Squads fly off for pre-season training

Sunday, 8 July, 2018 71comments  |  Jump to most recent
Everton FC

Finch Farm will be a quiet place this week as both the senior squad and the Under-23s flew out from John Lennon Airport on Sunday afternoon for intensive training camps on the Continent.

The entire senior squad — except for World Cup stars Gylfi Sigurdsson, Idrissa Gueye and Jordan Pickford — have gone to Bad Mitterndorf in Austria, where they will play the first friendly of the close-season against ATV Irdning on Saturday 14 July, at 5pm local time.

Meanwhile, David Unsworth's Under-23s will jet off to La Manga in southern Spain where they will play a friendly warm-up game against slightly more familiar opposition in the form of Coventry City of League One. That friendly takes place on Friday, 13 July and kicks-off at 11am.

 

Reader Comments (71)

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Peter Anthony
1 Posted 08/07/2018 at 22:31:48
Here's to a great training camp for all involved. May they sow the seeds for a season to remember for positive reasons come next May.
Steve Ferns
2 Posted 08/07/2018 at 22:32:28
Sadly, there's no breakdown to see which of the u23s have not made the cut.
Michael Kenrick
3 Posted 08/07/2018 at 23:24:48
I was hoping for some squad lists too, Steve. As far as I can tell, there don't seem to have been too many more released so far beyond Henen, Gray, Grant, Byrne and Dyson... just the deals for Garbutt and Baxter.

Hopefully we have a fair take on the split in our Squad page, with the U23s listed in the lower half of the page... Did you learn anything from studying those training videos this week as to the youngsters who have been promoted to the senior squad?

Any feedback from Facebook or Twitter???

Victor Yu
4 Posted 09/07/2018 at 03:37:14
Maybe Sandro will be given a chance to impress?
Jim Bennings
5 Posted 09/07/2018 at 08:23:58
Pretty annoyed that no new signings are there.

We need a commanding athletic centre-half, a new left-back, more attacking threat that is something different and more mobile than we currently have.

Where are they?

Derek Taylor
6 Posted 09/07/2018 at 08:33:43
Not to worry, Jim. Silva's brief is to turn all our geese into swans!
Bob Parrington
7 Posted 09/07/2018 at 09:05:24
Jim – I'd rather we took our time in getting the right players than spending money in a hurry and getting what we did 12 months ago.

Hang on! Stay cool! The chances are we'll step out in the right direction over the next 3 weeks or so!

Phill Thompson
8 Posted 09/07/2018 at 09:34:24
It's surprising that we haven't had the U23s list or the list of new Scholars yet.

Michael, that's a great list you have of U23s, only one missing I can think of is Jack Kiersey who was contracted until June 2018, so not sure if he's being given a new contract. Sadly, the likes of Kiersey and Danny Bramall are going to be left behind as other youngsters come up behind.

The new Scholars should be interesting. We signed one 16-year-old from Man Utd, an England U16 from Fulham, and had 5 Wales U17s in our squad last season, including Ryan Astley who played 1 game at U23s; plus at least 3 schoolboys who played U18s for us last season.

David Milner
9 Posted 09/07/2018 at 09:34:28
Jim @5

No need to worry yet about signings, we certainly do not want to overpay like we did last summer. A statement of intent needed.

There is talk of Newcastle wanting Schneiderlin but need to sell first before they can buy. How about a swap deal for Lascalles?

Same again with RB Leipzig, if they want Lookman. how about a swap deal with Forsberg?

You don't need to wave around wads of cash. Buy clever.

Sam Hoare
10 Posted 09/07/2018 at 09:37:28
In an ideal world, managers would have new players in asap to give them a whole pre-season but then it is difficult to balance the need to bed new players in with the need to make sure that any acquisitions are the right ones!

Could it be that Antonee Robinson has impressed Silva enough to take a further look at him before sanctioning £25M for Tierney? Or that Moshiri has said there will be no players in before we have got another 3 or 4 players off the books? We've no idea whats going on behind the scenes and what imperatives are in place.

For now, I'm curious to see who Silva has taken a shine to and whether he can get the best out of this unbalanced mix of green youngsters and slightly jaded pros.

Steve Ferns
11 Posted 09/07/2018 at 09:38:53
Sorry, Michael... nothing!
Derek Taylor
12 Posted 09/07/2018 at 11:09:48
I can't see any reason for secrecy on who makes up the squads for these training trips. I guess it's just a continuation of the 'mind your own business' policy which has prevailed at Everton for all time.

