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Kumar Sangakkara and Ian Bishop also speak out

Nagraj Gollapudi02-Jun-2020Former West Indies captain Daren Sammy and senior batsman Chris Gayle have become the first active cricketers to join a growing number of sports personalities worldwide in publicly raising their voice against the scourge of racism following the custodial killing of George Floyd at the hands of a policeman in Minneapolis.Sammy, in a series of tweets on Monday, urged both the ICC and cricket boards to stand up against the “injustice” of racism against “people of color”, an issue that his former team-mate Gayle said was prevalent in cricket.On Tuesday, former Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara also put out a thread of eight tweets on the issue, saying that the events in the USA were a “powerful lesson to us all”.Floyd, 46, a black man, died in Minneapolis on May 25 – a death now officially classified as a homicide after a white police officer had held him down with his knee on his neck for over eight minutes while he was handcuffed. The incident, captured on video, has sparked widespread, angry protests across the USA.Several sportspersons have spoken out since then, with basketball great LeBron James putting out a social media post referencing Colin Kaepernick, the NFL quarterback who famously kneeled during the national anthem to protest police brutality and racial injustice. On Monday, English Premier League football side Liverpool also “took a knee” while prominent players in the German Bundesliga wore t-shirts in solidarity with the protests.”Right now if the cricket world not standing against the injustice against people of color after seeing that last video of that foot down the next of my brother you are also part of the problem,” Sammy tweeted.Sammy said he was “frustrated” that black people continued to suffer on a daily basis and cricket needed to voice its protest. “Can you be part of the change by showing support? @ICC and all the other boards are you guys not seeing what’s happening to ppl like me? Are you not gonna speak against the social injustice against my kind. This is not only about America. This happens everyday.”

For too long black people have suffered. I’m all the way in St Lucia and I’m frustrated If you see me as a teammate then you see #GeorgeFloyd Can you be part of the change by showing your support. #BlackLivesMatter

— Daren Sammy (@darensammy88) June 2, 2020

The ICC said that it has always condemned racism and has “zero tolerance” towards it. “As part of the Code [of Conduct], the players not only get punished but also have to go through an education programme to promote a better understanding and awareness of issues directly relevant to the offence that he has committed. There is also a conciliation element to the proceedings,” the ICC told ESPNcricinfo, when approached for a comment. “We have a zero-tolerance policy towards this sort of conduct and it can be punished with a lifetime ban. We provide guidelines to our members and we also make it clear that no discriminatory behaviour of any kind will be tolerated by anyone at the event – staff, media, fans etc.”The England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) tweeted a picture of Jos Buttler, Jofra Archer and Adil Rashid hugging, captioned: “We stand for diversity. We stand against racism.”

We stand for diversity,

We stand against racism. pic.twitter.com/onhWj07n2i

— England Cricket (@englandcricket) June 1, 2020

Cricket West Indies (CWI) later issued a statement on its website saying, “Cricket West Indies stands together with the millions around the world in the battle against racism and the fight for equality and justice. The people of the West Indies have fought many battles of our own, on and off the field. We have been blessed to witness the prowess, determination and leadership of our cricketing heroes who united the Caribbean and brought great success and pride to our people.”CWI also tweeted a picture of its logo in black and white, with the caption #NewProfilePic.

#NewProfilePic pic.twitter.com/SOhs9iN5by

— Windies Cricket (@windiescricket) June 3, 2020

Gayle said he had received “racial remarks” during his travels across the globe and that was only because “I’m Black.””Racism is not only in football, it’s in cricket, too,” he said. “Even within teams, as a Black man, I get the end of the stick.”

pic.twitter.com/kyJP7GxnlK

— Chris Gayle (@henrygayle) June 1, 2020

Sangakkara, in turn, called for a “world culture that has no place for ignorance and prejudice”.

6/8 We the people, the ordinary citizen, can together achieve extraordinary change for the better, to set in place a world culture of openness, respect and understanding. A world culture that has no place for ignorance and prejudice and where true freedom reigns.

