Gästebuch » not my first year here.

The first half of the 2015-16 Premier League season went about as well as any Crystal Palace fan or pundit could have predicted. The club held their head high in fifth place on New Years Day.Then the bottom fell out.Alan Pardews Eagles collected just two points in January, February and March combined, and if not for a win and three draws in April, they would have slid into the relegation battle.Pardew will encourage his boys to remember how things went during the first half of that season when they begin this one at Selhurst Park on Saturday against West Bromwich Albion.The winter-into-spring slide did not completely ruin Palaces season -- they made a surprise run to the FA Cup final to offset their 15th place league finish. But the Eagles could not hold off Manchester United after taking a 78th-minute lead following a strike from Jason Puncheon and fell 2-1 to the Red Devils after extra time.Since that Cup defeat, Pardew and his staff have been busy rebuilding the squad in hopes of another solid season in the Premier League.Forward Dwight Gayle was sold to Newcastle United for 10 million pounds, while the club also said goodbye to Emmanuel Adebayor and Marouane Chamakh. A new striker remains a priority and the club have been trying to land Belgian international Christian Benteke from Liverpool, but have so far been rebuffed in their pursuit.If they are unable to land Benteke, they could get an up-close look at another target on Saturday if West Broms Saido Berahino makes an appearance.The club have also reportedly agreed to sell Yannick Bolasie to Everton for 30 million pounds, but Pardew remained coy when asked.Weve got nothing concrete to announce today, other than a lot of rumours. Theres nothing thats going to happen before the weekend, Pardew said at a briefing this week. Yannick is contracted here. Hes a great player and a great person, I love him. Well treat him with the utmost respect in any situation. Bolasie, and my conversations with him, will stay private.On the arrivals side of the ledger, Pardew brought in winger Andros Townsend from Newcastle for 13 million pounds to provide some pace down the flanks, He reinforced the back line with defender James Tomkins, who made the move from West Ham United for 10 million pounds.Goalkeeper Steve Mandanda also arrived in south London on a free transfer from Marseille and should slide right into the No. 1 goalkeeper spot.We want to take the club forward in a manner where we dont lose the spirit and the soul of this football club. This club has grown massively. Were in unprecedented territory -- our fourth year in the top division, Pardew added. Without having a transfer out, I would expect us to add two more players. Ive tried to be transparent because our fans deserve that. When they walk in that stadium they will see a stronger team this year.West Bromwich Albion enter the new season with a new face in the owners suite. After 14 years, club chairman Jeremy Peace has sold the club to Chinese entrepreneur Guochuan Lai, who has purchased an 88 percent stake in the club. West Brom becomes the latest English side to be taken over by investors from the Far East, joining West Midlands rivals Aston Villa and Wolverhampton.Like Roman Abramovics purchase of Chelsea, Quatar Sports Investments purchase of Paris Saint-Germain and City Football Groups acquisition of Manchester City, the right ownership can propel a club to new heights, something Peace sees in the sale of the Baggies.The club can look to the future with excitement about the opportunities ahead, said Peace. This deal will enable Albion to build on the strong, sustainable foundations which have become the cornerstone of the clubs progress.Lai will assume official ownership when his deal with Peace is approved by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Premier League.I am excited and privileged to have the chance to become the new owner of this great club, Lai said.The Baggies new owner was also quick to point out the history between his country and the club.There are already strong links between China and West Bromwich Albion that began in May 1978, becoming the first English club to tour China in modern history. We have a strong squad, loyal fans and a unique culture, states Lai, who is also keen to stress, I have no intention of changing the clubs ethos.I feel as if I have joined a very welcoming family and I am really touched by the warmth of my reception. Everyone has been so friendly and I cannot wait to see my first game.Tony Pulis remains on the touch line after guiding the club to a 14th place finish on 43 points. Fans should expect the same defence-first approach to the game, but injuries to Chris Brunt, James Morrison, Ben Foster and Victor Anichebe stunted the Baggies attack last term.With new ownership just settling in defender Matt Phillips has been the only addition, making the move from Queens Park Rangers, but more ins and outs will certainly be on the way as the transfer window winds down.Pulis agreed that his team still needs strengthening.All over. Every position that you look at, Pulis told the Express and Star. The back