Tottenham Hotspur have been relatively quiet in the transfer market this summer but record signing Erik Lamela looks as though he could inspire a top-four challenge – a year late.
The Argentine was signed for £30 million (Dh182.6m) before last last season but was virtually invisible as he struggled to adapt to the Premier League after signing from AS Roma.
The attacking midfielder made only three starts in the Premier League and scored only one goal in all competitions, against lightweights FC Sheriff of Moldova in the Europa League.
Fellow Argentine Mauricio Pochettino’s arrival as manager has provided him a fresh start, however, and the 22-year-old from Buenos Aires is showing early signs that he could help Tottenham improve on last season’s disappointing sixth place.
He started against West Ham United last weekend as Spurs began with a hard-fought 1-0 victory and came on as a substitute on Thursday in the Europa League at AEL Limassol, helping his side overturn a 1-0 deficit to win 2-1 in Cyprus.
Lamela said Pochettino had helped him rediscover his verve.
“He has helped me a lot of times,” Lamela was quoted in the Daily Mail ahead of Tottenham’s home match against Queens Park Rangers on Sunday. “But, really, it depends on me.
“It is down to me, how I train, what I do in training and in matches. Then I think he will put me on the pitch.
“I will play wherever he puts me. It is a challenge for me because last season did not go as I had hoped: the injuries, maybe because I was not 100 per cent.
“These are things you have to overcome and change yourself. You always have to improve. I don’t know how far I can go but I will try my hardest to make my team win.
“When I was injured, I was not good. I was not happy. I now feel 100 per cent. I am happy to be playing football again and helping the team.”
Pochettino said Lamela should not be judged on his disappointing first season in English football.
“He was very disappointed about last season but the past is the past,” he said.
“With confidence and time he will show his value.”
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Barings Bank
Barings, one of Britain’s oldest investment banks, was
founded in 1762 and operated for 233 years before it went bust after a trading
scandal.
Barings Bank collapsed in February 1995 following colossal
losses caused by rogue trader Nick Lesson.
Leeson gambled more than $1 billion in speculative trades,
wiping out the venerable merchant bank’s cash reserves.
THREE POSSIBLE REPLACEMENTS
Khalfan Mubarak
The Al Jazira playmaker has for some time been tipped for stardom within UAE football, with Quique Sanchez Flores, his former manager at Al Ahli, once labelling him a “genius”. He was only 17. Now 23, Mubarak has developed into a crafty supplier of chances, evidenced by his seven assists in six league matches this season. Still to display his class at international level, though.
Rayan Yaslam
The Al Ain attacking midfielder has become a regular starter for his club in the past 15 months. Yaslam, 23, is a tidy and intelligent player, technically proficient with an eye for opening up defences. Developed while alongside Abdulrahman in the Al Ain first-team and has progressed well since manager Zoran Mamic’s arrival. However, made his UAE debut only last December.
Ismail Matar
The Al Wahda forward is revered by teammates and a key contributor to the squad. At 35, his best days are behind him, but Matar is incredibly experienced and an example to his colleagues. His ability to cope with tournament football is a concern, though, despite Matar beginning the season well. Not a like-for-like replacement, although the system could be adjusted to suit.
The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
City's slump
L - Juventus, 2-0
D - C Palace, 2-2
W - N Forest, 3-0
L - Liverpool, 2-0
D - Feyenoord, 3-3
L - Tottenham, 4-0
L - Brighton, 2-1
L - Sporting, 4-1
L - Bournemouth, 2-1
L - Tottenham, 2-1
Countdown to Zero exhibition will show how disease can be beaten
Countdown to Zero: Defeating Disease, an international multimedia exhibition created by the American Museum of National History in collaboration with The Carter Center, will open in Abu Dhabi a month before Reaching the Last Mile.
Opening on October 15 and running until November 15, the free exhibition opens at The Galleria mall on Al Maryah Island, and has already been seen at the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum in Atlanta, the American Museum of Natural History in New York, and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
Farasan Boat: 128km Away from Anchorage
Director: Mowaffaq Alobaid
Stars: Abdulaziz Almadhi, Mohammed Al Akkasi, Ali Al Suhaibani
Rating: 4/5
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The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: Now
Business Insights
- Canada and Mexico are significant energy suppliers to the US, providing the majority of oil and natural gas imports
- The introduction of tariffs could hinder the US's clean energy initiatives by raising input costs for materials like nickel
- US domestic suppliers might benefit from higher prices, but overall oil consumption is expected to decrease due to elevated costs
Four tips to secure IoT networks
Mohammed Abukhater, vice president at FireEye in the Middle East, said:
- Keep device software up-to-date. Most come with basic operating system, so users should ensure that they always have the latest version
- Besides a strong password, use two-step authentication. There should be a second log-in step like adding a code sent to your mobile number
- Usually smart devices come with many unnecessary features. Users should lock those features that are not required or used frequently
- Always create a different guest network for visitors
TO A LAND UNKNOWN
Director: Mahdi Fleifel
Starring: Mahmoud Bakri, Aram Sabbah, Mohammad Alsurafa
Rating: 4.5/5
TRAP
Starring: Josh Hartnett, Saleka Shyamalan, Ariel Donaghue
Director: M Night Shyamalan
Rating: 3/5
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