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Managed to get along today after the boring international break and hoping to see the full squad out for a change.The good news was seeing Vinnie train and as far as I could tell it was a full squad minus Rodwell and Boyata who both played a full 90 minutes last night.No Richard Wright so Johansen took his place.

Pellegrini's briefing started with a round of applause which I guess would have been for those players who qualified for the WC finals.After initial warm ups it was into 3 keep ball circles played with a slight difference.I couldn't quite work it out but it seemed each time the two in the middle touched the ball 2 players from each circle went to join one of the other groups.The players seemed to know what the criteria was after initial hiccups.

The good thing watching this was how comfortable Vinnie was when he was in the middle twisting and turning.He didn't stay for all parts of the training session so no guarantees he is ready to play yet but clearly close at worst.Demechelis also involved and he lasted the whole session.He had a brace thing on one leg but didn't seem in any way discomforted.

After the circles it was a split with all the players who had played a full game in midweek just doing some running before going in and then just Zaba and Sergio staying a little longer.The others worked closely with Pellegrini on some attack v defence, either 2 on 2 or 3 on 3 and then after each attack a cross was thrown in.One Silva header was sublime.

Watching today outside the fence was me and one cameraman perched high in a tree and just one lone figure inside.The skipper himself Tony Book.After some time on those situations they started working on 5 v 5.I think the back 5 were Lescott,Garcia,Micah,Clichy and Demechelis against Yaya,Milner,Silva,Guidetti and Fernandinho.Oh yes I forgot to mention Guidetti was there for the full session and looking quite good too.Hopefully a sign he is getting close to playing again.

Three of them were really vocal both in terms of organising and encouraging.Joe Hart as he always is plus Micah and Joleon.This session and the attack v defence before it were high intensity and high quality.Just a pity for me it wasn't the full squad but watching Silva at close quarters is always a real pleasure.His close ball control under pressure whilst looking for a pass is superb.They moved from this into a 6 a side game which is where I left with some good stuff still being played and much more entertaining than last night's EDS game.

Douglas Higginbottom wrote:Oh yes I forgot to mention Guidetti was there for the full session and looking quite good too.Hopefully a sign he is getting close to playing again.

excellent! cheers, doug.

"One Silva header was sublime"

The man is a beast in the air

Amazing how long Guidetti has been out for now, really want him to make it. Hes obviously a talented lad

Nice one, Doug.

Cheers Doug, great read again mate

Thats wet my appetite for the weekend!

Everybody out on show - excellent - let's hope Manuel picks the right XI for Saturday and they prove it by winning!

Quality as always, Doug. Cheers.

Thanks Doug, very much appreciated.

Any opinion on Jovetic?

Joking aside, in regards Guidetti, from what you've seen what type of striker would you consider him? In other words, if/when he is fit would he more likely to be challenging Dzeko/Negredo for a starting berth or Aguero/Jovetic in your opinion?

Foreverinbluedreams wrote:Thanks Doug, very much appreciated.

Any opinion on Jovetic?

Joking aside, in regards Guidetti, from what you've seen what type of striker would you consider him? In other words, if/when he is fit would he more likely to be challenging Dzeko/Negredo for a starting berth or Aguero/Jovetic in your opinion?

I like Guidetti and always have but the injury/illness he had must have been really bad to keep him out so long and for him ,even now, not to be playing at all.What I saw today was a man eager to play and actually looking quite good but I do have a fear that he might never play for City. If I am wrong ,and I really hope I am,I would say it's Dzeko he is competing against most.

Edin is a goalscorer and doesn't ( at least not often ) use the power and strength that he possesses plus he doesn't that ofetn join in play to create things.John is also a goalscorer first and foremost but I do think he looks to use his strength as much as he can to ruffle feathers and make things happen.He is a hard worker and although not blessed with pace or height for heading will always let the defenders know he is around.He does have a very good instinct for a goal.

Thanks for the report Doug. Always the best way to prepare for the weekend. How did Demechelis look. Do you think he'll make the bench for the Hammers ?

Dubaimancityfan wrote:Thanks for the report Doug. Always the best way to prepare for the weekend. How did Demechelis look. Do you think he'll make the bench for the Hammers ?

Could go either way for WHU depending on whether Vinnie is deemed fit to play. If he is I would expect Demech to be missing altogether so he can get more fitness and playing/training time.If Vinnie is missing altogether Demech might even start as he would probably be considered the natural replacement for him

Who the hell knows! He looked strong and very capable last night.

Douglas Higginbottom wrote:

Foreverinbluedreams wrote:Thanks Doug, very much appreciated.

Any opinion on Jovetic?

