Mother's Day Training
Posted: Sun Mar 18, 2012 11:58 amAn early start today at 10am which might just have caught one or two players out.One arriving as I did at 9.45 and another at 9.56 no names of course.No Roberto Mancini today at all so I expect he will be seen at either the Wolves game or maybe even Stoke.
Good to see Barry back out alongside Zaba but no Vinnie or Lescott yet in the 20 players on show.Suarez and Wabara making up that number. I walked out with a friend of Costels over from Romania.Plat took the initial briefing before they broke into two groups for initial exercise and stretches.Meanwhile in the background the keepers were already hard at it and using crash mats to cushion the landings as they were going through a lot of diving work.
Then into a possession game with one team trying to score past Stu and the other looking to release a player in a 10 yard area just beyond the half way line.Pressing was also high on the agenda with this exercise.I was also being entertained by Charlie Platt again who just needed to be kicking a ball about at all times.He had one of the keeper balls which was a smaller size (size4) which the keepers often use to make saving/catching harder.Whatever else was going on on the pitch one of the most notable things to me was the constant talking and helping each other with shots.Kolo leading the way but Micah quite vocal as well.
After a game of that it was more exercises including a bit of running ,then the same game again and then more exercises.Before the final game started Mario took one or two pens at Joe which will just reaffirm Joe's belief that he is the best around at taking penalties.Zaba didnt play in the game but carried on working with a physio and the first goal came from Silva from a lay off from Pizarro.Mario soon scored another but was given off side but he celebrated before he knew and the watching 7 year olds from City's academy had a good laugh.
There were 20 yound guns from the academy there today for a tour and to get as many things signed as they could.On the pitch Carlos hammered one home from a neat Milner pass.Costel then caught Milner in a one on one situation.It looked to me that Costel was almost pulling out and of course Milner wasnt.Fortunately nothing serious although JM not the happiest for a brief moment. Carlos scored another from about 20 yards and Sergio hit a beauty of a left foot volley but Joe brilliantly tipped it over.
The players started to leave now and had the run the line of the 7 year olds seeking autographs which it looked like they enjoyed. A few penalties were going on in the background plus some other shooting practice.Mario again beating Joe but this time Joe went the right way.I am sure Mario recognised this so instead of the usual sidefoot he blasted it in off the post.
Alll good today even if not that intense but again the first day back after 2 days so normal.
Good to see Barry back out alongside Zaba but no Vinnie or Lescott yet in the 20 players on show.Suarez and Wabara making up that number. I walked out with a friend of Costels over from Romania.Plat took the initial briefing before they broke into two groups for initial exercise and stretches.Meanwhile in the background the keepers were already hard at it and using crash mats to cushion the landings as they were going through a lot of diving work.
Then into a possession game with one team trying to score past Stu and the other looking to release a player in a 10 yard area just beyond the half way line.Pressing was also high on the agenda with this exercise.I was also being entertained by Charlie Platt again who just needed to be kicking a ball about at all times.He had one of the keeper balls which was a smaller size (size4) which the keepers often use to make saving/catching harder.Whatever else was going on on the pitch one of the most notable things to me was the constant talking and helping each other with shots.Kolo leading the way but Micah quite vocal as well.
After a game of that it was more exercises including a bit of running ,then the same game again and then more exercises.Before the final game started Mario took one or two pens at Joe which will just reaffirm Joe's belief that he is the best around at taking penalties.Zaba didnt play in the game but carried on working with a physio and the first goal came from Silva from a lay off from Pizarro.Mario soon scored another but was given off side but he celebrated before he knew and the watching 7 year olds from City's academy had a good laugh.
There were 20 yound guns from the academy there today for a tour and to get as many things signed as they could.On the pitch Carlos hammered one home from a neat Milner pass.Costel then caught Milner in a one on one situation.It looked to me that Costel was almost pulling out and of course Milner wasnt.Fortunately nothing serious although JM not the happiest for a brief moment. Carlos scored another from about 20 yards and Sergio hit a beauty of a left foot volley but Joe brilliantly tipped it over.
The players started to leave now and had the run the line of the 7 year olds seeking autographs which it looked like they enjoyed. A few penalties were going on in the background plus some other shooting practice.Mario again beating Joe but this time Joe went the right way.I am sure Mario recognised this so instead of the usual sidefoot he blasted it in off the post.
Alll good today even if not that intense but again the first day back after 2 days so normal.