Die Anpflanzler [DA] » way, change is certainly

MARTINEZ BOLD CHANGE It is the morning after the opening day of the Premier League season and a national sports radio station in England is taking calls from football fans on the changes they witnessed and didnt like on day one of the season. Some replies are funny, such as a fan of lower league team, Hartlepool, who said he was disgusted at his sides decision to not score goals this season, while others, like the Arsenal fan complaining at the price of wine going up inside their stadium, failed to get much sympathy. At least something went up in value at The Emirates during the summer, I thought. In the end the overriding message was football fans had to embrace change because there is an awful lot of it taking place.Irish playwright George Bernard Shaw once said progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything. Luis Suarez would argue his constant mind changing has changed very little this summer but if Shaw was alive today he most certainly would have written an equally clever phrase about the Uruguayans current plight. He would also have relished Saturdays action as the Barclays Premier League turned the page on a new chapter, with an unprecedented four new managers taking charge of the best six clubs from last season. David Moyes at Manchester United, Manuel Pellegrini at Manchester City and Jose Mourinho at Chelsea will certainly receive their fair share of ink this season but at Everton, new boss Roberto Martinez shouldnt go unnoticed as he goes about molding a team into his way of thinking.During their 2-2 draw at Norwich City on Saturday, seen live on TSN, Martinez wasted no time in making a significant adjustment to his side immediately. On paper it looked like a team that could have been drawn up by Moyes last season. They featured a back-four including attacking wingbacks Seamus Coleman and Leighton Baines, a midfield three of Leon Osman, youngster Ross Barkley and Marouane Fellaini, with Steven Pienaar on the left wing, Kevin Mirallas on the right, flanking Nikica Jelavic up front. Under Moyes, Belgian Fellaini would have played as the attacking member of the midfield three, a position he excelled in last season when he went on to lead the club in goals(11) and shots(90). One of his best performances, in fact, came in week one, at home to Manchester United, when he scored the games only goal and was a menace all night to the opposition. (Click for larger image) The towering 25-year-old went on to score five headed goals in the 2012/13 campaign, just one behind Swanseas Michu for the league lead, in a season so successful many expected him to be at a different club by now. At Norwich on Saturday, still dressed in the blue of Everton, Fellaini started a Premier League match for the first time not under the guidance of Moyes. Martinez responded by immediately placing him alongside Osman in a much deeper role, a position he has adopted for Belgium internationally and periodically for his club in his early days under Moyes. On the surface it appeared the decision may have come from a lack of depth at that position as Darron Gibson was injured, but Fellainis performance in the role, along with his wishes and the managers plans for the team going forward, could mean the Belgians time as a number ten, off the striker, has come to an end. In May, when discussing his future, Fellaini showed his cards on what he really feels about being versatile: "Sometimes I look at myself and ask, What is my best position? But I think its a defensive midfielder, thats the best one. The manager might like it sometimes when I play up front because I can cause trouble for the defenders, but for me my best position is defensive midfield, stopping the opposition and then looking to impose myself on a game," he said. A year on from his commanding showing against Manchester United, on day one of this season, the stats were very different from the ones that night at Goodison, with many aerial duels won much deeper in his own half. (Click for larger image) Everton are a side whose full backs play very high up the pitch, so it is no surprise that many of Fellainis winning headers are done so deep as on several occasions, particularly against long balls or fast pace counter attacks, he is one of the four deepest Everton players, alongside Osman and the two centre-backs. However, this does not mean he cannot make a statement as an attacking threat from that position, quite the opposite in fact. Fellainis deeper position allows him to read the game better, and in a team that treasures the ball well (a trait that will likely improve more under Martinez), he can make penetrating runs from deep without worrying about being caught out in a transition. Against Norwich not only did he lead the game in passes attempted (88) and passes completed (77), more importantly he led the game with 26 successful passes in the attacking third, with many accurately finding Evertons wide players whose overlaps cause opponents constant problems. (Click for larger image) Fellainis placement as a defensive midfielder did not come without problems and when he was guilty of allowing Steven Whittaker to easily go by him on his way to scoring Norwichs opening goal of the game, it was clear he was a man who was still unsure when to be overly physical and take a sensible yellow card. His reservations are not surprising considering he has spent the best part of the last three seasons defending his own poor disciplinary record. That is an area he will need to improve on but there seems to be a common ground between club and player that this position change could work out for both parties. It is no secret that Fellaini wants to play Champions League football for a bigger club and playing in the second band of a four band system, rather than in a 3 of a 4231, showcases his talents to technical teams unlikely to ever adopt such a direct style where a big man is needed further forward. Everton, meanwhile, may grow into a side that will soon deploy the 3-4-3 style Martinez used at Wigan, a system where a forward is required to come deeper with his back to goal into the space a further advanced Fellaini would occupy. If Martinez gets his wish and Fellaini stays for another season, his box-to-box style will be essential in the centre of a midfield 4. Either way, change is certainly taking shape already at Everton, yet the only one that will get the