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All group out today with the one exception of Silva.Mancini did say in his press conference he was a slight doubt and today he was inside. First out were Aguero and Mario and both in very good moods.A couple of typical Mario moments as first he did keepy ups with some chewing gum.Pretty good too till he volleyed it at Jose.Then he took the training schedule off Fausto and started handing out the bibs as players came out. Mario loves bibs.

I was one of about 6 watchers today with the rest being Italian and maybe one Bosnian by the way Edin chatted to him when he came out. Noticed too that photographers were circling again.There is one bit of high fencing/curtain missing and 3 of the vultures were squeezed into get pictures.18 players were out on show which again included Nedum and Hargreaves but no Bridge again while the EDS boys were training on the far pitch.

There was a great buzz about the group today I thought.Everyone in good mood and quite a few acknowledgements to the guys watching.That made me reflect that although there are often people watching and very often they might be related to players (Nasri's brothers, Joleon's cousin,Yaya friends) I have never noticed anything but total focus from the players once the training session gets under way. Of course that's 100% the way it should be but just something I have become aware of being so close.

After some normal initial routines Mancini took a team away for tactical work in preparation for the semi leaving the rest behind for a keep ball circle session.That was right in front of me and was fun to watch and clearly fun to be involved in.Razak was the butt of some good banter and at times Nigel was playing the joker which he does so well .Most of the players were called over by Mancini at some time to join in the team session so they would be clear on whatever plans were being worked on.

All back then for a one touch passing game,which evolved into 2 touch and then passing between two poles to count as a goal added some extra focus.Then finally in this part the small goals were introduced and it was 2 touch with a 1 touch finish.Nasri hit the bar,AJ headed onto the bar and Edin scored the only goal. Mario had one blocked late on by Savic and then studded him in response. HE DIDN'T REALLY but joked the action so maybe the vultures will get that picture.

That was a really lively session prior to the end game. With Joe and Panti joining the group plus a few players from the EDS. They were both the Mancini sons plus Nir Biton,Suarez,Rekik,De Silva and a few others just hung around to watch( Meppen-Walter,Tom Smith ,Freddie Veseli) Highlights of the game that I can remember were:
Joe shouting loudly trying to get Vinnie to shoot from 25 yards
Nir Biton looking stronger and more involved than the first time I saw him when he was probably a bit intimidated. Looks an interesting player.
Brilliant Rekik tackle to stop Edin
Superb Edin goal taking the ball on his chest under pressure and half volleying left footed low into the corner.
Excellent goal from Francisco De Silva
Adreas Mancini chasing back to block a cross after a stray pass
Nir B hitting the post with a great snap shot and shortly after scoring wit a well struck shot
GB smashing one onto the underside of the bar
Brilliant Panti save
Brilliant Mario goal bursting through the defence and dummying the keeper.
Suarez scoring a neat goal
Vinnie showing great ball skills in attacking mode but crowded out by 4 players
Great Joe save at attackers feet
Kolarov attacking Brandon the ball boy (very funny unless you were the target)
and it all finshed with Mario again breaking through the defence with very quick feet and again going past the keeper before nonchalently smacking it in from a yard out as the final whistle went.

Good session to watch, everyone in high spirits and you may have gathered I took pen and paper to remember some of that :)

Nice one Doug.

Liking the extra detail. Don't forget the pen and paper next time :-)

thanks doug, Nir Biton is a new name to me do you know his age/position

Bite-On.....he sounds like a mate of Gai Ass-ulin's

Francesco De Silva Dougerlarse.....who is he? Where's he from and what does he specialise in?


EDIT: Also, two Mancini sons there? I thought one was warming the Oldham bench and watching Scapuzzi?

Are there more than two at City?

Great report Doug Thanks!
Extra details are a nice touch

ant london wrote:Bite-On.....he sounds like a mate of Gai Ass-ulin's

Francesco De Silva Dougerlarse.....who is he? Where's he from and what does he specialise in?


EDIT: Also, two Mancini sons there? I thought one was warming the Oldham bench and watching Scapuzzi?

Are there more than two at City?

Andreas is (was)with Oldham but was at Carrington today and the other was Filipo .Andreas was on the bench against the scousers last Friday but that must have neded his loan I guess.I thought the other today was Scapuzzi but I have gone for Filipo in the end:)

De Silva. Not sure where he is from but he is a black guy,plays midfield,quite small but a good footballer.I have seen him play a couple of full games and in 2nd I was quite impressed although it was only Stalybridge!

