MANCHESTER // It was both predictable and funny. At half-time, when Manchester United's Premier League campaign had encompassed 225 minutes of football with a solitary goal scored by one of their players (albeit plus one kindly but ineptly donated by Tottenham's Kyle Walker on the opening day), a spoof Twitter account proclaimed that Louis van Gaal had made a substitution. Pedro was on for Neymar.
He wasn’t, of course. The Brazilian was reportedly an audacious target for Van Gaal. The Spaniard ended up at Chelsea in circumstances that, while Manchester United argue Van Gaal decided not to sign him, have brought them criticism nonetheless. Another near-miss and another sense of ambitions being frustrated has given the impression that United lack stardust. This was not an occasion to alter such perceptions.
That may be unfair, given their front four consisted of two Champions League winners – Rooney with United in 2008 and Juan Mata as a Chelsea player four years later – and two of the most gifted attackers of an emerging generation, in Adnan Januzaj and Memphis Depay. In three cases, the issue is less one of who they are than of who they are not. In Rooney’s, the problem is that he is not what he was. He has the status of a superstar but has not consistently produced the performances of one since 2009/10.
Van Gaal’s United find themselves shorn of a “Galactico” and short of goals alike. When referee Craig Pawson signalled the end of a stalemate, albeit one that initially seemed to have refreshing properties, their league campaign had still only included two goals: both at the right end, none at the wrong. A club with a rich tradition of entertainment are made to look misers.
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Football can be illogical and United were not as ponderous or as laboured as they had been in the back-to-back victories over Tottenham and Aston Villa. They hit the post, through Chris Smalling in the final minute, and the substitute Javier Hernandez drew a fine block from Tim Krul, one of eight saves the Dutchman made, but encountered an in-form goalkeeper and obdurate, well-organised opponents.
That can happen. It was nevertheless a case of unfortunate timing for Van Gaal. His side offered too little evidence why they do not need Pedro and too few reasons for a player of Neymar’s calibre to consider swapping the Camp Nou for Old Trafford.
He belongs among the world’s finest. United’s attack-minded players are, at best, in the next tier down. Depay has the potential to climb a level and represented their most inventive attacker, even if his decision-making was faulty at times.
Rooney once belonged in the elite bracket. Increasingly, it seems like wishful thinking that he will return. He reclaimed the mantle of United’s first-choice striker last season, but partly because Radamel Falcao and Robin van Persie declined at a faster rate.
He endured a 10th consecutive club game without a goal, though he had one disallowed for offside. For only the second time in the league in 2015, he recorded two shots on target. Rooney looked happier when Hernandez was brought on and he could revert to the No. 10 position. His was not an abject display, but nor was it quite enough.
And perhaps the most potent striker on show was in the colours of the other United. Aleksandar Mitrovic’s first two appearances in a Newcastle shirt suggested he is an entertainer. This offered more proof of the striking prowess that persuaded them to pay £13 million (Dh75m). Cameos that contained quickfire bookings – the first after a mere 11 seconds – illustrated he may be short of temper. Yet he is high on talent and a remarkable 16-yard header, clipping the beaten Sergio Romero’s bar, almost yielded a memorable maiden goal. Mitrovic’s replacement Papiss Cisse could have won it, too, but this was a point to please one United rather more than another.
Man of the Match: Fabricio Coloccini (Newcastle United)
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
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Mobile phone packages comparison
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
THE BIO
Favourite book: ‘Purpose Driven Life’ by Rick Warren
Favourite travel destination: Switzerland
Hobbies: Travelling and following motivational speeches and speakers
Favourite place in UAE: Dubai Museum
Blackpink World Tour [Born Pink] In Cinemas
Starring: Rose, Jisoo, Jennie, Lisa
Directors: Min Geun, Oh Yoon-Dong
Rating: 3/5
Everything Now
Arcade Fire
(Columbia Records)
The specs: 2019 Subaru Forester
Price, base: Dh105,900 (Premium); Dh115,900 (Sport)
Engine: 2.5-litre four-cylinder
Transmission: Continuously variable transmission
Power: 182hp @ 5,800rpm
Torque: 239Nm @ 4,400rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 8.1L / 100km (estimated)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The studios taking part (so far)
- Punch
- Vogue Fitness
- Sweat
- Bodytree Studio
- The Hot House
- The Room
- Inspire Sports (Ladies Only)
- Cryo
THE%20STRANGERS'%20CASE
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DUBAI%20BLING%3A%20EPISODE%201
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE's role in anti-extremism recognised
General John Allen, President of the Brookings Institution research group, commended the role the UAE has played in the fight against terrorism and violent extremism.
He told a Globsec debate of the UAE’s "hugely outsized" role in the fight against Isis.
"It’s trite these days to say that any country punches above its weight, but in every possible way the Emirates did, both militarily, and very importantly, the UAE was extraordinarily helpful on getting to the issue of violent extremism," he said.
He also noted the impact that Hedayah, among others in the UAE, has played in addressing violent extremism.
THE BIO
Family: I have three siblings, one older brother (age 25) and two younger sisters, 20 and 13
Favourite book: Asking for my favourite book has to be one of the hardest questions. However a current favourite would be Sidewalk by Mitchell Duneier
Favourite place to travel to: Any walkable city. I also love nature and wildlife
What do you love eating or cooking: I’m constantly in the kitchen. Ever since I changed the way I eat I enjoy choosing and creating what goes into my body. However, nothing can top home cooked food from my parents.
Favorite place to go in the UAE: A quiet beach.
European arms
Known EU weapons transfers to Ukraine since the war began: Germany 1,000 anti-tank weapons and 500 Stinger surface-to-air missiles. Luxembourg 100 NLAW anti-tank weapons, jeeps and 15 military tents as well as air transport capacity. Belgium 2,000 machine guns, 3,800 tons of fuel. Netherlands 200 Stinger missiles. Poland 100 mortars, 8 drones, Javelin anti-tank weapons, Grot assault rifles, munitions. Slovakia 12,000 pieces of artillery ammunition, 10 million litres of fuel, 2.4 million litres of aviation fuel and 2 Bozena de-mining systems. Estonia Javelin anti-tank weapons. Latvia Stinger surface to air missiles. Czech Republic machine guns, assault rifles, other light weapons and ammunition worth $8.57 million.
Strait of Hormuz
Fujairah is a crucial hub for fuel storage and is just outside the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping route linking Middle East oil producers to markets in Asia, Europe, North America and beyond.
The strait is 33 km wide at its narrowest point, but the shipping lane is just three km wide in either direction. Almost a fifth of oil consumed across the world passes through the strait.
Iran has repeatedly threatened to close the strait, a move that would risk inviting geopolitical and economic turmoil.
Last month, Iran issued a new warning that it would block the strait, if it was prevented from using the waterway following a US decision to end exemptions from sanctions for major Iranian oil importers.
Skewed figures
In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.
