Feedback & Improvements » play too similar a role in the middle, b

FONTANA, Calif. -- Kyle Larson won his first Nationwide Series race Saturday, holding off Kevin Harvick and Kyle Busch in a thrilling finish at Fontana. The 21-year-old Larson became the first California native to win a Nationwide race at the 2-mile oval, surviving a three-man derby in the final laps that had the fans on their feet. After Harvicks final attempt to pass him failed, Larson celebrated with a burnout in Victory Lane, but only after detaching his steering wheel and holding it out the window. "Those last 11, 12 laps were the longest laps of my life," Larson said. "Ive been so close to winning so many times, but the fashion we did it in was extra special." One of NASCARs most promising young drivers, Larson is from Elk Grove, Calif., near Sacramento. After being named Nationwides top rookie last season, hes driving the No. 42 car for Chip Ganassi Racing in the Sprint Cup series. Harvick finished just 0.342 seconds behind after barely missing on repeated attempts to slip underneath Larsons Chevy for the lead. "We had a lot of fun there at the end, obviously," Harvick said. "Youd rather win the race, but any time you can put on a show like that for the fans, youre excited about that." Larson had finished second in five previous Nationwide races, but never won. Busch held him off at Bristol last week, and Larson was beginning to wonder when he would get his breakthrough win. Busch, the defending champion at Fontana after last years weekend sweep, started 39th after missing qualifying with car problems. He roared through the field to take the lead before coming up just short in the big finish. "He deserved it," Busch said after congratulating Larson in Victory Lane. "Hes worked hard, and thats why hes in Cup." Joey Logano was fourth after leading 96 laps early on, and Elliott Sadler finished fifth. After a caution for fuel on the track, a green flag with 16 laps to go kicked off a wild scramble for the lead. Larson got out front, while Busch swerved in front of Harvick for second. Larson and Busch dueled for the next few laps, trading the lead. Harvick soon joined the hunt, and Busch stayed in the group despite scraping the wall with seven laps to go. Busch nudged back in front by a bumper with five laps to go, but Larson cut in front moments later to push Busch back. Harvick repeatedly drove down hard into the turns in an effort to get in front, but Larson barely held him off. Wholesale Los Angeles Chargers Jerseys .com) - New England Patriots starting center Bryan Stork will not play in Sundays AFC Championship against Indianapolis due to a knee injury the rookie sustained last week. Custom Chargers Jerseys .J. - Several people have collapsed in an overcrowded New Jersey train station while waiting in long lines to get to the Super Bowl. http://www.cheapchargers.us/ . Lineup news, Fantasy and more in Scott Cullen’s Statistically Speaking. HEROES St. Louis Blues – After rolling the San Jose Sharks for seven goals, for the second time in a week, the Blues have a bunch of players on hot streaks. Cheap Los Angeles Chargers Jerseys Online .Connor Graham, Alex Lintuniemi and Sam Studnicka also scored for Ottawa (11-8-2). Liam Herbst made 21 saves for the win.Brendan Lemieux had both of Barries (10-10-2) goals. Authentic Los Angeles Chargers Jerseys . The Cavs announced the move Saturday, one day after LeBron James said hes returning to Cleveland. A 12-year veteran, Haywood has played in 794 NBA games, averaging 6.It was the biggest match to date of the season and Toronto FC failed to show up. That was the basic premise in a 2-0 loss Saturday afternoon to the Philadelphia Union, capping off a thoroughly disappointing week. Three losses in three games against Eastern Conference rivals, a coaching change, more injuries and fresh questions about Toronto FCs playoff credentials remain in the aftermath. Adversity has come to the team and the bell has not been answered. The performances, subpar, out-scored 6-0 against teams ripe in the playoff hunt. Back-to-back losses against the Union particularly hurt, with Philadelphia leapfrogging Toronto in the standings. Four points out of six seemed a reasonable goal in the home-and-home with the Union. No points to show for constitute a failure. There is no sugarcoating it: the performance was poor and the boos ringing out at BMO Field were deserved. But