Real Sociedad manager David Moyes is not one for building hopes. The Scot would rather under promise and over deliver, politely telling fans to calm their expectations of European football on one of his nightly walks around San Sebastian.
At Manchester United, he was correct when he kept repeating there was a huge rebuilding job to do which would take time, even when it did not seem obvious, such as when they beat Bayer Leverkusen 5-0 away in the Uefa Champions League early in his reign.
At Real Sociedad, his line is similar. He wants to do what he did at Everton and improve the club gradually, season after season by making shrewd, value for money acquisitions in the transfer market, by promoting youth and by getting the absolute best out of the current squad of players, with whom he has formed an effective working relationship.
At Sociedad, that is a squad with a few ageing local heroes, plus a smattering of prodigious talents such as Carlos Vela, Esteban Granero and Sergio Canales who, through injury, bad luck, lack of opportunity or attitude, did not make it at the huge clubs to which they were once contracted.
Andy Mitten: Five to watch from Atletico Madrid, Valencia, Sevilla and La Liga's field
Moyes has added Asier Illarramendi to that list. The Basque midfielder was a surprise €40 million (Dh167.8m) transfer to Real Madrid aged 23 in 2013, but he was used sparingly by coach Carlo Ancelotti.
Overcome by anxiety when he arrived, he failed to settle quickly. After five months, he had played just 532 minutes of league football and had finished the full 90 league minutes only once.
There is little shame in not standing out at the Bernabeu and no player can be blamed for moving there, even if it is to join a bulging squad.
But the next step down is usually a Liverpool, Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur or Valencia, not Real Sociedad, with their 23,000 average crowds and €50m annual budget for the whole club.
Illarramendi could have earned more by moving to England, where he is wanted by Liverpool, Tottenham and Southampton, and Madrid could get a bigger transfer fee if he goes to England, but the Basque met his former club and indicated he wanted to come home and continue where he left off, playing in a team good enough to reach the Champions League.
Sociedad have lost Claudio Bravo to Barcelona and Antoine Griezmann to Atletico since he departed, but funds from those sales allowed them to offer a club record €16m for Illarramendi, who will be able to play as a central midfielder bringing balance and creativity to the team as they seek to improve on last season’s 11th-place finish.
With new signing Jonathas having scored 14 top-flight goals last season for Elche, plus Argentine goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli, 23, now a permanent signing and promising Portuguese winger Bruma, signed on loan from Galatasaray, Moyes has improved his squad despite failing to land striker Danny Ings from Burnley.
Moyes’ best player is defender Inigo Martinez, one of 14 members of the current squad who have graduated from the youth system.
Two more gems have been spotted in the club’s juvenile ranks and have been promoted to the first team.
Such moves delight fans, who were satisfied with the opening result, a goalless draw at Deportivo La Coruna.
But the return of Illarramendi is his biggest coup.
After his team played Real Madrid last season and were defeated 4-1 in Madrid, Moyes struggled to pronounce Illarramendi when talking to the media.
He will have plenty of time to perfect it now that Illarramendi will be wearing Sociedad colours this season.
Eibar enjoying top spot while it lasts
On Monday morning, near a prominent Scotland the Brave mural, the narrow street behind the west goal at Eibar’s tiny Ipurua ground was briefly blocked while a groundsman and three helpers loaded two full-size nets onto a waiting lorry.
They were needed at the training ground for when the team returned from that night’s opening Primera Liga game at Granada.
The disruption was brief, unlike the construction of Eibar’s new stand, which has boosted their capacity from 5,200 to 6,200.
The new build has angered local residents in the tower blocks which overlook the ground. Their free view of watching top-flight Spanish football has been blocked and their white flags of protest are prominent.
They make a change from the rest of the town of 27,000 in the narrow Ego valley between Bilbao and San Sebastian, where massed red-and-blue-striped flags of Eibar hang from balconies.
Eibar’s residents in a town once famous for making small armaments are rightly proud that their club was the smallest ever to get promoted to the Primera Liga last season on average crowds of just 2,900.
They had been the smallest club in the second division the previous season, but once they hit the top level crowds increased to 4,600, paying the lowest prices in the league as Eibar stunned their fans with a superb first half of the season.
After 22 games they were comfortable in eighth, closer to Europe than the predicted relegation. Then they collapsed, and the second half was a disappointment.
Eibar lost 15 times in 17 games and slipped into the relegation zone for the first time in the penultimate weekend.
They had to beat relegated Cordoba at home and were leading 3-0, but they also had to rely on Deportivo La Coruna losing at champions Barcelona, which they soon were, 2-0, thanks to two Lionel Messi goals.
But then Depor scored twice and, even with other twists that night, it meant that despite having a superior goal difference, Eibar went down on the head-to-head rule.
Eibar were disconsolate, yet there was yet another twist and a happy ending out of unfortunate circumstances elsewhere. Eibar were reprieved after Elche were relegated for financial irregularities.
On Monday, as the groundsmen tended the Ipurua pitch ahead of its first match, Sunday’s Basque derby against the nearby giants Athletic from Bilbao, Eibar played their opening game of the season at Granada.
