Training Saturday 30/1
Posted: Sat Jan 30, 2010 1:51 pmThe expectation was training would be behind the fencing today , partly as it's the day before a game but also after the overnight frost. 11 was the start time today but they were late getting out and for a while it was only Bridge,Petrov and Lescott with a fitness guy behind the fencing.Mancini came out with Kidd and walked straight across the fenced pitch to the open one and declared it fit to use so the good news was that the few of us there would see something and the small bunch of photographers as well. I don't really think being watched bothers the new regime at all.
Still no Vieira in sight and also missing were Micah and Tevez and notably no Benjani. Usual warm up routines, sometimes all together and other times in 2 groups.One all together session was a hand ball game in a 5 a side area where goals could only be scored with headers. Bit of fun no more. One of the sessions with a team on the pitch behind the fence was more working on the tactical and perhaps specifics for tomorrow's game plus some time again on corners. Mancini taking time to personally set up the defensive positions and then running across to take the corners himself. ( not very good ones though ) I did see one interesting tactic and it will be interesting to see if it is used v Pompey. ( cant mention here of course:))
The final action was a 6 or 7 a side game with nothing really worth mentioning and then as most went in it left 3 for a little shooting practice. Bellers,Petrov and Garrido with Petrov probably just the pick of the bunch today. Gunnar Neilsen was in goal and is now sporting a full beard which I commented on. He said he was going for the full viking ( pronounced Yking) look. The final bit of the session was Gunnar v Mancini who took some free kicks at him from the edge of the box and slightly left side.
As he lined up for the first one the keeper coach was telling Gunnar to adjust his position a little. He didnt so Mancini just slotted it inside the right post with ease and said " is normal" ( you need to add the Italian accent) The next one was covered easily by the keeper and the decider was just inches wide of the right post with just not enough curl on it.
Still no Vieira in sight and also missing were Micah and Tevez and notably no Benjani. Usual warm up routines, sometimes all together and other times in 2 groups.One all together session was a hand ball game in a 5 a side area where goals could only be scored with headers. Bit of fun no more. One of the sessions with a team on the pitch behind the fence was more working on the tactical and perhaps specifics for tomorrow's game plus some time again on corners. Mancini taking time to personally set up the defensive positions and then running across to take the corners himself. ( not very good ones though ) I did see one interesting tactic and it will be interesting to see if it is used v Pompey. ( cant mention here of course:))
The final action was a 6 or 7 a side game with nothing really worth mentioning and then as most went in it left 3 for a little shooting practice. Bellers,Petrov and Garrido with Petrov probably just the pick of the bunch today. Gunnar Neilsen was in goal and is now sporting a full beard which I commented on. He said he was going for the full viking ( pronounced Yking) look. The final bit of the session was Gunnar v Mancini who took some free kicks at him from the edge of the box and slightly left side.
As he lined up for the first one the keeper coach was telling Gunnar to adjust his position a little. He didnt so Mancini just slotted it inside the right post with ease and said " is normal" ( you need to add the Italian accent) The next one was covered easily by the keeper and the decider was just inches wide of the right post with just not enough curl on it.