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Back to normal english weather with rain falling but it was the same group out as yesterday.Still no NDJ and Boyata but Razak still with them.And the training started with a golf game.Circles placed in each corner of a full pitch and the players,in 3's, having to get the ball in the circle from the opposite corner. Just a bit of good fun as they were all over the pitch with slices and hooks and the occasional player playing the wrong ball in the wrong direction ( on purpose of course!) It didn't last long as their attention to the objective didn't last long.I spent a bit of time watching the 3 keepers working hard and they were all really good.Plenty of laughter and banter but working very hard

The rest went into a big keep ball circle ( around the center circle) and 3 players in the middle trying to get a touch. As this was going on Mancini took Nasri and Silva aside to talk with them and do a little work on how they would interact with their passing.Not quiet sure what happened but there was some spontaneous applause and laughter in the middle, all seemingly targeted at and with Mario who took it in great spirit.One attempted first time pass went way off target and Micah's playground voice shouted out "how much?" aimed at Aguero. Classic.

They then moved quickly into a game which was to be two touch only in defence/midfield but all in in the attacking 3rd and very quickly Edin showed his class and composure with a classy side foot finish.It could have been two when a great JH save rebounded in off AJ but he was off side.Milner then equalised with a top class strike before Mario cracked one in off a post.Then after some magic from Silva, Zaba made a brilliant goalline clearance.

One thing for sure,if yesterday was fairly low key,this game certainly wasn't. No quarter given at all.It really had to be two touch as nobody had any time on the ball at all as they were closed down so quickly. Mario got another when he got free and dummied the keeper before chipping in.Mario and Kolo missed chances before Costel made a brilliant save.2 things were standing out for me in this,apart from the high intensity. and they were Kolo looking fit and really at it but also Joe Hart. He was playing very well but you could hear him constantly advising his defenders what was going on plus always encouraging.

Aguero got free on the left, the defender was left on the deck and he superbly set up Clichy who missed this time. Milner scored another good one , left foot this time ,before Clichy worked a one two to score under great pressure from the defender.In fact he was appealling for the foul as he somehow managed to get a foot on the ball to squeeze it home.Cotsel then pulled off a great block in a one to one situation. Edin was on hand to squeeze another goal from another rebound to make it 4.3

Mario was in the thick of things at the other end and at one point turned through 3 players but was then left on the deck with no support from the ref and then from nowhere Edin got his 3rd from close in.It might have been a tap in but he does know where to be and how to finish.At 4.4 Mancini called it a day. A really strong aggressive game with everyone really going for it. As somebody said they all want to be picked to play don't they but never did I feel it was likely to lead to an injury.They could happen of course but at no time was there a hint of a dangerous challenge to cause one.

Most went in now but a few stayed out for some shooting practice from cross balls.More praise here for Joe who was excellent but to be fair all 3 of the keepers were. Involved were SWP,JM,AK,AJ,PZ and Mario. At the same time Clichy was working separately on defensive stuff on dealing with crosses.Best finish of the lot was from Zaba. A perfect top corner effort. He did 2 actually and after the 2nd he took the applause of the massive crowd (imaginary of course) and went inside but not before giving an autograph.I think there was some mention and question thrown at England's number one as well.

There was some great finishing on show (Mario,Kolarov and Milner especially) as well as top class goalkeeping plus plenty of great banter. Joe constantly asking the "strikers" who they were passing to.There was also nearly a very bad injury but it would have been to a fan.Chasing a ball that had come over the fence it seemed he tried to jump over a log but didnt quite make. Totally A over T and his head crashed down onto soft ground about 2 inches from another log. Lucky boy.

Thanks Doug, sounds like spirits are high going into Sundays game.

Cheers Doug, sounds like the lads are really working hard. Can't wait for Sunday got a feeling we will put Spurs in their place

thanx Doug.

i think we might go exstatic after the spuds game )

Douglas Higginbottom wrote:before Mario cracked one in off a post.

They are all at it!

First Barton comes in Senderos' face now Mario is abusing the wordwork.

Wankers the lot of em!

Duckman wrote:thanx Doug.

i think we might go exstatic after the spuds game )

No counting chickens.It's going to be a really tough game for us.

