The #LUFC Breakfast Debate (Wednesday 20th August)

Good Morning. It's Wednesday 20th August, and here are the latest headlines from Elland Road

Okafor expected to undergo medical

Noah Okafor is expected to arrive at Thorp Arch later today to undergo a medical and complete his £18m (€20.8m) move from European giants AC Milan.

Okafor, a 24-cap Swiss international, brings a varied recent history to West Yorkshire's finest. He spent the latter half of last season on loan at Napoli, making just four appearances as Antonio Conte’s side clinched the Serie A title, though a previously mooted January loan switch to RB Leipzig ultimately fell through.

Milan acquired Okafor in 2023 from Red Bull Salzburg, where he enjoyed a prolific spell, netting 34 goals and providing 23 assists. His time in Italy has been less impactful, with seven goals from 53 appearances for the Serie A giants.

Having started his career at Basel, Okafor’s formative years saw him dominate the Austrian Bundesliga, winning the title in each of his four seasons with Salzburg. Leeds United will be keenly hoping that Okafor can regain his impressive form he showcased during his time.

The Whites could have chosen Manor Solomon, who has failed to impress Spurs Manager Thomas Frank during pre-season, but having already rejected Leeds advances this summer on at least one occasion, may be forced to go out on loan again.

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Could Matthis Abline be the missing piece of the jigsaw

Leeds United appear to be making a significant move in the transfer market, with various reports indicating Matthis Abline has emerged as a primary target. The Whites are reportedly leading the race to secure the services of the highly-rated 22-year-old Frenchman, who enjoyed a productive season in Ligue 1, netting nine goals last season. Critical negotiations between Leeds and his current club, Nantes, are said to have commenced, with sources close to the player confirming his openness to a potential switch to Elland Road.

However, Leeds face competition for Abline’s signature. Wolverhampton Wanderers and Sunderland are also keenly monitoring the situation, highlighting the forward's appeal to play in the Premier League. The potential fee could exceed €25m (£21.6m), underscoring the investment Leeds are prepared to make should they clinch the deal.

His versatility makes him a particularly attractive prospect for Daniel Farke's system. Capable of operating across the entire front line, he can play effectively on both flanks or serve as the focal point of the attack. His experience at Nantes, where he often thrived in a team that generated chances through rapid transitions, suggests he would be a natural fit for Leeds' often direct and high-tempo style of play.

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Pundit blasts Pickford over water bottle notes

TalkSPORT pundit Jamie O'Hara has ignited a debate over tactical preparation in football, advocating for Premier League bosses to ban goalkeepers from using water bottles with written notes. His strong stance comes in the wake of footage showing Everton's Jordan Pickford consulting specific penalty notes on his bottle during a prolonged VAR review before Lukas Nmecha's spot-kick on Monday night.

The incident unfolded as VAR meticulously checked for a penalty, providing Pickford several minutes behind his goal. He was observed picking up his water bottle, clearly marked with information, a tactic serving both as a strategic aid and a deliberate delay to unnerve the penalty taker. While Nmecha ultimately converted the penalty, Pickford impressively guessed the correct direction and came close to making the save, suggesting the notes may have provided valuable insight.

However, this meticulous preparation did not sit well with Jamie O'Hara. Speaking passionately on talkSPORT, he expressed his fury and called for immediate action from the league:

“Jordan Pickford, the water bottle situation right, he goes to his water bottle, it’s obviously got a lot of information written on it, I’m not having that. “I think that needs to be knocked on the head, I think it has got to be banned. “I think you’ve got to ban anything being written on the water bottles.”

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Morning all

Pickford went the right way but the penalty was too good. I’m not too fussed but where do you draw the line regarding information being made available, during the game, he’d not be permitted to look at an iPad behind the goal to watch a compilation of penalties taken. A coach wouldn’t be permitted to leave the technical area and advise, on the flip side if he had a good memory he’d not need it, thick as two short planks spring to mind.

He tried to look at it sneakily rather than blatant, he could have had a clip board and made it obvious, he and his team know it’s a possible light grey area.

VAR should be dead time, nobody permitted to go to the side line, look at notes, get refreshments, nothing just remain loosely where they are.

