Q: How on earth did Tottenham Hotspur think sacking Ange Postecoglou is the correct decision?
@Zee107
A: I wish I could say I was surprised – sacked just 16 days after ending a 41-year European trophy drought! It was a unanimous decision by the Tottenham board, who felt the coach ought to have better managed the side across all competitions. Finishing 17th in the Premier League with 22 losses – a record in a 38-game season – was seen as a dismal return given the quality of the squad. It’s taken a toll on the club’s finances, too.
At times, there was an unwillingness on Postecoglou's part to adjust his tactics. Antonio Conte at Napoli had to cope with so many absences and yet he constantly changed formations and tactics to achieve points. I understand the comparison isn’t entirely fair given the differences between the two leagues, but the drop in defensive solidity and the disjointed attack was, at times, painfully difficult to watch.
In defence of Postecoglou, I understand the decision to prioritise the Europa League. A trophy was what the fans coveted and a change in mentality was required. Winning begets winning and it reinforces confidence. There was genuine hope that after winning the Europa League, the players could push on and, with the right investments, aim for much more next season.
Winning a trophy ought to result in more time to build something, but the Spurs board obviously felt differently.
Q: Should there be a cap on salaries in football or sport?
@Davidson.dom via Instagram
A: Many American sports, like the NFL and NBA, already have salary caps in place to preserve competitiveness and unpredictability. Similarly, Formula One has introduced a budget cap to limit how much each team can spend on car development.
Salaries in football are out of control, and the money spent on agents and third parties is shameful. At its core, football is a working-class sport. Yet despite the explosion in revenue, fans are increasingly being priced out.
While rising ticket costs aren’t solely the result of inflated player salaries, the game has undeniably drifted out of touch with the very people who made it what it is. Today, many can barely afford to watch their local club – an indictment of a sport losing touch with its roots.
In 2020, a study found that the total wage bill for Premier League clubs in 2018/19 was just over £3 billion. By the start of the 2020/21 season, wages had increased by 2,811%. According to The Swiss Ramble, Premier League wages hit an all-time high of £4 billion during the 2023/24 season.
Taking the Uefa Champions League final as an example, Paris Saint-Germain were commended for finally building a team that was ‘without a star’ and yet they still spent €600 million in two years to build that squad. The total gross salaries paid for the 2024/25 season was around €196 million or €3.7m per week, not including bonuses. Ousmane Dembele is on roughly €346,000 a week, according to reports.
A salary cap would ensure smaller clubs are innovative and well managed. If clubs are not so obsessed with buying the best players perhaps they would pay more attention to developing home-grown talents.
However, the argument against, in Europe at least, is that a strict salary cap could violate EU Labour laws. Players have the right to negotiate in a free market. You could also argue that if salary caps are to be introduced, they must be applied globally to ensure true parity.
American sports can enforce such rules because they are largely confined to one country. Football, however, is a global game – which makes enforcement more complex. Still, it’s a challenge worth exploring.
Q: Is Jobe Bellingham the next Jude Bellingham?
@banabbou via Instagram
A: Borussia Dortmund certainly think he’s got great potential. The German club that once was home to his brother, Jude, has now agreed a deal with Sunderland for Jobe.
Dortmund's opening gambit of €20m was quickly rebuffed, forcing the German club to come back with an improved €33m bid, which was accepted. If the various add-ons are triggered, Jobe will become BVB's record signing.
The fact they raised their bid so significantly suggests their complete faith in his abilities and potential. Tall, tough, and tidy on the ball, Jobe can slot into just about any midfield role. He wins duels like it’s a hobby, carries the ball with confidence, and knows how to pick a smart pass. He’s got that “Swiss army knife” energy in midfield.
But at only age 19, he’s still developing. He can lose his positioning at times, and his performances aren’t always consistent. But he’s young, and with more game time and experience, those areas should naturally improve.
Former Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti once joked with Jude that they bought the wrong Bellingham. Hopefully Borussia Dortmund will give him the platform to keep growing as a player.
Q: Are you a fan of Cristiano Ronaldo? Just won the Nations League and still the best?
@Edil_Antonio via Instagram
A: Who isn’t a fan of the best players in the world? There is constant criticism aimed at the player deemed too old and selfish to still be playing international football. Some concerns are valid, especially the ones suggesting that his presence stops the team from aggressively closing down opponents. However, against Spain, Portugal showed that they can control the best team in Europe, and Ronaldo was their leader.
Personally, I’m a fan and still watch Portugal to see how he fares. There is this beautiful image from their previous match against Germany. Francisco Conceicao scored the first goal and Ronaldo got the second. Go back and watch how Conceicao hugged him, clinging to him. It was such a powerful image as it demonstrated how deeply respected Ronaldo is by his teammates. His mentality, his important goals and his efficacy still make the difference.
Of course, we all want to look to youth, to help nurture the next generation, but you can never underestimate experience and leadership.
The team should not be building around him for the World Cup next year only because he is unlikely to feature in every game. But what Ronaldo brings to the team is infinitely greater than what he takes away.
