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Not a long session today as the players who did most of the wednesday match went in early. Missing altogether were Tevez , Barry,RSC and Vieira. Bridge out again, but alternating with 1 to 1 fitness stuff and joining in with the ball plus Lescott fully involved.

The first two out as ever were Petrov and Bellamy and then the rest wandered out in small groups. The usual gathering around Mancini followed by jogging around the pitch roughly in some kind of formation. The ball was introduced and they split into 2 teams ( there were 18 of them) to do some passing as a team and moving all the time from side to side. Just getting more and more used to the shape and as ever when the ball was passed to the left side it was clear that the right full back was tucking in tight to his centre back.

Next one of the group went off to play the keep ball circle whilst the rest worked on some passing attacking routines for 10 minutes or so and then this group called it a day.Those left out there were supplemented by some reserves to play in a 5 a side game in a small pitch area.I think it was just Trippier and Cunningham who came over.Both did fine but I could hear Brian Kidd fairly often talking and encouraging Tripp during the play.

I think the rule in the game here was 10 passes in a row have to be completed before you could score and it was 2 or 3 touch only. It was fast and frenetic with the stand out goals from Petrov (2 and at times he can make finishing look very easy)Silv another screamer.Quite good fun and really good to see Bridge and Lescott fully involved even if they need a little more time before selection again.Ade seemed ok but for me feeling his way back a little more today then it seemed on Tuesday.

My new Italian friend was there again and called over Roberto to personally autograph the ball he got with a long signed message. Very nice of him. His verdict of wednesday ( that's the lad not Mancini )is that the final goal would not have happened in Italy as a defender would have stopped shrek from scoring by fouling him in whatever way was necessary.

Whatever you do Doug, don't get alzheimers.

Douglas Higginbottom wrote:Not a long session today as the players who did most of the wednesday match went in early. Missing altogether were Tevez , Barry,RSC and Vieira. Bridge out again, but alternating with 1 to 1 fitness stuff and joining in with the ball plus Lescott fully involved.

The first two out as ever were Petrov and Bellamy and then the rest wandered out in small groups. The usual gathering around Mancini followed by jogging around the pitch roughly in some kind of formation. The ball was introduced and they split into 2 teams ( there were 18 of them) to do some passing as a team and moving all the time from side to side. Just getting more and more used to the shape and as ever when the ball was passed to the left side it was clear that the right full back was tucking in tight to his centre back.

Next one of the group went off to play the keep ball circle whilst the rest worked on some passing attacking routines for 10 minutes or so and then this group called it a day.Those left out there were supplemented by some reserves to play in a 5 a side game in a small pitch area.I think it was just Trippier and Cunningham who came over.Both did fine but I could hear Brian Kidd fairly often talking and encouraging Tripp during the play.

I think the rule in the game here was 10 passes in a row have to be completed before you could score and it was 2 or 3 touch only. It was fast and frenetic with the stand out goals from Petrov (2 and at times he can make finishing look very easy)Silv another screamer.Quite good fun and really good to see Bridge and Lescott fully involved even if they need a little more time before selection again.Ade seemed ok but for me feeling his way back a little more today then it seemed on Tuesday.

My new Italian friend was there again and called over Roberto to personally autograph the ball he got with a long signed message. Very nice of him. His verdict of wednesday ( that's the lad not Mancini )is that the final goal would not have happened in Italy as a defender would have stopped shrek from scoring by fouling him in whatever way was necessary.

I don't completely agree with this, but I have to admit that he wouldn't have probably been so free, and a bit of shirt tugging/shoving might have been involved in his marking to put him off balance and make him miss the ball.

Apart for this, good report as usual, thanks.

Top report there Doug, good to hear Bridge and Lescott back getting involved do you think they could be back after the Portsmouth game?

Mark ( Blue Army ) wrote:Top report there Doug, good to hear Bridge and Lescott back getting involved do you think they could be back after the Portsmouth game?

Both must have a chance. From what I had seen I would have sadi Bridge was chance even for the semi final but clearly after that kind of injury it takes time to get back into match readiness and even involved in full impact training.

