For the second successive summer, a Champions League-winning manager’s first signing for Everton was one of his former players.
The similarities probably end there. Allan represented a statement of intent for Carlo Ancelotti, a £20 million ($27.3m) Brazilian from Napoli who addressed a position of weakness, in defensive midfield, and immediately appeared an enviable upgrade. Allan was proof of Ancelotti’s pulling power.
Fast forward 10 months and Rafa Benitez’s first recruit was a free transfer from Crystal Palace. Andros Townsend may prove an astute acquisition: he excelled under the Spaniard in their doomed attempt to rescue Newcastle’s 2015-16 season and, after four years under Roy Hodgson, has shown he can ally his flair with tactical discipline.
A free transfer seems set to offer Everton far more value for money than many a buy in the Farhad Moshiri era of extravagant outlay. A free Townsend promises far more than a £35m Alex Iwobi ever did. When Palace bought Townsend, he was a £13m player and he is still only 30. He spoke eloquently about the move. “A no-brainer,” he said. “Rafa is a great man, a great man-manager.”
But it was notable Townsend also described Everton as “very ambitious, a club trying to get back where it belongs in Europe and beyond”. Ambition has been expensive. It could be counterproductive. Benitez made several references at his introductory press conference to “financial restrictions”.
Moshiri has not run out of money, but Everton lack wriggle room. Past overspending – and Everton announced losses of £139m for 2019-20 and £111m in 2018-19 – mean that passing Financial Fair Play poses problems. Regulations were eased but Everton’s past outlay is such that they still need to box clever.
Benitez, who has long had wranglings with power brokers about transfers, has begun by fishing around in the bargain bucket. Townsend was followed later on Tuesday by Asmir Begovic as a free-transfer back-up to Jordan Pickford. Neither is exactly a statement signing.
But Townsend offers a hint of Benitez’s gameplan. He drilled Newcastle expertly with a back three but the addition of a specialist winger suggests he sees Everton with a back four; it is easy to envisage Townsend and another potential signing, Demarai Gray, on the flanks in a counter-attacking 4-4-1-1, the formation the Spaniard’s Liverpool often used.
Ancelotti delivered a vote of no confidence in some of his midfielders by playing the full-back Seamus Coleman on the right wing at the end of last season. Bernard, a big earner with a small impact, was one of those benched. He could leave as Everton look for a cut-price overhaul. A striker could be required; a right-back will be.
And yet the biggest issue may concern Everton’s most glamorous free transfer and another huge earner. Billboards in Times Square in New York advertised James Rodriguez’s arrival. The Colombian brought class and creativity. He had a starring role in their autumnal surge to the top of the table and the long-awaited first win at Anfield of the 21st century.
But his season ended with even his long-term ally Ancelotti unsympathetically citing Rodriguez’s supposed “tiredness” for his absence. He flew back to Colombia before Everton’s final game only to fail to make their Copa America squad.
Now he has a manager who was not his long-time champion: Benitez was under pressure to pick Rodriguez for Real Madrid when he wanted to incorporate the defensive midfielder Casemiro instead. Benitez said last week it would not be “fair” to discuss individuals which, when asked about Rodriguez, was scarcely a resounding endorsement. His departure would come as no shock and would free up funds.
A summer when Townsend came in and Rodriguez left would have a pragmatic, prudent feel but it might sum up Everton’s new reality.
If you go…
Emirates launched a new daily service to Mexico City this week, flying via Barcelona from Dh3,995.
Emirati citizens are among 67 nationalities who do not require a visa to Mexico. Entry is granted on arrival for stays of up to 180 days.
match info
Maratha Arabians 138-2
C Lynn 91*, A Lyth 20, B Laughlin 1-15
Team Abu Dhabi 114-3
L Wright 40*, L Malinga 0-13, M McClenaghan 1-17
Maratha Arabians won by 24 runs
COMPANY PROFILE
Company name: Blah
Started: 2018
Founder: Aliyah Al Abbar and Hend Al Marri
Based: Dubai
Industry: Technology and talent management
Initial investment: Dh20,000
Investors: Self-funded
Total customers: 40
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
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VEZEETA PROFILE
Date started: 2012
Founder: Amir Barsoum
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: HealthTech / MedTech
Size: 300 employees
Funding: $22.6 million (as of September 2018)
Investors: Technology Development Fund, Silicon Badia, Beco Capital, Vostok New Ventures, Endeavour Catalyst, Crescent Enterprises’ CE-Ventures, Saudi Technology Ventures and IFC
MATCH INFO
Manchester United 1 (Rashford 36')
Liverpool 1 (Lallana 84')
Man of the match: Marcus Rashford (Manchester United)
PAKISTAN SQUAD
Pakistan - Sarfraz Ahmed (captain), Azhar Ali, Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam, Shoaib Malik, Mohammad Hafeez, Haris Sohail, Faheem Ashraf, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Amir, Hasan Ali, Aamer Yamin, Rumman Raees.
