The mancityfans.net football forum

Late start today at noon and it was a press day so no doubt some pictures will appear on SkySports. A little embarrassing too as when they went out it was quickly evident that the pitch wasn't properly playable. The undersoil heating had worked to a point and the ground was soft enough but there was a sprinkling of snow ( and ice) on the surface.The ball didn't roll properly so Mancini got the groundsman out along with the guy responsible for all things at Carrington and they quickly got a tractor out to drag something around to remove the surface snow.

Whilst this was going on the players did the usual jogging and a few routines and by the time they had done this there was an area big enough for them to have a good pass and move session on about a 1/4 of a pitch in size.Missing players today were Yaya and Bridge but although Vinnie was out he didn't join in football and just did 1 to 1 stuff with a physio.Yaya apparently has a very bad cold and when I asked what they call him it is Yaya pronounced Yaya :) Highlight of the day for me was Mario waving a big hello to me when they were doing exercises near the fencing.Milner was joined today by Boateng as the only ones in shorts but he was the only one not wearing gloves and that includes all the coaches.


Nothing too special or unusual in the football. Nigel wasnt taking prisoners as Vieira found out more than once and generally there was very little space for any flowing football to be played.Lescott would have been my pick of the players on show, SWP was trying really hard, MJ was finding it hard to get on the ball much but he wasnt alone in that.A very competitive game came to an end when MJ was adjudged to have brought down Nigel ( it was a theatrical fall) for a penalty. MJ was sent off as last man!! That's how it looked anyway which i thought was really strange but he walked off anyway and while I was watching him leave the penalty was taken and there was all sorts of shouting erupted. I have no idea why but the whole thing anded then and half the players went inside.

The rest could be the team for tomorrow but there were 2 or 3 changes from what looked like the team I saw yesterday. Mancini took them through some movements for tomorrow and a few minutes later that was that.

Excellent stuff Doug, nice to see one of the new players aknowledge your regular attendance as well ... I reckon he thinks you are a scout!!!

Great report Doug, especially under the circumstances.

What's this you have got going on with Mario then?

Was Mario waving at you because you weren't wearing your shorts Doug? Gloves too no doubt you Southern softy! Seriously thanks very much as always it must have been brass monkeys out there. Any chance of AJ getting a few minutes tonight with the reserves?

blues2win wrote:Was Mario waving at you because you weren't wearing your shorts Doug? Gloves too no doubt you Southern softy! Seriously thanks very much as always it must have been brass monkeys out there. Any chance of AJ getting a few minutes tonight with the reserves?

No reserve game tonight. I was actually quite warm except for the nose and ears because I was mega wrapped up. The problem was a breeze had picked up today and it really was brass monkeys.

Chinners wrote:Excellent stuff Doug, nice to see one of the new players aknowledge your regular attendance as well ... I reckon he thinks you are a scout!!!

I must have been looking very Italian today then.

Douglas Higginbottom wrote:

Chinners wrote:Excellent stuff Doug, nice to see one of the new players aknowledge your regular attendance as well ... I reckon he thinks you are a scout!!!

I must have been looking very Italian today then.

It's that spaghetti hanging from your chin ............

Kladze wrote:

Douglas Higginbottom wrote:

Chinners wrote:Excellent stuff Doug, nice to see one of the new players aknowledge your regular attendance as well ... I reckon he thinks you are a scout!!!

I must have been looking very Italian today then.

It's that spaghetti hanging from your chin ............

And the big padded AC Milan winter jacket he was wearing too !

MaineRoadMemories wrote:

Kladze wrote:

Douglas Higginbottom wrote:

Chinners wrote:Excellent stuff Doug, nice to see one of the new players aknowledge your regular attendance as well ... I reckon he thinks you are a scout!!!

I must have been looking very Italian today then.

It's that spaghetti hanging from your chin ............

And the big padded AC Milan winter jacket he was wearing too !

Speaking of jackets anyone notice Wengers half coat half sleeping bag thing he wore this weekend. What a ridiculous coat

Cheers Doug.

