BOLTON // It is fair to say that Johan Elmander's first two seasons in English football were a disappointment. The Swedish striker arrived from Toulouse, the French side, in the summer of 2008 with a big reputation and a hefty price tag - £8.2 million (Dh46.7m) making him Bolton's record signing. Yet his first 45 league games yielded only eight goals - 10 in all competitions - and Elmander was labelled an expensive flop.
However, the 2010/11 campaign has seen the Elmander, 29, net three times in five league games and Owen Coyle, his manager, believes the forward has "turned the corner" in his battle to make it in the Premier League. Elmander's strike partnership with Kevin Davies has flourished this season - the Bolton captain has two goals - and ahead of today's confrontation with Manchester United at the Reebok Stadium, Coyle has revealed he never had any doubts over the Swedish international's contribution to the cause.
However, as a former striker himself, the Bolton manager is acutely aware the difference finding the net can make. "As a striker, if you are not among the goals a part of you will be down," Coyle said. "We did try to help but the biggest influence has been Johan himself. "We can impart any knowledge or perceived wisdom but he is the one who has to deliver when he crosses the white line. "Now I believe he has turned the corner and I am sure there are more goals to come."
In a similar manner to the renaissance Dimitar Berbatov is enjoying at United, Elmander's reputation is rising by the week. "Johan is playing ever so well and I really enjoy working with him," Coyle added. "I know what people have said about him, but I don't feel he has ever had a problem with the pace of the league. "His workrate and the quality of his play has always been terrific since I came to the club.
"But, as I know, strikers are judged on goals. We are getting them now. Long may that continue." United arrive at the Reebok with question marks hanging over their defence, having thrown away leads to draw their last two away games - at Fulham and Everton - and allowing Liverpool to fight back from 2-0 down at Old Trafford last week before Berbatov's winner made it 3-2. Darren Fletcher, the club's Scottish midfielder, said his teammates know they must cut out the lapses of concentration that have prevented them from making a 100 per cent start to the season.
"There has to be a concern that we nearly threw another lead away [at Liverpool]," said the Scotland captain. "We have conceded sloppy goals through lapses in concentration in a number of games and were fortunate Dimitar pulled out the third goal to win the game. "But we have to remember we threw away a fantastic lead. "It is something we have to try and put to rest if we want to progress in the Premier League.
"It has been individual lapses of concentration that have cost us. "It is something we have been looking at and it is important we put it right as soon as possible. "On the whole, our performances have been very good and really, we should be sitting here with maximum points. Unfortunately we are not."
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3pm, ADMC Sports 3 & 5
Qosty Byogaani
Starring: Hani Razmzi, Maya Nasir and Hassan Hosny
Four stars
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
The Laughing Apple
Yusuf/Cat Stevens
(Verve Decca Crossover)
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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Other must-tries
Tomato and walnut salad
A lesson in simple, seasonal eating. Wedges of tomato, chunks of cucumber, thinly sliced red onion, coriander or parsley leaves, and perhaps some fresh dill are drizzled with a crushed walnut and garlic dressing. Do consider yourself warned: if you eat this salad in Georgia during the summer months, the tomatoes will be so ripe and flavourful that every tomato you eat from that day forth will taste lacklustre in comparison.
Badrijani nigvzit
A delicious vegetarian snack or starter. It consists of thinly sliced, fried then cooled aubergine smothered with a thick and creamy walnut sauce and folded or rolled. Take note, even though it seems like you should be able to pick these morsels up with your hands, they’re not as durable as they look. A knife and fork is the way to go.
Pkhali
This healthy little dish (a nice antidote to the khachapuri) is usually made with steamed then chopped cabbage, spinach, beetroot or green beans, combined with walnuts, garlic and herbs to make a vegetable pâté or paste. The mix is then often formed into rounds, chilled in the fridge and topped with pomegranate seeds before being served.
LIVING IN...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
DSC Eagles 23 Dubai Hurricanes 36
Eagles
Tries: Bright, O’Driscoll
Cons: Carey 2
Pens: Carey 3
Hurricanes
Tries: Knight 2, Lewis, Finck, Powell, Perry
Cons: Powell 3
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
What is Folia?
Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed bin Talal's new plant-based menu will launch at Four Seasons hotels in Dubai this November. A desire to cater to people looking for clean, healthy meals beyond green salad is what inspired Prince Khaled and American celebrity chef Matthew Kenney to create Folia. The word means "from the leaves" in Latin, and the exclusive menu offers fine plant-based cuisine across Four Seasons properties in Los Angeles, Bahrain and, soon, Dubai.
Kenney specialises in vegan cuisine and is the founder of Plant Food Wine and 20 other restaurants worldwide. "I’ve always appreciated Matthew’s work," says the Saudi royal. "He has a singular culinary talent and his approach to plant-based dining is prescient and unrivalled. I was a fan of his long before we established our professional relationship."
Folia first launched at The Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills in July 2018. It is available at the poolside Cabana Restaurant and for in-room dining across the property, as well as in its private event space. The food is vibrant and colourful, full of fresh dishes such as the hearts of palm ceviche with California fruit, vegetables and edible flowers; green hearb tacos filled with roasted squash and king oyster barbacoa; and a savoury coconut cream pie with macadamia crust.
In March 2019, the Folia menu reached Gulf shores, as it was introduced at the Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay, where it is served at the Bay View Lounge. Next, on Tuesday, November 1 – also known as World Vegan Day – it will come to the UAE, to the Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach and the Four Seasons DIFC, both properties Prince Khaled has spent "considerable time at and love".
There are also plans to take Folia to several more locations throughout the Middle East and Europe.
While health-conscious diners will be attracted to the concept, Prince Khaled is careful to stress Folia is "not meant for a specific subset of customers. It is meant for everyone who wants a culinary experience without the negative impact that eating out so often comes with."
Zayed Sustainability Prize
The specs: 2018 Harley-Davidson Fat Boy
Price, base / as tested Dh97,600
Engine 1,745cc Milwaukee-Eight v-twin engine
Transmission Six-speed gearbox
Power 78hp @ 5,250rpm
Torque 145Nm @ 3,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined 5.0L / 100km (estimate)
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
