Troy Deeney of Watford applauds fans after his team's loss to Southampton in the Premier League on Wednesday. Ian Walton / Getty Images / January 13, 2016
Troy Deeney of Watford applauds fans after his team's loss to Southampton in the Premier League on Wednesday. Ian Walton / Getty Images / January 13, 2016

Troy Deeney and Watford out to get ‘back to normal’ against Swansea City



Captain Troy Deeney is hoping Watford's dire midweek defeat at Southampton was "just a blip".

Watford face struggling Swansea City at the Liberty Stadium on Monday night on the back of four Premier League matches without a win, although they have faced Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester City and Southampton in that run.

Quique Sanchez Flores’ men slipped to 12th following Saturday’s matches but could move back into the top 10 with victory in south Wales.

And Deeney, who has scored seven goals in his past 13 appearances in all competitions, is determined to see Watford bounce back against a Swansea side that slipped into the relegation zone following Newcastle United’s win against West Ham United.

Read more: Richard Jolly on Manchester City proving they can pull something out of nothing

Deeney, 27, was disgusted by the 2-0 midweek defeat at St Mary’s Stadium and said: “There’s no good hiding the facts. The only person who came out with any credit from that game was [goalkeeper Heurelho] Gomes. He saved about five goals.

“If we win at Swansea everything is back to normal, but if we don’t there will be a few more questions asked.

“Hopefully it’s just a blip.”

Meanwhile, Alan Curtis said he is willing to step aside if Swansea identify a new manager to protect their Premier League status.

Curtis succeeded the sacked Garry Monk in a caretaker capacity last month and his appointment until the end of the season was only confirmed on January 7. But it was reported yesterday that Curtis’ position may already be under threat with Swansea dropping into the relegation zone ahead of the Watford game.

But Curtis, who has spent over 40 years at Swansea as player, coach and manager, sayd the club’s future is more important than that of any one individual.

“I’d expect to be here until the end of the season, but if results go against us and the club deem it that they need to bring someone in at short notice, then so be it,” said Curtis.

“I’ve got no sort of vanity (that I must) be here until the end of the season. We’ve worked hard to get into the Premier League.

“It’s important we stay here, not just for next season but for seasons to come as well.”

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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

If you go

The flights Etihad (www.etihad.com) and Spice Jet (www.spicejet.com) fly direct from Abu Dhabi and Dubai to Pune respectively from Dh1,000 return including taxes. Pune airport is 90 minutes away by road. 

The hotels A stay at Atmantan Wellness Resort (www.atmantan.com) costs from Rs24,000 (Dh1,235) per night, including taxes, consultations, meals and a treatment package.
 

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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%20specs
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Kele Okereke

(BMG)

The specs

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Company profile

Company name: Nestrom

Started: 2017

Co-founders: Yousef Wadi, Kanaan Manasrah and Shadi Shalabi

Based: Jordan

Sector: Technology

Initial investment: Close to $100,000

Investors: Propeller, 500 Startups, Wamda Capital, Agrimatico, Techstars and some angel investors

COMPANY%20PROFILE
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If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.

When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.

How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
MATCH INFO

Burnley 0

Man City 3

Raheem Sterling 35', 49'

Ferran Torres 65'

 

 

The specs

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Transmission: Eight-speed auto

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BUNDESLIGA FIXTURES

Saturday, May 16 (kick-offs UAE time)

Borussia Dortmund v Schalke (4.30pm) 
RB Leipzig v Freiburg (4.30pm) 
Hoffenheim v Hertha Berlin (4.30pm) 
Fortuna Dusseldorf v Paderborn  (4.30pm) 
Augsburg v Wolfsburg (4.30pm) 
Eintracht Frankfurt v Borussia Monchengladbach (7.30pm)

Sunday, May 17

Cologne v Mainz (4.30pm),
Union Berlin v Bayern Munich (7pm)

Monday, May 18

Werder Bremen v Bayer Leverkusen (9.30pm)