fans to call into radio shows will be if he is sold. More commanding performances in a deeper role will ensure it will be a matter of when, not if. For the good of the club, it appears that is a gamble Martinez is willing to take. George Bernard Shaw would have been proud. Nike Free Ireland Online . Ireland was the last unbeaten side in the championship after France fell to Wales on Friday, and was favoured to end a three-match losing run to England with a side with more than twice as many caps, rampant momentum, and added incentive to celebrate Brian ODriscolls world record-tying 139th test cap. Cheap Nike Free Ireland Wholesale . Long snapper Patrick Mannelly announced Friday that he is retiring after a 16-year-career with the Bears, a span in which he played in a team record 245 games and snapped the ball 2,282 times. http://www.cheapnikefreeireland.com/ . Mauer struck out to end the inning, with a runner on third base in the seventh on Wednesday and the Twins trailing 1-0. Everybody does this, of course, in a sport with a 30 per cent success rate at the plate long proven to be a benchmark of excellence. Nike Free Ireland ., climbed from seventh to fifth spot in womens competition Sunday at the ISU world junior figure skating championships. Discount Nike Free Ireland . The world No. 1 had one of the most dominating performances in a final and was on his way to a possible shutout on Sunday until the third-seeded Berdych broke the super Serbs serve in the 12th game of the match. SALT LAKE CITY -- Kyle Korver and Paul Millsap made themselves right at home in their return to Utah. Just when Atlanta seemed almost incapable of winning a road game, Korver and Millsap broke the hearts of the fans that cheered them for years to finally help the Hawks break through. Korver scored 26 points and Millsap added 23 against their former team as the Hawks outlasted the Utah Jazz 112-110 on Monday night to snap a six-game losing streak. Millsap said there were times were he almost felt like he wasnt playing on the road "I played in this gym for seven years. I felt real comfortable," he said after helping the Hawks end a 10-game road losing streak. Most of the Atlanta starting lineup spent significant time playing for the Jazz. DeMarre Carroll (2011-13), Korver (2007-10) and Millsap (2006-13) all received warm applause when they were introduced before the game. "It was like a reunion, a family reunion. I saw a lot of familiar faces," Millsap said. But familiarity didnt make it a cakewalk. Korver made all four of his 3-point attempts in his old stomping grounds but never felt totally safe. The Hawks blew a 17-point lead and it was like re-run Korver had seen dozens of times. "I was a part of so many games when the Jazz were down at halftime, just like tonight, and then came roaring back. The crowd gets behind them," Korver said. Jeff Teague had 14 points and the Hawks used a late 16-4 run to salvage a win at the end of a gloomy six-game road trip. The Jazz led 96-93 after Trey Burkes 3-pointer, but Korver started an 8-0 run with a 3-pointer and then a contested jumper to beat the shot clock. Trey Burke made a layup before Millsap countered with two free throws and Korver added two of his own to seemingly put the game out of reach. Trailing 109-100 with 26 seconds left, the Jazz made it interesting with 10 points in the last 16 seconds. "In the second half, we made a significant change but it was a little too late and they made some big shots down the stretch," said Burke, who scored 21 of his 23 points in the second half. Marvin Williams had 18 for the Jazz, who have lost six of their last seven. Carroll had 11 points as the trio of former Jazz-players-turned-Hawks combined for 15 of the Hawks 16 points in the game-clinching run. The Hawks led by 117 points in the first half before the Jazz rallied in the third quarter.ddddddddddddUtah outscored Atlanta 36-19 in the period and capped an 18-7 run with Haywards rebound dunk just before the buzzer for an 80-78 edge. "We didnt respond to their pressure and it turned into a heck of a game," Atlanta coach Mike Budenholzer said. Millsap missed five games with a badly bruised knee and then struggled a bit in his first two games back in limited minutes. He regained his All-Star form against his former team, which decided to go with a youth movement and let him sign with the Hawks in the off-season. Millsap was 7 of 14 from the field and had eight rebounds to help the Hawks, who had a tough time matching up with the Jazz inside. Utah outrebounded Atlanta 45-34. The Hawks, desperately trying to hang on to the eighth and final Eastern Conference playoff spot, finally started to see things click in Los Angeles on Saturday before losing 109-108 to the Clippers. "We felt like we needed this big-time. We felt like we fought hard in the previous game and just came up short. I hope this will a good momentum boost going forward. Teague, who missed a key free throw against the Clippers, missed two down the stretch again but made four to help Atlanta avoid its 15th loss in the last 16 games. The Hawks are 3 1/2 games in front of the Knicks in the race for the playoffs. The Jazz just finished their own nightmare of an extended road trip, losing five of their six games before outlasting Philadelphia 104-92 in the finale. The Hawks allowed an average of 113 points on better than 50-per cent shooting, including 44 per cent from 3-point range. But the Hawks made 13 of 29 from beyond the arc to get the win, which is their fourth straight at Utah after dropping their previous 15. "The Jazz have so much tradition and its like one big family here. Once youre part of the Jazz, you never leave all the way," Korver said. NOTES: Former Jazz Hall of Famer Karl Malone sat courtside and used a giant slingshot to hurl balls into the crowd during a timeout. ... Utahs 36 third-period points tied for the most against the Hawks this season. ... The 10 consecutive road losses were Atlantas worst away drought since losing the final 13 in 2006-07. . The Hawks set a new franchise record with 28 games with 10 or more 3-pointers. China NFL Jerseys Cheap Nike NFL Jerseys NFL Jerseys Cheap Wholesale NFL Jerseys Cheap Basketball Jerseys Online Stitched Hockey Jerseys Wholesale Baseball Jerseys Football Jerseys Outlet College Jerseys For Sale Cheap MLB Jerseys Wholesale Soccer Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys For Sale Wholesale NFL Jerseys ' ' '