All set up and ready to go when I arrived but the players seemed to take an age to come out. Masses of other watchers also lined up inside to watch.More than usual so I expect Inside City will tell us why tomorrow. The regular day before a game was the training plan today with two sets of 5 a side nets plus big nets to score in but first it was all about some fitness routines.
20 players there today and the most notable early thing was that Micah didn't take part in any of the fitness routines as he had a long chat with the boss.He eventually joined in when they were doing keep ball circles.The spirit in the group was great as I could tell when the keep ball circles were done right under my nose.CT,SN,AK full of chat and arguments when told it was them to go in the middle.JL as ever could be heard but I still don't think I have heard a sound from Nasti!
Then onto a pass/move session.Always good to see players giving passing options and also to see the pressing and anticipation of passes when on the defensive side of things.I know he gets stick but Javi looked good as he often does with his reading of the game and simple passing.Then into the game with different sized nets and ,as he always seems to Micah scored the only headed goal.Rodders and Edin scored in the 5 a side nets.Then it was a short game with just 1 set of 5 a side nets and Carlos got the only goal.
Time now for a full game on half a pitch and a bus load from Teeside turned up to watch training and hopefully get autographs. All over the trees and fencing.Bit strange really as only a few were City fans but they all wanted autographs.The game was full on and :
Milner headed wide from a corner
Silva hit a post
zaba hit the bar with a header from a Clichy cross
Carlos scored (mackem teesiders were talking so I was distracted!)
Costel saved with his feet from Carlos
AK cleaned out Milner and then Garcia
Massive handball shout on Kolo when he blocked an AK cross
but it ended with that one goal. Micah and Vinnie stayed for some extra work and AK and SS stayed for some shooting as I think did Clichy. Now off to Hyde for the under 21's game v Norwich.