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Defence wins Championships. Prevailing wisdom has always suggested such, no matter the sport. Is there reason to question this sentiment? The team with the least goals against has won the Premier League six times in the last decade. An impressive record and standing example for the merits of superior defensive play. Chelsea at present time boasts a league-best 21 goals against, six goals better than the next best team defensively; giving good reason they are currently atop the table. Jose Mourinho continues to be praised as a tactical genius, getting the most out of his inherited squad of millionaires. The woe, is me, little horse approach by Mourinho is comical. Chelsea remains among the worlds top spenders with virtually unlimited resources. Mourinho deploys a stifling, boring, and ultra-conservative approach because its his way of controlling a match, giving what he believes the best chance to win the battle and the war. Thankfully for Jose, the talent of the likes of Hazard and Oscar mask what often times is negative football. Other managers do not get equal acclaim as the Special One. Thats unfortunate. There is more than one way to win in football. In fact, in a higher tempo, physically demanding and end-to-end nature of the Premier League, goals-for has proven a more decisive determinant to league glory than defensive record. The team with the most goals scored has won the league all but twice in the last decade. If we want to operate in the world of clichés, than perhaps a good offence is the best defence. While the Mourinho defensive model has merit, more attractive attacking football wins as well. At the end of the day, fans want victories. They want titles. All things being equal, managers with bravery to open things up and go for it in an expansive brand of football is the ultimate combination. Queue Liverpool Football Club, 2013-14. A team without the resources of Chelsea are keeping pace in the Premier League, not through a boring, grinding and grating brand of football. Under Brendan Rodgers, purposeful ball possession and decisive attack rules the day. In less than two years under his watch, Liverpool has gone from a team struggling to build from the back, failing to play the ball on the ground and void of identity not labeled hard-working. This team has morphed into the most exciting, ruthless team in front of goal in the BPL. Dreadful defensively, it has not mattered. Liverpool is fourth in the table and is more likely to challenge for the title rather than fall out of the top four. Only Newcastle has a worse defensive record in the top 11. While a dip in form has been projected by most, there is no such demise in sight. Liverpool has scored an incredible league best 70 goals in 27 games; 21 better than leaders Chelsea and almost double that of fifth place Tottenham (36). The Reds have scored 19 goals in their last six games. Luis Suarez who leads the league in goals (23) has only scored once in that span. Daniel Sturridge has been a revelation, automatic in front of goal with 18 in 19 games. Much credit goes to SAS. But in fairness, a team approach with superior movement on and off the ball has created an incredible number of chances. Only Manchester City has created more chances than Liverpools 352. They have the most assists and are top five in virtually every passing category. Theres no quantifiable statistic to gauge team belief. But every time Liverpool is in and around the area, there is a genuine threat they are going to score. Manchester City gets the plaudits for their attacking approach. Liverpool hardly have the superstar talent outside of Suarez, but are every bit the attacking powerhouse. The triangles across the field, movement and vision on how to use the space are Rodgers greatest influence. Stout defensive play is a work in progress. They have more defensive errors than any team in the Premier League. Rodgers is adamant its the players and not the system to blame for defensive frailties. "The problem is it is not coaching. Some of the things we concede goals in, you cant coach that. Theres a feel when you are in the game of how to defend and you have to use your experience to defend properly," explained Rodgers. And hes absolutely right. First choice wing-backs Glen Johnson and Luis Enrique have missed long stretches through injury, but neither are reliable defensively. Daniel Agger and Martin Skrtel are both inconsistent and have been linked to moves elsewhere for quite some time. Kolo Toure is a turtle. And the rest fail to provide any confidence in front of goalkeeper Simon Mignolet. Rodgers has tried everything to cover up the deficiencies. Formations featuring 3, 4, or 5 at the back have been deployed, all to varying levels of success and failure. The system has been less important than the consistency in approach. Through the misgivings, there is an understanding how the team