Impressum » owned by Earnhardt, his sister Kelley, an

Midweek Premier League action in the books: so many talking points to get to. Bring on the Musings. - Harsh. Manchester City was fortunate in a 5-1 win over Spurs at White Hart Lane. Sounds weird, doesnt it? The score-line was inflated by the sending off of Danny Rose. Down 1-0, the Spurs left back was sent off early in the second half, deemed to have fouled Edin Dzeko on a clear-cut goal scoring opportunity. Red. Penalty. Converted. Game over. Rose actually got the ball on his challenge and very little of Dzeko. Not a foul or a sending off. Referee Andre Marriner didnt point to the spot; his linesman made the call. Although the call was wrong, whenever a player lets an attacking player get goal-side inside the eighteen, its grounds for disaster. Diving challenges from behind as such will almost always be called. Harsh on Rose. Its ridiculous the rule sends the player off in that circumstance. Isnt the penalty enough of a punishment? Disappointing, as Spurs did well getting back into the match with physical, determined play. - Stat of the Day, Part 1 courtesy Rob Harris (Associated Press): Citys financial loss announced Wednesday was £51.60m. They beat Spurs 5-1, 6-0 this season. Creepy. - City has 68 goals on the season through 23 matches. They scored 66 all last season. They have 15 games to go. Simply incredible. - No player is as dominant in attacking areas, with the ball on his right foot, than Sergio Aguero. The finish on his opener was exquisite, putting it past Hugo Lloris on the angle, as delicate as can be. He hit one off the post from a ridiculous angle earlier on his right foot with power and precision. Defenders need to cheat Aguero; playing him to his left and hope for the best. Aguero limped off at the start of the second half with a hamstring injury, he had just returned from a calf issue. The extent of the injury will be determined Thursday, anxious times. The team is a powerhouse, but Aguero is a difference maker. Without the Argentine for a prolonged stretch, a true assault on trophies in all four competitions is a reach. - City is now top the table, but will face a motivated Chelsea Monday who dropped points in a 0-0 home draw against lowly West Ham. Chelsea dominated but simply couldnt score, incredibly outshooting the Hammers 39-1. Manager Jose Mourinho took out his frustration post-match, hitting out at West Hams style. "This is not Premier League; this is not the best league in the world. This is football from the 19th century." The statement by Mourinho is entirely hypocritical and embarrassing from a manager renowned for playing dull, defensive football away from home. Yes, extraordinary defensive commitment in blocking shots and standout goalkeeping from Adrian stole a point, but Mourinho parked the bus at Old Trafford and the Emirates this year. He has done so countless times while at Inter and Real Madrid. Mourinho came off as a bitter, desperate man Wednesday. Poor form. - Juan Matas Manchester United debut was unsurprisingly impressive, especially considering he hadnt played since January 1st and trained sparsely since his transfer became inevitable. Mata lined up behind Robin van Persie in the 2-0 win over Cardiff, pressing high when need be but finding comfort in dropping deep to play a ball possession, play-making role. His passing was reminiscent of Paul Scholes, particularly starting the movement on the first goal. His confidence and composure on fills a need. The signing of the 25-year-old is an absolute coup for United. Manuel Pellegrini and Arsene Wenger hitting out at Chelseas decision to transfer Mata within the Premier League speaks to the threat United will always be, the rest of this year and beyond. - Reports say United manager David Moyes is intent of adding five more Matas to his current group. Its a scary proposition, and a premature one. United paid a club record £37m for Mata. The club has now only spent over £20m on a player five times in the last decade. Manchester City spent over £20m each on four players last summer, and 15 players overall in that span. Chelsea has purchased 12 players over that number. Is United finally willing to go where other big clubs have been for years? - £300,000 per week is a steep, but necessary price to pay Wayne Rooney to keep him at Old Trafford. The terms of a new contract are reported, but not official. The 28-year-old