Looking at notes whilst VAR checked, yet Everton stated afterwards they thought it would be overturned. Pickford obviously got a good view and realised it was going to stand

Ablime and Okafor if Farke wants them then get them in

 

I was intrigued by the keepers notes thing (and it reminded me of the England women's penalties where Hannah Hampton threw the Spanish goalies water bottle into the crowd to stop her reading the notes on it). If as you say, coaches can't come on and brief players, then this is a grey area.

 

Anyone able to read the notes on the bottle? Who was listed?

 

Bottle reading does it matter?
end of the day its more mind games than skill. its basically saying to the taker i know where ur fav place is and you have more chance of putting it there only.
A player can shoot anywhere on that goal they are professional footballers.
Not one goalie can honestly say i knew the ball was going there. its all luck nobody can tell whats someone is going to do unless its something in the run up.
Even Nmecha said he didn't know what he was going to do. so how can Prickford or any other.

 

Noah Okafor is Farke’s player and he has pushed to bring him in and he knows only too well his injury situation. So we have to give the manager the benefit of the doubt and say he must know what he’s doing and thinks Okafor will do Farkeball justice. So great another player in and half the price of Piaxcoa who still hasn’t played for Marseille. On his day Okafor is better than the very best version of Manor Solomon and we know how good Solomon was last season. Hope Solomon gets himself a nice move to a top European team and enjoys his career.

On the striker front we have seen plenty of names especially coming out of Italy, but all those dominos are just about finished falling and we seem to be getting to the bottom of an average stack now. For me the best bit of business would be to get Hojlund in loan or even buy him for £30m and his wages are only at Bamford level. 22yo and a stack of Premier league experience. Not had a great time at oldscum and wants to stay in the prem. cheaper than Muniz and wonder if we are going in again for Muniz as Atalanta can’t afford him and instead bought Krstovic so poor old Muniz still no takers

Lots of bovver down in Marseille where a fight broke out between Adrienne Rabiot and Johnathon Rowe. Already Rowe has agreed terms with Bologna and signs for them, Rabiots mother who is a well known witch has called Di Zerbi a cnut. Truth is they broke the bank for Piaxcoawhich means they had no room for Rowe anyway and needed the cash

 

What annoyed me about the bottle reading was that everybody was ready. Nmecha had put the ball down, the players were all stood at the edge of the box. Pickford was the ONLY player not in position and Nmecha was made to wait. The ref told Pickford to hurry up, Pickford continued to look at the bottle. Ref had to walk over to Pickford to tell him to get on with it. Pickford slowly put the bottle down then walked to the edge of the 6 yard box to look at Nmecha. Ref had to talk to him again. Pickford slowly walked back to his line and only then did the ref retreat back to his position. No yellow card for Pickford.

Credit to Nmecha for keeping his cool and still scoring. Pickford was allowed to stall the penalty taking by at least a minute.

Hopefully next time Ampadu walks over whilst VAR are checking and throws the water bottle in to the kop like the England women's keeper did. That was a fantastic piece of ****housery

 

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She's a witch? Like Grotbags?

 

Morning all. Nmecha also said in his post match interview that he thought Pickford was bluffing/mind games and doubted Everton had even heard of him let alone knew he took penalties (I paraphrased for the pedantic amongst you). Came across as one cool customer.

 

If his thumb is on the penalty taker, he guessed the right way assuming green means where they place them

 

Morning all. Nothing but good stuff to report from the weekend. Had a lucky miss this morning. Was so busy enjoying last few days I forgot it was Mrs Eires birthday today till a few minutes ago. Some last minute panic buying in order yo save the day

 

Is there four of him. Which one is he and how many does it take to sign a bloody contract

 

See Wober got injured in his first game for W Bremen and expected to be out for a few weeks. another sicknote?

 

Obvious isn’t it… Oka4

 

Wasnt she the one that stopped him from signing for Man Utd a few seasons ago?

 

Front left from our perspective.

Blingtastic

 

On Monday night it was clear that Harrison was 2nd choice left winger and Ramazani 3rd choice. Okafor will be first choice until/unless Farke wants to play him up top or on the right. So Okafor then Gnonto puts Harrison down to 3rd and Ramazani 4th. Harrison needs to be gone now surely otherwise Ramazani will be sold or loaned out

 

First thing I thought when looking at this, if we had Bielsa in charge, the plane wouldn't have bothered landing, he'd be straight on the phone telling them to turn around

On another note, I hope he wears contacts, those are some strong glasses he has on

 

I think Ramazani will be gone, it seem fairly clear that Farke just doesn’t rate him or doesn’t want him.