The mancityfans.net football forum

Lovely sunny day at Carrington today as I arrived to find AJ in reception trying out some new boots.Bright orange so he won't be hard to spot. Photographers well placed behind the fencing to get pictures as the players left the changing room and on bigger ladders than I ever used:)

21 players training today with just Zaba missing.For Zaba the word is the injury isnt bad and it's probably a week.Micah was back training although mostly on his own with a physio.Rekik back with the squad today as was Hargreaves. Mario came over for a hug and hand shake when he came out but only for Italian friends and sadly not for me :(

All the exercises/stretches today were done in 2 groups with the Bolton team kept separate and doing less onerous stuff.A fairly typical first day back where they get back in slowly but everyone in good spirits with Nigel especially lively.After some exercises it was into a pass/move and pressing game which overall was quite impressive. Absolutely no space for much of the time due to the quick strong pressing but some great quality when players could see and manage to switch the play with a long pass.

After that the Bolton team went in and Wabara came over to make up an 7 a side game which had loads of goals starting with one from Milner.Good to see the strikers all getting a few with arguably the best from Edin getting past a defender to hammer one in off the bar from a tight angle.Carlos got a very good one under severe pressure and another where he rounded the keeper well.Sergio's best came when he stopped the defender and then showed how quick he is over 3 or 4 yards to shift the ball to his left and find the space he needed to fire home.Pure class.

Scapuzzi got a few , Nigel only managed one onto the bar,Silva looked really strong and scored a couple before the golden goal was announced.It came when Edin broke through only to be stopped by Rekik but the ball went loose for Kolarov to finish. Strangely they carried on and Carlos bent one onto the inside of a post to almost equalise but then it all ended.

Many stayed out for a little shooting practice although not for very long. Just Milner,Kolarov and Hargreaves kept at it and were still going when I left.

MJ?

MB?

Were the Italians part of MB's stripclub Mafia?

ant london wrote:MJ?

MB?

Were the Italians part of MB's stripclub Mafia?

MJ might have been with the EDS boys but I couldnt see them. I must go and find that picture from Friday morning to see if they were the same guys.Doubt it though as Mancini was also welcoming them.

How are the players acting around CT? I'm thinking mainly Sergio and Silva.

I'm pleased AJ will be easier to spot. I've had a lot of trouble spotting him lately!!

john@staustell wrote:I'm pleased AJ will be easier to spot. I've had a lot of trouble spotting him lately!!

I thought he was excellent on Saturday, and has in general been playing far better than the lack of credit he gets may suggest.

Cheers Doug,

quick question from the Kolo thread, if it came to it who woulid be the EDS right back if Micah/Zabba were injured and assuming you wouldn't wanna play Kolo or Savic there? you've reminded of Reece Warbara who made his debut their on the last day of last season but I thought he was more a cb. also, could your pick play in an emergency on thursday a la that time Sam Williamson played against Pompey!

Alioune DVToure wrote:

john@staustell wrote:I'm pleased AJ will be easier to spot. I've had a lot of trouble spotting him lately!!

I thought he was excellent on Saturday, and has in general been playing far better than the lack of credit he gets may suggest.

He was good again I have to admit. Better first half than second but the last couple of games he's played have been a massive improvement. Whoever has encouraged him to actually go to the byline and cut the ball back deserves a big pat on the back.

The fact that he is not ALWAYS now looking to cut inside onto his left foot at the corner of the box makes him a lot more difficult to deal with. Some of his right footed cutbacks have been deeeeecent too.

Alioune DVToure wrote:How are the players acting around CT? I'm thinking mainly Sergio and Silva.

I would say it's as if nothing had happened from the way the players act around him.Nothing noticeably different to any other player. Sergio possibly chats to him more than others which isn't a surprise but I have seen Silva mixing/chatting with him as well.Same with Nigel.

bobby brows wrote:Cheers Doug,

quick question from the Kolo thread, if it came to it who woulid be the EDS right back if Micah/Zabba were injured and assuming you wouldn't wanna play Kolo or Savic there? you've reminded of Reece Warbara who made his debut their on the last day of last season but I thought he was more a cb. also, could your pick play in an emergency on thursday a la that time Sam Williamson played against Pompey!

It's pushing it a bit to think of Micah,Zaba,Savic and Kolo all being missing but yes I would go for Wabara there in such an emergency.He is strong enough and quick enough.

Even in that scenario he'd probably still start Milner ahead of Wabara. Or Clichy at right back and Kolarov on the left. He'd do something like that I reckon.

Cheers Doug

Douglas Higginbottom wrote:

Alioune DVToure wrote:How are the players acting around CT? I'm thinking mainly Sergio and Silva.

I would say it's as if nothing had happened from the way the players act around him.Nothing noticeably different to any other player. Sergio possibly chats to him more than others which isn't a surprise but I have seen Silva mixing/chatting with him as well.Same with Nigel.

Does Nigel speak Spanish?

cheers

DoomMerchant wrote:

Douglas Higginbottom wrote:

Alioune DVToure wrote:How are the players acting around CT? I'm thinking mainly Sergio and Silva.

I would say it's as if nothing had happened from the way the players act around him.Nothing noticeably different to any other player. Sergio possibly chats to him more than others which isn't a surprise but I have seen Silva mixing/chatting with him as well.Same with Nigel.

Does Nigel speak Spanish?

cheers

Dutch.

DoomMerchant wrote:

Douglas Higginbottom wrote:

Alioune DVToure wrote:How are the players acting around CT? I'm thinking mainly Sergio and Silva.

I would say it's as if nothing had happened from the way the players act around him.Nothing noticeably different to any other player. Sergio possibly chats to him more than others which isn't a surprise but I have seen Silva mixing/chatting with him as well.Same with Nigel.

Does Nigel speak Spanish?

cheers

I would not be surprised if he did but Silva has said he speaks english in the changing room

I read that when Aguero arrived he made everyone speak english only in the dressing room and they've got a fine system going! and Aguero had paid the most too!

bobby brows wrote:I read that when Aguero arrived he made everyone speak english only in the dressing room and they've got a fine system going! and Aguero had paid the most too!

I love these little Sergio soundbites. I almost cried tears of happiness when, shortly after joining, he said he'd never been a fan of hot weather and actually quite liked the rain.

Douglas Higginbottom wrote:I would say it's as if nothing had happened from the way the players act around him.Nothing noticeably different to any other player. Sergio possibly chats to him more than others which isn't a surprise but I have seen Silva mixing/chatting with him as well.Same with Nigel.

Cheers for that, Doug!

Alioune DVToure wrote:

bobby brows wrote:I read that when Aguero arrived he made everyone speak english only in the dressing room and they've got a fine system going! and Aguero had paid the most too!

I love these little Sergio soundbites. I almost cried tears of happiness when, shortly after joining, he said he'd never been a fan of hot weather and actually quite liked the rain.

Douglas Higginbottom wrote:I would say it's as if nothing had happened from the way the players act around him.Nothing noticeably different to any other player. Sergio possibly chats to him more than others which isn't a surprise but I have seen Silva mixing/chatting with him as well.Same with Nigel.

Cheers for that, Doug!

Just heard Noel Gallagher on TalkShite say the same from last Friday when he went to training.