The clouds were grey and there wasnt a sign of sunshine anywhere. Two Spanish players kicked the ball between each other as cameras ran around them looking for the perfect shot. The weather had given it away. It was clearly the north of England, but the skill on show on the pitch came from elsewhere. Juan Mata struck the ball hard off the bar and that was Ander Herreras cue to turn around, rifle the ball in the net and send a stern message to the camera. a€?Have you got the instinct? It was a message created up by the brain trust behind the latest Adidas campaign, but it is a test his new team has to pass if they want to progress. The two Manchester United players represent a new era at Old Trafford, despite them not being directly linked with Louis van Gaal. Gaalaticos, these are not. Mata was a David Moyes signing and Herrera was pursued by Moyes and the clubs chief executive, Ed Woodward, as early as the summer of 2013, yet only became a United player once the club finally caved and agreed to pay the 36 million Euro out clause to Athletic Bilbao for the midfielder. Herrera admitted he hadnt spoken to his new manager before he signed, but, then again, van Gaal was making his way to Fortaleza at the time for a last-16 tilt with Mexico for the Netherlands when the Spaniard finally put pen to paper at Old Trafford. It would be unfair on Herrera, though, to presume his face did not fit with van Gaals philosophy. The Dutch boss had been named the next manager at Old Trafford well before the final successful bid had been submitted to San Mames and it was clear, no matter who the manager was, that Herrera was a player United needed. It can take some time for overseas players to adapt to the Premier League, but last weekend the 25-year-old Spaniard looked like he had been playing in England all his life. Herrera was magnificent against QPR, operating on the right side of a midfield diamond, but receiving an incredible 87 passes all over the field. Highlighting his exceptional movement, both his full-backs, Rafael and Marcos Rojo, finished in the top three of players who completed passes to him. It was only QPR Four small words that have been thrown in the face of Manchester United fans all week. For the first time in 25 years, the club are not playing in a European competition this season, so they have more time than usual to digest domestic successes from the past weekend. It may have only been QPR, but Sundays hammering of the London club by van Gaals men showed they had the instinct, demonstrating a desire to push forward regularly with a speed from midfield that was lacking under Moyes. The game was over as a contest by half-time and, finally, their fans saw strong signs of progression away from the Moyes era. Such a low bar may have been set after the disastrous campaign of last season, yet it is important United break stride away from that period as quickly as possible. Before QPR, against Swansea and Burnley for example, questions remained. There are different ways to measure progress. Clearly, the easiest way to do this is by looking at the result and the 4-0 thumping over QPR meant van Gaal accomplished something, in his second home league game, that Moyes never did by winning a Premier League match at Old Trafford by four goals. United only won one game at home by four goals last season, coming in April under caretaker boss Ryan Giggs. It is also easy to look at a man-of-the-match performance from Angel Di Maria and see that United are finally trending in the right direction. Indeed, the former Real Madrid man was sensational on his home debut. The Argentine winger received a lot of praise for his performance, where he operated on the left side of the diamond, that was the reason for much of Uniteds success. Di Maria is a modern day footballer who brings speed, creativity and intelligence to pivotal positions on the field, starting counterattacks, igniting transitions and sending precise final balls into the penalty box for a striker to finish off. He is a player United should have had for some time, bought at a high-end cost that the club have avoided for far too long. The same can be said for the loan capture of Radamel Falcao, harshly criticized in the English media as a unnecessary luxury based on the issues in defence, but what both bring is a high level of talent and intelligence sadly lacking at Old Trafford for some time. They arrive at the gates of Old Trafford already as genuine world class players and, although this has been reported as a change of identity for the club, it was one that was needed. Falcao and Di Maria will be stars for United this season, helping shape an identity away from what they had become under Moyes where the team was, simply, far too predictable, far too direct and far too English. Midfield General The addition of Herrera is equally important as they move away from that direction. No matter what system van Gaal employs this season, what he needs is a vital link-up between defence and attack. A midfielder who has an appreciation for space and reads the game quicker than most and not one whose first move is to pass sideways. Herrera, the son of a former technical secretary at his boyhood club, Real Zaragoza, used to write scouting reports for his father on players before he was a teenager. He is a self-confessed football addict, who watches multiples leagues around the world. On the pitch it shows. He is a player with great instincts. Against QPR, he made a run into the box early in the game because he knew where Di Marias cross was going before he hit it. Robin van Persie collided with him because he wasnt used to having midfielders make those runs. He is now. His instincts and desire for the ball in tight quarters ensured he won all eight tackles he attempted and secured his team the free kick that Di Maria powered home in the first half. A short time later, he sprinted from deep in his own end on a Di Maria counter, checked his run, and then powered home his shot. He wasnt done, as he glided inside and into space to play a one-two with Mata that allowed United to penetrate into the final third that led to Wayne Rooneys goal. It was only one game of football, against inferior opposition, but Herrera brought qualities to