s and took a four-stroke lead going into the final day, bogeyed four out of six holes starting at the sixth and continued a forg

SHAPES OF MLS THE FORMATIONS: When Ryan Nelsen named his starting XI featuring Michael Bradley, Jonathan Osorio and Kyle Bekker, it appeared we could be in for a change of system. Mario Chalmers Jersey . Osorio did play a bit deeper than a normal forward, making the fluid system look, at times, like a 4-2-3-1 but, in truth, this system wasnt much different to the one Nelsen has trusted this season. A high-flying FC Dallas threw out no surprises in their lineup, making just one change from their loss to Seattle the previous week with the impressive young right back, Kellyn Acosta, coming back into the side. THE GAME: The three goals all came directly, or indirectly, from set-pieces so the game itself was not won or lost tactically, however, the style adopted by Nelsens team once again threw out many questions about his system. On the balance of play it was probably a game that no team deserved to win or lose, although Toronto FC certainly should have had a chance to score a second goal when, at 1-1, Gilberto was fouled in the box and a penalty was not given. It is worth noting how the chance was created in the first place. By this stage the visitors were sitting very deep, defending a set-piece, when Osorio picked up the ball inside his own half and sent a fantastic pass for the Brazilian to rush onto. The Canadian had a chance to send the ball forward seconds earlier but couldnt connect, but then used his great vision soon after when he demanded the ball get played back to him. Yes, he was deep because of the team was defending the set play but it was another example of Osorios maturation and what he can do when slotted deeper in midfield. (Click for bigger image) From that pass, the referee was a long way behind the play and probably got some assistance from Gilberto getting back up immediately, rather than staying down after the foul was committed. If he had a number of goals scored already this season and wasnt so eager, he probably would have lay on the floor flat out waiting for the call. Osorio didnt come that deep many times in the game but it was interesting to see how effective Toronto were when he did. In the first half, the closest he got to the double pivot of Bekker and Bradley led Dallas to concede the corner that led to Torontos opening goal. Once ahead, Toronto struggled to get a grip on the game. With Osorio playing as an advanced central midfielder it was clear the need to help Gilberto would have to come from the wide areas but this presented several challenges for Nelsens system. Jackson is a worker. He runs a lot. He is a poor mans Ramires. This is not a disrespectful comparison. His countryman has been trusted in massive games to play that wide role to help defend the flank (think Champions League semi final in Barcelona for Chelsea) and Jackson certainly does well with that responsibility. In attack, however, he lacks the creativity and that is fine providing it is available on the opposite flank. Goalscorer Issey Nakajima-Farran had an interesting match. He likes to shoot and get forward, as demonstrated on the goal, and that is something this team needs at the moment but defensively he is a weak link in the system (see below). THE TURNING POINT: Without question, the longer the game would have gone on at 1-0 the stronger Toronto FC would have gotten (as they showed in Columbus) but they conceded a needless corner later in the first half and, subsequently, allowed a simple header to be won to make it 1-1. With the goal, Dallas grew stronger and were able to take advantage of the areas that they were superior, specifically out wide. THE POSITIVES: Nelsens squad was down to the bare minimum with seven players all missing through injuries. Of those seven, the most important were, of course, Jermain Defoe, Doneil Henry and Rey and there is something to be said for going toe-to-toe with a strong Western Conference side without them. Henry would have helped significantly with the aerial battles they lost in the box, while Defoes absence has robbed the club from a chance to really gel a partnership with Gilberto, something that may not reach the heights until August now, if the Englishman does go to the World Cup. Gilberto still has no goals and the detractors will start talking louder this week but he did all he could with what he has. It remains far too soon to jump to conclusions on him. THE NEGATIVES: Despite missing those players, there is a clear concern developing around the productivity, reliability and creativity of the wide players. Whether Nelsen plays a 4-4-2, 4-4-1-1 or 4-2-3-1, it really is irrelevant. This team does not keep the ball enough so they have to make sure they are better at counter attacks and servicing whoever is playing up front. Jacksons characteristics have been identified but Nakajima-Farran is very different. Like Alvaro Rey, he can be liability defending a flank. It is difficult to assign blame in this area, depending on his instructions from Nelsen. In a 4-4-1-1, if the man playing off the striker (in this case Osorio) is more naturally a midfielder, rather than a forward, often you might want one of your wide men to go centrally, when in possession, to make up an attacking duo. For this, Nakajima-Farran is ideal. He did it on more than a couple of occasions but the issue is when the opponents react with a quick transition. So far in all of Torontos away matches, the home side have targeted their flanks. Seattle did it, once they trailed 2-0, and Nelsen switched Jackson with Rey after 40 minutes to counter it. Real Salt Lake did it very effectively, (with right-back Tony Beltran winning a US call-up because of it) Columbus less so, and, once again, FC Dallas excelled at it. With Nakajima-Farran not tracking back, left back Jair Benitez has a field day in the first half creating numerous overlaps that, often, looked like this with Nakajima-Farran (highlighted) not helping Mark Bloom defensively. (Click for bigger image) Like in Seattle, Nelsen reacted to this shortly before the 40th minute when he switched Jackson and put Nakajima-Farran with Morrow and away from Benitez and Castillo. Both flanks were still attacked throughout, and the home sides full-backs, between them, made a combined 93 successful pass attempts (Torontos made 44) and although that number is excellent, the chalkboard reveals just how many of them were in advanced areas. It is clear that, no matter who is playing for Toronto, this is the scouting report