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On the morning after the Tartan Armys invasion of Wembley, dozens of weary Scotsmen and approximately 10,000 beer cans lay strewn across Trafalgar Square - the traditional gathering point for any London-based football celebration. Following a very successful preseason for the Barclays Premier League (as clubs criss-crossed the planet delivering the BPL eulogy to the faithful), dont be surprised if you catch CEO Richard Scudamore sipping champagne from those very same Trafalgar Square fountains this weekend. Whist the debate rages on regarding the collateral damage caused to the national team - due to the league wide preference to import talent at the cost of providing top flight competitive football for English players - the BPLs global footprint continues to enlarge. Earlier this month, the well-regarded sportingIntelligence.com provided a statistical breakdown of all BPL players nation of origin. English-born players now represent less than 37 per cent of the overall talent pool in a season where we will see the very first Kenyan play in the Barclays Premier League - Southamptons Victor Wanyama. Outside of the four home nations of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, Wanyamas signing means the East African nation of Kenya will become the 100th different nation to have a player ply his trade in the BPL since the league was formed back in 1992. To understand how extremely popular and emotionally attached the locals are to their favourite club, one only had to witness scenes this summer as teams jetted into destinations like Jakarta, Bangkok, Sydney and Durban. Then when you factor in clubs who toured the U.S., its hardly surprising to read one UK newspaper claim the 20 BPL teams collectively racked up over 200,000 Air Miles. In other words, the equivalent of circumnavigating the globe eight times this pre-season. Although this will be the very first season we wont witness Sir Alex prowling the touchline in search of prey, the storylines will compel soccer fans across the globe to gather round their TV sets in record numbers every weekend between now and mid-May. The Barclays Premier League is now screened live in more countries than there are member states of the United Nations. Coincidentally this comes in a season where TV monitors will play an active role this season. My how Goal Line Technology will miss the worlds most famous Scotsman! Following the IFABs decision back in March to allow Goal Line Technology in football - Hawkeye, one of the two systems FIFA approved, has been installed this summer at all BPL stadiums. By the time beautiful B.C. fully awakes Saturday morning, we may have already witnessed the very first instance in world club football the video replay monitor will be the determinant on whether a ball fully crossed the line. Although very few disputed goal calls occur in any one season, it can only be a matter of time before GLT replaces AVB on the back pages of our newspapers. As for the debate over whether David Moyes can replicate the unprecedented success and riches his predecessor bestowed on Manchester United? If the stock market is any indicator, it would seem so. Ticker symbol MANU has gained over 10 per cent since the ex-Everton manager took over at Old Trafford on Canada Day. Speaking of splashing the cash (as opposed to the conversation settling on which one of the big names), outrageously-priced new players will dominate the BPL this season as the focus has been on the pending departures of Gareth Bale, Luis Suarez and Wayne Rooney. With every passing day and only 17 more sleeps until the transfer window closes, there stands a greater probability that Crystal Palace will win the title this season than these so-termed want away players all getting their wish this offseason. Of the top clubs garnering success in the transfer market by doing their shopping early and often, Manchester City stand head and shoulders above all other contenders. Cesc Fabregas still remains elusive for the champions and Jose Mourinho admitted telling fibs about whether or not Chelsea will table a third bid for Rooney. But lets just hope for the sake of his health that Arsene Wenger has more success at the grocery store then he does in the transfer market. Ironically, the only manager in the BPL with an economics degree seems with each passing summer to become less capable of attracting the highest calibre players to the Emirates. Ferguson proved you could win with youngsters, but the manager who has bought more promising youngsters than any other manger in BPL history has yet to mould a winning team round that philosophy. Wenger cant ever be accused of not adding to his clubs bottom line. No one in England develops and then sells on their best players quite as effectively as the 63-year old Frenchmen who is just about to embark on a ninth season without any type of trophy. To me, the best story of this preseason hails from highly unfashionable Stoke. As BPL clubs continue to increase their revenues domestically and globally as they look to squeeze every last penny, baht or rupee from their fans - the club which was formed in 1863 when they became only the second-ever professional football club in existence are picking up the entire travel tab for their 3,000 supporters who will make the journey to Anfield Saturday morning. Yes - money will continue to dominate and players salaries will increase to yet more record levels, but how comforting it is to know that at