Everton's manager Carlo Ancelotti, right, during their Premier League victory over Sheffield United at Bramall Lane on December 26. AP
Everton's manager Carlo Ancelotti, right, during their Premier League victory over Sheffield United at Bramall Lane on December 26. AP
Ben Godfrey of Everton. Getty
Ben Godfrey of Everton. Getty
Everton's Anthony Gordon under pressure from George Baldock of Sheffield United. Getty
Everton's Anthony Gordon under pressure from George Baldock of Sheffield United. Getty
Ben Osborn of Sheffield United is tackled by Everton's Mason Holgate. Getty
Ben Osborn of Sheffield United is tackled by Everton's Mason Holgate. Getty
Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin. Getty
Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin. Getty
Everton midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson scores the only goal of the game against Sheffield United. AFP
Everton midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson scores the only goal of the game against Sheffield United. AFP
Gylfi Sigurdsson celebrates after scoring his team's late winner. Getty
Gylfi Sigurdsson celebrates after scoring his team's late winner. Getty
Everton's Seamus Coleman, centre, celebrates after the match. AP
Everton's Seamus Coleman, centre, celebrates after the match. AP
Everton's Gylfi Sigurdsson scores the winner. AP
Everton's Gylfi Sigurdsson scores the winner. AP
Everton defender Yerry Mina. Getty
Everton defender Yerry Mina. Getty
Everton's Mason Holgate under pressure from Sheffield United striker Rhian Brewster. AFP
Everton's Mason Holgate under pressure from Sheffield United striker Rhian Brewster. AFP
Everton midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure. Getty
Everton midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure. Getty
Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford. EPA
Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford. EPA

Football

Everton manager Carlo Ancelotti plays down transfer window importance in top four push

Ahead of Premier League game against West Ham, Italian insist getting injured players back in action more important than new signings

Richard Jolly
Richard Jolly
Greater Manchester, England

January 01, 2021

  • English
  • Arabic

A winter arrival last season transformed Everton but Carlo Ancelotti is adamant their chances of qualifying for the Champions League do not depend upon this month’s transfer window.

Ancelotti surprised many when the triple Champions League winner joined Everton, who were then languishing in 15th. They finished 2020 in the top four and could go second on Friday, if only for a couple of hours.

Everton’s ambition has proved expensive during Farhad Moshiri’s ownership, with some £500 million ($683.5m) spent on players, but while Ancelotti, unlike some of his predecessors, has an excellent record in the transfer market during his time at Goodison Park he does not see buying as the key to success this season.

The Italian’s flagship signing James Rodriguez will sit out a sixth consecutive game when they host West Ham today while his former Napoli midfielder Allan, another who made an immediate impact, could be sidelined until the end of January.

But Abdoulaye Doucoure has taken on some of Allan’s defensive duties in a run of four consecutive wins while Ben Godfrey, bought from Norwich as a centre-back, has proved a revelation deputising for the injured Lucas Digne at left-back.

Everton’s brilliant December was all the more admirable because of the absentees. Ancelotti wants to strengthen, but by getting key players back and Richarlison is set to return against the Hammers.

“To be in the top four will not depend on the transfer window,” he said. “To be in the top four depends on the quality we are able to show in the second part of the season. That means also to try to avoid the injury that we had in the first part. We had important players out: Digne, Allan, Richarlison.

"If we are able to recover these players, the squad is good enough to be in European position. We have a good squad for this.”

And yet Ancelotti tried to dampen expectations. Everton’s excellence, coupled with the stuttering form of some of the usual suspects, has fostered optimism about belatedly bringing Champions League football to Goodison Park.

