Around the Wheel: Three Thoughts from the Weekend 1) Head Games: Much has been made over Chelsea not dealing with the head injury to goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois after taking the brunt of a collision with Arsenals Alexis Sanchez. Courtois was allowed to continue after looking to be knocked out momentarily in the 10th minute, before going down with blood coming from his ear in the 24th. Chelsea has excused itself by claiming the blood came from a cut. If thats what the on-field trainers actually claim, than so be it, but it seems far-fetched. Courtois should not have been allowed to continue. Just as Spurs goalkeeper Hugo Lloris should have been taken out of the game last season after his collision with Romelu Lukaku. Predictable calls for further measures have followed from the incident. More rules do not need to be put into place. Protocol need be abided by. Football Association rules state: - A player suffering a head injury must leave the pitch - Club doctor must decide if a player can continue - An additional tunnel doctor must be present on match days to help doctors on both sides - Tunnel doctor also spots potential concussions and watches TV replays to assess incidents These all seem reasonable. Doctors must do whats best for the player and avoid being influenced by the emotion of the moment, or even the player and/or manager. The doctor need take control, as protocol states. If these doctors are incapable of doing their job, making critical decisions, then they should not be on the touchline, period. Player simulation makes determining injury that much more difficult. If there is any doubt, the player must come off. Head injuries are not going away. Incompetence must. 2) Yaya: Hes Good: One goal. Thats all it takes. Yaya Toure has been much criticized for his lethargic start to the season. A moment of brilliance, breaking the deadlock against Aston Villa in the 82nd minute with a bending effort past two defenders, signaled to many his return to form. It was his first goal of the season on 17 shots compared to 20 goals on 64 a season ago. Toure has been a dominant force for City since joining in 2010. His stature and versatility makes him among the best in the country. He is not without his detractors because of a temperamental persona. Stories emanating putting his City future in doubt and tales of scorned feelings surrounding birthday wishes puzzle. These off-field talking points make him a convenient character to blame when all doesnt go right. City has gone through a stop-start beginning to the season. Thus, Toure takes the heat. Has Toure been great thus far? No. But its just seven games, and in fairness, he hasnt been that bad either. His summer was unproductive dealing with a long-standing thigh injury that limited him at the World Cup. More so than anything, Toures play has mirrored the inconsistency of his team. Its not just him. The standard set by Toure is so high the criticism is unfair. Look for him to go on a run coming out of the International break. 3) MUFC Midfield Meltdown: Manchester Uniteds injury-depleted back four has come under fire as the soft spot in the team. As witnessed by a barrage in the final ten minutes by Everton Sunday, its not all on the backline. The young back four has actually been quite good over the last two games. The midfield defensively has been a mess. The midfield shape has consistently crumbled late in matches leaving the defenders and goalkeeper to take on far too much responsibility. Daley Blind is the only midfielder immune from blame, exceptional in positioning while actually covering too much space because of the flaws of those around him. Angel Di Maria is a star, but can be argued hes best suited atop the midfield diamond. The Argentine does so much running his defensive marking wanes in the final 15 minutes of matches. Antonio Valencia is not an ideal player to play a more central role with little use for his left-foot. And Juan Mata is a defensive liability. The result is a midfield leaving too many holes and vulnerable when pressured. Marouane Fellaini made things worse after coming on, running about all over the place and out of position. The midfield shape will improve when Ander Herrera and Michael Carrick return from injury. This may not be enough. More drastic changes may be required to solve the defensive woes. Team of the Week De Gea (MUFC) Elmohamady (HUL) a€“ Vertonghen (TOT) - Kolarov (MCFC) Mahrez (LEI) - Sigurdsson (SWA) - Henderson (LFC) a€“ Oscar (CHE) a€“ Di Maria (MUFC) Wickham (SUN) a€“ Cisse (NUFC) Player of the Week: Jordan Henderson (Liverpool) a€“ A goal and an assist from the England International in a 2-1 win over West Brom. His back-heal on Adam Lallanas first half goal was of the highest quality. His first goal of the season was