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A fairly low key sort of training session today at least to start with.When I arrived there was no signs they would even be out ( usualy cones and stuff are set up if it's a morning session) but eventually they were all out bar Nigel. Problem with a toe apparently but not serious even though he is bound to be a doubt for Sunday.

Added to the obvious 1st team squad were Razak, even though he played last night ,and Rekik.Mancini had them all behind fences for the initial chat and work out .This was done in 2 teams and maybe an insight into the team for Notlob.Nothing special done before they came out to the open pitch and a team exercise all about pass and move and first touch. Then they split into 2 groups for pure fitness work.While this was going on Mancini took Joe away for a significant chat in one of the goal areas behind the fence. Very interesting!

Then the groups split so that Mancini could work with a team, again behind fencing, and the rest did some shooting practice.I watched Mancini's lot more but what I did see of the shooting was the keepers won! Mancini seemed to be concentrating on the positional work of the players when attacks broke down and nearly all about breaking quickly which we know he wants the team to do.He(the boss) positioned himself very centrally so he got the best view but also so he could talk to and position players as he wanted.

Changes were made in the personnel with this exercise but eventually they came back out for an 11 a side game on half a pitch. Notable things from this game were: If you didn't know it David Silva is class. Watching him exchange passes with Carlos and stroll through the defence to score was a joy to watch.Mario exploded into action,through a couple of tackles before forcing Joe into a great save. Aguero was on hand to squeeze the loose ball in from a tight angle.Tevez scored a goal which was hotly disputed for hand ball and I don't know if it counted but then Dzeko scored from a rebound. Milner scored from a very tight angle to finish scoring.

Good to see Rekik mixing it with the big boys and not looking out of place.As some left the field there was a bunch of regulars had some shooting practice and I would say Milner was just about the best. Vinnie found row Z quite a bit and I reckon Micah was trying to outdo Mario in the power shooting stakes.

Bit of a pain late on listening to lovely young peole arong me shouting out can I have a ball or Joe can I have your gloves. The 2 funniest were "Clichy can I have your boots" and to Costel can I have your gloves! On the Clichy one I have no doubt he didn't have a clue the shout was aimed at him .The mancunian accent was so strong I didn't know what he was shouting till I asked for a translation. Costel heard the "request" and just smiled and put his thumb in recognition.The lads were excited but then it became clear that Costel hadnt understood a word as he jogged off. Just a shame that they didn't say please once!

Good stuff. Does Pantelimon look sharp?

Cheers Doug, looks are our attacking players really are the dogs danglies. Who were the 11 he took away again ;-)

Cheers DH .... Listening to ponces with no manners at training would wind me up tbh

Douglas Higginbottom wrote:Just a shame that they didn't say please once!

Kids these days eh.

Cheers for that doug, top as always! :D

Alioune DVToure wrote:Good stuff. Does Pantelimon look sharp?

Yes he looked pretty good. Seems to get down to shots very well although I will be very interested when I see how he gets on with crosses.

There were a couple of moments today when I swear I saw him looking around and thinking wow look at all these players I am here with. I feel the same from behind the fencing!

Pantaloons is gonna become a new Berti i reckon.

Douglas Higginbottom wrote:

Alioune DVToure wrote:Good stuff. Does Pantelimon look sharp?

Yes he looked pretty good. Seems to get down to shots very well although I will be very interested when I see how he gets on with crosses.

There were a couple of moments today when I swear I saw him looking around and thinking wow look at all these players I am here with. I feel the same from behind the fencing!

Ha. How endearing. I guess we'd all be like that though. To go from playing with Timisoara reserves to training with Aguero, Silva, Tevez, Balotelli and Yaya Toure etc must be ridiculous. It's like some kid who had a marketing job at a small IT company all of a sudden moving to silicon valley to work for Microsoft or sumat.

Blue Blood wrote:

Douglas Higginbottom wrote:Just a shame that they didn't say please once!

Kids these days eh.

Cheers for that doug, top as always! :D

They should have just smashed the fuck outta the fence, robbed Clichy and and Costel and set fire to them.

london blue 2 wrote:

Blue Blood wrote:

Douglas Higginbottom wrote:Just a shame that they didn't say please once!

Kids these days eh.

Cheers for that doug, top as always! :D

They should have just smashed the fuck outta the fence, robbed Clichy and and Costel and set fire to them.

Gald your in Londo:)

On the Sale Sharks side of the fields there has been a fence ripped back and the same around the far side towards the swamp training ground.It's a constant job for City Repair Man

How is that little twat Tevez looking fitness wise Doug ?

Ted Hughes wrote:How is that little twat Tevez looking fitness wise Doug ?

I thought he looked very sharp today. Buzzing in the game and linking well with Silva especially. Needs more shooting practice though:)

Douglas Higginbottom wrote:

Ted Hughes wrote:How is that little twat Tevez looking fitness wise Doug ?

I thought he looked very sharp today. Buzzing in the game and linking well with Silva especially. Needs more shooting practice though:)

Cheers.

Be interesting to see if Bob plays him before the transfer deadline. If he does, it would indicate he's already decided to stay imo, as I don't see why you'd risk a £50 mil asset geting crocked when you have 3 other strikers.

Doug, why do you think he brought the 2 EDS players in, especially after playing yesterday, do you think they've got a chance this season?

Also, although you couldn't hear the conversation, what did you feel was happening in the Hart/Mancini conversation; was it a one way chat or open conversation?

