Claudio Ranieri has ditched the tinkering and has been forced to become a ruthless manager at Leicester, according to his former player Graeme Le Saux. Ranieri stands on the brink of a remarkable Premier League crown with his side requiring three points from their last three matches to land the title and complete their astonishing transformation from relegation favourites to champions. Mahrez: Title race not over Leicesters Riyad Mahrez says Premier League title race not done yet The Foxes could capture the Premier League title against Manchester United at Old Trafford on Super Sunday, live on Sky Sports 1 HD from 1pm. Graeme Le Saux insists Ranieris eccentric manner is merely a front The Italian gained his infamous Tinkerman nickname for his liking of squad rotation during a three-and-a-half year spell at Chelsea.And few took Ranieri seriously when he was appointed at the King Power Stadium last summer having been sacked as manager of Greece in 2014. Hes a very shrewd operator and he wouldnt shirk a big decision. Behind the smile theres a ruthless football manager, a guy who is happy to make big decisions. Graeme Le Saux on Claudio Ranieri But former Chelsea left-back Le Saux insists Ranieris eccentric manner is merely a front, behind which lies a shrewd and ruthless operator.Thats all veneer, dont be fooled, thats part design, said Le Saux. Hes a very shrewd operator and he wouldnt shirk a big decision. Behind the smile theres a ruthless football manager, a guy who is happy to make big decisions.At Leicester he hasnt had to, the team picks itself. Hes not had to deal with dropping big names and moving people on. Once hes established his team and his shape, hes been the polar opposite to what we were calling him, the Tinkerman. Souness: Foxes defy logic Leicester winning Premier League title defies logic, says Graeme Souness Did he tinker too much? Yes, and its frustrating as a player when you work on a system all week and on the day of the game he changes it. But thats not a criticism of who he is now.When he took over I wasnt prepared to bring those flaws out because it was 12 years since I worked with him, so I thought give him a chance. Also See: Mahrez: Title race not over The German Leicester Leipzig turned down Vardy Simpson: Well do it without Vardy Freddie Freeman Jersey . Monta Ellis had 30 points and nine assists, Nowitzki was another of seven Dallas players in double figures with 11 points and the Mavericks beat the Los Angeles Lakers 123-104 Tuesday night. David Justice Braves 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. http://www.baseballbravesproshop.com/bobby-cox-braves-jersey/ . -- After a year spent travelling the world, Brooks Koepka suddenly is in a position to play a lot more golf at home. Dansby Swanson Braves Jersey . The result was a game-winning, power-play goal. Chiasson snapped a third-period tie and lifted the Dallas Stars to a 3-2 victory on Monday night. Babe Ruth Jersey . - Wesley Matthews got a chance to practice his bow-and-arrow 3-point celebration on Sunday night.It usually involves that kid who was in a wheelchair on Degrassi or some hashtag I dont understand or something to do with Disney Jr. But the word "beard" drew me in, and on upon further investigation I discovered that "peak beard" was about contemporary popular cultures threshold for beard wearing, and the notion that the age of the beard may be over. This seemed sacrilegious to me, because here in late April we sit on the precipice of the climax of beard season: winter is slowly receding and the NHL playoffs bring with them the greatest sports tradition of all-time, the playoff beard. Peak beard in April? Pfft. Thats like writing of December that weve hit "peak Santa", or of AC/DC weve hit "peak guitar", or of a wedding weve hit "peak open bar". As we settle into the first round of the playoffs, beards among NHLers are about to take form. We are awash in the infancy of stubble. In two months whichever teams are left battling will look like theyre en route to Bonnaroo post-pucks. It should be noted that Ive worn a beard since puberty allowed it, and a razor has insulted my cheeks just once in the past twenty years. I revel in playoff beards. They make me feel at home. I wear a playoff beard in August. And as we got through the first weekend of the playoffs a few days ago, which was also Easter, Id be remiss if I didnt mention the best playoff beard ever: Jesus. Dude rocked his beard into the post-post season, and according to scripture will still be rocking the playoff beard when he comes back. The story of the playoff beard is well known: It started some thirty years ago during the New York Islanders dynasty of the 80s. (For our younger readers the Islanders were once a good hockey team, before fishermen logos, Charles Wang, and Alexei Yashin.) No one is quite sure of its specific genesis, however. Some attribute it to two Swedish Islanders who were trying to emulate tennis star Björn Borgs custom of not shaving during Wimbledon. Some say that Islanders defenceman Ken Morrows beard led the charge. Whatever the story, the playoff beard has come to symbolize team unity, a badge of honour, and the fact that youve made a deep enough run to sport a thick brush from which you can hang livestock. In my years as a hockey fan, a few playoff beards standout. Scott Niedermayers greying old man beard, Mike Commodores ginger madness, and Lanny McDonalds wild west stache accompaniment immediatelyy come to mind.dddddddddddd. In recent years, rules concerning the playoff beard seem to have turned lax. Shaving after a loss in effort to change a teams luck is seemingly allowed. Goatees, the beards answer to the haiku, are tolerated. Professional trimming is apparent (Im looking at you, Sedin twins.) Back in the day, when men were men and the Oilers made the playoffs, the rules for the playoff beard were simple: 1. Stop shaving.2. Win Stanley Cup or get eliminated.3. Start shaving again. In todays NHL, a new challenge faces beard-growing players. In the salary cap era, inexpensive young talent on entry-level contracts are important to the balance of a competitive team. Eighteen, nineteen, and twenty year-olds are key parts of many playoff teams lineups. Early in the first round, all players beards are equal. Its like a grade 8 dance. But come rounds two and three, how will Nathan MacKinnon, Olli Maatta, and Ryan Murray look should their teams be fortunate enough to make it that deep? Of course, a teams playoff longevity doesnt necessarily guarantee a healthy bearded player. When Tomas Kaberle won a Cup with Boston in 2011, the former Leafs defencemen still looked like a pre-pubescent child despite two months without shaving. Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews has won two Cups without any discernible upper lip growth, and Sidney Crosby still owns his "Sid the Kid" moniker with his patchy-coat-of an-electrocuted-dog fuzz. We cant all be Duck Dynasty-esque, but at 26 Crosbys beard is just plain sad. I have a better beard in my junior prom photos. Hell, my prom date has a better beard. And then theres the beards well never know. Can Dion Phaneuf even grow a beard? Can Phil Kessel? Can the Edmonton Oilers? We know they can schedule vacations for early April, play in the World Championships, and pick in the early first round of the draft, but theyll need to see past round one of the playoffs before we can judge their facial hair prowess. Sadly, methinks well never know. For now, I will rebel against notions peak beard, despite what Cosmo and The Daily Guardian are writing. The grand tradition of the playoff beard is just one of the many facets of the fight for the Stanley Cup that makes the NHLs postseason more compelling, more rich in narrative, and more entertaining than any other sport. So buy razor futures now, because the blades are sheathed for another two months, and may the best beard host the parade. ' ' '