Double training sessions rant - your views

[shawzy]

Just been reading Micahs usa diary on the OS..Whats with all the double training sessions..The lads seem knackered haha..IMO i hope these sessions aint going to flow into next season.Dont you think we have enough games to play as it is?....What you reckon lads?

Heres Micahs diary


Saturday night’s win over Portland Timbers meant a day off on Sunday but that got cut short due to the fact that I slept in until 5pm.
All the lads are really tired after a week of hard double sessions and I don’t think anyone was up for anything too strenuous though a couple of the coaches went for a game of golf I think.

Once I was up and about I joined up with Joe Hart and Adam Johnson and we left the oldies behind and went out for a meal to a really good restaurant that served a mixture of Thai and Chinese food. We tried to persuade Nedum to come out too but he was too tired.

After the meal we watched a film but I fell asleep as usual but it was great to have some down time and get out of the training gear for a day.

Pre-season is important and we know we have to work really hard because we want to be ready to start the season with a bang but the day off came at the exactly the right time to re-charge batteries before we head off to New York on Wednesday.

It was great to welcome Shaun Wright-Phillips back into the squad. He was beaming when he arrived, in really good form, and always lifts the place. That is one of the great things about this tour that lads are coming in at different times and there is always a new face to have some banter with.

SWP has had a wicked haircut that you probably see on the site after he has been interviewed and is extremely chilled out and raring to go.

Kolo Toure too has arrived back after delayed flights and a complicated journey that he said took him all over the place but he too always has a smile on his face and has the kind if infectious personality that everyone takes to.

We will see if the two new lads are still so happy after their first double session. I’ll let you know next time.

[Niall Quinns Discopants]

It's preseason training mate. They are supposed to be knackered! That's the whole point!

[Moonchesteri]

It's preseason training mate. They are supposed to be knackered! That's the whole point!

Agree. I'd be fuming if they weren't.

[Bianchi on Ice]

He hasn't even had time for a powerwank, poor love

[zuricity]

The fitter you are , the less likely you are to get injuries. Also, the fitter you are, the better you brain cells can work at very high pulse rates and heartbeats. Rest afterwards is very important though.

[Mark (Blue Army)]

It's preseason training mate. They are supposed to be knackered! That's the whole point!

Agree. I'd be fuming if they weren't.

This, with us having a shit load of games this season they all need to be as fit as they can.

[shawzy]

Sorry for my lack of knowledge on training..I so want the lads and Bobby to get it right next season..It was all that press talk of discontent with Tevez on double training last season that worries me..I want harmony in the camp.
I always worry over nothin ;-(

[Grob]

Sorry for my lack of knowledge on training..I so want the lads and Bobby to get it right next season..It was all that press talk of discontent with Tevez on double training last season that worries me..I want harmony in the camp.
I always worry over nothin ;-(

If they put in the hard work now, there will be no need for mid season double training sessions.

Unless the players aren't performing of course.

[BobKowalski]

Paddy said it would be hard. Mancini said at the end of last season that pre season would be hard. Ade on telly said it would be hard and when asked why mumbled because the coach is Italian (which I found amusing for some reason). Tevez will be having kittens unless he has grown up a bit after all he did say he wanted to get fit for the WC 'because it was important' so I am relatively optimistic he has achieved some 'personal growth' :)

I still find it funny that we are complaining about training sessions being too hard when a lot of people where petrified that training would be a loose and relaxed affair without Hughes iron grip at the helm. Its a rum old world.

[dario2739]

Strange how we've never heard of players he managed at Inter complaining about training regimes. In fact players he's managed seem to say nothing but good things about Mancini.

[brite blu sky]

hard work pays off so they say ;)

i hope that Spurs are going to find out just how important double training sessions in pre-season are.

[shawzy]

Sorry for my lack of knowledge on training..I so want the lads and Bobby to get it right next season..It was all that press talk of discontent with Tevez on double training last season that worries me..I want harmony in the camp.
I always worry over nothin ;-(

If they put in the hard work now, there will be no need for mid season double training sessions.

Unless the players aren't performing of course.

Exactly Grob....I see double training sessions as a kind of punishment..Is there any need to do a full workout only to come back again and do another?
You never hear of it with other Prem squads.
Im sure DH will put this to bed when there back from USA.

[BobKowalski]

Sorry for my lack of knowledge on training..I so want the lads and Bobby to get it right next season..It was all that press talk of discontent with Tevez on double training last season that worries me..I want harmony in the camp.
I always worry over nothin ;-(

If they put in the hard work now, there will be no need for mid season double training sessions.

Unless the players aren't performing of course.

Exactly Grob....I see double training sessions as a kind of punishment..Is there any need to do a full workout only to come back again and do another?
You never hear of it with other Prem squads.
Im sure DH will put this to bed when there back from USA.

They did about 3 double training sessions during last season if I recall (I could be wrong) and in any event training does not always involve hard physical exercise. Mancini is very keen on shadow play, ensuring we keep our shape during the game and tactical lessons etc. The double training was as much about Mancini getting his ideas across then having them slog around the training ground in boots and combat gear. One of the coaches was very complimentary about the players level of fitness and didn't see any issues that needed addressing. Players were bitching because the extra training sessions were getting in the way of their leisure time and it made their heads hurt trying to get to grips with all this 'tactical stuff'.

I understand that Mourinho has installed beds in the lounge at Real so the players can get a rest between morning and afternoon training sessions rather than wandering off and losing focus so I guess our lot can consider themselves in good company.

[shawzy]

Sorry for my lack of knowledge on training..I so want the lads and Bobby to get it right next season..It was all that press talk of discontent with Tevez on double training last season that worries me..I want harmony in the camp.
I always worry over nothin ;-(

If they put in the hard work now, there will be no need for mid season double training sessions.

