Training Monday 20/1

The man with a pass and his insight into every day training at Manchester City Football Club.

Training Monday 20/1

Postby Douglas Higginbottom » Mon Jan 20, 2014 12:26 pm

Lovely sunny day to greet the 24 players who came out in their bright yellow training tops.Well 23 of them anyway with just Vinnie in sky blue.They gathered for the Pellegrini pre training briefing which was another one of those long ones so clearly important stuff to say before the Hammers game.When they broke off a couple of players didn't stay with the group.Micah we knew about as he tweeted on Saturday about being a "little stiff" plus one of Saturday's team but nothing much there as he was doing extra running with a physio.

And yes Jovetic was working fully with the group and I am pretty sure Rodders was too.A bit of jogging followed by stretches and a few short simple exercises and then a couple of keep ball circles took up the first 20 minutes or so and everything was fairly low key.Always less noise when Micah isn't fully involved.Then Pellegrini got them all organised for some corners and free kicks from all sides and all angles.

He clearly takes them very seriously as I see them worked on most times I am there and he tends to stay close to the player who takes the kick.It's a full range of kicks too which we have seen through all the games so far.They can be short with more than one variety of short ones, or near post,penalty spot or back post.The players seem to know exactly what is going to happen with nothing obvious being shouted as instructions.I think there were 3 goals scored from all the attempts with the first being from an unexpected source.

It was funny watching Yaya trying to do a Skrtel on Kun.Not easy as Kun just ducked a little and wriggled away but very funny to watch.One or two of the players will have headaches from repeatedly heading balls away. It will be interesting to see what the team will be tomorrow. When this part ended the Saturday team went in leaving the rest to play a passing game and probably finish with some shooting but that's where I called it a day as they went to the far end of the pitch for the final part.
Douglas Higginbottom
Paul Power's Tash
 
Posts: 10667
Joined: Tue Oct 21, 2008 10:42 pm

Re: Training Monday 20/1

Postby carl_feedthegoat » Mon Jan 20, 2014 12:37 pm

I hope you brought a cushion for that tree.
THEY SAY SWEARING IS DUE TO A LIMITED VOCABULARY. I KNOW THOUSANDS OF WORDS, BUT I STILL PREFER "FUCK OFF" TO "GO AWAY"
carl_feedthegoat
Donated to the site
Donated to the site
Anna Connell's Vision
 
Posts: 30683
Joined: Sun Dec 25, 2005 2:51 am
Supporter of: Man City

Re: Training Monday 20/1

Postby Beefymcfc » Mon Jan 20, 2014 12:54 pm

carl_feedthegoat wrote:I hope you brought a cushion for that tree.

That's my tree, fucker!

Cheers Doug.
In the words of my Old Man, "Life will never be the same without Man City, so get it in while you can".

The Future's Bright, The Future's Blue!!!
User avatar
Beefymcfc
Anna Connell's Vision
 
Posts: 46203
Joined: Thu Jun 21, 2007 7:14 am
Supporter of: The Mighty Blues

Re: Training Monday 20/1

Postby Douglas Higginbottom » Mon Jan 20, 2014 12:59 pm

Beefymcfc wrote:
carl_feedthegoat wrote:I hope you brought a cushion for that tree.

That's my tree, fucker!

Cheers Doug.


Just wish I could get up it.I had a long look today but decided I didn't need a hospital visit later on.
Douglas Higginbottom
Paul Power's Tash
 
Posts: 10667
Joined: Tue Oct 21, 2008 10:42 pm

Re: Training Monday 20/1

Postby ruralblue » Mon Jan 20, 2014 1:44 pm

Were Huws and Lopes there Doug or any other kids training with the 1st team??
ruralblue
Neil Young's FA Cup Winning Goal
 
Posts: 11976
Joined: Wed Aug 23, 2006 2:27 pm
Supporter of: MANCHESTER CITY
My favourite player is: KOMPANY / SILVA

Re: Training Monday 20/1

Postby Douglas Higginbottom » Mon Jan 20, 2014 4:37 pm

ruralblue wrote:Were Huws and Lopes there Doug or any other kids training with the 1st team??


Lopes was but I don't think Huws was.There was one other tho but I am keeping quiet till tomorrow :)
Douglas Higginbottom
Paul Power's Tash
 
Posts: 10667
Joined: Tue Oct 21, 2008 10:42 pm

Re: Training Monday 20/1

Postby Saul Goodman » Mon Jan 20, 2014 5:05 pm

I wonder if this means we'll see Boyata at RB tomorrow.
User avatar
Saul Goodman
Joe Hart's 29 Clean Sheets
 
Posts: 5412
Joined: Tue May 14, 2013 5:18 am
Location: Toronto
Supporter of: Manchester City
My favourite player is: Bernardo Silva

Re: Training Monday 20/1

Postby Hutch's Shoulder » Mon Jan 20, 2014 6:44 pm

Douglas Higginbottom wrote: Lopes was but I don't think Huws was.There was one other tho but I am keeping quiet till tomorrow :)


That and Jovotic are about the most interesting things about this game.