— Kumar Sangakkara (@KumarSanga2) June 2, 2020

Last November, England pace bowler and World-Cup winner Jofra Archer was at the receiving end of a racist comment from a spectator during the Test series in New Zealand. Archer later said that the person contacted him on Instagram. “I will never understand how people feel so freely to say these things to another human being. It baffles me,” Archer said. This January New Zealand Cricket (NZC) confirmed that it had banned a 28-year-old man for two years from attending any cricket in the country following a police investigation into the matter.Several players have been sanctioned under the ICC’s anti-racism code with former Pakistan captain Sarfaraz Ahmed being a prominent recent example. Sarfaraz received a four-match ban last January after he admitted to making a racist comment to South Africa allrounder Andile Phehlukwayo during an ODI in Durban. Nambia allrounder Christi Viljoen was penalised by the ICC in June last year, for “inappropriate” sledges directed towards Uganda players at the T20 World Cup Africa Qualifiers.Ian Bishop, the former West Indies fast bowler who is now a prominent television commentator, also spoke out on Twitter, saying that the world, in its current state, was in pain and needed help healing.

The pain is real. People are crying out to be heard. They are hungry. They feel hopeless. They feel helpless. They feel neglected & subjugated. This is not the social contract that was agreed to decades ago. We need leaders who will help, heal, empathize & inspire at all levels.

— Ian bishop (@irbishi) June 1, 2020

The West Indies coach also bemoaned his side’s failure to convert fifties into hundreds

Matt Roller21-Jul-2020West Indies coach Phil Simmons has admitted that he is “concerned” by the form of John Campbell and Shai Hope, and will consider making top-order changes ahead of the third Test.Campbell and Hope both fell cheaply on the final day of the second Test, and have made 52 and 57 runs respectively in four innings each in this series. Speaking at the post-match press conference, Simmons also bemoaned West Indies’ failure to convert fifties into hundreds throughout the series, and said that changes would have to be discussed.”[Campbell and Hope’s form] is something that we have to discuss over the next couple of days, and make a decision as to which direction we go there,” Simmons said. “You’re right, they haven’t fired, so we’ve got to take that into consideration.”We’ve had five or six half-centuries [in this Test] and no conversion. It’s something that we’ve been talking about a lot, and no one has taken up that opportunity in this game, yet again. It is disappointing.”It’s critical that our batsmen carry on and make big hundreds. [Ben] Stokes made 176, what’s-his-name [Dom Sibley] 120-odd. Our batsmen need to make hundreds, because our bowlers have been doing their job. Now the batsmen need to stand up and do what they have to for West Indies cricket.”ALSO READ: Why Hope’s Headingley opus might not sustain him much longerIn particular, Simmons said that he was disappointed with Hope’s form. Captain Jason Holder had backed Hope coming into the second Test, saying that he had “all the confidence that Shai Hope will deliver”, but scores of 25 and 7 only extended a miserable run of form that has seen him make 111 runs at 12.33 in his last ten Test innings.”Yes, I’m concerned,” Simmons admitted. “He’s gone four innings without a score, in contrast to how he played over the last five, six months in the other formats. I am concerned about his form, and we’ll be sitting down and chatting about that over the next couple of days.”Simmons added that the moment he thought anyone was playing for their place in the side rather than for the team, they would be dropped.”If I think you’re more concerned about your current form than what you can do for the team, then you can think about your current form on the sideline,” he said. “So far, everyone has been looking to work hard for the team, and if someone changes that train of thought, then he’s not there for the team and we’ll have to think about that very, very seriously.”Phil Simmons admitted he is “concerned” by Hope’s form•Getty ImagesWhile Campbell’s batting is the main concern, Simmons also criticised his fielding, after he dropped Stokes in the second over of the final day. Stokes was on 29 at the time, and went on to add 48 more runs off his next 34 balls to put England into a commanding position.”If you go out and drop him [Stokes] within six balls [11] of the start, well then you’ve got problems,” Simmons said. “It’s our doing that he had the opportunity to go on and show what he’s made of.”The West Indies management had previously suggested that they would consider adding players from the reserves to the 15-man squad ahead of the third Test of the series, depending on how the series panned out.The back-up batsman in the main squad is the uncapped Nkrumah Bonner, but the management will discuss alternatives in the coming days. Left-handed Shayne Moseley is the most experienced opener in the reserves, and there may also be a temptation to include the 22-year-old Joshua Da Silva. He made 189 unbeaten runs at the top of the order in the second intra-squad warm-up match.There may be some workload management for West Indies’ seamers too, after the visitors decided to pick an unchanged XI for the second Test. Shannon Gabriel and Kemar Roach have bowled 69.5 and 80 overs respectively in the series so far, and with only three days’ recovery time after back-to-back Tests, there may be little choice but to rotate.”I have no regrets,” Simmons said, when asked about the decision to pick an unchanged team. “We did well, we won the Test match before, and looking at the squad and the team we played in that Test match, we were happy with the team we went in with.”Simmons also reacted sharply when a journalist described Gabriel – who struggled for rhythm on the first morning and was off the field for some time on the second day – as looking “stiff”.”I don’t know about Shannon being anything,” he said. “Shannon bowled at good pace in every spell he bowled, even last night.” He did, however, concede that the team would keep an eye on the quick in the lead-up to the third Test. “We’ll have to take things into consideration over the next couple of days, and then make a decision.”Uncapped Chemar Holder and bowling allrounder Raymon Reifer are the back-up seamers in the main squad, but West Indies may well include offspinner Rahkeem Cornwall for the third Test.

