Kaminzimmer » 2 win over the Magic on Friday.Everybody

The new Barclays Premier League season gets underway on Saturday and prior to the first kick, TSN.ca presents a week long look at some of the teams and stories that will shape the up coming campaign. Last season, defending champions Manchester United endured a disaster season under David Moyes, finishing seventh and missing European qualification entirely. Can new manager Louis van Gaal reassert the Red Devils dominance once again in his first season in charge? Manager: Louis van Gaal Last Season: 19-7-12 (seventh in Premier League) Notable Additions: Ander Herrera (Athletic Bilbao) and Luke Shaw (Southampton) Notable Subtractions: Ryan Giggs (Retirement), Alexander Buttner (Dynamo Kiev), Bebe (Benfica), Patrice Evra (Juventus), Nemanja Vidic (Inter), Federico Macheda (Cardiff City) and Rio Ferdinand (QPR) That was Then: Taking over the helm of United from the legendary Sir Alex Ferguson would be a great challenge to just about any manager in the game of football, but David Moyes seemed primed and ready for the challenge of succeeding a man who 38 trophies in his 27 years at the club. The long-time Everton gaffer entered into Old Trafford with a massive banner hanging from the rafters proclaiming him "the Chosen One." By the time he left Manchester United in April, fans hoped that the Scotsmans year in charge of the club would be a forgotten one. Moyes reign in the red half of Manchester was an abject disaster and there were signs of impending doom as early as last summers transfer window, when vice-chairman Ed Woodward, taking over the mantle of top executive following the retirement of David Gill after 16 seasons at United, couldnt seem to get any business done. Everton dismissed "derisory" bids for Leighton Baines and Marouane Fellaini, while nothing came to fruition with very public courtships of the likes of Cesc Fabregas, Sami Khedira and Ander Herrera. United settled with signing Fellaini for 27.5 million pounds on transfer deadline day of August 31. If the fee seemed astronomical to supporters then, it must be noted that United refused to activate the Belgians release clause of 23.5 million pounds only weeks previous. (The Canadian Press) A Community Shield victory over Wigan on a Robin van Persie double got the year off to a bright start under Moyes, as did an opening day 4-1 thrashing of Swansea City, but the defeats began to mount, starting with a 1-0 defeat to arch-rivals Liverpool at Anfield on September 1. Against the "Big Four" opponents of Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City, United could muster only five points in eight matches and were outscored 11-3 in them, including a 4-1 rout by City and an embarrassing 3-0 loss to Liverpool at Old Trafford. If that werent galling enough, United began to drop points to clubs who would have had no business beating the team with Ferguson in charge. The likes of Everton, West Brom, Newcastle and Sunderland inflicted home defeats on United with the Toffees completing the double with a victory at Goodison Park, as well, the first time it had done so since 1970. Moyes never managed to beat United once while in charge of Everton. Following a 0-0 draw with Chelsea in the seasons second game, United found itself in fourth place in the table. The team would never be in a top-four place again afterwards. Uniteds domestic cup campaigns were disastrous, as well, going out in the third round to Swansea City in the FA Cup and losing to Sunderland in the League Cup semi-finals on an embarrassing gaffe by keeper David De Gea. What was all the more confounding for United players and supporters alike was that this was virtually the same team with which Ferguson had won the league the previous year by 11 points. Yes, there were injury woes with van Persie only making only 21 league appearances and the likes of Michael Carrick and Jonny Evans missing significant time, but the team just wasnt very good under Moyes. Phil Jones and Rafael seemed to regress badly. After a stellar 2012-13, Rio Ferdinand looked his age. Tom Cleverley looked lost at the centre of midfield. Nani and Ashley Young embarrassed themselves more often than they looked competent. The less said about Fellainis year, the better. By the time Moyes left, United finished with their lowest points tally in the BPL ever, its worst home form in over a decade and it missed out on European football for the first time since 1989. This is Now: 2013-14 was humbling for United...well, thats a relative term since clubs like United are never really humbled...or humble. What better way for United to wipe the slate clean than to bring in a manager whose arrogance and swagger are only matched by his pedigree? Fresh off of a third-place finish with the Netherlands at the World Cup, Louis van Gaal assumed control of Manchester United in July and installed tnow retired United legend, Ryan Giggs, as his number two. A