His ban is related to the investigation into the corrupt approach to Graeme Cremer in October 2017
ESPNcricinfo staff06-Mar-2019A former director of Zimbabwe Cricket, Enock Ikope, has been banned from all cricket for ten years by the ICC, for breaching three counts of the Anti-Corruption Code.Ikope’s ban is related to the Anti-Corruption Unit’s investigation into the corrupt approach made in October 2017 to former captain Graeme Cremer by Rajan Nayer, a domestic cricket official in Zimbabwe. The ACU had established information during the investigation, which gave them reasonable grounds to suspect Ikope may have engaged in corrupt conduct as described in the Code.Nayer, who was handed a 20-year ban from all cricket-related activities last year, had been the treasurer and marketing director of the Harare Metropolitan Cricket Association (HMCA). Ikope, the ICC said, was bound by the Code and was required to fully cooperate with the investigations in his capacity as chairman of the HMCA and director of ZC.Ikope was charged with: Failure or refusal to cooperate with the ACU’s investigation by failing to provide accurately and completely the information and/or documentation requested by the ACU in January 2018. This included refusing to hand over his mobile phone and documents demanded by the ACU. Obstructing or delaying any investigation that may be carried out by the ACU in relation to possible Corrupt Conduct under the Anti-Corruption Code in January and February 2018. This included further failures and delays in handing over his mobile phone and documents demanded by the ACU, while the breach in February arose as a result of deletion of data from his mobile phone before handing it over to the ACU.Ikope was banned by the Tribunal for five years in respect of each breach. The Tribunal ordered the first two of the five-year periods of ineligibility to run concurrently, with the penalty for the third breach of Article 2.4.7 to run consecutively, resulting in a total ban of 10 years.”We welcome this decision and the substantial sanction imposed on Mr Ikope which reflects the gravity of the offences,” Alex Marshall, the ICC General Manager ACU said. “Non-cooperation and obstruction of our investigations by participants to the Code are simply not acceptable and I hope this and other recent sanctions sends out a clear message to anyone involved in the sport.”Once again we must thank an international captain, Graeme Cremer, for his absolute professionalism in recognizing the initial approach by Mr Nayer, rejecting and then reporting it. We are thankful to him and to Zimbabwe Cricket for all the help during the investigations”.
They need to win both their remaining games to retain a chance of qualifying, while RCB need a miracle
The Preview by Ankur Dhawan29-Apr-20195:32
Kartik: Oshane Thomas has been a good enough replacement for Archer
Big pictureThere’s a sense of deja vu as Royal Challengers meet Rajasthan Royals, although the roles have reversed from last year. For one, this is a home game for Royal Challengers. As things stand, it could be they who snap the thread by which the visitors’ playoff hopes hang. Not that Royal Challengers don’t stand a mathematical chance of qualifying themselves, but it’d require the kind of miracle that’s more suitable for fantasy fiction.Royals are coming off back-to-back wins, the first time they have been able to do so all tournament, and encouragingly, they have achieved this without Jos Buttler (both games), Ben Stokes and Jofra Archer (both didn’t feature in the second win). The loss of Steven Smith’s leadership is nigh, but not just yet. Their power and touch players alike should enjoy the true surface in Bengaluru, quick bowlers Oshane Thomas and Varun Aaron may not detest it either, and Shreyas Gopal should feel at home. However, they can’t afford leaking runs through sloppy fielding as they did against Sunrisers at home, and despite a player-of-the-match