players, midfield players and front players, we have to strengthen. The targets have been there, we know what we want. Babe Ruth Red Sox Jersey . The Croatian served 21 aces and hit 42 winners against Sijsling, who double-faulted to give Cilic a 4-3 lead in the deciding set. "All the players, they know me and they were really happy to see me and they were really happy that this is over for me," Cilic said. Josh A. Smith Red Sox Jersey . -- Stanfords Kevin Danser knelt on one knee and hardly moved on the sideline as Michigan State celebrated its Rose Bowl victory and his Cardinal teammates made their way to the locker room. https://www.cheapredsox.com/1351z-fred-lynn-jersey-red-sox.html . The catch: It needs a lot of money, and it needs it fast. Pablo Sandoval Jersey .com) - The Montreal Canadiens will try to halt their longest losing streak of the season when they host the struggling New York Islanders in tonights clash at the Bell Centre. Denyi Reyes Red Sox Jersey . -- Quarterback Will Finch threw for 252 yards and three touchdowns, and Yannick Harou rushed in two scores as the No. CHICAGO -- A day later, Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks ran right by the Chicago Bulls again.Antetokounmpo had 22 points, 11 assists and seven rebounds, and the Bucks routed the Bulls 95-69 on Friday night for a sweep of their home-and-home series.It was a nearly identical copy of Milwaukees 108-97 win Thursday night, except there was no closing push by Chicago this time. Led by Antetokounmpo, the younger and more athletic Bucks had six players score in double figures and shot 46 percent from the field, compared to 30 percent for the weary Bulls.We talked about it: We would like to duplicate what we did in Milwaukee, Bucks coach Jason Kidd said. I thought our guys came out with that same intent to share the ball, move guys around. I think rebounding the ball and our defense put us in position to win a game on the road against a very talented team.Antetokounmpo also had three steals and blocked a shot. His streak of 30-point games ended at two, but he watched the last couple of minutes from the bench with Milwaukee in complete control.The 22-year-old Antetokounmpo is averaging 27.5 points, 10.5 rebounds and 6.5 assists in his last four games.For me, Im just starting to figure it out, he said.Greg Monroe added 14 points and 12 rebounds, and fellow reserve Mirza Teletovic finished with 13 points. The Bucks (13-12) had dropped four of five before the pair of wins against the Bulls.Chicago (13-13) lost for the sixth time in eight games in the opener of a three-game homestand. Nikola Mirotic did not play for the second straight night after he missed the pregame walkthrough, and Taj Gibson exited in the third quarter with a bruised right hip.Where they exposed us last night, they got us again early tonight with rebounding, points off turnovers and not getting back and building a wall defensively, coach Fred Hoiberg said. A couple of times not getting back and not getting matched up. Its as simple as that.Dwyane Wade scored 12 points for the Bulls, booed off the floor as the final seconds ticked off. Jimmy Butler was held to seven on 3-for-14 shooting.I think Ive goot to play better, but thats what tomorrows for, getting in the gym and figuring it out, Butler said.ddddddddddddAntetokounmpo scored 10 points to help Milwaukee to a 34-15 lead after one quarter, and he was only getting started. He had a rim-rocking dunk for a 53-31 advantage with 2:17 left in the first half, and Jabari Parker followed with a drive right by Doug McDermott for an easy layup.Antetokounmpo added a pretty lob to John Henson for a dunk in the third, and then shook the basket again on another vicious slam in the fourth, drawing a technical for hanging on the rim.MISSING MIROTICMirotic said he forgot about the walkthrough, and he apologized to his teammates and Hoiberg.Mirotic was fined for the unexcused absence, and said it had nothing to do with not playing Thursday night.No, Im not that kind of guy. Even if things are not like how I would like them to be, Im very professional, he said. Its not my first year here. Those guys respect me and I respect them. I would never do that, something like that.TIP-INSBucks: Parker, a Chicago native, had 12 points on 6-for-8 shooting. ... F Michael Beasley missed his second straight game with a left foot sprain. ... The Bucks had dropped their last five games at the United Center.Bulls: The 69 points were a season low. ... G Michael Carter-Williams got the cast off his injured left wrist and said he is hoping to practice next week. It feels pretty good, he said. I still have to do some strengthening and things like that. Nothing is guaranteed, but thats what Im going for. ... Bobby Portis had 10 points and eight rebounds. He was the only Bulls player besides Wade to score in double figures.UP NEXTBucks: Host LeBron James and the Cavaliers in the opener of another home-and-home on Tuesday night. The Bucks then visit Cleveland on Wednesday night.Bulls: Host the Detroit Pistons on Monday night. The Bulls lost 102-91 at Detroit on Dec. 6.---Jay Cohen can be reached at http://www.twitter.com/jcohenap ' ' '