Congratulations to Illan Meslier....

comment by JonnyLosAngeles (My Dad was made in Leeds) עם ישראל חי (U9756)
posted 32 minutes ago
Its a team game! Obviously every stat has to do with team play.

Why detract from his accomplishment?

Well done Ilan!
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Exactly Jonny....let’s just allow the lad to enjoy the deserved limelight of this statistics.

Without doubt he has earned many of those with some fantastic saves which has allowed us to come away with a clean sheet.

comment by JonnyLosAngeles (My Dad was made in Leeds) עם ישראל חי (U9756)
posted 42 minutes ago
Its a team game! Obviously every stat has to do with team play.

Why detract from his accomplishment?

Well done Ilan!
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I’m detracting from the stat for the reasons given Jonny... not detracting from an accomplishment. I’d rather comment on his performances.

He’s probably up there for most premier league goals conceded before his 21st birthday too, but I wouldn’t use that as a stat to bash him with.

comment by Estaremos Top Four For Real (U21471)
posted 37 minutes ago
comment by milkyboy (U12731)
posted 50 minutes ago
It’s one of those great stats isn’t it... kind of a bit random. I recently broke the record for most pies eaten by someone over the age of 50 in my house.

Clean sheets are a team thing, the age players mature at, and when they get given a chance is impacted by a number of things, not least competition for places.

What matters is meslier has had some poor performances this season, but each time has not let it get to him and followed up with some good ones...He’s looked rock solid since the arsenal game,. He’s a talent and while aspects of his game clearly need improvement, time is obviously on his side.
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For me, another big element is that the worst aspect of his game can be improved on by experience and time playing at this level.

His command of the 6 yard box and penalty area is in most games reasonably solid; his weaknesses are things which can be worked on and improved even in training.
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absolutely... infact his command of his area has improved already as the season's gone on. His distribution is obviously the main thing to work on, but he's been chucked in at the deep end and done really well all things considered.

comment by milkyboy (U12731)
posted 20 minutes ago
comment by Estaremos Top Four For Real (U21471)
posted 37 minutes ago
comment by milkyboy (U12731)
posted 50 minutes ago
It’s one of those great stats isn’t it... kind of a bit random. I recently broke the record for most pies eaten by someone over the age of 50 in my house.

Clean sheets are a team thing, the age players mature at, and when they get given a chance is impacted by a number of things, not least competition for places.

What matters is meslier has had some poor performances this season, but each time has not let it get to him and followed up with some good ones...He’s looked rock solid since the arsenal game,. He’s a talent and while aspects of his game clearly need improvement, time is obviously on his side.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
For me, another big element is that the worst aspect of his game can be improved on by experience and time playing at this level.

His command of the 6 yard box and penalty area is in most games reasonably solid; his weaknesses are things which can be worked on and improved even in training.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

absolutely... infact his command of his area has improved already as the season's gone on. His distribution is obviously the main thing to work on, but he's been chucked in at the deep end and done really well all things considered.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
His distribution is much better than most people make out. When you look at passes completed and pass percentages he is amongst the best in the division.

Meslier, if he's happy at Leeds, can be the first choice keeper for many, many years, the young guy is the one of the best I've seen in years, given his age.

Although he needs to improve his impersonation of Frank Beckenbauer, 'sweeping up' at the back, to stop us all having heart failure!

comment by JonnyLosAngeles (My Dad was made in Leeds) עם ישראל חי (U9756)
posted 3 hours, 4 minutes ago
Its a team game! Obviously every stat has to do with team play.

Why detract from his accomplishment?

Well done Ilan!
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Surely he deserves more credit due to our shaky and sometimes unsettled defence with attacking playstyle

We started our first season back in the prem after far too long with a 20 year old first choice and a back up caught up in controversy and iffy form.

Meslier has stepped up and been a revelation for me, regardless of any stats. He makes errors, he has bad days, but they're far outweighed by his composed and shot stopping performances.

As mentioned above, he's hardly been helped by a steady and consistent backline and style of play that leaves us exposed.

I hope he continues to improve and stays with us for years on current performances ...... personally i feared the worst at the start of the season and goalkeeping was going to be a season long issue.

Its often mentioned how Raph is going to attract big club attention in the very near future.

Meslier will be attracting the same attention soon.

Comment Deleted by Article Creator

comment by Estaremos Top Four For Real (U21471)
posted 10 hours, 59 minutes ago
comment by milkyboy (U12731)
posted 50 minutes ago
It’s one of those great stats isn’t it... kind of a bit random. I recently broke the record for most pies eaten by someone over the age of 50 in my house.

Clean sheets are a team thing, the age players mature at, and when they get given a chance is impacted by a number of things, not least competition for places.

What matters is meslier has had some poor performances this season, but each time has not let it get to him and followed up with some good ones...He’s looked rock solid since the arsenal game,. He’s a talent and while aspects of his game clearly need improvement, time is obviously on his side.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
For me, another big element is that the worst aspect of his game can be improved on by experience and time playing at this level.

His command of the 6 yard box and penalty area is in most games reasonably solid; his weaknesses are things which can be worked on and improved even in training.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
The most important factor is that he is improving game by game. He is catching the ball more often, commanding his box, making better decisions, and against the Saints his distribution was almost error free. He is an unsung hero for us this season. Good post to remind us of how fortunate we are to have him.