Illan Meslier slammed as ‘petulant child’ by BBC pundit for full-time reaction to Leeds United loss to Bournemouth
Illan Meslier has been criticised not just for his performance but his reaction to being at fault as Leeds United lost at Bournemouth, by Jon Newsome.
The Whites keeper was directly responsible for the second and fourth goals in the 4-1 defeat, flapping at a corner to allow Jefferson Lerma to slam in his second, before letting Antoine Semenyo’s late shot straight through him.
BBC pundit Newsome was as unimpressed by how the Frenchman left the field, looking like he wasn’t taking responsibility, as he was the performance itself and suggest Joel Robles might be brought in.
The former Whites player said on BBC Radio Leeds after the final whistle, as per Inside Futbol: “The worrying thing for me is, you know how he walked off? He looked a bit like a petulant child, a bit mardy, a bit like it’s everyone else’s fault, shaking his head”
“Personally I think you’ve had a real big hand in the defeat today with your performance and sometimes you’ve got to look in the mirror.
“Do we bring Robles in? It would be a big statement.”
Gone
Meslier has found himself in the firing line in a huge way in recent weeks, particularly since Jamie Carragher suggested he looked like a child in goal against Liverpool on 17 April.
Such memorably criticism on prime time Sky Sports has arguably sent the young keeper more blame than some of his teammates for a miserable run of form, when perhaps he doesn’t deserve it.
As the keeper he can’t help attention being draw to his failings, and he may feel it isn’t fair when the defence and midfield ahead of him have been so bad.
If he loses his place in the team now it could be a long way back, with the potential for what was expected to be a summer transfer siege from Premier League sides to dry up.
Dropped by a relegation-threatened side would not be a glowing endorsement, and if Leeds United do go down from here who knows what then happens for the 23-year-old.
He has shown plenty of maturity in the past to hold down a starting position in the top flight at his age, but he needs it more than ever now for his own sake and the club’s, because he can’t count on much help.
In other Leeds United news, members of the Whites board have been spotted in talks after Javi Gracia admitted he could be sacked.