There’s no two ways about it: Manchester United’s form this season has been absolutely abysmal, so poor that even an FA Cup victory won’t be enough to mask the issues.

Erik ten Hag’s side has particularly struggled during the business end of the campaign, picking up just one win in eight Premier League games, which was against Sheffield United.

The Red Devils can put an end to this run with a convincing performance against Newcastle United this evening, although they will be in for a challenging test.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at which player could return to the fold this evening, who won’t only bolster the side but potentially save Casemiro’s Man United career.

Casemiro’s recent performances

The downfall of Casemiro has been well-documented in recent months, and he has rightfully received plenty of criticism for his uninspiring performances.

Football creator Liam Canning is one of those critics, taking to X to state that “Casemiro cannot run,” with his lack of athleticism without doubt one of his biggest flaws.

However, in recent weeks, Ten Hag has been forced into playing the former Real Madrid star in a centre-back role due to the sheer number of injuries in that position, and unfortunately, his performances have been concerning.

Casemiro was at fault for Arsenal’s only goal at the weekend, and he was also exposed against Crystal Palace, with his decision-making and positioning allowing him to be dribbled past seven times. For context, not a single Palace defender was dribbled past once.

Therefore, Ten Hag must tweak his side, and the return of one player could just supercharge the struggling Casemiro.

How Lisandro Martinez could save Casemiro

It’s rather simple: Man United and Ten Hag have desperately missed Lisandro Martinez this season, having been on the sidelines for 36 games through numerous injuries.

Because of this, the Argentine has started just seven Premier League matches this season, boasting an average of 65 minutes per game.

Luckily, Martinez’s return is imminent, and he will be in the squad to face the Magpies this evening. If he does return, it will surely ensure that Casemiro returns to his usual midfield role.

Games

27

16

24

Touches

68.5

42.4

54.7

Pass accuracy

87%

85%

87%

Tackles

2

0.5

1

Interceptions

1.2

0.8

0.5

Dribbled past

0.5

0.06

0.4

Duels won

4.1

2.4

3.1

As you can see from his league statistics last season, the number six is a complete defender who excels on the ball and during build-up play, in turn taking the responsibility off Casemiro, who has a pass accuracy of just 83% this season.

Furthermore, the former Ajax star isn’t afraid to enter duels and be aggressive, as shown by his tackles and duels won, which should enable United to play a slightly higher line, therefore reducing the lack of ground that Casemiro has to cover.

Other than his influence on the 32-year-old, Martinez is so valuable to the entire side, and it’s no surprise to see Liam Canning call him a “diamond.” Even Ten Hag referenced his importance this week, stating:

“When he’s fit his standards are high and he is an absolute leader for us, a warrior who has the right spirit. He is a very important player in our defensive line and we missed him across almost the whole season.”

Overall, it’s glaringly obvious that Martinez’s return can’t come soon enough, but can he help save his midfield teammate and potentially his boss?

Man Utd struck gold with star now worth more than Mount & Martinez combined

The Manchester United star cost the club £0 and is now worth a pretty penny.

ByTom Lever Apr 11, 2024

Brighton are reportedly closing in on the signing of England forward Nikita Parris from Manchester United.

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Parris close to Brighton moveForward has 71 England capsWill join Fran Kirby at SeagullsWHAT HAPPENED?

According to The Guardian, the Seagulls are in advanced talks to sign Parris. The 30-year-old has rejected offers from a number of other clubs and all signs now point to her joining fellow England international Fran Kirby at the Women's Super League outfit.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Brighton publicly announced their intentions to become a top four WSL side after hiring Dario Vidosic as head coach in July, and their activity in the summer transfer window is a clear sign of the club's ambition. Kirby was signed on a free transfer after leaving Chelsea, and her former Blues team-mate Jelena Cankovic also arrived. Parris would be another marquee signing.

