by Douglas Higginbottom » Tue Nov 23, 2010 1:00 pm
Quite a few missing today in what was a fairly gentle session as you would expect for the first of a few in a full training week.No Boateng,Micah,Barry,Yaya,Bridge but good to see Michael Johnson involved fully ( must mean no reserve cameo tonight).The group split into two at the start with the Sunday team off to do a bleep test.Not the full challenge but enough no doubt to get readings from.
The rest did a bit of keep ball pass and move and then running under the close eye of Ivan Carminati.After 10 minutes or so they all got together for a 9 a side game on about half a pitch. Notable things were Nigel and Carlos on opposite sides and having a good old tussle. About evens I would say but big smiles on both of them.I would say that Carlos is looking close to fully fit again now and we saw what that can be like again on Sunday.MJ did ok but clearly rusty , Mario strolled through it with occasional flashes.Kolo stayed out of this part just doing 1 to 1 work with Platt and VInnie also sat out after a quick chat with Mancini.
Late on Micah and Bridge came out for some work with a physio.Half of the remaining group went in leaving about 10 for some finishing practice.They all followed about 40 yards apart, first to play a 1 , 2 with Platt before a first time shot, then turning to receive a 20 pass on the edge of the box for a 2 touch finish and then turn again for a cross and a 1 touch finish.You sure as hell need plenty of balls for that routine as shots were flying all over the place.MJ,AJ,SWP,Lescott,Milner,Mario,PV,Boyata,RSC all involved in this session.Then 1 or 2 more went in leaving just enough for a 5 a side game which is where I left.
One of the other notable things today was that Mancini didn't take a team aside to work on team formation stuff which has been a regular part of training sessions almost every day. Maybe that will come again later in the week when he has the group he wants for the Stoke game.
Quite a few missing today in what was a fairly gentle session as you would expect for the first of a few in a full training week.No Boateng,Micah,Barry,Yaya,Bridge but good to see Michael Johnson involved fully ( must mean no reserve cameo tonight).The group split into two at the start with the Sunday team off to do a bleep test.Not the full challenge but enough no doubt to get readings from.
The rest did a bit of keep ball pass and move and then running under the close eye of Ivan Carminati.After 10 minutes or so they all got together for a 9 a side game on about half a pitch. Notable things were Nigel and Carlos on opposite sides and having a good old tussle. About evens I would say but big smiles on both of them.I would say that Carlos is looking close to fully fit again now and we saw what that can be like again on Sunday.MJ did ok but clearly rusty , Mario strolled through it with occasional flashes.Kolo stayed out of this part just doing 1 to 1 work with Platt and VInnie also sat out after a quick chat with Mancini.
Late on Micah and Bridge came out for some work with a physio.Half of the remaining group went in leaving about 10 for some finishing practice.They all followed about 40 yards apart, first to play a 1 , 2 with Platt before a first time shot, then turning to receive a 20 pass on the edge of the box for a 2 touch finish and then turn again for a cross and a 1 touch finish.You sure as hell need plenty of balls for that routine as shots were flying all over the place.MJ,AJ,SWP,Lescott,Milner,Mario,PV,Boyata,RSC all involved in this session.Then 1 or 2 more went in leaving just enough for a 5 a side game which is where I left.
One of the other notable things today was that Mancini didn't take a team aside to work on team formation stuff which has been a regular part of training sessions almost every day. Maybe that will come again later in the week when he has the group he wants for the Stoke game.