Phil Hay stunned by ‘absolutely unbelievable’ Illan Meslier info at Leeds United
Phil Hay was left stunned by an “absolutely unbelievable” stat surrounding Leeds United goalkeeper Illan Meslier’s clean sheet record at Elland Road.
The Athletic journalist, speaking on The Square Ball Podcast (17 August, 23m:08sec) was asked by host Dan Moylan what he felt about Meslier’s form and the information shared and said it’s certainly felt like that with goals flying in at an alarming rate with the Frenchman in goal.
After weeks of uncertainty surrounding his future at Elland Road, it looks as if the Frenchman will be remaining at Leeds for the foreseeable future, and Daniel Farke’s signing of former Newcastle United goalkeeper Karl Darlow has added further intrigue as to who will take the number one spot.
Meslier has started the Whites’ first two Championship encounters and Square Ball podcast Moylan made aware Hay aware of a worrying stat regarding Meslier in the Leeds United goal.
He said: “You mentioned Illan Meslier, just five clean sheets in our last 52 matches, we’ve conceded 102 goals across those games.
Hay replied: “Absolutely unbelievable! It’s felt like that hasn’t it though? You know, the idea that goals are just flying in all the time.
Unbelievable indeed
Only a few know the real reason Farke added Darlow to his squad to compete with Meslier for the number one spot at Elland Road, and that stat certainly points as one of those key reasons.
The Frenchman didn’t enjoy the best of campaigns last year, despite his burgeoning potential, and ultimately lost his place to veteran goalkeeper Joel Robles towards the back end of the campaign.
However, Farke has come in and given him a clean slate, starting all of Leeds’ two Championship games so far but failing to keep a clean sheet with the Whites sitting 19th in the table with one point from a possible six.
If Leeds United are to fulfil their Premier League promotion ambitions come May, then Farke needs to seriously stop his defence from leading needless goals and that all stems from Meslier who has been guilty of lacklustre mistakes leading to a lack of confidence from his defence in front of him.
It remains to be seen whether the Whites will add to their defence for the remainder of the transfer window, but right now Farke is in a tough spot with such a depleted squad at his disposal and that clean sheet stat certainly leaves a lot more to be worried about.
In other Leeds United news, former Elland Road winger Jermaine Pennant shares his prediction on his former club’s chances in the Championship and drops a verdict on Daniel Farke.