DID YOU KNOW?

Should Parris make the switch to Brighton, she could make her debut against one of her former clubs. Vidosic's side take on Everton on September 21 in their WSL opener – Parris started her career with the Toffees before joining Manchester City.

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Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR BRIGHTON?

There's just over a week to go until this new-look Brighton kick-off their WSL campaign by hosting Everton at Broadfield Stadium. As for arranging any other incomings, that'll need to be done quicky – the WSL transfer window closes at 11pm (BST) on Friday.

After a disappointing season, Sunderland could be in for more bad news with a Premier League sporting director now attempting to convince one Black Cats star to leave this summer.

Sunderland transfer news

It's been a frustrating few months for those at the Stadium of Light, who are facing the consequences for their Michael Beale experiment, having parted ways with Tony Mowbray when they were competing among the Championship play-off spots. Finishing in the bottom half as a result of that decision, the Black Cats remain without a permanent manager heading into the summer transfer window.

Sunderland in talks to sign "incredible" partner for Clarke

Sunderland could finally strike gold and sign a prolific striker with this summer buy.

ByKelan Sarson May 30, 2024

The likes of Paul Heckingbottom, Will Still, Liam Rosenior and Bo Svensson have all been mentioned, but Sunderland are yet to make their pick. Rosenior is, of course, a particularly interesting option given that he was nominated for the Championship's Manager of the Season before being sacked by Hull City for failing to guide them into the top six. Their loss could now be Sunderland's gain, however.

As a fresh face emerges in the dugout though, a familiar face could be heading in the other direction and out the door this summer. According to Fabrizio Romano, Crystal Palace sporting director Dougie Freedman is working to convince Jobe Bellingham to leave Sunderland and join Crystal Palace, with Brentford also reportedly interested in the young midfielder.

With Jude Bellingham starring for Real Madrid, it is Jobe who now has the chance to steal the headlines and take his first steps into the Premier League this summer.

Sunderland must work to keep "great" Bellingham

It may be easier said than done, but Sunderland must do everything in their power to keep hold of Bellingham this summer. One way they should be focusing on doing just that is by finally appointing a permanent manager, handing players such as Bellingham a clear project and path to follow rather than the current unpredictability within the Stadium of Light.

Not many will be surprised by the Premier League interest in the 18-year-old, including former boss Mowbray, who was instantly full of praise for Bellingham at the start of his Sunderland career, telling The Northern Echo: "He acts like a seasoned pro, and demands standards, even in small sided games he wants to win.

"You can see he has a very focused driven thought pattern on where he is going and how he is going to get there. And that is to try to be excellent in everything you do. It’s a great mentality. It helps our team to have someone so young."

Losing a player with such mentality who still has plenty more levels to reach would be a major blow for the Black Cats, but they could face an uphill battle if Palace push on for Bellingham's signature this summer.

Among recent cricketers to have received this honour are Yasir Shah and Sarfaraz Ahmed

ESPNcricinfo staff15-Aug-2020The late Abdul Qadir has been conferred the Sitara-e-Imtiaz, the third-highest civilian award in Pakistan, by president Arif Alvi on August 14, the country’s Independence Day.Qadir, who died last year, is often credited as the one who revived the art of legspin in the 1970s and 1980s. During his career, he took 236 wickets in 67 Tests and 132 in 104 ODIs. After his retirement, Qadir ran a private cricket academy just outside Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. He was also Pakistan’s chief selector for a period of six months in 2008-09.Sitara-e-Imtiaz is awarded to those individuals who have made a meritorious contribution to the security or national interests of Pakistan, world peace, cultural or other significant public endeavours. Among recent cricketers to have received this honour are Yasir Shah (2019) and Sarfaraz Ahmed (2018).

Manchester United reportedly decided against signing Ivan Toney because Erik ten Hag had one key concern over the ex-Brentford striker.

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Man Utd wanted a striker in the summerConsidered Toney for their shortlistTen Hag blocked a move for the goalscorerFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Heading into the summer transfer window, United identified the need for a new forward as a top priority. Several high-profile names were linked to the club, with Brentford’s Toney among the notable candidates. However, despite showing initial interest in Toney, United eventually opted to sign Joshua Zirkzee from Bologna in a £36 million ($48m) deal, leaving the England international to seek opportunities elsewhere.