I hope your new found friendship with Balotelli isn't going to influence your reporting in future.

Does it look as if there's any chance he may play tomorrow Doug?

I would have thought it would do him good to play at least half a game as he's missed so much football. I would also like to see him & Ade play together. I thought they linked up really well in Balo's first game v Whoeverthefucktheywerecalled. As Dzeko seems to be suggesting he's at Wolfsburg til summer, Ade may be at the club longer than we thought so it would be good top get them playing together imo.

Ted Hughes wrote:Cheers Doug.

I hope your new found friendship with Balotelli isn't going to influence your reporting in future.

Does it look as if there's any chance he may play tomorrow Doug?

I would have thought it would do him good to play at least half a game as he's missed so much football. I would also like to see him & Ade play together. I thought they linked up really well in Balo's first game v Whoeverthefucktheywerecalled. As Dzeko seems to be suggesting he's at Wolfsburg til summer, Ade may be at the club longer than we thought so it would be good top get them playing together imo.

On Monday Ade was up front but today it was Mario and no sign of Ade so who knows.

Milner's no pussy!

Cheers Doug. Obviously I meant MJ geting a few minutes in a non existent Reserve game tonight not AJ. Funny I could have sworn I'd seen a game tonight mentioned on the site. Oh well I guess MJ will have to wait until December 7 at Bolton?

Douglas Higginbottom wrote:

Ted Hughes wrote:Cheers Doug.

I hope your new found friendship with Balotelli isn't going to influence your reporting in future.

Does it look as if there's any chance he may play tomorrow Doug?

I would have thought it would do him good to play at least half a game as he's missed so much football. I would also like to see him & Ade play together. I thought they linked up really well in Balo's first game v Whoeverthefucktheywerecalled. As Dzeko seems to be suggesting he's at Wolfsburg til summer, Ade may be at the club longer than we thought so it would be good top get them playing together imo.

On Monday Ade was up front but today it was Mario and no sign of Ade so who knows.

Ok ta.

cheers DH for top stuff as usual.
Wouldn't it be great to have You, instead of the prick mino raiola, as Mario agent?
I'm sure it would be a huge benefit for both the Club and MCfans.net.

blues2win wrote:Cheers Doug. Obviously I meant MJ geting a few minutes in a non existent Reserve game tonight not AJ. Funny I could have sworn I'd seen a game tonight mentioned on the site. Oh well I guess MJ will have to wait until December 7 at Bolton?

There was and its been postponed till next April.

Douglas Higginbottom wrote:

Ted Hughes wrote:Cheers Doug.

I hope your new found friendship with Balotelli isn't going to influence your reporting in future.

Does it look as if there's any chance he may play tomorrow Doug?

I would have thought it would do him good to play at least half a game as he's missed so much football. I would also like to see him & Ade play together. I thought they linked up really well in Balo's first game v Whoeverthefucktheywerecalled. As Dzeko seems to be suggesting he's at Wolfsburg til summer, Ade may be at the club longer than we thought so it would be good top get them playing together imo.

On Monday Ade was up front but today it was Mario and no sign of Ade so who knows.

i missed that bit. So Ade is not around either. Chilblains?

Glad to hear the apprentice acknowleging the Master! Good stuff/

brite blu sky wrote:

Douglas Higginbottom wrote:

Ted Hughes wrote:Cheers Doug.

I hope your new found friendship with Balotelli isn't going to influence your reporting in future.

Does it look as if there's any chance he may play tomorrow Doug?

I would have thought it would do him good to play at least half a game as he's missed so much football. I would also like to see him & Ade play together. I thought they linked up really well in Balo's first game v Whoeverthefucktheywerecalled. As Dzeko seems to be suggesting he's at Wolfsburg til summer, Ade may be at the club longer than we thought so it would be good top get them playing together imo.

On Monday Ade was up front but today it was Mario and no sign of Ade so who knows.

i missed that bit. So Ade is not around either. Chilblains?

He was in full training but not kept back by Mancini when he did his work with "the team" at the end today

Cheers for that Doug, top as always