Uniteds midfield that have been missing since Paul Scholes retired. An ability to join the attack, to always be an intelligent outlet by desiring the ball in space, by reading the flow of a move by his team and his opponent, and regularly being in the right place, with or without the ball. Di Maria and Falcao will be fun to watch for United fans this season, but Herreras development under van Gaal will be fascinating to observe. He blossomed under Marcelo Bielsa at Bilbao and in the Dutchman he gets another detailed-oriented boss who loves the game as much as him. He may not be a Gaalatico, but Herrera is the intelligent instigator whose instincts will win Manchester United a lot of games going forward. Ander Herrera and Manchester United travel to Leicester City this Sunday for their next Premier League clash. Join Kristian Jack and Andi Petrillo for the coverage starting at 8am et/5am pt TSN2. Tennessee Titans Jerseys . Radulov scored the lone goal in the shootout, and the Predators edged the Minnesota Wild 2-1 on Tuesday night to reach 100 points for the second time in three seasons and fourth in seven. Malcolm Butler Titans Jersey . J.J. Hardy drove in a run for the Orioles, who bounced back from an 8-4 loss in the series opener on Friday. Fresh off the 15-day disabled list, Derrek Lee went 2-for-4 with two runs scored. Jake Arrieta (7-3) gave up three runs on five hits over six innings to pick up the win. http://www.authenticshoptitans.com/bennie-logan-jersey/ . CSKA received the heavier punishment of playing its next European home game behind closed doors, after its supporters displayed racist and far-right symbols in the Czech Republic during a 2-1 loss to Viktoria Plzen on Dec. Will Compton Titans Jersey . The unrestricted free agent agreed to terms with the club on Thursday on a one-year, two-way deal worth $700,000. Harold Landry Jersey . "Im proud, obviously. Its been a long day, but now Im a Crystal Palace player, Im very happy," Bannan said. "The seasons been started now for a couple of weeks and Ive not featured at Villa.Its pretty simple for the Toronto Argonauts and Montreal Alouettes on Sunday: a win equals a ticket to the playoffs. Toronto (7-9) visits Montreal (8-8) for its first road game in five weeks. The Argos went 3-1 on a recent homestand, including a 26-24 victory over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Saturday that gave them the season series with their longtime rivals. Catch the game on TSN1, TSN3, TSN4, and TSN5 starting at noon et/9am pt. You can also listen to the game on TSN Radio 1050 in Toronto and TSN Radio 690 in Montreal. But it wasnt pretty as Toronto had four turnovers (three fumbles, interception) and was penalized 12 times. Then again, turnovers and penalties have been the Argos nemesis all season. A win Sunday would secure Toronto the season series, which is the tiebreaker should the Argos and Als finish with identical records. If the Argos finish the regular season by beating Montreal and then Ottawa on Nov. 7, it will take first in the East and host the division final. Montreal can clinch a playoff berth — for the 19th straight year — with a win. And the combination of a victory over Toronto and Hamilton loss Friday night to Ottawa would give the Alouettes top spot in the East. That would be remarkable after Montreals dismal 1-7 start this season. The Als will conclude their regular season Nov. 8 in Hamilton against a Ticats team thats unbeaten at Tim Hortons Field. The Als, Argos and Ticats are battling for just two East Division playoff spots as the fourth-place finisher in the West Division — B.C. or Saskatchewan — will cross over and become the third Eastern post-season seed. Idle Saskatchewan (9-8) has clinched a playoff berth and will be on the road for either the East or West semifinal game. Montreal comes in with a 5-3 home record while Toronto is just 2-6 away from Rogers Centre. The Alouettes are also 5-1 within the East Division while the Argos are 3-3. Torontos lone loss on its homestand was a 20-12 decision to Montreal on Oct. 18. The Alouettes defence was stellar, forcing three turnovers and holding the Argos to four field goals as CFL passing leadeer Ricky Ray threw for just 202 yards with an interception.dddddddddddd Jonathan Crompton was 19-of-28 passing for just 219 yards and a TD and fumbled three times — losing one — but still led Montreal to its fifth straight win. Crompton is 6-1 as the Als starter despite having yet to throw for over 300 yards in a game. Its the Als defence that has anchored the five-game win streak, having allowed just 60 points over that span. And Torontos penchant for turnovers doesnt bode well against a defensive unit thats recovered 21 fumbles and forced 44 takeaways, both league highs. Pick — Montreal Hamilton Tiger-Cats at Ottawa Redblacks, 7:30 p.m., ET on Friday night. Hamilton (7-9) could have clinched a playoff berth last weekend in Toronto but now must win its final two regular-season games to reach the post-season. The Ticats are 2-0 this season against expansion Ottawa (2-14) . Newcomer Nic Grigsby had just six yards rushing on six carries versus the Argos. Its expected the Redblacks will be auditioning talent for next year, which could pose continuity problems. Pick — Hamilton Winnipeg Blue Bombers at Calgary Stampeders, 4 p.m. ET on Saturday afternoon. What started so positively comes to a crashing halt for Winnipeg (6-11). The Bombers opened the season 5-1 but have just one victory since and dropped eight straight. Quarterback Drew Willy was sacked 10 times in last weekends 28-23 loss to B.C. Calgary (14-2) has clinched first in the West and can rest key veterans but roster depth has been key for a team thats a CFL-best 7-1 at McMahon Stadium. Pick — Calgary B.C. Lions at Edmonton Eskimos, 7 p.m. ET, on Saturday night. Edmonton (11-5) can clinch second in the West with a win and home field for the division semifinal. B.C. (9-7) is battling Saskatchewan for third although both teams have cemented post-season berths. Lions linebacker Solomon Elimimian needs just six tackles to break the CFL single-season record of 130. Both defences are outstanding, which could lead to a low-scoring affair. 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