Has a semi final ever been so lacking in I excitement up both teams? At least it's in a good way for us.
User avatar
Hutch's Shoulder
Dickov's Injury Time Equaliser
 
Posts: 4424
Joined: Mon Sep 23, 2013 10:55 am
Location: Wild country near Glossop
Supporter of: City of course
My favourite player is: David Silva

Re: Training Monday 20/1

Postby South Stand Balti » Mon Jan 20, 2014 7:27 pm

Great read. Cheers Doug
South Stand Balti
Dickov's Injury Time Equaliser
 
Posts: 4005
Joined: Tue Nov 26, 2013 3:25 pm
Supporter of: Manchester City FC
My favourite player is: Yaya

Re: Training Monday 20/1

Postby nottsblue » Mon Jan 20, 2014 7:36 pm

Great read when get home from work.
nottsblue
Colin Bell's Football Brain
 
Posts: 29572
Joined: Sat Oct 05, 2013 5:17 pm
Location: Nottingham
Supporter of: manchester city
My favourite player is: niall Quinn & Kun

Re: Training Monday 20/1

Postby getdressedmctavish » Tue Jan 21, 2014 12:48 am

don't know what you think, Doug but for me the biggest tactical improvement over he who shall not be named for fear of neo Christian self flagellation breaking out is that we have worked on crossers and attackers having a clear idea of where to be. How often under the aforesaid did two strikers appear at the near post and the ball at the far. How often did Zab break into the box and no one apparently have a clue where it was going.And, as somesay, it aint rocket science.
getdressedmctavish
Donated to the site
Donated to the site
Richard Dunne's Own Goals
 
Posts: 997
Joined: Mon Jun 08, 2009 11:04 am

Re: Training Monday 20/1

Postby Foreverinbluedreams » Tue Jan 21, 2014 8:33 am

getdressedmctavish wrote:don't know what you think, Doug but for me the biggest tactical improvement over he who shall not be named for fear of neo Christian self flagellation breaking out is that we have worked on crossers and attackers having a clear idea of where to be. How often under the aforesaid did two strikers appear at the near post and the ball at the far. How often did Zab break into the box and no one apparently have a clue where it was going.And, as somesay, it aint rocket science.


Funny, I often saw Vinnie making that near post run at corners when he who shall not be named was in charge.
Foreverinbluedreams
Denis Law's Backheel
 
Posts: 9224
Joined: Tue Apr 05, 2011 8:34 pm
Supporter of: Euthanasia

Re: Training Monday 20/1

Postby Ted Hughes » Tue Jan 21, 2014 11:06 am

Foreverinbluedreams wrote:
getdressedmctavish wrote:don't know what you think, Doug but for me the biggest tactical improvement over he who shall not be named for fear of neo Christian self flagellation breaking out is that we have worked on crossers and attackers having a clear idea of where to be. How often under the aforesaid did two strikers appear at the near post and the ball at the far. How often did Zab break into the box and no one apparently have a clue where it was going.And, as somesay, it aint rocket science.


Funny, I often saw Vinnie making that near post run at corners when he who shall not be named was in charge.


At corners you saw it once or twice, but nothing like the kind of planning we are seeing now. You didn't often see many strikers making near post runs or crosses finding their man near post far post on the ground or in the air, & you didn't see strikers stepping over the ball when one runs in behind etc etc etc.

Last year, when we played Watford. Their shit strikers had more idea of how to combine together than our world class ones did.

Doug.

Is your 'secret' extra player Denayer & are we going to play 3-4-3 like the U16s apparently did yesterday ?
The pissartist formerly known as Ted

VIVA EL CITY !!!

Some take the bible for what it's worth.. when they say that the rags shall inherit the Earth...
Well I heard that the Sheikh... bought Carlos Tevez this week...& you fuckers aint gettin' nothin..
Ted Hughes
Donated to the site
Donated to the site
Colin Bell's Football Brain
 
Posts: 28488
Joined: Thu Jan 15, 2009 4:28 pm
Supporter of: Bill Turnbull
My favourite player is: Bill Turnbull

Re: Training Monday 20/1

Postby Foreverinbluedreams » Tue Jan 21, 2014 11:16 am

Ted Hughes wrote:
Foreverinbluedreams wrote:
getdressedmctavish wrote:don't know what you think, Doug but for me the biggest tactical improvement over he who shall not be named for fear of neo Christian self flagellation breaking out is that we have worked on crossers and attackers having a clear idea of where to be. How often under the aforesaid did two strikers appear at the near post and the ball at the far. How often did Zab break into the box and no one apparently have a clue where it was going.And, as somesay, it aint rocket science.