_______________________________________________________________

Everton 0 Manchester United 2: League Cup quarter-final player ratings

EVERTON RATINGS: Robin Olsen – 5: The loanee endured a poor start when his slip nearly gifted the ball to Edinson Cavani. A very good double save followed at Cavani’s expense, but overall his saving ability was compromised by his erratic distribution. AP
EVERTON RATINGS: Robin Olsen – 5: The loanee endured a poor start when his slip nearly gifted the ball to Edinson Cavani. A very good double save followed at Cavani’s expense, but overall his saving ability was compromised by his erratic distribution. AP
Seamus Coleman – 6: A strong performance from the right back, keeping his nerve on his return with some good runs and positive distribution up and down the wing. AFP
Seamus Coleman – 6: A strong performance from the right back, keeping his nerve on his return with some good runs and positive distribution up and down the wing. AFP
Yerry Mina – 7: Made a number of good clearances, especially from consecutive corners from the visitors. His positional awareness was impressive, and he looked comfortable with the ball at his feet. AP
Yerry Mina – 7: Made a number of good clearances, especially from consecutive corners from the visitors. His positional awareness was impressive, and he looked comfortable with the ball at his feet. AP
Michael Keane – 5: The Englishman repeatedly gave the ball away to the United attack early on, heaping even more pressure on his defensive peers. He made a good forward run in the later stages of the first half, but ultimately he should have done better to stop Cavani’s goal. EPA
Michael Keane – 5: The Englishman repeatedly gave the ball away to the United attack early on, heaping even more pressure on his defensive peers. He made a good forward run in the later stages of the first half, but ultimately he should have done better to stop Cavani’s goal. EPA
Ben Godfrey – 5: The makeshift left-back struggled against Mason Greenwood in the first half. He also lost Cavani multiple times in the box, but he improved in the second half with a few good clearances. Reuters
Ben Godfrey – 5: The makeshift left-back struggled against Mason Greenwood in the first half. He also lost Cavani multiple times in the box, but he improved in the second half with a few good clearances. Reuters
Abdoulaye Doucoure - 6: The defensive midfielder pressed well and made some key interceptions, but his passing was poor. At times it seemed as though he was playing alone in the midfield. PA
Abdoulaye Doucoure - 6: The defensive midfielder pressed well and made some key interceptions, but his passing was poor. At times it seemed as though he was playing alone in the midfield. PA
Andre Gomes – 4: A very poor performance from the Portuguese who was missing In action during the first half. Sloppy passing and ball watching made it a game to forget. PA
Andre Gomes – 4: A very poor performance from the Portuguese who was missing In action during the first half. Sloppy passing and ball watching made it a game to forget. PA
Alex Iwobi – 5: The winger made some positive runs in the first half and he showed good strength to win – and retain – the ball. However, a mix of poor touches and lacklustre crosses summed up a frustrating evening. AP
Alex Iwobi – 5: The winger made some positive runs in the first half and he showed good strength to win – and retain – the ball. However, a mix of poor touches and lacklustre crosses summed up a frustrating evening. AP
Gylfi Sigurdsson – 7 Produced some very good attacking moves, including a dynamic run into the box. He also came close with a free kick which forced Dean Henderson into a stunning save. PA
Gylfi Sigurdsson – 7 Produced some very good attacking moves, including a dynamic run into the box. He also came close with a free kick which forced Dean Henderson into a stunning save. PA
Richarlison – 6: The Brazilian had a decent first half with some good clearances at the back, but he provided very little attacking threat. He was then forced off early in the second half after ending up on the wrong side of a challenge by Eric Bailly. PA
Richarlison – 6: The Brazilian had a decent first half with some good clearances at the back, but he provided very little attacking threat. He was then forced off early in the second half after ending up on the wrong side of a challenge by Eric Bailly. PA
Dominic Calvert-Lewin - 5: The striker had very little support, but he was guilty of giving away cheap fouls and losing out in his aerial duels. A poor game by his high standards. EPA
Dominic Calvert-Lewin - 5: The striker had very little support, but he was guilty of giving away cheap fouls and losing out in his aerial duels. A poor game by his high standards. EPA
SUBS: Bernard (Richarlison) - 6: The small winger was brought on early in the second half and made an impact, offering some good runs down the left hand side. His defensive input was poor however, and he was beaten too easily more than once. PA
SUBS: Bernard (Richarlison) - 6: The small winger was brought on early in the second half and made an impact, offering some good runs down the left hand side. His defensive input was poor however, and he was beaten too easily more than once. PA
Tom Davies (Gomes) – 5: In the build-up to United’s first goal, he was nowhere to be seen as Martial slid the ball through to Cavani. Davies found himself partly to blame for United’s second too as he failed to stop Martial from slotting home. AP
Tom Davies (Gomes) – 5: In the build-up to United’s first goal, he was nowhere to be seen as Martial slid the ball through to Cavani. Davies found himself partly to blame for United’s second too as he failed to stop Martial from slotting home. AP
Cenk Tosun – N/A: The striker was brought on with minutes to go and formed a front two with Calvert-Lewin, but received little service. He didn’t have much of an impact, apart from giving the ball away for the second goal. PA
Cenk Tosun – N/A: The striker was brought on with minutes to go and formed a front two with Calvert-Lewin, but received little service. He didn’t have much of an impact, apart from giving the ball away for the second goal. PA
