Did Bellamy throw a tantrum?

[irblinx]

Of course its not a joke - he's our POTY so far, no doubt about it.

Whilst I don't disagree on the PoTY assessment (neck and neck with NDJ for me) before the Sunderland game he had a very quiet month (maybe two) by his standards. The fact that his return to blistering form against the Mackems was down to him being dropped in favour of Robby IMO, either due to a renewed determination to prove his worth or, at least as likely I believe, that he needed the rest. Not a bad trio to have to alternate between though, Bellers/Robby/Petrov.

I think that Villa would be more in competition with Tevez/Adebayor/RSC and whilst I don't think we really need more cover in that position (especially if RSC continues the form he showed against Sunderland whilst Ade is away) we really shouldn't pass up the opportunity to sign a player of Villa's ilk

[carl_feedthegoat]

Antti,
I see a lot of differences regarding how you accept Mr mancini, as opposed to Hughes. Now that Mancicni imposes a double training session on a players dodgy knee...it's ok. When Hughes did similar with fully fit players, he was "BULYING HIS SLAVES".
Come on Antti...let's have a bit of equity here.

The double standards are pitiful.

I HAVE TO SAY IM NOT IMPRESSED (IF IT,S FOUND TO BE TRUE) THAT BELLERS AND RSC WERE MADE TO DO DOUBLE TRAINING WHEN THEIR KNEES ARE THE WAY THEY ARE.
I CANNOT FOR THE LIFE OF ME BELIEVE THAT MANCINI DIDNT KNOW ABOUT THEIR SPECIAL TRAINING NEEDS - SURELY SOMEONE (THE PLAYERS EVEN) TOLD HIM THAT IT,S A HUGE RISK???

[zuricity]

Antti,
I see a lot of differences regarding how you accept Mr mancini, as opposed to Hughes. Now that Mancicni imposes a double training session on a players dodgy knee...it's ok. When Hughes did similar with fully fit players, he was "BULYING HIS SLAVES".
Come on Antti...let's have a bit of equity here.

The double standards are pitiful.

Ha! When did Hughes ever have a double training session ? Hughes = Nepotism. not good in a team sport. As we now see, he's gone.

If Bellamy can't make two sessions , he's got a tongue in his head and I'm sure Kidd and Mancini would understand it if he said he's feeling the stain on his knees. They might not like the fact that they can't rely on Bellamy, but they certainly wouln't want any player injured just to make a point.

[john68]

Antti,
I see a lot of differences regarding how you accept Mr mancini, as opposed to Hughes. Now that Mancicni imposes a double training session on a players dodgy knee...it's ok. When Hughes did similar with fully fit players, he was "BULYING HIS SLAVES".
Come on Antti...let's have a bit of equity here.

The double standards are pitiful.

We are doing double sessions because he has only precious few days to try and get his message through to squad. Before both seasons he was in charge, Hughes had all summer. I don't think double sessions will be any sort of standard in future.

The point I am making is the your accusation of "BULLYING" quite early last season, you were quick to jump on Hughes. Now we have a manager who makes a player with a "known" injury train beyond his capabilities. Mancini would have been well aware of this, but your attitude is totally different mate...I wonder why?

The reality is that this may just be bollox but your attitude to the thought of this happening, is supportive compared to the antagonism you showed to Hughes....again can we have some equity.
You always stated your opposition to Hughes was fair...Mmmmmmmm!!!!!

[irblinx]

Antti,
I see a lot of differences regarding how you accept Mr mancini, as opposed to Hughes. Now that Mancicni imposes a double training session on a players dodgy knee...it's ok. When Hughes did similar with fully fit players, he was "BULYING HIS SLAVES".
Come on Antti...let's have a bit of equity here.

The double standards are pitiful.

We are doing double sessions because he has only precious few days to try and get his message through to squad. Before both seasons he was in charge, Hughes had all summer. I don't think double sessions will be any sort of standard in future.

The point I am making is the your accusation of "BULLYING" quite early last season, you were quick to jump on Hughes. Now we have a manager who makes a player with a "known" injury train beyond his capabilities. Mancini would have been well aware of this, but your attitude is totally different mate...I wonder why?

The reality is that this may just be bollox but your attitude to the thought of this happening, is supportive compared to the antagonism you showed to Hughes....again can we have some equity.
You always stated your opposition to Hughes was fair...Mmmmmmmm!!!!!

John I find myself in the unhappy situation of disagreeing with you again :o) Antti clearly states the reason why he isn't having a go about us doing double sessions, I'm sure that he'll adjust his opinion if its still happening in a month.

