There is a crisis in the NHL, but you wouldn't know it if you only listened to the NHL top brass.

Concussions in any contact sport are serious injuries and must be treated responsibly.

However the game of hockey is in denial.

"It's a Canadian game!" you will hear many will say North of the Border.   The inference being that "ringing someone's bell" is all part of the sport.

Recent comments in the Vancouver Province show that those who watch the sport might consider not doing so if the hitting is taken out of the game.  One reason for the apparent apathy of Gary Bettman and his advisors.

It's not just the high profile players Sidney Crosby, Marc Staal and Chris Pronger who are currently under the microscope for the effects of concussions.  There is a long list of NHL players waiting to be cleared.

As a former goalkeeper in the English (soccer) league, I've suffered multiple concussions only to find myself back in the cauldron of top-class soccer 3 or 4 days after the injury.  Ignorance does not excuse irresponsibility.

I keep my fingers crossed that I won't have to pay for it as the years go by.

But for the NHL it is wake up time!  You might think it is the NHL top brass management team that is concussed - not the players.

Soccer - football to most people in the world - ebbs and flows and that is part of the enjoyment and the fascination many of us have with the game.

Last week it seemed certain that David Beckham was going to join PSG in France.  Today, that all changed with the announcement Beckham would not be going to Paris Saint-Germain and would likely stay in LA.  As he is now out of contract, negotiations with the Galaxy will start all over again.

We reported last Thursday that Landon Donovan would return on loan (for two months) to Everton.  He did more than that.  He started in today's game against Bolton Wanderers where American goalkeeper, Tim Howard, scored the opening goal.  Sat here in front of a computer there is no way of telling at this juncture just how that happened.  The Game Cast on ESPN's Soccernet shows he scored from his own penalty area.

We'll give you an update on just what happened as soon as we get it.

Time Howard's goal - Breaking News.

It was a fly kick from his own box on a back pass that was wind-assisted, took one big bounce went and over the embarrassed Bolton keeper.  See if this link stays up so you can see it.

Click here to watch the video.

However, all did not end well for the two Everton Americans, Tim Howard and Landon Donovan, as Bolton came back after the freak goal to win 2 - 1.

We will find out in the next few days at the player trades unfurl trading unfurls.

In Europe, the January trading window is fast approaching and excitement is in the air.

Arsenal will lose players to the African Nations Cup in January and February and for that reason Thierry Henry's name has been thrown about with conjecture about a short-term loan from the New York Red Bulls.

Landon Donovan seems Everton-bound once again for another short term loan.

But it is across the English Channel to Paris where we are seeing the greatest activity.  PSG (Paris St-Germain) is buzzing with rumors and intrigue.  It is not just David Beckham, but Coach Ancelotti, Chelsea's Malouda and several more names are being associated with PSG a club that is being driven right now by billionaire Qatari ownership. 

PSG might even outspend Manchester City...which brings us to Carlos Tevez.  

Where will he be by January?

Who knows?  And for many, who cares? 

Except that he is an exceptional soccer player and great to watch.

We will find out in the next few days at the player trades unfurl trading unfurls.

We have just published our World of Soccer Christmas newsletter and we have roasted a few old chestnuts by going back in time to some of the stories of Christmases Past.

You may have seen them before in the Boot Room, but you will still get a good chuckle out of them (Click link below).

Have a great Christmas and all the best for 2012,

The December 2011 World of Soccer Newsletter is now on-line. 

Today’s victory for Chelsea (2:1) against previously unbeaten Manchester City was a great result for the EPL – if not for City.

It now opens up all kind of opportunities for a number of teams – seven – if you go right down to Liverpool and Newcastle.  Both are long shots with 26 points, but the season is not half over.  Man U, Chelsea, Tottenham and Arsenal are all contenders.  But we have to remember that Manchester City is still top of the table by two points having played the same number of games as everyone else in the top seven – other than Tottenham (one less).

It makes the upcoming holiday season games the more intriguing.

It's that time of the year again. We hear all the old Christmas songs - and are happy to do so. Because of that, there is nothing wrong with roasting some old chestnuts again. So it's story time at the World of Soccer.

We've been digging in the World of Soccer Boot Room for archives from Christmases Past.

As a result, we have for you a whole series of Christmas football stories - er, sorry about that - I mean soccer stories. But I did say we were going back in time when it really was footie.

So here are the stories with a little introduction to give you an idea of the subject matter. I can bet your bottom dollar you will have a chuckle at some and shake your head at others.

We also reprise physiotherapist Marc Rizzardo's escapades as he traveled with the Canadian National Women's, Olympic and Youth teams.

In our player development section we highlight a remarkable coach, Chris Finn. Chris the coach of the US power soccer team - two-time winners of FIPFA World Cup. It goes to show that no matter the difficulties people love soccer and will do wonderful and amazing things to play the game.

Finally some stories, not about Christmas, but about the archaic methods of treating injured players in the not-so-good Old Days.

Click here to read Soccer in the Festive Season.

Click here to read Marc Rizzardo's Escapades.

Click here to read Byte Size Coaching Update.

Click here to read Treatment in the Good Old Days.

Click here to read FIPFA.

Manchester United's failure to make the final 16 of the Champions League and now facing the ignominy of playing on Thursday nights in the Europa League has sent shock waves through the whole United organization.  What happens next?  Doubtless there will be speculation about Sir Alex Ferguson's future.

But the season is a long way from being over.  If United could win the EPL much would be forgiven.  However, with near neighbors, City, also departing the Champions League, but with a 5-point lead at the top of the EPL, the cauldron of Manchester soccer will begin to boil and there are other very good teams still in the hunt - like Chelsea and Arsenal.

Ferguson has been the most successful manager of an England club team for the past 20 years and you can be sure he will use all of his experience to turn this thing around.

Manchester United?  End of an Era?  Don't bet on it, but it's going to be fascinating.

The LA Galaxy deservedly won the MLS Cup Final and it was only fitting, that the goal that won it involved all three Galaxy Designated Players.

Beckham and Keane set up Landon Donovan who coolly beat the Houston Keeper.

Now! What happens to Beckham? Does he stay in America? Or does he go back to Europe at 36 years of age?

The next week should tell the story.