PREMIER LEAGUE FIXTURES
Tuesday (UAE kick-off times)
Leicester City v Brighton (9pm)
Tottenham Hotspur v West Ham United (11.15pm)
Wednesday
Manchester United v Sheffield United (9pm)
Newcastle United v Aston Villa (9pm)
Norwich City v Everton (9pm)
Wolves v Bournemouth (9pm)
Liverpool v Crystal Palace (11.15pm)
Thursday
Burnley v Watford (9pm)
Southampton v Arsenal (9pm)
Chelsea v Manchester City (11.15pm)
Result
2.15pm: Maiden Dh75,000 1,950m; Winner: Majestic Thunder, Tadhg O’Shea (jockey), Satish Seemar (trainer).
2.45pm: Handicap Dh80,000 1,800m; Winner: Tailor’s Row, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer.
3.15pm: Handicap Dh85,000 1,600m; Winner: Native Appeal, Adam McLean, Doug Watson.
3.45pm: Handicap Dh115,000 1,950m; Winner: Conclusion, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi.
4.15pm: Handicap Dh100,000 1,400m; Winner: Pilgrim’s Treasure, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar.
4.45pm: Maiden Dh75,000 1,400m; Winner: Sanad Libya, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.
5.15pm: Handicap Dh90,000 1,000m; Winner: Midlander, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar
Results
6.30pm Al Maktoum Challenge Round-3 Group 1 (PA) US$100,000 (Dirt) 2,000m, Winner Bandar, Fernando Jara (jockey), Majed Al Jahouri (trainer).
7.05pm Meydan Classic Listed (TB) $175,000 (Turf) 1,600m, Winner Well Of Wisdom, William Buick, Charlie Appleby.
7.40pm Handicap (TB) $135,000 (T) 2,000m, Winner Star Safari, Mickael Barzalona, Charlie Appleby.
8.15pm Handicap (TB) $135,000 (D) 1,600m, Winner Moqarrar, Fabrice Veron, Erwan Charpy.
8.50pm Nad Al Sheba Trophy Group 2 (TB) $300,000 (T) 2,810m, Winner Secret Advisor, William Buick, Charlie Appleby.
9.25pm Curlin Stakes Listed (TB) $175,000 (D) 2,000m, Winner Parsimony, William Buick, Doug O’Neill.
10pm Handicap (TB) $135,000 (T) 2,000m, Winner Simsir, Ronan Whelan, Michael Halford.
10.35pm Handicap (TB) $175,000 (T) 1,400m, Winner Velorum, Mickael Barzalona, Charlie Appleby.
MATCH INFO
Real Madrid 2
Vinicius Junior (71') Mariano (90 2')
Barcelona 0
Profile
Company: Justmop.com
Date started: December 2015
Founders: Kerem Kuyucu and Cagatay Ozcan
Sector: Technology and home services
Based: Jumeirah Lake Towers, Dubai
Size: 55 employees and 100,000 cleaning requests a month
Funding: The company’s investors include Collective Spark, Faith Capital Holding, Oak Capital, VentureFriends, and 500 Startups.
MATCH INFO
Manchester United 2
(Martial 30', McTominay 90 6')
Manchester City 0
Results
5pm Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 1,400m
Winner No Riesgo Al Maury, Szczepan Mazur (jockey), Ibrahim Al Hadhrami (trainer)
5.30pm Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 1,600m
Winner Marwa W’Rsan, Sam Hitchcott, Jaci Wickham.
6pm Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 1,600m
Winner Dahess D’Arabie, Al Moatasem Al Balushi, Helal Al Alawi.
6.30pm Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 2,200m
Winner Safin Al Reef, Connor Beasley, Abdallah Al Hammadi.
7pm Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 2,200m
Winner Thulbaseera Al Jasra, Shakir Al Balushi, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami.
7.30pm Maiden (TB) Dh 80,000 2,200m
Winner Autumn Pride, Szczepan Mazur, Helal Al Alawi.
Ahmed Raza
UAE cricket captain
Age: 31
Born: Sharjah
Role: Left-arm spinner
One-day internationals: 31 matches, 35 wickets, average 31.4, economy rate 3.95
T20 internationals: 41 matches, 29 wickets, average 30.3, economy rate 6.28