Q: Should Nuno Mendes not be one of the favourites for the Ballon d’Or? Best full-back?
HabuNahl via X
A: What an incredible season for Mendes. I was aggrieved that Achraf Hakimi was not generating enough Ballon d’Or buzz, considering his performances for PSG and Morocco, but I was wrong not to mention Mendes as he ought be one of the favourites for the award.
Man of the match in the Uefa Nations League final for Portugal against Spain, he not only shut down Lamine Yamal but he scored the opener and delivered the assist for Ronaldo’s equaliser. His year just keeps getting better.
PSG won the Uefa Champions League largely because they boasted the two best full-backs in the world. Mendes was incredible in the big games. He outpowered Mohamed Salah against Liverpool in the last 16, quietened Arsenal's Bukayo Saka in the semi-final and was imperious against Inter in the final.
Tactically astute, dominant when pressing opponents, and technically superb, he dazzles with his ability to glide past defenders and manoeuvre in tight spaces.
Mendes is modest, too. When asked about the Ballon d'Or, he nominated teammate Dembele.
Both for club and country, Mendes has proved clutch on all the big occasions. He is without a doubt, the best left-back in the world.
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km
Company%20Profile
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COMPANY PROFILE
Initial investment: Undisclosed
Investment stage: Series A
Investors: Core42
Current number of staff: 47
Young women have more “financial grit”, but fall behind on investing
In an October survey of young adults aged 16 to 25, Charles Schwab found young women are more driven to reach financial independence than young men (67 per cent versus. 58 per cent). They are more likely to take on extra work to make ends meet and see more value than men in creating a plan to achieve their financial goals. Yet, despite all these good ‘first’ measures, they are investing and saving less than young men – falling early into the financial gender gap.
While the women surveyed report spending 36 per cent less than men, they have far less savings than men ($1,267 versus $2,000) – a nearly 60 per cent difference.
In addition, twice as many young men as women say they would invest spare cash, and almost twice as many young men as women report having investment accounts (though most young adults do not invest at all).
“Despite their good intentions, young women start to fall behind their male counterparts in savings and investing early on in life,” said Carrie Schwab-Pomerantz, senior vice president, Charles Schwab. “They start off showing a strong financial planning mindset, but there is still room for further education when it comes to managing their day-to-day finances.”
Ms Schwab-Pomerantz says parents should be conveying the same messages to boys and girls about money, but should tailor those conversations based on the individual and gender.
"Our study shows that while boys are spending more than girls, they also are saving more. Have open and honest conversations with your daughters about the wage and savings gap," she said. "Teach kids about the importance of investing – especially girls, who as we see in this study, aren’t investing as much. Part of being financially prepared is learning to make the most of your money, and that means investing early and consistently."
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: 2017 Dodge Viper SRT
Price, base / as tested Dh460,000
Engine 8.4L V10
Transmission Six-speed manual
Power 645hp @ 6,200rpm
Torque 813Nm @ 5,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined 16.8L / 100km
Match info
Manchester United 1 (Van de Beek 80') Crystal Palace 3 (Townsend 7', Zaha pen 74' & 85')
Man of the match Wilfried Zaha (Crystal Palace)
TYPES%20OF%20ONLINE%20GIG%20WORK
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The Perfect Couple
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Jack Reynor
Creator: Jenna Lamia
Rating: 3/5
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
The smuggler
Eldarir had arrived at JFK in January 2020 with three suitcases, containing goods he valued at $300, when he was directed to a search area.
Officers found 41 gold artefacts among the bags, including amulets from a funerary set which prepared the deceased for the afterlife.
Also found was a cartouche of a Ptolemaic king on a relief that was originally part of a royal building or temple.
The largest single group of items found in Eldarir’s cases were 400 shabtis, or figurines.
Khouli conviction
Khouli smuggled items into the US by making false declarations to customs about the country of origin and value of the items.
According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, he provided “false provenances which stated that [two] Egyptian antiquities were part of a collection assembled by Khouli's father in Israel in the 1960s” when in fact “Khouli acquired the Egyptian antiquities from other dealers”.
He was sentenced to one year of probation, six months of home confinement and 200 hours of community service in 2012 after admitting buying and smuggling Egyptian antiquities, including coffins, funerary boats and limestone figures.
For sale
A number of other items said to come from the collection of Ezeldeen Taha Eldarir are currently or recently for sale.
Their provenance is described in near identical terms as the British Museum shabti: bought from Salahaddin Sirmali, "authenticated and appraised" by Hossen Rashed, then imported to the US in 1948.
- An Egyptian Mummy mask dating from 700BC-30BC, is on offer for £11,807 ($15,275) online by a seller in Mexico
- A coffin lid dating back to 664BC-332BC was offered for sale by a Colorado-based art dealer, with a starting price of $65,000
- A shabti that was on sale through a Chicago-based coin dealer, dating from 1567BC-1085BC, is up for $1,950
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
