Training Friday 2/10

[Douglas Higginbottom]

After a few days off it was back to work today in the miserable drizzly rain at Carrington. Everybody there excpet Robinho who is still 2 weeks away. Great to see Vinnie back with the group too. A load of the usual warm up routines all done with a smile and plenty of good effort. I watched the keepers for a while and Shay really stood out. Not too bad for all the other 4 keeprs on show but Shay really is special. 4 guys smashing volleys and half volleys at him from 5 yards or so and his handling was immaculate and when needed the firm had was there to turn the ball away.

The rest moved into playing a passing game of 9 a side. I think it was 2 touch and the pace , movement and skill was impressive. So was the challenge by NDJ on Bellers which ended with Nigel picking him up with smiles on both sides. 2 gladiators in action!
They then changed to play 6 a side with a third team scattered around the touchline and used to join in with one touch only. Again very impressive. The quality was superb and it was all done with fast pass and move. I think I can safely say everyone looked good today.
Nigel really does enjoy his training and like Bellers expects maximum effeort from all around. In one tackle he took 2 of the oppostion out plus one of his own team! Sounds worse than it was as he slid in and the others took avoiding action but he clearly wasn't going to miss that tackle. SWP at one moment was sliding in to clear at his back post and then within a few seconds was smashing a goal at the other end.

Johnno was really putting it in as was Micah. His response to being left out looks just about right. Just like SWP at one time clearing brilliantly with a last ditch lunge to block a shot and then meeting a cross superbly to score at the other end. He wasn't too impressed though when Nigel used him for an in off goal! NDJ was one of the off pitch players and decided to smash the ball into the centre of the 6 yard box. Micah was looking to cover a run and the ball smashed into his back and in for a goal. NDJ tried to convince him he meant it!

Petrov was very lively and playing with a smile, Toure was all over the place, Stevie looked great and in setting one goal up showed amazing coolness in the 6 yard box to create the time and space.Vinnie looked very good for his first time back and I would expect will be in contention for the match after Villa. As I said they were all quality and very lively. Even Hughes said he perhaps ought to give them 3 days off more often!

[mr_nool]

Cheers Doug!

Sounds like a great and very positive training. Great to see that almost the whole squad is fit, and particulary to see tha Vince is almost fit for fight!

[trueblue64]

Thanks Doug, nice to see everyone is fighting for there places.

[Fish111]

Nice one. Excellant as usual Doug. Hope you had a brolly, ala Maclaren style!!

[13021J]

Thanks Doug

How did RSC look? He's in The Sun today saying he and Ade can play together (awesome combo)

Also how long is the usual training session for these guys, do they do any work indoors i.e looking at video etc?

[Biamp]

Cheers Doug, the spirit is there which is something great. How did Ade look? Who's the best striker we have at the moment, especially after we got RSC back too?

Is there any player who is short of fitness beside Vinnie?

[Chinners]

Top stuff Doug, sounds like we are aiming to muller everyone this season ... hurrah!

[Douglas Higginbottom]

I think they regularly do work indoors , whether in the gym or in watching videos and tactical discussions.

Ade looked fine and in great spirits. It will be very interesting watching all the striking talent we have and how it develops over the season. I see no reason why any combination at all would work and I certainly would not rule out Ade playing with RSC. RSC looks fit now but so far we havent really seen the classic goalscorer in training. Some of course but I am sure the touch will return and hopefully where it counts most in matches.

The traing will usually be about 90 minutes with more if some stay back for a bit extra.

And yes I was doing the brolly bit

[Burt]

I think they regularly do work indoors , whether in the gym or in watching videos and tactical discussions.

Ade looked fine and in great spirits. It will be very interesting watching all the striking talent we have and how it develops over the season. I see no reason why any combination at all would work and I certainly would not rule out Ade playing with RSC. RSC looks fit now but so far we havent really seen the classic goalscorer in training. Some of course but I am sure the touch will return and hopefully where it counts most in matches.

The traing will usually be about 90 minutes with more if some stay back for a bit extra.

And yes I was doing the brolly bit

A gladiator to the last Doug:o)

Thanks as always mate.

[eastlandsblue]

Doug your'e threads always put a smile on my face, cheers mate

[13021J]

I think they regularly do work indoors , whether in the gym or in watching videos and tactical discussions.

Ade looked fine and in great spirits. It will be very interesting watching all the striking talent we have and how it develops over the season. I see no reason why any combination at all would work and I certainly would not rule out Ade playing with RSC. RSC looks fit now but so far we havent really seen the classic goalscorer in training. Some of course but I am sure the touch will return and hopefully where it counts most in matches.

The traing will usually be about 90 minutes with more if some stay back for a bit extra.

And yes I was doing the brolly bit

Not a bad life is it?

[dario2739]

Doug, you don't waste much time do you! lol
I went down today for the first time to watch the training, and Doug summed it up superbly - very impressive session I thought, and Hughes and the coaching staff were all in good spirits too - Mark Bowen found a stray rugby ball at the end of the session (from Sale's training ground next door) and MH went on to show that not all Welshmen are naturals with the oval ball!
Overall - apart from the sh!tty weather, it was good to watch, and nice to put a face to Doug and the other lads down there.

[CITYSTEVEDON]

is superman looking right now, i think a couple of days rest will do him good[ no hill climbing ] also good on you D for keeping us WORKERS up to speed. only joking D

[dario2739]

Cheers Citystevedon - the reason this was my first visit to Carrington is because of work... however an enforced spell of leave, called redundancy means I have a bit of time on my hands unfortunately!!!

[shawzy]

Thanx DH and great reporting as usual..
On what was touched upon before.I would love to see Ade and RSC play upfront together.
We have so many systems and terrific players to choose from, it must be a nitemare for the gaffer.
Im sure all the lads will get a runout depending on who we play at the time.Really is great to see the unity and the players really enjoying there training.
Bring on the Villa.Cant wait.

[cjhaz69]

i bumped into robinho in the alex hospital yesterday, hes still got that grey cast thing on his leg so 2 weeks sounds very optimistic

[CITYSTEVEDON]

Cheers Citystevedon - the reason this was my first visit to Carrington is because of work... however an enforced spell of leave, called redundancy means I have a bit of time on my hands unfortunately!!!

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooops wrong D it should have been DH

[Douglas Higginbottom]

Cheers Citystevedon - the reason this was my first visit to Carrington is because of work... however an enforced spell of leave, called redundancy means I have a bit of time on my hands unfortunately!!!

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooops wrong D it should have been DH

Thought you were targetting me lol I've done my bit and now can enjoy retirement watching training and passing a bit back to fellow blues wherever they are and it aint work!

[Slim]

Cheers dougie,, no after effects lingering over stevie I take it then?

[Douglas Higginbottom]

Cheers dougie,, no after effects lingering over stevie I take it then?

Nothing that I could see. The fitness coaches said he was fine and much chirpier on Tuesday when he first came back and today he was all over the place as is the norm and his touch at times was exquisite. Will he get back in the team though?