Nelly's Left Foot
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Doug's post from the other forum.
FIRST MAN CITY WOMEN'S TRAINING
Postby Douglas Higginbottom » 07 Feb 2014 23:45
Carrington in the morning and now just back from watching our women take part in a full outside training session.Not their first together but my first time watching and I have to say I was impressed.
The first thing I should say is I know little or nowt about ladies football so I am not in a great position to know how good the team is compared to others or stuff like that so I can just react and comment on what I am seeing.It's pre season for them and there's a long way to go before the season starts in March I think.
I was in a crowd of one watching on alongside the official cameraman.Seems all training session are recorded just like first team sessions.I even got inside the "fence" to assist with some ball boy work.The initial stuff they did was just like first team preparation work but then they did some two on two games which was my first chance of seeing them actually in football mode.I had little clue who was who but could quickly see there was a lot of skill on show , some really tenacious tackling players and a real desire to win even in these initial warm up games.
The general fitness seemed pretty good to me as well bearing in mind it's very early pre season.Our one and only Andie Worrall was by far the best keeper on view but sadly that's partly , only partly, because the number one had to leave with a bit of an injury.A really nice touch from the team manager Nick Cushing who came over to say hello and welcome me and give me the go ahead to post stuff on what I see. Thanks for preparing the way Andie.
Nick had told me they would finish with a game, maybe 2 halves of 20 minutes or so which gave me a great chance to see them in action and start to get to know the players a bit better. Bearing in mind for some, certainly 1 it was the first training session with all the girls.Izzy Christiansen only signed in the last 24 hours or so.
As the game went on I asked the head coach Leigh Wood for one or two of the names who were standing out most to me and it's sort of inevitable they are some of the big names we have just taken on. But before that I need to mention that Andie was in goal against what was arguably the first team with all the "stars " in and didn't concede a goal.Definite MotM stuff from Andia and yes there were saves in there as her team were under the cosh.
After half time the keeper coach swapped ends and then came the first goal and what peach it was too. Izzy played a ball down the left side for a runner from midfield and she crossed low where Toni Duggan met it first time with her left foot and sent a curler over the keeper and just under the bar. That's her weaker foot I would say but it was perfection. Eat your heart out Edin Dzeko!
Duggan had already impressed with a great run from deep which didn't quite get finished off but she is quick, has great balance and clearly a great finisher.She showed the finishing again soon after with a right foot shot from the edge of the box which the keeper got to but it still crept in.She made her own space to be able to get the shot away and struck it well across the keeper.
Another player to stand out was Jill Scott.I will have to look at the backgrounds but she is another England player who seemed to play the number 10 role and is quality.We have the England skipper (I think)Steph Houghton, in the Kompany role and she does have a bit of an aura around her.Very good assured defender.Also a holding midfield player Jess Holbrook,also I think an England player,who looks like she has that role well sorted.
Anyway enough of the names I now know but there was plenty of other quality on show who deserve a mention but I either don't know their names or have forgotten them (I am getting old and it was late finishing at 9.15) Amongst the new faces there are a good number who have been with City for many years and like Andie it's an opportunity of a lifetime for them and from what I saw they are going to take it.I am really looking forward to watching them play when the games start.
It's a shame I can't get to Curzon Ashton this coming Sunday where they are having a practice match and I think the full squad will be on show.But then they are off for some warm weather training for a week I think.
I will be getting along to watch whenever I can and keep updating but I would strongly encourage you guys to get along as often as possible in the season as I think you would enjoy what you see.
NB Andie did let a goal in in the 2nd half but I am sure the girl was miles offside.It was a fantastic finish though with a quality chip over the advancing keeper.Who score it Andie?
FIRST MAN CITY WOMEN'S TRAINING
Postby Douglas Higginbottom » 07 Feb 2014 23:45
Carrington in the morning and now just back from watching our women take part in a full outside training session.Not their first together but my first time watching and I have to say I was impressed.
The first thing I should say is I know little or nowt about ladies football so I am not in a great position to know how good the team is compared to others or stuff like that so I can just react and comment on what I am seeing.It's pre season for them and there's a long way to go before the season starts in March I think.
I was in a crowd of one watching on alongside the official cameraman.Seems all training session are recorded just like first team sessions.I even got inside the "fence" to assist with some ball boy work.The initial stuff they did was just like first team preparation work but then they did some two on two games which was my first chance of seeing them actually in football mode.I had little clue who was who but could quickly see there was a lot of skill on show , some really tenacious tackling players and a real desire to win even in these initial warm up games.
The general fitness seemed pretty good to me as well bearing in mind it's very early pre season.Our one and only Andie Worrall was by far the best keeper on view but sadly that's partly , only partly, because the number one had to leave with a bit of an injury.A really nice touch from the team manager Nick Cushing who came over to say hello and welcome me and give me the go ahead to post stuff on what I see. Thanks for preparing the way Andie.
Nick had told me they would finish with a game, maybe 2 halves of 20 minutes or so which gave me a great chance to see them in action and start to get to know the players a bit better. Bearing in mind for some, certainly 1 it was the first training session with all the girls.Izzy Christiansen only signed in the last 24 hours or so.
As the game went on I asked the head coach Leigh Wood for one or two of the names who were standing out most to me and it's sort of inevitable they are some of the big names we have just taken on. But before that I need to mention that Andie was in goal against what was arguably the first team with all the "stars " in and didn't concede a goal.Definite MotM stuff from Andia and yes there were saves in there as her team were under the cosh.
After half time the keeper coach swapped ends and then came the first goal and what peach it was too. Izzy played a ball down the left side for a runner from midfield and she crossed low where Toni Duggan met it first time with her left foot and sent a curler over the keeper and just under the bar. That's her weaker foot I would say but it was perfection. Eat your heart out Edin Dzeko!
Duggan had already impressed with a great run from deep which didn't quite get finished off but she is quick, has great balance and clearly a great finisher.She showed the finishing again soon after with a right foot shot from the edge of the box which the keeper got to but it still crept in.She made her own space to be able to get the shot away and struck it well across the keeper.
Another player to stand out was Jill Scott.I will have to look at the backgrounds but she is another England player who seemed to play the number 10 role and is quality.We have the England skipper (I think)Steph Houghton, in the Kompany role and she does have a bit of an aura around her.Very good assured defender.Also a holding midfield player Jess Holbrook,also I think an England player,who looks like she has that role well sorted.
Anyway enough of the names I now know but there was plenty of other quality on show who deserve a mention but I either don't know their names or have forgotten them (I am getting old and it was late finishing at 9.15) Amongst the new faces there are a good number who have been with City for many years and like Andie it's an opportunity of a lifetime for them and from what I saw they are going to take it.I am really looking forward to watching them play when the games start.
It's a shame I can't get to Curzon Ashton this coming Sunday where they are having a practice match and I think the full squad will be on show.But then they are off for some warm weather training for a week I think.
I will be getting along to watch whenever I can and keep updating but I would strongly encourage you guys to get along as often as possible in the season as I think you would enjoy what you see.
NB Andie did let a goal in in the 2nd half but I am sure the girl was miles offside.It was a fantastic finish though with a quality chip over the advancing keeper.Who score it Andie?