Chief football writer for the Yorkshire Evening Post Graham Smyth praised Luke Ayling in an honourable mention on Twitter by saying: ‘Luke Ayling, who has been very solid since his return and has, on numerous occasions, utilised the ‘Ayling flop’ to win free-kicks.’
The fans seem to love the term ‘Ayling Flop’, with many of the treating it as some sort of secret weapon. Hopefully, none of our next opponents read this article…
Honourable mention to Luke Ayling, who has been very solid since his return and has, on numerous occasions, utilised the ‘Ayling flop’ to win free-kicks. A wily competitor. https://t.co/NBShGdLkkd
— Graham Smyth (@GrahamSmyth) November 5, 2019
Ayling has been fouled 12 times in six games this season, meaning the so-called ‘Ayling Flop’ seems to be working. The referees are yet to wise up to the clever trick, with the 28-year-old only being booked once all season.
Many fans came out to support Ayling’s sneaky trick, with one fan saying: “You just cant get enough of the ‘Ayling flop’ on matchdays.” This isn’t an overstatement either, with the defender being fouled every 38.8 minutes on average – as per Whoscored.
Although this fan wasn’t as impressed with the ‘cheating’: “Hate it, it’s cheating. Leeds synonymous with hard but fair football, not conning refs who are struggling to spot faking as it is.” He has a point to be fair and no doubt that the refs will soon catch onto this.
For more fan comments to the Tweet see below:
This is my kinda content.
You just cant get enough of the ‘Ayling flop’ on matchdays.
— Bielsa’s Cheese Wedge Ultras (@Allcheese1) November 5, 2019
Sssssshhh
— Glenn_Hall (@glennhall4lufc) November 5, 2019
‘Ayling flop’
— Jettatura (@J3tt4tur4) November 5, 2019
Great phrase, maybe he can get that engraved on his Championship winners medal?
— Alex Farnell (@AlexFarnell09) November 5, 2019
The Ayling flop is beautiful… he just shepherds the ball when he’s under pressure and facing our goal, waits for the slight contact, and falls forward on top of the ball sprawled over… relieves the pressure we’re under, nice free kick and we’re off again…
— Bruce The Bad Cat (@BruceTheBadCat) November 5, 2019
Graham shush
The Ayling flop is a trade secret.— JD (@MrJD83JohnDay) November 5, 2019
Hate it, it’s cheating. Leeds synonymous with hard but fair football, not conning refs who are struggling to spot faking as it is. One day a defender will put the brakes on and Luke will look like a fool.
— KevinLUFC (@KevinLo81179710) November 5, 2019
The ‘Ayling Flop’ is the best thing about supporting this club
— Calum Robinson (@CalumRobinson13) November 5, 2019