I wrnt down early today to find masses of press and cameramen already there for what was the scheduled conference with Mancini. I had seen the form stuff about Bellamy and one photographer who I see a lot said Bellers looked really angry when he arrived and got out of his car. I didn't believe him then and I believ him even less now.
The training today was mostly out in the open and some of the early warm up routines were very close to the watching fans.Missing were RSC ( not a big injury but enough for him to be out) Tevez( not back yet) Petrov ( knee and out for a month) and NDJ ( precautionary but he is ok) During part of the warm ups Nedum was kept separate doing different stuff with a physio.
Bellers was Bellers. Nothing seemed a miss at all and he was his usual committed and vocal self. Personally I don't doubt there has been a word or 2 spoken between him and the boss but nothing close to what the gutter press has made it out to be.They are professionals and that's what I saw today with both of them going about their business as usual. Lewis greeted Bellers with a thumbs up and got the same in return as he went out.
After the initial warm upo routines they broke into 2 groups of 10 . One group to work with Mancini and one to play a 6 a side games with full sized nets unedr the watchfull eyes of Kidd and Fausto whatisname. Quite a lot of people were inside the fence today.One large group of newly signed under 8's all kitted out in City tracksuits. Kiddo came over and shook the hands of everyone and had a quick word. Quality.
Another group looked like they had won something in a prize or it might have been charity related and I expect we might see something on the main site as they were being filmed.
Anyway onto the football there were a few of the "reserves" drafted in today . Boyata, Cunningham and Ibrahim but also today Robbie Mak and like the others I thought he looked the part within the squad.Obviously plenty of goals scored as you would expect but the MotM was definitely Vinnie who scored a quality hat trick and was presented with the ball by Brain Kidd at the end of their game. Best goal for me though followed a great back heel from SWP across the goal inside the 6 yard box which Micah smuggled in at the far post.It was also nice to see Bridge doing a jig when he scored one.
While this match was going on Mancini was working with another 10 on tactical but mostly attacking stuff.They did do some of the team shape movements as usual but largely it was on attacking and finishing which was good to see. I don't know how long this went on for before they switched the 2 groups.
Watching Bellers there was nothing different at all from what I could see. He got on the end of one lovely move and scored with a great finish only to start having a right go at someone.No idea why, he was ignored and everyone just got on with it. Nobody really stood out that I can remember except maybe Vieira and although I am probably being a bit cruel he looked like he needs a few games rest :)
The 2 groups finished their work and a few in either group carried on for a while with some finishing. Bellers and Garrido on the nearest group to us and Ade , SWP, AJ on the other pitch whilst Micah stayed behind for some extra work which Mancini was directly involved with. Overall a good session. Bring on the scousers.
The mancityfans.net football forum
The BEST FORUM in all the land and all the world
[/center]
[/center]
