Exclusive: Ex-Leeds United goalkeeper's verdict on Lucas Perri vs Karl Darlow debate & Illan Meslier exile
Goalkeeper has been a regular point of debate among Leeds United fans once again this season.
Former Leeds United goalkeeper Paddy Kenny has been impressed with Karl Darlow's recent performances and expects ‘healthy competition’ to benefit both the Welshman and recently-dropped Lucas Perri.
Darlow is two games into his second spell of the season in the Leeds starting-XI, having previously covered for Perri during a five-game spell in which the Brazilian was out with a quadriceps injury. But the decision this time was not fitness-related, with Daniel Farke taking his £16million summer signing ‘out of the spotlight’ following costly errors against Manchester United and Newcastle United.
A clean sheet against Fulham was enough for Darlow to keep his place and despite conceding at Everton on Monday, the 35-year-old pulled off some decent saves and looked steady. Perri will no doubt be pushing in training to retain the No.1 shirt and Kenny, who played 81 games in goal for Leeds, believes competition is healthy - although continuity between the posts is also important for the defensive unit.
“I think Darlow has done well in the games he's played,” Kenny exclusively told the YEP in conjunction with IgnitionCasino. “I thought he played well against Everton and made some good saves. It's difficult sometimes as a goalkeeper when a manager makes a change, but sometimes it's got to be done. Hopefully, if Perri does get back in, he’ll come back fresher and we might see the best of him.
“When you're a defender or a goalkeeper, you like to form a good knowledge together. Obviously if you are changing it a lot, then I'm sure it won't help. But if the goalkeeper is not performing then sometimes you've got to change things up. Results recently have been miles better. Darlow has come in and I think he's done well.
“There's nothing better than having healthy competition for your place, to have two goalkeepers that are doing well. Darlow has come in and performed. If anything changes and Perri has to come in, then hopefully he can perform.”
One member of the Leeds United goalkeeping group unlikely to get a run of games between now and May is Illan Meslier. The 25-year-old was once a clear first-choice but hasn’t played competitive football since his dropping for Darlow in April last year, also in the aftermath of several high-profile errors.
Illan Meslier match sharpness challenge amid Leeds United exile
Meslier dropped to second-choice at that moment and was third-choice at best following Perri’s summer arrival, but despite transfer interest a move away from West Yorkshire didn’t materialise. He is not expected to leave this month either, meaning he’ll have been without competitive action for well over a year by the time he looks for a new club in June, following the expiration of his Leeds contract.
“It can be difficult [not playing for so long],” Kenny said of the situation. “That's what happened with me towards the back end of my Leeds career, my last two months, probably my worst two months at Leeds. I was injured. I damaged an artery in my foot, couldn't kick the ball and for two months all I did was train on a Friday.
“Eventually it caught up with me and I lost my match sharpness. And when you lose your match sharpness, it can be hard to get it back. It's alright training, but playing games is totally different. So it’s going to be difficult for Meslier. He's been used to playing week in, week out, and then all of a sudden, now he finds himself not even being involved in the squad.”
Farke’s decision to drop Perri earlier this month felt much more decisive than last season’s Meslier removal, so much so that very few expected Darlow to keep his starting berth beyond the FA Cup third round win at Derby County. This one felt like Farke 2.0, and Kenny believes it’s another example of the previously under-pressure Whites boss evolving.
“I think three or four months ago people wanted Farke out, and then all of a sudden he's changing formation, changing personnel,” the former Leeds goalkeeper added. “He's not been worried about changing the goalkeeper. He's shown what he can do, and he's been very impressive.
“One defeat in 10 games in the Premier League for a newly-promoted team, that is a massive achievement on its own. He’s done really well recently. I've got no doubts. I think they'll stay up comfortably this season.”