Steve Luckings looks back on a season of intrigue with no doubt plenty of twists still to come as we approach the final round of games.
While most of the hard-to-fathom headlines have been reserved for Leicester City’s improbable title triumph, this campaign has truly been the most remarkable of the Premier League since its inception in the 1992/93 season.
As we look ahead to Sunday’s final round of games, the permutations for the league’s final Uefa Champions League, Europa League, as well as the final two relegation places, hold plenty of intrigue.
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And what about Tottenham Hotspur?
Leicester’s title triumph could have been lifted right out of a JM Barrie fairy tale, but for much of the run-in, it was a two-horse race with Tottenham Hotspur to see who would cross the line first.
Spurs, who until two weeks ago were the only team capable of thwarting Claudio Ranieri’s side, are now in danger of not even finishing as their closest challengers.
A run of three games without a win — despite taking the lead against West Bromwich Albion (1-1), Chelsea (2-2) and Southampton (1-2) — Mauricio Pochettino’s side go into their final match, away to Newcastle United, needing at least a point to guarantee they finish above Arsenal and avoid the ignominy of a “St Totteringham Day’s” party, a celebration Arsenal fans hold to commemorate their hex over Spurs, who have failed to finish above their hated North London rivals since 1994/95.
And what about Arsenal?
Arsene Wenger’s side broke their modus operandi of the previous decade of starting a campaign slow before finishing with a flourish by blasting out of the blocks before suffering the jitters down the home stretch.
When Arsenal beat Leicester 2-1 at Emirates Stadium on February 14, the gap was cut to two points, Arsenal completing a league double over their opponents in the process.
But a stuttering run of form since saw Arsenal collect 17 points from a possible 33 while Leicester picked up 27 in the same 11-match stretch. Arsenal fans staged their most vociferous protests of Wenger’s 20-year reign in last month’s win over Norwich City with their title drought to stretch to a 12th year.
And what about West Ham United?
After the transformation from workmanlike to wonderful under the guidance of Slaven Bilic, their season is in danger of tailing off where ambitions have slid from Champions League hopefuls to not even being certain of Europa League football next term.
And what about Manchester City?
Manuel Pellegrini’s farewell speech to a handful of fans at Etihad Stadium after the 2-2 draw against Arsenal went down like a damp squib despite a League Cup trophy and taking the club farther than any predecessor in the Champions League. His legacy to his successor, Pep Guardiola, may not even be the guarantee of Champions League football next season.
And what about Manchester United?
Louis van Gaal has had more comebacks than Frank Sinatra. When a 2-0 defeat to Stoke City in December signalled the final death knell in the Dutchman’s turbulent 18 months in charge, he answered it with a 0-0 draw against Chelsea. He has repeated that feat several times since, all the while speculation over his future at the club, with Jose Mourinho’s name forever lurking in the shadows, persists. United could even end this season with silverware if they overcome Crystal Palace in the FA Cup final this month.
And what about Chelsea?
From Premier League champions to struggling to finish in the top 10. A disastrous run of form saw championship-winning stalwarts Cesc Fabregas, Nemanja Matic, Gary Cahill, Diego Costa and Eden Hazard, the reigning player of the year, lose their form and Mourinho, their manager lose his job. Guus Hiddink has steadied the ship, but the highlight of Chelsea’s season was in denying Spurs the title, battling back from 2-0 dow to secure a point that meant Leicester couldn’t be caught. A huge fall from grace for the West London club.
And what about Liverpool?
Replaced Brendan Rodgers with Jurgen Klopp last October but the latter’s record for his first 21 Premier League games in charge was identical to Rodgers’s over the same period dating back to the tail end of the last campaign, a return of nine wins, five draws and seven defeats.
Even the most diehard Liverpool fans wouldn’t have envisaged their club contesting two cup finals and becoming the highest scorers in the Premier League in 2016. No doubt Liverpool are a different beast under the animated German. They were a Willy Caballero save away from winning the League Cup and, given Sevilla’s abysmal away form this season — the Spanish side are yet to win on the road in 2015/16 — probably start this month’s Europa League final as slight favourites.
And what about Southampton?
The 2-1 victory away to Spurs on Sunday secured victory over every Premier League team Ronald Koeman has faced in his two years in charge. It moved them up to sixth, the last Europa League qualifying spot. The Dutchman has assembled a squad full of guile and gumption, and Southampton are now a well and truly established top-eight team.
And what about Everton?
Roberto Martinez can no longer pull the wool over fans’ eyes, despite possessing a prolific frontman in Romelu Lukaku, a dynamic midfielder in Ross Barkley and, although he has somewhat lost his way this term, a stylish defender in John Stones who will no doubt recover as soon as he stops thinking he is already a £40 million (Dh211m) player destined for Chelsea.
And what about Sunderland?
Relegation certainties when Sam Allardyce climbed aboard a sinking ship last October, they can secure a ninth-straight season in the top flight on Tuesday if they beat Everton at home and Norwich fail to beat Watford.
And what about Watford?