MANCHESTER UNITED RATINGS: Dean Henderson - 6: Second start in a week after his tough night in Sheffield and one of nine changes from the 6-2 win against Leeds. Confident save from a fine Sigurdsson free-kick as Everton recovered from an anonymous start to create some first-half chances. Clean sheet. Getty
MANCHESTER UNITED RATINGS: Dean Henderson - 6: Second start in a week after his tough night in Sheffield and one of nine changes from the 6-2 win against Leeds. Confident save from a fine Sigurdsson free-kick as Everton recovered from an anonymous start to create some first-half chances. Clean sheet. Getty
Axel Tuanzebe - 7: As comfortable at right back against Richarlison as he was in a more central role against Neymar and Mbappe in Paris. Needs minutes. Booked. AP
Axel Tuanzebe - 7: As comfortable at right back against Richarlison as he was in a more central role against Neymar and Mbappe in Paris. Needs minutes. Booked. AP
Eric Bailly - 8: Aggressive with Richarlison as the game turned dirtier in the second half and the 2,000 home fans fumed at the decisions against their team. The issue with Bailly is injuries and errors. He avoided both at Goodison and was excellent in one-on-one situations. AP
Eric Bailly - 8: Aggressive with Richarlison as the game turned dirtier in the second half and the 2,000 home fans fumed at the decisions against their team. The issue with Bailly is injuries and errors. He avoided both at Goodison and was excellent in one-on-one situations. AP
Harry Maguire - 7: Kept the energetic Dominic Calvert-Lewin quiet at Goodison for the second time in six weeks. Needs to lead his team to a cup final now and get beyond the semi-final barrier which held United back three times in 2020. Getty
Harry Maguire - 7: Kept the energetic Dominic Calvert-Lewin quiet at Goodison for the second time in six weeks. Needs to lead his team to a cup final now and get beyond the semi-final barrier which held United back three times in 2020. Getty
Alex Telles - 7: Played more a left winger than a left back. Put a huge amount of energy in and tired towards the end as Iwobi got more space. Encouraging, though struck late free-kick over as United searched for an opening. EPA
Alex Telles - 7: Played more a left winger than a left back. Put a huge amount of energy in and tired towards the end as Iwobi got more space. Encouraging, though struck late free-kick over as United searched for an opening. EPA
Nemanja Matic - 7: Provided a solid platform at the base of a midfield diamond for United’s early onslaught. Touched the ball far more than any other player on the pitch. EPA
Nemanja Matic - 7: Provided a solid platform at the base of a midfield diamond for United’s early onslaught. Touched the ball far more than any other player on the pitch. EPA
Bruno Fernandes - 8: Passing a level above every other player. Still loses the ball, but takes more risks with his passes than others. AP
Bruno Fernandes - 8: Passing a level above every other player. Still loses the ball, but takes more risks with his passes than others. AP
Donny van de Beek - 6: Neat, steady and unspectacular on the uncustomary left of the diamond. Off after 66 minutes as United pushed for a goal. He’ll be needed this season with the number and intensity of games. EPA
Donny van de Beek - 6: Neat, steady and unspectacular on the uncustomary left of the diamond. Off after 66 minutes as United pushed for a goal. He’ll be needed this season with the number and intensity of games. EPA
Paul Pogba - 7: Nice touches and combinations with Fernandes. His selection showed Solskjaer wanted to win game. Moved more forward in second half as United tried to make it 25 games since they failed to score a goal in an away game. That was soon fixed. Pogba’s playing well. Another who was booked. EPA
Paul Pogba - 7: Nice touches and combinations with Fernandes. His selection showed Solskjaer wanted to win game. Moved more forward in second half as United tried to make it 25 games since they failed to score a goal in an away game. That was soon fixed. Pogba’s playing well. Another who was booked. EPA
Mason Greenwood - 6: Danced around the ball and his header hit post on 24 after super movement. Exciting when on the ball and gaining valuable experience with every game. PA
Mason Greenwood - 6: Danced around the ball and his header hit post on 24 after super movement. Exciting when on the ball and gaining valuable experience with every game. PA
Edinson Cavani - 8: Two early efforts blocked with good saves as United completely dominated early on with the Uruguayan as the spearhead. Grabbed Yerry Mina for which he was fortunate not to see red – he would have with var. World class finish with his weaker foot to win the game. Big game player who produces in big games. Reuters
Edinson Cavani - 8: Two early efforts blocked with good saves as United completely dominated early on with the Uruguayan as the spearhead. Grabbed Yerry Mina for which he was fortunate not to see red – he would have with var. World class finish with his weaker foot to win the game. Big game player who produces in big games. Reuters
SUBS: Marcus Rashford - 5: On for Greenwood after 67 minutes. Limited impact on game, but rapid in running back to defend after an attack broke down. EPA
SUBS: Marcus Rashford - 5: On for Greenwood after 67 minutes. Limited impact on game, but rapid in running back to defend after an attack broke down. EPA
Anthony Martial - 7: On for Van de Beek after 67. Played on the right and over hit a 74th minute cross before scoring United’s second in stoppage time. Played the ball which led to Cavani’s opener and scored himself as his team countered when Everton pushed everything up. Now has two goals and four assists from his last three games. Booked. EPA
Anthony Martial - 7: On for Van de Beek after 67. Played on the right and over hit a 74th minute cross before scoring United’s second in stoppage time. Played the ball which led to Cavani’s opener and scored himself as his team countered when Everton pushed everything up. Now has two goals and four assists from his last three games. Booked. EPA
Luke Shaw - N/A: On for the tired Telles after 83 minutes. The second United sub to be booked. Positive for United that they have two quality left backs. AP
Luke Shaw - N/A: On for the tired Telles after 83 minutes. The second United sub to be booked. Positive for United that they have two quality left backs. AP

