Archived News from September 2011
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BARROW PREVIEWS / STAGS EXTEND FUTCHER LOAN
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Cox delighted on Futcher loan extension
mansfieldtown.net, Fri 16 Sep 2011 Manager Paul Cox has confirmed the extension to the loan of giant defender Ben Futcher until 05 November. http://www.mansfieldtown.net/page/Preview/0,,10325~2452079,00.html The former Lincoln man has become a regular in the back four since joining us on an initial one month deal from League One side Bury. Cox has paid tribute to not only the quality that Futcher brings to the side but also Bury manager and former Stag Richie Barker's role in facilitating this loan extension. "I'm over the moon," he said. "Ben's not just been a good player for us on the field he's been a great lad in the dressing room. "He's brought stability to our back four and it's no coincidence that we haven't conceded many goals since he's been here. "Ben's been one of the cogs in there who's helped us achieve one or two results of late. "Richie's also been really good to us. I've spoken to him a number of times and he's really given us a helping hand." Although Futcher's short term future is secured now at Field Mill, transfer speculation continues to surround his defensive colleague Tom Naylor who is currently on trial at Premiership side Fulham. Subject of a bid from Bournemouth this week, Cox revealed that his decision to reject it was in the interests of both the club and player. He added: "First and foremost I've got to do what's best for this football club. I'm not going to let good players leave if we don't get the kind of bids that we think the lads worth. "I've already said that if Tom doesn't move on then we've got a very good player at this football club. I don't want to jeopardise a move for Tom but I've got to do what's best for us. "It wasn't what we thought Tom was worth and there are other things that came into the equation. He's playing another game for Fulham today and while he's on trial at a Premiership club, I don't want to be in a position where I jump in too quickly at the first club that comes in calling." In matters on the pitch, the Gaffer is expecting a tough game at Barrow on Saturday as we make our longest away trip of the season requiring an overnight stay in Cumbria on Friday. Despite our opponents beating league-leaders Wrexham last Saturday, Cox is optimistic having seen his charges secure a fourth consecutive win against Newport five days ago. In team news, Martin Riley will be available for selection having missed out on our last three fixtures with a toe injury. The game will probably come too soon for Lee Stevenson, however, who has a hairline fracture in his foot and long term absentee Rhys Day (calf). "It's going to be a real tough one," said Cox. "You've only got to look at some of their results against the big clubs in this league to see what kind of game we've got on. "We're doing well though and, as long as we keep our feet on the floor and keep working hard, we will go up there full of confidence. "I like sleeping in my own bed but we're staying overnight because otherwise we would be leaving at the crack of dawn and I want to make sure that our preparation has been spot on." --------------------- Mansfield Town extend loan deal of Bury defender Ben Futcher chad.co.uk, Friday 16 September 2011 STAGS legend and Bury manager Richie Barker his done his bit for his former club by allowing Ben Futcher to extend his loan the full term until early November. http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/mansfield_town_extend_loan_deal_of_bury_defender_ben_futcher_1_3782143 The giant central defender, on loan from Barker's Bury, has impressed on his month's loan as Mansfield have gone on a wining run with four clean sheets. Now Barker and Futcher have today agreed to extend that loan to the full three-month term which will take him until the 5th or 12th November, depending if he is allowed to become FA Cup-tied. Either way, if Stags want to sign him full-time Futcher will then have to sit it out through the busy Christmas period until the transfer window re-opens. Boss Paul Cox said: “I am really pleased to get him as 'Futch' has been great not just on the pitch but also in the dressing room. He brings a lot of personality to the club and he is a winner. “We have not conceded many goals since he came in. It isn't all about Ben, though, he is one of the cogs in our success. But he has brought us stability. “I have to say Bury and Richie Barker have been very helpful to us too.” --------------------- Stags extend Futcher loan Nottingham Post, Friday, September 16, 2011 MANSFIELD Town have extended the loan of Bury defender Ben Futcher until November 5. http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/story-13344851-detail/story.html Stags boss Paul Cox is delighted and said: "I'm over the moon. Ben's not just been a good player for us on the field he's been a great lad in the dressing room. "He's brought stability to our back four and it's no coincidence that we haven't conceded many goals since he's been here. "Ben's been one of the cogs in there who's helped us achieve one or two results of late." ------------------------ Shakers boss faces a problem in defence burytimes.co.uk, By Marc Higginson, Thursday 15th September 2011 RICHIE Barker may have shot himself in the foot after allowing Ben Futcher to extend his loan at Mansfield Town on the same day Efe Sodje picked up a one-game