"People's Club" – my arse!

Jim Bennings
13 Posted 09/07/2018 at 11:20:50
I don't think we should go and buy ten players and waste £200 million but I think it should have been carefully and meticulously planned much earlier than mid-July. There are four players that we need badly to walk straight into the first team next season.

The first team is crying out for a powerful central defender with some pace and athleticism and a left-back fitter and more mobile than Baines is needed badly, we can't have Baines disappearing for three months with injuries again this season and playing square pegs in round holes (Martina, Holgate or Kenny).

We need more variation in our attack, more power, more mobility and more end product.

Paul Kossoff
14 Posted 09/07/2018 at 13:54:57
Any news on players in? Getting worried now...

August 11th, season starts; transfer window closes on August 9th.

Mike Gaynes
15 Posted 09/07/2018 at 14:10:36
Sam (#10), I posted here some weeks back that I didn't think we needed a new left back after all, based on the two games I'd seen of Robinson with the USA, particularly his confident performance against a France side that is now in the World Cup semi-finals.

I too wonder if Silva has come to the same conclusion. And could he be reaching the same conclusion about Holgate at centre-back? He certainly has the athleticism.

Personally I'm more interested in seeing who we sign in attack than defense.

Tom Bowers
16 Posted 09/07/2018 at 15:34:32
It's not all about signing new players but more a case of having some leaders and creating a blend that will be competitive, something lacking last season. Sure class players are always welcome but not when they are demanding the earth and other clubs are milking the transfer fee. Any players who shone during the World Cup will be offered at over the odds. Remember Besic?

Many of us have our opinions about existing players still on the books but Silva is the man to sort out his squad over the next few weeks. If he wants to make signings then obviously he doesn't want to get caught in a Sigurdsson situation.

Baines needs to be replaced eventually but with clubs playing new systems now, perhaps a converted winger in a 3-5-2 scenario is the way to go. I look at what Man Utd have done with Valencia and Young.

Terry White
17 Posted 09/07/2018 at 15:56:18
Mike (#15), you are a big Robinson fan but let's not forget Calum Connelly who is also with the first team squad in Austria. With two excellent youngsters waiting their chance, perhaps we do not need to pay over the odds for an established player to replace Baines?

Kieran Dowell should also get his chance again this pre-season – could save us more money.

What odds that some of the "too-be-sold" players actually stick around and make an impression this season? Sandro? Klaasen? And, of course, the prodigal son, Kevin Mirallas? On a good day .

Michael Kenrick
18 Posted 09/07/2018 at 16:00:16
Two confirmed names that have been promoted from the Academy graduates: Callum Connolly and Kieran Dowell are both with Marco Silva’s first-team squad in Austria this week.

Hard to leave them out given their efforts for England U21s at the Toulon Tournament!

Michael Kenrick
19 Posted 09/07/2018 at 17:09:20
Good call on those youngsters, Phill (#8).

Danny Bramall was starting to get a few games for the U23s by the end of last season, as were Alex Denny, Shayne Lavery, Con Ouzounidis and Fraser Honby. I would expect them to all be regulars for David Unsworth.

The U18s are harder for me to call. Players seem to spend one, at most two seasons at that level before gaining promotion or being released. Among the ones set to make the step up, I would expect Michael Collins, Anthony Gordon, Nicolas Hansen, Einar Iversen, Manasse Mampala, Ryan Astley, Jack Kiersey and Ellis Simms to be in the mix.

Dave Abrahams
20 Posted 09/07/2018 at 17:18:09
Michael (18), yes I noticed Connolly and Dowell are in Austria but where is Robinson?
Kieran Kinsella
21 Posted 09/07/2018 at 17:20:13
We may not sign anyone. They want to cut the squad to 25 so we need to get rid of 10 more to get there. Then another one for each New signing. We have told the World we need to sell. I suspect teams will Wait till deadline to buy knowing we are desperate. Why buy BESIC today When you can get him for peanuts on deadline day?
Mike Gaynes
22 Posted 09/07/2018 at 17:22:20
Michael, I had no idea Connolly played in the Toulon tournament. Didn't see his name on the roster. Did he play FB or midfield?

Terry, not sure Callum's still considered a FB... he spent last season with Ipswich in midfield and by all accounts was outstanding.

