Gäste Forum » a back-to-back but Atkinson was vague when

Middlesbrough will enjoy their first Premier League road trip in eight years on Sunday, but the journey will only be a short one up the A19 to face neighbours Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.Sundays face-off will be the first Wear-Tees derby since 2012 and first league meeting between the two clubs since 2009. However, even at this early stage of the season, the result could have far-reaching consequences for two teams amongst the favourites for relegation.Sunderland only narrowly avoided going down a division last season, finishing just a place and two points above relegated rivals Newcastle. The Black Cats have since lost manager Sam Allardyce to the England national team job.In contrast, Middlesbrough achieved automatic promotion with a second-place finish in the Championship. They have managed to not only keep their highly-rated manager Aitor Karanka, but also strengthen the squad significantly during the summer transfer window.A derby match in the second week of their top-flight return poses a real test of Boros Premier League credentials, but vice-captain George Friend believes the fixture also offers an opportunity.I dont feel any extra pressure in having the derby match so early in the season… if anything it is a good game for us, because as players you relish these derby ties, Friend said.They are tough games because they are probably a bit more frantic and played in a big atmosphere, but well go there with loads of confidence and knowing we have to raise our levels and be at our best. When you step up a division you have to do that, raise the bar, and there is nothing like a derby match to make sure you do that.Boro drew 1-1 with Stoke City on the opening day of the season. Star signing Alvaro Negredo opened his account for the club by finishing a chance produced by fellow summer addition Gaston Ramirez (who completed a permanent move from Southampton after excelling on loan at the club in the second half of last season).However, Marten de Roon -- another high-profile acquisition -- suffered a hamstring injury in the game and is unlikely to feature against Sunderland. Defenders Daniel Ayala, Bernardo Espinosa and James Husband are expected to miss out through injury and club captain Grant Leadbitter remains sidelined with an inguinal hernia.Sunderland go into the game on the back of a disappointing but encouraging 2-1 defeat to Manchester City. They look likely to be without the services of experienced centre-back Younes Kaboul after the Wearside club agreed a fee with Watford for the players transfer. The loss of Kaboul comes as a blow to a squad with already limited defensive resources.Further forward in the team there is a greater strength in depth, with new boss David Moyes bringing in Manchester Uniteds Adnan Januzaj on loan to add a spark to the attack. Januzaj emerged at United during Moyes tenure at Old Trafford, but has since fallen away from regular first-team contention and is relishing the opportunity to play Premier League matches again at Sunderland.The manager has given me the opportunity to come here and prove myself again, Januzaj told the clubs official website. I came here to play games and Im looking forward to working with David Moyes again.I always enjoy playing in his teams with the freedom and the confidence he gives me.Januzaj may be limited to an impact role given the high intensity nature of the fixture and his recent arrival at the club, but will be expected to come on during the second half. However, Moyes wont have the same luxury with Sebastian Larsson, as the creative midfielder is out until early 2017 due to a knee ligament injury.Defensive midfield is also a concern for the Sunderland boss, with Lee Cattermole and Jan Kirchhoff both struggling with shorter-term injury issues.Moyes, however, will be looking to draw on the positive record he had against Middlesbrough during his time at Everton -- losing to Boro just twice in 14 total meetings. Alize Johnson Jersey .com) - The game was all punts and field goals before Kodi Whitfields catch. Aaron Holiday Jersey . President of baseball operations Larry Beinfest was fired Friday after 12 years with the Marlins. The move came as the team neared the end of its third consecutive last-place season in the NL East. https://www.cheappacers.com/1433k-victor-oladipo-jersey-pacers.html . Thats about all he can do right now, so hes trying not to think about when he might be able to play