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Van Gaal quick to make his mark at Man United

By WTOP Staff

STEVE DOUGLAS
AP Sports Writer

MANCHESTER, England (AP) — “Welcome to Vanchester” reads the message on a giant billboard on one of Manchester’s busy streets.

Above the words, a picture of a smiling Louis van Gaal — his arms outstretched in a triumphant pose — dominates the red background.

And it’s not just the landscape of the city that is changing following Van Gaal’s hiring as Manchester United manager.

With three days to go until the Premier League season begins, English football is also wising up to the fact it has a new firebrand coach in its midst, someone who has never been afraid to speak his mind or issue reminders of his qualities and past achievements.

Manchester City, the reigning Premier League champion, is talking about finally making its mark in Europe. Arsenal is sensing its best chance to win the league title in years. And Chelsea has been installed as one of the favorites for the championship following the arrival of attackers Diego Costa and Cesc Fabregas.

But the real intrigue heading into the new campaign is how successfully, and quickly, Van Gaal settles in at United and whether he can restore the fortunes of England’s biggest club, which went into free-fall in the 10-month reign of David Moyes last season.

Van Gaal has wasted no time in making his presence felt at Old Trafford — and, as expected, he’s been in the thick of the headlines.

Already, he has spoken of his concerns that United’s vast commercial commitments were impinging on football matters. He has questioned the suitability of the main field at United’s training center. He has changed the formation of the team to one rarely used in English football — a 3-5-2. He has been openly critical of one of his player’s fitness (new signing Luke Shaw). And he is in the process of overhauling the playing squad, with some high-profile names either already out of Old Trafford or starting to pack their bags.

“He looks to be his own man who knows exactly what he wants to do,” United goalkeeping great Peter Schmeichel said. “I think we should be contending for the title again this season under him.”

Many United fans will be of the same opinion.

Having collected league titles in spells at Ajax, Barcelona and Bayern Munich, Van Gaal already had a big opinion of himself before heading to the World Cup in Brazil with the Netherlands. There, his ego was massaged even further.

He made game-changing substitutions and tactical tinkerings, not least in a quarterfinal match against Costa Rica when he changed goalkeepers seconds before a penalty shootout. The incoming keeper, Tim Krul, saved two spot kicks and the Dutch advanced.

A third-place finish was better than most had anticipated and Van Gaal came away from Brazil with his reputation bolstered. From this position of strength, he has laid down the law in his first month at United.

At his unveiling in mid-July, he flagged up the club’s focus on money-making and repeated his concerns during the preseason tour in the United States, making it clear he will not accept grueling summer schedules that see the squad jet all over the world to boost the club’s brand.

“Manchester United shall do everything to adapt to my rules for good preparation,” Van Gaal said.

By that time, Van Gaal had identified problems at United’s training ground that had been structured by former manager Alex Ferguson, complaining that the windy conditions affected practice sessions and reportedly ordering new playing surfaces.

Now his focus mostly is on the team.

Van Gaal sanctioned the departure of experienced defenders Rio Ferdinand and Patrice Evra, who joined Nemanja Vidic in leaving United this off-season, and the arrival of young players Shaw and Ander Herrera for a combined 50 million pounds ($84 million).

More reshuffling is expected before the transfer window shuts on Aug. 31, meaning fringe players like Nani, Anderson, Javier Hernandez and Marouane Fellaini will be fearing for their future. And Van Gaal won’t hesitate to make these big decisions.

Even braver, he has not held back in stamping his own authority on the team by changing formation from a 4-2-3-1 to a 3-5-2.

The tactical change will likely get the best out of Juan Mata, who can now play in his preferred position behind the front two of Robin van Persie and Wayne Rooney, the team’s new captain. The system is a gamble considering the three center backs he will likely use — Jonny Evans, Phil Jones and Chris Smalling — have never played in a three-man defense and he is currently relying on wingers Antonio Valencia and Ashley Young to play as a wing back.

But it has worked so far, with United ending its preseason campaign with six straight wins — the latest coming against Valencia on Tuesday.

The good results may continue into the beginning of the season because United has been handed the easiest start of any club, based on the finishing positions last season of its first five opponents.

By the end of September, it would be no surprise to see United at the top of the standings. And Van Gaal wearing the same grin he has on that billboard in central Manchester.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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