performance last match, Jaydev Unadkat’s dependence on cutters could be tested here.What Royals need is two straight wins; over a team that’s virtually out of contention and perhaps as a result with less to play for, and then over Delhi Capitals, who might have their guard down having already qualified for the playoffs. They shouldn’t expect any favours from either team, and will also need to keep an eye on their net run rate, should they end up tied on 14 points with other contenders.Of course, Royals’ best-case scenario would be to win both matches, and to hope that Sunrisers, Kings XI and Knight Riders all finish on 12 points each, rendering net run-rates irrelevant.Form guide
Royal Challengers Bangalore: lost to Delhi Capitals by 16 runs, beat Kings XI by 17 runs, beat Super Kings by 1 run Rajasthan Royals: beat Sunrisers by seven wickets, beat Knight Riders by three wickets, lost to Capitals by six wickets
Previous meetingBoth teams came into the contest winless and it was Royals who had points on the table at the end of it, as Shreyas Gopal spun a web around the Royal Challengers batting line-up. With healthy contributions from their top four, Royals, chasing 159, got over the line with one ball to spare.Likely XIsRoyal Challengers Bangalore: 1 Virat Kohli (capt), 2 Parthiv Patel (wk), 3 AB de Villiers, 4 Heinrich Klaasen/Shimron Hetmyer, 5 Shivam Dube, 6 Marcus Stoinis, 7 Gurkeerat Singh, 8 Washington Sundar, 9 Umesh Yadav, 10 Yurzvendra Chahal, 11 Navdeep SainiRajasthan Royals: 1 Ajinkya Rahane, 2 Liam Livingstone, 3 Steven Smith (capt), 4 Sanju Samson (wk), 5 Ashton Turner, 6 Riyan Parag, 7 Stuart Binny, 8 Shreyas Gopal, 9 Jaydev Unadkat, 10 Varun Aaron, 11 Oshane ThomasSanju Samson flicks•BCCI
Strategy punt Marcus Stoinis’ demotion to No. 7 in the match against Delhi Capitals was surprising and arguably impacted the eventual outcome. He averages 71 and has a strike rate of 154 at No. 4 this year, his best in any position. He also finds the boundary once every four balls in this position. Royal Challengers would do well to elevate him. Since IPL 2017, Sanju Samson has scored at his slowest against offspin and legspin with a strike-rate of 117. The frequency with which he finds the boundary against these two types of bowling is also his lowest at 12.1 and 9.8 respectively. This suggests that Royal Challengers could have the combination of Yuzvendra Chahal and Washington Sundar bowling to him in tandem.Stats that matter This will be Steven Smith’s 50th match as captain in all T20s. Yuzvendra Chahal needs two wickets to get to 100 in the IPL. Virat Kohli needs one win to bring up 50 wins in the IPL as captain. Ajinkya Rahane needs 14 runs for 5000 runs in T20s
أدلى المحترف المصري عمر مرموش، لاعب فريق آينتراخت فرانكفورت، بتصريحات عقب فوزهم اليوم على فولفسبورج في بطولة الدوري الألماني.
وتلاقى الفريقان في خضم منافسات الجولة الثالثة من الدوري الألماني، حيث فاز آينتراخت فرانكفورت بهدفين مقابل هدف (لمطالعة التفاصيل من هنا).
ونجح مرموش في تقديم أداء رائع مع فرانكفورت في مباراة اليوم، حيث سجل هدفي فريقه.
وقال مرموش، في تصريحات نشرها الموقع الرسمي للنادي: “كان يوم سبت عظيمًا، ليس أمر سهلًا أن ننجح في الحصول على 3 نقاط خارج ملعبنا، وهنا في فولفسبورج كذلك”.
وأضاف: “نحن سعداء للغاية وأنا سعيد لأنني تمكنت من مساعدة الفريق، لقد تصرفنا كفريق وكافأنا أنفسنا على عملنا الشاق”.
وارتفع رصيد آينتراخت فرانكفورت إلى 6 نقاط في المركز السادس، ويرتقب مواجهة بوروسيا مونشنجلادباخ يوم السبت المقبل في الجولة الرابعة.
Autor do gol – e que golaço! – da vitória do Flamengo na estreia do Campeonato Carioca, o garoto Max se emocionou muito na comemoração no Maracanã, na partida desta terça-feira, no Maracanã. Ainda no estádio, o meio-campista de 19 anos explicou a sensação ao balançar a rede em seu primeiro jogo pelo Fla.
-Foi a melhor coisa que aconteceu na minha vida – afirmou Max, à FlaTV, antes de completar:
– Dedico esse gol para o meu filho Heitor, que está com dois meses, e espero fazer mais por ele.