before we go any further, please make note: All is not lost. Toronto FC is very much alive. The headlines and narrative surrounding the team has been decidedly negative, but completely overblown, considering Toronto FC were in position to control their own playoff destiny eight days ago, sitting in a playoff spot with at least a game in hand on all teams in and around them in the standings. An initial burst of energy or inspiration after a coaching change may not have played out. The depth on this team (or lack thereof) has not been fit to deal with a number of key injuries. And players playing through injury have not had a decided positive impact. Defensive errors and resorting to the long ball in attack featured in the lackluster performance. Confidence and communication are clearly lacking, leading to sloppy goals conceded. While the negative seems overwhelming, it must be said the team remains in a playoff spot, depending on the results of Columbus and New York this weekend. Regardless, Toronto FC is still right in the mix in a weak Eastern Conference. The MLS roster freeze comes September 15th and Im told the market is quiet, although as teams in the Western Conference fall to the wayside, perhaps there is possibility to add. General manager Tim Bezbatchenko is aware of the expectations and will certainly look to add to the team, particularly at the back. There is now a week before Toronto FC is next in action: a chance to breathe, refocus, and heal. Seven days to get things back on track. Here are my five thoughts on Toronto FC latest setback: 1) Missing Stevo – To say Toronto FC misses captain Steven Caldwell is an absolute understatement. Caldwell is the leader, key communicator, and glue across the backline. Without the Scotsman, Toronto FC is a vulnerable bunch lacking direction and positional discipline. Goals by Conor Casey and Andrew Wenger came from failure to clear and poor marking in and around the six-yard box. Such error is not expected as this juncture of the season. Countless times over the last two games, the back four has become stretched and the players have been forced to deal with being out-numbered. Without timely saves by goalkeeper Joe Bendik, the results could have been worse. There is talent in the unit, but the current composition, sans Caldwell, is just not right. Nick Hagglund and Doneil Henry each show promise, but are both 21 with brighter days ahead. Each are easily drawn out of position and left vulnerable by their own doing. Mark Bloom appeared in just six MLS matches before this season and hardly looks the player he was before injury. And Bradley Orr is playing through a toe injury: not an ideal situation for the lone veteran across the back. Each has positive moments, but are failing to gel as a collective. Defensive composure is essential through growing pains. That has to be fixed. Caldwell understood how much he was missed and came back from injury too soon. Patience is required to heal. In the meantime, the team struggles without Captain Caldwell. 2) Broken Wings – The one noticeable change from former head coach Ryan Nelsen to Greg Vanney is the wingbacks getting up the field into the attack. The thought behind the tactic is worthwhile, but fails to come off without Justin Morrow manning the left side. Toronto FCs current wingbacks havent provided the needed service and/or pace down the flanks to truly threaten. And in turn, getting too far up the field has left Toronto FC exposed on the counter.dddddddddddd Philadelphia had a field day the last two matches exposing Toronto pushing forward. The problem isnt simply with the cover by the defenders. The central midfield has been slow to react. Collen Warner in particular failed to get back to cover, filling the space in rotation to make a back four. The recovery runs havent been made with purpose across the midfield. Warner was substituted in the 44th minute; a message sent by Vanney. If the wingbacks are going to continue to attack, communication, rotation, and defensive commitment from the midfield has to be better. 