Best attacking display
Since Fernando Torres made his debut for Chelsea, following his £50 million (Dh301m) move from Liverpool, the club's four strikers - the Spaniard, Didier Drogba, Nicolas Anelka and Salomon Kalou - have netted just three goals between them in 11 games.
The arrival of Torres at Stamford Bridge paved the way for Daniel Sturridge to move on loan to Bolton Wanderers and gain some first-team action that he was not getting in London. And what a contrast in fortunes there has been between the Englishman, 21, who cost Chelsea £3.5m from Manchester City, and their British record signing.
The anaemic displays of Torres - zero goals, one shot on target - saw him benched for his side's narrow victory over Wigan Athletic on Saturday.
Sturridge, meanwhile, netted his fifth and sixth goals for Bolton in their comfortable win over West Ham United. That impressive tally has come in just eight games (seven starts).
It is the kind of form Chelsea expected when they signed Torres - maybe they let the wrong man leave.
Best free kick
List the greatest free-kick takers of the Premier League era - Thierry Henry, David Beckham, Gianfranco Zola.
List the best of the current players - Leighton Baines, Didier Drogba, Cesc Fabregas.
David Bardsley, the Sunderland right-back, is not the most obvious name to put alongside such company. OK, so he started his career at Manchester United and may have picked up a few tips from Beckham, but his strike against West Bromwich Albion on Saturday was nothing like a Beckham effort. It was just pure power.
It was reminiscent of another free kick-taking defender, Trifon Ivanov, the Bulgarian enforcer from the mid-1990s whose "rugged" appearance made him look a bit like a werewolf. He used to regularly take a pop at goal from 45 yards out.
Bardsley's effort was not from such a distance, but he connected beautifully and it flew into the top corner like a missile past Scott Carson. Too bad it didn't lead to a Sunderland win - they lost 3-2.
Best revival
Two months ago, West Brom were looking in major relegation trouble. They were on a run of 13 defeats in 18 games which had left them just two points above the relegation zone.
Enter Roy Hodgson, replacing Roberto Di Matteo as manager. This is the man who apparently, did not understand what it meant to be a Liverpool manager and was unable to tap into the club's psyche and motivate the players at his disposal.
Forget the fact that the squad he inherited was one of Liverpool's weakest in several seasons, including an oft-injured Steven Gerrard and a clearly unhappy Fernando Torres. You could forgive him for feeling hard done by after just six months in the job.
Hodgson got some form of revenge on the club that sacked him in January by beating Liverpool 2-1 last week. But his more important impact on West Brom has been steering them to a run of six games unbeaten (three wins, three draws), including Saturday's come-from-behind win at Sunderland.
West Brom are now 10th in the table, on 39 points, and virtually safe. It has gone someway toward restoring Hodgson's reputation as a man who can work wonders at smaller clubs.
Best goals (in vain)
It is a shame that Stoke City were on the wrong end of a five-goal thriller at Tottenham Hotspur. Well, a half thriller in any case - all the goals came in the first 45 minutes.
That is because they scored two of the best goals of the day. Matthew Etherington's first was perhaps the goal of 2011.
Collecting the ball on the halfway line, the left winger, who used to play for Spurs, swivelled past Michael Dawson just inside the Spurs half of the pitch and set off on a charge down the touchline.
Some fine multitasking later - holding off Tom Huddlestone while keeping the ball under control - he arrived in the Tottenham box, kept his composure and nutmegged Heurelho Gomes, the goalkeeper. It was the kind of strike that Spurs fans have come to expect from Gareth Bale, their flying winger. Etherington netted just twice in four seasons for Spurs. He is into double figures in three seasons at Stoke.
That spectacular goal bug appeared contagious, and Kenwyne Jones, Stoke's giant targetman, smashed a left-footed effort into the top corner from 25 yards which made it 3-2. Two goals that both deserved to be match winners.
Worst minute
One game does not decide a season, but Blackpool will look back on their match against Arsenal yesterday, or one second-half minute of it to be precise, with a tinge of regret.
After being taught a first-half lesson by the Gunners, Blackpool were a different team in the second period. They had pulled the score back to 2-1 and had Arsenal looking distinctively nervous.
Then came two major incidents in a matter of seconds that could have turned the game.
First, Gareth Taylor-Fletcher, the scorer of Blackpool's first, was sent tumbling by Arsenal's Laurent Koscielny. A stonewall penalty to everyone but referee Lee Mason, who had managed to award three last week between West Ham United and Manchester United.
Then, as play continued, Keith Southern had a simple chance to nod home a cross from about four yards, with the Arsenal goal gaping. Somehow, and only he knows how, the ball brushed his head and went out for a goal kick.
