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Van Gaal needs time to impose philosophy at United

By WTOP Staff

ROB HARRIS
AP Sports Writer

While avoiding starting his Manchester United reign with any bold predictions or statements of intent, Louis van Gaal still projected an aura of authority and conviction in his ability to take on one of the biggest jobs in football.

There was none of the uneasiness at Thursday’s official presentation that was evident last July when the ill-fated David Moyes appeared overwhelmed at the task of succeeding Alex Ferguson after 26 years.

It’s little wonder. Moyes arrived at Old Trafford from Everton without a major trophy to his name. Van Gaal is a proven winner as a manager, collecting titles at Ajax, Barcelona and Bayern Munich before leading the Netherlands to an unexpected third-place finish at the World Cup on Saturday.

The 62-year-old Van Gaal is so self-assured that he felt confident enough — on just his second official day in the United job — to question the main training pitch and flag up the club’s focus on money-making.

“It’s the biggest club of the world,” Van Gaal said at Old Trafford. “Within two days I know already how important Manchester United is but also how important the sponsors are.”

Just this week, United signed a 10-year kit deal with Adidas that will be worth at least $1.3 billion, and then added Japanese noodle maker Nissin to its ever-expanding collection of global sponsors.

“This club is … guided in a commercial way and we have to fulfill that,” Van Gaal said. “It’s not always possible to fulfill the commercial expectations (and) the football expectations. That is my big challenge after two days.”

What Van Gaal will be judged on is returning United to the Champions League. Under Moyes, United went from winning a 20th English title in Ferguson’s final act as manager to seventh-place finishers, even missing out on Europa League qualification.

“I cannot give predictions because you never know,” he said. “There’s a lot of expectation but it’s also a great challenge because of that.”

A challenge that requires time to overhaul a team that went into an alarming slump under Moyes.

“I have to see how the players perform my philosophy and how quick they can pick up this philosophy,” Van Gaal said. “For me the challenge is always first — not fourth — but … it’s dependable on the lock between the players and the coach.”

Defender Luke Shaw and midfielder Ander Herrera have already been added to the squad with his approval, but there are no immediate plans for further recruits in the summer transfer window.

“I want to see the first three, four weeks what (the squad) can do and then maybe I shall buy other players,” Van Gaal said.

What the first training session on Wednesday showed Van Gaal was not about the condition of the players but the pitch itself.

“The facility needs a little more intimacy,” he said. “I have asked already because now it’s an open field but there is always wind. And wind is not always the friend of the players. It’s not always the friend of the ball, and so we have to do something about that.”

With a reputation for possessing a large ego, Van Gaal presented himself as a more rounded character to a media pack so used to dealing with the fiery Ferguson.

“I’m a democratic and empathetic human being,” he said. “Of course I have a strong personality but the other characteristics are more important.

“The media wants to show (the autocratic) part of the personality but that part is (very small). When it is repeated always then everybody thinks like that. Autocratic and a strong personality is not the same.”

Van Gaal could add workaholic to that, having taken just two days off between returning to the Netherlands from Brazil and starting his first job in England.

“When there is a challenge like this, I never let it go,” he said. “This is a holiday for me. I like the way I can work.”

___

Rob Harris can be followed at www.twitter.com/RobHarris

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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