A look at Leeds United’s ‘Iceman’ – Illan Meslier

Leeds United haven’t exactly maintained a friendly relationship with consistency in the last few years.

Players, more often than not, were utilising their time at Elland Road as a rental phase. Their talents were showcased, usually as the best in the team, before they were swiftly lured to pastures new. A higher division, as well as a higher salary, often served to be the driving factors behind such decisions.

Even still, these players often did all they could to help the team. Players like Ross McCormack, Charlie Taylor and Jonny Howson, to name a few, spent a solid portion of their career at the club, their ambition far outweighing that of their employers.

The goalkeeper position, however, has always been one Leeds have struggled to maintain. In truth, Leeds lacked a consistent shot-stopper throughout their entire duration in the lower leagues. With a history of goalkeepers of longevity, such as Nigel Martyn, John Lukic and Gary Sprake, it is perhaps somewhat amazing that Leeds have struggled as they have done in searching for a goalkeeper.

The Whites have seen the likes of Kasper Schmeichel, Rob Green and Casper Ankergren come into the club and maintain pretty solid form in the games that they played. The likes of Marco Silvestri and Bailey Peacock-Farrell too were, at the very least, okay.

There were also the likes of Felix Wiedwald and Paul Rachubka (the mere mention of the latter will no doubt make most Leeds fans shudder).

The arrival of Kiko Casilla served to instil a long dead optimism into supporters once more. Although he had some impressive performances, Casilla’s erraticism would ultimately be his undoing. This includes, but is not limited to, the time he decided to take up a secondary position of CDM in the second-leg of the 2018/19 playoff semi-final against Derby County.

When Illan Meslier arrived on loan ahead of the 2019/20 season, it was clear he would serve as understudy to Casilla. He had a fairly impressive debut against Arsenal in the FA Cup, but fans would have to wait around two months before they saw him again.

In the wake of Casilla’s eight-match ban, in stepped Meslier. Despite his youth, the eight games in which he played saw him maintain a level of confidence that Casilla never seemed to possess. Casilla returned from his ban for match-week 43, but when Bielsa named Meslier in the starting lineup, it seemed as though the Spaniard’s position had been permanently usurped.

After signing from Lorient that summer for £5 million, Bielsa maintained his faith in Meslier, the Frenchman being given the opportunity to prove why he was designated the number 1 shirt. Doubts were as present as they were understandable coming into the 2020/21 campaign. Did ten performances, none of which involved any remarkable instances of goalkeeping, justify a starting spot in the top flight?

Any doubts surrounding Meslier were swiftly put to bed. Perhaps it was the game against Sheffield United at Bramall Lane. Although Leeds won the tie 1-0 through a late Patrick Bamford header, it would have been a defeat for Leeds had it not been for their young gun between the sticks.

From there, it has been a continued spectacle to watch Meslier each week. To those unfortunate enough to not be able to watch him in action, any study of his statistics will serve to quickly consolidate the masses of praise he continues to receive.

Before looking at anything beyond, it only seems right to first look at the fundamentals of his game. Above all, a goalkeeper is there to protect his goal, something that Meslier is often forced to do more than most.

With the way Leeds play their football, opponents are often able to drive towards their defence and take a shot at the United goal.

As evident above, Leeds face the third most shots per game in the Premier League this season. This is why it should come as no surprise that Meslier currently sits second amongst goalkeepers for most saves in the league, with 125.

It is not only the base number of saves for Meslier that is impressive. From this number, Meslier averages 3.91 saves per 90, whilst facing 5.19 shots per game. Meslier’s save percentage at the time of writing is at 74.7%, a number that seeds him as the fifth best in the Premier League, seating him above the likes of Alisson, Jordan Pickford and Edouard Mendy.

Whilst a goalkeeper is expected to save what is fired towards him, the fact that Meslier has already become so reliable only benefits the Leeds United system. The outfield players know that, behind them, stands a competent and comfortable goalkeeper, which perhaps enables them to play their ‘Bielsa-ball’ system to its fullest, free-flowing extent.

The Bielsa way of football emphasises many things, but one of its most pivotal aspects is passing. Quick, fluid ball movement is crucial to ensuring the function of Bielsa’s methods, with Leeds often building their moves from the back.

As such, Meslier has always been required to be comfortable with the ball at his foot. Whilst his young age and inexperience may have made him easier to mould to that style, compared to an aged veteran like Casilla, it is still worth crediting Meslier for being able to adapt so swiftly.

Averaging 31.25 attempted passes per 90, Illan Meslier ranks as Leeds’ seventh highest passer (again, at the time of writing), having completed 1,010 passes overall. Although he has completed quite a high volume, his passing is perhaps the most erroneous aspect of his game.

This is, by no means, a criticism of his play-style, as it is no doubt something that will develop with time and experience. That being said, his long-range passing does often pale in comparison to his other capabilities.
Meslier has passed the ball out of bounds 34 times this season, the third most in his side.

In any instance Meslier loses possession like this, it is highly likely he was attempting a long pass. Having attempted 511 long passes, Meslier has completed only 294, giving him a 57.5% completion rate and nestling him as one of the worst in the side statistically.

That being said however, Meslier is far from an incompetent passer. His short and mid-range passing game are borderline impossible to critique, averaging a 99.1% short pass completion rate, and a 98.6% mid-range pass completion rate. Countless times has Meslier shown an immense level of calmness when with the ball, both with and without the pressure from opposition attackers.

As shown above, Meslier’s value has sky-rocketed since his arrival in West Yorkshire. Over the course of the season, Illan Meslier has seen himself earn the nickname, ‘The Iceman’. He didn’t earn it for no reason. Meslier has continued to exhibit the calmness that initially warmed the fans to him. His fit into the system was seamless and with each game, his confidence grows.

Just recently, in the relatively tame affair that was the Leeds-Manchester derby, Illan Meslier kept his 10th clean sheet of the season, becoming the youngest ever to reach that milestone in the Premier League. That being said, this wasn’t his first record of the campaign. By February, Meslier had not only made the most Premier League starts for an under-21 goalkeeper, but too had kept the most Premier League clean sheets for an U21 goalkeeper.

Illan Meslier’s time at Elland Road has allowed him to blossom into a truly brilliant young player, and one that Leeds and their fans will hope to keep for years to come. Perhaps, finally, he will serve to be Leeds United’s long-awaited, long-term answer to the continuous questioning of their goalkeeping position. Having just turned 21, there is no reason he can’t be just that.

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