While it is believed to be common practice, it is rarely heard in the public domain of a disagreement between two players. Yet, two Leeds United players were guilty of it on Saturday night.
It has happened this season. Everton were forced to go down to 10 men when Idrissa Gueye was angered by Michael Keane at Old Trafford. Despite the red card, David Moyes’ Everton would go on to win 1-0.
Nothing on the Lee Bowyer, Kieron Dyer standard of on-field scrapping, but still an example. On Saturday, Leeds arguably produced their best display of the season, a huge win over Crystal Palace at Elland Road.
The 4-1 win was not enough to prevent tempers to spill over. In the first half, BBC Radio Leeds presenter Jonny Buchan noticed a disagreement that had one Leeds man throwing a tantrum like a six-year-old.
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The Lucas Perri and Noah Okafor incident against Palace
There has been a bit of talk regarding an incident between Perri and Okafor, with Okafor not happy that the Brazilian didn’t release his fellow new signing, having gathered the ball from a Crystal Palace attack.
Indeed, Okafor had a tantrum that Buchan likened to something his daughter would do. However, in a similar event a few moments later, Perri found Okafor, and the Swiss winger won Leeds a free-kick.
“He [Perri} and Noah Okafor had a little to-do. It was in the first half, Perri came and collected a ball. He didn’t quickly release it downfield to Okafor. Okafor stamped his feet, jumped up and down,” he said.
“Span around in a circle like my six-year-old does. Perri glared at him after he released the ball and was waiting for Okafor to look back at him. The next time, the same thing happened, five minutes later.
“He did release it to Okafor, who brought it down on his chest, knocked it over a player and won a free-kick. They gave each other a thumbs-up. Clearly, it’s something they’ve worked on, Okafor is the release.”
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Okafor has certainly had his moments this season and certainly, before the change to a 3-5-2 system, he was arguably Leeds’ most dangerous player. Pat Nevin said Okafor was Leeds’ best player on Saturday.
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Perri has endured huge criticism, though. Simon Grayson has teased Perri for his kicking and while the Brazilian is improving, there are still elements of doubt. Jaka Bijol and Anton Stach are also improving.
Gabi Gudmundsson has been consistently good from the off at left-back or wing-back, while Dominic Calvert-Lewin now has seven goals for the season and six in five. Incredible numbers for a side in 16th.
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