has been sensational this campaign, putting the clouds of uncertainty and distraction of last summer behind him. The captains armband seems right with no other suitable heir apparent and Rooney on course to become Uniteds all-time scoring leader. A focus Rooney leads by example on the field. - Adam Lallana for England? Ill unveil my prospective England World Cup team in the coming weeks. But Southamptons Lallana makes the side. His sixth goal coming in a 2-2 draw with Arsenal is testament to the quality and work-rate of the midfielder. How about Luke Shaw for England as well? Should it matter if hes just 18? Ashley Coles form has been poor. And Shaw is that good. Already. - Time for Wenger to get Kieran Gibbs back in the starting XI. Gibbs strong season was derailed through injury over the holidays. The drop-off between Gibbs and Nacho Monreal is significant. Although its been admirable of Wenger to reward Monreal for his work, Gibbs has to start. The back four is a strength with Bacary Sagna, Laurent Koscielny and Per Mertesacker. - Daniel Sturridge 3-0 goal for Liverpool in the Merseyside derby was the goal of the week. With a searching long-ball looped over his head, Sturridge looks over both shoulders on the run before volleying over the oncoming Tim Howard. Sensational balance, focus and a sweet finish that shouldnt be overlooked by an ugly penalty miss. No Englishman not named Lampard, Gerrard or Baines can be trusted from the spot. Sturridge was also called greedy as he searched for the hat trick. The criticism is unfair. Hes paid to score goals and up 4-0 is as good a time as any. Leave him be. - Stat of the Day, Part 2 courtesy ESPN FC: three top goal scorers in the BPL – Suarez, Aguero, and Sturridge – have missed 19 games combined. Theyve scored 51 goals. Wow. - Everton manager Roberto Martinez has revealed star striker Romelu Lukakus ankle injury isnt as bad as originally feared. It looked ugly when teammate Gareth Barry toppled over him. Lukaku is expected to miss weeks, not months. Spurs are their toughest opponent in the next three, and Lukaku cannot play February 22nd against Chelsea anyway. So perhaps, in a weird way, Everton catch a break. - Ive been calling a Sunderland revival for weeks. The team is not only in the Capital One Cup Final but also out of the bottom three. There is talent in the side, especially in the back and in the midfield. Heaps of credit to manager Gus Poyet for making sense of a mish-mashed squad. While I predicted Sunderlands ascension, I did not foresee Crystal Palace climbing out of the relegation zone. The fight and work rate in Palace has been phenomenal all season. Questions remain whether they can find enough goals in the final months. - Aston Villa can all of a sudden score goals. Eight goals in the last four games and Villa have picked up seven points in the process. In the previous five, they scored two and only picked up a point. - Yohan Cabaye to PSG is a loss for Newcastle. But with or without the Frenchman, they are still a mid-table club. Expect a step back in the coming weeks with talisman 11-goal man Loic Remy suspended for the next three after his sending off at Norwich City. The next three games against Sunderland, at Chelsea, and Spurs is a massive challenge and test of character. - Cardiff City is last in the table on 18 points, but is hardly the weakest side. Three of their last four have come against Arsenal and the two Manchester sides. Baptism by fire for new manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer who took over during this nightmare run of fixtures. The additions of Wilfried Zaha on-loan and Fabio from Manchester United, as well as Kenwyne Jones from Stoke should help. There is enough in this team to climb out of the bottom. - Transfer window closes Friday. Enjoy the madness. Cheap Vikings Jerseys .com) - Oklahoma quarterback Trevor Knight was carted off the field in the fourth quarter of 16th-ranked Sooners 48-14 loss to No. Wholesale Vikings Jerseys . Jesus Navas bookended yet another huge home win for City by scoring after 14 seconds and again in second-half stoppage time, with Sergio Aguero also netting in each half to add to an own goal by Sandro and a brilliant strike by Alvaro Negredo. http://www.cheapvikingsjerseysauthentic.com/ . -- Desperate to stop Tom Bradys latest comeback bid, the Miami Dolphins sought help from a reserve safety making his NFL debut