On this our second day, I woke to a glorious morning with the sun streaming through the blinds of my lakeside room. This really is a beautiful setting with all the players and staff accommodated alongside a small, calm lake, which adjoins the outdoor swimming area. The hotel, called Klosterpforte, and its grounds, are built on what was formerly an ancient monastery which dates back over 800 years. The monastery, founded by Cistercian monks, became the foremost monastery in this area of Germany during the Middle Ages.

Now the beautiful grounds also house WM Sporthotel, which provides excellent sporting facilities and indeed is rated by FIFA as excellent. In fact the newly crowned Euro Champions Portugal used these facilities as their base in the 2006 World Cup in Germany when they reached the semi finals. Two weeks after we depart this base, Inter Milan are coming here. A unique feature of the hotel is the fact that they brew their own beer in a brewery housed in the old monastery cellar. However rest assured no one in this party will be partaking of their local brew, nor will we be sampling their local delicacy of horse droppings chocolates, as much as I like chocolate!

The day, as always, started with breakfast followed by screening and medical prep which is pretty much every day as the players are all of course individuals and require their own treatments etc tailored specifically to their needs. Then it was time for a near two hour training session, which today was under a blazing sun.

After a warm up led by Chris Haslam, the newly appointed Head of Athletic Performance, it was time for Dean Smith and Richard O'Kelly to put the players through their paces. The second period of training was probably the hardest session I've witnessed over the years. It involved three goals on three sides of a reduced sized pitch with the player dribbling, sprinting, doing push ups, and being set up with crosses and passes to score with diving headers, from corners and general shots on goal. This circuit they had to do five times each. I was worn out watching them as each and every one of them gave 100% effort and will certainly reap the benefit as indeed will we all in the season to come. After that there were two "half size" games before it was time for lunch.

After lunch there was more prep, a couple of analysis sessions and another late afternoon training session for groups and individuals, whilst sporadically trying to keep abreast of the latest happenings in the men's Singles Final at Wimbledon.

Come the evening, and it was time for the First Round of what is being called this year, the Free Market Song Contest. Our six newcomers each had to "select" a song to sing which had been "suggested" by a few of our more senior players. The draw was made at breakfast this morning and they then had the rest of the day, over and above whatever else was expected of them during the day, to prepare for their special moment this evening.

First up was Romain Sawyers with his own inimitable version of S Club 7's "Reach". After a slow start he eventually got into it but I don't think another 6 people to have given him the full complement of 7, would have helped.

Next up was our new set piece specialist Frenchman Nicolas Jover who had the task of singing The Spice Girls Wannabee. In fairness to him he had gone to the trouble of acquiring a wig (from the hotel reception would you believe) to help his act. So fair play to him for good preparation but it was quite obvious from the state of the wig that he's not our new hair piece specialist. But a valiant effort with good audience participation.

Third in line was Matt King one of our medical team, and his task was to sing Beyonce's Single Ladies. This he did to the best of his limited ability, but threw in a few dance moves which thankfully helped distract from the sound.

John Egan was the next to take the stage with his take on The Scissors Sisters hit I Don't Feel Like Dancin, in fairness that was clearly obvious because he didn't and what was also clearly obvious was that he wasn't too sure of the words either. But in truth I wouldn't tell him to his face.

Last but one was Jan Holldack, a member of the B Squad, who together with Tom Field had an excellent season last year and thoroughly deserved the opportunity given to be present here this pre-season. Unfortunately for him, on this occasion, his ability as a singer/entertainer didn't match that which he shows on the football pitch. So his rendering of Shania Twain's Man, I Feel Like A Woman lacked the original appeal of the Canadian songstress.

For the final entrant, Dan Bentley, we had to move location. So we all transferred to the outdoor swimming area, where Dan had decided he wanted to perform his version of Peter Andre's Mysterious Girl for apparently that was how Andre performed it in the video. Halfway through his performance he plunged in to the pool. I have to say though it was different and imaginative.

So that was it. The two best acts based on the marks of those in attendance on the night, together with the viewing public on YouTube and Twitter, will not have to perform again tomorrow. Unfortunately for those present tonight the other four will perform again tomorrow.

Just time to watch the Euro 2016 Final and commiserations to Maxime, Yoann and Nicolas!

And so to bed.