Training Wednesday 22/12

[Douglas Higginbottom]

Sunny ,warm Carrington again to day and the pitch was in great condition.The players came out slowly in 1's and 2's and first out after Abdul Razzak was RSC. He spent a minute or 2 chatting with the boss no doubt wondering where he will play on Sunday!

A few missing today and a few more who only did half a session but good to see Ade out for the first time in quite a while. Zaba was missing which is no surprise after his battering on Monday but also Kolo, Carlos and Lescott. Lescott actually came out to start but didn't last long so might have felt a niggle.

Plenty of warm ups to start with to entertain the watching crowd. Just me behind the fence but a family or two inside in and around the dug out. I assume they won a visit as a prize or Jim's at it again. A good session of keep ball followed before they switched to some finishing practice. I think 5 went in at this point. Yaya,Barry,Vinnie,Silva,Kolarov. The plan for the finishing was a ball was swung to the wing and a coach sent a cross in while 2 players attacked the box.

Seems to me our main crossers should have been crossing the ball. Especially as Lombardo was poor but at least little Fausto was quality.Finally we scored with a header and obviously it was SWP with a tremendous leap. It was actually a good goal and got a good cheer from the team.They then moved onto shots from the edge of the box or just inside and on this one the keepers won easily. Best I can say about the finishing was that it was consistent. Only two landed in the field behind the goal to wake up the horses.

To finish it was a game on a small pitch. Competitive as usual and inevitably quite a few goals scored.After a good early one from Jo the best for me was a great left footer from Jerome which curled away from Shay.Plenty of moaning at the ref from Nigel.It was good to see Nigel in the thick of it today but sadly he didn't find the net at all today , no doubt saving it for the barcodes.

Overall I would say a good but fairly gentle first session today in the build up to Sunday's game.

[everyonehatesus]

Thanks as always Doug, im coming up for my first game this season for the home game against Villa, ive been working over in france for most of the season so really looking forward to it.

[Douglas Higginbottom]

Thanks as always Doug, im coming up for my first game this season for the home game against Villa, ive been working over in france for most of the season so really looking forward to it.

Hope you get a special seasonal treat.

[Douglas Higginbottom]

3 things I should have mentioned. No sign at all of an injury for Mario. MJ was there and looking good. No Gai Assulin today.

[Ted Hughes]

3 things I should have mentioned. No sign at all of an injury for Mario. MJ was there and looking good. No Gai Assulin today.

Thank God, they've obviously got the creases out of his snood & he's ready for action again.

Cheers Doug,

[Mark (Blue Army)]

Cheers for that Doug, much appreciated

[craigmcfc]

Thanks yet again Doug, especially in the current climate !

[bluelogic32]

3 things I should have mentioned. No sign at all of an injury for Mario. MJ was there and looking good. No Gai Assulin today.

This is great, i didnt really know what to expect from Mario, thanks again Doug - glad the weather was a bit nicer for ya!

[Beefymcfc]

3 things I should have mentioned. No sign at all of an injury for Mario. MJ was there and looking good. No Gai Assulin today.

So, it was a bruised ego that floored the lad, it must've really hurt!

As always Doug, cheers for the report.

[Thai]

Cheerr Doug - based on that info Roberto's team selection for Sunday should be interesting ie. Ade, Mario or RSC?

[Douglas Higginbottom]

Cheerr Doug - based on that info Roberto's team selection for Sunday should be interesting ie. Ade, Mario or RSC?

hahaha i don't think so somehow.