by Douglas Higginbottom » Fri Jan 04, 2013 1:23 pm
Got there early today which was just as well as most parking spaces had already gone.Mario arrived as I got out of my car and one camera crew snapped him as he went in and the left straightaway. The vultures were gathering outside the venue for the press conference with uncertainty remaining as to whether Mancini would be there.Never in doubt imo that he would be as it was proved.I listened to the first part of the press conference before typing this and Mancini is right in what he said as it was not a fight yesterday.He did lose his temper for a short while yesterday but that's gone and we move on.
The pitch for today had few viewing places for anyone and really only 1 for photographers but surprisingly ,yet again,nothing had been done to block it.I got into position with Neil from BMoon and we saw 18 players come out,including Mario of course and we watched business as usual.The 18 included Kolarov,fully involved as well as Suarez and Lopes but not yet Rodwell although he was out again working 1 on 1.Guidetti was not involved today but I do hope there has been no setback and it was just part of his fitness regime to be inside today
Mancini took a team away early for some regular team work before they all got together for a passing game,Two touch stuff mainly using small nets and who else scored the first goal but Mario. Followed by Edin,Zaba and Barry.Watching on,apart from the usual bunch of "onlookers" was Chief Exec ,Soriano ( don't know the spelling) no doubt having a good look at the existing facilities with it's strengths and weaknesses.And so onto the game.
A quality early goal set the standard as Milner looked up to see Lopes free at the back of the 6 hard box and found him with a perfect cross ball.One touch to control it and a top finish by the young man. Milner added his own finish shortly after with a screamer from 20 yards.Then a BBC video cameraman interrupted and asked me if he could use my ladders for a second or two.I don't think he was too pleased with my answer of not a chance in hell.He managed to move some young utd fans from a tree stump to climb up and take some footage which he said was for BBC news at one.I aksed if the pictures were any good through the curtain and he said he couldn't see much and couldn't even see if Mario was on the pitch!
Lopes nearly scored again but for a top class block by Kolo.Then at the other end a good save from a Sinclair effort fell to Suarez and with Joe Hart screaming from the other end of the pitch for him to finish it,Denis coolly took a touch around a desperate defender and slotted it home.Then another goal where Barry hit the post for Sinclair to slot in the rebound.I think the game was due to end then but they played on I assume with the golden goal call coming.It didn't take long as Edin ,I think, cut the ball back for Mario to knock it in.He hadn't played a major part till then but it was good finish.
A few stayed out for a bit more.Kolo and Aleks for some running, Nasti working with Gregucci and it appeared mostly on passing and then Mario and Sinclair with some shooting practice. One of Mario's early shots was saved by Joe but he took it full on in the stomach/chest and it really seemed to wind him.Mario was really striking the ball well and 2 keepers were struggling to stop anything. Gradually things started to even out with both keepers Joe and Wright making some good saves and Sinclair who wasn't on fire at the start getting better and better.