penalties given away, poor positioning 4, beaten at near posts 5, gone through him 6 — Illan Meslier is indefensible concedes BBC journalist — The Leeds Press 31/3/25

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by Kris Sanyal

Illan Meslier is battling to stay in the team following another disastrous performance where he cost Leeds United more precious Championship points. The Frenchman is facing a real backlash, and Daniel Farke has been warned that he will be held responsible for keeping the goalkeeper in the team if Leeds do not get promoted.

Farke has been a steadfast supporter of Illan Meslier despite his inconsistent performances, but it seems even he will find it hard to defend selecting him again next weekend.

The French goalkeeper made the most basic of errors against Swansea to cost Leeds points, and there is now a clamour for him to be dropped from the team.

Farke will be making a decision this week, but even the staunchest of Meslier supporters are finding it hard to excuse his poor performance against Swansea this weekend.

I can’t defend Illan Meslier anymore – BBC journalist

Adam Pope has been a supporter of Meslier and has been insistent that he remains a decent goalkeeper despite the errors he has committed this season.

However, even the BBC journalist is finding it hard to defend him and conceded that once anyone takes a look at the staggering number of mistakes the Frenchman has made, it is hard to paint a positive picture about him.

“Genuinely, you can’t defend him anymore, and we have defended him a lot”, Pope said on BBC’s Don’t Go To Bed Just yet podcast.

“If you are an agent trying to push your player on, you can make a good three minutes of him doing really well in that game and probably most games.

“When you look at the amount of mistakes that have been made and shots that have gone through.

“3 penalties given away, spills two, misjudged sweeps two, poor positioning four, beaten at near posts five, gone through him six, amongst that, dropping the ball.”

He seems done at Leeds United

In the short term, Farke will be inviting personal ridicule if Meslier is in the eleven when the teams are announced for the Luton fixture on Saturday.

Karl Darlow deserves a crack, and given the experience he has amassed over the years, it is surprising that some think he could be a worse option than Meslier.

In the long term, Leeds need to find a new number one goalkeeper regardless of whether they get promoted this season, as Meslier should not be between the sticks at the start of next season, whether that be in the Premier League or the Championship.

He remains a talented goalkeeper, but Leeds need someone who is steadier and will help the team to get over the line in games they are not playing well.

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