Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has fewer points than Louis van Gaal had at this stage of last season, but a deeper look at the statistics shows how the Portuguese boss has changed some lingering habits at Old Trafford. Four wins and a draw from his opening seven Premier League games gives Mourinho 13 points, compared with Van Gaals 16 last term, which had them top of the table. But in two months, Mourinho has dramatically changed their attacking style, possession and work-rate… First seven league games of 2016/17 compared with 2015/16 Mourinho (16/17) Van Gaal (15/16) Shots 92 (1st in PL) 54 (17th in PL) Passes 3623 (5th) 4053 (2nd) % passes in final third 31.5% (7th) 29.6% (14th) Crosses 179 (2nd) 123 (17th) Distance run 735.6km (20th) 802.2 (3rd) Sprints 3524 3363 Av possession 55.9% 59.8% AttackingUnited have one more goal at this stage than they did under Van Gaal last season, but the number of shots has nearly doubled under Mourinho.After seven games of last term United had registered just 54 shots on goal, ranked 17th in the Premier League, but United are currently top of the charts with 92, though only 45.7 per cent of those have been on target (11th in the Premier League).Although Van Gaals United were relatively shot-shy, they converted 22.2 per cent of their efforts on goal in their first seven games of last season (second in Premier League), compared with 14.1 per cent under Mourinho (10th in Premier League). Mourinho has won four of his opening seven Premier League games as United boss Uniteds 1-1 draw with Stoke on Sunday saw United register 24 shots, but just a single goal and point to show for it.One of those days was the feeling after the match, a far cry from numerous United performances at Old Trafford under Van Gaal in 2015/16, where they averaged 13.1 shots per game. This season that number is up to 16.5. Watch NOW TV Watch Sky Sports for just ￡6.99. No contract. Mourinho was still pleased with the Stoke showing, saying after the match: It should have been three or four-nil at half-time, six or seven-nil at the end. But the result is 1-1. Thats football. It was very undeserved but the best performance so far.At the other end of the pitch, with United far happier without the ball than under Van Gaal, their defence has inevitably been tested more. They have faced more shots, made more blocks, clearances and interceptions, won slightly less tackles and have conceded three more goals. Conclusion? Mourinho is certainly more daring. Zlatan Ibrahimovic has given United added height up front PassingIn the aftermath of Uniteds 2-1 Community Shield win over Leicester, Mourinhos sly comment on the winning goal, a Zlatan Ibrahimovic header from an Antonio Valencia cross, didnt go unnoticed.There are some changes and that takes time, Mourinho said. The second goal, probably last year, instead of crossing, Valencia gets down [the line] and plays a back pass. Van Gaal was heavily criticised for lateral and backwards passing last season, and although Mourinho admitted after the Manchester City defeat that some habits are harder to shift than others, he is making a change.In their first seven Premier League games, United have made over 400 fewer passes than last season, though their pass completion remains at around 85 per cent (second in the Premier League). Five of Uniteds goals this season have come from crosses Possession wise, United are happier without the ball, averaging 55.9 per cent compared with 59.8 per cent for the 2015/16 season.Their passes in the final third remain similar to last season, but Mourinhos side have enjoyed success down the flanks, not a trait synonymous with Van Gaals tenure.Theyve hit 179 crosses so far this season (second in the Premier League) compared with just 123 at the same stage in 2015/16 (17th), and five of their 13 goals have come from deliveries from wide areas. Van Gaal was sacked as United manager in the summer But crossing isnt necessarily a Mourinho trademark. In his title-winning campaign with Chelsea, he made just 18 on average per game, the second-lowest in the Premier League.With the added height of Ibrahimovic and Paul Pogba, it is more a case of playing to the teams physical strengths than reinventing the wheel. DistanceMourinhos United are bottom of the Premier League pile when it comes to distance run so far this season, travelling just 735.6km compared with 802.2km under Van Gaal at the same stage, which was ranked third in the division. Paul Pogba is the only United player to run over 10km in every appearance so far Only once have United out-ran their opponents - in the 4-1 win over Leicester - while Pep Guardiolas Manchester City have been out-ran themselves just once this season, in the 2-0 defeat by Tottenham on Sunday.Pogba is now Uniteds main engine man, the only player in the team to run over 10km in every appearance, but for the rest, Mourinho seems to be focusing on energy retention.That leaves some verve for the counter attack, and Mourinhos side have made almost 200 more sprints than Van Gaals United at this