How, how I ask you is Quique Sanchez Flores’s position under threat with Watford’s status in the top tier long secured and a run to the FA Cup semi-final? Their form in 2016 has been poor, with only four wins in the calendar year so far, but the good work done in the first half of the season seems to have been forgotten by too many myopic fans.
And what about Newcastle United?
A net spend of over £80m on signings in 2015/16, but Mike Ashley pulled the trigger on Steve McClaren too late to save their season.
Newcastle are five games unbeaten under Rafa Benitez but the 0-0 draw against Aston Villa on Saturday all but killed their chances. Their fate will be sealed if Sunderland beat Everton at the Stadium of Light in their penultimate game of the campaign.
Yes, it has been a strange season. But a wonderful one all the same.
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Saturday's schedule at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
GP3 race, 12:30pm
Formula 1 final practice, 2pm
Formula 1 qualifying, 5pm
Formula 2 race, 6:40pm
Performance: Sam Smith
Coffee: black death or elixir of life?
It is among the greatest health debates of our time; splashed across newspapers with contradicting headlines - is coffee good for you or not?
Depending on what you read, it is either a cancer-causing, sleep-depriving, stomach ulcer-inducing black death or the secret to long life, cutting the chance of stroke, diabetes and cancer.
The latest research - a study of 8,412 people across the UK who each underwent an MRI heart scan - is intended to put to bed (caffeine allowing) conflicting reports of the pros and cons of consumption.
The study, funded by the British Heart Foundation, contradicted previous findings that it stiffens arteries, putting pressure on the heart and increasing the likelihood of a heart attack or stroke, leading to warnings to cut down.
Numerous studies have recognised the benefits of coffee in cutting oral and esophageal cancer, the risk of a stroke and cirrhosis of the liver.
The benefits are often linked to biologically active compounds including caffeine, flavonoids, lignans, and other polyphenols, which benefit the body. These and othetr coffee compounds regulate genes involved in DNA repair, have anti-inflammatory properties and are associated with lower risk of insulin resistance, which is linked to type-2 diabetes.
But as doctors warn, too much of anything is inadvisable. The British Heart Foundation found the heaviest coffee drinkers in the study were most likely to be men who smoked and drank alcohol regularly.
Excessive amounts of coffee also unsettle the stomach causing or contributing to stomach ulcers. It also stains the teeth over time, hampers absorption of minerals and vitamins like zinc and iron.
It also raises blood pressure, which is largely problematic for people with existing conditions.
So the heaviest drinkers of the black stuff - some in the study had up to 25 cups per day - may want to rein it in.
Rory Reynolds
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In-demand jobs and monthly salaries
- Technology expert in robotics and automation: Dh20,000 to Dh40,000
- Energy engineer: Dh25,000 to Dh30,000
- Production engineer: Dh30,000 to Dh40,000
- Data-driven supply chain management professional: Dh30,000 to Dh50,000
- HR leader: Dh40,000 to Dh60,000
- Engineering leader: Dh30,000 to Dh55,000
- Project manager: Dh55,000 to Dh65,000
- Senior reservoir engineer: Dh40,000 to Dh55,000
- Senior drilling engineer: Dh38,000 to Dh46,000
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- Senior maintenance engineer: Dh22,000 to Dh34,000
- Field engineer: Dh6,500 to Dh7,500
- Field supervisor: Dh9,000 to Dh12,000
- Field operator: Dh5,000 to Dh7,000
The specs
Engine: Direct injection 4-cylinder 1.4-litre
Power: 150hp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: From Dh139,000
On sale: Now
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In numbers: China in Dubai
The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000
Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000
Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
The advice provided in our columns does not constitute legal advice and is provided for information only. Readers are encouraged to seek independent legal advice.
Pakistan Super League
Previous winners
2016 Islamabad United
2017 Peshawar Zalmi
2018 Islamabad United
2019 Quetta Gladiators
Most runs Kamran Akmal – 1,286
Most wickets Wahab Riaz –65
About Takalam
Date started: early 2020
Founders: Khawla Hammad and Inas Abu Shashieh
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: HealthTech and wellness
Number of staff: 4
Funding to date: Bootstrapped
The specs: 2019 Haval H6
Price, base: Dh69,900
Engine: 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 197hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque: 315Nm @ 2,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 7.0L / 100km
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
German intelligence warnings
- 2002: "Hezbollah supporters feared becoming a target of security services because of the effects of [9/11] ... discussions on Hezbollah policy moved from mosques into smaller circles in private homes." Supporters in Germany: 800
- 2013: "Financial and logistical support from Germany for Hezbollah in Lebanon supports the armed struggle against Israel ... Hezbollah supporters in Germany hold back from actions that would gain publicity." Supporters in Germany: 950
- 2023: "It must be reckoned with that Hezbollah will continue to plan terrorist actions outside the Middle East against Israel or Israeli interests." Supporters in Germany: 1,250
Source: Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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The specs
Engine: 3-litre twin-turbo V6
Power: 400hp
Torque: 475Nm
Transmission: 9-speed automatic
Price: From Dh215,900
On sale: Now
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)
RESULT
Norway 1 Spain 1
Norway: King (90 4')
Spain: Niguez (47')