is going to play. And the insistence on getting up the field down the wings, with Steven Gerrard playing a deeper role, sitting on top of the back four has been important for shape. The team will continue to evolve as Rodgers finds suitable defenders. It will be critical this summer to find replacements. Important for Liverpool is the direction is clear with team style and approach already determined. A strong has offence is equally important as stingy defence in all sport. League leaders in Germany, France, Italy and Spain have all scored the most goals. In the NFL, the Broncos number one offence got to the Super Bowl, only to come up short against the Seahawks number one defence. Heading in, the offence was favoured. The Boston Red Sox led Major League Baseball in offense last year and won the World Series. Liverpool is four points out with 11 to go. The three teams above them are all competing in other competitions. Liverpool can stay fresh with no distraction. It would be truly a fairy tale story if they can pull this off. And could go down as the team with the weakest defence to ever win a Premier League title. Its all about the goals. Other Musings - In a matter of days the focus at Old Trafford has gone from Wayne Rooneys new £300,000 per week contract back to David Moyes under fire. While a new lucrative, record setting contract for Rooney was a no-brainer, what to do about Moyes is more difficult. Moyes was handed a six-year contract to be successor, hand-picked by Sir Alex Ferguson. The former manager regularly speaks out against rash managerial changes in the game. Ferguson preaches patience and consistency, much like the treatment he was given at United. That doesnt mean Moyes wasnt a mistake, or doesnt give any assurance he will be a success. United continues to fail to perform under Moyes. The product is not good enough. Other managers have had instant success with their new teams: Mourinho, Manuel Pellegrini, Carlo Ancelotti, and Pep Guardiola to name a few, managing teams in the same conversation as giants Manchester United. The excuse mongering for Moyes, whether it be the players or approach doesnt hold water. There are challenges for any new manager. It seems Moyes was ill prepared or ill equipped to deal with the task at hand. It seems Manchester United are ready to make it rain, splashing cash to compete with their fellow big boys in European football. But should Moyes be trusted to spend the war chest wisely? What experience does he have in doing so? And how much rope will he be given if next season starts poorly? Its a massive risk rolling with Moyes. Remaining loyal and committed to a manager is an honourable trait. But it only works when you have the right man. There has been nothing to suggest Moyes is the right fit other than the word of Sir Alex. A stubborn, bullish approach on Moyes isnt whats needed. Can Ferguson admit he potentially made a critical error in judgment on his successor? - Panic over poor English results in the first leg of the round of 16 in the Champions League have the knives out already. Its a referendum every year about what league is the best in the world, which is nonsense. There is no shame for Manchester City losing to Barcelona, and Arsenal to Bayern Munich, home or away. Both were beat by superior sides. Much plays into success and failure in the Champions League. Domestic schedule and form, fitness, proper officiating and a bit of luck are all needed in required in Europe. Only Manchester United can be seen as a disappointment after their first leg display. And funny enough, its United, along with Chelsea with the best chances of advancing. Its all about the match-up, not which domestic league is superior. - Southamptons Luke Shaw is deserved of his call-up to England for next weeks friendly against Denmark. The 18-year old has been superior to Leighton Baines, Ashley Cole and Kieran Gibbs at left back this campaign. The future is now for England. Age should not matter. Shaw at Brazil 2014 would be a step in the right direction. China Jerseys Cheap .J. - The New Jersey Devils know the odds are against them as they chase a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. China Jerseys Wholesale . Kyrie Irving and the Cleveland Cavaliers were left fretting over an MRI on the stars left knee. Paul George scored 21 points, Roy Hibbert added 19 and the Pacers used a dominant fourth quarter to blow out the Cavaliers 91-76 on Tuesday The Pacers (25-5) have won eight in a row over Cleveland, their longest active streak against any opponent. https://www.chinajerseyscheap.us/ . "Weve given ourselves now a tougher task," said Carlyle after the Friday practice, the Toronto head coach notably chipper and upbeat throughout. "But the bottom line is we just have to win our share of games [and] not worry about what anybody else is doing. China Jerseys Stitched .com) - Stephen Currys jumper with 3. Fake China Jerseys . Both