Steavey Buckley
23 Posted 09/07/2018 at 17:29:17
Everton fans are hearing a lot about Everton players moving on somewhere else, but not so much substance about players moving in. Everton need at least 5 new quality players (left centre back, left back, midfielder, left winger and a striker) to look forward to a new season with any hope, as the clock is ticking towards the end of the transfer deadline.
Kevin Prytherch
24 Posted 09/07/2018 at 17:31:43
Mike 22
He played centre mid and kept Tom Davies out of the team for the last couple of games
Kristian Boyce
25 Posted 09/07/2018 at 17:38:48
Just saw the pic's of today's training out in Austria. I'm trying to figure out who one of the players is: There's a black guy in a couple of the pictures wearing a black face mask, similar to the one Gazza wore years ago. At first I thought it might be Beni, but he doesn't look that tall. The hair is different than Cuco and he's pictured with Niasse in one of the pics. Maybe some undercover trialist?

Brian Williams
26 Posted 09/07/2018 at 17:40:12
Kristian. That link seems to bring you back to this thread????
Brent Stephens
27 Posted 09/07/2018 at 17:42:06
Brian, it's what's called a Jags-Williams link.
Brian Williams
28 Posted 09/07/2018 at 17:44:05
Brent. Is that one of those where one isn't sure where the other one's going? Lol.
Have cut and pasted the link and I can't see any player wearing a face mask at all!
Kristian Boyce
29 Posted 09/07/2018 at 17:46:51
Not too sure why the link didn't work. But in pic 5 he's to the left of Morgan and a blurry pic of him in number 8, which he's the furthest right.
Brent Stephens
30 Posted 09/07/2018 at 17:49:12
Brian, it's where you just end up where you started. Otherwise known as the "after you, Claude" link.
Steve Ferns
31 Posted 09/07/2018 at 18:29:04
After looking closely at the "lone ranger" and seeing that he has a beard, noting his skin colouring, and the lack of Beni Baningime in other photographs, it has to be him. I cannot see the lanky frame of Robinson on any pic. Pennington is certainly there though.
Derek Taylor
32 Posted 09/07/2018 at 18:38:18
I think it's either AN Other or A Player – both of whom I used to see in South Liverpool 'Practice Matches' years ago!
Peter Roberts
33 Posted 09/07/2018 at 18:43:31
I think it's Beni Kristian as he's bending his knee quite a bit in that picture
Steve Ferns
34 Posted 09/07/2018 at 18:49:02
Also, we make a trialist wear a mask? Why not just keep him out the photos? They are taken by the official photographer, so he'll do as he's told!
Steve Ferns
35 Posted 09/07/2018 at 19:10:55
Video is up now

The masked man is definitely Beni Baningime. The video is very different by Everton. They're positing something every other day at the moment. It's hard to read too much into stuff. It does show Lookman looking anything but a sulker. The bigger guys like Keane look like they're out of puff, so cleaerly being worked hard. There's lots of tight area ball drills to work on control. There's definitely a new approach by the Everton media department.

Peter Gorman
36 Posted 09/07/2018 at 19:22:49
The coaches certainly don't appreciate the tempo dropping.
Jamie Crowley
37 Posted 09/07/2018 at 19:24:54
TYVM for that link Steve.

Couple of observations:

I wish American coaches would watch this. Never, ever seen drills like that over here.

The speed they move the ball in those tight area ball drills is just sickening. Watching that you realize even the bench-warmers have skill so far beyond the masses it's incredible.

The videography is absolutely outstanding. Thought it was a CGI background at first! I'll double check with my art student. ;0) But well done Everton on the filming.

The landscape might be the most jaw-droppingly beautiful thing I've seen. My God, that's a beautiful part of the world.

Peter Gorman
38 Posted 09/07/2018 at 19:26:35
Jamie, Austria is one of the most beautiful parts of the world in my old book. I would heartily recommend a visit.
Steve Ferns
39 Posted 09/07/2018 at 19:38:00
Jamie, the videos are clearly made by a talented filmmaker. Maybe a recent Uni grad who's a mad blue and has put his film career on hold! Joking aside, I know nothing about film-making but the way the other videos have been shot is in a very arty way, and they finish with a fancy spin and zoom to the NIL SATIS NISI OPTIMUM on the gym video.

Does anyone else agree that this means a very different Everton this year. John Blaine goes into a lot more detail on the latest Everton Business Matters podcast. Worth a listen. But it appears that change is happening and hopefully continues to happen.

Jamie Crowley
40 Posted 09/07/2018 at 19:48:58
Steve -

Having a son at art school, I'm no expert but have been involved in enough conversations and seen enough projects to tell you that filming was very good.