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According to Ten Hag did not believe Toney fit the specific tactical demands he was seeking in a forward as the Dutch tactician doubted his pressing ability. Hence, the Red Devils refrained from making any formal move for the English forward, who eventually sealed a transfer to Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli for a substantial £40 million ($53m) transfer fee.

DID YOU KNOW?

It has been reported that Toney is earning an eye-watering £403,000 per week, inclusive of bonuses, in Saudi Arabia. He has hit the ground running in his new surroundings and has scored three goals in four appearances across competitions.

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Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR TONEY & MANCHESTER UNITED?

Toney will be eager to continue his goal-scoring exploits when Al-Ahli face Al-Qadsiyah in their next league fixture on Friday. Meanwhile, Zirkzee will be hoping to break his five-match goalless streak when the Red Devils host Twente in the Europa League on Wednesday at Old Trafford.

The Red Devils dominated the first decade of the new millennium, only to lose their way – but who have been their best performers?

Manchester United began the 21st century on the beaches of Brazil. They were there to compete in the inaugural FIFA Club World Cup and arrived as the official best team in the world after beating Palmeiras in the Inter-Continental Cup. In order to participate, they took the seismic decision to withdraw from the FA Cup, the competition they were the holders of.

A quarter of a century on, and United have restored their reputation in the FA Cup, which they won in May. The Club World Cup, however, is no longer their domain, and they were not even close to qualifying for FIFA's rebranded competition, which takes place next year.

That says a lot about how United have fallen as the century has progressed. The Red Devils won eight out of the first 14 league titles of the new millennium, but ever since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013, they have been on a downward curve. They have finished outside of the top four more times than they have made it in and won just five major trophies. In the first half of the new century, they lifted 13.

It should be no real surprise, then, that a list of the best United players from the first 25 years of the 21st century draws heavily on the Ferguson era. Only performances since January 2000 count, so the likes of Denis Irwin, Jaap Stam and Teddy Sheringham fall short, even though they straddled both centuries.

But who has made it in, and who has failed to make the cut?

Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱Getty Images25Antonio Valencia

When United sold Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid for a then world-record fee of £80 million ($104m), not many fans expected that the club would look to Wigan Athletic for his replacement. Antonio Valencia sure was no Ronaldo, but he proved to be a solid and versatile club stalwart.

The Ecuadorian spent 10 years at Old Trafford, beginning as a right winger before switching to right-back. For years he spoke almost no English, but by the end of his career with United he was one of the most experienced players in the squad, captaining the team in the Europa League final and in his final season.

AdvertisementGetty 24Darren Fletcher

When Ferguson learned that Darren Fletcher, aged 15 at the time, was considering leaving United for Newcastle, he launched a furious tirade at him down the phone, angering the player's mother, and then drove straight to Edinburgh to convince him to stay. Fletcher knew never to risk Ferguson's wrath again and stayed at United for the next 13 years.

He was the ultimate squad player but grew into an undisputable starter in the 2008-09 season, cruelly missing the Champions League final through suspension after diving into a tackle against Arsenal late in the semi-final despite the victory long-being secured. That moment epitomised Fletcher's selfless attitude.

A worse struggle came when he battled a debilitating stomach illness for around two years. The Scotland international kept fighting, as was his way, and was able to eventually continue his career. He has remained loyal to United since retiring, working as a technical director and assistant coach, while his twin sons currently play for the club's Under-18s.

Getty 23Louis Saha

How good could Louis Saha have been were it not for the injuries? The Frenchman had a stunning debut for United against Southampton following a £12m ($15m) move from Fulham in January 2004, and scored seven goals in his first 10 starts.

Injuries interrupted his next season and he only scored twice, but once he returned to full fitness he showed his true value, notching 28 goals and 13 assists in the 2005-06 and 2006-07 campaigns combined.

Saha fired United to League Cup glory in 2006 with six goals in five games and played a big part in the Premier League success the following season. But more injuries meant he could not finish the campaign and severely disrupted his progress the following season, when he also had to compete with Carlos Tevez. Despite the constant setbacks, he averaged a goal every three games.