sides came closest to scoring in the first half, when Roma had a goal from Mattia Destro waved off for offside and Inters Rodrigo Palacio headed high. "A draw was a fair result. Neither squad had many chances," Roma midfielder Miralem Pjanic said.TORONTO -- Bludgeoned by injuries that seem to be piling up by the day, the Toronto Blue Jays dont have the offensive firepower they would like in the middle of a pennant race. Still, they hope that good enough pitching can keep them in games. J.A. Happ held up his end of the bargain Thursday night, but his stellar performance wasnt enough as the Blue Jays lost to the Baltimore Orioles 2-1 to fall five games back of the American League East leaders. "These are big games, theyre right behind us," said Orioles catcher Caleb Joseph, whose two-run shot was his fourth home run in the past four games. "We knew we had to come in and try to take care of business." Happ (8-6) was brilliant in striking out a career-high 12 batters in eight innings, and the lefty limited the damage on five hits allowed except for Josephs home run. Even after Happ and Drew Hutchison each tossed a gem in this vital series, Toronto lost two of three. "If we pitch like we have the last couple nights, we at least give ourselves a good shot," manager John Gibbons said. "Thats a game you normally think youre going to win." With a full lineup, perhaps the Blue Jays (61-55) couldve done more against starter Miguel Gonzalez (6-6) and the Baltimore bullpen. But the what-if game doesnt mean much with Adam Lind and Edwin Encarnacion still out but close to returning and third baseman Brett Lawrie gone until early September with an oblique strain. When Melky Cabrera got plunked in the right elbow in the first inning and had to leave the game because he couldnt swing, it was another blow. Nolan Reimold went 0 for 3, and the Blue Jays managed just five hits total on a night Anthony Gose hit his first home run of the season for the only run. "Our lineup is what it is right now," Gibbons said. "Some nights youre going to get that big hit, some nights youre not." That big hit never came as Happ became the first pitcher in franchise history to lose a home game when allowing two or fewer earned runs and striking out 12 or more. Happ threw 89 of his 125 pitches for strikes and worked out of a few jams with precision. "I just tried to relax and tried to make pitches and tried to execute and not put quite as much pressure on myself," Happ said. "Once I let go, its up in the air, whats going to happen is going happen." Happ gave up a few doubles, but the Orioles (65-49) didnt make him pay until the fifth, when Joseph hit a towering blast to left.dddddddddddd. On a night he didnt make many mistakes, Happ served one up on a 2-0 fastball in Josephs sweet spot down and in. "Just a bad pitch, and he didnt miss it," Happ said. "I kind of gave up the big hit, and that was the difference." It was only the difference because the Blue Jays didnt give Happ much support. Theyve scored two or fewer runs in four of their past six games and are 1-5 in that time. "Lets be realistic, were missing the home-run ball," Gibbons said. "Thats a big part of what we are, you know?" This loss dropped the Blue Jays into a second-place tie with the New York Yankees. Theyre also tied with the Yankees and Kansas City Royals for the ALs second wild-card spot. General manager Alex Anthopoulos said earlier Thursday that he hoped Lind could be back as early as Monday and Encarnacion later next week. X-rays on Cabreras elbow were negative, but Gibbons wasnt sure when hed be able to play. "Hes got a nice welt and seam marks on his arm," Gibbons said. "I dont think its a big deal, but like Ive said a hundred times, Ive said that before." Considering the Blue Jays face upcoming tests against the Detroit Tigers and pitchers Max Scherzer and David Price and then Seattle Mariners ace Felix Hernandez, they hope this run of strong pitching continues. "Wed love to get on a roll," Happ said. "Especially the teams we got coming up, I think were going to need it." But Happ and the rest of the starters dont want to put too much pressure on themselves. And Thursday night the Orioles showed them how to win these kinds of games. "You just never know whos going to be the guy -- they got so many good hitters up and down their lineup, you might not guess that Joseph was going to be the guy, but he was," Happ said. "Hopefully we have some of that, too." Notes -- Left-handed reliever Rob Rasmussen was returned to triple-A Buffalo so infielder Steve Tolleson could be reinstated from the paternity list for Fridays game against Detroit. Rasmussen had been recalled when Lawrie was placed on the 15-day disabled list. ... Joseph became just the third catcher in Orioles history to hit four home runs in four games, joining Gus Triandos in 1959 and Ramon Hernandez in 2006. ... Zach Britton picked up his 24th save of the season for Baltimore. ' ' '