A surprise 3-1 win, with goals from Adrian, Gonzalo Escalante and Mikel Arruabarrena, handed them victory at Nuevo Los Carmenes.
The win ensures they are now the top team in Spain and images of the league table are being pinned around bars in the town, marking a turnaround from the despair of May’s relegation. They should enjoy it while it lasts.
Neymar flirting with United for new deal?
Excuse Manchester United fans for being sceptical about the likelihood of Brazilian striker Neymar ending up at Old Trafford.
The stories are correct. United are in the market for the best players in the world and the English club, who want a superstar signing, maintain they will not be beaten for money by anyone.
Unfortunately for United, there is more to it than money. Neymar is a starter in the best team in the world. He is winning trophies, he is loved by fans, he lives in a city where he speaks the language and which has direct flights to his home in Sao Paulo. He and his people are also after a pay rise because he earns €10.5 million (Dh43.9m) per year, lower than Lionel Messi as expected, but also Luis Suarez, Daniel Alves and Andres Iniesta.
What better way to get that than flutter your eyelashes at potential suitors? There is always the risk that the strategy will lead to your exit, but it is a risk many players and their agents have taken.
Valencia make it five
Valencia’s aggregate win over Monaco means Spain has a record five teams in this season’s UEFA Champions League draw, which will be held on Thursday. New signing Alvaro Negredo was superb as he got a vital away goal in the principality to ensure Valencia will join Barcelona, Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid and Europa League champions Sevilla in the draw.
The home of the European, world and Europa League winners, Spain is the planet’s current pre-eminent football nation and rivals would prefer to avoid Spanish clubs.
Player of the week - Pichu
Sporting Gijon’s goalkeeper was outstanding against Real Madrid as the Asturians held Rafa Bentiez’s side to a goalless draw. It was Sporting’s first game in the top flight since promotion, but Pichu, 31, has experienced the highs and lows at the club. Now in his eighth season with Sporting – though he has only been the first-choice keeper since 2012 – he was crucial in keeping Gareth Bale, Cristiano Ronaldo and the rest of Madrid’s forward line at bay.
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Match info
Uefa Nations League A Group 4
England 2 (Lingard 78', Kane 85')
Croatia 1 (Kramaric 57')
Man of the match: Harry Kane (England)
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Mobile phone packages comparison
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Blackpink World Tour [Born Pink] In Cinemas
Starring: Rose, Jisoo, Jennie, Lisa
Directors: Min Geun, Oh Yoon-Dong
Rating: 3/5
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Cofe
Year started: 2018
Based: UAE
Employees: 80-100
Amount raised: $13m
Investors: KISP ventures, Cedar Mundi, Towell Holding International, Takamul Capital, Dividend Gate Capital, Nizar AlNusif Sons Holding, Arab Investment Company and Al Imtiaz Investment Group
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What is graphene?
Graphene is extracted from graphite and is made up of pure carbon.
It is 200 times more resistant than steel and five times lighter than aluminum.
It conducts electricity better than any other material at room temperature.
It is thought that graphene could boost the useful life of batteries by 10 per cent.
Graphene can also detect cancer cells in the early stages of the disease.
The material was first discovered when Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov were 'playing' with graphite at the University of Manchester in 2004.
TRAP
Starring: Josh Hartnett, Saleka Shyamalan, Ariel Donaghue
Director: M Night Shyamalan
Rating: 3/5
What to watch out for:
Algae, waste coffee grounds and orange peels will be used in the pavilion's walls and gangways
The hulls of three ships will be used for the roof
The hulls will painted to make the largest Italian tricolour in the country’s history
Several pillars more than 20 metres high will support the structure
Roughly 15 tonnes of steel will be used
The biog
Born: near Sialkot, Pakistan, 1981
Profession: Driver
Family: wife, son (11), daughter (8)
Favourite drink: chai karak
Favourite place in Dubai: The neighbourhood of Khawaneej. “When I see the old houses over there, near the date palms, I can be reminded of my old times. If I don’t go down I cannot recall my old times.”
The%20specs
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The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo
Power: 268hp at 5,600rpm
Torque: 380Nm at 4,800rpm
Transmission: CVT auto
Fuel consumption: 9.5L/100km
On sale: now
Price: from Dh195,000
DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE
Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman, Emma Corrin
Director: Shawn Levy
Rating: 3/5
Company%20profile
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Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
The specs
Engine: 2.7-litre 4-cylinder Turbomax
Power: 310hp
Torque: 583Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh192,500
On sale: Now
The specs
Price, base / as tested Dh135,000
Engine 1.6L turbo
Gearbox Six speed automatic with manual and sports mode
Power 165hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque 240Nm @ 1,400rpm 0-100kph: 9.2 seconds
Top speed 420 kph (governed)
Fuel economy, combined 35.2L / 100km (est)
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
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.”
Arabian Gulf Cup FINAL
Al Nasr 2
(Negredo 1, Tozo 50)
Shabab Al Ahli 1
(Jaber 13)
%E2%80%98FSO%20Safer%E2%80%99%20-%20a%20ticking%20bomb
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