Brown Ideye accepts all the criticism that has been levelled at him since his big-money move to West Bromwich Albion but hopes he will be given the chance to prove himself.
The 26-year-old striker became West Brom’s record signing when they shelled out £10 million (Dh55.9m) to bring him to The Hawthorns from Dynamo Kiev last summer.
But he has been a major disappointment, scoring only twice in 14 Premier League appearances, the majority of which have come off the bench.
West Brom were reported to be willing to cut their losses and sell Ideye to Qatar club Al Gharafa during the January window, but their failure to secure a replacement earned him a stay of execution.
The Nigeria international feels he deserves another chance and is motivated to show fans what he can really do.
Ideye said: “I never thought I was going to leave West Brom for a club in Qatar. I haven’t really started playing football for West Brom so I think I should have more time.
“I’ve been having a lot of support from the fans and people at the club so I don’t think now should be the time for me to leave.
“People can say what they want, they have the right to do that. Since I came here I haven’t been that Brown Ideye that people know and I feel bad about it.
“This is England and if you’re not giving your best, people talk. I think they are right in everything they say.
“I should be on top of my game but it’s not possible for you to be on top of your game when you’re sitting on the bench so I just have to keep pushing on, even if I only have 10 or 15 minutes in the game. I have to prove myself.”
Ideye was on the bench again when West Brom travelled to Burnley on Sunday but he was given 45 minutes and headed in the equaliser that earned Tony Pulis’ side a 2-2 draw.
“I’ve been waiting for this moment,” he said.
“As a striker I like to score goals in every game and I don’t see why it’s not possible for me to start from now doing what people believed from me.
“I came here to score goals and I hope this will just be the start. It was an important goal and I think that said it all.”
Pulis would love nothing more than for Ideye to live up to his price tag, and he praised the striker’s contribution at Turf Moor.
The West Brom manager said: “It was a great header. He looked dangerous when he came on and sharp, and that’s what we need.”
Burnley were left ruing their inability to hold onto a lead for the third time in four games after going two up inside 32 minutes.
The point was enough to lift them out of the relegation zone but they have a formidable run of fixtures coming up, starting with a trip to Manchester United on Wednesday.
Matches against Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Tottenham and Arsenal follow over the next couple of months, but Burnley can take confidence from having fought back to claim a draw at City in December.
For midfielder David Jones, Wednesday means a trip back to the club where he began his career.
He said: “You always want to play at stadiums like that against good players and good teams.
“I spent a lot of my early days there so it’ll be nice to see a few people but we want to go there and get something, that’s the most important thing.
“We’re not expected to get anything. We can go there with total freedom. Obviously we’re confident in our own ability, and if we do our jobs and play really well, then we’re definitely in with a chance.
“We’re going to have to step up to the plate and I’m looking forward to the challenge.”
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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
THE SPECS
Engine: 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder
Transmission: Constant Variable (CVT)
Power: 141bhp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: Dh64,500
On sale: Now
Mubadala World Tennis Championship 2018 schedule
Thursday December 27
Men's quarter-finals
Kevin Anderson v Hyeon Chung 4pm
Dominic Thiem v Karen Khachanov 6pm
Women's exhibition
Serena Williams v Venus Williams 8pm
Friday December 28
5th place play-off 3pm
Men's semi-finals
Rafael Nadal v Anderson/Chung 5pm
Novak Djokovic v Thiem/Khachanov 7pm
Saturday December 29
3rd place play-off 5pm
Men's final 7pm
The Brutalist
Director: Brady Corbet
Stars: Adrien Brody, Felicity Jones, Guy Pearce, Joe Alwyn
Rating: 3.5/5
The Buckingham Murders
Starring: Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ash Tandon, Prabhleen Sandhu
Director: Hansal Mehta
Rating: 4 / 5
A little about CVRL
Founded in 1985 by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, the Central Veterinary Research Laboratory (CVRL) is a government diagnostic centre that provides testing and research facilities to the UAE and neighbouring countries.
One of its main goals is to provide permanent treatment solutions for veterinary related diseases.
The taxidermy centre was established 12 years ago and is headed by Dr Ulrich Wernery.
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
Iftar programme at the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding
Established in 1998, the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding was created with a vision to teach residents about the traditions and customs of the UAE. Its motto is ‘open doors, open minds’. All year-round, visitors can sign up for a traditional Emirati breakfast, lunch or dinner meal, as well as a range of walking tours, including ones to sites such as the Jumeirah Mosque or Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood.
Every year during Ramadan, an iftar programme is rolled out. This allows guests to break their fast with the centre’s presenters, visit a nearby mosque and observe their guides while they pray. These events last for about two hours and are open to the public, or can be booked for a private event.
Until the end of Ramadan, the iftar events take place from 7pm until 9pm, from Saturday to Thursday. Advanced booking is required.
For more details, email openminds@cultures.ae or visit www.cultures.ae
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Titanium Escrow profile
Started: December 2016
Founder: Ibrahim Kamalmaz
Based: UAE
Sector: Finance / legal
Size: 3 employees, pre-revenue
Stage: Early stage
Investors: Founder's friends and Family
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.
Venom
Director: Ruben Fleischer
Cast: Tom Hardy, Michelle Williams, Riz Ahmed
Rating: 1.5/5
The biog
From: Upper Egypt
Age: 78
Family: a daughter in Egypt; a son in Dubai and his wife, Nabila
Favourite Abu Dhabi activity: walking near to Emirates Palace
Favourite building in Abu Dhabi: Emirates Palace
THE LIGHT
Director: Tom Tykwer
Starring: Tala Al Deen, Nicolette Krebitz, Lars Eidinger
Rating: 3/5
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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
Five expert hiking tips
Always check the weather forecast before setting off
Make sure you have plenty of water
Set off early to avoid sudden weather changes in the afternoon
Wear appropriate clothing and footwear
Take your litter home with you
More on Quran memorisation:
Vidaamuyarchi
Director: Magizh Thirumeni
Stars: Ajith Kumar, Arjun Sarja, Trisha Krishnan, Regina Cassandra
Rating: 4/5
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
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Red Sparrow
Dir: Francis Lawrence
Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Joel Egerton, Charlotte Rampling, Jeremy Irons
Three stars
As You Were
Liam Gallagher
(Warner Bros)
