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The Barclays Premier League 2013-14 season kicks off Saturday and before a ball has been kicked, the negativity and pessimism surrounding reigning champions Manchester Uniteds title credentials have reached a fevered pitch. Its an unusual, rare spot United find itself - being second-guessed. And the detractors have lined up to take a dig. Heed my warning - rule out Manchester United at your own peril. No more Sir Alex Ferguson earning points. The new manager, David Moyes, has never won a trophy (never mind last weekends Community Shield) nor managed past the qualifying stages of the Champions League. No desired marquee central midfielder landing at Old Trafford thus far in the summer transfer window. And how can we forget a less than stellar pre-season tour and a disgruntled Wayne Rooney. All these factors weigh heavily as to why many predict United to finish no better than 3rd in the table come May 11. Without a match being played, the narrative among pundits, bloggers, opposing supporters and even some who live and breathe United football; the upcoming season will prove to be one of adjustment, transition and struggle. Many reminisce about yesteryear and the difficulty the club had in replacing the likewise legendary Sir Matt Busby. When the predecessor sets the bar so high, and if the incumbent doesnt meet the lofty standard of past years, the new manager is assumed destined to fail. All this is on the plate of the new man, Moyes. And by the way, Sir Alex and Sir Bobby are upstairs watching. Good luck with that. Sir Alex Fergusons message to supporters after his final victory at the Theatre of Dreams to "stand by the new manager" was heard, but whether its abided during inevitable blips that will come over a lengthy campaign will be a true test of patience and belief in the manager. Moyes was Fergusons personal choice as successor. Yet Fergusons choice has come into question already. The suggestion players wont want to play for Moyes the way they wanted to play for Ferguson is far too simplistic. But to the average onlooker and inactivity in the transfer window to support the notion, initial panic and criticism of the hire has been widespread. Uniteds difficult start to the schedule (Swansea, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City in their first five matches) will be a further test. The return of manager Jose Mourinho to Chelsea and cross-town rival Manchester City spending upwards of another £90 million in the transfer window are sexier storylines. Time will tell how much, if any, these two teams have improved from a season ago. But for a team thats only lost a seldom-used Paul Scholes from a squad that ran away with the Premier League a season ago, the predicted demise of United is completely overblown. Doomsday talk is nothing new. After selling Cristiano Ronaldo, or not keeping up with Citys big spending, or even losing 1-0 to Everton in last years opener, shots are taken at United whenever the team shows the slightest vulnerability. Thats what happens when you spend your time at the top. Man United finished 11 points atop the league last May. Ive heard more times than I can count that Ferguson earned the team upwards of 10 more points than they deserved. What a crock. Apparently Ferguson was the one finishing late in matches, as Robin van Persie did multiple occasions early in the season when United looked a step off. 26 goals and eight assists say much about the quality of the player. Or how about the stand out play of Michael Carrick, being the straw that stirred the drink in Uniteds midfield in a season the production from typically useful wing players simply was not there. A combined two goals for Antonio Valencia, Ashley Young and Nani in a year they ran away with a title. A title came in a year Shinji Kagawa was both misused and under utilized. A title still came as captain Nemanja Vidic recovered from knee surgery, deputized under a watchful eye. Through it all, title number 20 was celebrated United have won the title three of the last five years, and the one year they lost, it was on goal differential in the most dramatic fashion imaginable. We all acknowledge the greatness of Sir Alex, but the man doesnt walk on water. The players had something to do with it. And the team remains in tact. Vidic, Giggs, Ferdinand, Evra, and Carrick remain the stalwarts. They bring a balance - a quiet confidence to the bunch. A track record of winning will do that. They may not come with the style of others, but the substance is undeniable. Theyve helped cultivate a winning environment and one of internal accountability. With a new manager and coaching staff, the transition is eased with players as such. The more astute United observer recognizes the Ferguson era was marked by development with in. Bringing young players through, whether developed at United or purchased before their prime, has been instrumental to success. As has the marquee signings but without the nucleus of youth, a team lacks a proper balance. This changing of the guard from Sir Alex to Moyes is another chance for the club to take advantage of the stockpiled young talent by giving them a chance. 