ban. http://www.burytimes.co.uk/sport/9250582.Shakers_boss_faces_a_problem_in_defence/ The Shakers boss finds himself down to the bare bones at the back for the trip to in-form Hartlepool United, with youngster Andrai Jones the only option to replace the suspended Sodje. Futcher had returned to the camp on Monday after a successful spell at Field Mill only to make a quick return. Sodje was already treading a disciplinary tightrope before the 1-0 defeat at Chesterfield on Tuesday night, but he will now miss Saturday's game at Victoria Park. With Mark Hughes a few weeks away from a return, Barker was again left cursing his luck after allowing the experienced and influential Futcher to leave for a further two months. “Ben came and trained with us yesterday and he was exactly what we needed because he grabbed hold of a few and livened the place up a bit,” he said. “We sent him out on loan first off and Hughesy tore his hamstring. We've sent him out again and Efe has picked up a booking. “It's another thing to add to my list, isn't it?” ----------------- In-form Stags loanee Green hoping on permanent move from Oxford chad.co.uk, Friday 16 September 2011 MATT Green's five goals have made him an instant hero at Field Mill. http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town-fc/in_form_stags_loanee_green_hoping_on_permanent_move_from_oxford_1_3776873 And the striker is already hoping his loan spell from Oxford United, which ends at Christmas, can be made permanent. “It's great I am scoring goals but we are winning games, which is the main thing,” he said. “It is a great, great spell for me, though other players are making it easy for me and I have settled in really quickly. “Of course when you are doing well you are enjoying yourself and that's hard to find in football in my experience. “I see no reason why my move can't be made permanent. It is on the cards. I am not even looking what's happening at Oxford. I am just concentrating on my job here. “I have not really spoken to anyone about it yet. I will leave my future up to other people as I just want to get my head down and enjoy my football. “That's how prefer it. When something's ready to get sorted I am sure it will.” He added: “You wake up in the morning in a good mood and can't wait to get into training. You can't buy that feeling in football. “Throughout the team we have good players and I certainly seem to be on the same wavelength as Ross Dyer at the moment and we have linked up well -------------- Cox: Barrow will make it tough Nottingham Post, Saturday, September 17, 2011 ANYTHING less than Mansfield Town's resilient best will see their winning streak abruptly halted at Barrow this afternoon, manager Paul Cox was warned. http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/story-13349264-detail/story.html The Stags go in search of their fifth victory on the bounce having beaten Kettering, Stockport, Darlington and Newport without conceding a goal. But their next task could hardly be more difficult, with the Cumbrians having thumped well-fancied Fleetwood 4-0 and leaders Wrexham 3-1 at their Holker Street home. Mansfield have not won in the north-west in either of their three previous visits. "I'm going into it expecting a strong mindset from the players because that is exactly what we will need to get a positive result up there," said Cox. "It's the first time I will have taken a team there, but I've been to watch games before, so I know what it is like. "It is a fairly hostile atmosphere for the away side because the home fans really get behind their team. "It's a very long trip, but it's better making it at this time of year on a Saturday than in midweek in the middle of winter." The Stags have extended the loan of Bury defender Ben Futcher until November 5 ---------------- Green is now in the fast lane to help drive Stags to glory Nottingham Post, Saturday, September 17, 2011 THEY say you shouldn't believe everything you read on Wikipedia, but one thing that is true on Matt Green's profile is that he once worked at a car auction warehouse. http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/story-13349253-detail/story.html The pacey striker has hit the fast lane in the early stages of his time at Mansfield Town, with five goals in his first eight games. But it was an altogether less glamorous lifestyle back in the days when Green played part-time for Newport County, which has made his spell at Field Mill all the more enjoyable. "I had to drive the cars into the auction room, open up all the doors and the boot and then drive them out again afterwards," said Green. "It was a good experience for me at the time and gave me a bit of extra cash in my hand. "I think when you have done something like that it does make you appreciate it more when you make it as a professional. "You realise where you have come from and even though my family have always been around for me to help me out, that was part of the learning curve I went through." After two seasons at Newport, Green attracted the interest of Cardiff City and a £10,000 move to the Bluebirds followed. However, he made just six substitute appearances before loan spells at Darlington and Oxford preceded a permanent move to Torquay. He helped the Gulls to promotion from the Blue Square Bet Premier and returned to Oxford to later do the same at the Kassam Stadium. But after finding himself surplus to requirements in the eyes of Us boss Chris Wilder, he has been only too delighted to come to north Nottinghamshire. And having started so well, former England C call-up Green is well aware that, should