stage.ConclusionMourinhos United pass less and run less, but their first thought is forward, not sideways or behind with the sole purpose of keeping possession.He has let his star players breathe, and while there are big question marks over the roles of Wayne Rooney and Henrikh Mkhitaryan, the style of play is pleasing the fans at Old Trafford.The problem? Other sides around United have improved too. Mourinho is on the right track, but the competition could be as fierce as ever.You can watch Englands tour of Bangladesh, plus Premier League football and the Japan Grand Prix on Sky Sports. Upgrade now and enjoy three months at half price! Also See: Be patient with Pogba Spurs top four, Man Utd fifth? Herrera: Zlatan sets standard Herrera called up by Spain Swell Flaske Udsalg . -- The Chicago Bears have agreed to terms with safety Brock Vereen and QB David Fales on four-year contracts. Swell Flaske Butik . He was 26. Edwards, the Supercup Championship leader, was in the passenger seat as an instructor for a private training session at Queensland Raceway at Willowbank, outside Brisbane, Porsche Motorsport said. http://www.danmarkswellflaske.com/ . Bostons bats exploded in Mondays opener, as David Ortiz belted a pair of two-run homers, Stephen Drew homered and drove in four runs and the Red Sox pummeled the Blue Jays, 14-1. Swell Flaske Butikk Oslo .While Rosberg is coming off a strong victory at the Brazilian Grand Prix, Hamilton is dwelling on a mistake that ended his streak of five consecutive wins and kept him from increasing his advantage. Swell Flaske Marmor .B. -- Canadas Rachel Homan opened the Ford Womens World Curling Championship with a 7-5 win over Russia on Saturday.MOSCOW - In the latest of a slew of Russian doping cases, Yulia Zaripova faces being stripped of her gold medal in the 3,000 steeplechase from the 2012 London Olympics after being banned for a drug violation.The Russian anti-doping agency banned Zaripova on Friday for two years and six months. The suspension was backdated from July 2013, which leaves her eligible to compete in next years Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.The agency said Zaripovas results would be annulled for parts of 2011 and 2012, dates which include her Olympic victory but not her world championship gold medal in 2011.Also banned Friday was Olympic heptathlon bronze medallist Tatyana Chernova.Shortly after the new suspensions were announced, Russian athletics federation president Valentin Balakhnichev was quoted by Russian media as saying he could submit his resignation at a board meeting on Feb. 17.I will take a decision on my own resignation or another form of suspension from duties, he said.The Russian anti-doping agencys chief executive, Ramil Khabriev, said in a statement that Zaripovas biological passport data indicated the use of a banned method for replicating high-altitude conditions. He did not elaborate.If Zaripova is stripped of her London victory, a decision that lies with the IAAF and IOC, the gold medal could go to original second-place finisher Habiba Ghribi of Tunisia. Sofia Assefa of Ethiopia won the bronze.Zaripovas gold would become the fourth London Olympic medal to be reallocated and the second gold after that of Belarusian shot putter Nadzeya Ostapchuk.The Russian agency, known by the acronym Rusada, said Chernova had tested positive for the banned steroid oralturinabol when a sample from the 2009 world championships was retested.ddddddddddddChernova was given a two-year ban backdated to 2013, with results annulled between August 2009 and August 2011. She keeps her 2011 world title.Of the 22 Russians who originally won athletics medals at the 2012 Olympics, six have since been banned for doping. One Olympic medal, a silver won by discus thrower Darya Pishchalnikova, was reallocated.The Zaripova and Chernova cases come 10 days after doping bans were imposed on five Russian race-walkers, including three Olympic champions.The walkers bans included periods of annulled results which critics alleged may have been selected by Russian officials to preserve Olympic medals. The Australian athletics federation, whose race-walker Jared Tallent won silver behind a Russian athlete who has since been banned, is pushing for an appeal.Zaripovas ban may also prove contentious. She had results annulled from June 20 to August 20, 2011, a period ending seven days before the start of competition in the 3,000 steeplechase at the 2011 world championships. That means Zaripovas gold medal in that event is not affected.Two more Russians, 800-meter gold medal winner Maria Savinova and bronze medallist Ekaterina Poistogova, were featured in a German TV documentary last month which said they were recorded admitting to taking banned substances.The World Anti-Doping Agency and the IAAF have opened investigations into the accusations made by the ARD program, including claims that Russian athletics bosses oversaw systematic doping and Rusada officials covered up positive tests.Savinova and Poistogova have not been suspended and remain free to compete. ' ' '