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Walking to reception today and got the first view of Mario's car for the day, a black porsche! He was in reception in the middle of an autograph session on shirts,balls,pictures.Two Italian coaches asked him for a quick photograph and he obliged with a great mean and moody pose. Nigel popped in to offer some special chocolates sprinkled with gold (really!). Never dull in the reception area:)

Out to the training pitch and one of the trees behind a goal was well populated with City fans.I saw MJ going off to train with the EDS boys and I thought I saw Razak but I must be wrong.He isnt back with us is he? The mood within the team is really good and talking briefly with Brian Kidd he is totally convinced there is plenty left in the race for the title. Milner seemed in an extra good mood laughing and joking as they gathered and when Fausto did a few tricks with a ball he just rugby tackled him and flattened him to the ground.Aguero looked really happy to be out there and has a new short haircut to go with it.

A full squad of 21 out again with Pizarro back after missing the game yesterday.Mancini did a longer than usual briefing chat to start with before they went off into 2 groups for the early warm ups.After that Mancini took all the defennders away for some tactical work and the rest just split into 3's to knock balls around.It wasn't going to be a long session today or as intense as they quickly got the game going to finish off. Kompany,Lescott and Silva sat this out seemingly just to get extra rest so it was a 10 a side game.

Good competitive game even if not as strong as yesterday but it grew as the game went on without goals.Quite a few good efforts but mostly it was defences in charge and Micah on one side with Savic on the other looking good.For me the best attacker on view was Tevez.If he isnt fully match fit he is very very close and he showed in this short game how dangerous he is.Very quick feet and always a massive threat on the ball as he can squeeze through gaps that aren't really there.Even when it doesnt work the ball can bounce anywhere as the defence get into panic trying to stop him.One amazing break got him through 3 or 4 and his shot hit the inside of the post and somehow was scrambled away.

Some excellent late blocks when goals looked likely.One of the best from Milner looked to have got him injured.But he's a Yorkie and was up and at it in no time.Then it was golden goal time and it came very quickly.Not sure who crossed the ball but the finish was Pablo Di Canio at his best. A superb bicycle kick finish on the volley into the far corner which got an "oh my god" from Edin.So yet again Nigel De Jong scores a goal and finishes a winner!

That ended the main training but a bunch stayed back for shooting practice.JM,ED,NDJ,AJ,OH,AK and MB. Clichy as ever stayed but worked with a coach initially on defensive headers and then on some wide defensive work including interceptions and attacking from there.Nasri also did a little extra work plus some chatting with the boss.Best performers in the shooting practice were AK (no suprise)AJ ( his shot when he gets it right is as good as anyone's and much better than most and Stu Taylor thinks he reserves his best always for him!) and Joe Hart ( some magnificent saves)Hargreaves was interesting.Although he didnt score many he seemed to send the keeper the wrong way only for the shot to hit woodwork or sneak just wide.As ever some of the banter during this session was great but I left as the last 4 were getting to the end.The last 4 were NDJ,MB,AJ and OH.

Thankings

Looks like there's going to be a dilemma for the manager there, 4 strikers available, who does he choose?

Cheers Doug.

Nice one Doug.

A win on Sunday & Kiddo will be proved correct.

Beefymcfc wrote:Looks like there's going to be a dilemma for the manager there, 4 strikers available, who does he choose?

Cheers Doug.

I'd go with Aguero and Balotelli myself but what do I know. Mind you, I have got no idea how fit they all are.

Cheers for the report, Doug, as always.

Tokyo Blue wrote:

Beefymcfc wrote:Looks like there's going to be a dilemma for the manager there, 4 strikers available, who does he choose?

Cheers Doug.

I'd go with Aguero and Balotelli myself but what do I know. Mind you, I have got no idea how fit they all are.

Cheers for the report, Doug, as always.

I honestly don't think they play well together as we don't have any form of forward figure to move the oppo's defence around. I wonder if Mancini would think of giving Silva a break and going with Tevez in his place, he seemed to enjoy the roll when he came in against Sunderland?

Beefymcfc wrote:

Tokyo Blue wrote:

Beefymcfc wrote:Looks like there's going to be a dilemma for the manager there, 4 strikers available, who does he choose?

Cheers Doug.

I'd go with Aguero and Balotelli myself but what do I know. Mind you, I have got no idea how fit they all are.

Cheers for the report, Doug, as always.

I honestly don't think they play well together as we don't have any form of forward figure to move the oppo's defence around. I wonder if Mancini would think of giving Silva a break and going with Tevez in his place, he seemed to enjoy the roll when he came in against Sunderland?

They did alright in the 6-1 though it was a while ago now. Maybe no forward figure might be the new trick we need to unhinge our opposition.

I would not play Silva v Arse. If you repeatedly fail to perform, you lose your place in the team.

Hart
Richards Kompany Lescott Clichy
Milner Barry Yaya
Nasri Balotelli Aguero

I believe that team will beat Arsenal and, given a fair rub of the green, anyone else we have got to play this season as well.

Tokyo Blue wrote:

Beefymcfc wrote:

Tokyo Blue wrote:

Beefymcfc wrote:Looks like there's going to be a dilemma for the manager there, 4 strikers available, who does he choose?

Cheers Doug.

I'd go with Aguero and Balotelli myself but what do I know. Mind you, I have got no idea how fit they all are.

Cheers for the report, Doug, as always.

I honestly don't think they play well together as we don't have any form of forward figure to move the oppo's defence around. I wonder if Mancini would think of giving Silva a break and going with Tevez in his place, he seemed to enjoy the roll when he came in against Sunderland?

They did alright in the 6-1 though it was a while ago now. Maybe no forward figure might be the new trick we need to unhinge our opposition.

