Joel Robles will have a better idea than most of what working with Sam Allardyce is like as the Englishman seemingly closes in on becoming the new Leeds United boss.
It seems that Sam Allardyce will be coming in amid doubts over Javi Gracia’s future. The Times reports that Leeds are considering appointing the 68-year-old until the summer.
It is a move that is going to attract a lot of ridicule from rival fans. And ultimately, you are going to struggle to find a Leeds supporter who genuinely believes that this decision significantly boosts our hopes of staying in the Premier League.
Allardyce may be the man to make much-needed change in Leeds goal involving Joel Robles
A change is needed. Gracia is not the main figure responsible for this mess. But he is not blameless either. And one of the decisions which will surely cost him was sticking by Illan Meslier for as long as he did.
Meslier has been out of form for several weeks now. The Frenchman has cost Leeds on a number of occasions since doing nowhere near enough to deny Marc Guehi for the equaliser that afternoon against Crystal Palace.
Unlike last season, Leeds have an experienced back-up waiting in the wings. Joel Robles was signed in the summer. And he has looked competent whenever he has had a chance.
So surely after what happened at Bournemouth on Sunday, the time has come for Meslier to be dropped and Joel to come in.
As it turns out, perhaps Sam Allardyce may actually be the man to make that change.
Allardyce actually worked with Joel Robles during his time in charge of Everton. And he suggested that he wanted him to stay at Goodison Park ahead of the goalkeeper’s release in 2018.
That knowledge of working with Joel may have an impact if he comes in – particularly with Meslier in such poor form.
Is switching goalkeepers going to save our season? No. But expecting Meslier to find some form from somewhere makes absolutely no sense anymore.
And Allardyce having prior knowledge of working with his understudy does provide a small crumb of comfort that a change may finally be on its way.
It’s just a shame it will seemingly take Allardyce coming in for that to possibly happen.