Cold,wet and windy today but a routine training session the day before a game which is anything but routine.As I said to NMT it will be good today if it's all low key as it was before the WBA game as long as the match result is the same.
Everybody came out including Adebayor so his problem yesterday was minor as expected and they all got together behind fencing for the usual gentle warm up jogging in team formation around a pitch as Mancini likes to do.Plenty of cameras around as expected and I would guess most looking for pictures of Tevez so they would have been a little disappointed as he went in after the initial stuff.No problems anticipated as he was in for a massage and will be fine.
M Johnson also out working hard close to the rest and working hard to improve his sharpness.How he must want to get back fully involved and lets hope it's soon and we might see a reserve outing before too long.
After the gentle formation work thay played some form of Aussie Rules game with typically not many rules at all. All about having fun before they all came over close to the fencing and split into 2 keep ball circles.Great for the few fans watching to be so close and of course also for the photographers.Just seems strange to me that if they really don't want photographers there why go so close to make it even easier for them? Great banter going on in both groups and especially the one I was closest too involving Micah and Nigel.Kiddo was the man charged with keeping order but how he understands what is going on given all the languages is beyond me.
They moved onto a sort of 11 a side game but in a confined space of less than half a pitch. I think it was 2 touch only and just about pass and move and control.Not easy at all but something they work on day after day.Only a short game this and then half the group went inside. No need to overdo it and increase the risk of a last minute injury.But good old Nigel did score as ever in training and this time with his left foot which he made sure every one was aware of. Not to be outdone later ,Bridge scored with his right foot.
The remainder just played a 6 a side game to finish off with. Shay was under a lot of pressure and looking really good until one fierce shot squirmed through him.To say he wasn't happy would be an understatement as he wellied the ball as far away as possible.It got worse after that as Micah managed to get one past him.Watching Micah in this game and you realise what an awesome defender he can be.One on one he is so strong and quick and he has a great ability in last ditch stuff to block shots.If only he was always switched on.
Then there was an incident which was quite worrying and required the police and ambulance to be called.Fortunately it was on the road outside where we heard a big crash. We couldnt see much but all those parked in the lay by there were concerned their car had been run into. Hoepfully nothing too serious. Hopefully the same for Mario who seemed to twist his knee a little literally seconds before the end. It wasnt a contact thing but just seemed a jarring as his right leg slipped.He did limp off with the rest but hopefully it won't be a problem.
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