ease. Fellow Jimmy Takter stable

TSN Soccer analyst Gareth Wheelers Midweek Musings on the Barclays Premier League. Welcome to the goal-line technology era in British top-flight football. Seamless, wasnt it? I bet you hardly noticed. Makes you wonder whats taken so long. One of the sights of the opening weekend in the Barclays Premier League came Sunday (as seen on TSN, heard on TSN Radio) as Chelsea right-back Branislav Ivanovic had his header on goal cleared off the line by Hull City goalkeeper Allan McGregor. The play ominous, as it was the first decent shout for the use of the goal-line technology. Instead of running over to the linesman or shouting at the match official, all Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho had to do was turn to the fourth official for a verdict. A simple look and he had his answer. Mourinho, in his always-colourful fashion, arms flailing, turned to fourth official Andre Marriner. Holding his wrist, Marriner showed Mourinho his red and black watch. The device wasnt vibrating. No flash of the word goal. And it was understood the ball didnt cross the line. The two men had a laugh. As did Hull City manager Steve Bruce. The two managers even shared a hug. And it was over with. The television replay and subsequent graphic confirmed what we all knew. No lengthy debate. No prolonged protestations. The situation was over. No goal. The technology got it right. Simple. Quick. And effective. Hawk-Eye goal-line technology has been developed since 1999 and used in the Premier League for the first time on the weekend. Its the same technology thats revolutionized tennis with instant replays on hotly contested shots; in or out and a decisive answer. It takes less than a second for the high-speed cameras to determine whether the ball has crossed the line on the pitch. Although its inevitably at the referees discretion to ask the fourth official for the goal/no-goal verdict based upon the encrypted wristwatch, the man in charge would be a fool not to use his help through technology. Sunday was exhibit A how efficient it was executed. Many fought diligently to keep goal-line technology out of football. FIFA president Sepp Blatter dragged his feet accepting the clear benefits of technology, saying rejecting hi-tech progress put the game in a special place, creating more fascination and popularity in the game. Human error was deemed to be charming and a catalyst for conversation and debate. Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand concurs, speaking out against goal-line technology before the season. Ferdinand believes "Incidents like that add to the game because it runs into radio phone-ins, people talk about it in the pub and in other media. Was it a goal or wasnt it." I strongly disagree. Debate will always exist in football. Various approaches to the game, and more importantly, the subjective nature of officiating provides substantial fodder to argue and discuss. A match-officials interpretation and implementation of the rules of the game, what is a foul and how to manage proceedings varies from match to match. Just ask Crystal Palace manager Ian Holloway how he felt about the opening weekend officiating. Holloway provided plenty of food for thought. The conversation to do with on field injustice is going nowhere. Penalty calls, foul calls around the box, what constitutes a proper caution or sending off, even a flag offside are entirely unpredictable and an imperfect science. Whether a ball crosses a goal-line is black and white. Its not subjective in nature. Its a game-changing call. And it has to be correct. I covered the 2010 World Cup in South Africa and was in attendance in Bloemfontein for Englands 4-1 loss to Germany in the Round of 16. Germany held a 2-1 lead in the first half. Frank Lampards shot from outside the box hit off the bottom of the crossbar and over the goal-line before spinning back out of the net. The linemans flag stayed down. No goal. The crowd was irate. Mere seconds after the play, a photographer in front of me turned and showed photo evidence. It wasnt even close. The ball crossed the line. The match was immediately riddled in controversy. And England lost their way. In 2005, Manchester United goalkeeper Roy Carroll was bailed out by the linesman for what could have been one of the biggest howlers in Premier League history. Spurs midfielder Pedro Mendes hit the ball from just inside Uniteds half. It was a floater. Carroll stumbled, failed to cover and put the ball into his own net. In a moment of panic, Carroll scooped the ball out and the play carried on. It was a shocking miss by the match officials. And a clear sign technology was needed to help during such critical moments. The match ended in a scoreless draw. And Carrolls blushes were saved. The embarrassment of the referees was not. Goal-line technology is the ultimate helping hand. Argument over whether the ball crossed the line is nonsensical with video replay from multiple angles providing irrefutable evidence. Lets save our debate for the subjective side of the game. Hawk-Eye goal-line technology ensures that. And the Premier League is better for it. - Newcastle manager Alan Pardew and Everton boss Roberto Martinez have criticized transfer activity and the approaches of their players as the transfer window remains open despite the start of the Premier League season. The window stays open until September 2nd. Pardew has called for the transfer window to be closed before the first ball of the season is kicked. And hes absolutely right. Get rid of the distraction. Get rid of the excuse. A team should be forced to do team business in the run-up to the season. The preseason instead has become a time to trek around the world on sponsorship and business endeavours. Take care of your transfer business first. And dont let it linger. Close the window early. - Manchester City showed their title credentials in Mondays 4-0 win over Newcastle. The bad news, captain Vincent Kompany will miss three weeks with a groin injury, putting