winner everywhere hes been (Ajax, Bayern Munich and Barcelona), van Gaal represents a 180 shift from Moyes. Prickly, acerbic and unafraid to clash with star players, van Gaal brings with him a rigidity and authoritarian style that gets results, but often at the cost of longevity. He spent only three seasons at Barcelona (briefly returning again in 2002) and three at Bayern, where he famously clashed with stars Rivaldo and Mark van Bommel. (The Canadian Press) Still, van Gaal is a winner and thats exactly what he plans to do at United, but a championship in his maiden season might be a bit too ambitious. While he says that claiming a 21st English championship is his goal for this season, a far more modest (and, perhaps, attainable) aim for the Dutchman is a return to the top four and a Champions League spot. How van Gaal plans to go about his task is a complete shift in tactical make-up. The basic make-up for United will be a 3-4-1-2 similar to the one favoured by van Gaal with the Dutch at the World Cup. In an ideal employment, United can use this going forward and can collapse into a 5-3-2 to defend. The keys here will be the wings where new signing Shaw and Young, whos seemingly found a new lease on life at Old Trafford under van Gaal, are expected to start. Ander Herrera, who some earmark as Xavi Hernandezs natural successor on the Spanish national team, will be the cog at the centre of midfield with countryman Juan Mata in the number-10 role and van Persie and newly named club captain, Wayne Rooney, as a preferred strike pairing with England international Danny Welbeck ready to spell either. As witnessed in Uniteds pre-season fixtures, this system can be both deadly and a treat to watch when firing at all cylinders. Though this is what United will likely look resemble, more or less, in the seasons opening fixtures, its unlikely the finished product, with van Gaal intent to do more on the transfer market, both buying and selling. The likes of Fellaini, Nani, Anderson and Javier Hernandez, surplus to requirements under the Dutchman, could be sold off as van Gaal continues to attempt to put his stamp on the club. One or more defenders could be on the way in (with Sportings Marcos Rojo and Ajaxs Daley Blind linked to the club in recent days), as well as some more depth in the midfield (Serie A trio Arturo Vidal, Juan Cuadrado and Kevin Strootman are among those said to be coveted by van Gaal) where Carrick is on the shelf and vice-captain Darren Fletchers health a seemingly constant tenuous proposition. There is reason for optimism at Old Trafford. A lack of European football means laser-like focus on the league. While City, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool prepare for midweek fixtures, United will have the luxury of rest and preparation for their next league match. Sure, the lack of European football stings from the loss of revenue, but the potential domestic advantage gained over its domestic rivals could be priceless. While any new manager can expect some sort of grace period in taking over a club, van Gaal will not expect one and it probably wont be offered from supporters. Though, van Gaal has warned players and supporters alike to expect growing pains, the importance of a strong start for United is obvious considering its schedule. The teams first six fixtures are against three teams who finished in the bottom half of the table last season (Swansea City, Sunderland and West Ham) and the three promoted sides (QPR, Burnley and Leicester City.) Contrast this with Liverpool, who get City and Spurs in its first three matches, or Arsenal, who have Everton, City and a Champions League qualifier with Besiktas in the next month. United must use its weak schedule to its advantage. Returning to the summit of English football could be wishful thinking for United in 2014-15, but theres no reason to doubt that this season will mark Manchester Uniteds reassertion as one of the dominant forces in the English game. Burning Question: With a relatively quiet transfer window, is a new tactical set-up and confidence under van Gaal enough for United to return to the top four? Greg Van Roten Jersey . Every once in awhile, it seems like life lets dreams become real - and that is a gift. Greg Olsen Jersey . More importantly, he is trying to show his young teammates the Colorado are still post-season contenders. He hopes winning a series at home was a fresh start. http://www.officialcarolinapanthersfootb...t-jersey-womens. The English Football Association had charged the German right back with violent conduct after retrospectively reviewing video evidence of an incident that was missed by match officials at Craven Cottage on Saturday. Marquis Haynes Jersey .J. Fair didnt have many chances to be the main option for Syracuse last season. Mike Adams Jersey . The Gatineau Olympiques head coach will lead Canada in its quest to end its gold medal drought at the 2015 world junior