THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. -- With a powerful defense leading an offense thats doing just enough to win, the Los Angeles Rams are off to a 3-1 start in their homecoming season.They arent blowing their own horns just yet, however.Coach Jeff Fisher mostly noticed the Rams problems Monday when he re-watched a gritty 17-13 victory in Arizona. Los Angeles is on just the third three-game winning streak in the past decade for a long-struggling franchise, but Fisher sees nobody getting happy on his unlikely first-place team.You have to take a hard look at it, and we did, Fisher said. We still have a lot of room for improvement offensively and defensively. Too many big plays (given up) defensively. Struggles versus the run. Lack of a run game offensively, and then an inability to go get points when we got around midfield. The players understand it. They were very receptive today about where we are.But the latest victory clearly was satisfying to Fisher because it came at the expense of the rival Cardinals, last seasons NFC West champions. The move from Missouri to California didnt make anyone forget that Arizona coach Bruce Arians has jabbed at the Rams in past seasons, calling them a team that is always 8-8 and that team we dont like.Fisher confirmed telling his players in the locker room that Sundays victory was an early Christmas present for the Cardinals (1-3), who will visit the Coliseum on New Years Day for a rematch in the regular season finale.I was complimenting the players. I wanted them to know what a big win it was, Fisher said dryly. Oftentimes, Coach Arians is complimenting his players from the same perspective, so we just wanted to let them know that this is a great win for us, so well see them after Christmas. Merry Christmas.And while praising the coaching staff of the Buffalo Bills, their next opponent, Fisher appeared to slip in a sly shot at the Cards.(Buffalo is) a well-coached team, Fisher said. They play good special teams. Theyre into special teams, unlike some of the other teams weve faced.Fisher didnt specify which teams, but the Cardinals have had a series of special-teams calamities this season. Los Angeles Tavon Austin returned an Arizona punt 47 yards and drew a facemask penalty with 5:09 to play Sunday, putting the Rams in position for Brian Quicks go-ahead touchdown reception.The Rams special teams have been practically flawless during their first 3-1 start since 2006, and they have finished all three games with big defensive plays, including Trumaine Johnsons game-ending interception in the end zone in Arizona.Fisher sees those narrow escapes as reasons for concern, but also signs of improvement.Its not easy, but around the league, there are some good teams that dont have the same record we do, Fisher said. Finding ways to win at the end is very important. It carries you a long way.Fisher also has no concerns about Todd Gurley, who has 216 yards rushing in the Rams first four games. He sees overall flaws in the Rams running game, not in the Rookie of the Years approach.The line of scrimmage was full of Cardinals yesterday, and we knew that, Fisher said. Thats why we made our plays down the field. But were close. Hes healthy. Hes going good. Were just going to put a good plan together this week.The Bills (2-2) visit Sunday for the second of the Rams two games at the Coliseum over the first eight weeks of the NFL season. Even with so few opportunities to make a good impression on their home fans, theyve still got the town talking.Were looking forward to being home, said Fisher, whose team still must travel to Detroit and London this month. Its been a while.Game notes The Rams had no major postgame injury concerns, Fisher said. Backup RB Benny Cunningham felt much better after injuring his hamstring Sunday. ... Fisher praised the special-teams play of rookies Marqui Christian and Temarrick Hemingway. Christian, a fifth-round draft pick by Arizona this year, was waived by the Cardinals last week. What an experience for him from that standpoint, to have been on the other sideline last week and come over and have a chance to have an impact on special teams, Fisher said.