18-year-old Adnan Januzaj was arguably Uniteds brightest star pre-season. A gifted left-footed player whos better suited playing a more central attacking role has earned his chance to play. Wilfried Zaha, an outside right midfielder, was Fergusons final purchase, and a proper one at that, for £15 million from Crystal Palace. Zaha looks ready to slot into a starting position and has worked his way into the England side, all at the age of 20. Right-back Rafael, 23, continues to develop into a top defender in the league, and goalkeeper David De Gea was voted into the PFA Team of the Year last season. De Gea is 22. These are a few of the many cases where United is well position for the present and future. It may be less sexy than spending outlandishly, over-paying for talent to appease a fan base or the pundits. But they provide substance, they provide a backbone and they illustrate a plan. It will be strange seeing Moyes on the touchline and not seeing the wily Ferguson animated, checking his watch and chomping his gum. The Ferguson era was special. Its hard to believe there will be another like it - 26 years and 49 trophies. Now, without Ferguson comes another kind of excitement. Its anticipation of the unknown and thats not a bad thing. A tactical refresher and a different voice may be what this group of top players needs to remain fresh. Moyes knows the Premier League. His away record at the top teams while at Everton is irrelevant. Hes at Manchester United now, surrounded by talent he could only dream of at Goodison. The commitment to Uniteds vast array of sponsors and overall pressure that come with the job has heightened. But football is football and thats what Moyes will be evaluated on. Moyes will learn on the job what type of players he needs to add to fit his system. Patience is being preached and not being well received. Whether its Fabregas, Ozil, Modric, Fellaini or other, players will arrive. Rushing to judgment right now before the transfer window has even closed and before weve seen a Moyes team even play a truly competitive match serves no purpose. Its a fruitless exercise playing fantasy football manager. It makes more sense for Moyes to rely on a group currently champions than carelessly shaking things up, going about his business like a drunken sailor. But that seems to be what the masses expect. Its the biggest mistake made in modern football; throw money at something and problems go away. The message isnt not to spend. Its to spend wisely and timely and on your own accord. The support of United in this piece isnt meant to serve as cheerleading material. Its to warn not to count this group out. Not just yet. The team has its vulnerabilities. Its plain to see upgrades to the central midfield are needed long-term and an unhappy Rooney doesnt jive either. Both issues will be settled in due time. Sir Alex was often questioned throughout his tenure at Old Trafford despite his success. His greatest responses to criticism werent behind a microphone, they happened on the field. Time and time again, Manchester United proved critics wrong. Theyve shown they are bigger than one man. They have proven to be winners. Moyes and Manchester Uniteds newest challenge starts Saturday. Rule out Manchester United at your own peril. TSN 1050 Radio will host doubleheader action from the Barclays Premier League this weekend. Join myself and Kristian Jack on Saturday for Arsenals match against Aston Villa before Swansea faces Manchester United. The action unfolds on TSN 1050 Radio at 9:30am et/6:30am pt. On Sunday, Crystal Palace faces Tottenham ahead of Chelsea and Hull City going head-to-head. Sundays coverage on TSN 1050 Radio begins at 8:30am et/5:30am pt. You can reach Gareth at gareth.wheeler@bellmedia.ca or follow him on Twitter, @WheelerTSN Clearance Shoes UK Store . PAUL, Minn. Wholesale Nike Shoes UK . "We have always prided ourselves on the way we play defence. Having two big pieces back is going to be a key for us moving forward for years to come," said Knighthawks head coach Mike Hasen. http://www.discountukshoes.com/ . Haas said he "felt a lot of pain" in his right shoulder when he slammed his racket to the ground in frustration after losing his serve at 3-3 in the first set. Wholesale Shoes UK Authentic . -- The proud fathers huddled near the Dallas Stars dressing room, smiling, laughing and telling stories while wearing replica green sweaters of their sons team. Discount Shoes UK Online . Pert has formerly spent time as an assistant coach with Cardiff City, Coventry City, and Bahrain mens national team. "Martyn is a highly-respected coach with experience at the top levels in England," said Whitecaps FC head coach Carl Robinson.This Sunday, it comes to an end - the Manchester United era under Sir Alex Ferguson. Almost 27 years and 38 trophies later, Ferguson steps away from managerial life at Manchester United after a trip to the Hawthorns. An away tie at West Brom provides the stage and context for the most anti-climactic Fergie Time imaginable. If it were not for an unjust red card to Nani that turned the tides in Uniteds Champions League tie with Real Madrid, a more appropriate send off in a Champions League final at Wembley could have been in the cards for the decorated gaffer. But this is what were left with. Fergusons swansong cannot live up to the pomp and circumstance of the past 10 days since he announced he was stepping away. Tributes have poured in from around the world, bidding adieu, congratulatory messages, words of praise, acknowledgement of accomplishment. In addition to aforementioned acclaim, Sir Alex managed his final match at Old Trafford, hoisted his 13th Premier League title trophy and took in the celebratory parade through the streets of Manchester, commemorating league title No. 20 for the worlds most famous club. Manchester went Red, allowing Ferguson to move nicely into his quasi-retirement directors role, at peace. All my life Ive supported Manchester United. Im a Red, through and through. I can honestly say some of the best moments of my life have come supporting United. Its my passion. And as far back as I remember, that meant supporting Sir Alex Ferguson. Sir Alex is the only manager that any of us who were born in the 1980s knows firsthand. Watching and consuming Premier League football is easy nowadays. Turn on the radio or television. Go online. Its all at your fingertips. It took considerable more effort in my youth. Soccer Saturday on TSN was a prime destination. Press clippings in the mail from overseas