Training Monday 21/12

[Douglas Higginbottom]

was interesting. Obviously inside the fence and as usual Bellers was out first and closely followed by Petrov. Not sure exactly who was there but it was clear that Adebayor wasn't. Probably with an injury. Extra security evident today as well as 3 bouncers were parading around the fencing to make sure nobody got up to anything.Initially we were told that Mancini was there but not outside but he must have sneaked out later and was fully involved in the training.

The 3 bouncer guys were great at their job as they walked around the fence a couple of times but always seemed to slow to a stop at where they could watch inside :) That just gave Lewis enough time to look over the fence from a lovely spot on top of a gate.So Lewis is best placed to give some detail of what happened.

The little I saw was a replica of what I have seen for a long time now. Some defensive work where the team worked as a unit to close down plus some attacking play involving quick one touch play and finishing with crosses and a finish. Didn't always work as in the past but it will have been much more about Mancini and Kidd getting to see the players first hand a seeing how the perform.

It was a little less intense than in the past but that will lergely have been about communication. I think we saw this afternoon that his english is pretty good but maybe not ideal for shouting instructions all around a pitch. Kidd seemed close at hand much of the time and definitely speaking closely with individuals at times.

Whilst the attacking plays were being worked on( involving Tevez/Robi/Bellers/Petrov/RSC/Benjani/Weiss) there was separate work at the far end of the pitch for other players. Mostly I saw just warm up type exercises but I know also there was plenty of pass and move stuff which again would have been useful to see for the new pairing. 2 other Italians I belive were overseeing this but I don't know names yet.

Anyway over to Lewis in case he can add some more detail from his special main stand seat.

[Mase]

How was the moral? Any players sulking?

[Dubciteh]

thanks, seem so strange, you goin to keep at it doug yeah?

[Wonderwall]

Are you taking italian lessons Doug? It may be difficult to get behind the curtain now with all the changes :-( We need to try and get Miss Kloss to get an audience with Cookie monster.

[Twobob]

I have a 1920's gangster outfit I got for a fancy dress - you could borrow that Doug and you may get behined the Iron Curtain ;-)

Cheers Dougie - with anyluck Mr Kidd is in the know about the request for a Pass :-)

[Beeks]

Ciao Doug...Gratzi!

[edge275]

Ciao Doug...Gratzi!

Someone needs to take a picture of Gary Cook in the nack when he's coming out the shower. A bit of photoshop with some dogs and he'll have his pass in no time.

[Blueboylewis]

cheers doug. Yes i had a very nice view from that gate. Anyway, onto the report. Mine wont be as good but oh well hey. All seemed a bit quiet and calm as would have been expected just after a change in management. The players just did the professional thing and got on with the job. Bellamy was fine and it is probably just the papers writing crap as always! As doug pointed out they concentrated on defensive and attaling drills. One was when the coach was moving sideways with the ball and the defensive line moved across as a unit moving in the direction of the ball. The keepers were in the corner practising there catching and so on and that is about it.. I can not make it tomorrow doug as i have a dentist appointment! But i will be able to come on wednesday and whenever else if that is ok please mate. Send me a pm or something doug and i will talk to you from there. But overall a pretty quiet session but it will get better.

[Beefymcfc]

One was when the coach was moving sideways with the ball and the defensive line moved across as a unit moving in the direction of the ball.

Thanks for the reports Dougie and Lewis, however, if we have had to revert to what you said there, then God help us!

[Douglas Higginbottom]

Cheers Lewis. I will try to find out tomorrow whether they will train on Wednesday but I might not be able to.

Yes I certainly will keep going along. I still need the exercise and unless I am formally barred who knows what will happen. It is clear now why I haven't heard from Vicky Kloss as she obviously had more important things to focus on.

That defensive drill is pretty standard stuff. Obviously the defensive side is key to success or failure but from everything we have witnessed this year it's much more about concentration than anything else.Some organisational stuff but defenders just doing their jobs and not miskicking in front of goal and leaving the man they were told to mark or.... there are plenty of mistakes we could highlight.

We shall have to wait and see.

[Biamp]

Thanks Doug and Lewis for the report, and hope there will be better training sessions as the Stoke game coming up pretty fast.

[john@staustell]

One was when the coach was moving sideways with the ball and the defensive line moved across as a unit moving in the direction of the ball.

Thanks for the reports Dougie and Lewis, however, if we have had to revert to what you said there, then God help us!

Funny you should say that Beefy, as I've noticed top defensive teams doing a similar thing in matches. Maybe it's better than our previous randomness eh, or at least a start?

[Douglas Higginbottom]

One was when the coach was moving sideways with the ball and the defensive line moved across as a unit moving in the direction of the ball.

Thanks for the reports Dougie and Lewis, however, if we have had to revert to what you said there, then God help us!

Funny you should say that Beefy, as I've noticed top defensive teams doing a similar thing in matches. Maybe it's better than our previous randomness eh, or at least a start?

It's a standard approach and one that City have worked on in training a lot in the past.