---AP NFL websites: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL Cheap Hornets Jerseys . The quest begins with what is supposed to be an easy one, although Germany has traditionally been a stubborn opponent to Canadian teams at international tournaments. Cheap Hornets Jerseys Authentic . -- Matt Rupert scored once in regulation and again in the shootout as the London Knights extended their win streak to nine games by defeating the Owen Sound Attack 4-3 on Friday in Ontario Hockey League action. http://www.cheaphornetsjerseys.com/ .com) - Christian Ponder will get another chance to prove himself for the Minnesota Vikings, with head coach Leslie Frazier announcing Wednesday that the struggling quarterback will start this weekends game against the Green Bay Packers. Cheap Hornets Jerseys China . -- Damian Lillard and LaMarcus Alrdridge were again the go-to duo for the Trail Blazers against the Kings. Cheap Charlotte Hornets Jerseys .H. -- Matt Kenseth made it 2 for 2 in the Chase, holding off teammate Kyle Busch to win Sunday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.Paul Pogba, Moussa Sissoko....Victor Anichebe. Niall Quinn gives his verdict on the hits and misses from the 2016 summer signings. I dont know how many times Jools Holland has ushered in the new year with his Hootenanny, but I know a little of how he feels. Transfer Deadline Day in the Sky Sports studio has the same elements. A months hype, the countdown, the drama, then the fireworks. Except we cant pre-record the entire thing.Like New Years Eve, there is plenty of time for disappointment and regret once the clock signals the windows end. I imagine managers texting each other in the cold light of the next morning. I really love him. But Arsene, you loved Andrey Arshavin too. In the studio we get to sit and judge, like drill sergeants watching a new batch of pimply recruits arrive into the barracks. Unless you get a strange story like Peter Odemwingies day trip to London or Anthony Martial signing on to be part of Uniteds Great Futures Behind Them collection, there is a lot of time for speculating about who will sleep with the fishes and who will swim with the dolphins?As we get to the last international break of the year I see the papers and the internet are boiling again with rumours of the frenzy to come in the approaching window, so it seems like a good time to look at a few of the hits and misses from the latest summer session.One of the best stories of the back end of summer was Moussa Sissoko. Everton thought he was ready to sign a pre-nup and tie the knot. Then he was worryingly uncontactable. Everton were about to call in Liam Neeson to track him down when Sissoko turned up in London wearing a Spurs jersey. Watch highlights of Spurs draw with Arsenal The fee of £30m was about double what Spurs generally like to pay for incoming players. His form so far has probably been about half what they expect from those players. Sissokos handful of appearances so far have not produced any goals or assists.Generally though, Sissokos disappointing start goes under the radar because the best story of the summer was Paul Pogbas return to Old Trafford. It was the sort of deal which would have Sir Alex Ferguson spinning in his VIP box and screaming to be let out.The idea to write about the form of the big summer transfers came before Pogba and Zlatan Ibrahimovic spent Sunday afternoon pawing the dead mouse that is Swansea. But even taking into account that the win was Uniteds best performance outside of England this year, the jury must still be out on Pogba and Zlatan.United look like a troubled club and at the moment the guys picking up the heaviest wage packets every month have not been performing on match days. Maybe at 35 Zlatan should have looked for a gentler pasture in which he could transition into retirement. He has been playing professional football in top divisions since 1999. Thats a lot of mileage. Niall Quinn on Ibrahimovic There are various reasons. Maybe at 35 Zlatan should have looked for a gentler pasture in which he could transition into retirement. He has been playing professional football in top divisions since 1999. Thats a lot of mileage. He still works hard. However, fewer things come off for him.He scored 113 goals in 122 games in France. His patchy form at United compared to Mario Balotellis exciting form at Nice these days tells us a lot about the difference between playing in France and playing in England.Pogba, meanwhile, thrived in a different midfield set up in a different league that is played at a different pace. Great goal yesterday, but his season can go one of two ways from here. Jose may get his midfield right (Michael Carrick yesterday was a good sign) and Pogba might start to look like a Rolls Royce. Or he may struggle at this turbulent club and with that price tag he may become a human shield for his manager. Watch Paul Pogbas brilliant goal against Swansea As for Henrikh Mkhitaryan? You just never know whats around the corner do you Henrikh?The best transfers have been the ones which didnt attract screaming headlines. On transfer deadline night I did some weeping and gnashing of teeth when Sunderland failed to sign a new striker. They picked up Victor Anichebe on a free soon after and I thought that even with my aches and pains Id back myself to beat him in 40-yard sprint. I also thought that neither of us should attempt any distance longer than that without emergency medical services present.But wait. I saw Anichebe play for Sunderland at Bournemouth on Saturday and I ate some humble pie at half-time. David