Plauderkasten^^ » struggled with accuracy all season and has completed jus

Chelsea are Premier League contenders once again.Despite slipping up in EFL Cup play this week, they will try for a fourth consecutive top-division victory Sunday against Southampton at St. Marys Stadium.The 2014-15 champions capitulated to an embarrassing mid-table finish in their title defence season. But the appointment of Antonio Conte as manager this summer appears to have been a masterstroke by the clubs hierarchy.Conte has strengthened the squad in the transfer market and rekindled the form that saw it climb to the top of the tree just 18 months ago, to the extent that his new-look version of Chelsea (6-1-2) enter the weekend a point off the league leaders.The cornerstone of that Chelsea revival has been a switch to a new three-at-the-back formation, which has added defensive stability to a side lacking an obvious first-choice centre-back pairing. But while a more solid defence had been the primary benefit, the change of shape has simultaneously freed up attacking midfielders Eden Hazard and Willian to drift in-field and offer greater support to the previously isolated lone striker Diego Costa.Last Sundays 4-0 demolition of Manchester United showed the potential of Chelseas new -- and Contes preferred -- shape. Even the disappointing EFL Cup defeat to rivals West Ham United in midweek is not a sufficient reason for Conte to abandon the formation.I think it is not a win or a defeat that can change my idea or the players confidence, he said. I think it is the right way for the players because it is a good fit for the team, this system. We have found a good balance and also we have a good offensive situation because in every game we scored a goal.For sure we must continue to work with the offensive situation, to memorise some movements, and also in defensive situations because it is not easy.It is different when you defend with the four and when you defend with the three, but I see a lot of positive things and we want to continue on this aspect and we are working hard to improve. We understood this way is the right way.One of the unlikely success stories at Chelsea this season has been the revival of Victor Moses. The Nigerian had either languished on the bench or been shipped out on loan for much of his time at Stamford Bridge, but was brought in for his first Chelsea start in over three years when the Blues first aired their back-three idea against Hull City on Oct. 1. And Moses has since excelled in his new wing-back role, offering the energy to get up and down in the system with enough attacking intent to avoid making the shape simply a back-five, which is so often the pitfall of the formation.Moses is fit to start against Southampton (3-4-2) while Branislav Ivanovic could also be fit enough to return to the matchday squad as an option at right centre-back. Central midfielder Cesc Fabregas remains unavailable due to injury.Though Southampton have not lost in five matches since opening 0-2-2 in the league, they boast a few injury issues of their own. Forwards Shane Long and Jay Rodriguez are out, as is full-back Matty Targett. Cedric Soares and former Chelsea defender Ryan Bertrand face late fitness tests.We will see tomorrow whether Ryan can come back into the squad for the weekend, manager Claude Puel confirmed on Friday.The Saints are looking for what would be only their second win against Chelsea in their last nine Premier League meetings at St. Marys.However Puels side will take encouragement both from a solid start to the season and from last weekends hard-fought draw with title favourites Manchester City. They also won 1-0 over Sunderland in EFL action this week. Jerome Walton Jersey . Nine days before the opening ceremony, organizing committee chief Dmitry Chernyshenko said Wednesday that Sochi is "fully ready" and will deliver safe, friendly and well-run games that defy the grim reports that have overshadowed preparations. Cubs Jerseys 2019 .Y. -- Vancouver Canucks goaltender Roberto Luongo had little trouble picking up his first shutout of the season against a Buffalo Sabres team thats having trouble scoring goals. https://www.cheapcubs.com/1280t-bill-buckner-jersey-cubs.html . There are some early surprises in the race for the Hart Trophy, but two of the contenders are the leagues biggest stars over the past decade. There are many more players in contention for the awards than just the three that Ive named, and a good or bad week can easily alter the landscape, but through the first 20 or so games of the NHL season, this is how the awards races look to me. Cole Hamels Jersey . -- The proud fathers huddled near the Dallas Stars dressing room, smiling, laughing and telling stories while wearing replica green sweaters of their sons team. Ryan Dempster Cubs Jersey . Thousands of Southern California fans enveloped the Trojans to celebrate an improbable win secured by an interim coach, an inconsistent