Daniel Farke might have tried to find some positives about Leeds United’s loss to Brighton after Saturday’s 3-0 defeat, but during the game, he was not happy – and Noah Okafor got the brunt of it.
A brace from Diego Gomez came after Danny Welbeck opened the scoring for Brighton at The Amex on Saturday. Leeds had chances but were well-beaten by a well-organised, fluent side under Fabian Hurzeler.
Daniel Farke decided to name an unchanged side to the one that beat West Ham at Elland Road last time out, but they were powerless to avoid defeat. Had it not been for Lucas Perri, it could have been heavier.
Not many Leeds players will come out of Saturday’s defeat and feel they had a good game. Certainly, Noah Okafor will come away from the game and think he should have done a lot better on the left flank.
Photo by Harry Murphy/Getty ImagesNoah Okafor annoyed Daniel Farke on Saturday during defeat
Farke will have been frustrated with several things, like how easy it was for Brighton to open the scoring with Gabi Gudmundsson slightly out of position. Jayden Bogle’s mistakes for Brighton’s third goal.
But Okafor will have frustrated Farke. While he did some good things, the Evening Post said Okafor was noticeably getting on his manager’s nerves, having played in front of the dugouts in the first half.
Graham Smyth said on the YEP’s off-camera moments: “Daniel Farke getting frustrated with Noah Okafor and his movement, having also had words with Gabriel Gudmundsson on that topic early in the first half.”
Photo by Simon Stacpoole/Offside/Offside via Getty ImagesNoah Okafor’s stats have to be a concern for Farke and Leeds
Okafor scored his first goal for Leeds in the 3-1 win at Wolves, but it was also the game in which Leeds fans got to see the best and worst of the Switzerland star. One who often loses possession in his own half.
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Indeed, it was evident again on Saturday. Okafor only managed to complete eight of his 14 attempted passes and lost the ball on a further four occasions, often in his own half, to the frustration of Farke.
If Okafor is to retain his place in the side, he needs to learn to be able to keep the ball under pressure, and learn when and where is right to retain it, and where you can afford to lose it in the Premier League.