Leeds United: Illan Meslier hung out to dry by teammates amid Joe Cole and Henry Winter verdicts with job now on the line
Illan Meslier has gone from young star of the Leeds United team and hopeful heir to the France number one shirt to a career crossroads in under four hours of football.
As the Whites walked off the pitch at Elland Road on 4 April having defeating Nottingham Forest fans were starting to feel confident that Premier League safety was just around the corner and minds may have wandered towards the threat of their keeper leaving in the transfer market to ‘big six’ club.
Then, as time ticked past 45 minutes at home to Crystal Palace holding a 1-0 lead the outlook was even better, but since conceding in that added time on 9 April the roof has fallen in, Meslier has let in 12 more goals over the next five halves and is now fighting to save his place at Elland Road, let alone to be international starter [L’Equipe, 27 January].
None of the six Liverpool goals on 17 April were directly his fault as the midfield and defence were shocking on the night, although he could have done better for a couple, but it was he who was on the end of the most memorable Jamie Carragher criticism on Sky Sports afterwards, where the pundit dismissed him as “like you’ve got a kid in goal”.
Few at his position have over 100 Premier League appearances at 22-years-old, and with next to nothing in terms of protection from his teammates that criticism looks to have got to him.
In the 2-1 defeat to Fulham on Saturday (22 April) he was this time directly at fault for both goals, palming crosses from Willian and Antonee Robinson into the danger area for Harry Wilson and Andreas Pereira to finish.
Times writer Henry Winter couldn’t believe it, posting on Twitter after the second Fulham goal: “What has happened to Meslier? Good keeper struggling for form, making saves but pushing balls to opposition not safety.
“To be fair, given little protection by LUFC defence. And FFC excellent on the counter.”
He was right, as both times Meslier wasn’t helped by Rasmus Kristensen who completely failed to close down either crosser down his flank.
But now the focus is on Meslier, Javi Gracia is being questioned about why he hasn’t turned to Joel Robles in goal, Rio Ferdinand is criticising him, and Joe Cole said on BT Sport after the game that he needed to be dropped (22 April, 2.47pm): “Without doubt Gracia and his staff will be considering it… I would. I would take him out, for the lad’s good and for the team’s good.”
The Leeds United defence hasn’t escaped criticism itself, but there is safety in numbers, and a goalkeeper being dropped is sometimes a situation they never recover from.
The likes of Joe Hart at Manchester City, Loris Karius at Liverpool and Kepa Arrizabalaga at Chelsea have all seen their reputations suffer after losing their place in high-profile fashion, taking years to rebuild and never getting back to where their standing once was.
Meslier produced a fantastic save early on at Craven Cottage, although the flag later went up, and an even better one to keep out a late Willian free kick, showing there is still quality there and he hasn’t completely lost his confidence.
On the strength of some recent showings that is more than the likes of Kristensen, Pascal Struijk, Junior Firpo or Robin Koch have produced at times.
The Leeds United keeper has undoubtedly played his part in the huge downturn in form, but he is now on the brink of a sudden career crossroads if he loses his place, and one that owes as much if not more to the deficiencies of his teammates.
In other Leeds United news, one Whites defender was blasted for a “really dangerous” Saturday incident.