Illan Meslier is still reeling from his massive error that meant Leeds United only managed a 2-2 draw at home against Swansea City on Saturday. The Frenchman is under enormous pressure after another clanger, and there is now a serious push to get him out of the team ahead of next weekend’s trip to Luton Town.
Leeds were toppled from the summit of the Championship table this weekend after they only managed to earn a point against the Swans at Elland Road.
They are still in the top two, but Sheffield United are now leading the Championship table, and Burnley, who are third, are level on points with Leeds.
The Whites were poor against Swansea, and the away side deserved something from the game. However, Illan Meslier has attracted all the headlines for another unpardonable error that led to the first Swansea goal.
Illan Meslier has been around a while now and is no longer an inexperienced goalkeeper – Jeff Stelling
Daniel Farke has attracted criticism for continuing to persist with Meslier despite his errors earlier in the campaign, and Stelling echoed those critics of the Leeds manager.
He insisted that at some point, the Leeds boss must make the change, especially when he has an experienced goalkeeper such as Karl Darlow in the reserves.
Stelling also stressed that Meslier no longer has the excuse of being young and inexperienced as he has been the Leeds number one for five years.
“Well, Leeds fans are desperately frustrated, not just with Meslier but with Farke because he’s, as you would and rightly so, consistently backed his goalkeeper, but surely there comes a point”, Stelling said on talkSPORT.
“What is Karl Darlow’s thinking? I don’t know because he’s sitting on the bench, he’s made 52 Premier League appearances, 154 in the Championship and yet it seems that regardless of what Meslier does.
“Look, he’s been a good goalkeeper, you can’t really regard him as a young, inexperienced goalkeeper anymore because he’s been around a long time.
“His confidence is shot away. When a keeper’s confidence is shot away, I think you have to make a change.”
Farke will be ignoring his responsibilities if he doesn’t drop Meslier
The Leeds manager has often decided against making some tough decisions in the apprehension that it could ruin the spirit within the squad.
Therefore, he has continued to play Brenden Aaronson in number 10 despite his lack of creativity and shunned away from signing anyone in the winter window.
Can you name the missing player from these 10 famous Leeds United photos?
His backing of Meslier is partly because he doesn’t want to ruin the Frenchman’s confidence. However, there comes a time when backing someone to the hilt appears to be a dereliction of duties.
If the Frenchman starts against Luton Town on Saturday, it would make one thing clear – Farke is not ready to be ruthless, and that could be disastrous if the Whites still get promoted to the Premier League.
The Leeds boss also needs to take the goalkeeper away from the firing line as his every movement will be analysed if he plays against Luton, and that would do nothing good for anyone.