The "sliding" coverage where the camera moves right to left, the at ground viewpoint of the tight square drills, the panoramic shot with the mountains in the back, the "pan down" on the other drills, etc.

I'll say this, whomever put it together knows what they are doing. There's an entire psychology of where the eye focuses, and how to engage the brain to displace itself so you are "there". My son knows it all and I'm not doing it justice, but you get the drift.

Also, I know many teams here in the States offer internships and employment opportunities to animators, film grads, etc. The marketing of the sports product is hitting Hollywood-quality world-wide.

Coming out of art school over here, there's a lot more than Pixar, Disney, or Nickelodeon on offer. Multiple sports teams are seriously ramping up their multi-media, highlights, etc and hiring young kids to produce them.

If this video is anything to go by, Everton is about to put serious attention into their product and how they produce it. I'm really impressed. Supremely impressed in fact.

Steve Ferns
41 Posted 09/07/2018 at 19:57:34
Who's who in the coaching staff:

Pedro Conceica, fitness coach, walks through the players at 0:15

Duncan Ferguson on sprinkler duties!

Bruno Mendes, the newest member recruited from Benfica, is seen at 0:24 walk past Keane and Walcott.

Pedro Conceicao, putting the players through cardio work at 0:43

Bruno Mendes, running a fitness drill at 1:05

At 1:30, Assistant manager, Joao Pedro Sousa, probably the loudest voice you hear. A chunky Portuguese Osman look-alike?

In the distance at 2:15, is that Marcel Brands? Hopefully he's off doing some transfer business, or maybe he flew in to discuss something with Silva?

At 2:24, Joao Pedro leading the close control drill.

At 3:10 No idea who this "BP" guy is, he looks about 12!

At 3:46, a strapped-up Phil Jagielka with his back to the camera.

At 4:30, Marco Silva prowling in the bigger pitched game, still clearly a drill working on close control and passing in tight spaces.

So fitness is being worked on, and tight control passing. That's high intensity pressing drills to me lads.

Sadly, no sign of Antonee Robinson. You have to wonder what the implications of this are? Could merely be a knock keeping him out of training?

Steve Ferns
42 Posted 09/07/2018 at 20:05:28
Under 23s training camp in la manga

No sign of Antonee Robinson here either. You'll notice a big difference in styles of coaching from first team to U23s, and I'm not talking the levels of the players, I mean the types of coaching.

Phill Thompson
43 Posted 09/07/2018 at 21:05:12
Mike (#22), Callum Connolly played right-wing back in the Toulon Tournament. They played the same system as the full team, three at the back with two wing-backs. Kenny was on the right of the back three with Connolly ahead of him.

I thought Connolly had a sound tournament, nothing spectacular but he's always had the ability to find space in the box for a header or, as on one occasion in Toulon, timed his run perfectly to slot in a goal with his right foot.

Kristian Boyce
44 Posted 09/07/2018 at 22:25:31
Steve Ferns,

Robinson played those few games for the US in the first part of the summer and was probably granted a week or two extra time off due to it.

Jay Wood
[BRZ]

45 Posted 09/07/2018 at 22:55:29
I liked the intensity of the first team training in the drills shown.

Professional sport at the levels Everton play at is as much about mental agility as physical endurance. The drills appear designed to hone the two whilst making demands on players' technical skills. Good preparation for match day situations and a hint of how Silva expects his players to perform.

The coaches maintained a high intensity by constantly demanding more of the players and should a ball escape from the one-touch confined space they were working within, the coaches immediately threw a reserve ball into play. There was no chance for the players to catch a breather. It demanded concentration, endurance and technical adeptness.

I don't think you can make any sort of comparison between the Austrian footage of the first team to that of the U-23s in Spain as the latter appears to be possibly a warm-down game after training. We have no way of knowing what they went through before the kickabout from the footage shown.

Jay Wood
[BRZ]

46 Posted 09/07/2018 at 23:06:50
Kristian @ 44. Robinson was definitely at Finch Farm on the first day of training last week, going through the same tests as everybody else. Check out the link to a gallery of photos. Antonee appears in a good few.

Link

Unless he has stayed behind to treat an injury, it is more than likely he is in Austria. Hard to tell from a distance in the training video linked, but I thought I espied him fleetingly.

Steve Ferns
47 Posted 10/07/2018 at 22:26:06
Today in Austria - training match

Worry is, couldn't see Antonee Robinson, and Cuco Martina played left back. Marco! What are you doing!

