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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. Al Horford Swingman Jersey . 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 Klay Thompson Warriors Jersey .com) - Dirk Nowitzki poured in season high-tying 30 points with five rebounds to lead the Dallas Mavericks in a 112-107 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday. Andre Iguodala Authentic Jersey . "I was like, Who is this kid?" Girardi recalled. "Im like, Man, this kid is special." Girardi is the Yankees manager now. Rivera is no longer a kid.Dear CFL and CFLPA, Lets get this deal done gentlemen. Trying to keep the CBA negotiations private just hasnt happened, and it sounds like these discussions are going nowhere fast! This letter is in no way an attempt to take sides on the issues, but just a reminder to both sides to stay focused on the big picture. The season must start on time. It is better for the teams, better for the players, and most importantly, better for the fans. First to the CFL head office. You guys know better than anyone that the players for years have made sacrifices to keep the league alive and are grossly underpaid in comparison to the rest of the world of professional sports. So when you make a final offer, rather than tell the other side what they wont get, tell them what they do get...which is a real nice raise in the form of the cap being pushed up substantially. By doing so you show the players that while you may think it is too early to go back to revenue sharing, you do want to give the players an increase in the cap they cant refuse, a real increase. Secondly, to the players association. Lets not get obsessive about revenue sharing; if you can see that the offer, and increase in the cap, shows that the league is making the players the priority, get the deal signed. I understand you are playing the "so many players sacrificed in the past so now it is time to draw a line in the sand" card, however, as one of those players that back years ago took over a thirty per cent pay cut on a signed contract, I can tell you going on strike would in no way honour those players. Back then we never thought we would take pay cuts so that future players could shut the league down, and in doing so put it in jeopardy. In fact it was just the opposite. We put the game first back then, and wanted to avoid any chance of a work stoppage. So if you want to be a voice for the players of the past that sacrificed, then make sure the league kicks off on time. The facts are that years ago players knew, due to the shaky financial ground that the league was on, that our contracts were barely worth the paper they were written on because at any time a GM could say, "I know you have a signed deal but we are ripping it up and you have to play for less money!" However, what was also true at the time was owners like David Braley stepped up and put millions into the league to make sure that this great Canadian tradition would ccontinue on for years to come. Al Horford Authentic Jersey. So yes, the players got paid less than their contracts read, but while that was happening owners were losing, at times, millions of their own hard earned dollars. Players deserve more money, and owners like David Braley and Bob Wetenhall deserve to go a few years where they actually make a profit and make some of the money they have lost back. A new television contract has changed the financial landscape of the game. It should all but guarantee that teams can be profitable no matter what their win/loss record looks like in any given year. Owners and in the case of community-owned teams, the taxpayers, will start to see the fruits of their labour and players will be compensated better for putting it all on the line when they cross the stripes. All of which is a given and may be over-simplifying. However, once again to the league, make the salary cap bump substantial and reflect how much you respect the importance of the players. And to the players, there may be a time down the road when you can hold tough on revenue sharing, but that time is not now. So get a good raise, take care of some other issues, kick off the season on time, and support your families. My father once told me that if someone starts slinging mud in the gutter, dont head to the gutter and start slinging mud back, because all that happens then is that everyone gets muddy. To both sides in these negotiations, this cant be about greed, about the sacrifices of past players, or about egos. The game is too important and the league is realizing momentum like never before in its history. Most importantly, remember none of this is possible without the fans. Right now people are looking at buying their season tickets and trying to make plans for their summer holidays, and those plans are on hold. Fans in our Nations Capital cant wait to have a home team again, and this time with owners that are in it for the long haul. Those fans are now putting their plans on hold while these negotiations continue. It is time to end the, "I go high, you go low," negotiation strategy and sit down and hammer out a deal. Negotiating privately was a massive fail, and it looks like both sides are now trying to sway public opinion, and that is when egos get involved. If it gets to that, shame on both sides, because at that point you are both just covered in mud. Sincerely, Glen Suitor cheap nfl jerseys cheap jerseys cheap jerseys cheap jerseys cheap nfl jerseys wholesale jerseys ' ' '