The #LUFC Breakfast Debate (Friday 17th January) Leeds PSR position more comfortable than suggested

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Ellandback1
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Breakfast Debate The #LUFC Breakfast Debate (Friday 17th January) Leeds PSR position more comfortable than suggested

Post by Ellandback1 »



Good Morning. It's Friday 17th January, and here are the latest headlines from Elland Road...


Leeds PSR position more comfortable than suggested

Despite last summer's clear-out aimed at staying well within the boundaries of Profit & Sustainability, Leeds continue to be linked with a host of new signings. The sales of Archie Gray, Crysencio Summerville, and Georginio Rutter generated well over £100m, surely erasing any immediate PSR concerns! However, the focus now shifts to the possibility of Premier League promotion. Would financial restrictions hamper their ability to strengthen? According to journalist Ben Jacobs, that's highly unlikely. Speaking on The View podcast, Jacobs stated...

I’m told that Leeds are more comfortable than suggested. One because of the number of outgoings from players who has release clause and two, the RedBull investment. Leeds don’t fear they will be financially restricted if they come up to the Premier League.



Abad leaps to Meslier's defence

Former Leeds goalkeeping coach Marcos Abad has leapt to the defence of Illan Meslier following calls for the Frenchman to be dropped, ahead of Sunday's crunch tie with Sheffield Wednesday. Abad, 39, spent six years at Thorp Arch (2017-2023), four of those working almost exclusively with the 24yo shot-stopper. Now at West Brom, Abad remains convinced that Meslier is the No1 keeper at Leeds, and praises Daniel Farke for sticking by him. With every performance now coming under the microscope, Abad suggests it may be the best for both parties if Meslier were to leave the club, and even suggests this should have happened two years ago when the Whites were relegated from the top flight.

“When you are watching the training with Illan, you don’t have any doubt he is the No 1, his potential is super. The team-mates know the level he put on the pitch.

In the last action of the last game (against Hull City), he tried to save the corner and put the ball in front of him and the deflection or the bounce gives an advantage to the attacker. If you make two or three (mistakes) in a row like this, everybody points at you, but when you know the level of the goalkeeper you have… it’s very difficult to make a change when you know this goalkeeper can save one ball that is impossible for the No 2.

The doubts about the goalkeeper are ridiculous because the level is so high. If he left the club two summers ago, I’m sure he would be playing in the Premier League in another team. This is the situation, but the pressure of Leeds now means every single detail that is not perfect is going to be pointed (out). My advice was maybe you had to leave, but he wanted to stay, to be promoted again with Leeds.

I understand (his decision), but, sometimes, as a goalkeeper, it’s important to know when you have to leave because, if not, it’s like every single action is going to be analysed very deeply. This is not healthy. This is not helpful. The support of the manager (though) is very good. (Farke is) doing amazing, supporting him and leaving everyone’s doubts and the gossip behind.

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Re: The #LUFC Breakfast Debate (Friday 17th January) Leeds PSR position more comfortable than suggested

Post by YorkshireSquare »

Feel like Abad is one of the reasons Meslier has gone backwards
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Re: The #LUFC Breakfast Debate (Friday 17th January) Leeds PSR position more comfortable than suggested

Post by The Subhuman »

Training ain't playing...
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Re: The #LUFC Breakfast Debate (Friday 17th January) Leeds PSR position more comfortable than suggested

Post by Orange Box »

YorkshireSquare wrote: Fri Jan 17, 2025 9:00 am Feel like Abad is one of the reasons Meslier has gone backwards
I think that’s a little unfair. In his illustrious professional career he’s never let a single goal in. Never conceded a corner. Not one penalty has ever gone past him.

As a coach he’s worked with some of the best. Erm ….

And another thing, BPF wouldn’t be where he was today without Abad’s coaching. Speaking of which, where is BPF today?
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Re: The #LUFC Breakfast Debate (Friday 17th January) Leeds PSR position more comfortable than suggested

Post by Sean_Nile »

Former Leeds goalkeeping coach Marcos Abad has dived headfirst to defend Illan Meslier, claiming the young keeper is more than capable of catching critics off guard.