kept me up-to-date. Or heading to the pub to watch matches on the satellite were our basic staples. I remember getting my first Manchester United kit from family in the UK in the early eighties: a red Adidas shirt with SHARP sponsor in the middle with the Manchester United crest above it. I still have the jersey and it surprisingly fits (kind of). The shirt pre-dates Sir Alex, but it was upon his arrival in 1986 I took a real interest. Supporting the club as a child, the work a manager does goes by the wayside. Your true heroes are the players. The players are the stars. They score the goals. They dazzle with their skill and vision. I remember wanting to be the next Steve Bruce, which turned into wanting to be the next Paul Ince as I worked my way up the field in my own playing days. I grew up with Manchester Uniteds golden generation. Scholes, Beckham, Butt, Neville(s). I swear if I ever have a son Ill name him Giggs. Cantona was a godsend. Keano was our fearless leader. And Robin van Persie is Uniteds new patron saint. Manchester United has been a place where the biggest names in world football have plied their trade and won. Won lots of trophies. It doesnt get better for a supporter. The last 27 years, the Impossible Dream has been a reality for United supporters. Its been incredible. Stoppage time magic in Barcelona. Penalties in Moscow. The ups and downs of a decisive run in the Premier League. Its been a ride. And if you get down to it, none of it would have been possible without The Boss. Nothing. The sporting heroism of the players turns to admiration of the manager. Its easy to become jaded by sport. The non-stop managerial and player turn-around at clubs across the world waters down identity. Its a by-product of modern sport, and I get it. But its something United has largely been immune. Yes, players come and go. Some probably stay too long. But its the identity of what being part of the club thats remained the same. And that has been set by Ferguson. Responsibility comes with pllaying for Manchester United.dddddddddddd The history of the club is part of that. But Ferguson did the rest. He set the tone, steering the course, knocking off adversaries and keeping United at the top. Players were held accountable. Once a player put one above club, hed be knocked down or sent away. The club first mentality has been preached to the end. Wayne Rooney the last player to feel the brunt of Ferguson sending a message, watching Uniteds final home match from an executive suite. Its perspective Sir Alex brought. Professionalism. A column penned by former England goalkeeper David James gives a poignant glimpse how Manchester United players developed into a difference breed. http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/...ager?CMP=twt_gu And it came about because Sir Alex demanded more. The full 90 on and off the field. Superior focus. A winners mentality. I still cant believe Ferguson agreed to be a guest on Off the Record with Michael Landsberg on Uniteds North American summer tour in 2010. Michael invited me into studio that day, knowing my passion for United. I had just landed from spending 40-something days covering the World Cup in South Africa and couldnt make it. Its one of my biggest regrets - not being able to meet the man in person. Theres no substitute for a real face-to-face conversation. Covering sport you meet personalities of all kinds. But Sir Alex to me is in a league of his own. That would have been special. Next season will not be the same without Ferguson on the sidelines. Ill miss Fergie Time, which has become preferred terminology when too much stoppage time is given. Anything can happen in Fergie Time and usually did. Ill miss the gum chewing and the assumption of the hair dryer after a poor 45 minutes. Ill miss questioning his squad selection. Ferguson has often remained steadfast and loyal to players and formations deemed not suffice. Yet time after time, Ferguson got it right. No matter whom he left on the bench, or what wonky substitution was made, it would all somehow work out over the long haul. His ability to see beyond the immediate into the big picture and manage accordingly may be his biggest strength, evidenced in his team hitting stride each year in and around the hectic holiday season. Ill miss the mind games. Ferguson had his ups and downs with the media. But how he went out of his way to send a message to a match official or opposing manager after an innocent question was a thing of beauty. There were no mincing words. And the message always delivered. Ill miss his visible love for the club and respect for its supporters. He was a pillar of strength, often controversially after the Glazers take over of the club. Hell have to continue to be influential behind the scenes so the new manager can thrive. Above all, Ill miss having blind faith of a Ferguson managed team on the field, no matter who theyre playing, who was on the field, or what the score line may be. The best way to describe Ferguson is a winner. The mentality is contagious. Managers come and go but how do you move on when Fergusons the only one Ive known? You dont. There is no way to truly replace Sir Alex. You simply move on with faith that the culture established carries through to the next edition of the team. Im choosing to be optimistic. At the very least, the entire idea of change is exciting. Most supporters of other clubs go through this on a semi-regular basis. New tactics, new motivation, fresh life into the on-field product has to be a positive under the backdrop Ferguson helped build. The club is bigger than one man. The club will move on. Football is fluid. Fergusons recognized this better than most, speaking to his longevity. Match 1,500 will be his last Sunday. A day Ill sit back, enjoy, and be thankful Sir Alex Ferguson was the manager for my football team. ' ' '