re at Old Trafford despite his success. His greatest responses to crit

GURNEE, Ill. -- Charley Hull is fresh as a daisy, and England is dreaming big.Hull and surprising England grabbed the lead in the UL International Crown on Saturday, and the United States advanced with a sweep against Japan.Hull, who missed Fridays four-ball session with a fever and trouble with her asthma, teamed with Melissa Reid for a 3-and-1 victory over sisters Ariya and Moriya Jutanugarn of Thailand. Holly Clyburn and Jodi Ewart Shadoff routed Pornanong Phatlum and Porani Chutichai 7 and 5, helping seventh-seeded England to a Pool B-best nine points.We couldnt have asked for much of a better day than we got today, Clyburn said.The U.S., which began the day with just three points, turned in its best performance so far in the rare team event on the LPGA Tour. Lexi Thompson and Cristie Kerr posted their second straight win with a 4-and-2 victory over Ai Suzuki and Ayaka Watanabe, and Stacy Lewis and Gerina Piller surged to a 3-and-1 win over Haru Nomara and Mika Miyazato.Taiwan also wrapped up a spot in the fourth session before a lingering thunderstorm postponed play with two Pool A matches still on the course, leaving two spots open for Sundays 10 singles matches. The country with the most points at the end of the weekend wins a silver trophy, to go along with $100,000 and a crown for each of its four players.Before the rain drenched the course, the players had to play through hot and humid conditions at the Merit Club about 40 miles northwest of Chicago.Have you ever seen the movie `Good Morning, Vietnam, where Robin Williams goes off into the tangent where its like, its hot, its sticky, its hot, a smiling Kerr said. It was pretty much like that.The 20-year-old Hull struggled to breathe for much of Thursday night and got some oxygen and an IV to help her feel better. She watched the back nine of Reids gutsy effort playing by herself in a close loss to Japan, and felt fresh as a daisy heading into the third session.Shaking off a slow start, Hull and Reid won five straight holes to go from two down to three up. Hull had three straight birdies before she eagled the par-5 eighth. Reid closed out the string with a birdie on No. 9.Me and Mel both played awesome, so it was fun, Hull said.England did not make the field for the inaugural event in 2014, won by Spain with 15 points. It was considered an afterthought coming into this week, but the strong start has the women dreaming of what a victory could do for the sport in their country.You know, if we did win, hopefully it would inspire not only girls but women and men and some young guys and boys and stuff to want to take up the club and think that its fun and want to learn how to play this game, Reid said.The second-seeded U.S. was swept by England on Thursday, but it rebounded with three points against Thailand in the second session and picked up even more momentum against Japan. Piller finished her match with a birdie on 17, and Thompson beat the oncoming storm with a closing eagle on 16.We stuck with our pairings, and we just tried to stay positive with it and go out and play aggressive, Thompson said. We knew we had to make birdies and just go for it.Piller and Lewis were tied with Nomura and Miyazato before Piller rolled in a birdie from the fringe on 12. Piller got a good look at the putt when Lewis left one just short from right in front of her ball.Any time you get a free read is huge, and after she hit it, she told me what she put it at and where it ended up, Piller said.---Jay Cohen can be reached at http://www.twitter.com/jcohenapDiscount Air Max 1 . Scott Kazmir allowed four hits in seven shutout innings, Michael Brantley hit a two-run homer in a three-run first inning and the Indians maintained their hold on an AL wild-card spot with a 4-1 win over the Houston Astros on Saturday night. Cheap Wholesale Air Max 1 . After dropping their final six games of December, the Wild opened the new calendar year with four consecutive wins. Following a loss to Colorado on Saturday, Minnesota rebounded the following night to blank Nashville 4-0, but then had the tables turned on them Tuesday. http://www.airmax1wholesale.com/ . You can watch the game live on TSN at 7:30pm et/4:30pm pt. The Flyers had won seven of eight before dropping their last two outings on consecutive days over the weekend. Philadelphia was handed a 6-3 loss by the visiting Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday afternoon before dropping a 4-1 decision to the Rangers the following night in New York City. Air Max 1 Wholesale . -- Ohio States Urban Meyer has never had any issue acclimating to the biggest stages in college football. Cheap Air Max 1 China . MORITZ, Switzerland -- Fog prevented downhill racers from getting their Olympic dress rehearsal.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 undeniabble.dddddddddddd 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 ' ' '