Steve Ferns
48 Posted 10/07/2018 at 22:54:53
I think I spotted Matty Foulds is with the first team still. Can anyone else confirm?
Hugh Jenkins
49 Posted 11/07/2018 at 08:21:22
I believe Mo Besic acquitted himself very well at Middlesborough last season and I wouldn't be surprised to see him suddenly start to fulfil his potential at Everton, under Silva.
Jerome Shields
50 Posted 11/07/2018 at 08:43:59
The money being made available for signings is going to be nothing like last Summer. The primary objective is to reduce the wages bill. The fact that Everton have the worst player contract situation in the Premier League and Kenwright's Luvies are still being given preferential treatment means that funds are not available.

There will be few signings and the Brands - Silva partnership does not seem to be able to overcome the barrier that Everton is not perceived as a good career move for suitable available footballer targets.

It increasingly looks that next season, performance will be dependent on Silva's managerial rejuvenation qualities. Brands will definitely have to get the current defensive frailties replaced, if Silva is to stand a chance. The forward line we can live with, since Silva will be at least able to get them more on-the-ball time. They lived on scraps last season. Lookman will be gone. He liked playing for Leipzig and there has been very little change since he last was with Everton.

As for Silverware, never while Mr Bill is Chairman. The longer he is in situ, the longer the rebuilding process will be. It was going to be a laborious process anyway. The pace of this Summer reflects that.

Steve Ferns
51 Posted 11/07/2018 at 11:04:59
He's looked alright on the brief glimpses of training so far Hugh.

Jagielka on Silva

Some nuggets in this interview on the official site. Good to know Silva is doing things a veteran like Jagielka has never done before. Also good to hear he is going into detail on shape on where he wants the defence to be, and when to drop off. It should stop any alarm bells from those who still worry this is "Martinez Mark II".

David Milner
52 Posted 11/07/2018 at 16:08:54
Steve @47

After training they finished with an 11 versus 11 short match.

One team had a back 4 of Coleman, Holgate, Keane, Baines.

The other had a back 4 of Kenny, Pennington, Jagielka, Martina.

Read into it what you will. Jags did have strapping to his right knee which is of concern bearing in mind his age & that this is only pre season.

David Milner
53 Posted 11/07/2018 at 16:18:51
The two goalkeepers were Stekelenburg & Hewelt. Also spotted were Baningime (in a mask), Klaassen, Davies, Besic, Schneiderlin, Tosun, Calvert-Lewin, Niasse, Connolly, Vlasic, Walcott, Lookman, Dowell, Sandro and Williams A.

Not sure if I spotted Bolasie, but did not see anything of Galloway, Robinson or Browning.

Steve Ferns
54 Posted 11/07/2018 at 23:14:12
Austria Day 3 in photos

Antonee Robinson is on the training pitch. Also of note, David Flower (DF. on his top) is with the first team, when he has previously been Unsworth's fitness coach.

Morgan Feeney is NOT in Austria — he's in Spain, recovering from surgery

Jay Wood
[BRZ]

55 Posted 11/07/2018 at 23:43:11
Aha! Good spot Steve. The Lesser-Spotted Antonee Robinson finally flushed out. Impressive piece on Feeney, too.
Steve Ferns
56 Posted 12/07/2018 at 08:03:52
Tyias Browning is with the U23s and in Spain. The Echo reports he is looking for another loan. That's his Everton career all but over.
Victor Yu
57 Posted 12/07/2018 at 08:06:33
I believe Browning has a Chinese passport. Can we ship him to China for a big fee (he will count as a local player)?
Steve Ferns
58 Posted 12/07/2018 at 14:26:10
Today is the turn of Seamus Coleman to talk about the training camp:

"All the boys will tell you, pre-season is where you get your base fitness for the season," said Coleman. "Missing that is never ideal. Circumstances for me meant I had to miss it last season but thankfully I had some great staff to work with me and get me back up to full fitness.

"But in an ideal world, you want to go through pre-season and I had been looking forward to coming back into this one. We are training a couple of times a day and becoming as fit as possible.

"Training in Austria has been great. As you can imagine, the intensity has been high and all the lads are eager to impress and make an impression on the new manager. So far, training has been really good and everyone has enjoyed it."

Steve Ferns
59 Posted 12/07/2018 at 15:20:09
Training Match

This is two days old now. But the original video was of poor quality, due to being live streamed on Facebook. the club have now uploaded a much higher quality version.

