fast for someone his size, he has great acceleration which he uses to get past his opponents in 1v1 and transition situations. He occasionally uses his body well to protect the ball and even win fouls, but this is something that he could become more consistent with. He is good at getting opponents to ‘bite’, but is then occasionally muscled off the ball too easily.
Areas for improvement:
- Execution of final pass
Pieńko has great decision-making in the final third but his execution occasionally lets him down. He overhits his passes, meaning his teammates have to check their runs or the ball ends up at the feet of the opponent. This improvement will come with more game time – the more he attempts these passes on the pitch, he will be able to recognize how to properly weigh them
- Usage of body
For someone who is 6’0, Pieńko could do better to use his upper body to protect the ball consistently. Similar to his final pass, he shows flashes of being able to do this but sometimes it is too easy to push him off the ball. Due to his long legs, his centre of gravity is not very low, so he should be using his upper body to lean more into the opponent and dominate them physically
Player outlook:
Tomasz Pieńko is one of the most promising players in the Ekstraklasa and a move to a stronger league is not out of the question. Zaglebie Lubin are currently in mid-table and I believe that a move to a more competitive environment with better coaching and better players around him could benefit Pieńko, as he is not yet ready to be the star of the team. A move to Fenerbahce would be great, but they have a great chance of playing in the Champions League in 2024/25, which I believe is a level too high for Pieńko right now. I think playing in the Conference League or even the Europa League would be a better step up for Tomasz.
He is a player who has great potential – with good coaching and dedication, he could eventually feature for a Champions League side. Expect him to make his debut for the Polish national team in the next couple of years and potentially become an important piece of the national team setup.
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