Wigan Athletic, in blue, and Birmingham City are mired in a relegation battle to remain in the Premier League.
Wigan Athletic, in blue, and Birmingham City are mired in a relegation battle to remain in the Premier League.
Wigan Athletic, in blue, and Birmingham City are mired in a relegation battle to remain in the Premier League.
Wigan Athletic, in blue, and Birmingham City are mired in a relegation battle to remain in the Premier League.

The battle to avoid the drop from the Premier League


Richard Jolly
  • English
  • Arabic

Blackburn Rovers

So far: Dropped from seventh place into trouble in two months.

Strengths: A battle-hardened group of senior players who got out of a more precarious position two years ago. The return to fitness of some of their injured contingent and the exciting displays of winger Junior Hoilett.

Weaknesses: An inexperienced manager, in Steve Kean, who does not command the fans' confidence. A run of seven games without a victory. Only four games left at home, two against Manchester City and Manchester United.

Aston Villa

So far: The surprise strugglers.

Strengths: The promise of goals from Darren Bent, Ashley Young, Stewart Downing and Marc Albrighton. The calibre of a squad that finished sixth in three successive years. Manager Gerard Houllier's record over his career.

Weaknesses: Houllier's unpopularity with the fans and the unrest at the club. Defensive difficulties, especially at set pieces. A poor away record; only Wolverhampton Wanderers' is worse.

Blackpool

So far: Overachieved in exciting fashion.

Strengths: The outstanding performances of the captain Charlie Adam and an enterprising team's enduring ability to score goals. Their underdog status and manager Ian Holloway's ability to rally his players.

Weaknesses: Poor form at home, and five of their last eight games are at Bloomfield Road. The division's worst defensive record and the sense they will always concede. The limited ability of some of their players.

West Bromwich Albion

So far: Started well, faded and then sacked Roberto Di Matteo.

Strengths: Manager Roy Hodgson - they are unbeaten since he took over. Good recent form and a midfield that contributes plenty of goals. Hard to beat at home.

Weaknesses: The next four games, all against top-half teams. An inability to keep clean sheets - the last was in August. Striker Peter Odemwingie remains injury-prone.

West Ham United

So far: Adrift for much of the season, but have improved of late.

Strengths: Unbeaten in four games, taking eight points. The attacking threat of the January signings Robbie Keane and Demba Ba, and Scott Parker's never-say-die spirit. A group of players who should be too good to go down.

Weaknesses: A tough run-in - six of their last eight games are against top-half teams. Questions about Avram Grant's suitability. A back four who have conceded too many avoidable goals.

Wolverhampton Wanderers

So far: Beat the best, lost to the rest.

Strengths: Jamie O'Hara, a catalytic signing. The team spirit and organisation of Mick McCarthy's side. Do not face any of the top seven for the rest of the season.

Weaknesses: They lose too many games (16, the most in the league) and have had trouble against the sides around them. They also struggle on the road. The striker Kevin Doyle, vital in their 4-5-1 formation, is sidelined with a knee injury.

Birmingham City

So far: Carling Cup winners who find the league rather harder.

Strengths: Have a game in hand and four potentially winnable home games. A decent defensive record under Alex McLeish's pragmatic management. Tough competitors such as Lee Bowyer and Barry Ferguson.

Weaknesses: The lowest scorers in the league don't get enough goals and, with the fewest shots on target, do not create enough. The lack of a prolific striker and the absence of the injured defender Scott Dann.

Wigan Athletic

So far: Virtual ever-presents in the relegation zone.

Strengths: An injury-time winner against Birmingham last time out. The flair of Charles N'Zogbia, Hugo Rodallega and Tom Cleverley plus an excellent goalkeeper in Ali al Habsi.

Weaknesses: Only three home games left. A small squad with an over-reliance on Rodallega in attack. Draw too many winnable games and might have left themselves with too much to do.