Moyes surprised Eddie Howe (and maybe surprised himself) by putting out an attacking team with Anichebe, in his first start, playing up front to take some pressure off Jermain Defoe. It worked. And Anichebe worked. He scored one and got fouled for the penalty, which gave Defoe his mandatory place on the score sheet. Victor Anichebe was the match-winner for Sunderland at Bournemouth Nobody is saying that Sunderland will be fending off Pogba style offers to keep Anichebe next summer, but he gave Sunderland some presence on Saturday, he gave them a goal, a win and a boost to morale with the promise that playing some attacking football might be a worthwhile exercise after all.ddddddddddddhelsea picking off NGolo Kante from the Leicester herd when they were down at the watering hole in the summer was just the law of the jungle. The deal was a quiet, efficient piece of business which has hurt Leicester badly and helped Chelsea no end. Kante and Nemanja Matic in central midfield are the motor which makes Chelsea rival Liverpool as the most improved team of the year so far.Since Antonio Conte found a formula he likes and is familiar with, Chelsea have won five games on the trot. The players around Kante are all suddenly looking as if they have been reconditioned. Thats the sign of a good midfielder, a good signing. Special mentions too for Marcos Alonso and David Luiz who have settled in really well. NGolo Kante (left) and Nemanja Matic have impressed for Chelsea None of the players Leicester bought as they broke their old transfer record a few times over in the summer have come close to making up for the loss of Kante.There have been other good signings about the league. With the amount of football he has in him John Stones could be the next Bobby Moore for England. Its surprising that Manchester City didnt experience more competition for his signature. I would have thought that his style would suit most of the top continental sides. Their loss is Peps gain. Watch NOW TV Watch Sky Sports for just ￡6.99. No contract. In a week when City beat Barcelona it is easy to forget that Guardiolas project is still a work in progress. I think weve have seen contrasting returns on investment so far from Citys two big German signings in the summer; Leroy Sane and Ilkay Gundogan.Sane came back from the Euros a little late and has struggled with fitness, which is natural enough for a 20-year-old hitting the Premier League. In flashes he has shown that over the course of what is going to be a long season for City he could emerge to look like decent business, but we havent seen nearly enough yet. John Stones joined City from Everton Gundogans performance and two goals against Barcelona marked the occasion of him dropping his calling card at the Etihad. Apart from a knack of getting goals, among other virtues he looks like the cure to the brittleness which has troubled City for a while.When Transfer Deadline Day passed without Jurgen Klopp buying a shiny new striker I wondered if he had feet of clay after all. With 30 goals from 11 Premier League games and a top of the table seat this morning, Klopp has won that argument.His high-energy game is high attrition too, in terms of injuries and fatigue, so I still think he might splurge for a top forward in January. In the meanwhile, if Sadio Mane can escape the inconsistency he suffered from at Southampton he could prove to be the most inspired buy of the season.Elsewhere, what weve seen of Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg at Southampton confirms their shrewd eye. Hats off to Arsene who has bought very well other than mortgaging the house for a 20-goal-a-season striker as we all instructed him to. Pity Lucas Perez hasnt got in on the act yet. Sadio Mane scored twice as Liverpool thrashed Watford at the weekend Joe Allen was a neat bit of business for Stoke, he deserves a snappier nickname than the Midlands Andrea Pirlo. Victor Wanyama has been a typical bit of efficient Spurs business. Yannick Bolasie has looked decent at Everton though hell hope to have better days than he did on Saturday. If not he will need counselling.Mid-term report for the recruits of summer 2016? Some successes, some shrewd buys, a long list of flops, misfits and ones for the future. You look down the list of who bought who and how their teams are doing and even if you take away the hype surrounding Premier League managers now, generally the best ones have spent cleverly.The Manchester United managers performance in his first window is the exception to that rule and following his January dealings alone should be great fun. Will Jools be singing Cool For Cats or Up The Junction to Jose? Get Sky Sports Alerts Breaking news, line ups and goal alerts from your football club - direct to your mobile Also See: WATCH: Premier League goals Premier League hotlist Could Leicester get relegated? Live on Sky ' ' '