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Max entrou aos 4 minutos da etapa final, no lugar de Daniel Cabral, com dores. Aos 48, Lázaro rolou para o camisa 18, que acertou um chutaço, de esquerda, no ângulo de Luiz Henrique.
Ainda na saída do campo, tomado pela emoção, o meia falou sobre sua chegada ao Flamengo, em 2019, e também dedicou o gol ao seu pai.
-Eles me viram na Copinha, pelo Tupi, um olheiro me viu, gostou e cheguei ao Flamengo. Aos poucos conquistei meu espaço – afirmou Max, antes de seguir:
– Dedico ao meu pai, que está lá em cima. Creio que está me olhando lá de cima. Uma vez falou comigo, quando ao tinha 13 anos, que chegaria ao grupo do Flamengo e espero fazer várias histórias aqui no clube – finalizou o meia do Fla.
Sunderland will hope a return to the comforts of the Stadium of Light tonight – where the Black Cats have picked up eight wins in the Championship to date this season – can steer the Wearside club back on course after a bruising defeat to Ipswich Town last time out.
Going 1-0 up early on in Suffolk courtesy of a Jack Clarke thunderbolt saw the rapturous away following at Portman Road grow in confidence, only for Kieran McKenna's hosts to show their class eventually and come away with a comeback 2-1 win to break Sunderland hearts.
Michael Beale will hope switching up the Black Cats lineup can inspire an immediate response from his players to overcome Hull City tonight, with two potential changes in this predicted XI from the narrow Tractor Boys defeat last weekend…
1 GK – Anthony Patterson
Sunderland goalkeeper Anthony Patterson.
Beale will hope he can keep his number one goalkeeper Anthony Patterson past this January despite interest from elsewhere, with football journalist Alan Nixon stating that the reliable Black Cats shot-stopper is being linked with a shock move away to Liverpool.
Despite this interest from Jurgen Klopp's Reds potentially turning Patterson's head and making him demand a move away, Beale will start the 23-year-old against the Tigers.
2 RB – Jenson Seelt
With Aji Alese potentially not fit enough to start tonight's game against Liam Rosenior's Hull, Beale could have to shake up the back four and play Jenson Seelt at right-back with Trai Hume moved over to the then-vacant left-back spot.
The exciting Dutchman shone playing in this makeshift role when Sunderland faced off against Hull in the reverse fixture just last month, winning five duels in the away contest to help his side clinch the three points.
3 CB – Daniel Ballard
Dom Ballard
Daniel Ballard's spot in the defence is set in stone for tonight's clash in contrast, the former Arsenal centre-back only missing one game this season to date in the league.
The Northern Ireland international even stood out in the defeat to Ipswich, winning all but one of his duels but to no avail as McKenna's men still exited the fierce encounter victorious.
4 CB – Luke O'Nien
Luke O'Nien also trudged off the field of play with his head held high despite the final scoreline, blocking four shots in the 2-1 away loss to ensure Sunderland weren't completely humbled on their travels to Suffolk.
The 29-year-old also gave his all in the reverse fixture versus the Tigers in December, completing ten accurate long balls in the narrow 1-0 win. Could O'Nien help his promotion-chasing side pick up a victory on home turf tonight with another clean sheet tallied up?
5 LB – Trai Hume
Trai Hume
Hume won't be out of his comfort zone too much filling in at left-back tonight if selected there by Beale, drafted in with other options lacking that can do a job.
Averaging 5.7 ball recoveries per game this season, Beale will hope Hume's full-throttle energy and tenacity down the flanks can help Sunderland pick up a much-needed win at the expense of Hull to forget the demons of Ipswich.
6 CM – Pierre Ekwah
Sunderland midfielder Pierre Ekwah.
With Beale's experiment of playing a 4-4-2 formation at Portman Road not working whatsoever, the 43-year-old in the Black Cats hot-seat could be tempted to switch back to the tried and test set-up of a 4-2-3-1 with Pierre Ekwah chosen as one of his holding midfielders.