kicker and a thin defence that wouldnt break. LANDOVER, Md. -- More than a year has passed since the Carolina Panthers crushed the Washington Redskins to remain undefeated on their way to the Super Bowl, and, oh, how things have changed.All-Pro cornerback Josh Norman signed with the Redskins after the Panthers removed the franchise tag to make him a free agent.While Carolinas younger defense and quarterback Cam Newton have struggled and failed to meet expectations, Washington (7-5-1) remains in the NFC wild-card hunt with three games to go.These arent the same Panthers (5-8) who beat the Redskins 44-16 in November 2015, but theyre still a formidable group in the way of Kirk Cousins and Co. returning to the playoffs.A lot of the same players are back, so were going to have our hands full, said Cousins, who needs 122 yards to break his single-season franchise passing record from last year.I remember we had five turnovers and if we turn the ball over again we can expect a similar result. Weve got to protect the football and if we do that, weve got a chance, but if we turn it over, well put ourselves in a hole just like we did last year.Without Norman, Carolina starts two rookie cornerbacks in James Bradberry and Daryl Worley. But Charles Johnson, Star Lotulelei and Kawann Short are still there on the Panthers defensive line and can rush Cousins, who has 23 touchdowns to nine interceptions this season.The Redskins offense hasnt been the problem. Ricky Jean Francois said the defense, which has struggled on third down and in the red zone, is aiming to do two things: Win and stop Cam Newton.Last years NFL MVP is banged up and struggling, but Washington doesnt see him as a hobbled star or the Panthers as a hobbled team.I understand what their record is, but thats still a team at any given time that can still come out and become the Carolina they once were last year with the quarterback they have, Jean Francois said.And they got a great head coach so I know hes pushing those guys up front to keep being the team that they are -- not the team they are now but the team he knows theyre capable of being.---Some things to watch when the Panthers visit the Redskins on Monday night:SACK ATTACK: The Panthers dont have anyone in double digits in sacks this season, but still lead the NFL in that category with 39. Eighteen different players have been in on a sack this season for the Panthers, led by situational pass rusher Mario Addison with 7+.Its never one thing, defensive coordinator Sean McDermott said of the teams rise up the leaderboard iin sacks.ddddddddddddI know sometimes you guys want me to say, `Well, its just this. Here was the magic deal. No, its working hard. Its earning the right to be good.We got off to maybe a slow start in that (sacks) category. But the guys have worked extremely hard. The coaches have worked extremely hard to get it to where it is right now.NORMAN FIRED UP: Redskins coach Jay Gruden believes Norman gets up for every game, but this one against his former team will have some extra juice.Norman said he almost felt stabbed in the back when the Panthers removed the franchise tag. I think come Monday night, those emotions I think they will probably come out and show themselves, Norman said.BENJAMIN EXPECTS TRASH TALK: Panthers receiver Kelvin Benjamin anticipates he will be matched up against Norman for most of the game and expects to hear plenty of trash talk from his former teammate.Oh yeah, I know he will talk trash, Benjamin said with a wide smile. Im looking forward to it. Norman and Benjamin exchanged trash talk when the two practiced against each other, but said he never let the cornerback get in his head.Not at all, actually, Benjamin said with a smile. I would probably say I used to get in Joshs head more than he got in mine. I just came in with an attitude (my rookie year) to compete.SO MUCH FOR MVP: Newton has struggled with accuracy all season and has completed just 43 percent of his passes over his past four games with no more than 14 completions in any of those matchups. Newton is completing 53.5 percent of his passes for the season, the worst mark among starting quarterbacks in the NFL.Newton said Wednesday that he couldnt care less about his completion percentage and his only concern is wins and losses.SPAIGHTS SPOTLIGHT: With middle linebacker Will Compton injured, Martrell Spaight could make his first pro start for the Redskins. Spaight filled in for Compton in a victory at the Philadelphia Eagles and will be given the headset and the controls to the defense against Carolina.Hes a young football player still with limited starting reps, but this is a great opportunity for him, Gruden said. Well see what he can do. We have a good feeling of what he can do. We know he can play the run, hes very physical.---AP Sports Writer Steve Reed in Charlotte, North Carolina, contributed.---For more NFL coverage: www.pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '