Illan Meslier made another costly error on Saturday during Leeds United’s 2-2 draw against Swansea City at Elland Road as the home side dropped more points in the automatic promotion race. The Frenchman is getting roundly criticised by everyone. However, he has shockingly received some support from a very unexpected football pundit.
Leeds supporters are fearing the worst again this season as Leeds produced another disappointing performance to only get a draw against a Swansea side residing in the bottom half of the league table.
While it was a poor performance from the whole team, Illan Meslier emerged as the villain in the game after he dropped another clanger and cost Leeds more points at the business end of the season.
Daniel Farke has been warned that his blind spot for the goalkeeper could eventually cost Leeds promotion, and all the blame for it would lie on his door as he decided against dropping Meslier earlier in the season.
However, amidst all the firestorm, Meslier has also received some backing from one major football pundit.
Illan Meslier has good mental strength – Paul Merson
Merson has insisted that Leeds should still stick with Meslier this season despite his massive error against Swansea at Elland Road on Saturday afternoon.
He stressed the Frenchman has shown strong mental fortitude when he came back from previous errors and insisted that he has never shied away from facing the heat between the sticks.
“You’ve got to just stick with him, he makes mistakes, he does make good saves, but he does make mistakes”, Merson said on Sky Sports (as cited by MOT Leeds News).
“This is not the first mistake that he has made this season, but he’s got good mental strength, and he comes back out.
“He always puts himself in the firing line, so I have a lot of respect for him like that, it’s just one of them days, he goes from hero to villain in 70-80 minutes of football.”
Will Farke drop Meslier?
Karl Darlow must feel he is the worst goalkeeper in the world if he can’t get a game ahead of Meslier in the Championship this season, but it is what it is.
Farke has backed the Frenchman to the hilt, and many feel that decision will return to haunt the Leeds manager at the end of the season.
Can you name the season these 10 Leeds United shirts are from?
Meslier has cost Leeds double-digit points this season due to his goalkeeping howlers, and with a better custodian, the Whites should have been on the cusp of promotion at this stage.
The Frenchman should be dropped, but it is unclear whether Farke would want to upset the apple cart at this late stage of the season.
The Leeds boss has so far decided against dropping Meslier, but he needs to start earning his money and make a tough call this week.
