Manchester United defender Chris Smalling says Louis van Gaal has discovered a winning formula ahead of Newcastle United's visit to Old Trafford on Saturday.
Van Gaal chopped and changed his side at the start of his United reign last season and had to wait four games for his first Premier League win.
Twelve months later, the United manager is reaping the rewards of selecting a more settled line-up.
He may make the odd tweak against Newcastle this weekend, with Bastian Schweinsteiger pressing for a full debut in midfield, continuity appears to be the key.
That is particularly the case in defence with the same goalkeeper and back four likely to continue their ever-present records, having played together for every minute of United’s two Premier League wins and their midweek 3-1 Champions League play-off first-leg victory against Club Brugge.
Smalling is one of those to have benefited from Van Gaal’s policy and he should carry on alongside Daley Blind in the middle of United’s defence.
The England international is convinced the selection policy is paying off as Van Gaal’s side have kept clean sheets in their league games against Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa this season.
“Last season there were that many changes it was hard to get a good run – even though I still don’t think we conceded that many goals in the second half of the season,” he said.
“But that togetherness and that work ethic is showing on the pitch now because we are not letting that many chances in.”
United’s winning start has made them one of four teams with 100 per cent records in the Premier League.
And with an early kick-off to look forward to against winless Newcastle on Saturday, Smalling wants United to steal an early march on their rivals for top spot.
“We must continue our good start. It is another home game and we have to assert ourselves early on,” he said.
“It is good that we again get to be in the first game that plays and, hopefully, set the benchmark for the weekend.”
United will again be without midfielder Marouane Fellaini, who scored in their Champions League win but still has to complete a domestic three-match ban.
Goalkeeper David de Gea is expected to be overlooked again as his future at Old Trafford remains uncertain, while defender Phil Jones is also set to be absent through injury.
Florian Thauvin hopes to make his Newcastle debut at Old Trafford after sealing his move from Marseille.
The arrival of the France Under 21 international on a five-year contract takes the Tyneside club’s spending since last season to £47.7 million (Dh275.3m), and the 22-year-old former Lille midfielder said: “I’m delighted to be about to start my Newcastle career against such a big team with such a great reputation.
“I can’t wait to get out there, and I’m really looking forward to it.
“It’s great to know that Newcastle have wanted me for such a long time, and to know they wanted me so badly. It’s a massive club.”
Newcastle’s Dutch full-back Daryl Janmaat is suspended after his red card in the 2-0 defeat at Swansea that leaves Steve McClaren’s side searching for their first victory of the season, at a ground where they have won just once in 43 years.
Steven Taylor is expected to start alongside captain Fabricio Coloccini in central defence, with Chancel Mbemba switching to right-back.
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Analysis
Members of Syria's Alawite minority community face threat in their heartland after one of the deadliest days in country’s recent history. Read more
WISH
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Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
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Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
Paatal Lok season two
Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy
Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong
Rating: 4.5/5