again for the Los Angeles Lakers. Billy Knight Jersey . After a first half in which he thought "the lid was on the basket," the Toronto Raptors coach watched his squad mount a second half surge to defeat the Cleveland Cavaliers 98-91. Fred Jones Jersey . The Court of Arbitration for Sport ruling "puts an end to my dreams of being a top player," the 27-year-old Troicki said in a statement. "I worked my entire life for it, and it has been taken away from me in one afternoon by a doctor I didnt know," said Troicki, whose ranking peaked at No. NEW YORK -- Dwyane Wade left his defender in the dust with a vintage crossover that brought players on the Chicago bench and fans behind them to their feet.Hes still got some `ahh in his bag, teammate Jimmy Butler said. Very impressive.So are the new-look Bulls.Butler scored 22 points, Wade had 12 in the first road game of his career not played for Miami, and the Bulls improved to 3-0 by beating the Brooklyn Nets 118-88 on Monday night.With Wade and Rajon Rondo in a revamped backcourt, the Bulls opened with home victories against Eastern Conference playoff teams Boston and Indiana before easily handling their road opener, leading by as many as 33 points.We only played a little bit together in the preseason, so were still learning each other right now. Were only three games in, but we see it looking good at times, Wade said.The Bulls had seven players in double figures, with Wade becoming the last of them when he blew by Bojan Bogdanovic with that crossover and was fouled on a drive to the basket in the fourth quarter.Nikola Mirotic had 16 points and 10 rebounds, while Taj Gibson added 14 points and 11 boards for the Bulls.Bogdanovic scored 15 points and Jeremy Lin had 14 for the Nets, who fell to 1-3.Butler made all five shots as the Bulls built an 18-point lead after one quarter that grew to 25 in the second. Chicago led 93-66 after three, leaving the crowd with little to cheer in the fourth beyond Wades smooth moves.The Nets first three games had all been decided by single digits -- they had actually outscored opponents 328-326 despite starting 1-2 -- but they were never in this one after the opening minutes.It was just poor energy right from the start, center Brook Lopez said. Obviously there is no excuse for the way we played.Butler and Gibson were a combined 9 for 9 in the first quarter as the Bulls got a number of easy baskets while playing at the quicker pace they are using since adding Wade and Rondo.It didnt show in the preseason, but I dont know whats gotten into us, Rondo said. We turned things around.The Netts, who entered averaging an NBA-high 37.dddddddddddd3 3-point attempts per game, were 5 for 31 (16 percent) behind the arc.TIP-INSBulls: G Michael Carter-Williams left with what coach Fred Hoiberg said was a sprained left knee in the first half and did not return. Hoiberg said the reserve guard will have an MRI on Tuesday. ... The Bulls have won four straight in Brooklyn, tied with Miami for the longest current winning streak.Nets: Coach Kenny Atkinson said guard Randy Foye, who hasnt played yet because of a strained right hamstring, was progressing well. Also sidelined was backup guard Greivis Vasquez, who felt soreness in his right ankle Saturday at Milwaukee. Atkinson said Vasquez was day to day. ... The Nets fell to 6-7 on Halloween. They havent won on the holiday since beating the Bulls in 2007.LOPEZ LEDGERRobin Lopez improved to 8-6 against twin brother Brook. The two, who rarely speak when playing each other, didnt even acknowledge each other in the moments before the opening tip. Brook stood with his back to Robin before beating him to win the jump.VALENTINES DAYRookie Denzel Valentine, the college player of the year last season at Michigan State, scored his first NBA points with a 3-pointer midway through the fourth quarter after replacing Wade.BROOKS BACK TO BACKSBrook Lopez, who has battled foot problems during his career, sat out Saturday in Milwaukee on the second night of a back-to-back but Atkinson was vague when asked about the plan. Theres an overall plan and then on a game-to-game basis you might have to adjust that depending on a lot of things, he said. To get into specifics like that is a little difficult, but we like the plan we put in place. Again, Brooks on board, were on board.UP NEXTBulls: Visit Boston on Wednesday. The Bulls beat the Celtics 105-99 on Thursday at home in their season opener.Nets: Host Detroit on Wednesday in the second game of a four-game homestand. ' ' '