Routine day today with just Yaya and Vinnie missing.Good to see Tevez back but even better that Jo was there too.Quite a few cameras there today as well which didn't seem to go down to well with a few people and extra security guys milling around.Maybe as a result all the initial warm up/stretching stuff was done behind the fences before they broke up and Mancini took a team for the usual work on attacking plays and finishing with defending corners and free kicks.
The rest were in full view doing the keep ball circle stuff and there should be no concerns about whether Nigel would still be strong in the tackle. Twice he took Kolo out in quick succession but to be fair they shouldnt have got to 20 passes whilst Nigel was in the middle trying to get a touch. Red rag to a bull and eventually he just flattened Kolo.Ade turned to a camera to ask if they had got it for the saturday papers.All in good fun I can assure you and yes Kolo was laughing too.
Mancini finished with his first group so they switched and at this point Vinnie had just arrived.He was just starting some warm ups of his own but was called straight in and he got the usual sarcastic applause and cheering as all late arrivals do. Everyone was joining in but I am not sure Vinnie enjoyed it too much.This group looked like the team for Sunday and again worked the usual attacking/defensive routines before rejoining the rest.
As yesterday at this point Mario came out with a physio. They started a game of 10 a side with just Mario and Kolarov not joining in. Kolarov looks quite close to me but as there are other options around they are sensibly not rushing him back. Mario also looks ok but further behind but it was good to hear that Mancini has apparently said he will join full training next week.I did see the two of them chatting for a while so hopefully he isnt far away.
Not too much to report from the game but it seemed a bit strange that defenders didn't seem to be allowed into the last 8 yards or so leaving the attack to break on a lonely keeper.There was one challenge from Kolo on Ade, more of an attack or body charge which resulted in a penalty. The ever reliable Nigel steppped up with Carlos watching his technique closely.The only other challenge of note was by Patrick on Lombardo which sent him flying but he just got up , shook hands and got on with it. SWP was the victim of a few yesterday but he seemed ok even though with some heavy strapping on one leg.
7 keepers there today. Joe/Shay/Gunnar/Stu/Gonzalez/Jorgensen and Karius. Plenty for the keeper coach to work with! No sign again of Michael Johnson and I didn't find out anything.
Others working hard today were the maintenace guys. It seems that regular damage is being done to the fencing all around the complex. What was assumed to be scrotes just trying to get in to nick stuff has grown to blatant vandalism on a regular basis with fences being damaged and even torn down entirely.They have some on cctv and hope to track them down.
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