Headlines about Leeds United’s completed transfer window on September 2 will not focus on Joel Robles’s arrival, but it’s a low-key piece of business which says a lot. The 32-year-old’s arrival is a lesson learned from last season and a nod to the ongoing development of their future star, Illan Meslier.
Ever since Kiko Casilla was ushered quietly out of a back door on loan last summer, consideration has been given to drafting in an experienced head to the goalkeeping department. Darren Randolph was reportedly one name which was given consideration in January, but ultimately the club continued with Kristoffer Klaesson in reserve.
There was always the hope, in the nicest way possible, Klaesson would not be needed because if he were, it would mean Meslier was hurt or suspended. While goalkeepers generally have excellent injury records, in a campaign like last year’s it felt as if nobody was safe at Leeds.
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And, of course, right when the proverbial was hitting the fan at Molineux, Meslier was forced off with an injury and Klaesson was called upon. The Norwegian was part way through his first year in England and entered the fray with mixed reviews in the under-23s, so there was some trepidation.
As it was, the 21-year-old played very well in Wolverhampton, even pulling off a huge save at the death to preserve the three points. While that one outing did reassure United’s top brass, there is a lot to be said for a wise head in a goalkeeping department.
Marcos Abad runs that unit and while he can provide coaching and advice from his own career, Robles comes in at 32 with 13 years in Europe’s biggest leagues between the sticks. Much in the way it was previously working between Meslier and Casilla, Robles now becomes the second opinion the French starter can call on.
More often than not, Robles will have experienced whatever it is Meslier is faced with as a top-flight number one. What’s more, the Spaniard is not going to rock the boat at Thorp Arch.
Last week, Jesse Marsch spoke about finding the right characters with the correct temperaments for roles in his squad. It was clearly important Leeds found a goalkeeper who knew Meslier would play at least every league minute he was fit for, if not in the cups too.
Robles, a little like Casilla, has spent most of his career as a reserve goalkeeper. There have been spells with Everton and Real Betis where he was a consistent starter, but in the main, he has been on the bench.
Encouragingly, Robles made 51 league starts for Betis between 2019 and 2021, which does at least show he has not been without regular minutes across the years immediately prior to his Leeds arrival. Klaesson’s performances with the under-21s will dictate how Robles is used.
Should the Norwegian not make the progress the club hopes for, Robles can then be the trusted pair of hands Marsch needs on the first-team bench. As the club learnt with its outfield positions last term, it must be prepared for injuries to first-team regulars and then replace them with competent stand-ins.
Robles’s experience can also be put to good use with outfield defenders too. Klaesson and Meslier do not yet have the years behind them to match the authority Robles will have between the sticks.
If there are clashes in the first-team and under-21 schedules this season, Robles can be used with Michael Skubala’s side and even help the defenders in that team with their development as a wiser head behind them on the field. For free, on a one-year contract, it makes a lot of sense.
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