Ekwah struggled against the Tractor Boys centrally – the ex-West Ham United youth player turned Sunderland first-teamer allowing himself to be dribbled past twice – and so Beale will hope reverting the number 39 to a more comfortable anchor position gets the best out of him again.
7 CM – Dan Neil
Sunderland midfielder Dan Neil.
On the contrary, Dan Neil didn't quite flop in the new formation chosen by Beale – amassing one key pass versus Ipswich in a bid to pull off a monumental victory on the road – but the homegrown Sunderland product does excel alongside Ekwah when played further back.
When featuring versus the Tigers away last month, Neil's creativity from a deep role stood out even more – helping himself to three key passes in the encounter – with one of those balls setting up Jack Clarke to score a stunner to win the tight match.
8 RM – Abdoullah Ba
Sunderland midfielder Abdoullah Ba.
Abdoullah Ba could well be retained for tonight's clash, the right winger benefitting from Patrick Roberts still being in the Sunderland treatment room and attempting to show to Beale that he's worthy of being Roberts' immediate replacement whenever selected.
Still only 20 years of age, the Frenchman isn't quite the finished product yet but his raw ability down the channels did trouble Ipswich defenders on occasion at Portman Road.
Registering two key passes from just 34 touches of the ball, Ba will hope he can contribute with a strike or an assist tonight as Sunderland get back to winning ways returning to Wearside.
9 CAM – Jobe Bellingham
With Alex Pritchard being lined up for a move away from the Black Cats, according to reports, despite breathing life back into his fading Sunderland career in recent weeks, Jobe Bellingham is the obvious choice in this number ten role for the visit of Hull tonight.
Played as an unorthodox striker against Ipswich, the dynamic 18-year-old is far more at ease playing just behind the lone centre-forward.
On New Year's Day, as Sunderland confidently dispatched Preston North End with ease in a 2-0 win, Bellingham shone in this role with a 100% successful dribble completion rate managed on top of only misplacing four passes from the 85 minutes he was on the pitch.
10 LM – Jack Clarke
It's no surprise to any Sunderland fans now when Jack Clarke rifles in a wonder strike, the ex-Tottenham Hotspur winger able to have his own goal of the season competition at this point with another sumptuous effort managed against the Tractor Boys last weekend.
Clarke will just hope if he manages to get fans at the Stadium of Light off their feet again with a sublime goal against Hull that a win is forthcoming at full-time, with the promotion hopefuls abundantly aware that their star attacker is a wanted man and could move on if the Black Cats slump further.
England star suffered a blow to his knee in one-day semi-final defeat
ESPNcricinfo staff13-May-2019
James Anderson lies on the ground after being struck on the knee with a ball hit by James Fuller•Getty Images
James Anderson is in doubt for Lancashire’s County Championship return after suffering a blow to his knee while bowling last weekend.Anderson was due to feature in Lancashire’s Division Two home fixture against Northamptonshire, starting on Tuesday. However, the club said he was no certainty to play after being struck on the inside of his knee while bowling to Hampshire’s James Fuller, who hit the ball sharply back during the closing stages of Sunday’s Royal London Cup semi-final, won by Hampshire.Anderson collapsed on the ground immediately after being hit and took some time to get up. When he did, he was unable to complete his spell.Lancashire coach Glen Chapple said after the match: “He was nearly able to bowl but it is a bad spot and as soon as there’s any swelling in there it can restrict your movement and limit your strength. I would imagine it would be very painful for a couple of days. I think a lot of us have had a similar blow in a similar area and it’s just at the edge of the joint.”Lancashire expect to be without Alex Davies, who is nearing a return after breaking his thumb during their seven-wicket win over Middlesex in last month’s season opener.Opening batsman Joe Burns is set to make his debut, becoming the third Australian to represent Lancashire this season after Glenn Maxwell – who recently left to prepare for the World Cup – and Jake Lehmann, whose half-century offered some resistance to an excellent performance by Hampshire’s bowlers in the one-day match.Northamptonshire expect to have two month-long loan signings available to them. Jamie Overton has joined from Somerset as he seeks to build his match fitness after a back injury, while the 23-year-old left-arm pace bowler Luke Wood has joined from Nottinghamshire. It is Wood’s second loan spell with Northants this season after he played in their first match, against Middlesex, which ended in a draw.
