Bayern Trupp » Perhaps another official could

MANCHESTER, England - Theres a very different feel to Christmas Day at Liverpool this season.Twelve months ago, Liverpool was top of the Premier League — always a significant milestone in the English game — and playing the most exciting brand of football in the country. With striker Luis Suarez pouring in goals and Brendan Rodgers being hailed for his managerial qualities, the club was gearing up for its first genuine title challenge for years.There is little to celebrate this Christmas. The Reds are in their lowest league position — 10th place — on Dec. 25 since the inaugural Premier League in 1992, out of the Champions League, have misgivings over their main striker Mario Balotelli, have just dropped their first-choice goalkeeper and have been unable to shore up their wobbly defence.Title? No chance. Top four and a return to the Champions League? Maybe.Rodgers is facing the biggest test of his 2 1/2-year reign but there have been signs over the past week that Liverpool is on its way back.And its all to do with a tinkering of the teams formation and playing style, in an attempt to reproduce the attacking fluency of last season. Rodgers has changed to a 3-4-3 formation, with a quick and energetic forward line lifting the intensity of the team.Liverpool got the performance but not the result in a 3-0 loss at Manchester United on Dec. 14, but a 3-1 win at Bournemouth in the League quarterfinals and an encouraging display in Sundays 2-2 draw against Arsenal has given Rodgers and his players some belief.We havent just stumbled across this system, Rodgers said. A lot of thinking time and hours have gone in on how we can maximize it. In the last three games its been much closer, we have to work very hard, players are adapting to the club and performances will get better and better.Its about rediscovering tempo and intensity and weve seen that.That doesnt spell good news for Balotelli.The Italy strikers languid style does not fit into Rodgers preferred high-tempo game and the front three for Liverpools last three games has been Raheem Sterling, Philippe Coutinho and Adam Lallana — quick and lively attacking midfielders who never give defenders a moments rest.That hardly describes Balotelli, who has been criticized for his work rate and has yet to score a league goal since joining from AC Milan in August.Working with Mario, Rodgers said, we see someone who is better in and around the box so that level of intensity and pressing isnt part of his game. You try to get the best out of the players you have and the quality you have.With the transfer window opening in January, there is speculation that Balotellis days at Anfield are numbered. The future of dropped keeper Simon Mignolet is also uncertain.The Belgium international is in the midst of an indefinite period on the sidelines after paying the price for some nervy displays this season. Brad Jones has replaced him and although the Australian has conceded six goals in his three games, Mignolet will remain in the cold.I havent lost any belief in him — hes still an outstanding goalkeeper, Rodgers said of Mignolet. Im sure when the time comes for him to come back in, hell be a better goalkeeper for it.Ill make my mind up on that at the right time.Liverpool plays Burnley away on Friday before home games against Swansea and Leicester. It is a favourable schedule as the team looks to close the nine-point gap to fourth-place West Ham.There has been a lot of criticism of us, Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel said, and I hope it will change and be better in the second half of the season. Todd Gurley II Youth Jersey . The Yankees made the moves before Tuesdays game against Baltimore. Robertson was listed retroactive to Monday. Robertson posted two saves in three games as the replacement for retired Yankees closer Mariano Rivera before getting hurt. Nolan Cromwell Womens Jersey . In the days leading up to the draft, TSN.ca and TSN Radio basketball analyst Duane Watson looks at some of the names that will be headlining the event. Tonight, Michigans Nik Stauskas of Mississauga, Ontario. http://www.footballramsshop.us/authentic...es-rams-jersey/. The league-leading New York Rangers outhit and outmuscled the Maple Leafs during a 3-0 victory on Saturday. Backup goalie Martin Biron stopped all 20 shots he faced to complete a nice workmanlike effort by the visitors. Bobby Evans Youth Jersey . But unfortunately for the Niagara Falls, Ont., native, a pulled muscle wouldnt allow him to go past the second set. Japan sealed its victory over Canada in the first-round Davis Cup tie after Nishikori downed an ailing Dancevic 6-2, 1-0. Eric Dickerson Youth Jersey . Lost to Los Angeles in first round of playoffs.World Cup South Africa 2010 was a special time. Football coming to a soccer-mad continent, but to a country where the game wasnt most popular had a peculiar charm. The cultural experience was a rich one for both locals and visitors alike. Its too bad the football didnt live up to the occasion and celebration around it. The soccer was poor four years ago: stale, cagey and safe. Teams played not to lose and the result was often times a difficult product to watch. Fast forward to the first two days of Brazil 2014, and the games couldnt be more different. Four games in, and the tournament is four for four in appealing, captivating football. Attacking, purposeful and entertaining: the matches through two days have had it all. 15 goals so far is an impressive tally, representing a breath-taking start. Problem is the question lingers whether our initial taste of the 2014 World Cup will be characterized by top football or the sour taste of dubious referee decisions? To many poor officiating has overshadowed the standout play seen through two days. Its a shame on the worlds biggest stage the officiating of the sport remains subpar. Significant dollars, national pride, and worldwide perspective and opinion of