Firpo

And as regards this bit

“think it's interesting Germany and Salonika are questioning the integrity of professionals”

….i can absolutely confirm that I question the integrity of every person in media. I am a strong believer that media is responsible of many of today’s problems .
Sorry …I know that’s taking the Meslier question to a whole new heavy level, not for this forum… but I am largely sceptical of the honesty of every word I ever read, it being extremely likely that driving someone else’s reaction is the total purpose of the communication, not it’s accuracy.

comment by Dennis - Always Leeds - Always Loyal. (U23086)
posted 50 minutes ago
comment by The Light Brigade (U22847)
posted 46 minutes ago
Yep, I think a more advanced role for Firpo on the LHS would better suit his strengths.
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Would we have a left back behind him. What would the formation look like? I'm intrigued.
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Yep, would have a LB behind him👍

I’ve always seen a wing back in Firpo. In the correct formation he’s good up top. However defensively he needs help from the left sided centre back and midfielder, otherwise he gets found out.

comment by salonika73 (U4688)
posted 6 hours, 51 minutes ago
Whatever, Dennis, don’t think me and Germany are gonna agree with you, or others, on this.
Even just watched it back again to ensure I’m not just being biased cos overall I think Meslier is a good keeper…. having done so:

1st goal, it’s not clear Ampadu is gonna be getting the tackle in so Meslier closes down the potential shot like every other goalie would have. Deflection off Ampudu’s tackle is the sole reason for the goal.

2nd goal, Meslier has to cover both left and right of goal cos attacker is shaping up to do a ‘Cre’ right post curler, but goes left. Meslier hasn’t committed himself too far to the right though, but being central, where he should be, and gets his fingers to it, but the shot just got too much power on it. Perfect positioning.

3rd goal, like the 1st goal, this is Ampadu’s fault who fails to make a strong challenge. Meslier can’t just stay on his line, he’s got to get closer because there’s a huge likelihood that the ball is just gonna pop up in the air when the two challenge together for the ball and he’s got to be there to collect it, but Ampadu just doesn’t do his job.

Interesting that no one ever seems to mention Ampadu when he make a balls up… it’s happened a few times this year despite his good performances. But that’s ok, it happens to every player over a season. I sometime just think that when one fan starts getting onto a specific player, loads join in, irrespective of reality. They then become the usual whipping boys for anything negative that occurs. Been happening for years where fans just seem to pick on particular players. No wonder we often see those players after doing something good cupping their ears or fingers to lips, to the crowd. 🤔

Anyway, we’re all entitled to our opinions I’m told, it’s just that other people’s opinions are sometimes wrong 🤭🤣😎
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Have some sympathy with both sides of this debate. Our defence looked very strong during our unbeaten run with lots of clean sheets. We did not face many shots at all and controlled games effectively. Because of this Meslier looked commanding and Ampadu sweeping things up looked very good even though he is not a proper CB.

Fast forward to now and we have Meslier flapping at high balls into our box, runners not being tracked and we look like conceding every time the ball comes into our box. We have lost that control we had in the midfield so we are coming under more pressure at the back and looking very shaky.

I don't know why this has happened but the constant chopping and changing in the midfield, Archie, Gruev, Kamara cannot have helped.

Funny thing here is I have not said once that Meslier is the worlds best, but I think he takes a lot of crap nearly every game, a lot of times he takes it when if his team mates had done better he might not have had to try and deal with them, I know he has faults but I ain't going to get at him just because a few want to!..

Look at the video as often as you like, and if you truely think he was at fault for those 3 goals, than so what, outside of a deflection, a shot that if one of ours had shot it,)..and a header that I think the scorer was happy he had the luck to catch it the way he did sending it over Meslier!..

Than our opinions will continue to differ, because I don't think there was much he could have done!..

I said back there I wasn't going to say any more, so that's the last from me on this one!..

I’m not the greatest fan of Mes but he wasn’t to blame for any of the goals. Hoever, he’s not the goalie he was a few seasons ago and if we go up, he must be replaced.

Good debate…. Firpo and Meslier….

….. just reminds me of the debate we had about Chris Wood ! A decent enough striker plying some kind of trade on the fringes of the Premier League…. who these pages absolutely slated at the start of his tenure with us.

Firpo works great in an attacking system where he has a right footed player in front of him.

You essentially have the benefits of a left foot wide midfielder behind a player able to cut in.

He has done well this season, but the simple truth is you wouldn't want to go into next season with only him and Byram as your fullbacks so we have to bring in players there.

And if you ate bringing in, you bring in better.

Firpo reminds me of Alioski. We see glaring weaknesses in his defending, but he does bring something to the team. If he goes, I think we will miss him.

Preferred Alioski TBH. Glue player. Missed him more.