The gaps in Phil Neville's knowledge about women's football were highlighted on Monday when he struggled to name who is leading the domestic league for goals or assists.
The 41-year-old Englishman was meeting the press at the National Football Centre for the first time since last week's announcement.
Having skillfully handled questions about sexist tweets from his past and a lack of managerial experience, most particularly in women's football, the former England, Manchester United and Everton midfielder stumbled over a quiz question.
When asked if he could name the players with the most goals or assists in the Women's Super League, Neville froze.
Having received a few clues, he still could not do it but did say "it's not Izzy", as in Manchester City's Izzy Christiansen, which is the correct answer for the leading scorer.
"I don't know every facet but I will," he admitted. "When I went to Spain [to coach Valencia], I knew three players. I didn't know the language, didn't know La Liga. But after three months, I knew the language and every player and everything about Spain."
He later cursed himself for not getting the right answer, or not remembering in time that City's Nikita Parris is one of the league's top providers, but it was, in many ways, revealing of his qualities, too: fiercely competitive and willing to learn.
An example of the former came when he revealed the first text message he received after his appointment was announced last Tuesday evening.
"At 6.01pm, I got a text from another coach saying 'race you to No 1' - that was my sister Tracey," he said.
"She's third in the netball world and has to get to No 1, I'm third in the world as women's football coach, so I have to get No 1. It's the race in our family now.
"Getting from 14th down to third takes a lot of hard work but the last bit is the most difficult. It is like the last stage of Everest."
_________________
Read more:
_________________
The improvement from 14th was achieved under Neville's predecessor in the role, Mark Sampson, whose time in charge catastrophically unraveled last year amid claims of bullying, racism and inappropriate behaviour in a previous job.
Despite only managing three games in his coaching career, all on a caretaker basis, Neville said he believes he was the "best qualified" to pick up the reins because of his experience as a player and coach in elite football.
Saying that "finishing third is not in my mind", Neville mapped out England's path to World Cup glory in 2019, followed by gold for Great Britain at Tokyo 2020 and Euro glory in 2021.
Promising a "relentless pursuit of excellence", he said he was committed to working with everyone involved in the women's game to grow the sport and he believed there was "enormous positivity" in English football.
There is no escaping the fact, however, that he was not identified by the FA in the original trawl of talent that came up with a 140-strong long list or the short list that was first reduced to 30 names, then six, then three.
Neville denied he got the job by default when others turned it down and said he came through a rigorous three-week interview process.
_________________
Read more:
_________________
Pointing to the fact he has a Uefa Pro Licence qualification, Neville said it means he can work in any form of the game and the messages he will be giving England's female stars will be the same as the ones he gave his charges at United and Valencia.
He also promised to "push them further" after they "looked me in the eye and agreed they can do more" to overhaul Germany and the United States, the two top sides in women's football.
When asked if he would then be a strong candidate for the men's job, Neville laughed and denied that he has ever referred to this role as "a stepping stone" to anywhere.
"I've got a car parking space out there, the space next to Gareth Southgate's, so ultimately I've got the next best job," he said.
"I have to succeed in this job and that means by winning. Finishing third at the World Cup won't be good enough for me and won't be good enough for these players. That's the kind of scrutiny I'll be putting myself under."
The biog
Name: Marie Byrne
Nationality: Irish
Favourite film: The Shawshank Redemption
Book: Seagull by Jonathan Livingston
Life lesson: A person is not old until regret takes the place of their dreams
Tailors and retailers miss out on back-to-school rush
Tailors and retailers across the city said it was an ominous start to what is usually a busy season for sales.
With many parents opting to continue home learning for their children, the usual rush to buy school uniforms was muted this year.
“So far we have taken about 70 to 80 orders for items like shirts and trousers,” said Vikram Attrai, manager at Stallion Bespoke Tailors in Dubai.
“Last year in the same period we had about 200 orders and lots of demand.
“We custom fit uniform pieces and use materials such as cotton, wool and cashmere.
“Depending on size, a white shirt with logo is priced at about Dh100 to Dh150 and shorts, trousers, skirts and dresses cost between Dh150 to Dh250 a piece.”
A spokesman for Threads, a uniform shop based in Times Square Centre Dubai, said customer footfall had slowed down dramatically over the past few months.
“Now parents have the option to keep children doing online learning they don’t need uniforms so it has quietened down.”
How to avoid crypto fraud
- Use unique usernames and passwords while enabling multi-factor authentication.
- Use an offline private key, a physical device that requires manual activation, whenever you access your wallet.
- Avoid suspicious social media ads promoting fraudulent schemes.
- Only invest in crypto projects that you fully understand.
- Critically assess whether a project’s promises or returns seem too good to be true.
