D-Day on Friday for ‘magnificent’ Illan Meslier ahead of Leeds United clash v Manchester City
Leeds United goalkeeper Illan Meslier is set to discover on Friday if he faces the axe from Sam Allardyce’s first match in charge against Manchester City on Saturday [6 May].
Allardyce was confirmed as the new manager for the final four games of the season, with the club sitting outside the relegation zone on goal difference alone.
Leeds conceded a whopping 23 goals in April with goalkeeper Meslier coming under heavy criticism for his costly errors and Allardyce admitted in his first press conference as boss that he will speak to the young Frenchman and make a decision on his position before the game.
He said: “It’s not difficult to see he’s made mistakes that have cost a couple of goals right at the wrong time.
“Your goalkeeper is the most important position if you’re going to stop the goals going in.
“I always thought Illan was a magnificent goalie, considering how young he is, but we’ll make a decision on Friday possibly.”
And according to the Mirror newspaper [5 May], the Frenchman is certainly set to find out if he will start or not against Premier League leaders City on Saturday.
Clean slate?
It’s clear when everyone is at their best at Elland Road, Meslier is by far and away the best goalkeeper at the club, considering his youthful age, but his lack of maturity and needless errors have been glaring for everyone to see of late.
A simple corner for Bournemouth’s second goal, the exit-linked Frenchman couldn’t punch away in what was yet another schoolboy error. Doing it once is one thing but doing it a second time the next weekend is simply dreadful and it’s clear Meslier is absolutely shot on confidence right now.
Certainly, Meslier is still young and learning his trade at the top level but it is the simple things he is getting wrong that will absolutely worry the Leeds United board and management.
Is it time to sell up this summer? Probably. But, it’s hard to see Meslier pick up any new suitors in the near future the way he’s been performing in recent weeks.
However, given Allarydce’s comments, the youngster may be given another chance to prove his worth, but against Manchester City and the season-record goalscorer Erling Haaland, that could scare him even further. Maybe Allardyce takes Meslier out of the firing line and start Joel Robles on Saturday.
In other Leeds news, Angus Kinnear has convinced another coach to join the club after a 9am phone call.