“Meslier doesn’t just punch above his weight,” Abad said with a grin, “he parries negativity and criticism like it’s a looping cross and smothers doubts like a loose ball in the six-yard box.

People might try to lob insults his way, but he’s always quick off his line to defend himself.

I can well imagine that Meslier has visualised that he has the championship trophy firmly within his grasp... the young man is un- flappable and can handle any awkward bounces that comes his way”

When I was coaching him I was always planting subliminal messages in his mind... if you catch my drift.
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Re: The #LUFC Breakfast Debate (Friday 17th January) Leeds PSR position more comfortable than suggested

Post by Jammy 07 »

YorkshireSquare wrote: Fri Jan 17, 2025 9:00 am Feel like Abad is one of the reasons Meslier has gone backwards
Why do you feel Meslier has gone backwards ?

I'd agree he's not yet developed into the world class talent many thought he might and so he's stagnated a little. Obviously the 2 glaring errors against Sunderland and Hull highlight a keeper whose prone to the odd mistake but don't they all do that at some time or other ?

It seems either a concentration or decision making issue with him rather than any lack of ability.
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Re: The #LUFC Breakfast Debate (Friday 17th January) Leeds PSR position more comfortable than suggested

Post by mentalcase »

Morning all
Who gives a toss about PSR, clearly the powers that be don't, only this week they cleared all PL teams of any wrongdoings, sometimes it's better to flaunt the rules and see what happens further down the line, recently we have seen Everton, Forist & Sheff utd all pretty much giving a slap on t' wrist with a wet lettuce leaf.
We sold star after star and then some to tow the crooked line.
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Re: The #LUFC Breakfast Debate (Friday 17th January) Leeds PSR position more comfortable than suggested

Post by YorkshireSquare »

Jammy 07 wrote: Fri Jan 17, 2025 9:44 am Why do you feel Meslier has gone backwards ?

I'd agree he's not yet developed into the world class talent many thought he might and so he's stagnated a little. Obviously the 2 glaring errors against Sunderland and Hull highlight a keeper whose prone to the odd mistake but don't they all do that at some time or other ?

It seems either a concentration or decision making issue with him rather than any lack of ability.

I feel like getting peppered in the Premier League for two seasons has not done his development any good. His positioning seems to be worse than it was, his distribution certainly is and without stats to hand to back it up I feel like he saves a lower proportion of shots than he used to. I feel like he should be thriving at this level, but he isn't.
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Re: The #LUFC Breakfast Debate (Friday 17th January) Leeds PSR position more comfortable than suggested

Post by Tom the Cat »

YorkshireSquare wrote: Fri Jan 17, 2025 9:51 am I feel like getting peppered in the Premier League for two seasons has not done his development any good. His positioning seems to be worse than it was, his distribution certainly is and without stats to hand to back it up I feel like he saves a lower proportion of shots than he used to. I feel like he should be thriving at this level, but he isn't.
Farke is a massive Meslier fan and I reckon that he will play him ahead of Darlow against SW - if he does and the lad makes another massive c**k-up leading to a goal which costs us the match I wouldn't like to be in Farke's shoes afterwards.
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Re: The #LUFC Breakfast Debate (Friday 17th January) Leeds PSR position more comfortable than suggested

Post by YorkshireSquare »

Tom the Cat wrote: Fri Jan 17, 2025 10:09 am Farke is a massive Meslier fan and I reckon that he will play him ahead of Darlow against SW - if he does and the lad makes another massive c**k-up leading to a goal which costs us the match I wouldn't like to be in Farke's shoes afterwards.

The thing that concerns me most is that we defend very well but the oposition only need one shot to score. We have conceeded to the first shot on target far too much this season.
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Re: The #LUFC Breakfast Debate (Friday 17th January) Leeds PSR position more comfortable than suggested

Post by Chilli D »

Tom the Cat wrote: Fri Jan 17, 2025 10:09 am Farke is a massive Meslier fan and I reckon that he will play him ahead of Darlow against SW - if he does and the lad makes another massive c**k-up leading to a goal which costs us the match I wouldn't like to be in Farke's shoes afterwards.
Or Meslier's
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Re: The #LUFC Breakfast Debate (Friday 17th January) Leeds PSR position more comfortable than suggested

Post by Ellandback1 »

By Beren Cross Jan 14, 2025

There have been moments for Illan Meslier at Leeds United. His save to deny John Lundstram at Bramall Lane in 2020, the claw to keep out Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall last season, and the nine increasingly better stops at Anfield in 2022’s 2-1 win.

