Iwan Roberts Urges Yakou Meite to Let On-Field Performance Speak

Football pundit Iwan Roberts believes Cardiff City forward Yakou Meite ought to “do his talking on the pitch.” This commentary follows Meite’s recent goal against Coventry City last weekend, which broke an eight-month scoring drought. After netting in the 2-2 draw with the Sky Blues, Meite made a gesture by putting his finger to his lips and subsequently posted on social media, stating that “some of you can still try to make me responsible for everything” despite his goal. Roberts, a former Wales striker, expressed a degree of understanding for the ex-Reading player, yet he also suggested that Meite has the potential to achieve a higher goal tally. “I understand his reaction. I don’t think it was needed,” Roberts commented during an appearance on BBC Sport Wales’ Feast of Football podcast. He elaborated, stating: “It was his first goal of the season in 14 appearances, his third goal in 52 for Cardiff. As a fan, you’re looking at your centre-forward getting that number of goals and you would be frustrated.” Roberts also praised Meite’s physical attributes, remarking: “I tell you what, I wish I’d had some of his tools – his power, his pace, he’s as strong as an ox.” Meite has been deployed in a wide attacking role for Cardiff instead of a central striker position, and Roberts does not consider the Ivory Coast international to be a traditional centre-forward. Roberts further commented: “He has so many good attributes, I just don’t think he uses them in the way he should as an attacking player,” adding, “He needs to knuckle down, be more clinical in front of goal and let his football do the talking. But, in the spur of the moment, when you score a goal it’s like a moment of madness.”