As you rightly point out though, the reality is that this is very likely just press bollox in any case.

Hack Journo 1 "so we need to make up more stories about Cidee today"
Hack Journo 2 "Easy, Bellamy, RSC and Given were all pally with Hughes, just make something up about them in training, no other reporters can contradict us cos no-one is allowed in"

[Blueboylewis]

Did the guy off Bluemoon stay for the duration yesterday? Any mention of a Bellers strop in his report?

He left just before us mate.

[Douglas Higginbottom]

Just a few points. I left the training yesterday at the same time as NMTBluemoon and Bellers was still out there working hard as he always does.

I noticed some strange comment that it was well documented that Hughes had special training arrangements for Bellers and RSC. Could whoever posted that please point me to where they are well documented ! I would love to read such documentation. Mainly because I believe that to be complete garbage. Having seen a little of the training I can safely say that Bellers was almost always first out to training ( every day that he was fit to train), was arguably the best trainer within the whole team every time and was usually one of the last to go inside as he usually stayed behind for some extra finishing work or free kicks.

Hughes was very well aware of the problems Bellers had with injuries and was wise enough to not seek to overplay him. There were occasions where after a match he got niggles in his knees or wherever and with the medical staff it might have been deemed unwise for him to train. I t didn't happen very often though. And surprise surprise excatly the same happened with other players like SWP or Stevie if they had slight reactions to playing they wouldnt train either. It's called common sense.

As for 2 training sessions in one day I don't see a problem in general. It's a statement for sure but its also about the new management getting to know new players. From what I saw ( and I wasn't there anything like all the time) there was no serious hard training in terms of match practice. Much of the time all the players were not out together at the same time as they worked on defence and attack separately.

[DoomMerchant]

From what I saw ( and I wasn't there anything like all the time) there was no serious hard training in terms of match practice.

Get yr ass into more training sessions Dougie. If they are doing doubles you should be as well.

At least send your youthful squire BBL or that rent boy Ant Manc in to do a shift for you. Please?

thanks!

[Burt]

From what I saw ( and I wasn't there anything like all the time) there was no serious hard training in terms of match practice.

Get yr ass into more training sessions Dougie. If they are doing doubles you should be as well.

At least send your youthful squire BBL or that rent boy Ant Manc in to do a shift for you. Please?

thanks!

Here, here. I second that. Earn your dough Doug and the boys or you'll be out on your ears just like Leslie;o)

[Douglas Higginbottom]

Guilty as charged and I will try to do better in the future if I still have one.

Couldnt get there today so I have nicked the following from that other site

I was there for about half hour, was limited to what I could see.

Kompany and toure were centre backs and it was warm up match. But the thing that I noticed was quick passing on the floor not once did I see the ball in the air.
Keepers were very vocal ordering their defenders about and bellamy was chasing everything as usual. Everyone seemed fired up and Kidd was screaming orders.

After the match they concentrated on corners Mancini had them practising how to lose their marker. And obviously telling the defenders how to stay with the attacker. He was shouting english so no worrys.

Their was also a real emphasis on closing down and forcing the mistake. Brian Kidd made sure no one stopped running lets put it that way.

Just to add a few things:
1) The ball wasnt hoofed in the air at past training sessions either. Lets hope it does carry into matches more than in the past.
2) Keepers have always been vocal in training.Stu Taylor the loudest as I have said before.
3) Good to see focus at the end on corners.That stuff about losing markers has been worked on before but never enough. I know Mancini has commented somewhere about better concentration. That's what it's ultimately about in matches and we need to keep our fingers crossed.
4) Loads of work has always been done on the closing down , hunting in packs stuff. It's key and as has been said before and seems to be part of Mancinis thinking too it's the whole team not just a few.

The reaction to this post was clearly about time etc etc etc but I couldnt just post it here without a comment that it wasnt that different! A bit more emphasis on the corners at the end of course and much needed.

I have a real feeling Kidd is a massive part of this for it to succeed.

[Niall Quinns Discopants]

Working on set pieces, trying to play on the deck and defending as a team.

I like it. I like it very much.

[Citizen of Oslo]

Oh yes. I am already confident that we will see an improvement on Saturday. Very much looking forward to it. Salute.

[Douglas Higginbottom]

Working on set pieces, trying to play on the deck and defending as a team.

I like it. I like it very much.

Got to like the set piece stuff and and let's hope it works bearing in mind it's Stoke next. On the deck and defending as a team is the same as past training so we will see if they do anything different like playing a more defensive formation or restricting the runs forward so that we don't get exposed.

