Training Wednesday 14/12

[Douglas Higginbottom]

The good news was that the higher fences weren't up yet so I could see but the bad news was it was bitterly cold with a icy wind.Still Milner in shorts though and joined by Savic and Micah.Good to see Micah back in full training.The keepers as ever were out much earlier but Joe,Stu and Panti were a bit slow in arriving and got some grief from Massimo.They reacted by doing some elaborate exercises as they jogged the last 100 yards.

Almost all the session today was fitness based for the 17 out on show including Razak.After initial warm up stuff a little time was spent in a keep ball circle with a difference.The difference being there was one in the middle who was allowed to recieve a pass alongside the usual two trying to intercept.Mancini then took them all away for some team work but nothing actually with a ball.Looked to me it was all about shape and positioning again.As if he might have spotted something on Monday and wanted to put it right. Great attention to detail in how everybody was positioned especially when in defensive roles. The first team he worked with were then switched for the same work to be done.

Back across then for more fitness stuff and good to see Hargreaves joining in at this point.Also interesting to see them break into two groups (no reason I could tell in who was in which group) and do two different fitness routines.I wonder if it's down to chance who ends up in which group? I doubt it. Quite a bit of running involved as well today and everyone really focussed on doing what was required. Quite right too but with Mancini watching closely as ever it was no surprise either.

As they finished and wandered off Mario stayed back for a chat with the boss.The 2 photographers around today scampered across quickly to get close up pictures of what they hoped would be an argument or worse. Of course there was nothing like that as it was just a manager giving a striker some advice and ideas. Hargreaves stayed out with Carminati for some extra work and the only other to stay for a while was Clichy.

[Mark (Blue Army)]

Cheers Doug

[Mark Garrett]

Cheers Doug, doesn't sound the most entertaining training session for you to have watched but hopefully the defensive positioning drills will result in a clean sheet for us on Sunday.

[Douglas Higginbottom]

Cheers Doug, doesn't sound the most entertaining training session for you to have watched but hopefully the defensive positioning drills will result in a clean sheet for us on Sunday.

Probably not the most entertaining but always intesresting even it's just watching the interaction between all the players.Watching the playful ones having a laugh and how the victims react. (like Mario kicking a ball into Aguero today and being chased but not caught) Watching the young ones and how they fit in and develop (Razak is doing well) Seeing how some individuals relate to the coaches and always watching Mancini.

[Goataldo]

Top stuff as per. How does Hargreaves look at the mo? Any glimpse of a nice backslapping familiarity between Nige and Mancini?

[Douglas Higginbottom]

Top stuff as per. How does Hargreaves look at the mo? Any glimpse of a nice backslapping familiarity between Nige and Mancini?

Hargreaves has been having little niggles as is par for the course following the bad injuries he had and the long lay off.He is just getting back to full training again after one of those problems so it's a little early to say he is looking good or not.He always works hard whenever he trains and does more stretching than any other player to try to avoid pulling something when he starts to play.

Nigel is very often a big character on the training ground and today was no exception.Whilst putting the effort in he is always there with a smile and having some fun along the way. Nothing specific towards the boss that I saw.

[sheblue]

great post always a very interesting read.