Napoli and Jonny Gomes, possibly off the bench

MANCHESTER, England -- Netherlands coach Louis van Gaal was hired as Manchester United manager on Monday, tasked with repairing the damage from David Moyes disappointing 10 months in charge and reviving the fortunes of one of the worlds biggest clubs. The 62-year-old Dutchman has signed a three-year contract and will take over at Old Trafford after the World Cup in Brazil, becoming the first United manager from outside Britain and Ireland. United great Ryan Giggs, who announced the end of his 23-year playing career, will be Van Gaals assistant. "To work as a manager for Manchester United, the biggest club in the world, makes me very proud," Van Gaal said in a United statement. "This club has big ambitions; I too have big ambitions. Together Im sure we will make history." Van Gaal has experience of coaching -- and winning league titles -- at some of the worlds top teams, but even spells at Ajax, Barcelona and Bayern Munich may not prepare him for the rebuilding job required at United. The club has been in a state of flux since the retirement of Alex Ferguson last May after nearly 27 years in charge. Moyes, Fergusons successor, was dismissed last month before the team went on to finish seventh -- its lowest placing since the Premier Leagues inception in 1992. United also failed to qualify for European football for the first time in 24 years. Van Gaal is likely to be handed considerable funds to strengthen the squad to get United back in the Champions League, something the clubs American owners -- the Glazer family -- werent prepared to give Moyes. A return to Europes top competition will likely be the priority, followed by a desire to play the kind of attacking, dynamic brand of football expected at United but unable to be delivered by Moyes. United has broken the mould by appointing Van Gaal. In the clubs 136-year history, no previous manager has come from outside Britain or Ireland, a common occurrence at Englands other big clubs in recent years. The notion of United hiring coaches in a bid to create a dynasty -- something Ferguson uniquely achieved -- also appears to have ended. After spending six years at Ajax, where Van Gaal guided a talented young team to the pinnacle of European football by winning the Champions League in 1995, he joined Barcelona in 1997 for the first of two spells -- the first lasting three seasons and the second barely half a year. He has since coached AZ Alkmaar in the Dutch league and Bayern between 2009-11. So he may not be the long-term manager many at United crave -- Giggs, Uniteds interim manager for last seasons final four games and one of the clubs greatest players, is thought to be being groomed for the seat in the future -- but the fact that Van Gaal has won league titles with every team he has worked makes him one of Europes most-respected coaches. He has been coach of the Netherlands since 2012, his second spell with the national team following a stint from 2000-02. "Everyone is very excited about this new phase in the clubs history," United vice-chairman Ed Woodward said. "His track record of success in winning leagues and cups across Europe throughout his career makes him the perfect choice for us. "People know him as a larger-than-life character but I have also been extremely impressed by his intelligence, thoughtful approach to the role and his diligence." He can be spiky and provocative with journalists and hardly lacks in self-belief, a trait which can often spill over to make him appear arrogant. But after the failed tenure of Moyes, United needed a manager who commanded respect and had a strong track record. His job wont be easy. While United has regressed since landing its record-extending 20th English championship last year, rival Liverpool has improved greatly under Brendan Rodgers and finished second in the Premier League this season. Chelsea, Manchester City and Arsenal are established members of the top group and showing no signs of being on the slide. The appointment of Giggs as Van Gaals No. 2 will satisfy those eager for some continuity at the club following the trophy-filled era of Ferguson. The 40-year-old Giggs published an open letter on Uniteds website an hour after Van Gaals appointment, praising the Dutchmans qualities and revealing his decision to end his playing days. "For me, today is new chapter filled with many emotions -- immense pride, sadness, but most of all, excitement towards the future," Giggs said. "United fans I hope will share and echo my belief that the club, the management and owners, are doing everything they can to return this great club to where it belongs, and I hope to be there every step of the way." Cheap Terry Steinbach Jersey . - The Green Bay Packers got back to work on Friday without star quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Cheap Dennis Eckersley Jersey . And thats about it. 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Jeff Green and Jordan Crawford each scored 19 points, Bass added 15 points and had a game-saving block in the closing seconds Saturday, and the Celtics held on for a 103-100 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers.BOSTON - Teams that advance this deep into the post-season rarely have glaring deficiencies and when it comes to their respective starting staffs and in the offensive lineups of the Red Sox and Tigers, theyre difficult to find. That also goes for each clubs closer in Detroits Joaquin Benoit and Koji Uehara of Boston. Dig a little deeper into those bullpens, though, and you understand why both managers expect their stud starters – Bostons Jon Lester, Clay Buchholz, John Lackey and Jake Peavy and Detroits Anibal Sanchez, Max Scherzer, Justin Verlander and Doug Fister – to pitch deep into each game. Quite frankly, their managers need them to. “Hopefully our starters match up to theirs and I think that will be one of the keys in this series for us,” said Red Sox manager John Farrell. “I cant speak for what Jim is thinking about with his own team. Our ability for our starters to keep the game under control will be pivotal for us.” “I think this series, like most series to be honest with you, everybody talks about the bullpen but when you get in the short series, just like the other night, we didnt use our bullpen,” said Tigers manager Jim Leyland. “I think this will be a starting pitching series, with the exception of the ninth inning, most likely. Youre going to see Lester and Lackey and Peavy and those kinds of guys.” Despite the success of the back end, Detroit and Boston each sported relief corps which finished in baseballs bottom 10 in bullpen ERA. The Red Soxs 3.70 ERA came in at 21st and the Tigers were even worse, finishing 24th with a 4.01 ERA. Theres a reason Leyland went to ace Max Scherzer late in the crucial fourth game of the Tigers Division Series against Oakland, facing elimination. “They might have a little more depth, maybe,” said Leyland. “A little more &nddash; maybe a slight edge in getting to (the closers,) although I feel very comfortable with our bullpen.dddddddddddd” “Weve got some guys that we trust late in the game,” said Farrell. “Whether its Craig (Breslow,) or Junichi (Tazawa) and certainly Koji at the end. But we feel weve got matchup ability and guys tested more recently in this series.” Canadian Ryan Dempster, 36, agreed to a move to the bullpen in mid-September and is an option available to Farrell. Dempster spent four seasons (2004-2007) as a closer for the Cubs. The Tigers like left-handed set up man Drew Smyly and with good reason. He posted a 2.37 ERA and 1.039 WHIP in 63 appearances this season. Hell be tested in this series, however, with Bostons solid right-handed nucleus of Dustin Pedroia, Mike Napoli and Jonny Gomes, possibly off the bench. Beyond Smyly, its a hodgepodge. Right-hander Al Alburquerque has the stuff but he walked 34 hitters in 49 innings. Left-hander Phil Coke, added to the roster in time for the ALCS, had a disastrous season. Fifth starter, right-hander Rick Porcello, will be available in a long role. Benoit locked down 24 of 26 save opportunities this season. Uehara converted 21 of 24 on the year and was a virtual lock after taking over as closer when Joel Hanrahan and Andrew Bailey got hurt. Each has two saves in the post-season and neither has blown a game, although Uehara did surrender the walk-off home run to Tampa Bays Jose Lobaton, breaking the 3-3 deadlock in the third game of Bostons division series with the Rays. “I think both managers are hoping that the bullpen, unless its real late, is not as significant maybe,” said Leyland. Then Leyland added perhaps the most obvious statement. “If our starters arent good, were not going to win this series and probably the same for them.” ' ' '