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Training Monday 27/9

PostPosted: Mon Sep 27, 2010 4:28 pm
by Douglas Higginbottom
An afternoon session today and the first I saw of any action was David Platt trying overhead kicks from crosses by Lombardo.He had been out early setting cones,mannequins,nets etc.Mancini came out later with Kidd and in deep discussion as ever.
When the players came out, missing were Richards,Balotelli,Bridge,Silva,Nigel and Kolarov. The latter was inside doing some work and I was told walking fine now and his recovery was going well but no actual dates mentioned. I didn't get any news at all about Balotelli/ Bridge/Nigel or Silva but Micah did come out later for some 1 to 1 running work.

They split into 2 groups at the start with one lot doing a mini bleep test and the others some fairly gentle ball work and some other fitness routines.It was noticeable that while they were training there were up to 13 coaching /physio staff watching or working with them.The group I was closest too were working in pairs and again SWP was with Vieira and again the banter was excellent.

After 10 or 15 minutes they changed and 4 went to the hill!!! Jo/Ade/AJ and Abdul Razzak had that priviledge whilst another small group did some strength work using the mega elastic bands around the waist .That group was SWP/PV/RSC/JL. Really funny when SWP beat PV in a race at the end.

Whilst all this was going on it was noticeable Kidd was having a little word with individuals and Mancini was also spreading the word that when they moved onto the football next that they should take it easy.So onto some football on half a pitch and an early goal from AJ. Top goal it was too after a quick one two and excellent change of pace. Kidd was full of praise for him and it was noticeable that Kidd was ,to my ears anyway, the most vocal coach of them all during this session.

Ade then scored a great equaliser with a bender that started outside the post and although I wouldnt say today he was a world beater like last week he did look very focussed and working hard.The final goal was set up by AJ and scored by Yaya sliding in at the back post.Then the team from saturday went in and Mancini took the rest behind a fence to work on some attacking plays.

The 10 he had are not likley to be the team for Thursday but were:
Boateng,Razzak,Lescott,Cunningham
SWP,MJ,PV,AJ
Jo,Ade

Interesting watching this short session as it was all about attacking play ,quick passing, good movement and almost always overlapping full backs. Mancini was right in the middle of it all and always asking for pace and regularly talking to individuals about their movement into the box to meet the cross.

Back after that to a 7 a side match ( still 12 coaches) but this included Lombardo who played. Most notable things in this were:
brilliant block by SWP when Jo had to score!
a few brilliant blocks by Cunningham
Jo making missing look easy
AJ getting hurt in a challenge as he shot ( seemed ok after a while)
an unbelievable double save from Stu Taylor ( Montgomeryish for those that remember that far back)

And that was about that. On the far side a panel of the fence had been broken down and a security guy was around before it was fixed and saying that plenty of balls had been disappearing and they were trying to do something about it.They were aware that some scum fans turned up just to nick balls if they could. Apparently either Friday or Saturday two oiks had legged it with a ball and 2 City guys had set off to stop them getting away. The people in the farm spotted what was happening and joined in with a great pincer movement.They got the ball back!

If you remember Brandon ( Les Chapman's assistant in the kit room who did the dance on video last year) he was out there today as ball boy chasing them all over the place so they don't get forgotten and become tempting to anyone behind the fencing.I don't think it was his favourite way of spending an hour.

Re: Training Monday 27/9

PostPosted: Mon Sep 27, 2010 4:33 pm
by Kladze
Top report as always Doug - thanks.

Did anyone crack too many smiles today? ;-)

Re: Training Monday 27/9

PostPosted: Mon Sep 27, 2010 4:47 pm
by Douglas Higginbottom
Kladze wrote:Top report as always Doug - thanks.

Did anyone crack too many smiles today? ;-)


Actually I did think about that during the whole session after hearing things repeated agin this weekend. To be honest it appeared quite a serious session from a distance although I did mention the banter I heard whilst they were closer was excellent. The main difference though maybe was as simple as Nigel and Micah were not there. Nigel definitely injects some fun into what's going on although taking the traing very seriously and Micah , well he is just loud.

