Training Monday 19/3
Posted: Mon Mar 19, 2012 5:43 pmCold today at Carrington as the training was put back to 3pm.A SKY wagon left as I arrived and they had apparently been doing an interview with our Doc re the Muamba situation.I was one of about 16 watchers today and definitely the odd one out as I was the only english. 2 mates of Costel, 6 or 7 Italians and the rest all from Argentina.
Great news as Lescott came out with all the others for the opening fitness routines albeit he didnt take part in all the work.Plenty of running though and good also to see Vinnie out jogging.Both on the way back but no deadlines known.Zaba out again with Barry and both fully involved.After the fitness and running work it was into the passing game as yesterday with one team trying to score past Stu and the other just trying to release a player beyond the half way line.
Great strength from Edin and a lay off to Carlos brought the first goal.Maybe too much strength but nothing was given.Then after the teams switched around Milner laid on an easy goal for Mario whilst Carlos got onto passes at the other end with very good movement.Time then for Mancini to take a team away for some specific work leaving the rest to carry on with keep ball circles and other routines.Looked to me Mancini was focussing a lot on positional play as attacks developed against us but also on the pace with which we moved the ball when attacking.
Some extra focus on positioning when the ball actually got to our penalty area.The same routines and work were followed when Mancini swapped the team around completely.Then it was into the game and 11 a side on half a pitch and the first signs that it would be keenly contested came when Lombardo gave a penalty which was hotly disputed. So much so that Yaya attacked him ,knocked him to the ground and battered him!!! All in good fun of course but it did delay Mario's penalty.
Joe was shouting at the other end,it doesnt matter anyway as he will score! And guess what he did strong and low with the keeper not really moving.Nigel missed a chance after a great Carlos chest pass but it was an attempted left foot volley.There was good pace and intensity to the game:
Yaya fired over and again it was from Carlos( glad he scored the one in the final though as it was similar)
Nigel hit a post ( maybe the wheel at the side)
Sergio hit just wide twice as he took on the last defender
Mario also shot just wide
Too many times with a crossing chance we didn't cross it and came back into traffic and trouble
Despite constant action the score didnt change.Noticeable to me were:
Yaya just available all the time
Rekik is good
Milner, you really would want him in your team
Dzeko and Sergio looking fully at it
It's worth me going each day just to listen to Joe Hart
That was it apart from some shooting practice but before that Sergio came over to say hello to the Argentinian contingent,shhok hands with them all plus me on the end of the row! I wished Kol a happy birthday and he went off to do some defensive work with Clichy. AJ was away with the boss going through all sorts of things along a touchline.
That left Nasri,Nigel,Mario,Milner and Kolarov for the shooting practice.AFter a few it was clear Joe was in charge and winding the others up bigtime.Not so much Kolarov though as some of his finishing was special but when Nasri failed with a few it was all about Samir still on zero.Then Nigel fired one home and we saw the famous Nigel dance,Samir kept missing or having shots saved and Alex kept smashing them in(and some into the field behind).Joe kept Nigel out them for quite a while before he scored again and out came the dance with Joe beating the ground in despair.
Samir hit the bar and the post with shots which beat Joe or Costel it didnt matter before finally he scored and I left.Milner and Mario probably missed a lot more than they scored but these two keepers are seriously good.
Great news as Lescott came out with all the others for the opening fitness routines albeit he didnt take part in all the work.Plenty of running though and good also to see Vinnie out jogging.Both on the way back but no deadlines known.Zaba out again with Barry and both fully involved.After the fitness and running work it was into the passing game as yesterday with one team trying to score past Stu and the other just trying to release a player beyond the half way line.
Great strength from Edin and a lay off to Carlos brought the first goal.Maybe too much strength but nothing was given.Then after the teams switched around Milner laid on an easy goal for Mario whilst Carlos got onto passes at the other end with very good movement.Time then for Mancini to take a team away for some specific work leaving the rest to carry on with keep ball circles and other routines.Looked to me Mancini was focussing a lot on positional play as attacks developed against us but also on the pace with which we moved the ball when attacking.
Some extra focus on positioning when the ball actually got to our penalty area.The same routines and work were followed when Mancini swapped the team around completely.Then it was into the game and 11 a side on half a pitch and the first signs that it would be keenly contested came when Lombardo gave a penalty which was hotly disputed. So much so that Yaya attacked him ,knocked him to the ground and battered him!!! All in good fun of course but it did delay Mario's penalty.
Joe was shouting at the other end,it doesnt matter anyway as he will score! And guess what he did strong and low with the keeper not really moving.Nigel missed a chance after a great Carlos chest pass but it was an attempted left foot volley.There was good pace and intensity to the game:
Yaya fired over and again it was from Carlos( glad he scored the one in the final though as it was similar)
Nigel hit a post ( maybe the wheel at the side)
Sergio hit just wide twice as he took on the last defender
Mario also shot just wide
Too many times with a crossing chance we didn't cross it and came back into traffic and trouble
Despite constant action the score didnt change.Noticeable to me were:
Yaya just available all the time
Rekik is good
Milner, you really would want him in your team
Dzeko and Sergio looking fully at it
It's worth me going each day just to listen to Joe Hart
That was it apart from some shooting practice but before that Sergio came over to say hello to the Argentinian contingent,shhok hands with them all plus me on the end of the row! I wished Kol a happy birthday and he went off to do some defensive work with Clichy. AJ was away with the boss going through all sorts of things along a touchline.
That left Nasri,Nigel,Mario,Milner and Kolarov for the shooting practice.AFter a few it was clear Joe was in charge and winding the others up bigtime.Not so much Kolarov though as some of his finishing was special but when Nasri failed with a few it was all about Samir still on zero.Then Nigel fired one home and we saw the famous Nigel dance,Samir kept missing or having shots saved and Alex kept smashing them in(and some into the field behind).Joe kept Nigel out them for quite a while before he scored again and out came the dance with Joe beating the ground in despair.
Samir hit the bar and the post with shots which beat Joe or Costel it didnt matter before finally he scored and I left.Milner and Mario probably missed a lot more than they scored but these two keepers are seriously good.