Training Wednesday 4/5

[Douglas Higginbottom]

Yet another warm day and made even better with Cup Final tickets in my pocket.Apart from Boateng ( and MJ) there was only Nigel missing today.No news on him but as taking him off at half time was apparently only a precaution I am sure he will be fine for next week if not Saturday.Micah fully involved and also great to see Carlos outside working hard.

22 outfield players on show so it included a few EDS lads.Razak,McGivern,A Mancini,Veseli that I spotted from a distance.Plenty of warm up stretching exercises ( probably a few more than usual) and finishing with a couple of keep ball circles before they stopped for a drink and prepare for the unusual sight of an 11 a side game.( Veseli missing out)

It didn't include Tevez though as he worked alone with 2 or 3 coaches.He looked pretty good to me as well and was working really hard.Somebody said he looked knackered but I thought he looked exactly as he should for the effort he was putting in.His stamina can't really be perfect after missing a few weeks but whilst that was part of what the session was about it was more focussed on building up and testing the injury (was it calf or hammy?) and the work he was doing would certainly have done that.Next week v Spurs will no doubt be the target for him.

Nothing too much to say about the game that was going on.The team I would have thought of as the 2nd team had more chances but couldnt get through Joe who made some very good saves including 2 1 on 1's.Mancini spent his time in and around the center circle watching closely and giving bits and pieces of advice as it went.Then near the end he exploded into action. I can only assume he wasnt happy at the closing down work being done and he really let them have it.Not aimed at one person but a collective volley aimed at the lot of them.Then a little later he wasn't happy with something in a penalty area.Looked a bit like somebody had overplayed and lost the ball and he had a go and demonstrated the row Z clearance. Trouble is he got his kick slightly wrong and it smashed into Yaya!

After that they finished with a 10 a side game and condensed the pitch to about half size.Plenty of action but I don't recall a goal and it didn't last that long either. Kidd on the sidelines could be heard all the time shouting encouragement and instruction.Interesting when they were preparing for this game that Mancini spent a good few minutes talking with Dzeko and Lescott.At the end when most of them went in Mancini took Kolarov for a prolonged chat no doubt all about the full back /wing back role based on all the pointing and gesturing that he did. Meanwhile Milner and AJ stayed to provide crosses for 2 of our lethal strikers.Namely Lescott ( still with woolly hat on) and Vinnie.

The surprise wasnt who the strikers were but that the crosses were finding the target.Both were finishing very well too.

[Surrey Sky Blue]

Thanks Doug.

[Thai]

Thanks for the report Doug - great to hear Micah and Carlos was back out.
Was Zaa out also and if so how did he look?

[blues-clues]

Cheers Doug - Great report. Doubtless if fit, our new super striker, Big Nige would have been there, nailing those crosses like a veteran of....how many goals is it now?

[Douglas Higginbottom]

Thanks for the report Doug - great to hear Micah and Carlos was back out.
Was Zaa out also and if so how did he look?

I meant to mention Zaba.What is the guy made of? He was out there as normal.

[Thai]

Thanks Doug - great news.
Zab is a machine

[Avalon]

If you've seen the Thor film, Zaba is The Destroyer.

[Douglas Higginbottom]

If you've seen the Thor film, Zaba is The Destroyer.

I have and no :) maybe a very small version.

[ant london]

How did your least favourite player look Mr H?

[Douglas Higginbottom]

How did your least favourite player look Mr H?

I would rather not answer that question as it would make me sound bitter and twisted towards him

[Goataldo]

How did your least favourite player look Mr H?

I would rather not answer that question as it would make me sound bitter and twisted towards him

Haha, oh come on, tell us! What's he been up to the cheeky young scamp?

Btw Tevez was a hammy. If they're pushing him that hard on it it must be almost there.

[Douglas Higginbottom]

How did your least favourite player look Mr H?

I would rather not answer that question as it would make me sound bitter and twisted towards him

Haha, oh come on, tell us! What's he been up to the cheeky young scamp?

Btw Tevez was a hammy. If they're pushing him that hard on it it must be almost there.

Ok the answer is a bit of a mixed training session for him.He was doing all the stuff in the warm ups and getting on great with everybody without giving the waiting photographers and special snaps for the papers.They were audibly disppointed near me.

Then in the matches he seemed really up for it with effort that isn't always there in training.He got into some good positions but his finishing touch was somewhere else today as he missed 3 sitters.After the misses he seemed to disappear a little as the session drew to a close.

[ant london]

How did your least favourite player look Mr H?

I would rather not answer that question as it would make me sound bitter and twisted towards him

Haha, oh come on, tell us! What's he been up to the cheeky young scamp?

Btw Tevez was a hammy. If they're pushing him that hard on it it must be almost there.

Certainly looks like they were pushing him from the pics on the OS from yesterday

[david yearsley]

Sincerely hope they are going to be men with a mission on Sat. They know a win is CL pretty much nailed on - what an incentive, and what a headache they can give Bob as far as cup final selection is concerned

[Bingo Lewis]

How did your least favourite player look Mr H?

I would rather not answer that question as it would make me sound bitter and twisted towards him

Haha, oh come on, tell us! What's he been up to the cheeky young scamp?

Btw Tevez was a hammy. If they're pushing him that hard on it it must be almost there.

Ok the answer is a bit of a mixed training session for him.He was doing all the stuff in the warm ups and getting on great with everybody without giving the waiting photographers and special snaps for the papers.They were audibly disppointed near me.

Then in the matches he seemed really up for it with effort that isn't always there in training.He got into some good positions but his finishing touch was somewhere else today as he missed 3 sitters.After the misses he seemed to disappear a little as the session drew to a close.

Take it we're talking Mario here?

[bluej]

How did your least favourite player look Mr H?

I would rather not answer that question as it would make me sound bitter and twisted towards him

Haha, oh come on, tell us! What's he been up to the cheeky young scamp?

Btw Tevez was a hammy. If they're pushing him that hard on it it must be almost there.

Ok the answer is a bit of a mixed training session for him.He was doing all the stuff in the warm ups and getting on great with everybody without giving the waiting photographers and special snaps for the papers.They were audibly disppointed near me.

Then in the matches he seemed really up for it with effort that isn't always there in training.He got into some good positions but his finishing touch was somewhere else today as he missed 3 sitters.After the misses he seemed to disappear a little as the session drew to a close.

Take it we're talking Mario here?

Nothing gets past you does it Bingo ;-)