Re: Training Monday 27/9

PostPosted: Mon Sep 27, 2010 4:59 pm
by Ted Hughes
Douglas Higginbottom wrote: ( Montgomeryish for those that remember that far back)



El Alamein?

Cheers Doug.

Crosses eh? Hal-le-lujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hal-le-lujah... hal-le-e lu-u- jaah!

Re: Training Monday 27/9

PostPosted: Mon Sep 27, 2010 5:09 pm
by Murph
Thanks Doug, top report.

Re: Training Monday 27/9

PostPosted: Mon Sep 27, 2010 6:02 pm
by brite blu sky
Superb report Doug, thanks

Re: Training Monday 27/9

PostPosted: Mon Sep 27, 2010 6:12 pm
by ruralblue
Grateful as always Doug.

Re: Training Monday 27/9

PostPosted: Mon Sep 27, 2010 6:33 pm
by bernabias_right_boot
Ted Hughes wrote:
Douglas Higginbottom wrote: ( Montgomeryish for those that remember that far back)



El Alamein?

Cheers Doug.

Crosses eh? Hal-le-lujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hal-le-lujah... hal-le-e lu-u- jaah!



Jim Montgomery, Sunderland Vs. Leeds 1973 FA Cup final, I was thinking.

Re: Training Monday 27/9

PostPosted: Mon Sep 27, 2010 7:09 pm
by BlueMoonAwoken
bernabias_right_boot wrote:
Ted Hughes wrote:
Douglas Higginbottom wrote: ( Montgomeryish for those that remember that far back)



El Alamein?

Cheers Doug.

Crosses eh? Hal-le-lujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hal-le-lujah... hal-le-e lu-u- jaah!



Jim Montgomery, Sunderland Vs. Leeds 1973 FA Cup final, I was thinking.



Thanks doug did you notice them taking it easy thinking they had just beat chelsea or did you think there was a diffrent mentallity? To be honest ive read alot of your reports but not all of them, did you notice any change after a huge win against a top team like more banter and less work.

Also is there any video of this montgomery save ? i wasnt born then.

Re: Training Monday 27/9

PostPosted: Mon Sep 27, 2010 7:28 pm
by Kladze
BlueMoonAwoken wrote:
bernabias_right_boot wrote:
Ted Hughes wrote:
Douglas Higginbottom wrote: ( Montgomeryish for those that remember that far back)



El Alamein?

Cheers Doug.

Crosses eh? Hal-le-lujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hal-le-lujah... hal-le-e lu-u- jaah!



Jim Montgomery, Sunderland Vs. Leeds 1973 FA Cup final, I was thinking.



Thanks doug did you notice them taking it easy thinking they had just beat chelsea or did you think there was a diffrent mentallity? To be honest ive read alot of your reports but not all of them, did you notice any change after a huge win against a top team like more banter and less work.

Also is there any video of this montgomery save ? i wasnt born then.


[youtube]PZmFoo4payA[/youtube]

Re: Training Monday 27/9

PostPosted: Mon Sep 27, 2010 7:55 pm
by Goataldo
Top stuff.

Had to laugh at That Nice Mr Platt trying overheads from Lombardo's crosses, a la Sampdoria of old. Boys will be boys eh.

Re: Training Monday 27/9

PostPosted: Mon Sep 27, 2010 9:53 pm
by Douglas Higginbottom
uwes_skyblue_duvet wrote:Top stuff.

Had to laugh at That Nice Mr Platt trying overheads from Lombardo's crosses, a la Sampdoria of old. Boys will be boys eh.


The ground definitely shook when he landed.

Re: Training Monday 27/9

PostPosted: Mon Sep 27, 2010 10:00 pm
by dazby
Did he connect with any?

