Finally they got back to training after 2 ( or 3 if you count Sunday) days off and first of all the good news that Vieira was in full training today. Also out there was RSC,Lescott and Bridge and from what I could seed the only ones missing were Michael Johnson,Micah and Vinnie.
To start with the players all did the beep test thingy. They came out in 3's or 4's to do this rather than all at once.I think this was because they were doing some sort of readings after each level of the test and they could only manage small numbers at a time. Quite a few photographers around and of course the only pictures they were after were Wayne Bridge. Sad really but funny as well as he did the test in a group with Adam Johnson and the cameraman I spoke to hadn't noticed Johnson was there.
After an initial gathering and chat from Mancini and a round of applause to welcome Johnson they did the usual warm up routines which took place in 2 groups and which finished with a game of tag in one of them. Don't try this against Nedum as he will get you! Mancini then took 8 defenders ( NO,GC,KT,WB,JL,JG,DB,PZ) away with him to work behind the fencing whilst the rest did some different skill and ball based routines with Kidd and other coaches.They seemed to be in about 4 different sections. This group then started a keep ball game before moving into a 7 a side game with 1 or 2 reserves drafted in to make up the numbers.( Nimley and Tutte.) I think RSC was kept out of this contact game but PV was involved. I saw Adam Johnson hit the back of the net for the first time and overall he slotted in very nicely.
I think he will have been glad to be on the same side as Nigel who was putting himself about a bit. SWP was floored with one effort but his best tackle put Ibrahim in orbit.It wasnt that easy to see too much of the detail in this game as the snow was a pain in more ways than one. Coming straight into my eyes made it hard as I wear glasses but it didnt take long before I was getting worried about hypothermia. It was ........... freezing.
That made it even stranger as when Mancini had finished with the defenders they stood around watching the 7 a side game for quite a few minutes. Then as the pitch was turning white the whistle blew and it seemed like it was all over but Mancini took the majority across to another pitch for some kind of match practice leaving just 3 behind for some finishing practice plus a couple of keepers.The 3 were Stevie , Barry and Nimley. At this point I was also turning white and could hardly see the football game so called it a day and my guess is they all will have done soon after.
Before anyone had gone out as Kidd was setting stuff up I heard him talking to one of the Italian coaches and it sounded like the plan today was for an hours session which they had already gone past.
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