Training Thursday 29/3
Posted: Thu Mar 29, 2012 1:12 pmAnother lovely day for training and by the time I got out it was good to see Joleon already out there.He did the early work with the team but stayed with a physio for the latter part.Looked like he has stepped things up a bit so he may be close to coming back. One or two carrying knocks so not fully involved but nothing serious enough to be an issue for Saturday. No Tevez or Hargreaves after they had played last night and no Sergio either, though so I assume he will have been working inside.
As they did the usual early jogs,stretches and fitness exercises I noticed there were 6 keepers today working on a far pitch.That's a lot of keepers! Keep ball circles followed with a difference as it was 4 a side with full movement and no restrictions on the touches allowed.One moment in this told me Vinnie was back as he threw himself into a challenge,might well be ready for Saturday!Then a moment of "fun" as Micah and Mario challenged and went down in a heap.Photographers would have been able to make something of it as they were disentangling but the comment near me said it all ..." the 2 brothers!"
sh
Off for some more exercises before Mancini took a team for some specific work and it was on a pitch where our dear friends the photographers could get a good view.Those not involved played in a head tennis game. Time was spent on attacking plays plus attacking corners and free kicks.At one time it was Mancini taking the kicks and of course making sure they cleared the front defender! 2 guys I was watching with (here for the Soccerex conference in Manchester) was impressed with all the movement they were seeing.Mancini then changed the team around a bit with 5 or 6 new players and repeated some of the same work.
Then into the game which was just 9 a side as a few had gone in and immediately there were some great saves from Joe and Costel.Mario missed an easy header when he was surprised a corner was missed by the big defenders but then some clever work from Clichy set up a nice goal for Silva.Joe was his usual vocal self urging his team to score when getting good chances.I wont actually repeat his words but he is entertaining.
Edin then had a good heading chance which he powered down and somehow it got through Costel despite frantic efforts to claw it back.The goal was given and I was asked for confirmation in lieu of goalline technology. The keeper coach gave it from the half way line because it was a crap save anyway:) Costel showed more of what he is really about with 2 superb low saves before Edin beat him with a classic shot into the top right corner.
Nigel got a yellow card for a foul on Edin but Edin got his own back after he recovered,showing some good quick feet and a powerfull cross shot to the far corner.No golden goal today as the game ended at 3.1.A bunch stayed out for some shooting practice which was a mixture of free kicks over a mannequin wall and 20 yarders from the D. Kolarov led the way with his free kicks.Not that many in but almost all on target especially if you count hitting the bar ( I know it isnt really) at least 3 times.
Nigel did manage to beat Joe once and got the dance out but mostly Joe was very hard to beat and into prego time.i.e shouting prego every time he saved on. Not sure what it really means but to Joe it's thanks for an easy save!Edin was watching and using an ice pack on the leg where Nigel had clobbered him,Kolo was working away with Brian Kidd,AJ was finishing well and with great power in his shotsand Stu Talyor got a round of applause for one great save,Pizarro was shooting for a change and not just feeding the others and overall it was a lot of fun.
As they did the usual early jogs,stretches and fitness exercises I noticed there were 6 keepers today working on a far pitch.That's a lot of keepers! Keep ball circles followed with a difference as it was 4 a side with full movement and no restrictions on the touches allowed.One moment in this told me Vinnie was back as he threw himself into a challenge,might well be ready for Saturday!Then a moment of "fun" as Micah and Mario challenged and went down in a heap.Photographers would have been able to make something of it as they were disentangling but the comment near me said it all ..." the 2 brothers!"
sh
Off for some more exercises before Mancini took a team for some specific work and it was on a pitch where our dear friends the photographers could get a good view.Those not involved played in a head tennis game. Time was spent on attacking plays plus attacking corners and free kicks.At one time it was Mancini taking the kicks and of course making sure they cleared the front defender! 2 guys I was watching with (here for the Soccerex conference in Manchester) was impressed with all the movement they were seeing.Mancini then changed the team around a bit with 5 or 6 new players and repeated some of the same work.
Then into the game which was just 9 a side as a few had gone in and immediately there were some great saves from Joe and Costel.Mario missed an easy header when he was surprised a corner was missed by the big defenders but then some clever work from Clichy set up a nice goal for Silva.Joe was his usual vocal self urging his team to score when getting good chances.I wont actually repeat his words but he is entertaining.
Edin then had a good heading chance which he powered down and somehow it got through Costel despite frantic efforts to claw it back.The goal was given and I was asked for confirmation in lieu of goalline technology. The keeper coach gave it from the half way line because it was a crap save anyway:) Costel showed more of what he is really about with 2 superb low saves before Edin beat him with a classic shot into the top right corner.
Nigel got a yellow card for a foul on Edin but Edin got his own back after he recovered,showing some good quick feet and a powerfull cross shot to the far corner.No golden goal today as the game ended at 3.1.A bunch stayed out for some shooting practice which was a mixture of free kicks over a mannequin wall and 20 yarders from the D. Kolarov led the way with his free kicks.Not that many in but almost all on target especially if you count hitting the bar ( I know it isnt really) at least 3 times.
Nigel did manage to beat Joe once and got the dance out but mostly Joe was very hard to beat and into prego time.i.e shouting prego every time he saved on. Not sure what it really means but to Joe it's thanks for an easy save!Edin was watching and using an ice pack on the leg where Nigel had clobbered him,Kolo was working away with Brian Kidd,AJ was finishing well and with great power in his shotsand Stu Talyor got a round of applause for one great save,Pizarro was shooting for a change and not just feeding the others and overall it was a lot of fun.