Joel Robles likely to replace Illan Meslier in Leeds United starting XI v Manchester City – Phil Hay
Phil Hay has insisted that he feels like Illan Meslier will be axed for Joel Robles today as Leeds United take on Manchester City in the Premier League.
Sam Allardyce will take charge of the Whites for the first time in the Premier League, with the young French keeper coming under real pressure for continuous mistakes.
Hay also named Patrick Bamford as one player who will likely start after his public backing from the new manager as one player who needs to be on top form.
Writing in his pre-match Q&A for The Athletic, Hay shared what he expects to happen in the team news at The Etihad Stadium this afternoon.
“Sam Allardyce’s first game as head coach today and as difficult as fixtures get,” he said. “Realistically, we’re going to have to lower our expectations and I think all eyes will be on how he’s changed things defensively. That’s clearly been his priority and it’s the thing that needs to improve most drastically.
“My gut feeling is that Robles comes in for Meslier today. I feel like Allardyce would have backed Meslier more strongly if he was going to play him. Also sounded like we’ll see Bamford up front.
“Cooper, Adams, Sinisterra and Dallas all missing.”
Shocker.
Meslier desperately needs to be taken out of the spotlight, especially against the toughest test in the entire Premier League, maybe even the world right now.
Robles has experience behind him so even with his lack of playing time, he should settle into the game immediately and give the defence ahead of him more confidence.
Bamford is another player who has that experience and needs to lead from the front by holding up the ball and putting away any chance he may get, if any.
No one is hiding from the fact that Leeds likely have a less than 5% chance of picking up any points at The Etihad, but if anyone will believe that, it is Allardyce.
Leeds are desperate and Big Sam will have given them that fighting spirit which has been missed for months it seems at Elland Road, with that bing the bare minimum expected.
Here we go, the rollercoaster final few weeks are set to begin, hopefully with a bang.
In other Leeds United news, one source has shared what Big Sam has done at the club, which is something that has been seen for a while