Junior Firpo rage irrelevant until January as Daniel Farke has Leeds United transfer decision to make
Junior Firpo received a mixed reaction from Leeds United fans after his full-time rage at Sunderland on Friday night.
The left-back slotted away what looked destined to be the winner at a ground from which no side had yet taken any return, before Illan Meslier’s outrageous goalkeeping error in the dying seconds threw the Black Cats a point.
Not to mention, Alan Browne’s initially poor ball into the box in the 96th minute deflected off Firpo before stunningly bouncing past Meslier, with the equaliser seemingly having been recorded as the Dominican’s own goal.
Enraged upon the full-time whistle, Firpo stormed straight down the tunnel without clapping the travelling supporters [Yorkshire Evening Post, 5 October], fending off his coaching staff’s attempts to keep him on the pitch with his teammates.
Others went straight to Meslier, who was further criticised after appearing to share a laugh with his former coach Regis Le Bris, now Sunderland boss.
Firpo reaction to Meslier could suit Leeds United better in January
What can firstly be said is Firpo is showing he cares. Promotion is a non-negotiable and Daniel Farke is well aware; the 28-year-old has been heavily slammed in the past by the Elland Road faithful and gained numerous plaudits from fans online for his volatile reaction to Meslier’s sickener of an error, as a demonstration of his commitment to the cause.
It cost Leeds two points that could be so crucial come May – but, then again, the importance of unity is going to ensure more points than Meslier’s mistake denied the Whites at the Stadium of Light. Every Leeds player felt how Firpo did, but showed it differently.
The inevitable tirade at the goalkeeper from the defender and likely others could have waited five minutes behind closed doors, and it was a double-edged sword that saw him elect not to go and thank the away fans.
Farke can do little about Meslier until January when the transfer window opens, at which point he will have a transfer decision to make. There has been plenty of frustration aimed at the Frenchman for a few too many mistakes, but they cannot replace him now, nor for at least the next three months.
A strained relationship or a lack of trust in the ‘keeper by his defenders – shown in part by Firpo on Friday – could at least at that time of year persuade Farke into a change between the sticks, but it is early October and his hands are tied.
The only real option right now at the German’s disposal if he feels Meslier is too mistake-prone would be to bring in Karl Darlow, an experienced stopper at Championship level, but a prolonged spell out of the team for Meslier would reduce his market value in the future.
Leeds have a team who know the significance of the task at hand, and sometimes that comes out sideways. But at least in the public eye, a communal show of support for Meslier would have been and remains more beneficial in the long run.
In other Leeds news, Max Wober’s injury timescale is revealed.
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