Simon Grayson has told the No Tippy Tappy Podcast that he would drop Leeds United goalkeeper Illan Meslier even if it is not everyone’s “cup of tea”, because the Frenchman is costing Leeds too many points and is “vulnerable”.
Meslier, 23, has conceded 23 goals since the international break in just seven games. Four to Arsenal, five to Palace, six to Liverpool and four more to Bournemouth on Sunday. Joel Robles is waiting in the wings, ready for his debut.
Robles will know all about Sam Allardyce, having worked under the ex-England manager at Everton. He is one of two players to play under Big Sam – the other being Rodrigo, when the Spaniard was a youngster at Bolton Wanderers.
Ex-Leeds boss Grayson has declared that Meslier is “vulnerable” and that if he was in Big Sam’s position, he would drop Meslier – even if not everyone would agree with it. He believes that Meslier is costing Leeds too many points.
“Someone asked me this,” Grayson said, when asked if he would drop Meslier from the starting XI ahead of Manchester City. “I would drop him straight away. He’s young, he’s vulnerable and he’s making too many mistakes.
“Sometimes you’ve got to take him to the firing line. That might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but sometimes that’s what you’ve got to do. Making too many errors, costing the team too many points,” Grayson continued this week.
Simon Grayson would drop vulnerable Leeds goalkeeper Illan Meslier
It is not as if Leeds are lacking a decent back-up goalkeeper. Robles has huge experience and while he would have liked to have played more in his career – it is not as though Leeds would be bringing in a rookie like Kris Klaesson.
Leeds brought in Robles last summer on a year’s deal for this reason. To come in and add some experience behind Meslier. To add a goalkeeper that if Meslier’s form had dipped, then Robles could come in and perform. Maybe, now.
