Exclusive: Paul Robinson slams ‘Unpredictable’ Leeds player, warns of potential issue
We’re delighted to welcome former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson as our exclusive columnist. Each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at Leeds United…
Paul Robinson has admitted that “unpredictable” Leeds United goalkeeper Kiko Casilla looks as though he’s staying at Elland Road this season.
Casilla, 33, has lost his spot as Leeds’ number one goalkeeper since being hit with an eight-match ban by the FA for racial abuse while in the Championship.
Illan Meslier has replaced the ex-Real Madrid goalkeeper and so far, the young Frenchman has impressed in the Premier League.
However, Robinson is concerned that Casilla remains as the back-up option for Meslier and believes that Leeds need to sign a new shot-stopper to go above him in the pecking order.
The former Leeds and England goalkeeper has warned that if Meslier’s form was to drop or if he was to suffer an injury, the Whites will be in a spot of bother if they have to call upon Casilla to return to the starting line-up.
“I still think there’s a call for an experienced goalkeeper in the group of three,” Robinson told MOT Leeds News.
“Kiko looks like he’s staying. His form is unpredictable.
“Meslier is clearly the number one. He’s been given the gloves and he’s taken it with aplomb. He’s been outstanding and got better and better since his first game in the Championship to the game at the weekend.
“You can see him growing in confidence. You can see the defence growing in confidence and he was given the gloves as a number one and he’s established himself as a number one.
“My worry is he gets injured or suffers a drop in form, as he’s still young and it’s still early in his career. There will be ups and downs in the road for him.
“If he does have a drop in form, where do Leeds go? I don’t think Casilla is the answer in the Premier League.”
Casilla has made one appearance for Leeds since the end of last season and that was in the Carabao Cup defeat to Hull City when he controversially wore the captain’s armband.
United fans were less than impressed by the Spanish shot-stopper when he played against the League One club.
He couldn’t do much about the deflected shot at goal that saw Hull take the lead early on but his passing was so sloppy that it led to Leeds coming under way more pressure than they should’ve done.
Casilla proved himself to be unfit for big matches in his disasterclass against Derby in the play-offs and in multiple Championship games last season before his suspension.
Robinson has a point in saying he needs to be replaced.
In other Leeds United news, Ally McCoist has made an admission about Leeds as he waxes lyrical over their football.