I am sure somebody looked Biton up when I last mentioned him. I think he is 20 and from the Israel 1st division,he's 6 foot 3 and plays midfield.

Some geezer on BM has been rumouring that DS has gone to spain with a knee injury. R U confident the boss was being truthful

shortagain wrote:Some geezer on BM has been rumouring that DS has gone to spain with a knee injury. R U confident the boss was being truthful

I heard that.I was told he was at Carrington yesterday when he was otherwise alledgedly in Spain according to good old BMoon divulging what a physio had told somebody.I got the impression from Mancini's press conference that he didnt want any mention of Silva but it squeezed out.

Whether he was around today I couldnt be sure but he must be a doubt for Wednesday or Mancini wouldnt have mentioned him.

Very nice Doug, that new lad doesn't sound to bad - looks like he made an impression on you. How's Savic's eye by the way, is it looking a mess?

Were you allowed in again Doug. Presume you were if made some notes, couldn't do that whilst up a tree

Cheers Doug,

Great report! Hoping DS is ok. Good to hear about the new lads too.

Was there any indication in the game as to where we can expect Micah to be playing tomorrow?

Beefymcfc wrote:Very nice Doug, that new lad doesn't sound to bad - looks like he made an impression on you. How's Savic's eye by the way, is it looking a mess?

Still looks like a nice boy but just with a little scar now :) They make em tough in eastern europe

Silva said in an interview some weeks ago that he had been carrying some kind if injury but was willing to put up with it for the sake of the team. The time frame he gave would have pretty much matched the period since his form has dropped a bit.

If you wanted someone to check Silva out & get him 100%, a period containing a League cup game & a match v Wigan wouldn't be a bad time to do it.

Douglas Higginbottom wrote:

shortagain wrote:Some geezer on BM has been rumouring that DS has gone to spain with a knee injury. R U confident the boss was being truthful

I heard that.I was told he was at Carrington yesterday when he was otherwise alledgedly in Spain according to good old BMoon divulging what a physio had told somebody.I got the impression from Mancini's press conference that he didnt want any mention of Silva but it squeezed out.

Whether he was around today I couldnt be sure but he must be a doubt for Wednesday or Mancini wouldnt have mentioned him.

It was also mentioned that it was Silva's birthday, so he could have been allowed home for that if he's got a slight knock to keep him out of Wednesday, rather than seeing a specialist. Saying that, those last minute flights are terribly expensive, so I'd be surprised if he'd only just booked it. Much better to do it a few months in advance when the cheap deals are available.

Ted Hughes wrote:Silva said in an interview some weeks ago that he had been carrying some kind if injury but was willing to put up with it for the sake of the team. The time frame he gave would have pretty much matched the period since his form has dropped a bit.

If you wanted someone to check Silva out & get him 100%, a period containing a League cup game & a match v Wigan wouldn't be a bad time to do it.

I make you spot on Ted. Mancini probably made that decision at half time on Sunday when he made the tactical change and considered who to take off.We now look to Nasri to step up.It will be interesting to see how many (if more than one) Silva sits out.

Yffi_88 wrote:Was there any indication in the game as to where we can expect Micah to be playing tomorrow?

my lips are sealed.

Douglas Higginbottom wrote:

Ted Hughes wrote:Silva said in an interview some weeks ago that he had been carrying some kind if injury but was willing to put up with it for the sake of the team. The time frame he gave would have pretty much matched the period since his form has dropped a bit.

If you wanted someone to check Silva out & get him 100%, a period containing a League cup game & a match v Wigan wouldn't be a bad time to do it.

I make you spot on Ted. Mancini probably made that decision at half time on Sunday when he made the tactical change and considered who to take off.We now look to Nasri to step up.It will be interesting to see how many (if more than one) Silva sits out.

I recon that was a very very smart move by Bob. Silva busting a gut in a ten man team v a bunch of rag thugs & a dodgy ref would have been asking for a long injury.

Great report as usual btw.

Douglas Higginbottom wrote:

Yffi_88 wrote:Was there any indication in the game as to where we can expect Micah to be playing tomorrow?

my lips are sealed.

Sealed - lips - clearly a clue to Seal, the singer of Kiss from a Rose. Seal is married to Heidi Klum. She's great up front, so Richards is playing up front.

Oops, sorry, thought I was on the BM transfer forum for a minute.

apologies if this has been asked already, doug, but how involved has rekik been and does he still look the part? when we saw him earlier this season, i thought he was class and prob our best overall prospect.