the match-winner: a composed strike after a penalty claim, picking out the corner and placing through a slew of bodies. It was a wonderful game for a player emerging as the most important in the team. Goal of the Week: Ross Wallace (Burnley) a€“ Burnley needed a lift and they got one late. Wallaces superb bending free-kick goal stands as the latest of the season (95:15) as Burnley came from behind twice to earn a 2-2 draw. The Scotsman was cool as can be, curling from 20 yards out with his left foot into the top right corner. It was a bit of class from a team showing not nearly enough. Save of the Week: David De Gea (MUFC) a€“ Manchester United can thank Spanish Dave for single-handedly ensuring all three points in a 2-1 win over Everton. A penalty save on Leighton Baines (the defenders first-ever league penalty miss) and a pair of tremendous saves on Leon Osman were the appetizers. The best came in the 94th minute. A scramble in the area and De Gea dove to his right on shot blocked by Tyler Blackett. The ball came on the bounce to Bryan Oviedo at the top of the box who unleashed a volley with eyes for the top right corner. De Gea bounced back to his feet before diving to his left knocking the ball over the bar. Even Evertons Steven Naismith paid tribute, high-fiving De Gea after his remarkable save. Moment of the Weekend: Wenger vs. Mourinho a€“ The Internet sensation of the weekend: Arsene Wenger shoving Jose Mourinho. Wenger was rightfully upset after Gary Cahill took out Sanchez on the touchline with a tackle certainly worth more than the caution he received. Wenger came straight out of his technical area into Mourinhos domain. The shove by Wenger was meager but the exchange heated. The push is yet another typical distraction from managers regularly in the spotlight. Grandstanding at its worst. Wenger should have been sent to the stands. Mourinho should have joined him. Managers have been sent away during a match for far less. You simply cannot leave your technical area and engage another manager. Stat of the Week a€“ Chelseas Cesc Fabregas has as many assists (7) as the entire Arsenal squad and as many as any Chelsea player had all of last season. Stat of the Week II a€“ Arsenal failed to register a shot on target against Chelsea for the first time since 2003. Quote of the Week: I will go home and shine my manager of the year trophy to give myself a bit of confidence and come in tomorrow. a€“ Embattled Newcastle United manager Alan Pardews cheeky response to the continual questioning regarding his future. Table Talk 1) Chelsea (19 pts) a€“ 19 points from 21 matches, but dont hand Chelsea the title yet. In 08/09, Chelsea started by winning 10 of 13. The Blues won eight of their first 10 in 10/11. And Chelsea started with seven wins and a draw in 12/13. Chelsea failed to win the title any of those seasons. 2) Manchester City (14) a€“ Sergio Aguero scored again in Citys 2-0 win at Villa Park and now has 22 goals in his last 25 starts. No player created more chances over the weekend (7) than a rejuvenated James Milner. 3) Southampton (13) a€“ Saido Mane missed an absolute sitter inside the six-yard box that would have equalized at White Hart Lane. Six-game winning streak in all competitions came to an end. 4) Manchester United (11) a€“ Fourth place is a bit deceiving having played a soft schedule thus far. Louis Van Gaal has picked 30 different players in seven matches a€“ six more than any other club. The injuries continue to mount with Paddy McNair (hamstring) out three weeks. Falcao has struggled with his first touch on the ball. Lets see if his first Premier League goal settles him down. 5) Swansea City (11) a€“ Centre-back frailties were exposed by Newcastle. Need to tighten up at the back. Gylfi Sigurdsson dropping deep is awfully effective, taking over the Michu role in the side. Two assists on the day for the Icelandic international and now has six on the season. 6) Tottenham Hotspur (11) a€“ Much better tempo in 1-0 win over Southampton. Jan Vertonghen has been standout in back-to-back weeks, making nine clearances and misplacing just one pass in the win. 7) West Ham United (10) a€“ Another impressive performance by the Hammers. Diafra scored his fifth goal in five starts. Aaron Cresswell continues to star. 8) Arsenal (10) a€“ 10 points from seven matches is the second worst Premier League start under Wenger. Laurent Koscielny remains a frustrating player. His talent is plain to see but gets caught flat-footed all too often. It was the seventh penalty he has conceded while at Arsenal. Better footwork is required from the Frenchman. 9) Liverpool (10) a€“ A nervous 2-1 victory at a tense Anfield. Nothing came easy for Liverpool and the team remains disjointed. The centre-backs have trouble dealing with pace. Sturridge will be key upon his return after the International break. 