Player Training Session

[Joesaint]

Good reads cheers

[Gemmel]

Just thought I'd share the experience with you all......

 

We got to Staplewood just after 10am.

The session started with a warm up and then the usual routines that we've all seen pre-match a thousand times.

There was a fair bit of banter between the players, Neil 'Trots' Trottman was singled out for some stick because he kept running in the wrong direction.

It was all good natured and was indicative of a pretty good sense of camaraderie between the players.

I started to take some pictures but was soon told to stop by the security guard who was lurking around, keeping an eye on us. I'm not sure why we couldn't take pictures of the session; an official club photographer was taking pics and filming.

 

After 20 minutes or so, the squad split into 2 groups; Wally Downes took the defenders off whilst AP took the attackers off to the main pitch.

The sponsors were given a choice and I chose to watch AP.

 

AP started working on the edge of the box, with players receiving the ball, taking a touch and then shooting. All bog standard stuff. David Connolly looked particularly impressive and was without doubt the most accurate finisher.

 

AP then moved on to crosses, with Papa & Michail Antonio putting the crosses in from the right and Lee Holmes and Joseph Mills crossing from the left. Morgan and Mellis were receiving as were Lambert and Connolly.

Everyone swapped round a bit, Dan Harding was putting balls in too.

Jacob Mellis looked good and had some lovely touches but his shooting was tragic, with just about every ball hit sky high. At one point AP had a pop at Mellis. Antonio looked pretty useful.

 

It was all standard stuff. After 30 minutes the rest of the squad joined us on the main pitch and a game was organised against the youth team.

The first team was KD, Harding, Jaidi, Trots, Lloydie, Wotton sat in front of the back 4 with Morgan and Mellis ahead of him, Connolly was wide left and Papa wide right, with Lambert up front.

AP kept blowing the whistle and analysing the play. He was pointing out where he wanted players for each situation.

There was a fair bit of work done with our forwards pressuring defenders, with a lot of focus on Papa getting into their left back and putting him under pressure.

AP was very organised and communicative and knew exactly what he wanted. I was pretty impressed to be honest. He kept calling Ben Reeves 'Rod Stewart' which made me chuckle (Reeves has a bit of a dodgy haircut).

 

Now I have always been a critic of Paul Wotton but I think he has improved a hell of a lot under AP. He was very vocal today, with plenty of words for the players around him. He seems to suit the defensive midfielder role, and looked very comfortable just in front of the centre backs.

Communication was good all round, it's surprising what you don't hear at SMS. The noise of the crowd drowns out the players, and I always assumed they were fairly quiet: no way!

Papa still seems to have a language problem. I swear he didn't understand a word AP said to him. When they needed a message to get through, Jaidi would talk to him in French.

 

After today I assume that AP will play 4-5-1 on Saturday, with RL up front. Connolly played wide left and didn't get a look in at all. He looked lost. I would much rather see him play up front in a 4-4-2 with Lambert. Those two will score some goals together. I reckon he will start on the bench on Saturday.......

 

......But that depends on the injuries. There were two noticeable absentees from training. Adam Lallana and Dean Hammond. Both were there but didn't train at all. I'm not sure what's up with Ads, but Hammond has a very slight hamstring, so was being rested.

 

There were no goals in the match.

Afterwards there was some free kick practise for Mills, Holmes, Mellis, Harding and Antonio. Harding was the pick of the bunch.

 

We then all went to the dome. We saw the players' lounge. All rather nice. However I would have liked to have seen a 40 inch TV on the wall, a PS3 and a copy of FIFA 10.

Instead there was a ping pong table, a 32 inch TV, a cheapo XBOX 360 and a copy of FIFA 07: Gash!

 

We had sarnies, crisps and coffee in the computer room; this was obviously where AP would discuss match tactics. A large interactive white board and plenty of PCs dotted around.

There was a white board with the following legend written on it: "No one is blamed, we are all accountable".

 

The players started to trickle in and chat to their sponsors. I had to shoot off and meet the wife at the Mayflower at that point (besides, Gillett wasn't around for hugs and cuddles).

 

Zigsdad stayed around (was that you with the pony tail mate?) so I'm sure he will give you a full account of himself and how he got on with the players.

 

That's all I can remember for now, if anything else occurs to me I will post it in this thread.

 

Finally, I want to thank Steve Grant and all the admins for getting this together, and for all the other fans who chipped in.

I think this is a great idea and we should do it every season. Maybe we could sponsor more players if we have a bit more time.

Although next time when we vote, can we vote for players who might actually play!!!!!

 

Top stuff Cheers mate

[Plumstead_Saint]

Really enjoyed reading this thread.

Thank you Zigsdad and Block 5 for the reports

 

Z - both my boys were born at Kings, the youngest spent a lot of time prenatal at the Harris Birthright Clinic, and is due back at Kings for more major surgery soon.

Top hospital that attracts the best from all over the world to come and learn, so you must be on top of your game

[zigsdad]

Z - both my boys were born at Kings, the youngest spent a lot of time prenatal at the Harris Birthright Clinic, and is due back at Kings for more major surgery soon.

Top hospital that attracts the best from all over the world to come and learn, so you must be on top of your game

 

Two of my 3 boys were born there too. :-)

 

King's is a fine place to work. My lab is in one of the research buildings on the campus.

Good luck for your youngest's surgery...

[waterlooville saint]

Great read, thanks for posting in such detail.