Daniel Farke handed Karl Darlow the starting spot between the sticks on Saturday evening as Leeds United narrowly saw off the challenge of League Two side Harrogate Town at Elland Road.
It is a change that Daniel Farke would have made regardless of the noise on and off the pitch around goalkeeper Illan Meslier, after his woeful performance the game prior when Leeds drew at Hull City.
Meslier was at fault for all three goals and while he has 14 clean sheets in 26 Championship games this season, it is not the first time the Frenchman has struggled to keep the goals out throughout 2024-25.
Meslier has also received criticism for mistakes against Sunderland and Preston. But Wales international Darlow was always going to come into the side when Leeds took on Simon Weaver’s side on Saturday.
Stuart Dallas admits he would drop Illan Meslier right now
Darlow kept a clean sheet in what was only his sixth appearance of his Leeds tenure since joining the club in the summer of 2023. He was called into action perhaps, more than Leeds might have actually expected.
Now, focus turns back to the push for promotion with Sheffield Wednesday coming to Elland Road next weekend. Stuart Dallas told LUTV’s Matchday Live ahead of the game he’d drop Meslier as things stand.
“We’re talking about a goalkeeper that has played over 40/50 times in the Premier League. It’s not like it’s a young kid coming in. Karl Darlow is a good goalkeeper. If he is to bring him in, I’ve no doubts,” he said.
“Illan Meslier, he hasn’t been great. He possibly needs to be taken out of the team, in any other area of the pitch he would be taken out of the team and told to use it as motivation and come back stronger.”
What Daniel Farke said on Illan Meslier ahead of Saturday
Farke spoke at length about Meslier amid all the noise surrounding the Frenchman. It was claimed after the draw at Hull that Leeds would listen to offers for Meslier, and Farke had performed a u-turn on him.
That may be true but in the public domain, Farke raved about Meslier. While he admits he is not 100% happy and wants more consistency from Meslier, he said no club in history would replace Meslier now.
It will be interesting to see who starts against Sheffield Wednesday and while Dallas seemingly wants Darlow to retain his place, Farke’s comments suggest Meslier comes back in at Elland Road next term.
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