hockey championship held in Montreal and Toronto at the end of this year.ORLANDO, Fla. - The Dallas Mavericks set out in the off-season to add depth in hopes of building a roster capable of competing with the upper tier of the Western Conference.They ended the preseason looking like a team that may be ready for that challenge.Chandler Parsons scored 24 points, and Dirk Nowitzki added 16 as the Mavericks ran away with a 117-92 win over the Magic on Friday.Everybody came in and did their job, Dallas coach Rick Carlisle said. Youre never going to be perfect, but weve got good depth and weve got guys that I think are going to be ready. Now its time to throw it up.Dallas (4-4) rested its starters Thursday and played refreshed, pushing its lead above 20 in the third quarter.Orlando (4-4) didnt help itself, posting a preseason-high 26 turnovers.Tobias Harris led the Magic with 14 points.The Magic played under slightly dampened spirits following news Friday that second-year guard Victor Oladipo would have surgery Saturday for a facial fracture he sustained after catching an inadvertent elbow in practice Thursday.Oladipo had already missed the entire preseason with a sprained right medial collateral ligament and remains out indefinitely. He joins Channing Frye, who also sat all eight preseason games and is out with a sprained left MCL.A night after resting the top seven players in his rotation at New Orleans, Dallas coach Rick Carlisle went with his projected opening night starting five of Parsons, Nowitzki, Tyson Chandler, Monta Ellis and Jameer Nelson on Friday.They all played 20-plus minutes, led by Ellis with 26.That is always the goal, Chandler said of Dallas championship prospects this season. You look at our team and look at the chemistry were having. We just have to continue to get better...and everything else will take care of itself.Vaughn said he has yet to settle on his starting five for the regular season opener, but acknnowledged that preseason injuries have left things fluid in the interim.ddddddddddddIt means that Orlandos Friday starting lineup of Harris, Kyle OQuinn, Nik Vucevic, Maurice Harkless, and Luke Ridnour is certainly a possible combination to open the regular season next week.The Magic got another injury scare in the third quarter when Ridnour limped off after banging knees with Parsons.___TIP-INSThe Mavericks: G Raymond Felton missed his sixth straight preseason game with a sprained right ankle.The Magic: Along with Oladipo and Frye, the Magic also played without Ben Gordon (dental work) and Dewayne Dedmon (sore foot) on Friday.INJURY TALKVaughn said in the day since his injury Oladipo has remained in good spirits and that he is confident he will take his recent run of bad luck in stride. One of the things I told him was it could be worse, Vaughn said. Lifes about challenges, how you face them and how you overcome them. And right now hes got a couple of challenges. Hes working back from one challenge with the knee, so I joked with him that the knee will probably be completely healed by the time you come back from the facial fracture.HOMECOMINGOrlandos fans gave Nelson, who spent the first 10 years of his career in Orlando, a loud ovation when he was introduced pregame. Nelson was waived by the Magic after last season, freeing him up to become an unrestricted free agent and eventually sign in Dallas.STAT WATCHVucevic has been consistent throughout the preseason and ended it that way. The Magics big man appeared in seven games this preseason, reaching double figures in them all. He had his second double-double Friday with 10 points and 13 rebounds.UP NEXTDallas opens the regular-season at San Antonio on Tuesday.Orlando opens the regular-season at New Orleans on Tuesday.___Follow Kyle Hightower on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/khightower Cheap Buffalo Sabres Gear Wholesale Calgary Flames Jerseys Cheap Adidas Colorado Avalanche Jerseys Montreal Canadiens Outlet Store Wholesale New Jersey Devils Jerseys Adidas Arizona Coyotes Jerseys Cheap Adidas Boston Bruins Jerseys Cheap Adidas Carolina Hurricanes Jerseys Chicago Blackhawks Shop Free Shipping Wholesale Columbus Blue Jackets Jerseys Dallas Stars Shop Free Shipping Cheap Adidas Detroit Red Wings Jerseys Anaheim Ducks Jerseys China Wholesale Edmonton Oilers Jerseys Florida Panthers Shop Free Shipping Wholesale Los Angeles Kings Jerseys Minnesota Wild Outlet Store Cheap Adidas Nashville Predators Jerseys Cheap Adidas New York Islanders Jerseys New York Rangers Winter Classic Jerseys Cheap Adidas Ottawa Senators Jerseys Cheap Adidas Philadelphia Flyers Jerseys Wholesale Pittsburgh Penguins Jerseys Cheap Adidas San Jose Sharks Jerseys St. Louis Blues Winter Classic Jerseys Wholesale Tampa Bay Lightning Jerseys Toronto Maple Leafs Outlet Store Vancouver Canucks Outlet Store Cheap Adidas Vegas Golden Knights Jerseys Cheap Adidas Washington Capitals Jerseys Cheap Adidas Winnipeg Jets Jerseys ' ' '