The mancityfans.net football forum

Only half a squad today as those who played plenty of minutes last night plus a few others were given a rest. Just 11 started and after all the warm up stuff Mario moved off to do one to one strength and stamina work. As you might expect he looked to me like he couldn't wait to get started properly.

Mancini took the rest away behind a fence to do some formation ,passing work. The team he had was Zaba,Lescott,Boateng,Micah,Vieira,SWP,Jo,Dzeko,Yaya,Silva. I stayed back and watched Mario for a bit and also a few others were doing one to one type stuff after injury,Boyata,McDermott,Elabdeloui and Poole.Earlier I had seen Nimley doing a bit as well.

When they all came back it was a 7 a side game with Razak and MJ added to the numbers with goalkeepers Taylor and Karius.The blues won and that was largely down to some excellent and cool finishing by Dzeko ( half the goals at least) whilst Silva on the other team was sublime at times.It was all going along from end to end in a competitive but nothing special way when Micah decided to go for a ball which looked like Stu Taylors and with his typical superhuman effort managed to collide strongly with Stu and down they both went.

I was close enough to know that Micah was ok even though he hadnt lifted his head from the ground but Stu was in agony. Both ok as it turned out but Stu was in real pain for a while. Plenty went in then but 5 stayed out some finishing work.As finishing practice goes I would say Dzeko was on fire. He was really excellent.SWP wasn't far behind.

I forgot to mention that on Monday in the high winds a tree had been uprooted alongside the path which skirts the fence nearest the main road.The roots of the tree are up in the air and almost but not quite blocking the path.Must have been one hell of a wind to do that as it's quite a big tree.Come to think of it I wonder now whether it will provide a vantage point for anyone to see over the fencing.

The big question then Doug...

Balo...ready for Saturday or not?

Beeks wrote:The big question then Doug...

Balo...ready for Saturday or not?

Bench at best I would think

Great report Douglas! I'm glad to hear that Shaun seems to be in good form. Although he was only on for a few minutes on Saturday, he looked a bit like the SWP of old. A Shauny in good form and high spirits would e one hell of a joker for the derby. I don't think there are any other players in the squad, perhaps besides Micah, for whom the derby means as much.

Thanks for the report Doug.
Was that the same tree that Beefy was clambering a while ago?...Maybe he loosened it up before nature put it out of its misery.

Douglas Higginbottom wrote:

Beeks wrote:The big question then Doug...

Balo...ready for Saturday or not?

Bench at best I would think

what about micah? i suppose if he's training then he's been cleared by physios. you think he'll get a start saturday?

Thanks Doug as ever. One tiny point it would be great to find out why Gai hasn't played in the last two EDS games. I presume he's injured but I hope it's minor.

blues2win wrote:Thanks Doug as ever. One tiny point it would be great to find out why Gai hasn't played in the last two EDS games. I presume he's injured but I hope it's minor.

I thought I read that Gai went off injured playing for Israel last night.

john68 wrote:Thanks for the report Doug.
Was that the same tree that Beefy was clambering a while ago?...Maybe he loosened it up before nature put it out of its misery.

Nope. Beefy's tree is made of sturdier stuff.It would have to be:)

BmoreBlue wrote:

Douglas Higginbottom wrote:

Beeks wrote:The big question then Doug...

Balo...ready for Saturday or not?

Bench at best I would think

what about micah? i suppose if he's training then he's been cleared by physios. you think he'll get a start saturday?

Definitely fit and enjoying himself today. But that's a good question for Mancini to decide who is best for Gigg's/Evra.Probably a yes for me.

cheers doug i appreciate the insight - good to see he seems he has no hesitation about diving in.

Douglas Higginbottom wrote:

BmoreBlue wrote:

Douglas Higginbottom wrote:

Beeks wrote:The big question then Doug...

Balo...ready for Saturday or not?

Bench at best I would think

what about micah? i suppose if he's training then he's been cleared by physios. you think he'll get a start saturday?

Definitely fit and enjoying himself today. But that's a good question for Mancini to decide who is best for Gigg's/Evra.Probably a yes for me.

Considering giggs made him look silly last year, especially for the goal, i'd be tempted to put zab at right back.

To counter nanny, I'd play zab at left back.

Doh!

Cheers Doug .

Any news on the injury front regarding NDJ ?

I really dont see the reason to rush Balo back, we have Silva and Tevez, Dzeko too as an option.

Just bring him back when he is properly ready imo

Douglas Higginbottom wrote:

john68 wrote:Thanks for the report Doug.
Was that the same tree that Beefy was clambering a while ago?...Maybe he loosened it up before nature put it out of its misery.

Nope. Beefy's tree is made of sturdier stuff.It would have to be:)

Cheeky Bastards, and there was me thinking I had all the grace and shape of a ballerina ;-)

From reading that, I think the question is 'Should Dzeko start?'.

Cheers for the report Doug, can't wait for tomorrow's.

No Tevez ?

ThisIsOurCity wrote:No Tevez ?

Tevez was having a rest today and I think that's all it was.

I agree Mario should not be involved if he 100% ready and fit and even then surely only from the bench.Anything else wouldn't make sense to me.

Dzeko, he would be an interesting call from Mancini.Working really well in training is one thing but then being selected into a team that so far hasnt worked out how best to fit him in and play with him and Tevez in the same team.It will come I have no doubt but is the derby the right time for it?

Doug didn't zabadabadoo play for argentina last night ?

I would have thought he too would have a day off ....

zuricity wrote:Doug didn't zabadabadoo play for argentina last night ?

I would have thought he too would have a day off ....

You would have thought so but maybe he either didnt play or only as a sub and not many minutes.

Where was the game played?