This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers…
Let’s not paper over the cracks with all this talk.
Former Leeds United defender Ben Parker believes that Leeds United goalkeeper Kiko Casilla has finally got used to playing in English football.
What’s he said?
Speaking to Yorkshire Evening Post, he mentioned how there isn’t as much panic when he wanders outside his box as there was last season:
“Any keeper you see outside his area, everyone has a little panic. Even as a player, you’re thinking he has to get there. Kiko’s starting positions this season have been so much better than last year.
“At times he’s been a touch deeper, he’s reading the game better, he’s adjusted to the speed of the Championship and when he has to come out.
“He hasn’t done it every game and that decision making has been crucial. That says to me he’s adjusted to the league, he looks a more solid all-round goalkeeper.”
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That’s not strictly true though, is it?
Whilst Parker talks about what he brings to the table in terms of his style of play when he comes off his line, there is still one thing that should concern Leeds when it comes to the Spaniard, and it concerns what he does on it.
Casilla was no stranger to the odd gaffe last season, with his errors in games against Sheffield United and Derby County, the latter in the play-off semi-final being chief amongst them.
Whilst he may be among one of the better goalkeepers this season in terms of clean sheets, leading the way with five, the fact of the matter is that he still hasn’t eradicated all mistakes from his game and they have the potential to cost Leeds throughout the season.
His ‘flap’ at the first goal during their Carabao Cup defeat to Stoke City and his half-hearted punch for Charlton Athletic’s winner show that there is still a disaster waiting to happen at any moment.
Do Leeds need to invest in a new goalkeeper? No, not just yet.
However, if these errors aren’t eradicated quickly, the decision to go with him over Bailey Peacock-Farrell in the summer could end up haunting them.