Funny, I often saw Vinnie making that near post run at corners when he who shall not be named was in charge.


At corners you saw it once or twice, but nothing like the kind of planning we are seeing now. You didn't often see many strikers making near post runs or crosses finding their man near post far post on the ground or in the air, & you didn't see strikers stepping over the ball when one runs in behind etc etc etc.

Last year, when we played Watford. Their shit strikers had more idea of how to combine together than our world class ones did.

Doug.

Is your 'secret' extra player Denayer & are we going to play 3-4-3 like the U16s apparently did yesterday ?


I saw it quite often in fact. The problem being lack of variation and also poor deliveries. The variation part has definitely been adressed by Pellegrini and when those near post runs are being made they're not just being made by the same player every time with Demichelis, Kolarov and Garcia getting in on the act this season.
Foreverinbluedreams
Denis Law's Backheel
 
Posts: 9224
Joined: Tue Apr 05, 2011 8:34 pm
Supporter of: Euthanasia

Re: Training Monday 20/1

Postby Wonderwall » Tue Jan 21, 2014 11:37 am

I wonder how long it will be before the opposition study our corners? On Sat against Cardiff Navas went to take a corner and Silva strolled over and stood on the edge of the area and not one Cardiff player moved towards him. It was obvious it was a training ground routine and that Silva would be recipient on the floor.... If many of us can see it, I dont understand why the Pro's dont.
User avatar
Wonderwall
Colin Bell's Football Brain
 
Posts: 28906
Joined: Wed Dec 14, 2005 2:58 pm
Location: Sale
Supporter of: Gods own team

Re: Training Monday 20/1

Postby Ted Hughes » Tue Jan 21, 2014 11:53 am

Foreverinbluedreams wrote:
Ted Hughes wrote:
Foreverinbluedreams wrote:
getdressedmctavish wrote:don't know what you think, Doug but for me the biggest tactical improvement over he who shall not be named for fear of neo Christian self flagellation breaking out is that we have worked on crossers and attackers having a clear idea of where to be. How often under the aforesaid did two strikers appear at the near post and the ball at the far. How often did Zab break into the box and no one apparently have a clue where it was going.And, as somesay, it aint rocket science.


Funny, I often saw Vinnie making that near post run at corners when he who shall not be named was in charge.


At corners you saw it once or twice, but nothing like the kind of planning we are seeing now. You didn't often see many strikers making near post runs or crosses finding their man near post far post on the ground or in the air, & you didn't see strikers stepping over the ball when one runs in behind etc etc etc.

Last year, when we played Watford. Their shit strikers had more idea of how to combine together than our world class ones did.

Doug.

Is your 'secret' extra player Denayer & are we going to play 3-4-3 like the U16s apparently did yesterday ?


I saw it quite often in fact. The problem being lack of variation and also poor deliveries. The variation part has definitely been adressed by Pellegrini and when those near post runs are being made they're not just being made by the same player every time with Demichelis, Kolarov and Garcia getting in on the act this season.


Agree. But there are always players making runs to the near post at corner kicks everywhere. The difference is that now they are doing it for a reason & there is a decent chance the ball may be involved. Rarely in the past did the ball actually have anything to do with it, that's what I mean by my 'once or twice' comment.

What mctavish is talking about though, is more purpose from open play & players going near/far post in the expectation the ball may go there (still not doing it enough yet imo, but getting there).

I used to sit in line & watch our overlapping fullbacks run through, dither, then pass the ball to the nearest defender or back to a player stood trying to cross on his wrong foot with nobody to cross to, whilst our strikers stood on the edge of the box or at the far post & it drove me mental. It was such a waste of talent.

And we NEVER hit a first time cross, & on the flukey occasion we did, none of the strikers was expecting it because it never happens.

We had one wide move, the one we did v the rags with Milner/Richards etc. Everyone saw that on the day, & that was half our attacking plan sussed for the next two years.
The pissartist formerly known as Ted

VIVA EL CITY !!!