least one club is not only recognizing and paying lip service to the financial sacrifice their supporters are willing to endure - but they are actually doing something about it? Something tells me when the pictures from Anfield this weekend are boomed into living rooms, roadside tea shops and shanty towns across the globe, Stoke City will have cut a swathe into that gap they currently have with the champions who claim 659 million followers worldwide. Kicking Off with Arsenal v Aston Villa Saturday at 10:00am TSN Radio is your BPL home this season.Broadcast schedule available here: http://www.tsn.ca/toronto/feature/?fid=103193 You can reach and follow Noel Butler at:Noel.Butler@BellMedia.ca @TheSoccerNoel on Twitter Walt Merrill Jersey Retro . PETERSBURG, Fla. Donald Payne Jersey Retro . Sgt. Eric ONeal says most of the arrests at Monday nights game were for public drunkenness, though one person was taken into custody on suspicion of trying to steal a seat from the stadium. https://www.cheapjerseyslines.com/jordan-franks-jersey-retro/ . On Saturday night, the normally free throw-challenged centre did just that. Howard scored 18 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter, including 13 of 19 free throws in a 2 1/2-minute stretch, and the Houston Rockets beat the Denver Nuggets 122-111. Shawne Merriman Jersey Retro . Self was acquired from the Buffalo Bandits in a trade for Alex Hill midway through last season, and made his debut in Rochester on March 16, 2013. Brandon Weeden Jersey Retro . Jim Rutherford, President and General Manager of the Carolina Hurricanes, announced Wednesday that the team would assign Swedish forward Elias Lindholm to his nations team for the upcoming tournament.After three years of rebuilding, the Raiders may be ready to challenge for the NFLs biggest prize. Sky Sports considers if Oakland is ready to return to winning ways. The last time the Raiders had a winning season, they got to the Super Bowl. MVP quarterback Rich Gannon led the team to an 11-5 season before throwing five interceptions in a crushing loss to the Tampa Bay Bucaneers.Since that season in 2002, the Raiders have gone 63-145, finishing with double digit losses in 10 of the last 13 seasons. In 2012 Reggie McKenzie became general manager of the organisation, taking on the unenviable task of rebuilding a team that ranked 29th in points conceded, without a draft pick until the third round and some $30m over the cap budget. Oakland will be hoping to mount a push for a play-off spot at the Coliseum It was a tough couple of years for Raiders fans, who watched their team decimated in a desperate attempt to stabilise the franchise.As a result, between 2012-2014 they won a total of 11 games, used six starting quarterbacks and faced ridicule from all corners of the NFL. Throughout it all, and in the face of overwhelming pressure, McKenzie began the painful process of a methodical rebuild, through a balance of effective draft strategy and smart free agent signings.At last years draft, Amari Cooper, Mario Edwards Jn and Clive Walford all landed in Oakland and instantly became key pieces of head coach Jack del Rios redevelopment puzzle. Amari Cooper has been a success after being drafted last year In the draft class the year before, six of the franchises seven picks have played more than 25 games over the last two seasons. That includes first and second round picks Khalil Mack and Derek Carr, who have played in every game. In Carr, the Raiders have a promising young quarterback to build their team around. Mack was equally important on the defensive side of the ball, registering 15 sacks last year and becoming the player in NFL history to be named a first team All Pro at two different positions in the same season.ddddddddddddFactor in the experience of free agent signings Kelechi Osemele, Bruce Irvin, Shaun Smith and Reggie Nelson, and Jack del Rios Oakland Raiders are a vastly different prospect to that of four years ago. The addition of Nelson addresses a weakness in dealing with pass catching tight ends.While in Osemele and Irvin, the Raiders have Super Bowl champion experience, which will help to guide a youthful team, taking the leadership reigns from the retired duo of Justin Tuck and Charles Woodson. Reggie Nelson has joined Oakland from the Cincinnati Bengals Going into their second year working togther, Del Rio and McKenzie seem to be on the same page when it comes to the regeneration of Oakland. Both former NFL linebackers, the mantra is focused on attitude over talent, and developing a team-first philosophy.The Raiders will look to reinforce their defence for this years draft with the primary focus at cornerback and defensive tackle. If they can land talent as they have done over the last two drafts, the team will be a fierce opponent, not only in the AFC West but throughout the play-offs.The Denver Broncos offer a great example to the Raiders. In 2010 the Broncos won only four games and finished bottom of the division. Five years down the line, after astute drafting and savvy free agency, the reigning Super Bowl champions have won the division every year since and been to two Super Bowls.For the first time since Hue Jackson led the team to an 8-8 season in 2011, the Raiders will look to become a credible contender for a play-off berth. If they can maintain their upward trajectory, there may be more competition in the West. Also See: 2017 NFL schedule released Can Jacksonville challenge? What next for Cleveland? Play-offs could expand? ' ' '