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Getty22Dimitar Berbatov

Ferguson was so determined to make sure Manchester City did not sign Berbatov that he picked him up from the airport on transfer deadline day in 2008 and drove him straight to Old Trafford to complete the transfer from Tottenham. And the Bulgarian was an utter joy to watch.

He often seemed to play at walking pace and at times looked on a whole different level of class to his peers. As an example, early into his United career, Berbatov had the whole of Old Trafford eating out of his hand after an insane piece of skill against West Ham's hapless James Collins.

Berbatov had impressed without tearing up any trees in his first two seasons with United, but he really found his feet in his third, finishing as top scorer in the Premier League while leading the Red Devils to the 2010-11 title with 20 goals. However, he inexplicably did not even make the substitutes' bench for the Champions League final against Barcelona.

Tottenham Hotspur’s 2023/24 campaign will have split the opinion of the fanbase, with some describing it as promising, and others frustrating.

It’s fair to say that both are fair reviews, having just missed out on Champions League football in Ange Postecoglou’s debut season.

However, it’s now clear that will be the goal for next season having been so close, and in order to do that, reinforcements are needed this summer.

Spurs’ search for a new attacker

According to German journalist Christian Falk, Spurs are interested in signing Chris Fuhrich.

It’s mentioned that Spurs are “fighting” for his signature this summer with Bayern Munich also interested.

In order to secure the winger, the Lilywhites would need to pay his release clause, which stands at just £20m.

This means that the German would serve as a much cheaper option than Eberechi Eze, who’s been heavily linked with Spurs.

Reports suggest that the Crystal Palace ace has a £60m release clause in his contract, which is clearly quite a bit more than Fuhrich’s.

Why Fuhrich would be a great alternative to Eze

Since joining Stuttgart in 2021, Fuhrich has been a steady performer for the Bundesliga side.

But last season, his performance levels went to a whole new level, operating as a left-winger for the majority of his 33 league starts.

Over these games, the 26-year-old scored eight goals and provided seven assists, becoming a key player for a Stuttgart side that finished second despite narrowly avoiding relegation the season prior.

The German forward has a very complete profile, which makes him a perfect alternative to Eze, yet stylistically, he’s actually similar to Jack Grealish, a player who won't be heading to Euro 2024 this summer.

Goals

0.28

0.48

0.27

Assists

0.25

0.18

0.09

Key passes

1.86

2.37

2.32

Passes completed

38.99

30.66

44.51

Progressive passes

5.08

4.07

4.46

Progressive carries

5.36

2.98

7.76

Shot-creating actions

4.80

4.82

4.82

Successful take-ons

2.56

3.02

1.61

Tackles

1.05

1.53

1.16

As you can see, what makes Fuhrich such an interesting player is the fact that he can not only put the ball in the back of the net himself but also provide for those around him, which is certainly very similar to the Palace star. Last season he was tremendous, particularly under Oliver Glasner, producing 11 goals and six assists.

Furthermore, just like Eze, he is the type of player who’s always involved in the play, the catalyst for most attacks, while also helping out defensively, as shown by the number of tackles her makes per 90 minutes.

Yet, according to journalist Seb Stafford-Bloor, it is Fuhrich who has “a touch of the Jack Grealishes to his dribbling”. That's a notable similarity between all three of the players in focus.

This, combined with his creativity and clinical finishing, means the German would suit Spurs down to a tee, regardless of whether they’re up against a side that sits deep or a top side who dominates the ball.

According to FBref, he’s also classified as a similar player to Florian Wirtz, who won the Bundesliga Player of the Season. This just proves how much of a steal the "fantastic" Fuhrich could be – as he was described by journalist Manuel Veth.

Given his statistics, bargain price, and the fact that he ticks almost every box that Spurs would look for in an attacker. They simply have to attempt to sign Fuhrich this summer.

Spurs prepare bid for ideal Maddison upgrade in £40m "Poch-era Dele Alli"

The all-action star could make a real difference in N17.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Jun 7, 2024

The Tweet appeared to remind Momentum of the money CSA has invested in it and raised questions about its transformation record