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Aquaman%20and%20the%20Lost%20Kingdom
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20James%20Wan%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Jason%20Mamoa%2C%20Patrick%20Wilson%2C%20Amber%20Heard%2C%20Yahya%20Abdul-Mateen%20II%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A

Tottenham's 10 biggest transfers (according to transfermarkt.com):

1). Moussa Sissokho - Newcastle United - £30 million (Dh143m): Flop

2). Roberto Soldado - Valencia -  £25m: Flop

3). Erik Lamela - Roma -  £25m: Jury still out

4). Son Heung-min - Bayer Leverkusen -  £25m: Success

5). Darren Bent - Charlton Athletic -  £21m: Flop

6). Vincent Janssen - AZ Alkmaar -  £18m: Flop

7). David Bentley - Blackburn Rovers -  £18m: Flop

8). Luka Modric - Dynamo Zagreb -  £17m: Success

9). Paulinho - Corinthians -  £16m: Flop

10). Mousa Dembele - Fulham -  £16m: Success

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
What went into the film

25 visual effects (VFX) studios

2,150 VFX shots in a film with 2,500 shots

1,000 VFX artists

3,000 technicians

10 Concept artists, 25 3D designers

New sound technology, named 4D SRL

 

Company%20profile
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Key recommendations
  • Fewer criminals put behind bars and more to serve sentences in the community, with short sentences scrapped and many inmates released earlier.
  • Greater use of curfews and exclusion zones to deliver tougher supervision than ever on criminals.
  • Explore wider powers for judges to punish offenders by blocking them from attending football matches, banning them from driving or travelling abroad through an expansion of ‘ancillary orders’.
  • More Intensive Supervision Courts to tackle the root causes of crime such as alcohol and drug abuse – forcing repeat offenders to take part in tough treatment programmes or face prison.
MATCH INFO

Qalandars 109-3 (10ovs)

Salt 30, Malan 24, Trego 23, Jayasuriya 2-14

Bangla Tigers (9.4ovs)

Fletcher 52, Rossouw 31

Bangla Tigers win by six wickets

Major honours

ARSENAL

  • FA Cup - 2005

BARCELONA

  • La Liga - 2013
  • Copa del Rey - 2012
  • Fifa Club World Cup - 2011

CHELSEA

  • Premier League - 2015, 2017
  • FA Cup - 2018
  • League Cup - 2015

SPAIN

  • World Cup - 2010
  • European Championship - 2008, 2012
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets

Employment lawyer Meriel Schindler of Withers Worldwide shares her tips on achieving equal pay
 
Do your homework
Make sure that you are being offered a fair salary. There is lots of industry data available, and you can always talk to people who have come out of the organisation. Where I see people coming a cropper is where they haven’t done their homework.
 
Don’t be afraid to negotiate

It’s quite standard to negotiate if you think an offer is on the low side. The job is unlikely to be withdrawn if you ask for money, and if that did happen I’d question whether you want to work for an employer who is so hypersensitive.
 
Know your worth
Women tend to be a bit more reticent to talk about their achievements. In my experience they need to have more confidence in their own abilities – men will big up what they’ve done to get a pay rise, and to compete women need to turn up the volume.
 
Work together
If you suspect men in your organisation are being paid more, look your boss in the eye and say, “I want you to assure me that I’m paid equivalent to my peers”. If you’re not getting a straight answer, talk to your peer group and consider taking direct action to fix inequality.

Company%C2%A0profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDate%20started%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EMay%202022%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounder%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EHusam%20Aboul%20Hosn%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDIFC%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFinTech%20%E2%80%94%20Innovation%20Hub%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EEmployees%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Eeight%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStage%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Epre-seed%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Epre-seed%20funding%20raised%20from%20family%20and%20friends%20earlier%20this%20year%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
How to donate

Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
2289 – Dh10
2252 – Dh 50
6025 – Dh20
6027 – Dh 100
6026 – Dh 200

How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE

When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.

BMW M5 specs

Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor

Power: 727hp

Torque: 1,000Nm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh650,000

'Manmarziyaan' (Colour Yellow Productions, Phantom Films)
Director: Anurag Kashyap​​​​​​​
Cast: Abhishek Bachchan, Taapsee Pannu, Vicky Kaushal​​​​​​​
Rating: 3.5/5

Global state-owned investor ranking by size

1.

United States

2.

China

3.

UAE

4.

Japan

5

Norway

6.

Canada

7.

Singapore

8.

Australia

9.

Saudi Arabia

10.

South Korea

Labour dispute

The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.


- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law 

Match info

Manchester United 0-0 Crystal Palace

Man of the match: Cheikhou Kouyate (Crystal Palace)

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 Year Earth Changed

Directed by:Tom Beard

Narrated by: Sir David Attenborough

Stars: 4

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Switching%20sides
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