Sounds like the mentalist has the bit between his teeth. Will be very interesting to see what kind of cameos from the bench Mario and Carlos both put in....it's a lovely problem to have this is though!

Great read once again. Love the fact that every player is fighting tooth and nail for a first team spot. The way it should be.

how is Carlos in training Doug

sirgordonzola wrote:how is Carlos in training Doug

waiting with interest for your reply to that one Doug :)

johnny crossan wrote:

sirgordonzola wrote:how is Carlos in training Doug

waiting with interest for your reply to that one Doug :)

Bet the reply will be 'His usual self'.

Cheers Doug for an excellent read, the best yet :)

johnny crossan wrote:

sirgordonzola wrote:how is Carlos in training Doug

waiting with interest for your reply to that one Doug :)

It's been said by some before ,and probably me included,that Carlos doesnt often look the same in training as he does on the pitch.i.e the same exceptional work rate harrying defenders etc. Today he looked really up for the challenge just like everyone else.He was running hard and trying to make things happen for his team.

He was definitely training with a smile earlier as well as he was one of those being a bit mischevious on the golf game. All looked well with Carlos.

Douglas Higginbottom wrote:

johnny crossan wrote:

sirgordonzola wrote:how is Carlos in training Doug

waiting with interest for your reply to that one Doug :)

It's been said by some before ,and probably me included,that Carlos doesnt often look the same in training as he does on the pitch.i.e the same exceptional work rate harrying defenders etc. Today he looked really up for the challenge just like everyone else.He was running hard and trying to make things happen for his team.

He was definitely training with a smile earlier as well as he was one of those being a bit mischevious on the golf game. All looked well with Carlos.

Hes probably realized that hes not the main attraction anymore and to get into this team he will need to impress Mancini more often than not .....

Thanks Mr H; that's an excellent post and it makes fascinating reading.

It was reported that Clichy had had an injury prior to the Bolton game but, your report would suggest he now seems to be OK and fully recovered. Is this the case, do you think ??

Furthermore, you also said that he was working separately on "defensive stuff" and dealing with crosses. Could you enlighten us a little further as to what he was doing - or would that be disclosing too much ??

Thank you for the report:-)

Thanks Doug,
Really appreciate the time and effort you put in to keep us in the loop regarding training.Always look forward to these posts.

Top posting.

Mikhail Chigorin wrote:Thanks Mr H; that's an excellent post and it makes fascinating reading.

It was reported that Clichy had had an injury prior to the Bolton game but, your report would suggest he now seems to be OK and fully recovered. Is this the case, do you think ??

Furthermore, you also said that he was working separately on "defensive stuff" and dealing with crosses. Could you enlighten us a little further as to what he was doing - or would that be disclosing too much ??

In the week leading up to the Bolton game Clichy got an injury that I thought looked pretty bad.More knee than ankle I thought and it was in a nothing challenge as well. He immediately stopped playing to get the doc to look at it and was hobbling badly.Definitely out for the Bolton game I thought and I didn't want to say anything as not only didn't I know what the problem was I am sure City wouldnt want me saying anytning anyway. I was amazed to find he had trained the next day albeit with a strapping.Not fully surprised he missed the game though although that might have been the plan anyway.

As for the crosses it was nothing too special or secretive but balls were being fired in from different angles,both high and low and he was on his own trying to clear them first time.Perhaps something he just wanted to work on.

really good report Doug, thanks.

Douglas Higginbottom wrote:

Duckman wrote:thanx Doug.

i think we might go exstatic after the spuds game )

No counting chickens.It's going to be a really tough game for us.

it's time Dougie.

Duckman wrote:

Douglas Higginbottom wrote:

Duckman wrote:thanx Doug.

i think we might go exstatic after the spuds game )

No counting chickens.It's going to be a really tough game for us.

it's time Dougie.

Sure is looking like it.It's not just that we won what is ( was) a tough game but we 100% went there to win it.No messing about but elt's in this game.

Dzeko is just looking like a man oozing confidence. He got 3 in the training game like shelling peas and now he's just done the same away at Spurs.Aguero was just another player helping out and then he exploded with that superb goal which is almost forgotten as Edin scored 4.

I loved the way Mancini was playing it all down in the post match interview.