Firdose Moonda16-Sep-2020Cricket South Africa’s Members Council has referred independent board director Dr Eugenia Kula-Ameyaw to its social and ethics committee following a late night tweet against the financial services company Momentum, which announced it would not renew their ODI sponsorship deal. CSA have also apologised to Momentum for Kula-Ameyaw’s conduct.The tweet, which was posted at 11.35pm on Tuesday and has since been deleted, appeared to remind Momentum of the money that CSA and other South Africans, including government, invest in the company and raised questions about its transformation record.”Momentum forgets that we invest hundreds of million in Momentum in our SOE [State-Owned Enterprises] investments and pension funds. I remember asking for the BBBEE [Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment] certificate in my other board. Just check before you make an irrational decision.”CSA called the tweet “unfortunate and unwarranted,” “distanced itself” from its contents, and “sincerely apologised” to Momentum. “We thank Momentum for the substantial contributions they have made towards cricket upliftment and the milestones we achieved through their sponsorship and we assure them, that we will continue to build on the successes to grow and develop the game of cricket even further,” Beresford Williams, CSA’s acting president said.Momentum is a financial services company that offers insurance, investments and healthcare products and it has been a CSA sponsor since 2012. It will cease its backing for ODI cricket, the domestic one-day cup and several development initiatives once its contract comes to an end in April 2021, citing concerns with “the current state of affairs at CSA regarding governance and other reputational issues,” according to Carel Bosman, head of sponsorships at Momentum. However, Momentum will continue to back the national women’s team until 2023.In a televised interview with news network eNCA, Bosman explained that the company sees it as their responsibility to continue to ask questions of CSA “There are matters that are concerning at Cricket SA and as a partner to Cricket SA we have to keep them accountable”. eNCA tweeted a clip of the interview and Kula-Ameyaw replied to it with the now-deleted tweet. She then replied to another user Dean Koen, who suggested all sponsorships should be withdrawn and that cricket should be about the players.

I agree fully with you on that core group which is players.Without players there is no https://t.co/7cTJLQ8ub2 missing the point that Momentum gets business from the players, fans, citizens.I was happy that they fund the Women's team though it's not transformation but marketing

— Dr Eugenia Kula (@EugeniaKulaAmey) September 16, 2020

The reference to transformation is key because Kula-Ameyaw is also CSA’s transformation chair and it is under her ambit that the organisation’s Social Justice and Nation-Building committee is being run. She has been critical of the slow pace of transformation and appears to also suggest Momentum is not representative. Momentum, like all other companies in South Africa, is required by law to be compliant with the BBBEE Act, an affirmative action policy which Kula-Ameyaw mentioned in her deleted tweet.CSA said that Kula-Ameyaw made her points in “her personal capacity,” and does not reflect the organisation “CSA wishes to reiterate that Dr Eugenia Kula-Ameyaw did not act in her professional position as a non-executive board member of CSA,” Williams said. “While we respect the personal views of all South Africans, CSA wishes to distance itself from the articulations made by Dr Kula-Ameyaw on Twitter. We further wish to reiterate that CSA does not ascribe to the views expressed regarding Momentum and we sincerely value the benefits Momentum and all our sponsors bring in making cricket accessible and inclusive for all South Africans”Kula-Ameyaw will now have to appear before CSA’s Social and Ethics committee, of which she is a member, and may face disciplinary action. “CSA is taking this matter very seriously and in light of the reputational damage potentially caused, CSA’s Members’ Council has referred the matter to the Social and Ethics Committee and once all internal processes have been completed, the necessary corrective action will be taken,” a CSA statement read. “As part of its ongoing efforts to improve the reputation of Cricket South Africa, the organisation’s management will be re-educating all its internal stakeholders on better understanding its Social Media Policy and to ensure employees across all levels understand the value afforded by sponsors and supporters.”Meanwhile, the South African Cricketers’ Association (SACA) has called Momentum’s decision to leave the game “regrettable”, but said it shares the sponsor’s concerns regarding governance at CSA. SACA paid tribute to Momentum’s involvement in the annual Pink Day ODI match, a fundraiser for breast cancer research, and its provision of medical cover to professional players.”Momentum Health remains an important sponsor of SACA members, and their role in providing players with medical aid cover is critical to the well-being of professional cricketers in South Africa. We would like to thank them for the great work that they do for players in providing quality health care services,” a SACA statement read.SACA President Omphile Ramela cautioned that Momentum’s exit would impact domestic cricket specifically and called on cricket to find ways of attracting more corporate backers.”Domestic cricket, in particular, which was in part sponsored by Momentum, had already seen a decline in sponsorship funding and it is therefore imperative for cricket to use this crisis to re-invent the sponsorship business model of the game in a way that gives confidence to the sponsors and creates space for value to be derived from cricket,” Ramela said.