Archived News from March 2004
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STAGS SIGN LAURENT D`JAFFO
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The Stags have signed Laurent D'Jaffo for the rest of season. The ex-Sheffield United striker played at African Nations Cup and was released by Aberdeen earlier this year.
------- Stags sign international target man CHAD website MANSFIELD Town have signed experienced target man Laurent Djaffo for the rest of the season. And the 33-year-old, six foot striker, will play some part in tomorrow night's crucial home clash with Torquay United (7.45pm). Djaffo had his contract cancelled by mutual consent at Aberdeen before travelling to the African Nations Cup with his adopted home country of Benin who were making their international debut. Djaffo was born in France and played for Montpellier and Niort before enjoying a career in Britain at Ayr United, Bury, Stockport County, Sheffield United and Aberdeen. Curle is continuing to pursue former Stags striker Chris Greenacre on loan from Stoke City as well and said; "Laurent has come for the rest of the season and will give us experience and a physical presence. "I have played against him a few times in the past and I always came off the field knowing I had been in a contest. "Laurent likes the physical side of the game and loves to lead the line. He is the type of centre forwards that leaves central defenders on their backsides!" However, Djaffo is short on match fitness right now so is unlikely to complete 90 minutes tomorrow whether he starts in the team or on the bench. Curle is still hoping he can lure Greenacre back to Field Mill as well but he will not even be able to speak to the player before tomorrow's game. Tom Curtis has been drafted back into the squad after recovering from his cartilage operation. But, with Djaffo's arrival, Richard Pacquette's disappointing loan spell from QPR may finish a week early. After losing three of their last four games, Stags desperately need to win against a Torquay side that are on fire right now, their win over Boston United on Saturday leapfrogging them over Stags into fourth spot, Mansfield dropping to fifth, two points behind them with a game in hand. Torquay have won seven of their last eight games, kept clean sheets in their last three games and won their last three away matches. But Curle said: "The first thing I asked my players after Saturday's defeat at Cheltenham was how many of them felt the Torquay game couldn't come round quickly enough? "It's no good players wanting a week in training to get confidence back. We earn our money out there in matches and they need to want to put things right as quickly as possible. "We had a chat after I had them in for training on Sunday and they feel that every time we make a mistake, individually or collectively, we are being punished for it. The simple answer is not to make mistakes. Good teams make less mistakes. "We were going well when we went to Torquay earlier in the season and they turned us over. Now we have to do that to them. "John Gannon and myself know we have enough in that dressing room to finish in the top three. But players have to believe in their own ability as well." ------- mansfieldtown.net reports: Curle has been tracking a number of players to give the Stags that little extra for the final push in the promotion battle. The list, which includes the name Chris Greenacre, has not been exhausted and the signing of Centre forward Lauren D'Jaffo could be first of a number of changes from now until the end of the season. "I have known Lauren for some time now having played against him on a number of occasions at different clubs, he is a player that makes his presence felt, scores goals and includes his team mates in open play. In the games that I have come up against him I have always left the pitch knowing that I had been involved in a hard battle." said Curle today. The Stags have signed D'Jaffo from now until the end of the season on a free as he left former club Aberdeen by mutual Contract. Curle explained: "We were unable to get him on loan as his last club was Aberdeen this makes it, for all intents and purposes an International transfer so we had to take him on a longer contract" "There are other players I am looking at as well. I have been tracking Chris Greenacre for about three months and each time I approached Stoke City I got the stock answer that he was not available. However, Stoke now feel that this would be a good time to let Chrissy go out on loan and has informed the lad that a number of clubs have made enquiries about him. I have not given up hope and would like to see Chris do a spell at Mansfield." he added. D'Jaffo will figure in tomorrow's evenings game against Torquay United. Meanwhile mansfieldtown.net reports that Tom Curtis is back from the Cartilage operation he under went a few weeks ago and will be figuring in Keith Curle's plans for Tuesday evening's fixture against Torquay united. Other injury news is that long term injured Adam Eaton is back from Lilleshore and is eager to get back to full training as soon as possible . ----------- Soccerbase statistics: Laurent D'Jaffo Height 6.00 Weight 13.07 Date of birth 05-11-1970 Place of birth Aquitane, France Position Forward All time playing career Club From To Fee League FA Cup Leag. cup Other Aberdeen 13-07-2002 01-06-03 Free 16 (2) 3 3 (0) 2 0 (0) 0 4 (0) 0 Sheff Utd 05-02-2000 13-07-02 £ 100k 45 (24) 11 1 (2) 0 0 (2) 1 0 (0) 0 Stockport 13-08-1999 05-02-00 £ 100k 20 (1) 7 0 (0) 0 2 (0) 1 0 (0) 0 Bury 01-07-1998 13-08-99 Free 35 (2) 8 1 (0) 0 4 (1) 1 0 (0) 0 Ayr 03-10-1997 01-07-98 21 (3) 10 2 (1) 0 0 (0) 0 0 (0) 0 Totals £ 200k 137(32) 39 7 (3) 2 6 (3) 3 4 (0) 0 Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals No games played by Laurent D'Jaffo in 2003/2004, except for Benin: Games played by Laurent Djaffo in 2003/2004 Goals Cards 31-01-2004 African Nations Cup Benin v Morocco 4-0 No goals |
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