_______________________________________________________________

But four points separate eight teams who are between second and ninth and Ancelotti cautioned: “To be in the top four will be more difficult and also to have a fantastic transfer window in January will be difficult because there are really strong top teams.

"In this moment we are pleased to be there but this doesn’t mean we are at the same level as these top teams.”

For Everton, a good transfer window entails keeping those they already have. Ancelotti is confident Digne will sign a new contract. He also believes Robin Olsen will extend his stay on Merseyside. The goalkeeper was borrowed from Roma and Everton hope to agree a permanent deal.

“We are pleased to have him here,” Ancelotti said. “We are going to talk with him and his agent to find a solution for him to be here permanently. It can be for January or in June.” Olsen is likely to be on the bench today, but he has not just been brought in as Jordan Pickford’s understudy. Ancelotti has rotated and used the Sweden international in the win at Leicester.

Injuries have meant that, apart from a goalkeeper, his recent team selections have consisted purely of centre-backs, midfielders and Dominic Calvert-Lewin. Lacking some of his usual suppliers, the striker has gone five games without a goal.

“It is true he had less opportunity,” Ancelotti said. “In the last games, we didn’t have a lot of possession, we didn’t put in a lot of crosses because our full-backs were injured and we played a little bit differently. But he is doing well.” So are Everton.

The White Lotus: Season three

Creator: Mike White

Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell

Rating: 4.5/5

The specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo

Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm

Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm

Transmission: 9-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh117,059

Crazy Rich Asians

Director: Jon M Chu

Starring: Constance Wu, Henry Golding, Michelle Yeon, Gemma Chan

Four stars

PSG's line up

GK: Alphonse Areola (youth academy)

Defence - RB: Dani Alves (free transfer); CB: Marquinhos (€31.4 million); CB: Thiago Silva (€42m); LB: Layvin Kurzawa (€23m)

Midfield - Angel di Maria (€47m); Adrien Rabiot (youth academy); Marco Verratti (€12m)

Forwards - Neymar (€222m); Edinson Cavani (€63m); Kylian Mbappe (initial: loan; to buy: €180m)

Total cost: €440.4m (€620.4m if Mbappe makes permanent move)

GOLF’S RAHMBO

- 5 wins in 22 months as pro
- Three wins in past 10 starts
- 45 pro starts worldwide: 5 wins, 17 top 5s
- Ranked 551th in world on debut, now No 4 (was No 2 earlier this year)
- 5th player in last 30 years to win 3 European Tour and 2 PGA Tour titles before age 24 (Woods, Garcia, McIlroy, Spieth)

