At full-time following Wolves' win over Manchester United, fans sang in the mist for their new Portuguese manager. It wasn’t United fans hollering for Ruben Amorim, but Wolves for Victor Pereira, who led them to only their second home league win of the season.
While Wolves have been bad this term, United are going from bad to worse. At Wolves, the team suffered a third consecutive defeat and are 14th in the Premier League, eight points ahead of the relegation zone which Wolves left following their victory.
United are struggling to score and face tough games against Newcastle United, Liverpool and Arsenal away in the FA Cup. Amorim is the first United manager to lose five of his opening 10 games since Walter Crickmer in 1932.
When he was first approached by chief executive Omar Berrada about the United job, Amorim asked if he could join in the summer. Berrada insisted that he joined immediately. Asked if he was worried about this – the current United mess – happening, Amorim replied: “There’s no point talking about that or thinking about that. I’m here and must focus on the job. It’s part of football to have these difficult moments. I already knew that was going to be tough.
“You expect to win more games, to have players with more confidence to sell the idea and to work and improve things. At this moment it's really hard. We must survive to have time and then to improve the team.”
Amorim is also aware that big clubs must win matches. Asked if he was comfortable that he had the time and space to do his job, he replied: “The manager of Manchester United can never, no matter what, be comfortable, and I know the reason that I’m in.
“I know that if we don’t win, regardless, if they pay the buyout [for me] or not, I know that every manager is in danger and I like that. I like that because that is the job, so I understand the question.
“You can argue that I have been here one month and I’ve had four training [sessions], but we are not winning. That is the reality and I'm quite comfortable with that.”
Amorim communicates well, but his team desperately needs wins and to stop conceding goals from set pieces. Wolves scored their opening goal direct from a corner – which they had been practicing.
“But you can see that every corner nowadays is an opportunity,” said Amorim. “So sometimes you forget the small guys and the talented guys. You put 11 guys to corners or free kicks if you can do everything inside the box.
"Those are the rules and we must not cry about it, but do the same thing. So we must focus on doing the same thing to the opponent – that is my goal at the moment”.
In form Newcastle United are next – at Old Trafford on Monday. Only Everton and bottom of the table Southampton have failed to score in more games this season than United.
“We have to expect that any play from Newcastle near our box is going to make the stadium nervous and our players have to cope with that,” said Amorim. “They’re a very strong team, very fast with a lot of pace, with a lot of time working with the same coach, and we want to be competitive and try to win the game, that's all.
“We have to fight against everything because our supporters are always there, but they are tired of this moment.”
So are the United fans. What does Amorim want from them against Newcastle?
“Nothing,” he said. “I would not dare to ask anything of our fans. They give us everything: a full stadium, they’re always supporting, clapping loss after loss. I just want to give something to the fans, not ask something of them.”
Captain Bruno Fernandes, who was sent off again, will miss the Newcastle game. As will midfielder Manuel Ugarte after picking up another booking at Wolves. Out of form Lisandro Martinez took over as captain at Wolves, but former captain Harry Maguire has impressed his boss.
“He works really well,” said Amorim. “He’s focused on the job, not what people say. He has no [doesn’t make] excuses, even if he had some tough moments. I think in that department he is an example, so he is there to play to help the team. He’s trying to do that.”
They’re all trying. And they’re getting nowhere as United continue to sink.
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Six large-scale objects on show
- Concrete wall and windows from the now demolished Robin Hood Gardens housing estate in Poplar
- The 17th Century Agra Colonnade, from the bathhouse of the fort of Agra in India
- A stagecloth for The Ballet Russes that is 10m high – the largest Picasso in the world
- Frank Lloyd Wright’s 1930s Kaufmann Office
- A full-scale Frankfurt Kitchen designed by Margarete Schütte-Lihotzky, which transformed kitchen design in the 20th century
- Torrijos Palace dome
Pox that threatens the Middle East's native species
Camelpox
Caused by a virus related to the one that causes human smallpox, camelpox typically causes fever, swelling of lymph nodes and skin lesions in camels aged over three, but the animal usually recovers after a month or so. Younger animals may develop a more acute form that causes internal lesions and diarrhoea, and is often fatal, especially when secondary infections result. It is found across the Middle East as well as in parts of Asia, Africa, Russia and India.
