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They did well to have a fairly normal session today given how strong the wind was. The nets were being blown around as they tried to set things up for the keep session so it was decided to leave them against the fencing and work there which was nice for us watching fans.

It was the same 20 outfield players as last week with Milner working separately with a physio after the initial chat from the boss. Mancini then worked with a team leaving the others to either play a keep ball circle or "do the hill". Not surprisingly it was all quite low key gentle stuff given the weekend game and the next one so close.Given that 3 games a week will be the norm for a while it will never be easy to throw in really tough sessions but plenty of recovery training days will be commonplace.Two groups in the end did a little work on the hill and they also did it running into the wind.

I wasn't expecting a game to end today's work but they did have on.None of the starters on Saturday took part though and the numbers were made up from the EDS lads.They included Nimley and the 2 Mancini brothers plus a triallist I don't know the name of.Most noticeable for me was Dzeko still looking extremely confident with a great touch in the wind and scoring two. Nimley also bagged a couple. Hargreaves was fully involved again as was Nedum.

Tough day for the keepers. Not just because of the strong swirling wind but also the coach was giving them a hard time and they were using the CL balls for the first time.Maybe it was just the wind but I thought they were swerving around all over the place.A different texture than the prem league balls I think. Looked more like basketball texture.

Cheers Doug.

Is Hargreaves getting involved in much tackling etc or is he just pass & move at the moment & also, how does he look for pace ?

Just incase anyone's as dull as me and fancies reading up on the CL balls...

http://theoriginalwinger.com/2011-08-29 ... lls-201112

Ted Hughes wrote:Cheers Doug.

Is Hargreaves getting involved in much tackling etc or is he just pass & move at the moment & also, how does he look for pace ?

It is just training and can get very strong but tackling isn't full on as you would expect.But having said that I think hargreaves looks as fully involved as he could do. I would be surprised if he didnt play v Brum.

Douglas Higginbottom wrote:

Ted Hughes wrote:Cheers Doug.

Is Hargreaves getting involved in much tackling etc or is he just pass & move at the moment & also, how does he look for pace ?

It is just training and can get very strong but tackling isn't full on as you would expect.But having said that I think hargreaves looks as fully involved as he could do. I would be surprised if he didnt play v Brum.

i'll laugh my fucking head off if he plays.

£10 first scorer. Got to be done if he plays.

Im really keen to see how he does. Its good to hear that he's looking sharp in training. I wouldnt mind seeing him score a 97th minute 4-3 derby winner against that lot.

Cheers Doug, you hero you. Can't believe you even bothered with the weather today.

Cheers DH...Was there any press there or Napoli spies ha?

Mike J wrote:

Douglas Higginbottom wrote:

Ted Hughes wrote:Cheers Doug.

Is Hargreaves getting involved in much tackling etc or is he just pass & move at the moment & also, how does he look for pace ?

It is just training and can get very strong but tackling isn't full on as you would expect.But having said that I think hargreaves looks as fully involved as he could do. I would be surprised if he didnt play v Brum.

i'll laugh my fucking head off if he plays.

If he plays well, so will I. Anyone know if it's on TV ? I can't watch it live but I could set the timer to record it.

shawzy wrote:Cheers DH...Was there any press there or Napoli spies ha?

A few photographers as usual . Also loads of Italians as usual.

it seems our midfield depth is exposed such fast.
doug who do you think will start in midfield if milner is out,razzak and owen is not regestered.
i though hope milner will recover in time for napoli

dbinod wrote:it seems our midfield depth is exposed such fast.
doug who do you think will start in midfield if milner is out,razzak and owen is not regestered.
i though hope milner will recover in time for napoli

I certainly hope Milner will be ok.If not and IF we go for two central midfield players it would be Yaya and one of Zzaba,Kolo and Clichy/Kolarov. I think the two full backs would mean a different formation so probably not them so it's either Zaba or Kolo.The concensus here seems to be Zaba but I would go for Kolo.

All of that presumes 2 sort of holding in the centre but maybe he will have an even more attacking line up.

Douglas Higginbottom wrote:

dbinod wrote:it seems our midfield depth is exposed such fast.
doug who do you think will start in midfield if milner is out,razzak and owen is not regestered.
i though hope milner will recover in time for napoli

I certainly hope Milner will be ok.If not and IF we go for two central midfield players it would be Yaya and one of Zzaba,Kolo and Clichy/Kolarov. I think the two full backs would mean a different formation so probably not them so it's either Zaba or Kolo.The concensus here seems to be Zaba but I would go for Kolo.