These are the teams:
Blues (Right to Left; 4-2-3-1):
Stekelenburg
Kenny Pennington Connolly Martina
Davies Schniederlin
Sandro Dowell Lookman
Niasse

Whites (Left to Right; 4-2-3-1):
Tosun
Mirallas Klaassen Walcott
Baningime Besic
Baines Keane Holgate Coleman
Hewelt

Yellow Bib: Nikola Vlasic – note he was always on the attacking side and switched teams as they switched possession of the ball.

Some notes:

1. Baines looked very sharp, he looked as quick as ever, and he eased some of my fears of his dwindling pace.
2. The purpose was to work on shape and passing.
3. The teams looked to switch play from side to side quickly, a big trait of Silva's.
4. The passing was snappy and the tempo was high.
5. There was few long balls, but the ball did go forwards quickly.
6. Vlasic looked very good, and playing both ways indicates a major role.
7. Both sides knocked the ball about well and there was a lot of closing down, but no real sign of what you would call high press.
8. Both teams played 4-2-3-1 rather than the 4-3-3 Silva alluded to.
9. Niasse offered little, but when he got a chance he rattled the post
10. Mirallas looked more effective than Lookman, like he still has something to offer!
11. Absent were Robinson, Williams, Jagielka, Bolasie and Calvert-Lewin.
12. Is it worth noting as well that Baines, Keane, Holgate and Coleman could be many people's back 4?
13. Schneiderlin and Davies were playing together, but there was no Gueye.
14. Silva didn't stop play and coaching staff didn't let them rest.
15. The pitch was condensed from the edge of both boxes.

Jay Wood
[BRZ]

60 Posted 12/07/2018 at 15:26:42
Steve, is this the exact same video as originally shown, just with better quality, or a fuller video showing more?

When I find time later in the day I'll take a look at it.

Surprised Mirallas was there you say! I totally missed him first time around!

I was also intrigued by Vlasic in the yellow bib switching sides and wondered what this possibly implies and if he will have a role with the first team this season.

Steve Ferns
61 Posted 12/07/2018 at 15:29:26
Same video, better quality.
Steve Ferns
62 Posted 12/07/2018 at 15:59:34
Ian Burns
63 Posted 12/07/2018 at 16:21:54
Steve – numerous posts; many thanks for posting these updates, especially the time you are taking. Extremely interesting along with your added value comments.

Many thanks.

Mike Gaynes
64 Posted 12/07/2018 at 16:45:31
Steve, much appreciated. Interesting as you say that Vlasic is so prominent.

I wouldn't expect to see Pickford, Gana or Sigurdsson for some weeks yet. Aside from the physical toll, the World Cup is mentally exhausting. And Williams of course will still be a long way from fitness after busting those ribs. Probably isn't even running yet.

Dermot Byrne
65 Posted 12/07/2018 at 17:38:14
Watching video of our squad training.

Link

Think we may actually have a coach and they seem to be passing forward!

Steve Ferns
66 Posted 12/07/2018 at 17:58:02
Cheers, Mike and Ian.

Dermot this is exactly why I wanted Silva and here he is doing it. We're on a curve with training and it's going up in terms of technical requirements.

This drill is joined up attacking. Trying to get in passing, movement and finishing. It's great.

Jamie Crowley
67 Posted 12/07/2018 at 18:27:40
Dermot great video, thank you for posting.

The more I see, the more I'm really warming to Silva.

Only negative - someone needs to tell Tosun to stop hiking his shorts up! This is the second video I've seen him sporting the "Speedo Mick" look! Not good.

Steve Ferns
68 Posted 12/07/2018 at 18:56:10
Jamie, just wait for Tosun to take free kicks. If you thought Cristiano Ronaldo Aveiro was bad .
Jay Wood
[BRZ]

69 Posted 12/07/2018 at 19:09:19
I know all these snippets of training videos are very superficial, but they do seem to have a common theme running through them.

That is, they are relentless. No time for hands-on-hip to relax whilst you wait your turn as other pairs and trios run through their routine. As soon as one team complete their return - and even before - another group is going through their drill.

It seems deliberately designed to sharpen both body and mind, replicating as it does the intensity of a match day situation and how the opposition will harry-harry-harry.

Dermot Byrne
70 Posted 12/07/2018 at 19:12:41
Yeah that is what struck me too Jay. It also gave me the impression is they all know who is boss. After last few, that would be a refreshing change.

It is great to get back to the Blues after the so called wonder kids exploits in Russia.

Ian Burns
71 Posted 12/07/2018 at 19:15:32
Jay - 69 - good point - I'm feeling knackered watching them!

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