Bottom line is still more defensive concentration than anything else.

[DoomMerchant]

Working on set pieces, trying to play on the deck and defending as a team.

I like it. I like it very much.

Got to like the set piece stuff and and let's hope it works bearing in mind it's Stoke next. On the deck and defending as a team is the same as past training so we will see if they do anything different like playing a more defensive formation or restricting the runs forward so that we don't get exposed.

Bottom line is still more defensive concentration than anything else.

doug, this might be the most obv question, but are you saying then they are paying more attention to the defense this week than typical?

i can't imagine he wouldn't be...

cheers

[Douglas Higginbottom]

Working on set pieces, trying to play on the deck and defending as a team.

I like it. I like it very much.

Got to like the set piece stuff and and let's hope it works bearing in mind it's Stoke next. On the deck and defending as a team is the same as past training so we will see if they do anything different like playing a more defensive formation or restricting the runs forward so that we don't get exposed.

Bottom line is still more defensive concentration than anything else.

doug, this might be the most obv question, but are you saying then they are paying more attention to the defense this week than typical?

i can't imagine he wouldn't be...

cheers

Given the background to his appointment of course the defence was where he had to start.The answer is yes and definitely with the bit about staying after the "regular" training to work on set pieces. Such work was either part of a normal session or not at all specifically and not as a special exercise at the end.

[Socrates]

Antti,
I see a lot of differences regarding how you accept Mr mancini, as opposed to Hughes. Now that Mancicni imposes a double training session on a players dodgy knee...it's ok. When Hughes did similar with fully fit players, he was "BULYING HIS SLAVES".
Come on Antti...let's have a bit of equity here.

The double standards are pitiful.

We are doing double sessions because he has only precious few days to try and get his message through to squad. Before both seasons he was in charge, Hughes had all summer. I don't think double sessions will be any sort of standard in future.

The point I am making is the your accusation of "BULLYING" quite early last season, you were quick to jump on Hughes. Now we have a manager who makes a player with a "known" injury train beyond his capabilities. Mancini would have been well aware of this, but your attitude is totally different mate...I wonder why?

The reality is that this may just be bollox but your attitude to the thought of this happening, is supportive compared to the antagonism you showed to Hughes....again can we have some equity.
You always stated your opposition to Hughes was fair...Mmmmmmmm!!!!!

WTF. Hughes came with a reputation for bullying. It's in his nature anyway, or did you never see him play? Mancini has a reputation for being a good communicator. He doesn't have to bully.

[Mr Miyagi]

WTF. Hughes came with a reputation for bullying.

No he didn't. If anything, he had a reputation for being rather aloof from players and being hands off. He had consistently stated he preferred to keep a distance so he can watch over everything. The hands on stuff was left to Bowen.

[Socrates]

WTF. Hughes came with a reputation for bullying.

No he didn't. If anything, he had a reputation for being rather aloof from players and being hands off. He had consistently stated he preferred to keep a distance so he can watch over everything. The hands on stuff was left to Bowen.

being aloof is not incompatible with being a bully - think about his insane policy of getting the players to have a big row in the dressing room and tell me that isn't the typical action of a natural bully??? Getting someone else to do your dirty work is still your dirty work.

[Mr Miyagi]

WTF. Hughes came with a reputation for bullying.

No he didn't. If anything, he had a reputation for being rather aloof from players and being hands off. He had consistently stated he preferred to keep a distance so he can watch over everything. The hands on stuff was left to Bowen.

being aloof is not incompatible with being a bully - think about his insane policy of getting the players to have a big row in the dressing room and tell me that isn't the typical action of a natural bully??? Getting someone else to do your dirty work is still your dirty work.

Sorry but I still don't accept all this "Hughes was a bully" rubbish. It doesn't match with the overall comments of players, ex-players, ex-coaches, journalists etc. who know Hughes from personal experience, rather than from an armchair.

[Douglas Higginbottom]

WTF. Hughes came with a reputation for bullying.

No he didn't. If anything, he had a reputation for being rather aloof from players and being hands off. He had consistently stated he preferred to keep a distance so he can watch over everything. The hands on stuff was left to Bowen.

being aloof is not incompatible with being a bully - think about his insane policy of getting the players to have a big row in the dressing room and tell me that isn't the typical action of a natural bully??? Getting someone else to do your dirty work is still your dirty work.

The " big row" in the dressing room was a number of players saying things they needed to say after a poor performance.Hughes entered the dressing room and heard what was happening , listened for a while and told them all to shut the .... up and listen. All the best teams sort a lot of the issues out between themselves so it's nothing new to hear about it here.