3) Central Midfield Dilemma – Vanney should consider switching up the central combination for next week in Chicago. Both Warner and Michael Bradley are good players, but play too similar a role in the middle, both regularly falling deep to build from the back. When they turn on the ball, there are few options available, with the preferable option consistently being to play the ball to either wingback. The wingbacks, in turn, play the long back, giving away possession. I blame a lack of options available through the middle of the park and too much congestion elsewhere. There is no texture to the central midfield and the build up wanes because of it. If Bradley is going to hold, a more attack-minded midfield partner may remedy what ails the position. When fit Jonathan Osorio is the option, that makes most sense. Osorio has struggled in his sophomore campaign playing most often out on the left. A move into the middle seems to be the better fit. Kyle Bekker wasnt up for it in the second half, so options in the role are limited. Or perhaps Vanney elects to move to a 4-3-3, which seems more suited to the personnel available. Vanney expressed his desire to have flexibility in terms of the tactics. Its a big ask of the players to make such a formational change this late in the season but this may be necessary based on current form. The attack needs be much better. 4) Short vs. Long Term – It was always a risk for Bezbatchenko to pull the plug on Nelsen and his staff when he did. Even Vanney himself couldnt recall a time in Major League Soccer when a manager had been fired while sitting in a playoff spot this late in the season. Its clear the front office and coaching staff needed be on the same page. Time will tell whether the timing on this one was right. The safer move for Bez would have been to keep Nelsen on until the end of the season, then make a change. If the team failed to make the playoffs, Nelsen could have been the fall guy. But time wasnt something the general manager thought he had. Bezbatchenko is confident he made the best decision for both short and long term. Its difficult for Toronto FC supporters to hear, but the franchise is going through yet another process of growth and identification. The financial commitment made raises the stakes but doesnt change the process. The balance between the push for the playoffs and lasting build is a difficult balance, especially for a rookie GM. Big picture, it remains about getting it right and creating something sustainable for the club to build off for years to come. Break-ups are never easy. This case is no different. 5) Defoe Story – Vanney says he expects Jermain Defoe to return to the team by the 20th. This comes after a Daily Mail story claiming Defoe is trying to negotiate a buyout from the club. Lets be clear, the Daily Mail is hardly a bastion of truth in sports reporting. And even if we assume Defoe (which very well may be the case) is angling for a way out of Toronto, there is no chance Toronto would give him a buyout after the team kept hold of a prized asset, resisting temptation to sell for a record number in the dying hours before the transfer window closed. Defoe is in Toronto until January, period. After that, all bets are off. Defoe needs to get back at it, prove he is fit mentally and physically, and be on the field for the stretch run. He makes the team better. And Toronto will feel much better saying goodbye if Defoe helps this team make the playoffs. This is more a test of Defoes focus and demeanor than anything at Toronto FC. Next up for Toronto FC is a visit to Chicago to take on the Fire next Saturday. @WheelerTSNgareth.wheeler@bellmedia.ca Cheap Buffalo Sabres Gear Wholesale Calgary Flames Jerseys Cheap Adidas Colorado Avalanche Jerseys Montreal Canadiens Outlet Store Wholesale New Jersey Devils Jerseys Adidas Arizona Coyotes Jerseys Cheap Adidas Boston Bruins Jerseys Cheap Adidas Carolina Hurricanes Jerseys Chicago Blackhawks Shop Free Shipping Wholesale Columbus Blue Jackets Jerseys Dallas Stars Shop Free Shipping Cheap Adidas Detroit Red Wings Jerseys Anaheim Ducks Jerseys China Wholesale Edmonton Oilers Jerseys Florida Panthers Shop Free Shipping Wholesale Los Angeles Kings Jerseys Minnesota Wild Outlet Store Cheap Adidas Nashville Predators Jerseys Cheap Adidas New York Islanders Jerseys New York Rangers Winter Classic Jerseys Cheap Adidas Ottawa Senators Jerseys Cheap Adidas Philadelphia Flyers Jerseys Wholesale Pittsburgh Penguins Jerseys Cheap Adidas San Jose Sharks Jerseys St. Louis Blues Winter Classic Jerseys Wholesale Tampa Bay Lightning Jerseys Toronto Maple Leafs Outlet Store Vancouver Canucks Outlet Store Cheap Adidas Vegas Golden Knights Jerseys Cheap Adidas Washington Capitals Jerseys Cheap Adidas Winnipeg Jets Jerseys ' ' '