Re: Training Monday 27/9

PostPosted: Mon Sep 27, 2010 10:02 pm
by Douglas Higginbottom
BlueMoonAwoken wrote:
bernabias_right_boot wrote:
Ted Hughes wrote:
Douglas Higginbottom wrote: ( Montgomeryish for those that remember that far back)



El Alamein?

Cheers Doug.

Crosses eh? Hal-le-lujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hal-le-lujah... hal-le-e lu-u- jaah!



Jim Montgomery, Sunderland Vs. Leeds 1973 FA Cup final, I was thinking.



Thanks doug did you notice them taking it easy thinking they had just beat chelsea or did you think there was a diffrent mentallity? To be honest ive read alot of your reports but not all of them, did you notice any change after a huge win against a top team like more banter and less work.

Also is there any video of this montgomery save ? i wasnt born then.


There was no signs of taking it easy in the sense you are asking. I felt the players were very focussed on what they were being asked to do but this was the first day back in training after a match. I would expect the training to be a little lighter on the first day back and build up towards the next one. There is bound to be some influence from the sports science guys in who does what and when in terms of training hence the saturday players going in quite early.

Some did a little on the hill and some with the big elastic waist bands and I am sure those targetted for these things was down to some backroom person deciding it's best for their fitness. ( not just as random punishments!) Tomorrow will be interesting to see how different they work. I would expect to see more ball work in terms of passing/moving exercises and less pure fitness stuff but I expect them to mean business at all times.The mentality as Mancini keeps saying needs to be right in training as well as for matches.

Re: Training Monday 27/9

PostPosted: Mon Sep 27, 2010 10:22 pm
by Beefymcfc
Work Hard - Play Hard!!!

Cheers Doug.

Re: Training Monday 27/9

PostPosted: Mon Sep 27, 2010 11:19 pm
by BlueMoonAwoken
Douglas Higginbottom wrote:
BlueMoonAwoken wrote:
bernabias_right_boot wrote:
Ted Hughes wrote:
Douglas Higginbottom wrote: ( Montgomeryish for those that remember that far back)



El Alamein?

Cheers Doug.

Crosses eh? Hal-le-lujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hal-le-lujah... hal-le-e lu-u- jaah!



Jim Montgomery, Sunderland Vs. Leeds 1973 FA Cup final, I was thinking.



Thanks doug did you notice them taking it easy thinking they had just beat chelsea or did you think there was a diffrent mentallity? To be honest ive read alot of your reports but not all of them, did you notice any change after a huge win against a top team like more banter and less work.

Also is there any video of this montgomery save ? i wasnt born then.


There was no signs of taking it easy in the sense you are asking. I felt the players were very focussed on what they were being asked to do but this was the first day back in training after a match. I would expect the training to be a little lighter on the first day back and build up towards the next one. There is bound to be some influence from the sports science guys in who does what and when in terms of training hence the saturday players going in quite early.

Some did a little on the hill and some with the big elastic waist bands and I am sure those targetted for these things was down to some backroom person deciding it's best for their fitness. ( not just as random punishments!) Tomorrow will be interesting to see how different they work. I would expect to see more ball work in terms of passing/moving exercises and less pure fitness stuff but I expect them to mean business at all times.The mentality as Mancini keeps saying needs to be right in training as well as for matches.



I know you have been going for ages doug, so was just trying to gauge like under sven when we beat the rags was there like a relaxed attitute towards training afterwards or under hughes like they had won the league, compared to now. Maybe there isnt just a thought i had.

Re: Training Monday 27/9

PostPosted: Mon Sep 27, 2010 11:31 pm
by Thai
Good read - thanks again Doug

Re: Training Monday 27/9

PostPosted: Tue Sep 28, 2010 9:19 am
by Douglas Higginbottom
dazby wrote:Did he connect with any?


Yes but not many went in.

Re: Training Monday 27/9

PostPosted: Tue Sep 28, 2010 12:09 pm
by Thai
Who is Abdul Razak Doug?