Normal service resumed today at Carrington as I turned up on time and the weather was foul with a howling wind and driving rain.The pitch used today was the furthest from the buildings and clearly a few of the players had not assessed how bad it was as one of the coaching team was sent away for more hats and tops.
No Barry and Toure today as they recovered from their knocks and both Bellers and Petrov were not out at the start but came later to work hard with fitness coaches.Bellers in fact joined in the football later. Silvinho also came out much later on and of course those who played last night in the reserves were not involved. It's interesting watching training as often as I do to be able to consider the mood of the camp and especially compare it from week to week after the results we get. At no time have I ever detected a negative vibe within the group even after the one defeat or the draws at home which were clearly like defeats.
That doesnt mean they come in happy go lucky as if it hadn't happened but they retain a positive outlook whilst at the same time a determination to put things right. That's very much how it felt to me today as it was a really good hard session with everyone working very well. Eddie and the rest of the coaches must have a book full of different warm up exercises and today I saw a few that I havent seen them do before. Somebody asked recently if they overtrain and put too much emphasis on strength as against skill and tactical stuff but in the warm up stuff it's very much general fitness and different exercises to stretch pretty well everything so that silly injuries are not picked up. Touch wood it seems to be working on that score.
A variety of football drills followed which included 2 on 2 attacking , then 4 on 4. Some of the work going on here was excellent and regularly key aspects were shouted out as it was going on. Really good stuff and if either team came out on top it was the defences after a difficult start. Make no mistake they are all fully aware that it is essential to be fully concentrated 100% of the time and when they are not they don't get away with it. Everything aimed at not making those silly mistakes that have been so costly for us so far this season.
Then it moved onto a game on about a 3/4 pitch and it continued to be very competitive.Some very strong play all over the pitch. A really good session to watch.A few little things worth a mention.
I thought Tevez today was real quality. When he is attacking and really buzzing he is a nightmare to mark. Best I have seen him today.
A couple of runs by NDJ from deep were superb although I think his appeal for a pen at the end of one was a bit hopeful.
Robinho is close to ready I would say and his tracking baack on occasion plus his part when we were pressing high was very good.Knocking Ade over once was both fun and worrying and I am sure somebody told Ade to get into the gym!
I doubt Weiss enjoyed the competitiveness when he took a knock late on but he was quite quickly back up and at it. He worked really hard today yet again.
Another good effort today from Micah. Fair play to him in his quest to get selected again.
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