after being signed Tuesday off the San Francisco 49ers practice squad.HOMESTEAD, Fla. - Chase Elliott could let Matt Kenseth take a spin with the checkered flag. Even without the win, Elliott had a championship celebration waiting for him in Victory Lane.Elliott finally got to enjoy his Nationwide Series title after he finished 17th in the season finale Saturday night at Homestead-Miami Speedway.He became the youngest champion in NASCAR history last week when he wrapped up the title at Phoenix International Raceway. All that was missing was the trophy presentation he got at Homestead.This week, more than anything, has allowed me to sit back and think, not only of all the people who have helped me this year, but theres a lot of great names who have helped me my entire career, Elliott said.The 18-year-old rookie is the youngest driver to win a title in any of NASCARs three national series. He broke the mark set by Brian Vickers, who was 20 when he won the Nationwide title in 2003.Kenseth got the jump on the final restart in overtime to earn his first win of the season in any NASCAR series.Its been a long time since Ive won a race in anything, Kenseth said. Kyle (Larson) got around me on the second to last restart, and when he chose the bottom and I had Kyle behind me, I knew we had a shot. I just had to get a better restart.It was the final race for NASCARs second-tier series under the Nationwide banner. It will be renamed the Xfinity Series next season.Kyle Busch was second, and Larson finished third.Almost had second, but Kyle was able to squeeze around me, Larson said. I probably could have shut the door on him, but we werent going to win, so there was no point in maybe tearing up two cars.With six wins from five drivers, Roger Penske clinched the Nationwide owners title to made it 2 for 2 in championships this season. Team Penske won the IndyCar championship with Will Power in September, and a victory by Joey Logano in Sundays Sprint Cup season finale would make Penske the only team owner to complete the sweep of major American racing titles.Ive got two boxes checked off now, Penske said. I get one more tomorrow.Chevy won the manufacturers championship, the first for its Camaro brand that debuted in 2013.Elliott, thee first Nationwide champion to also win the rookie of the year award, made his biggest mistake of the season when he smacked the wall late in the race making a hard push for a top-10 finish.dddddddddddd He couldnt take the checkered flag — but he came away with a pretty nice consolation prize.He grabbed the championship flag and kicked up a cloud of yellow smoke off a burnout on the painted grass.The first-time champ needs to work on his celebrations — he smacked the wall during the burnout, bringing a smile from team owner Dale Earnhardt Jr.I know it was ugly. We didnt have a very good run, but well take it, Elliott said.The Victory Lane bash capped a whirlwind year for Elliot, who didnt even have a ride last November. He turns 19 on Nov. 28.He had three wins this season and 16 top-five finishes in 33 races. The son of Hall of Fame inductee and 1988 NASCAR champion Bill Elliott beat JR Motorsports teammate Regan Smith for the title.It was the first Nationwide title for the team owned by Earnhardt, his sister Kelley, and Rick Hendrick.The Elliotts are the fifth father/son duo to win NASCAR national series championships. The others are Lee Petty and Richard Petty, Ned Jarrett and Dale Jarrett, David Pearson and Larry Pearson, and Dale Earnhardt and Dale Earnhardt Jr.Elliott proved hes a champion driver, leaving open the question if he will move up to the elite Sprint Cup series. Larson spent just one season in Nationwide last year before he was promoted to Cup, and Elliott could be on that same fast track.Hendrick has indicated theyll keep him in the second-tier series for now. Hendrick Motorsports does not have an open seat next year, and many believe Elliott could be Jeff Gordons successor whenever he chooses to retire.Xfinity now becomes just the third title sponsor in series history. Anheuser-Busch spent 26 years as title sponsor and Nationwide has been sponsor the last 11 but is moving into team sponsorship next season.We have truly enjoyed our time as the series sponsor and are grateful for the relationships weve made with the drivers, teams, owners, and fans, said Jim McCoy, director of sports marketing for Nationwide Insurance. ' ' '