عقد المدير الفني لفريق ليفربول، آرني سلوت، مؤتمرًا صحفيًا للحديث عن مباراة الثلاثاء المرتقبة في دوري أبطال أوروبا، في الجولة الأولى من النظام الجديد.
ويحل ليفربول ضيفًا على خصمه ميلان، في إطار منافسات الجولة الأولى من بطولة دوري أبطال أوروبا، على ملعب “سان سيرو”.
وقال سلوت في تصريحاته التي نشرتها شبكة “ليفربول إيكو” الإنجليزية: “أعتقد أنها المرة الأولى التي لا يكون فيها عيد ميلادي مهمًا في الغد، إنها مباراة كبيرة بالنسبة لي وبسبب تاريخ هذين الفريقين، والمكان، فهي مباراة نتطلع إليها بفارغ الصبر”.
وأضاف: “أعتقد أن جميع لاعبي الفريق لديهم دور مهم، كل لاعب يشعر بأهميته عندما يلعب، كل لاعب لديه دوره وسيشارك الجميع، سوبوسلاي كان مهمًا بالنسبة لنا وكان ضغطه رائعًا، ما يجب علينا العمل عليه هو جعله أكثر مشاركة في تسجيل الأهداف”.
وواصل: “لقد سجل ثلاثة أهداف في الموسم الماضي ولكن بالنسبة للاعب خط وسط مهاجم في ليفربول، يجب أن ترتفع أرقامه، أنا واثق من الجودة التي يتمتع بها، سيسجل المزيد من الأهداف”.
وأردف: “لا أعتقد أن أي مدرب يخشى مواجهة خصمه، ولكننا نحترم ميلان كثيرًا، إنهم يتمتعون بالجودة، نحن لسنا خائفين ولكننا نحترم جميع لاعبيهم، لقد أظهروا أنهم في حالة جيدة بفوزهم الرائع 4-0 (على فينيزيا في مباراتهم الأخيرة في الدوري الإيطالي)، الخوف ليس الكلمة التي نستخدمها، نحن نحترمهم كثيرًا”.
اقرأ أيضًا.. أليسون ينتقد يويفا قبل مباراة ليفربول وميلان في دوري أبطال أوروبا: سئمنا مما يحدث
ويخوض ليفربول تلك المباراة بعد خسارته يوم السبت الماضي أمام نوتينجهام فورست، بهدف دون رد، في الدوري الإنجليزي.
وتابع: “لم يكن الصحفيون وحدهم من شعروا بخيبة الأمل بسبب هزيمتنا، بل كان الفريق واللاعبون كذلك! لقد كان الصحفيون إيجابيين عندما حققنا الفوز على مانشستر يونايتد، علينا أن نضع الأمور في نصابها الصحيح، لكن المباراة ضد نوتينجهام كانت مختلفة تمامًا، الأمر نفسه ينطبق على مباراة الغد، أتوقع مباراة مختلفة”.
واعترف: “يجب أن نشعر بخيبة أمل عندما نخسر على أرضنا، وإذا لم تشعر بخيبة الأمل عندما تخسر أمام نوتينجهام، فهذا يعني أن هناك خطأ ما في ليفربول”.
واستكمل: “النظام الجديد؟ الكثير من الأسئلة عن ذلك، من الصعب تحديد عدد النقاط المطلوبة، فهذه هي المرة الأولى التي نلعب فيها (النظام الجديد)، من الواضح أنه إذا كنت تريد أن تكون ضمن الثمانية الأوائل، فأنت بحاجة إلى الفوز بالكثير من النقاط، يمكنك أن تسألني بشكل أفضل عن هذا النظام في النهاية”.