Ruwais timeline

1971 Abu Dhabi National Oil Company established

1980 Ruwais Housing Complex built, located 10 kilometres away from industrial plants

1982 120,000 bpd capacity Ruwais refinery complex officially inaugurated by the founder of the UAE Sheikh Zayed

1984 Second phase of Ruwais Housing Complex built. Today the 7,000-unit complex houses some 24,000 people.  

1985 The refinery is expanded with the commissioning of a 27,000 b/d hydro cracker complex

2009 Plans announced to build $1.2 billion fertilizer plant in Ruwais, producing urea

2010 Adnoc awards $10bn contracts for expansion of Ruwais refinery, to double capacity from 415,000 bpd

2014 Ruwais 261-outlet shopping mall opens

2014 Production starts at newly expanded Ruwais refinery, providing jet fuel and diesel and allowing the UAE to be self-sufficient for petrol supplies

2014 Etihad Rail begins transportation of sulphur from Shah and Habshan to Ruwais for export

2017 Aldar Academies to operate Adnoc’s schools including in Ruwais from September. Eight schools operate in total within the housing complex.

2018 Adnoc announces plans to invest $3.1 billion on upgrading its Ruwais refinery 

2018 NMC Healthcare selected to manage operations of Ruwais Hospital

2018 Adnoc announces new downstream strategy at event in Abu Dhabi on May 13

Source: The National

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency
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Things Heard & Seen

Directed by: Shari Springer Berman, Robert Pulcini

Starring: Amanda Seyfried, James Norton

2/5

Farage on Muslim Brotherhood

Nigel Farage told Reform's annual conference that the party will proscribe the Muslim Brotherhood if he becomes Prime Minister.
"We will stop dangerous organisations with links to terrorism operating in our country," he said. "Quite why we've been so gutless about this – both Labour and Conservative – I don't know.
“All across the Middle East, countries have banned and proscribed the Muslim Brotherhood as a dangerous organisation. We will do the very same.”
It is 10 years since a ground-breaking report into the Muslim Brotherhood by Sir John Jenkins.
Among the former diplomat's findings was an assessment that “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” has “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
The prime minister at the time, David Cameron, who commissioned the report, said membership or association with the Muslim Brotherhood was a "possible indicator of extremism" but it would not be banned.

MATCH INFO

France 3
Umtiti (8'), Griezmann (29' pen), Dembele (63')

Italy 1
Bonucci (36')

Iraq negotiating over Iran sanctions impact
  • US sanctions on Iran’s energy industry and exports took effect on Monday, November 5.
  • Washington issued formal waivers to eight buyers of Iranian oil, allowing them to continue limited imports. Iraq did not receive a waiver.
  • Iraq’s government is cooperating with the US to contain Iranian influence in the country, and increased Iraqi oil production is helping to make up for Iranian crude that sanctions are blocking from markets, US officials say.
  • Iraq, the second-biggest producer in the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, pumped last month at a record 4.78 million barrels a day, former Oil Minister Jabbar Al-Luaibi said on Oct. 20. Iraq exported 3.83 million barrels a day last month, according to tanker tracking and data from port agents.
  • Iraq has been working to restore production at its northern Kirkuk oil field. Kirkuk could add 200,000 barrels a day of oil to Iraq’s total output, Hook said.
  • The country stopped trucking Kirkuk oil to Iran about three weeks ago, in line with U.S. sanctions, according to four people with knowledge of the matter who asked not to be identified because they aren’t allowed to speak to media.
  • Oil exports from Iran, OPEC’s third-largest supplier, have slumped since President Donald Trump announced in May that he’d reimpose sanctions. Iran shipped about 1.76 million barrels a day in October out of 3.42 million in total production, data compiled by Bloomberg show.
  • Benchmark Brent crude fell 47 cents to $72.70 a barrel in London trading at 7:26 a.m. local time. U.S. West Texas Intermediate was 25 cents lower at $62.85 a barrel in New York. WTI held near the lowest level in seven months as concerns of a tightening market eased after the U.S. granted its waivers to buyers of Iranian crude.
On Women's Day
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Our legal consultant

Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

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