I would not play Silva v Arse. If you repeatedly fail to perform, you lose your place in the team.

Hart
Richards Kompany Lescott Clichy
Milner Barry Yaya
Nasri Balotelli Aguero

I believe that team will beat Arsenal and, given a fair rub of the green, anyone else we have got to play this season as well.

I agree and I like that team quite a lot.

I'd absolutely play Nasri and think he will flourish with a point to prove and a hostile reception

ant london wrote:

Tokyo Blue wrote:

Beefymcfc wrote:

Tokyo Blue wrote:

Beefymcfc wrote:Looks like there's going to be a dilemma for the manager there, 4 strikers available, who does he choose?

Cheers Doug.

I'd go with Aguero and Balotelli myself but what do I know. Mind you, I have got no idea how fit they all are.

Cheers for the report, Doug, as always.

I honestly don't think they play well together as we don't have any form of forward figure to move the oppo's defence around. I wonder if Mancini would think of giving Silva a break and going with Tevez in his place, he seemed to enjoy the roll when he came in against Sunderland?

They did alright in the 6-1 though it was a while ago now. Maybe no forward figure might be the new trick we need to unhinge our opposition.

I would not play Silva v Arse. If you repeatedly fail to perform, you lose your place in the team.

Hart
Richards Kompany Lescott Clichy
Milner Barry Yaya
Nasri Balotelli Aguero

I believe that team will beat Arsenal and, given a fair rub of the green, anyone else we have got to play this season as well.

I agree and I like that team quite a lot.

I'd absolutely play Nasri and think he will flourish with a point to prove and a hostile reception

It is a good team, it always is when we've got them all fit. Not sure if he'll bring back Lescott so soon though, especially paired with Vince who wasn't 100% last time out.

How did Nasri get on against them at ours, I can't seem to remember him doing anything of note?

Tokyo Blue wrote:

Beefymcfc wrote:

Tokyo Blue wrote:

Beefymcfc wrote:Looks like there's going to be a dilemma for the manager there, 4 strikers available, who does he choose?

Cheers Doug.

I'd go with Aguero and Balotelli myself but what do I know. Mind you, I have got no idea how fit they all are.

Cheers for the report, Doug, as always.

I honestly don't think they play well together as we don't have any form of forward figure to move the oppo's defence around. I wonder if Mancini would think of giving Silva a break and going with Tevez in his place, he seemed to enjoy the roll when he came in against Sunderland?

They did alright in the 6-1 though it was a while ago now. Maybe no forward figure might be the new trick we need to unhinge our opposition.

I would not play Silva v Arse. If you repeatedly fail to perform, you lose your place in the team.

Hart
Richards Kompany Lescott Clichy
Milner Barry Yaya
Nasri Balotelli Aguero

I believe that team will beat Arsenal and, given a fair rub of the green, anyone else we have got to play this season as well.

I would go with that team too.

We played our best football this season with Milner, Barry and Yaya as our middle three. I'm not sure why Milner was pushed to subs bench with De Jong coming in, but we play better, more free-flowing football without De Jong. And if we have Milner and Barry there, they can easily do the defensive duties, plus they offer more going forward.

Beefymcfc wrote:It is a good team, it always is when we've got them all fit. Not sure if he'll bring back Lescott so soon though, especially paired with Vince who wasn't 100% last time out.

How did Nasri get on against them at ours, I can't seem to remember him doing anything of note?

Made a nice run and cross for the only goal.

Tokyo Blue wrote:

Beefymcfc wrote:It is a good team, it always is when we've got them all fit. Not sure if he'll bring back Lescott so soon though, especially paired with Vince who wasn't 100% last time out.

How did Nasri get on against them at ours, I can't seem to remember him doing anything of note?

Made a nice run and cross for the only goal.

Nah mate, that was Mario as seen on the [urlnp=http://mcfc.co.uk/citytv/Match-highlights/2011/December/City-v-Arsenal-60s-highlights18th-Dec]OS 60 Second Highlights[/urlnp] clip. That Arsenal game was, for me, the most entertaining football match that we've played this season, even with only one goal. Nasri must've played well though, we won :)

Excellent report Doug - all present and correct!

Cheers Doug, great read.

Everytime we used to see Tevez run in to the thick of it I always wished they would see the potential of having someone directly follow him in. Half the time he doesn't get through but the ball bounces free with total confusion going on. A runner looking just for that ball to short pass it or shoot would pick us up some goals imo. The same goes for Yaya's surges. We know they are going to do runs and we know most times it doesn't quite come off, what is there to lose. It is just the same as the tried and tested high ball to the tall striker with the small one looking for the knock down or loose ball in the ensuing confusion.
If City are becoming specialists in intricate football they need to try out more diverse tactics based on percentages instead of expecting things to be perfectly executed.

Beefymcfc wrote:

Tokyo Blue wrote:

Beefymcfc wrote:It is a good team, it always is when we've got them all fit. Not sure if he'll bring back Lescott so soon though, especially paired with Vince who wasn't 100% last time out.

How did Nasri get on against them at ours, I can't seem to remember him doing anything of note?

Made a nice run and cross for the only goal.

Nah mate, that was Mario as seen on the [urlnp=http://mcfc.co.uk/citytv/Match-highlights/2011/December/City-v-Arsenal-60s-highlights18th-Dec]OS 60 Second Highlights[/urlnp] clip. That Arsenal game was, for me, the most entertaining football match that we've played this season, even with only one goal. Nasri must've played well though, we won :)

Ah, thank you. Got me goals mixed up, Beef. I was thinking Aguero's v Stoke. Having been at those two matches, you'd think I'd remember but perhaps I need numerous replays.

And I agree, the Arsenal game was a cracker (despite dowd the fiddling get - I do remember that much). I hope we get similar quality football tomorrow.