opponents will follow. It is up to Nelsens team to counter that by improving the skills of those playing in those positions and/or getting more of an attacking threat from central areas, forcing opponents to match them up more centrally. THE STAR MAN: I am struggling to think of a better performance, in the clubs history, from a Toronto FC full back than the one put in by Justin Morrow. Is there anything that fazes him? Dallas attacked on the flanks all night but it didnt have anywhere near as much impact down Morrows side as it did on the opposite one. The left back is a supreme reader of the game, is more than comfortable in one-on-one situations, is physical and moves centrally, when necessary, to help narrow the space and cover for the centre-backs. Dallas, themselves, had excellent performers such as Matt Hedges who won everything in the air, but for the visitors, Morrow was outstanding. Simply put, he is the best left-back this club has ever had by some margin. Memphis Grizzlies Jerseys . -- Phil Mickelson came to the St. Chandler Parsons 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. http://www.thegrizzliesofficial.com/Authentic-Mike-Bibby-Grizzlies-Jersey/ . Siddikur, who led on all four days and took a four-stroke lead going into the final day, bogeyed four out of six holes starting at the sixth and continued a forgettable last round in which he returned a three-over 75 to finish with a 14-under 274.GREEN BAY, Wis. - Halfway through the season, the Green Bay Packers weakness on the ground has been exposed. The Packers are having trouble stopping the run. Sunday night, they face the Chicago Bears — the same team that ran for 235 yards on them in the NFC North rivals first meeting in September. Watch the game on TSN at 7pm et/4pm pt. Its a good thing the Packers (5-3) had a bye week to regroup. Their league-worst rush defence seemingly can only get better after yielding 153.5 yards a game. Coach Mike McCarthy said Green Bay must be more fundamentally sound in tackling and filling gaps. The Bears (3-5) also pose another particular challenge. If you can identify where Matt (Forte) is, what they got, the tendencies that they have, then I think well be good, defensive lineman Mike Neal said. I think we got caught off-guard the first game, but well be well-prepared for the next game ... You make adjustments and move on. They seem like simple yet critical adjustments that must be made if Green Bay plans to play deep into January. And yet, the Packers still remain in good shape in the NFC North, a game behind first-place Detroit with four of their next five games in the cold comfort of Lambeau Field. The Bears can only wish they were that close to first. Chicago was mired in a 1-4 funk before its bye week, so Sunday nights game is about as close as it can get to being a must-win to stay in the hunt. Not that coach Marc Trestman is thinking that far ahead. Were not creating hypotheticals on whats going to happen after this game. We know weve got our work cut out for us this week, Trestman said. Some other things to look for in the 190th meeting of the NFLs oldest rivalry: FORTES CARRIES: Maybe relying on Forte more on the ground will help get the Bears going. He ran for 122 yards on 23 carries against Green Bay, reaching season highs in both categories in a game in which quarterback Jay Cutler was intercepted twice in the third quarter of a 38-17 loss. The Packers led 21-17 at the half before shutting out Chicago in the second half to start the Bears miserable five-game stretch. Forte is seventh in the league in rushing with 562 yards. With the weather forecast in Green Bay calling for a 50 per cent chance of snow showers Sunday and a high of 39 degrees, conditions might be ripe to do more running. GETTING TO A-ROD: The last time the Bears visited Lambeau Field, they beat thee Packers 27-20 on Nov. Allen Iverson Jersey. 4, 2013. There was one huge factor in Chicagos favour that night. Shea took out Aaron Rodgers, linebacker Lance Briggs joked. He was referring to teammate Shea McClellins first-quarter sack that knocked Rodgers out with a collarbone injury. Going into Sunday, Rodgers is getting over a tweaked left hamstring. Otherwise, he has been playing very well this season with 19 touchdowns to just three interceptions. You never count him out, Briggs said. Ive played good defence against him for 58 minutes out of the game and the last minute, he throws a bomb and they win the game. You have to be on your toes for the whole 60. OFF GUARDS: The Bears will have Jared Allen back after the defensive end missed the teams first meeting because of illness. The Packers could be without their two best offensive linemen with guards Josh Sitton (toe) and T.J. Lang (ankle) missing practices with injuries. At the least, Sitton and Lang may not be 100 per cent. If they cant go, McCarthy would likely turn to Lane Taylor and J.C. Tretter — who was just activated off injured reserve following a knee injury — to man the guard positions. FAST STARTS: Only the New York Jets have allowed more first-half points than the Bears, who have been outscored 137-89 in the first two quarters. Scoring early just happens to be a strength for the Packers, outpointing foes 136-89 before halftime. Rodgers said he would prefer that McCarthy defer more in taking opening kickoffs, but the quarterback will certainly take the results. Weve scored I think four out of five on first drives. That does a lot for your defence when youre giving them the lead when they take the field, Rodgers said. CUE CUTLER: It hasnt been a good first half of the season for Cutler, even with his current 95.8 quarterback rating at a career high. Hes still making questionable decisions and committing turnovers — like in the Bears first game this season against the Packers. Green Bay, especially, is a sore spot for Cutler. He is 1-9 against the Packers, including 0-3 at Lambeau Field. Cutler been intercepted 10 times to just two touchdowns in Titletown, completing 48 per cent of passes. ___ AP Sports Writer Andrew Seligman in Lake Forest, Illinois contributed this report. ___ AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP_NFL ___ Follow Genaro Armas at http://twitter.com/GArmasAP Cheap Canadiens Jerseys Cheap Predators Jerseys Cheap Devils Jerseys Cheap Islanders Jerseys Cheap Rangers Jerseys Cheap Senators Jerseys Cheap Flyers Jerseys Cheap Penguins Jerseys Cheap Sharks Jerseys Cheap Blues Jerseys Cheap Lightning Jerseys Cheap Maple Leafs Jerseys Cheap Canucks Jerseys Cheap Golden Knights Jerseys Cheap Capitals Jerseys Cheap Winnipeg Jets Jerseys ' ' '