Another sunny day at Carrington for what today was a short largley fun session. Noticeably first out was Massimo I really must look up his full name) the goalkeeping coach.He is always out early setting up all his bits and pieces in readiness to start work. Earlier than ever today and after hanging around for quite a while he went back in to drag them out. Good to see Shay was amongst them.
No Ade or Bellers today. Ade migth be a concern now as he has not trained all week but he will be out later doing some light stuff.Bellers just doing a little inside but no need to do 4 days full training in a row.The other coaches spent a while talking with groundsman and the doc before getting started.It looked like there was some concern about the pitches.I thought maybe there was worry they were too hard even though they get regular watering which was happening when I arrived. Kidd said that hardness wasnt a problem though so maybe it was about foorwear or something.
All the usual warm up stuff was followed by a handball game. ( cricketers do football and footballers do handball) Two teams and every time one team achived 6 passes the others did press ups.Some lazy buggers on those press ups. Then it was into a game and I think Toure disappeared at this time so Fausto ( another second name to look up) joined a team. He has a pretty good touch too. The game was reasonably competitive but nothing too hard.I hope it means something but I definitely though Stevie had a little extra in his game today. I am sure I have said that before but he showed some real quality today and some tenaciousness.
A quality goal started it with perfect first touch control and an exquisite chip into the top corner.The other to stand out for me was Gunner Neilsen who pulled off some top saves. Not a long game and at the end half went in and the rest stayed around for some specific practice.Great too that all this was on the pitch just outside the main buildings and very close to us few watchers.
AJ practicing hard at his crossing. Cursing himself for quite a while as he struggled but it started to come. RSC and SWP were his targets in the middle whilst Garrido (who else) Tevez and NDJ were practicing free kicks. Nigel was brilliant!! Well he wasnt actually but he did get a few in and there was a great cheer from his fellow players when his first went in.He milked that of course and then smashed the next in over the wall as well.When they switched to penalties he was pretty good too and proclaimed himself the winner as the others all missed when he didn't. All good fun whilst AJ was toiling away.
Micah was still out doing something behind the fence and then sat watching and doing some sit ups .Vieira was doing some extra fitness work as well.It seemed that Nigel was going in but clearly lifted by his success came back for some more.Eventually the rest went in leaving just RSC and Carlos out lazing around chatting and sunning themselves.
We did get a brief sighting of Michael Johhno looking trim when he walked into the specially erected tent behind the players.I assume for an interview for the club site as we also saw Kolo being interviewed and Mancini also went in for an interview with Jose the interpreter.
No special guests today but I forgot to mention yesterday that Uve Rossler was at Carrington and looking really well too. I managed to bow to him.
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