All of that presumes 2 sort of holding in the centre but maybe he will have an even more attacking line up.

Put in Kolo who has not kicked a ball in a proper game????? I certainly hope thats not the case.....Clichy should remain there imo..failing that zaba.

Douglas Higginbottom wrote:

dbinod wrote:it seems our midfield depth is exposed such fast.
doug who do you think will start in midfield if milner is out,razzak and owen is not regestered.
i though hope milner will recover in time for napoli

I certainly hope Milner will be ok.If not and IF we go for two central midfield players it would be Yaya and one of Zzaba,Kolo and Clichy/Kolarov. I think the two full backs would mean a different formation so probably not them so it's either Zaba or Kolo.The concensus here seems to be Zaba but I would go for Kolo.

All of that presumes 2 sort of holding in the centre but maybe he will have an even more attacking line up.

I always fancied seeing Kolo Toure tried in that position. That Jones character the rags have just signed has played there & imo Ferguson will use him there for the rags in some future games, perhaps often. Kolo is every bit as good on the ball as him, better I would suggest. He's also quick & can tackle. We don't have many quick players in Def MF. I still think we've had a weak area in front of our box which may have been exploited by better teams. Somone who has a grounding in central defence may be just the bloke to fix it.

carl_feedthegoat wrote:

Douglas Higginbottom wrote:

dbinod wrote:it seems our midfield depth is exposed such fast.
doug who do you think will start in midfield if milner is out,razzak and owen is not regestered.
i though hope milner will recover in time for napoli

I certainly hope Milner will be ok.If not and IF we go for two central midfield players it would be Yaya and one of Zzaba,Kolo and Clichy/Kolarov. I think the two full backs would mean a different formation so probably not them so it's either Zaba or Kolo.The concensus here seems to be Zaba but I would go for Kolo.

All of that presumes 2 sort of holding in the centre but maybe he will have an even more attacking line up.

Put in Kolo who has not kicked a ball in a proper game????? I certainly hope thats not the case.....Clichy should remain there imo..failing that zaba.

You may well be right. Zaba has played in one game for City hasnt he compared to Kolo's none.So early in the season so I doubt it makes that much difference but I went for Kolo's experience rather than Zaba's enthusiasm. Zaba certainly isn't a midfield player as both his touch is too heavy and he lacks the awareness for the role.

Douglas Higginbottom wrote:

carl_feedthegoat wrote:

Douglas Higginbottom wrote:

dbinod wrote:it seems our midfield depth is exposed such fast.
doug who do you think will start in midfield if milner is out,razzak and owen is not regestered.
i though hope milner will recover in time for napoli

I certainly hope Milner will be ok.If not and IF we go for two central midfield players it would be Yaya and one of Zzaba,Kolo and Clichy/Kolarov. I think the two full backs would mean a different formation so probably not them so it's either Zaba or Kolo.The concensus here seems to be Zaba but I would go for Kolo.

All of that presumes 2 sort of holding in the centre but maybe he will have an even more attacking line up.

Put in Kolo who has not kicked a ball in a proper game????? I certainly hope thats not the case.....Clichy should remain there imo..failing that zaba.

You may well be right. Zaba has played in one game for City hasnt he compared to Kolo's none.So early in the season so I doubt it makes that much difference but I went for Kolo's experience rather than Zaba's enthusiasm. Zaba certainly isn't a midfield player as both his touch is too heavy and he lacks the awareness for the role.

Go for the jugular :

----------------------Hart ---------------------

Richards --- Kompany --- Lescott ---Clichy

--------------------- Yaya ----------------------
------ Silva -------------------- Nasri ---------

--------Tevez ----Dzeko --- Aguero ------

Was it Kolo who came to England as a Def Mid? He was abit shit so they dropped him back and he had a couple of good seasons.

i am so shocked.i have never thoughed about this option abot kolo .its a great idea.though i have never seen him play there.

Crossie wrote:Was it Kolo who came to England as a Def Mid? He was abit shit so they dropped him back and he had a couple of good seasons.

kolo started as an attacking mid mate

What about Kompany? He's actually made appearances in midfield for us.