we recall the 2003 friendly against Manchester United in the same stadium What a player

BOSTON – The Maple Leafs have one more game before the New Year, but its already clear what their resolution for 2015 will be and it starts in the defensive zone. Kelly Olynyk Heat Jersey . Toronto got progressively worse defensively as the months of 2014 passed by, relying with increasing, alarming and familiar frequency on their goaltending tandem. The club has allowed an average of 38 shots against in the past 10 games, outshot by nearly 11 per game in that span. Theyve survived some nights on the pads of Jonathan Bernier, who is expected to be available to return Wednesday against the Bruins after missing the past two games with the flu. I think Im ready to go, said Bernier, after a short stint on the ice at Northeastern University on Tuesday afternoon. It just depends on Randys decision now. It wont be a difficult decision for the head coach given the 26-year-olds recent performance. Bernier was perfect in his final start before the three-day Christmas break, stopping all 43 shots in a win over Dallas. He posted a .928 save percentage in the month of December, despite facing an average of 37 shots per game. The Leafs won six of those nine starts, but have stumbled recently with five losses in the past six games. Their defensive (and coinciding possession) troubles have caught up to them, despite repeated calls for improvement. The shot clock usually doesnt lie, Bernier said. If they get 40-plus shots most of the nights, theyll win those games. Down with the flu since the early morning hours on Sunday, Bernier couldnt watch most of the past two defeats. The team hotel in Florida didnt get the game between the Leafs and Panthers – a 6-4 loss – though the middle frame of a 3-2 loss to the Lightning was available one night later. A product of the stingy Kings organization, Bernier has noticed a thing or two about whats ailed his second NHL club defensively and its tied to how little theyve had the puck, especially in the other end. I think the biggest thing is weve got to kill more time in their zone, he said. I think the biggest thing is weve got to cycle the puck more in their zone instead of just going for the rush game. I think weve got to spend more time wearing their [defence] down. When we play well, thats what we do. The Leafs have been the second worst possession team in December at 41 per cent and third worst overall this season. Even slight improvement there would be a small step toward a better 2015. Wayne Ellington Jersey . The R&A announced Monday that golfs oldest championship will return to Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland for the first time since Max Faulkner won in 1951. Jeremiah Martin Heat Jersey . - Hitting was supposed to be the Pittsburgh Pirates weakness coming into the season yet they lead the major leagues in home runs through the first 16 games of the season. https://www.heatlockerroom.com/Derrick-Jones-City-Edition-Jersey/ .com Tours season-opening Colombia Championship on Sunday, breaking the course record with an 8-under 63 in the completion of the third round before rain washed out play.On August 6, 2003 an injured Gary Neville was at home watching his Manchester United team-mates playing against Sporting Lisbon in a televised pre-season friendly. The oppositions 18-year-old left winger quickly caught his eye... It was the first time Id seen Cristiano Ronaldo play.He was up against John OShea, who was obviously a good defender; he was strong, he was quick and he knew where to position himself. Sheasy was playing in the position I would normally play - right-back - but I was injured and I was watching the game at home on MUTV.Like Sheasy, Im very aware of how difficult it is to play against certain types of movement. I specifically remember Cristiano making a certain move where he cut inside and ran between OShea and our centre-half. He made this double movement and I remember thinking oh my God. Ronaldo agrees new deal Cristiano Ronaldo agrees new deal with Real Madrid until 2021 Obviously you could see the skill he had on the ball and his natural talent, but these days what you see less and less is players who make runs without the ball in between the full-back and the centre-back. I would say thats possibly the most underrated run of all.Its so difficult for the full-back and centre-back to defend against, as the full-back doesnt know when to pass over the attacker to the centre-back or play offside. The centre-back then could have a decision to make whether to leave him or track the runner. Its a really difficult issue, especially when the ball is in a central area.I remember watching Cristiano make that run between the full-back and centre-back and thinking wow, you dont normally see that from experienced players, never mind a young kid. As Cristiano Ronaldo prepares to face Sporting in the Champions League, we recall the 2003 friendly against Manchester United in the same stadium What a player, I thought. After the match I remember sending a text to my brother, saying we need to sign him and apparently there was a lot of talk about him on the coach after the game.Obviously players should never be involved in signings, but he certainly made everyone sit up and take notice. Id never heard of him and Id never seen him before that night, but there was a huge excitement among the players afterwards.The only other opposition player Ive felt like that about was Louis Saha. I remember playing against him as a centre-back when he was at Fulham and he destroyed me three seasons on the bounce. I was devastated when I had to play against him and I thought weve got to sign him.He was clearly a different type of player to Cristiano, but we spoke about him in the dressing room in the same way. After that game against Sporting Lisbon, there was a great admiration and there was no doubt the players were all talking about Cristiano. Ronaldo scored a 38th hat-trick for Real Madrid as they won 4-1 at Alaves What we didnt realise is that the manager had been dealing with it for a period of time before then. Alonzo Mourning Heat Jersey. Sir Alex Ferguson signed him shortly afterwards. Cristiano was very raw when he first came to the club; he had a lot of growing up to do and like all young players he needed time to develop.It took a few years for his body to fill out and he needed time to get his decision-making right but you would expect that from a young player. And over two-and-a-half years he became a devastating player, improving himself both physically and mentally.For me, it felt like he matured and became a man after the 2006 World Cup. After that tournament he became a completely different player. Sir Alex greets Cristiano at Man Utds training ground Suddenly he knew when to pass, where to pass and he knew when and where to run. It all seemed to come together at once. That was the time he was getting criticised the most by fans in this country after his famous wink at Wayne Rooney, but I would never criticise him for that. I always felt all was fair in love and war when it comes to the football pitch. As long as it was legal and you were acting within the rules of the game, then a player should try to gain all competitive advantages possible to try and win. Ronaldo tells the story of the time he dazzled Man Utd and Sir Alex Ferguson while playing for Sporting Lisbon in 2003 Ive always said that Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs and Roy Keane were the three great players I played with over a long period, but for three years from 2006 to 2009, Ronaldo set a standard you can only dream about. It was a magical time when he was playing with Rooney and Carlos Tevez; Ive never seen anything like it. It was amazing to watch and he was the pinnacle of it.After leaving United, he has gone on to become the best player in the world - and I think thats been proven by the Ballon DOr wins.There has long been an argument over who the best player is - Ronaldo or Lionel Messi - and in my mind weve been blessed to have both. I would always favour Cristiano because I played with him, but its almost unfair to say that because both are sensational players. Ballon dOr explainer With FIFA launching their own award, we explain the latest on the Ballon dOr But Ill never forget that game against Sporting Lisbon and the chat among the players when they got back to Manchester. Poor Sheasy was the butt of a lot of jokes for being given a run-around.But I have to be honest, I felt for him. If Id been playing that night hed have done the same to me.Watch #CR7Live tomorrow at 1pm on SkySports.com, Sky Sports Facebook page and on the Soccer AM You Tube Channel. Also See: What Utd saw in Ronaldo Ronaldo agrees new deal ' ' '