Douglas Higginbottom wrote:

Mark ( Blue Army ) wrote:Top report there Doug, good to hear Bridge and Lescott back getting involved do you think they could be back after the Portsmouth game?

Both must have a chance. From what I had seen I would have sadi Bridge was chance even for the semi final but clearly after that kind of injury it takes time to get back into match readiness and even involved in full impact training.

Hopefully they will be back soon then thanks Doug :)

It would be nice for Bridge and Lescott to be back, but seeing as it's Pompey who are in Dire Straits and have no money for nothing, I think we can leave them out as the lads that played against scum will be more than able to roll them over.

I don't know if this was from todays training but it's a video of robbie saying goodbye to everyone.

http://www.mcfc.co.uk/Video/Features/Robinho-off-on-loan

In someway's it's unbelieveble, WHY is he leaving. Well he's gone and that is prop forever. He might retire. The dosh is there and he's a glider. Sad but true.
CTID!!

Petrov got blanked at the end there lol.

I think he will be back. Id like him to come back and have another go once he finds his form and confidence again. The Robinho we first saw would get in any team in the world, its within him again, somewhere

Funny to see him conversing in English with practically no problems whatsoever, whoda thunkit?(!) Didn't seem that Petrov and Rob had any love there. As for Bellers, maybe he was in the car park with the meter running...

Doug, one thing I have noticed about the reports is they done seem to spend long on the training exercises. It might just come across that way, however, I would have thought the gaffer would be making them learn the new formations with longer sessions to ensure it is DRILLED into them. It is noticeable how we switch off, especially for quick, throws, free kicks and corners etc.

Cheers
WW

Douglas Higginbottom wrote:
My new Italian friend was there again and called over Roberto to personally autograph the ball he got with a long signed message. Very nice of him. His verdict of wednesday ( that's the lad not Mancini )is that the final goal would not have happened in Italy as a defender would have stopped shrek from scoring by fouling him in whatever way was necessary.

There was no need to foul him, just needed to block his run that's all.

Kladze wrote:

Douglas Higginbottom wrote:
My new Italian friend was there again and called over Roberto to personally autograph the ball he got with a long signed message. Very nice of him. His verdict of wednesday ( that's the lad not Mancini )is that the final goal would not have happened in Italy as a defender would have stopped shrek from scoring by fouling him in whatever way was necessary.

There was no need to foul him, just needed to block his run that's all.

Made me smile when he said it but he is just a young Italian fan.He did actually do a strong kicking jesture to clarify what he meant tho.Blocking runs is really part of a good defenders game though isn't it.

Wonderwall wrote:Doug, one thing I have noticed about the reports is they done seem to spend long on the training exercises. It might just come across that way, however, I would have thought the gaffer would be making them learn the new formations with longer sessions to ensure it is DRILLED into them. It is noticeable how we switch off, especially for quick, throws, free kicks and corners etc.

Cheers
WW

Well as I have said before I havent seen all sessions but you are right from what I have seen. Quite a lot of time working in formation to get the team shape drilled in. Quite a bit of time spent on the zonal marking from corners and to a lesser extent free kicks and also some time working on passing from defence through midfield then wide with a cross to finish off. As yet though I havent seen the "new" formations in what could be called full practice mode.The only competitive football I can recall seeing has only been small sided games with at most 7 a side.

A bit surprising maybe as you might think the best way to get used to something and refine it would be to work at it against real opposition playing to stop it.

Douglas Higginbottom wrote:

Kladze wrote:

Douglas Higginbottom wrote:
My new Italian friend was there again and called over Roberto to personally autograph the ball he got with a long signed message. Very nice of him. His verdict of wednesday ( that's the lad not Mancini )is that the final goal would not have happened in Italy as a defender would have stopped shrek from scoring by fouling him in whatever way was necessary.

There was no need to foul him, just needed to block his run that's all.

Made me smile when he said it but he is just a young Italian fan.He did actually do a strong kicking jesture to clarify what he meant tho.Blocking runs is really part of a good defenders game though isn't it.

Yup
Or even a midfield player ..... any fucker really lol

Thanks for the report again by the way mate :-)

Cheers Doug, great to here that Lescott and Bridge are on their way back.

Thanks as always Doug, great dedication to the cause.