Falconpox
Falconpox can cause a variety of types of lesions, which can affect, for example, the eyelids, feet and the areas above and below the beak. It is a problem among captive falcons and is one of many types of avian pox or avipox diseases that together affect dozens of bird species across the world. Among the other forms are pigeonpox, turkeypox, starlingpox and canarypox. Avipox viruses are spread by mosquitoes and direct bird-to-bird contact.
Houbarapox
Houbarapox is, like falconpox, one of the many forms of avipox diseases. It exists in various forms, with a type that causes skin lesions being least likely to result in death. Other forms cause more severe lesions, including internal lesions, and are more likely to kill the bird, often because secondary infections develop. This summer the CVRL reported an outbreak of pox in houbaras after rains in spring led to an increase in mosquito numbers.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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Why does a queen bee feast only on royal jelly?
Some facts about bees:
The queen bee eats only royal jelly, an extraordinary food created by worker bees so she lives much longer
The life cycle of a worker bee is from 40-60 days
A queen bee lives for 3-5 years
This allows her to lay millions of eggs and allows the continuity of the bee colony
About 20,000 honey bees and one queen populate each hive
Honey is packed with vital vitamins, minerals, enzymes, water and anti-oxidants.
Apart from honey, five other products are royal jelly, the special food bees feed their queen
Pollen is their protein source, a super food that is nutritious, rich in amino acids
Beewax is used to construct the combs. Due to its anti-fungal, anti-bacterial elements, it is used in skin treatments
Propolis, a resin-like material produced by bees is used to make hives. It has natural antibiotic qualities so works to sterilize hive, protects from disease, keeps their home free from germs. Also used to treat sores, infection, warts
Bee venom is used by bees to protect themselves. Has anti-inflammatory properties, sometimes used to relieve conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, nerve and muscle pain
Honey, royal jelly, pollen have health enhancing qualities
The other three products are used for therapeutic purposes
Is beekeeping dangerous?
As long as you deal with bees gently, you will be safe, says Mohammed Al Najeh, who has worked with bees since he was a boy.
“The biggest mistake people make is they panic when they see a bee. They are small but smart creatures. If you move your hand quickly to hit the bees, this is an aggressive action and bees will defend themselves. They can sense the adrenalin in our body. But if we are calm, they are move away.”
Defence review at a glance
• Increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 but given “turbulent times it may be necessary to go faster”
• Prioritise a shift towards working with AI and autonomous systems
• Invest in the resilience of military space systems.
• Number of active reserves should be increased by 20%
• More F-35 fighter jets required in the next decade
• New “hybrid Navy” with AUKUS submarines and autonomous vessels
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Scoreline
Abu Dhabi Harlequins 17
Jebel Ali Dragons 20
Harlequins Tries: Kinivilliame, Stevenson; Cons: Stevenson 2; Pen: Stevenson
Dragons Tries: Naisau, Fourie; Cons: Love 2; Pens: Love 2
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Results
United States beat UAE by three wickets
United States beat Scotland by 35 runs
UAE v Scotland – no result
United States beat UAE by 98 runs
Scotland beat United States by four wickets
Fixtures
Sunday, 10am, ICC Academy, Dubai - UAE v Scotland
Admission is free
Five healthy carbs and how to eat them
Brown rice: consume an amount that fits in the palm of your hand
Non-starchy vegetables, such as broccoli: consume raw or at low temperatures, and don’t reheat
Oatmeal: look out for pure whole oat grains or kernels, which are locally grown and packaged; avoid those that have travelled from afar
Fruit: a medium bowl a day and no more, and never fruit juices
Lentils and lentil pasta: soak these well and cook them at a low temperature; refrain from eating highly processed pasta variants
Courtesy Roma Megchiani, functional nutritionist at Dubai’s 77 Veggie Boutique
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Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
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Alaves 1 (Perez 65' pen)
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THE BIO
Ambition: To create awareness among young about people with disabilities and make the world a more inclusive place
Job Title: Human resources administrator, Expo 2020 Dubai
First jobs: Co-ordinator with Magrudy Enterprises; HR coordinator at Jumeirah Group
Entrepreneur: Started his own graphic design business
Favourite singer: Avril Lavigne
Favourite travel destination: Germany and Saudi Arabia
Family: Six sisters
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