واسترسل: “كشخص يحب كرة القدم، هناك مباراة جميلة كل ليلة، على سبيل المثال يتطلع كل من يحب كرة القدم إلى مباراتنا غدًا، إنه أمر إيجابي للشخص في المنزل ولللاعبين، وهذا شيء يجب أن نكتشفه، ليس لدينا إجابة في الوقت الحالي، اسأل بعد بضعة أشهر وسأعرف بشكل أفضل”.
وعما إذا كان عدم التناوب هو سبب خسارتهم يوم السبت، قال: “إذا كان عدم التناوب هو السبب في عدم فوزنا، فلن تكون أول مباراة أخسرها في عام 2024 هي السبت الماضي، يمكن للجميع أن يكون لديهم رأيهم الخاص ولكن من السهل جدًا إرجاع ذلك إلى عدم التناوب، ولكن هناك الكثير من اللاعبين ليسوا في أفضل مستوياتهم”.
وأوضح: “لقد جعل فورست الأمر صعبًا علينا، عندما لا تفوز، فإنك تنظر إلى أكبر عدد ممكن من الأعذار، أفضل أن أرى المباراة تعود إلى ما كانت عليه وما لم نفعله جيدًا وبعضه لم يكن مرتبطًا بعدم التناوب، لن نعرف أبدًا ما إذا كنا سنفوز إذا تم التناوب”.
واستمر: “سألني أحدهم عن عدد اللاعبين الذين بدأوا مع المنتخبات الوطنية، والآن يمكنني أن أفعل شيئًا بشأن التناوب لأنهم جميعًا معي ولكن قبل ذلك كانوا مع منتخباتهم، نحاول إعدادهم لذلك، لم نخسر بسبب عدم التناوب، لم يفعل الكثير من اللاعبين ما في وسعهم”.
وفيما يخص اللاعب الجديد كييزا، قال: “أنا أتعاقد مع لاعبين ذوي جودة عالية وأعتقد أنه كذلك، هو يجمع بين الجودة ومعدل العمل وثقافة هذا النادي والفريق، إنه مع الفريق وبما أنني قلت إنها المرة الأولى التي يتواجد فيها هنا، فسيكون من المفاجئ أن يبدأ غدًا، لذا لا أعتقد أنه يجب أن تتوقع أن يبدأ لكنه سيشارك في بعض الدقائق إذا احتجنا إليه”.
وأكد: “لقد تدرب لفترة من الوقت من المبكر جدًا أن يلعب لمدة 90 دقيقة، لكن أتمنى أن يشارك في بعض الدقائق في المباريات المقبلة”.
وعن لاعب ميلان، رفاييل لياو، قال سلوت: “سألتني إن كان مميزًا؟ هناك الكثير من الحديث عنه وأعتقد أنه لاعب من الطراز الأول، لكن الناس دائمًا ما يتحدثون عن اللاعبين الكبار وليس الأقل منهم، لقد درسنا جودته وهو من اللاعبين الذين يلفتون انتباهك، كيف نوقفه في أفضل حالاته؟ نحن ندافع كفريق واحد لإيقاف جودته، لديهم لاعبون على مستوى عالٍ وهو واحد من أفضل لاعبيهم في رأيي”.
وسُئل سلوت عن أليكسيس ماك أليستر، حيث قال: “جميع اللاعبين لدينا مهمون، لقد أخرجت ماك أليستر بعد حوالي 60 دقيقة أمام نوتينجهام، وكان لذلك علاقة كبيرة بالأرجنتين والإصابات، كان الأمر له علاقة بالتناوب، أعتقد أنه يمكنه اللعب لمدة 60 أو 90 دقيقة غدًا، سأقرر، إنه لاعب مهم بالنسبة لنا”.
De saída do Vasco, o goleiro Fernando Miguel usou as redes sociais para se despedir do clube e da torcida cruz-maltina.Classificando a passagem por São Januário como “intensa e desafiadora”, o atleta agradeceu aos funcionários, dirigentes e torcedores, e mostrou confiança na recuperação do clube. Veja!