Joking aside, in regards Guidetti, from what you've seen what type of striker would you consider him? In other words, if/when he is fit would he more likely to be challenging Dzeko/Negredo for a starting berth or Aguero/Jovetic in your opinion?

I like Guidetti and always have but the injury/illness he had must have been really bad to keep him out so long and for him ,even now, not to be playing at all.What I saw today was a man eager to play and actually looking quite good but I do have a fear that he might never play for City. If I am wrong ,and I really hope I am,I would say it's Dzeko he is competing against most.

Edin is a goalscorer and doesn't ( at least not often ) use the power and strength that he possesses plus he doesn't that ofetn join in play to create things.John is also a goalscorer first and foremost but I do think he looks to use his strength as much as he can to ruffle feathers and make things happen.He is a hard worker and although not blessed with pace or height for heading will always let the defenders know he is around.He does have a very good instinct for a goal.

Thanks for the response Doug. Dzekchair needs to pull his finger out of his arse more regularly without doubt.

I'd love to see Guidetti make it at City, I like his attitude from the interviews I've seen with him, it seems to have served him well in his recovery too. I do however share your fear all things considered.

Foreverinbluedreams wrote:

Douglas Higginbottom wrote:

Foreverinbluedreams wrote:Thanks Doug, very much appreciated.

Any opinion on Jovetic?

Joking aside, in regards Guidetti, from what you've seen what type of striker would you consider him? In other words, if/when he is fit would he more likely to be challenging Dzeko/Negredo for a starting berth or Aguero/Jovetic in your opinion?

I like Guidetti and always have but the injury/illness he had must have been really bad to keep him out so long and for him ,even now, not to be playing at all.What I saw today was a man eager to play and actually looking quite good but I do have a fear that he might never play for City. If I am wrong ,and I really hope I am,I would say it's Dzeko he is competing against most.

Edin is a goalscorer and doesn't ( at least not often ) use the power and strength that he possesses plus he doesn't that ofetn join in play to create things.John is also a goalscorer first and foremost but I do think he looks to use his strength as much as he can to ruffle feathers and make things happen.He is a hard worker and although not blessed with pace or height for heading will always let the defenders know he is around.He does have a very good instinct for a goal.

Thanks for the response Doug. Dzekchair needs to pull his finger out of his arse more regularly without doubt.

I'd love to see Guidetti make it at City, I like his attitude from the interviews I've seen with him, it seems to have served him well in his recovery too. I do however share your fear all things considered.

Guidetti has a touch of the Tevez, Negredo, Dickov kind of attitude about him imo, & that, allied to a decent level of ability, gives him a better chance than someone much more talented/quicker but halfarsed imo.

That's not to say Guidett isn't talented, because he certainly is.

I really hope he can shake off this illness/injury & give it a good go.

Cheers for another great report Doug.

Crossie wrote:Thats wet my appetite for the weekend!

I do believe it's "whet".


Thanks for the update Douglas. How did Demich looks playing defensive mid yesterday? Could you see him putting in a shift there in front of our full strength back line (i.e. fucking off Garcia from DFM duties)?

Saul Goodman wrote:

Crossie wrote:Thats wet my appetite for the weekend!

I do believe it's "whet".


Thanks for the update Douglas. How did Demich looks playing defensive mid yesterday? Could you see him putting in a shift there in front of our full strength back line (i.e. fucking off Garcia from DFM duties)?

He has almost all the qualities to play in that role except pace.He reads the game well,good anticipation,good strength in the tackle,comfortable on the ball and is quite progressive with his passing but I do feel his lack of speed could be a problem.

A bit like Yaya with the defensive part of the role when he sits,players can get past and lose him too easily.

Douglas Higginbottom wrote:

Saul Goodman wrote:

Crossie wrote:Thats wet my appetite for the weekend!

I do believe it's "whet".


Thanks for the update Douglas. How did Demich looks playing defensive mid yesterday? Could you see him putting in a shift there in front of our full strength back line (i.e. fucking off Garcia from DFM duties)?

He has almost all the qualities to play in that role except pace.He reads the game well,good anticipation,good strength in the tackle,comfortable on the ball and is quite progressive with his passing but I do feel his lack of speed could be a problem.

A bit like Yaya with the defensive part of the role when he sits,players can get past and lose him too easily.

Which worries me in the cb position.

Cheers Doug, great read as usual. Why would you fear for Guidetti for missing out to make it at the big stage? Is it becuase we got far better quality forwards and will always target the best around? Or he missed his chance of making it, more or less becoming an injury prone?

I think it's unfair to brand him as injury prone.Although I don't know exactly what illness/injury hit him I think it's just been that one thing that totally flattened him.It would be a great shame if he didn't fully recover and play at a good level again.