It seems as though this time around, Illan Meslier has respected Daniel Farke’s decision at Leeds United.
The likelihood was that Farke was going to stick with Meslier as his goalkeeper for Luton Town on Saturday, but he’s certainly surprised the fanbase.
Meslier has been dropped for Karl Darlow, as Farke has just taken a lot of pressure off his job role.
If Darlow doesn’t work out, then Leeds fans can’t exactly blame the Whites boss, who has made the bold decision to remove the Frenchman from the first team.
It could mean it’s Meslier’s last game for Leeds, but his reaction wasn’t as bad compared to the last time he was dropped.
What Illan Meslier said the last time he was dropped from Leeds United
Well, it was a decision that needed to be made, and the Leeds faithful will respect the manager for making the ruthless call.
The Swansea game seemed like the last straw, and even Farke knew time was up as Sam Allardyce also wanted Meslier dropped.
Funnily enough, Allardyce was actually the last manager to drop Meslier from the starting lineup.
At the end of the 2022/23 season, Allardyce opted for Joel Robles instead of the 25-year-old.
Now, Meslier did get sent off last season, meaning he has missed games, but this was the last time he was dropped, and the keeper had a much different reaction.
Speaking to The Guardian in 2024, Meslier was upset with Allardyce’s decision, and if he doesn’t return to the lineup, it could impact his relationship with Farke.
“With Sam, my confidence went down. In the moment, I would have said it was unfair. But it’s not easy in this situation,” Meslier said.
“One year later, I can see I was very exposed. I tried to help the team more than I should have, and when you’re in this situation, you have to understand you cannot do more than your position allows you to do.
“It was a dark moment, it was difficult.”
Meslier didn’t achieve his promise which speaks volumes to Farke at Leeds
With his exclusion from the lineup as they make the trip to Luton, Meslier might feel this could help his development.
The downside is that Darlow could become an instant hit, seeing Meslier permanently banished and potentially exiting Elland Road in the summer.
Jed Wallace said Farke needed to ‘protect’ Meslier, and that’s exactly what he’s done through this decision, which could help them catch Sheffield United.
| Position | Team | Played MP | Won W | Drawn D | Lost L | For GF | Against GA | Diff GD | Points Pts |
| 1 |  Sheff UtdSheffield Utd | 39 | 26 | 7 | 6 | 56 | 29 | 27 | 83 |
| 2 |  LeedsLeeds | 39 | 23 | 12 | 4 | 78 | 27 | 51 | 81 |
| 3 |  BurnleyBurnley | 39 | 22 | 15 | 2 | 53 | 11 | 42 | 81 |
| 4 |  SunderlandSunderland | 39 | 20 | 12 | 7 | 56 | 37 | 19 | 72 |
| 5 |  CoventryCoventry | 39 | 17 | 8 | 14 | 56 | 51 | 5 | 59 |
However, following on from what he said about Allardyce to the outlet, Meslier made a promise to the Leeds boss that hasn’t exactly panned out.
“I’ve learned a lot, and I’m very grateful that, from the first day, I felt a huge trust Daniel [Farke] has in me,” Meslier said.
“I felt very happy. Now I want to give something back to him.”
In a harsh reality, the only thing he’s given to Farke is a blow to Leeds’ promotion chances, and it could turn out to be a disappointing end to Meslier’s career with the Whites.
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