Should I swap Dzeko for Agüero in my fantasy team doug?:-)

Thanks again for a brilliant report!

Beefymcfc wrote:Doug, why do you think he brought the 2 EDS players in, especially after playing yesterday, do you think they've got a chance this season?

Also, although you couldn't hear the conversation, what did you feel was happening in the Hart/Mancini conversation; was it a one way chat or open conversation?

re the 2 EDS players my guess is Mancini selects carefully based on impressive performances as well as simply giving players a chance so that he can have a look at them mixing it with the big boys. Razak has without doubt stood out in recent reserve games and mancini will know that ( first hand from last night as he was there I understand)

Rekik hasnt stood out in the same way but you just get the feel watching him that he is the business.IF he is only 16 he is possibly the most stand out I have seen at that age and definitely worth a look close up in training.And he didn't disappoint.He just doesnt look or play like a 16 year old even though on one occasion Silva brushed him aside with a strong challenge which really surprised him.

The chat with Joe/Roberto I think was all about his distribution and probably impressing on him the need to throw out quickly.They were standing just inside the D and the boss was pointing a lot showing angles etc.

Douglas Higginbottom wrote:

Beefymcfc wrote:Doug, why do you think he brought the 2 EDS players in, especially after playing yesterday, do you think they've got a chance this season?

Also, although you couldn't hear the conversation, what did you feel was happening in the Hart/Mancini conversation; was it a one way chat or open conversation?

re the 2 EDS players my guess is Mancini selects carefully based on impressive performances as well as simply giving players a chance so that he can have a look at them mixing it with the big boys. Razak has without doubt stood out in recent reserve games and mancini will know that ( first hand from last night as he was there I understand)

Rekik hasnt stood out in the same way but you just get the feel watching him that he is the business.IF he is only 16 he is possibly the most stand out I have seen at that age and definitely worth a look close up in training.And he didn't disappoint.He just doesnt look or play like a 16 year old even though on one occasion Silva brushed him aside with a strong challenge which really surprised him.

The chat with Joe/Roberto I think was all about his distribution and probably impressing on him the need to throw out quickly.They were standing just inside the D and the boss was pointing a lot showing angles etc.

Cheers mate, good to see there's a carrot for the EDS, especially if they are doing the business on the field. As for Joe getting the ball out fast, due to the way we defend in numbers then it's always difficult for him to get it away. Maybe Mancini wants to change this and force the play early forcing their defence to rush back, or push someone forward who can quickly counter-attack.

Douglas Higginbottom wrote:

Beefymcfc wrote:Doug, why do you think he brought the 2 EDS players in, especially after playing yesterday, do you think they've got a chance this season?

Also, although you couldn't hear the conversation, what did you feel was happening in the Hart/Mancini conversation; was it a one way chat or open conversation?

re the 2 EDS players my guess is Mancini selects carefully based on impressive performances as well as simply giving players a chance so that he can have a look at them mixing it with the big boys. Razak has without doubt stood out in recent reserve games and mancini will know that ( first hand from last night as he was there I understand)

Rekik hasnt stood out in the same way but you just get the feel watching him that he is the business.IF he is only 16 he is possibly the most stand out I have seen at that age and definitely worth a look close up in training.And he didn't disappoint.He just doesnt look or play like a 16 year old even though on one occasion Silva brushed him aside with a strong challenge which really surprised him.

The chat with Joe/Roberto I think was all about his distribution and probably impressing on him the need to throw out quickly.They were standing just inside the D and the boss was pointing a lot showing angles etc.

About time Bob or someone picked him up on that, i wouldn't say his distribution was appalling but not far off, especially in quickly setting off counter attacks.. not exactly difficult stuff either. Glad to her this, cheers Douglas.

Fingers crossed De Jong can get fully fit for Sunday otherwise I think Milner goes straight into that midfield. He has had a long time to recuperate and if Aguero can play with blisters I'm sure Nigel can play with a stubbed toe?

Surprised Milner got one in the net because he never looked like putting the ball past the keeper with that free kick the other night, should've been Aguero's hat-trick.

Top marks as always for the report Doug!

Swansea are one thing - next up are Bolton and they are the type and style of team to beat to win the Premier League

On a separate note and after last years parking problems at the stadium -

Go and use the car park at a school local to the stadium - they raise funds directly for the school.

THE SCHOOL IS ONLY YARDS FROM THE STADIUM IS LARGE AND CATERS FOR CARS, MINIBUSES AND COACHES.

They ARE ONLY A 30 SECOND WALK TO THE ONLY 'AWAY FANS' PUB NEAR THE GROUND

FOLLOW THE YELLOW SIGNS FROM THE M61!!!

SAT NAV - BL6 6HW

FROM THE M61 JUNCTION 6 HEAD TOWARDS THE REEBOK. STRAIGHT ACROSS AT THE FIRST ROUNDABOUT AND THEN STRAIGHT THROUGH THE MAIN TRAFFIC LIGHTS. AT THE BEEHIVE ROUNDABOUT TURN LEFT AND WE ARE 250 METRES ALONG ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE.

AVOIDs ALL THE QUEUES AFTER THE GAME!!!!

THE CAR PARK HAS A DIRECT PATHWAY STRAIGHT INTO THE AWAY SECTION OF THE REEBOK

FOR MORE INFORMATION - CHECK THEM OUT AT -

www.stjosephsbolton.org.uk/


THANKS

also I go for a 2-2 draw - away point!