soccer are shaped and are on the line. Instead of conversations about Robin van Persies scoring prowess and Neymars mesmorizing skill, the discussion revolves around bad calls and disallowed goals. Croatia was slighted in the opener after an incompetent referee decision awarded the hosts a penalty. The penalty given by Yuichi Nishumura should never have been. Brazilian striker Fred clearly flopped, and Nishumura hesistated before pointing to the spot and conspicuously showing Dejan Lovren a yellow. The crowd and the moment got the best of the official. Nishumura looked tentative throughout the match, ill-suited for the occasion. Neymar made it 2-1. Good night, Croatia. Harsh. Mexico had two goals disallowed in their 1-0 win over Cameroon thanks to an over-anxious linesman. Two offside calls that never were cost Giovani Dos Santos the headlines. More importantly for Mexico, those are two valuable goals gone by the wayside in a group where goal differential may decide who advances and who goes home. Mexico was victim to a Carlos Tevez goal from an offside position in 2010. Twice unlucky, this time on Friday the 13th doesnt bode well. The trifecta of unjust decisions was completed when Spain was given a penalty in their Group B opener against the Netherlands when Diego Costa stepped on the leg of a diving Stefan De Vrij. The penalty was given for poor defending and not a foul. The defender has to stay on his feet. But a penalty conceded was not deserved. Xabi Alonso converted to give Spain the early lead. If it were not for an incredible turn of events leading to the Dutch slaughter of Spain in Salvador, it would be another black eye on the game. Regardless the scoreline, the flawed decision has the viewing public talking. The biggest problem the game of soccer has given itself is a lack of credibility and belief the proceedings are on the up and up. The word most commonly spewed criticism by casual onlookers after two days is "fix" because of years of negative press and exaggeration of the shadiness of the global game. Whether its true or not, there is a level of distrust among a cynical fanbase. Not so cynical that the world stops watching, but negative enough to cry bloody murder. To the devout fan, the questionable officiating has become a frustrating distraction to the true beauty. Bad refereeing shouldnt be accepted as commonplace. But it is. p;While goal-line technology has proven a worthy addition to the game, its clear referees need more help in doing their job.dddddddddddd Relying on the judgment of one man attempting to marshal proceedings on a massive playing field at a time when the game is faster than ever is proving to be a challenge too daunting. Giving more responsibility to the referees assistants hasnt helped much. It has made the job of a linesman that much more difficult, having to lend a helping hand to calling fouls in their quarter of the field while holding the line, maintaining their position to call offside. They are being entrusted to do two things at once, with no room for error. What should the priority be: holding the back-line or adjudicating the play? Its tough. FIFA remains open for more criticism, making its priority to include referees from all member confederations to the World Cup. Why arent the best officials, no matter where they are from, sent to officiate the most important games? Officiating crews from four continents have overseen the first four games. Are they the best in the world? Its difficult to say yes. So what more can be done to help referees? Instant replay on decisions involving goal-scoring situations is an answer. A quick review of whether a goal was scored from an offside position or not should be simple. Its reasonable to expect a clear decision, one way or another, with the use of replay to provide a conclusive answer by the end of a goal celebration. Getting the decision right should be priority. This is simplistic, and would give the fourth official a job other than babysitting the managers. Other reviewable decisions arent quite as easy. Although the laws of the game (fouls, handballs, etc...) are crystal clear, the interpretation of the rules are not. What one official deems a foul, or hand-to-ball or ball-to-hand varies. Replay may strike up more internal debate on situations there may not be a clear answer. If more replay is brought in, there has to be a clear line how far and for what the technology is applicable. This is a must. And to tell you the truth, I dont have an answer where that line should be. FIFA embracing an idea as such is best case a long shot. There are too many reasons why not to apply than there is to use. The status quo will remain. Instead of more technology, perhaps the best answer is to add another official to the field of play. Two on-field referees. The NHL added a referee when the game became too fast and the officials couldnt keep up. Angles and referee positioning would be markedly better, and fatigue would be less an issue. Although they may see the game different ways, four eyeballs are better than two. Perhaps another referee would have caught Costas head butt of Martins Indi? Perhaps another official could have helped Graham Poll in the 2010 World Cup Final when the head referee said he didnt have a proper angle when Nigel de Jongs challenge went high into the chest of Alonso. Officiating will always be imperfect, and we can accept that. What we cant accept is a reluctance to change when it hurts the integrity of the game. A second referee is the easiest answer, and could represent a step in a positive direction. Referees will always make mistakes. Its a bigger mistake to do nothing. Its been a spectacular start to the tournament. There is no reason to believe the top play wont continue. And there is no reason to believe the negative talking points surrounding officiating wont continue too. What will you focus on? I tend to worry it will be the latter. And you wouldnt be wrong or alone. ' ' '