I've been critical of Meslier for years. Since the 2nd season in the Premier League. I've given multiple options for a replacement, either like for like but cheaper wages or just better keepers. The last keeper I recommended was Viktor Johannson who played for Rotherham at the time. His save to shot percentage was better than 90% of Championship keepers the season before last and he was on 2k a week. We could have sold Meslier and signed him for around 500k as he was going in to the last year of his contract. He moved to Stoke on a free this summer. It would have cut the wage bill for a statistically better keeper. I'm no expert but I do back up my criticisms with options and reasons. I don't like the accusation.
As for Farke, when he was appointed I was very much a Corberan man. The sale of Meslier would have paid out West Broms contract and got us a Bielsa disciple who also knew the Championship. The disclaimer on this one is that I am not calling for Farkes head at all.
Your Johannson is my Cooper, same reasons, £2m he cost the blunts, £17,500 pw compared to £30,000 for Meslier same age. I don't do knee jerk or scapegoats but will give an opinion if I don't think a player is good enough and think we could get better, just as I will praise one that is having a great run of form.
I said at the start of the season that he was the weak link in our strongest starting 11, I can't think of one positive attribute to his game but can think of many weaknesses, we had the chance to get rid in the summer but the club were too greedy in their valuation. Now comes another big moment, how will he react to his blunder, how will it affect him, thing is, he's not a top keeper who you can see if it's affected him or not because he's always got a mistake in him.
One thing is for sure, he won't get dropped, so against Sheff Utd, the Kop will need to give him all the support they can when he comes out pre kick off, which I'm sure they will.
