A 2pm session today but when I got there at 1.50 no signs of anything imminent.At least the EDS boys were out so I went around there to see a bit of them in action already under the close watching eye of Patrick Vieira.A few minutes later the 1st team squad did come out all 17 of them so still a few missing as there were yesterday.Bloody freezing today so no surprise there were only 2 regulars playing in shorts.
Jogs and stretching exercises over,Mancini took a defensive unit away for some work.A back 4 and 3 midfield players while the rest stayed for some finishing practice from crosses supplied by 2 coaches.Some good and some poor finishing as you might expect but at least most of the better ones were from our strikers.Still plenty flew over the fences and netting to keep the watching youngsters active throwing the balls back.Not that that was why they were there but City had a security guy there to ensure they came back.Even one which stuck about 30 feet up a tree which one brave soul (aka an idiot) climbed up to get down.
Mancini changed the group around that he worked with but when that session finished it was into an 11 v 11 game. A few EDS boys drafted in to make up the numbers.Suarez and Lopes I think but maybe also Leigh and Bossaerts.It was a long way to see through a curtain :) Sort of interesting watching although I missed quite a lot chatting to the security guy. Good bloke and good City fan too.
I didn't see a goal but might have missed some and the main notable thing was actually Mancini stopping the game at times to speak to individuals. I can only assume to explain what they should have done either on or off the ball.Yaya,Milner and Zaba got some of the wisdom.Joe Hart in the goal I was nearest too must lose his voice at times with all the shouting he does.Often giving instructions to the defence as a whole on when to push up or what to beware of, at times shouting/warning an individual about a run being made or maybe just shouting encouragement or praising a player after they did something good.
3rd day in a row now for training this week and 2 more still to go before the Chelsea game will have given Mancini plenty of time to get the team ready for Chelsea and shake off the last prem game debacle.