This is a goalkeeper who has looked like one of the club’s crown jewels since arriving, initially on loan, in 2019. After promotion, his was one of the most important signatures Victor Orta, then the director of football, wanted.

One year after that transfer, Meslier was signing his current five-year deal, having played a key role in the run to ninth in the Premier League. His potential was plain to see from day one.

Five months on the bench ended when he got his bow at Arsenal in the FA Cup in January 2020. The then-19-year-old’s display left Marcelo Bielsa purring. “The way he played is very positive for us looking at the future because, when the team controlled the match, he managed the ball well and, when the team was controlled by the opponent, he offered good, top-level answers,” the head coach said at the time.

But since he signed that contract in 2021, there has been an obvious overall decline. In 2021-22, which began with Bielsa and ended with Jesse Marsch, Meslier let more saveable goals in than any other top-flight goalkeeper. According to FBref, Meslier conceded 16.2 more goals than he should have based on expected goals (xG). Norwich City’s Tim Krul was second, with 11.7. In 2022-23, the season that ended in relegation, the same database said there were 12.4 goals Meslier should have saved.

Only Southampton’s Gavin Bazunu performed worse. This is not a statistic driven by the team’s wider performances: shots were being let in that a goalkeeper is expected to save.

Sam Allardyce’s decision to replace Meslier with Joel Robles for the final four matches of that relegation season spoke volumes. Nobody would have been surprised if he found an exit, like so many others, in that summer after the drop. He stayed, however, and made it his mission to return the club to the top flight.

Daniel Farke threw his support behind the goalkeeper last year and has not wavered in that despite adding Karl Darlow, a proven Championship stopper. The stats improved for Meslier last season, though the data still said he conceded 3.1 more goals than he should have.

Farke chose to stand by Meslier with more force than ever before last week. Fresh from three goals that reflected badly on the No 1, the manager could not have been more forthright. It would be some U-turn if Darlow now started against Sheffield Wednesday on Sunday.
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Re: The #LUFC Breakfast Debate (Friday 17th January) Leeds PSR position more comfortable than suggested

Post by Irish Ian »

Brought anyone in yet?
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Re: The #LUFC Breakfast Debate (Friday 17th January) Leeds PSR position more comfortable than suggested

Post by GreennWhite »

Irish Ian wrote: Fri Jan 17, 2025 12:16 pm Brought anyone in yet?
Still loads of time to get quality players in, dont panic Captain Mainwaring :) :)
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Re: The #LUFC Breakfast Debate (Friday 17th January) Leeds PSR position more comfortable than suggested

Post by Clitheroe White »

GreennWhite wrote: Fri Jan 17, 2025 2:18 pm Still loads of time to get quality players in, dont panic Captain Mainwaring :) :)
I'm starting to panic...
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Re: The #LUFC Breakfast Debate (Friday 17th January) Leeds PSR position more comfortable than suggested

Post by Clitheroe White »

On Meslier - take a listen to yesterday's The Square Ball. Johnny Copper (OPTA) goes into stats around Mes and wider championship keepers. Interesting to hear.

Also sounds like his stats from prem days weren't helped by Marsh or Bielsa where we clearly weren't defending at all well.
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Re: The #LUFC Breakfast Debate (Friday 17th January) Leeds PSR position more comfortable than suggested

Post by Irish Ian »

Clitheroe White wrote: Fri Jan 17, 2025 3:25 pm On Meslier - take a listen to yesterday's The Square Ball. Johnny Copper (OPTA) goes into stats around Mes and wider championship keepers. Interesting to hear.

Also sounds like his stats from prem days weren't helped by Marsh or Bielsa where we clearly weren't defending at all well.
Stats?

For some things you can use your eyes :lol:
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