Blackpool could have got at least a point from the game had that minute turned out better. As it is, they sit a point above the relegation zone.
twoods@thenational.ae
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
Jordan cabinet changes
In
- Raed Mozafar Abu Al Saoud, Minister of Water and Irrigation
- Dr Bassam Samir Al Talhouni, Minister of Justice
- Majd Mohamed Shoueikeh, State Minister of Development of Foundation Performance
- Azmi Mahmud Mohafaza, Minister of Education and Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research
- Falah Abdalla Al Ammoush, Minister of Public Works and Housing
- Basma Moussa Ishakat, Minister of Social Development
- Dr Ghazi Monawar Al Zein, Minister of Health
- Ibrahim Sobhi Alshahahede, Minister of Agriculture and Minister of Environment
- Dr Mohamed Suleiman Aburamman, Minister of Culture and Minister of Youth
Out
- Dr Adel Issa Al Tawissi, Minister of High Education and Scientific Research
- Hala Noaman “Basiso Lattouf”, Minister of Social Development
- Dr Mahmud Yassin Al Sheyab, Minister of Health
- Yahya Moussa Kasbi, Minister of Public Works and Housing
- Nayef Hamidi Al Fayez, Minister of Environment
- Majd Mohamed Shoueika, Minister of Public Sector Development
- Khalid Moussa Al Huneifat, Minister of Agriculture
- Dr Awad Abu Jarad Al Mushakiba, Minister of Justice
- Mounir Moussa Ouwais, Minister of Water and Agriculture
- Dr Azmi Mahmud Mohafaza, Minister of Education
- Mokarram Mustafa Al Kaysi, Minister of Youth
- Basma Mohamed Al Nousour, Minister of Culture
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
About Proto21
Date started: May 2018
Founder: Pir Arkam
Based: Dubai
Sector: Additive manufacturing (aka, 3D printing)
Staff: 18
Funding: Invested, supported and partnered by Joseph Group
Sheer grandeur
The Owo building is 14 storeys high, seven of which are below ground, with the 30,000 square feet of amenities located subterranean, including a 16-seat private cinema, seven lounges, a gym, games room, treatment suites and bicycle storage.
A clear distinction between the residences and the Raffles hotel with the amenities operated separately.
Guide to intelligent investing
Investing success often hinges on discipline and perspective. As markets fluctuate, remember these guiding principles:
- Stay invested: Time in the market, not timing the market, is critical to long-term gains.
- Rational thinking: Breathe and avoid emotional decision-making; let logic and planning guide your actions.
- Strategic patience: Understand why you’re investing and allow time for your strategies to unfold.
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
Sukuk explained
Sukuk are Sharia-compliant financial certificates issued by governments, corporates and other entities. While as an asset class they resemble conventional bonds, there are some significant differences. As interest is prohibited under Sharia, sukuk must contain an underlying transaction, for example a leaseback agreement, and the income that is paid to investors is generated by the underlying asset. Investors must also be prepared to share in both the profits and losses of an enterprise. Nevertheless, sukuk are similar to conventional bonds in that they provide regular payments, and are considered less risky than equities. Most investors would not buy sukuk directly due to high minimum subscriptions, but invest via funds.
Test series fixtures
(All matches start at 2pm UAE)
1st Test Lord's, London from Thursday to Monday
2nd Test Nottingham from July 14-18
3rd Test The Oval, London from July 27-31
4th Test Manchester from August 4-8
Full list of Emmy 2020 nominations
LEAD ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
Anthony Anderson, Black-ish
Don Cheadle, Black Monday
Ted Danson, The Good Place
Michael Douglas, The Kominsky Method
Eugene Levy, Schitt’s Creek
Ramy Youssef, Ramy
LEAD ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES
Christina Applegate, Dead to Me
Rachel Brosnahan, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Linda Cardellini, Dead to Me
Catherine O’Hara, Schitt’s Creek
Issa Rae, Insecure
Tracee Ellis Ross, Black-ish
OUTSTANDING VARIETY/TALK SERIES
The Daily Show with Trevor Noah
Full Frontal with Samantha Bee
Jimmy Kimmel Live
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
LEAD ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
Jason Bateman, Ozark
Sterling K. Brown, This Is Us
Steve Carell, The Morning Show
Brian Cox, Succession
Billy Porter, Pose
Jeremy Strong, Succession
LEAD ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES
Jennifer Aniston, The Morning Show
Olivia Colman, The Crown
Jodie Comer, Killing Eve
Laura Linney, Ozark
Sandra Oh, Killing Eve
Zendaya, Euphoria
OUTSTANDING REALITY/COMPETITION PROGRAM
The Masked Singer
Nailed It!
RuPaul’s Drag Race
Top Chef
The Voice
LEAD ACTOR IN A LIMITED SERIES/TV MOVIE
Jeremy Irons, Watchmen
Hugh Jackman, Bad Education
Paul Mescal, Normal People
Jeremy Pope, Hollywood
Mark Ruffalo, I Know This Much Is True
LEAD ACTRESS IN A LIMITED SERIES/TV MOVIE
Cate Blanchett, Mrs. America
Shira Haas, Unorthodox
Regina King, Watchmen
Octavia Spencer, Self Made
Kerry Washington, Little Fires Everywhere
OUTSTANDING LIMITED SERIES
Little Fires Everywhere
Mrs. America
Unbelievable
Unorthodox
Watchmen
OUTSTANDING COMEDY SERIES
Curb Your Enthusiasm
Dead to Me
The Good Place
Insecure
The Kominsky Method
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Schitt’s Creek
What We Do In The Shadows
OUTSTANDING DRAMA SERIES
Better Call Saul
The Crown
The Handmaid’s Tale
Killing Eve
The Mandalorian
Ozark
Stranger Things
Succession
A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