Some take the bible for what it's worth.. when they say that the rags shall inherit the Earth...
Well I heard that the Sheikh... bought Carlos Tevez this week...& you fuckers aint gettin' nothin..
Ted Hughes
Donated to the site
Donated to the site
Colin Bell's Football Brain
 
Posts: 28488
Joined: Thu Jan 15, 2009 4:28 pm
Supporter of: Bill Turnbull
My favourite player is: Bill Turnbull

Re: Training Monday 20/1

Postby Douglas Higginbottom » Tue Jan 21, 2014 11:57 am

It's great that we have a lot of variations from corners but always the bottom line for me is that there is real intent with lots of aggressive movement.Too often we sort of lumped it in and hoped and of course tried that near post routine where we didn't clear the first defender.

Of course I must not disclose exactly what they do but as Ted says it's not real rocket science as they do it time and again in actual matches for all to see.The beauty of course is they don't have one idea but plenty.The short one will be used a lot if the defence don't move into position to stop it.If they do it takes a player away and another option will become apparent.Exactly who decides on which one to go for and how it's communicated is another interesting aspect.

As for whether it's Denayer and we might play 3.4.3 the answer is no it's not Denayer and I don't have a clue if they will play 3.4.3.I very much doubt it.Not sure Rusnak would fit into a 3.4.3 :)
Douglas Higginbottom
Paul Power's Tash
 
Posts: 10667
Joined: Tue Oct 21, 2008 10:42 pm

Re: Training Monday 20/1

Postby Foreverinbluedreams » Tue Jan 21, 2014 12:07 pm

How would you rate Micah's chances of starting Doug? I'm guessing if he wasn't fully involved the day before a game they would be slim.
Foreverinbluedreams
Denis Law's Backheel
 
Posts: 9224
Joined: Tue Apr 05, 2011 8:34 pm
Supporter of: Euthanasia

Re: Training Monday 20/1

Postby Foreverinbluedreams » Tue Jan 21, 2014 12:09 pm

Ted Hughes wrote:
Foreverinbluedreams wrote:
Ted Hughes wrote:
Foreverinbluedreams wrote:
getdressedmctavish wrote:don't know what you think, Doug but for me the biggest tactical improvement over he who shall not be named for fear of neo Christian self flagellation breaking out is that we have worked on crossers and attackers having a clear idea of where to be. How often under the aforesaid did two strikers appear at the near post and the ball at the far. How often did Zab break into the box and no one apparently have a clue where it was going.And, as somesay, it aint rocket science.


Funny, I often saw Vinnie making that near post run at corners when he who shall not be named was in charge.


At corners you saw it once or twice, but nothing like the kind of planning we are seeing now. You didn't often see many strikers making near post runs or crosses finding their man near post far post on the ground or in the air, & you didn't see strikers stepping over the ball when one runs in behind etc etc etc.

Last year, when we played Watford. Their shit strikers had more idea of how to combine together than our world class ones did.

Doug.

Is your 'secret' extra player Denayer & are we going to play 3-4-3 like the U16s apparently did yesterday ?


I saw it quite often in fact. The problem being lack of variation and also poor deliveries. The variation part has definitely been adressed by Pellegrini and when those near post runs are being made they're not just being made by the same player every time with Demichelis, Kolarov and Garcia getting in on the act this season.


Agree. But there are always players making runs to the near post at corner kicks everywhere. The difference is that now they are doing it for a reason & there is a decent chance the ball may be involved. Rarely in the past did the ball actually have anything to do with it, that's what I mean by my 'once or twice' comment.

What mctavish is talking about though, is more purpose from open play & players going near/far post in the expectation the ball may go there (still not doing it enough yet imo, but getting there).

I used to sit in line & watch our overlapping fullbacks run through, dither, then pass the ball to the nearest defender or back to a player stood trying to cross on his wrong foot with nobody to cross to, whilst our strikers stood on the edge of the box or at the far post & it drove me mental. It was such a waste of talent.

And we NEVER hit a first time cross, & on the flukey occasion we did, none of the strikers was expecting it because it never happens.

We had one wide move, the one we did v the rags with Milner/Richards etc. Everyone saw that on the day, & that was half our attacking plan sussed for the next two years.


I've just read mctavish's post again and I hold my hands up, I thought he was referring exclusively to set pieces, apologies.
Foreverinbluedreams
Denis Law's Backheel
 
Posts: 9224
Joined: Tue Apr 05, 2011 8:34 pm
Supporter of: Euthanasia

Re: Training Monday 20/1

Postby Douglas Higginbottom » Tue Jan 21, 2014 12:17 pm

Foreverinbluedreams wrote:How would you rate Micah's chances of starting Doug? I'm guessing if he wasn't fully involved the day before a game they would be slim.


I agree with you.I am sure Pellers would have wanted to play him but it would seem an unnecessary risk.
Douglas Higginbottom
Paul Power's Tash
 
Posts: 10667
Joined: Tue Oct 21, 2008 10:42 pm

Next

Return to Training Reports

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 51 guests