re: 2014-2015 Leeds United AFC Thread

Part 2 Wednesday at Santa Cristina

The training I saw was intense. With all players involved and no injuries it seems. I have to say the staff are happy with the response from the players and I feel there is a positivity about them when with all that has happened at the club could send it the other way.
There was a lot of pass and move (simplifying somewhat I know) drills and some full on 11 v 11 spells.

The teams lined up mainly 4-3-3 to my eye but also some 4-4-2 but don't read to much into that as there was a bit of diamond going on too.
Stephen Warnock scored an utter worldy too!

First game saw

S. Taylor ; Thompson , Killock, Skelton, C Taylor; Norris, Cook, White; Walters, Morison, Poleon

V

Cairns; Byram, Lees, Pearce, Warnock; Tonge, Austin, Murphy, Bianchi; Hunt, Smith

Dawson and Blackman sat out whilst Silvestri trained with Neil Sullivan.

Second set up

S.Taylor; Byram, Lees, Pearce, Warnock; Tonge (holding), Austin, Blackman; Murphy (behind) Smith, Poleon.

Versus

Silvestri ; Thompson, Killock, Skelton, C. Taylor; Norris, Cook, White; Dawson (behind) Walters, Morison.

Cairns trained with Neil Sullivan whilst Bianchi and Hunt sat out.

Overall it was pretty technical stuff which was rounded off by a compulsory ice bath in the rapid flowing river which saw the players haul themselves up a rope to dry land .... the kids watching loved that!

It may be a minor thing but the walk to training downhill for about 10 mins is countered by a massively steep climb on the way back 2 or 3 times a day. This is a tough schedule and nobody is breezing it.

Part 3/3 from Santa Cristina on Wed July 9.

Some other things of note include the presence of Doctor Sergio Olla from Cagliari. He is working with the medical/ Physio teams for the fortnight here. He says he is impressed by the professionalism of the staff .
He also extolled the virtues of high altitude training, tranquility , fresh air, recovery times from training sessions . He obviously had worked with Cellino before like Salerno but it's not certain if he will come to Leeds as he has other commitments in Sardinia at present.

It was great to see Neil Sullivan still involved and I was really impressed with how he worked the keepers . Good rapport he is building with Silvestri . Taylor is an utter collossus by the way and with Cairns out here surely there will be something sorted re Paddy Kenny but no word yet.

Any senior players out here who might be expected to leave before August are putting a shift in it seems.

Byram seems to be coping with a full pre season so far which will be great if it continues after playing catch up last year.

Dave Hockaday seems in his element on the training pitch. He puts his point across forcefully and is pretty vocal .

Salerno is meant to be returning here tonight and Cellino is expected too . The feeling is that nobody really likes to say or do too much without Massimo knowing first !

The other names being mentioned as possible signings are 24 yr old centre back Giuseppe " The Warrior" Bellusci from Catania who is ex Italy U21 and 30 yr old Verona striker Daniele Cacia who where he has had a decent scoring
record of almost 1 in 2 games.

In the post McCormack era players seem to have knuckled down and carried on tbh. @leedsuniteditalia fan Fabrizio told me that Cellino had a stand off with Cagliari keeper Marchetti once. The Italy number 2 stopper was a strong character like McCormack. Cellino didn't play him for a season and then sold him . At least this deal works for United and Ross.

Also it was good to meet up with Rina and Paul who are well traveled Leeds fans from Shropshire who will be at the match tomorrow .