10) Aston Villa (10) a€“ Another solid effort against a better team. An incredibly difficult stretch (Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea, Man City) is over. Fabian Delph has been invaluable, yet is in need of a new contract. Christian Benteke returned after a six-month lay-off (Achilles) and immediate upgrades the attack. 11) Hull City (9) a€“ Reverting back to a 3-5-2 worked wonders for Steve Bruce, winning just their second league match in 12. Ahmed Elmohamady and Andrew Robertson were dominant at wingback. Mohamed Diame has three goals on three shots on target this season. Nikica Jelavic has matched his goal tally (4) of all last year. 12) Leicester City (9) a€“ Disappointing result for second consecutive week after upsetting Manchester United. Riyad Mahrez was a force down the right side. Jamie Vardy continues to be the ultimate pest in attack. 13) Sunderland (8) a€“ Respectable forward play returns. Steven Fletcher popped up with the brace and was clearly emotional after recent stinging criticism of his play. The true star was Connor Wickham with a goal and an assist. Hes a physical specimen showing signs he will come good on all his promise. First win of the season for Gus Poyet. 14) West Bromwich Albion (8) a€“ Leave with their heads held high after a competitive 2-1 loss at Anfield. Cristian Gamboa is intriguing, getting up the wing at will. Sebastien Pocognoli seems a superior option to Jonas Olsson at centre-back. 15) Crystal Palace (8) a€“ An uncharacteristic lethargic performance at Hull City. Need to play with superior team spirit and commitment to make up for lack of talent in the side. 16) Stoke City (8) a€“ Potters lost their best player and the game at Sunderland. Victor Moses (thigh) limped off after just 18 minutes and will now miss the next three weeks. Need other attacking players to step up in his absence. 17) Everton (6) a€“ Good news: Steven Naismith continues to shine, having scored four goals on five shots on target. Bad news: injuries continue to add up for a team short on squad depth. The all-important John Stones (ankle ligaments) is the latest casualty. Team is much better than current standing. 18) Newcastle United (4) a€“ Still no win for Alan Pardew yet enough to keep his job. Papiss Cisses return from a fractured kneecap is quite incredible, with four goals in three outings. Cheick Tiote may want to leave, but who would want him? The midfielder has been abysmal. 19) Burnley (4) a€“ Deserved point for Burnley, as they pressured the Leicester goal on numerous occasions. Burnleys first goal ended a 565-minute goal drought. Ross Wallaces wonderful free kick equalizer in the 96th minute came at the expense of Kieran Trippier, who was stretchered off after an ugly right ankle injury. 20) Queens Park Rangers (4) a€“ The worst team play in the league and its not close. QPR has lost all four away matches, outscored by 11 goals in the process. @WheelerTSN gareth.wheeler@bellmedia.ca Russell Martin Jersey . -- Deshorn Brown scored twice, the first coming 13 seconds into the game, and the Colorado Rapids beat the undermanned Seattle Sounders 5-1 Saturday night. Devon Travis Jersey . Mike Trout, Josh Hamilton and Kole Calhoun all homered to help the Los Angeles Angels get their first win of the season with an 11-1 rout of the Houston Astros. http://www.cheapbluejaysjerseys.com/?tag...n-pillar-jersey. The Brazilian driver had the second-best time in last months tests at Jerez and said the "good start" could play to his advantage when the season gets underway in Australia in March. Cheap Blue Jays Jerseys Authentic . -- The Guelph Storm are moving on to the Western Conference final after defeating the London Knights 5-4 on Friday in Ontario Hockey League playoff action. Cheap Blue Jays Jerseys China . Those who impressed in each of the three events were asked to attend the main CFL Combine which begins Friday in Toronto.PRINCE ALBERT, Sask. -- Calder Brooks and Leon Draisaitl scored 13 seconds apart in the third period as the Prince Albert Raiders edged the visiting Brandon Wheat Kings 3-2 on Saturday in Western Hockey League action. Dakota Conroy also scored for the Raiders (33-30-5), who jumped over Brandon for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference with a game in hand. Rihards Bukarts scored both goals for the Wheat Kings (31-29-0), who are on a four-game slide with three regular-season games remaining. Nick McBride made 21 saves for Prince Albert while Jordan Papirny turned away 34-of-37 shots for the Wheat Kings. --- WARRIORS 4 OIL KINGS 1 MOOSE JAW, Sask. -- Sam Fioretti and Jack Rodewald each had a pair of goals as the Warriors downed Edmonton. Brayden Point and Tanner Eberle each chipped in with two assists for Moose Jaw (20-40-9). Curtis