his fitness in question for the match-day five meeting with Manchester United. The positive news, Citys next three matches come against newly promoted Cardiff and Hull, as well as lowly Stoke. Kompanys loss mitigated by poor competition. - Widespread questioning of Manchester Uniteds title chances seemed to have quelled to a certain degree after scoring four at Swansea. But the need for upgrades in the transfer market has not. Uniteds double swoop attempt for Marouane Fellaini and Leighton Baines is a curious one, with Everton going public about the move. Its a curious tactic Everton revealing Uniteds approach. The tactic signals a possible negotiating ploy out of Goodison Park to drive up the price of the players, rather than being insulted by the bid, as Martinez proclaims. There has to be more than what appears. Uniteds bid for Fellaini makes sense to fill a need at central midfield. A move for Baines doesnt make much sense at all. Patrice Evra has been fantastic at left-back for United for the better part of the last two years. United would be better off pursuing a younger successor for the position. A player like Southampton 18-year old Luke Shaw makes much more sense. - It looks like Yohan Cabaye will leave Newcastle for Arsenal. A price needs to be settled, but it seems the Emirates is the most likely destination for the Frenchman. The bigger question; would Cabaye solve Arsenals problems? Arsene Wenger is under pressure to buy, but the team would be better off investing in a new goalkeeper, a reliable centre-back and a top class striker. A player like Cabaye falls further down a preferred shopping list. - Its always good seeing smaller clubs buy intelligently, bringing in players specific to the clubs needs. After a terrible start to last season upon promotion and through a managerial change, Southampton has emerged a dangerous club showing ambition. The spine of the team up the middle is all-important to competing week after week in the Prem. And the Saints have significantly upgraded those areas. Centre-back Dejan Lovren (Lyon), central midfielder Victor Wanyama (Celtic), and striker Pablo Osvaldo (Roma) bring substance to an already talented side. A push for a Europa League spot is not crazy to suggest. - Impressive teams not picking up three points: Everton, Swansea. - Not sure what they are: Fulham, West Brom, Liverpool. - Performer of the week: Robin van Persie (Manchester United) - Biggest disappointment: Arsenal. - Underrated players: Kevin Nolan (West Ham), Steven Pineaar (Everton), Mile Jedinak (Crystal Palace), Sascha Riether (Fulham) - Match-day two fixture(s) to watch: Manchester United v Chelsea, Tottenham v Swansea You can reach Gareth at gareth.wheeler@bellmedia.ca or follow him on Twitter, @WheelerTSNCarlos Lee Jersey . Barcelonas entertaining victory ensured the defending Spanish champions retained their share of the league lead with Atletico Madrid two rounds ahead of their meeting in the capital. Real Madrid needed a late goal by substitute Jese Rodriguez to earn a 3-2 victory at Valencia to stay in third place and three points behind its title rivals. Joe Biagini Jersey . The injury bothered Bledsoe in the Suns victory over the Clippers on Monday and he sat out the teams home loss to Memphis on Thursday night. https://www.cheapastros.com/2043o-jack-mayfield-jersey-astros.html . Following a lopsided 5-2 loss against the New Jersey Devils on Wednesday night, Paul MacLean told reporters that "theres a lack of focus, theres a lack of leadership and theres a lack of preparation" with his struggling team. That came on the heels of Bryan Murray taking the unusual step of going into the locker room at the Prudential Center and addressing the players himself. Doug Rader Jersey . Cote was eligible to become a free agent Feb. 15. Cote helped running back Jon Cornish run for a league-high 1,813 rushing yards en route to being named the leagues most outstanding player. Jim Bouton Astros Jersey . Bryant, who signed a five-year, $34 million contract as a free agent with Cleveland in March, reported symptoms on Monday morning, a team spokesman said.Yannick Gingras drove Ariana G with complete confidence in the $600,000 Breeders Crown for 2-year-old filly trotters and the divisional leader did what she does best -- win.There was an abundance of movement from the start of the first of eight Breeders Crown races on the card. Cameron Hill was the first to the front but soon saw Treviso take charge after the quarter in 27-4/5. That was the cue for Thats All Moni to charge to the front at the half in 56-1/5.The outer flow began to take shape as early leaver Sunshine Delight pulled first-over and towed Chezatter, the favored Ariana G and Princess Aurora into the race. Sunshine Delight applied serious pressure while uncovered by the 1:25 1/5 three quarter marker but looming behind was a clearly brimming with confidence Gingras with Ariana G.As the field straightened away, Ariana G lengthened her stride and blew by the field with relative ease. Fellow Jimmy Takter stablemate Princess Aurora rallied nicely from almost last to be second ahead of the game Sunnshine Delight.ddddddddddddLast week she was really grabby and I believe I choked her, said Gingras, referring to shutting off the fillys air. The credit goes to Jimmy. He made a lot of changes and it worked.Ariana G, who is owned by breeders Marvin Katz and Al Libfeld, has now won nine of 11 career races and $773,967 in lifetime earnings. The daughter of Muscle Hill-Cantab It All is a full sister to All The Time, who won this Crown event last year as a 2-year-old.Im just very excited, said Katz. To have Aurora (also owned and bred by Katz and Libfeld) come in second, it is just a testament to the people that we work with.Its a long year for her. This is her last for the year, said Takter. We decided, shes been racing since May, its a long year. Its a great way to finish the year for her.?Ariana G, who paid $3.40 to win, basically sewed up divisional honors with the victory. ' ' '