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– Viver o Vasco foi intenso e desafiador. Tivemos momentos de alegria e outros da falta dela, como nessa reta final – escreveu Fernando Miguel, completando:
– Lutei pelo clube e pela paixão de todos vocês que tem andado há muito tempo sofrendo com dificuldades que desafiam a todos. Eu acredito que o Vasco tem solução, tem saída. Apoiem essas pessoas, validem suas ideias, elas são sérias e estão se entregando por essa reestruturação mais do que necessária – publicou o goleiro – confira o texto, na íntegra, mais abaixo.
Fernando Miguel teve o empréstimo ao Atlético-GO selado nesta quinta-feira. Contratado pelo Gigante da Colina em 2018, junto ao Vitória, Fernando Miguel foi titular nas últimas duas temporadas do Vasco. Foram 125 jogos em três anos. O experiente jogador conquistou um título, a Taça Guanabara, em 2019.
“Bom, vamos lá!
Chegou a hora da minha partida, assim como a de dezenas de atletas que por algum período aqui estiveram e foram importantes.
Viver o Vasco foi intenso e desafiador. Tivemos momentos de alegria e outros da falta dela, como nessa reta final.
Agradeço a cada dirigente, cada membro da comissão técnica, cada funcionário que junto comigo viveu os desafios do dia a dia deste clube, e assim como ele são gigantes.
E ao torcedor, fica aqui meu muito obrigado por todo apoio e respeito durante esse tempo e deixo minhas sinceras desculpas pelas vezes que não fui suficiente pro momento. Lutei pelo clube e pela paixão de todos vocês que tem andado há muito tempo sofrendo com dificuldades que desafiam a todos. Eu acredito que o Vasco tem solução, tem saída. Apoiem essas pessoas, validem suas ideias, elas são sérias e estão se entregando por essa reestruturação mais do que necessária.
Saio em concordância, respeitando e entendendo o momento. Fica aqui minha torcida por todos aqueles que vão continuar trabalhando pelo melhor do Vasco.
Former Leeds United assistant Gus Poyet has been speaking to Football FanCast abouthis time at Elland Road and what he makes of the current Whites side managed by Daniel Farke.
Leeds United’s season so far
After a season to forget last year, Leeds now find themselves back in the Championship looking to earn an immediate return to the Premier League. Farke has been the man tasked to take the Whites back to the top flight under new owners the 49ers Enterprises and currently has them in contention in the playoff places, making Elland Road a fortress during that time.
Leeds United manager Daniel Farke.
So far, Leeds are yet to lose a single game at home during the current campaign, with the likes of Crysencio Summerville, Georginio Rutter and Dan James all starring for the Whites in attack. Meanwhile, summer signings Ethan Ampadu, Joe Rodon, Glen Kamara and Sam Byram have all played their part in midfield and defence, with teenager Archie Gray also shining in what is proving to be his breakthrough campaign.
Things are looking promising for Leeds, however it was anything but that when Poyet arrived at the club alongside Dennis Wise back in 2006, when Leeds were owned by Ken Bates and struggling in the second tier.
Gus Poyet backs Leeds to win promotion
Speaking to Football FanCast, in partnership with William Hill, Poyet, now manager of Greece, looked back on his time in Yorkshire and admitted that despite not the best of welcomes for him and Wise due to their Chelsea connection, he now gets supporters asking him to go back. He also feels Leeds have a "great chance" to return to the Premier League at the first time of asking.
“It was very interesting because when we arrived with Dennis Wise, obviously being ex-Chelsea, it was not really a nice welcome. Especially after all the craziness of the administration and everything that happened in the first six, seven months, I think that everybody understood what kind of people we were with Dennis, and we achieved something.
“I’m still meeting Leeds fans. They always ask me to go back and they always want me to go back. Because it was a good, close relationship in a very difficult, unique situation. We were into administration, into League one. We started the season with minus 15 points. I hope it’s the last time in my life that you win your first five games and you go zero points. Top of the league and you go zero points. We won six or seven in a row.