Lazar scored for the Oil Kings (47-18-3). Justin Paulic made 31 saves for the Warriors as Edmontons Tyler Santos stopped 21-of-25 shots in a losing cause. --- HITMEN 2 BLADES 1 SASKATOON -- Chris Driedger stopped 43-of-44 shots as Calgary slipped past the Blades. Colby Harmsworth and Alex Roach supplied the scoring for the Hitmen (45-17-7). Jordon Thomson scored for Saskatoon (16-47-5), which dropped its eighth game in a row, and Troy Trombley kicked out 30-of-32 shots in defeat. Calgary and Edmonton are tied with 97 points apiece. The Oil Kings remain first in the Eastern Conference because they have a game in hand. --- ICE 3 PATS 1 CRANBROOK, B.C. -- Jaedon Descheneau scored once and set up two more as Kootenay downed Regina. Jagger Dirk and Luke Philp also scored for the Ice (39-25-4) and Sam Reinhart had two assists. The Pats (38-25-6) got their lone goal from Morgan Klimchuk. Mackenzie Skapski made 27 saves for Kootenay while Reginas Dawson MacAuley stopped 28-of-30 shots in defeat. ---- BRONCOS 5 HURRICANES 3 LETHBRIDGE, Alta. -- Graham Black and Jay Merkley each had a pair of goals as Swift Current handed the Hurricanes their 11th loss in a row. Codo Gordon had a goal and two assists for the Broncos (35-25-9) and Julius Honka chipped in with three assists. Jamal Watson, Brady Ramsay and Tyler Wong scored for Lethbridge (12-52-5). Swift Currents Landon Bow made 22 saves for the win. Teagan Sacher gave up five goals on 33 shots in two periods of play for the Hurricanes. Stuart Skinner stopped all nine shots he faced in relief. --- TIGERS 5 REBELS 3 MEDICINE HAT, Alta. -- Curtis Valk had three goals and an assist as the Tigers defeated Red Deer. Blake Penner and Anthony Ast also scored for Medicine Hat (42-23-4) and Trevor Cox had two assists. Wyatt Johnson scored once for the Rebels (33-31-5) and assisted on goals by Scott Feser and Adam Musil.dddddddddddd Marek Langhamer made 20 saves for the Tigers while Red Deers Patrik Bartosak turned aside 40-of-44 shots in defeat. --- WINTERHAWKS 4 GIANTS 1 PORTLAND, Ore. -- Adin Hill stopped 28 shots and Oliver Bjorkstrand and Brendan Leipsic each had a goal and an assist as the Winterhawks toppled Vancouver. Chase De Leo and Keegan Iverson also scored for Portland (50-13-5). Joel Hamilton scored the lone goal for the Giants (31-27-10). Vancouvers Payton Lee turned away 30-of-34 shots in defeat. --- CHIEFS 8 COUGARS 0 PRINCE GEORGE, B.C. -- Mitch Holmberg had three goals and an assist and Mike Aviani scored once and set up three others as Spokane crushed the Cougars. Markson Bechtold, Jason Fram, Marcus Messier and Riley Whittingham also scored for the Chiefs (38-24-6) and Keanu Yamamoto had three assists. Spokanes Eric Williams made 28 saves for his fourth shutout of the season. Adam Beukeboom allowed three goals on 19 shots for Prince George (26-36-8) while Ty Edmonds stopped 13-of-18 shots in his 31 minutes of action for the Cougars. --- ROCKETS 7 AMERICANS 0 KELOWNA, B.C. -- Jordon Cooke made 20 saves and seven different players scored as the Rockets blanked Tri-City. Madison Bowey, Damon Severson, Nick Merkley, Rourke Chartier, Kris Schmidl, Marek Tvrdon and Ryan Olsen supplied the offence for Kelowna (54-10-4), which went 4 for 4 on the power play. Evan Sarthough turned aside 39-of-46 shots for the Americans (28-32-8), who have just one win in their last 10 contests. Tri-City has a four-point lead over Prince George for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference with two games in hand. --- SILVERTIPS 5 THUNDERBIRDS 2 KENT, Wash. -- Joshua Winquist scored twice and Austin Lotz made 31 saves as Everett downed Seattle. Patrick Bajkov, Dawson Leedahl and Zane Jones also scored for the Silvertips (36-23-9), who are 8-0-1 in their last nine games, and Ivan Nikolishin added two assists. Shea Theodore and Russell Maxwell responded for the Thunderbirds (39-22-6). Seattles Taran Kozun allowed four goals on 27 shots before giving way to Danny Mumaugh, who stopped both shots he faced in 16 minutes of relief. --- ROYALS 3 BLAZERS 2 VICTORIA -- Taylor Crunk kicked off three straight goals for the Royals with a goal nine seconds into the game en route to downing Kamloops. Brett Cote and Tyler Soy also scored for Victoria (47-17-4), which won its fifth game in a row. Matt Revel and Matt Needham scored in the third period for the Blazers (13-51-5), who are on a seven-game skid. Patrik Polivka made 18 saves for the Royals while Bolton Pouliot stopped 29 shots for Kamloops. Cheap Diamondbacks Jerseys Cheap Braves Jerseys Cheap Orioles Jerseys Cheap Red Sox Jerseys Cheap Cubs Jerseys Cheap White Sox Jerseys Cheap Reds Jerseys Cheap Indians Jerseys Cheap Rockies Jerseys Cheap Tigers Jerseys Cheap Astros Jerseys Cheap Royals Jerseys Cheap Angels Jerseys Cheap Dodgers Jerseys Cheap Marlins Jerseys ' ' '