- Only use reputable platforms that have a track record of strong regulatory compliance.
- Store funds in hardware wallets as opposed to online exchanges.
Getting there
The flights
Flydubai operates up to seven flights a week to Helsinki. Return fares to Helsinki from Dubai start from Dh1,545 in Economy and Dh7,560 in Business Class.
The stay
Golden Crown Igloos in Levi offer stays from Dh1,215 per person per night for a superior igloo; www.leviniglut.net
Panorama Hotel in Levi is conveniently located at the top of Levi fell, a short walk from the gondola. Stays start from Dh292 per night based on two people sharing; www. golevi.fi/en/accommodation/hotel-levi-panorama
Arctic Treehouse Hotel in Rovaniemi offers stays from Dh1,379 per night based on two people sharing; www.arctictreehousehotel.com
How to get there
Emirates (www.emirates.com) flies directly to Hanoi, Vietnam, with fares starting from around Dh2,725 return, while Etihad (www.etihad.com) fares cost about Dh2,213 return with a stop. Chuong is 25 kilometres south of Hanoi.
About Karol Nawrocki
• Supports military aid for Ukraine, unlike other eurosceptic leaders, but he will oppose its membership in western alliances.
• A nationalist, his campaign slogan was Poland First. "Let's help others, but let's take care of our own citizens first," he said on social media in April.
• Cultivates tough-guy image, posting videos of himself at shooting ranges and in boxing rings.
• Met Donald Trump at the White House and received his backing.
ON%20TRACK
%3Cp%3EThe%20Dubai%20Metaverse%20Assembly%20will%20host%20three%20main%20tracks%3A%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEducate%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Consists%20of%20more%20than%2010%20in-depth%20sessions%20on%20the%20metaverse%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EInspire%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Will%20showcase%20use%20cases%20of%20the%20metaverse%20in%20tourism%2C%20logistics%2C%20retail%2C%20education%20and%20health%20care%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EContribute%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Workshops%20for%20metaverse%20foresight%20and%20use-case%20reviews%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The years Ramadan fell in May
The%20specs
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EPowertrain%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESingle%20electric%20motor%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E201hp%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E310Nm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESingle-speed%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBattery%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E53kWh%20lithium-ion%20battery%20pack%20(GS%20base%20model)%3B%2070kWh%20battery%20pack%20(GF)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETouring%20range%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E350km%20(GS)%3B%20480km%20(GF)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh129%2C900%20(GS)%3B%20Dh149%2C000%20(GF)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Now%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Story of 2017-18 so far and schedule to come
Roll of Honour
Who has won what so far in the West Asia rugby season?
Western Clubs Champions League
Winners: Abu Dhabi Harlequins
Runners up: Bahrain
Dubai Rugby Sevens
Winners: Dubai Exiles
Runners up: Jebel Ali Dragons
West Asia Premiership
Winners: Jebel Ali Dragons
Runners up: Abu Dhabi Harlequins
UAE Premiership Cup
Winners: Abu Dhabi Harlequins
Runners up: Dubai Exiles
Fixtures
Friday
West Asia Cup final
5pm, Bahrain (6pm UAE time), Bahrain v Dubai Exiles
West Asia Trophy final
3pm, The Sevens, Dubai Hurricanes v Dubai Sports City Eagles
Friday, April 13
UAE Premiership final
5pm, Al Ain, Dubai Exiles v Abu Dhabi Harlequins
MATCH INFO
England 241-3 (20 ovs)
Malan 130 no, Morgan 91
New Zealand 165 all out (16.5ovs)
Southee 39, Parkinson 4-47
England win by 76 runs
Series level at 2-2
UK-EU trade at a glance
EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years
Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products
Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries
Smoother border management with use of e-gates
Cutting red tape on import and export of food
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
if you go
The flights
Etihad, Emirates and Singapore Airlines fly direct from the UAE to Singapore from Dh2,265 return including taxes. The flight takes about 7 hours.
The hotel
Rooms at the M Social Singapore cost from SG $179 (Dh488) per night including taxes.
The tour
Makan Makan Walking group tours costs from SG $90 (Dh245) per person for about three hours. Tailor-made tours can be arranged. For details go to www.woknstroll.com.sg
BULKWHIZ PROFILE
Date started: February 2017
Founders: Amira Rashad (CEO), Yusuf Saber (CTO), Mahmoud Sayedahmed (adviser), Reda Bouraoui (adviser)
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: E-commerce
Size: 50 employees
Funding: approximately $6m
Investors: Beco Capital, Enabling Future and Wain in the UAE; China's MSA Capital; 500 Startups; Faith Capital and Savour Ventures in Kuwait
