All good at Carrington today.The pitch they use on the day before games had been tarpaulined overnight and was in top condition.The same 20 from yesterday on show again. No sign of Milner or Kolarov but both are doing well as is Micah although the word there is it's a longer recovery as it was a bad one. Plenty of warm up exercises followed by regular hand ball and one and tow touch games.
In the 5 a side nets Carlos scored a tap in first goal which was followed by a header from Zaba ( not easy in small 5 a side nets) and then one from Edin. Carlos came close late on as he hit the bar from the full length of the pitch.When it came to full nets and headers only to score it was Maicon with the only goal.Back into the 5 a side nets game and Barry scored form an Edin cross pass and then Barry passed for Mario to tap in.
Yesterday's was a good session and focussed a lot on tactical and team preparation aspects but somehow I felt today the players had upped the it at a little in the games they were playing.There just seemed more energy and zip through the whole squad.After some more exercises in and out of cones,poles and ladders it was into a game to finish with played on half a pitch.
An early goal came from Sinclair moving quickly onto a deflected Edin cross shot.Yaya flicked a post with a shot from 20 yards,Carlos was everywhere including tackling back deep on his own half and then Rekik was unlucky to give a penalty away when a ball bounced off his knee and hit his arm.Mario took the penalty and lashed it home.
Maicon had a great shot which was very well saved by Panti and Rekik knocked the rebound over, Mario scored with a miss hit left foot volley,Barry just over and then just wide.Panti again saved brilliantly,this time from Carlos tipping the shot onto a post and the rebound also hit a post from Rodders. Joe Hart at the other end wasn't a happy bunny that his team weren't scoring after he had been left exposed.
And there it ended with just 3 staying out for more. Edin for shooting practice and Mario for free kicks and shots.The good news for me is that Mario didn't hit me today. Yesterday I was more behind a net and today I was side onto the pitch.He did get one ball sailing way over my head though and into the showjumping field behind me.The other staying out and working on dealing with crosses was Gael.The man is a top pro.