“The supporters were amazing, taking so many fans to an away game in the lower leagues. The fans were great. But football can change in an instant and I got a call from Tottenham, to help Juande Ramos and I decided to move on to the Premier League and have a different experience.
"I always say that without the experience of being with Dennis Wise and without the experience of being with Ramos at Tottenham, I wouldn’t be the coach I am now. I like the Leeds team this season, after a tough start, they have got into their groove and will challenge for automatic promotion. It is very competitive, but Leeds do have a great chance to return to the Premier League at the first attempt.”
Despite being forced to settle for a point away at Goodison last weekend, surprise package Aston Villa remain firmly in the mix near the top of the table with over half of the Premier League season having played, with the Unai Emery revolution continuing in the Midlands.
Previously maligned amid a tough spell at Arsenal, the Spaniard has made a remarkable return to English football over the past year or so, with Villa not only threatening to secure a Champions League berth, but also still with an outside chance of landing the title.
As the recent goalless draw with Everton showcased, however, the Villans are far from the finished article, with Emery likely to be plotting to land quality reinforcements this month in order to maintain his side's impressive momentum.
Aston Villa's midfield search
One name that has been circulating in recent times is Celtic sensation, Matt O'Riley, with Sky Sports naming Villa among those to have kept a close eye on the Denmark international, amid significant interest from Serie A side, Inter Milan.
Celtic midfielder Matt O'Riley.
The London-born playmaker only made the move to Glasgow on a £1.5m deal two years ago from MK Dons, although the suggestion is that the Old Firm side could demand a fee above the £25m that they received from the sale of Jota to Saudi Arabian outfit, Al-Ittihad last summer.
While that would represent a vast profit for those at Parkhead, managing to snap up the 23-year-old for anywhere close to that fee would represent a real bargain for Emery and co.
Matt O'Riley's statistics at Celtic
It has been a perfect move, in truth, for both club and player over the last 24 months, with O'Riley helping the Hoops to a plethora of domestic honours, while also boosting his own status in the process – even earning a first senior cap for Denmark late last year.
O'Riley's UCL group stage by numbers – 2023/24
6 games (6 starts)
3 assists
3 'big chances' created
2.5 key passes per game
3.5 tackles & interceptions per game
5.5 balls recovered per game
80% pass accuracy rate
7.18 avg. match rating
Stats via Sofascore
Once of Fulham's academy, the midfield magician made the adaptation from life in England's EFL to the Scottish Premiership with relative ease, having now racked up 44 goals and assists in 100 games in all competitions for the club.
It is this season, in particular, that the £14k-per-week gem has particularly shone amid Brendan Rodgers' arrival in the dugout, bagging ten goals and ten assists across all fronts, including providing 17 goal involvements in just 21 league games.
Operating typically in an advanced midfield berth, O'Riley has even been described as a "wee bit like Frank Lampard" for his ability to arrive late into the box, as per pundit David Healy, with the ex-England international a real goalscoring machine during his days at Chelsea, in which he scored 211 goals from a midfield berth.
One man whom O'Riley will also be looking to emulate is a certain, Stiliyan Petrov, with the Bulgarian ace memorably trading Celtic for Villa back in 2006, after spending seven years north of the border in a glittering spell.
Despite seeing his career cruelly brought to a close in 2013 after being diagnosed with Leukaemia, the 44-year-old cemented himself as a firm fan favourite at Villa Park following his arrival from Scotland, memorably winning the club's Players' Player of the Year award and Supporters' Player of the Year award in 2008/09.
As his ex-teammate Gareth Barry stated in 2014, "Stan's strength was his composure on the ball, he never seemed to panic, always seemed to find the right pass", with that seemingly a trait shared by the elegant and silky O'Riley, who has earned praise from former Celtic boss, Gordan Strachan:
"Some of his passes have been phenomenal. He has the ability that all the top players have of remaining composed on the ball – he doesn’t play unlucky passes."
With Villa having reaped the rewards of prising Petrov from the Bhoys almost 18 years ago, the club could well repeat that transfer masterclass with the signing of another Celtic Park midfield sensation.