Training Saturday 3/10

[Douglas Higginbottom]

A decent if unspectacular session today which to an extent was messed up by gale force winds. Everyone out again as yesterday ( I forgot Nedum still not fit enough) and Robinho is now out of that splint thing 2 days ago and the scan gave the all clear. Benjani was out working 1 to 1 with a coach.

Good warm up routines and at one point doing the keep ball circle everything came to a standstill as the whole group dissolved into laughter. At Bellamy's expense it looked like but hard to tell. One of the routines was a very slick passing movement , basically one touch but the guys were very impressive with it. They moved onto a full 11 a side game but it wasn't really that feasible as the wind was so strong across the pitch. Anything crossfield either flew miles or just held up in the wind. Some attempts were made at dead ball crossing into the box a la Young/Milner but it wasn't easy.

They switched to play 2 separate games of 4 a side which was fun and competitive as ever.On the closest pitch the star performer was Nigel who was both impossible to get past in 1 to 1's and basically dictating for his team going forward. A lot more to him than just destroying and maybe we will see that sometime in a match.Plenty of goals scored as you would expect in small sided games. Tevez got plenty in one game but pretty well everyone would have scored at some point.

A few stayed back for extras and yet again Petrov was working very hard on 1 twos with a coach sprinting down the line to cross the ball and then sprinting back to a defensive position. Lescott was working with EN on something specific and Bellers was doing more again on finishing with Bowen feeding him volleys and half volleys inside the box.

[lets all have a disco]

Cheers for this DH,great report as usual and yes it wasnt half windy this morning early on.

[Goaters 103]

Great dedication to the cause Doug, its still blowing a bloody gale in Middleton!

[Blueboylewis]

I enjoyed todays session although the weather was annoying!!

Ireland was finishing superbly in the mini 4 a side games or whatever they were. He looks fit as a fiddle again and should hopefully be back to his best very soon. Ade looked good again scoring a few!

[john68]

Thanks Doug...as always.

Over the years Doug I have seen a number of different of our different squads training. What comes across in your reports is that this particulaar squad seems to have a great cameraderie and togetherness. Not always obvious in other squads we have had in the past Mate.

[Douglas Higginbottom]

Thanks Doug...as always.

Over the years Doug I have seen a number of different of our different squads training. What comes across in your reports is that this particulaar squad seems to have a great cameraderie and togetherness. Not always obvious in other squads we have had in the past Mate.

I have been going for a couple of years now and the changes after Hughes came along have been very noticeable. That's in the overall approach to the training but yes I would agree there does seem to be a great spirit now within the whole squad.

Undoubtedly part of what Hughes and co have worked on is getting players not just of the right skill quality but also the right character and ,to the extent it can be done, the right personal make up to get them to fit into a team with a very hard work ethic.Watching them as they came out today and any day is quite interesting. Often 2 or 3 will come out together but it isn't always the same pairs or groups.Today NDJ and Lescott wandered out together fairly late and they were having a right laugh together. A few of them jumped on a buggy (SWP and Bridge being the lazy sods) to save their legs and got some ribbing when they arrived.

Inevitably some are more noticeable within the group by the actions and noise levels but even the quieter ones are in no way left out. Just a great feel to the squad.

[Somerset Blue]

I enjoyed todays session although the weather was annoying!!

Ireland was finishing superbly in the mini 4 a side games or whatever they were. He looks fit as a fiddle again and should hopefully be back to his best very soon. Ade looked good again scoring a few!

Lewis, I don't know whether it's posting on this site, or school, but your spelling and grammar have come on 100% in the last few months!

[play like we dream]

These insights are just brilliant. Again, thanks for your commitment. It so helps us exiles. Hughes seems to exude a confident, quiet rigour. Is that part of why they respond?

[Slim]

I enjoyed todays session although the weather was annoying!!

Ireland was finishing superbly in the mini 4 a side games or whatever they were. He looks fit as a fiddle again and should hopefully be back to his best very soon. Ade looked good again scoring a few!

Lewis, I don't know whether it's posting on this site, or school, but your spelling and grammar have come on 100% in the last few months!

He's trying to set an example for the rest of us.

[Douglas Higginbottom]

These insights are just brilliant. Again, thanks for your commitment. It so helps us exiles. Hughes seems to exude a confident, quiet rigour. Is that part of why they respond?

He does have a calm style about him and a confidence which also comes across through interviews almost whatever the circumstances. Whether the players respond to that exactly is hard to say but it should be hard to respond to the situation we are in where we have a chance of winning something. The talent is obvious throughout the squad , there is a good balance to the team even though it's still fairly early days in it's evolution.

If the players are also responding to the style of management/coaching then I really think we have half a chance.

[Slim]

You must have known how poor this training report was Doug, afterall you have only given yourself 3/10.

[Douglas Higginbottom]

You must have known how poor this training report was Doug, afterall you have only given yourself 3/10.

Yes the wind got to me as well. I will try to do better.

[dazby]

No coincidence that Bellers is again last to leave the training paddock. Put in on the training ground and it shows on the field.

[DoomMerchant]

No coincidence that Bellers is again last to leave the training paddock. Put in on the training ground and it shows on the field.

how then do you explain your wankathons not leading to better performances dear sir? please discuss.

cheers

[Biamp]

Cheers Doug, thanks for the report.

[foley87]

are they out again today doug and if so do you know what time

[Douglas Higginbottom]

are they out again today doug and if so do you know what time

They will be out but I am not sure of the timing. 11 is my guess.

[Douglas Higginbottom]

are they out again today doug and if so do you know what time

They will be out but I am not sure of the timing. 11 is my guess.

2pm would be a better guess.

[Slim]

are they out again today doug and if so do you know what time

They will be out but I am not sure of the timing. 11 is my guess.

2pm would be a better guess.

Having a fun conversation there Doug?

[Blueboylewis]

I enjoyed todays session although the weather was annoying!!

Ireland was finishing superbly in the mini 4 a side games or whatever they were. He looks fit as a fiddle again and should hopefully be back to his best very soon. Ade looked good again scoring a few!

Lewis, I don't know whether it's posting on this site, or school, but your spelling and grammar have come on 100% in the last few months!

He's trying to set an example for the rest of us.

cheers Somerset. It is because the start of my Gcse's are weeks away and apart from revising i am coming on here and typing and it is improving my english too i guess.

And slim, yes i am setting an example. Follow it!! Or else......