Unless the players aren't performing of course.

Exactly Grob....I see double training sessions as a kind of punishment..Is there any need to do a full workout only to come back again and do another?
You never hear of it with other Prem squads.
Im sure DH will put this to bed when there back from USA.

They did about 3 double training sessions during last season if I recall (I could be wrong) and in any event training does not always involve hard physical exercise. Mancini is very keen on shadow play, ensuring we keep our shape during the game and tactical lessons etc. The double training was as much about Mancini getting his ideas across then having them slog around the training ground in boots and combat gear. One of the coaches was very complimentary about the players level of fitness and didn't see any issues that needed addressing. Players were bitching because the extra training sessions were getting in the way of their leisure time and it made their heads hurt trying to get to grips with all this 'tactical stuff'.

I understand that Mourinho has installed beds in the lounge at Real so the players can get a rest between morning and afternoon training sessions rather than wandering off and losing focus so I guess our lot can consider themselves in good company.

good post.Lets hope you have put this thread to bed :-)

[john@staustell]

Micah wasn't complaining, just reporting it seems to me. Bobby always said it would be hard work all the way. In the season they do more ball work etc with their training sessions.

The only one that never likes training is Tevez, and as I said in the other thread, he'll be last to turn up for sure, pleading some girlfriend crisis. That way he can keep his pre-season training to a minimum!

[kinkylola]

I guess it isn't standard practice on your side ... but almost every sport here, including soccer, does 2-a-days during pre-season. Of course you ease them into it, which it sounds like mancini has done. First couple of days you lay out the plan, do some extensive, but low intensity running and then get them into it as fast as possible and you 2-a-day the shit out of them for your month of pre-season. When they start the season and go back to 1-a-day or tactical 2-a-days they will think they're in heaven and be happy has fatties with pie.

[john@staustell]

I guess it isn't standard practice on your side ... but almost every sport here, including soccer, does 2-a-days during pre-season. Of course you ease them into it, which it sounds like mancini has done. First couple of days you lay out the plan, do some extensive, but low intensity running and then get them into it as fast as possible and you 2-a-day the shit out of them for your month of pre-season. When they start the season and go back to 1-a-day or tactical 2-a-days they will think they're in heaven and be happy has fatties with pie.

'Tradition' on our side mate was a long summer on the piss, followed by some horrible pre-season training to sweat off the pounds before launching into the first 3 games pretty sharp (but not the rest). Then 2 or 3 days 'training' a week interfered with the routine of going to the pub and especially out on the piss on Friday night before the match, as testified by messrs Best and Summerbee. Over the years the Friday night session became frowned upon and mean managers actually made them train 5 days a week, before going off to the pub together with Joe Royle and Willie Donachie etc.

KK put a whole new angle on it in the modern era by, having finally got a bit of professionalism into the players, spending 10 minutes on head tennis before sodding back up to the north east for his daily round of golf.

The really modern footballer has (mostly) cured his addiction to the pub (except at Chelsea), and afternoons had developed into picking the kids up from school after a nice salad lunch. So you can imagine the fury when the missus suddenly has to pick up the kids. Cruel.

GO FOR IT BOBBY!

[Niall Quinns Discopants]

I guess it isn't standard practice on your side ... but almost every sport here, including soccer, does 2-a-days during pre-season. Of course you ease them into it, which it sounds like mancini has done. First couple of days you lay out the plan, do some extensive, but low intensity running and then get them into it as fast as possible and you 2-a-day the shit out of them for your month of pre-season. When they start the season and go back to 1-a-day or tactical 2-a-days they will think they're in heaven and be happy has fatties with pie.

'Tradition' on our side mate was a long summer on the piss, followed by some horrible pre-season training to sweat off the pounds before launching into the first 3 games pretty sharp (but not the rest). Then 2 or 3 days 'training' a week interfered with the routine of going to the pub and especially out on the piss on Friday night before the match, as testified by messrs Best and Summerbee. Over the years the Friday night session became frowned upon and mean managers actually made them train 5 days a week, before going off to the pub together with Joe Royle and Willie Donachie etc.

KK put a whole new angle on it in the modern era by, having finally got a bit of professionalism into the players, spending 10 minutes on head tennis before sodding back up to the north east for his daily round of golf.

The really modern footballer has (mostly) cured his addiction to the pub (except at Chelsea), and afternoons had developed into picking the kids up from school after a nice salad lunch. So you can imagine the fury when the missus suddenly has to pick up the kids. Cruel.

GO FOR IT BOBBY!

Exactly.
People moaning about "double sessions" when Mancini came, got right on my nerves. These players are paid ASTRONOMICAL sums and when they have to do hour or two extra work training tactics of new manager, they are all fucking upset. I thought it was outrageous actually. And YES, if it were Hughes ordering these double sessions and they'd be complaining I'd be as pissed off as well. Lazy cunts.

[kinkylola]

it is quite lazy isn't it ... there are people who would pay to be able to train twice daily with professional coaches and players, just for the privelage of it. I mean, I don't like to be one of those people who say "they're paid so much they should do this and this and this cuz I would for nothing!" but, honestly, they shouldn't train double cuz they're getting paid a shit ton ... they should train double because they want ot perform the absolute best they can.

[Ted Hughes]

Tbf I don't think they did complain very much at all. Tevez made the mistake of being honest in an interview by saying he didn't know why we did double training sessions but he also said he's happy to do whatever the manager wants & Bellamy uderstandably questioned why they'd changed a routine that had been specifically worked out to protect his dodgy knee.

Now there's a new season starting & I think you could already see the benefits of the double sessions in the way City changed formations v Portland.

Last season however, the players looked physically goosed & mentally tired by the end of the season & would probably have been better off without it at that stage .