he stay for the whole of 2011-12, a 20-goal haul could be within his grasp. He said: "I do believe that is possible now, but I realise this is a team game and if we are getting results and I am playing my part then I will be happy. "The good thing is that you now look at the team and there are not many weaknesses to it. We are tough to break down and there is experience in there. "From my point of view, I get up in the morning at the moment and I can't wait to go in to training. "You have to enjoy these times because there are others where things are not going your way." Mansfield travelled up yesterday and stayed overnight for the first time this season in a bid to ensure they have the perfect preparations for this afternoon's game at Barrow. The Stags are looking for their first win at Holker Street in four attempts since being relegated out of the Football League. In 2008-09 under Billy McEwan, the Stags lost 2-1 thanks to a late strike from Jason Walker. A season later, Walker was at it again, scoring twice as the Cumbrians roared to a 3-1 success, despite a stunning free-kick strike from Kyle Nix. The Stags' best result came this February when last season's encounter ended 2-2 thanks to a late double from substitute Adam Smith, one of only a handful of players still in the Mansfield squad from that day. Barrow go into the match having inflicted a first defeat of the season on Wrexham last weekend (3-1) and having already thumped one of the pre-season promotion favourites in Fleetwood 4-0 on their home patch. "It will be a difficult place to go and get a positive result, we can make no bones about that," said Green. "But we have got a good mentality about us. We have done well at Field Mill (winning 5-0 against Newport last time out) and now we have to go away and do something as well." Manager Paul Cox has been delighted to see Green shine since leaving Oxford to join the Stags on a loan that is currently scheduled to run until Christmas but could be extended until the end of the campaign. He said: "When Greeny came you could see he was down in the dumps. I saw him in shooting practice with Micky Moore, watching on from afar, and he must have missed about five of 20 shots, with no keeper in. "I had a chat with him and told him that he had to believe in himself because I certainly had the belief in him. "I don't think there's much difference between him now and at the start of the season, except that now he is beginning to have that belief. "I think him turning and popping that one into the top corner against Luton helped with that." Now all Stags fans want to read on Wikipedia is that Green has earned a third Blue Square Bet promotion with Mansfield – but only if it's true, of course ------------------ Spotlight on Barrow v Mansfield Nottingham Post, Friday, September 16, 2011 Barrow (from): Hurst, Baker, Lomax, Quinn, Skelton, Rutherford, Owen, Smith, Boyes, Almond, Brooke, Mackreth, Pearson, Moyo, Hulbert. http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/story-13341823-detail/story.html Mansfield (from): Marriott, Redmond, O'Neill, Sutton, Futcher, Riley, Naylor, Kendrick, Briscoe, Howell, Murray, Bolland, Worthington, Meikle, Smith, Green, Dyer, Connor. Team news: Barrow have been injury-hit at the start of the campaign and have Andy Ferrell (foot), Andy Cook (ankle ligaments), Phil Bolland (fractured jaw), Mike Pearson (fractured cheekbone and eye socket), Andy Nicholas (broken foot) and Darren Sheridan (knee) all ruled out. As a result they are hoping to sign a central defender on loan ahead of this weekend's clash and are looking into recalling Cliff Moyo from his loan at Northwich, while Robin Hulbert (knee) returns. For Mansfield, Martin Riley has returned to training this week after a toe injury and should be back in contention. John Thompson (head), Lee Stevenson (foot) and Rhys Day (calf) are still out of action. One to watch: Adam Boyes. Has started the new season in red hot form with seven goals in his first eight matches following a summer move from Boston. The 20-year-old netted twice in last Saturday's 3-1 home win over leaders Wrexham. Managers: Darren Sheridan and Dave Bayliss. The duo have been in charge at Holker Street since December 2007, leading the Cumbrians to promotion from the Blue Square Bet North and establishing them at the higher level ------------------- In-form Stags know how to party away from home http://www.nwemail.co.uk/afc/news/in-form-stags-know-how-to-party-away-from-home-1.878770?referrerPath=afc North West Evening Mail, Friday, 16 September 2011 MANSFIELD Town travel to Barrow tomorrow as Blue Square Bet Premier's in-form team. Following a sticky start to the season, the fourth-placed Stags have won their last four matches, without conceding a single goal in the process. Last weekend's 5-0 home thrashing of Newport County came hot on the heels of victories at Darlington (2-0) and Stockport (1-0) and a home win against Kettering (3-0). The last time Paul Cox's Nottinghamshire side conceded a goal was in a 1-1 draw with Luton Town at Field Mill three-and-a-half weeks ago. Such has been the form of Mansfield's defence, there is unlikely to be a starting place for highly sought after Tom Naylor once again. The versatile 20-year-old defender lost his place following a suspension and has been unable to get back in. However, quite how long Naylor remains at Field Mill remains to be see. This week he has been on trial at Premier League Fulham, having spent the previous week with Derby County. Bournemouth, meanwhile, had a bid for Naylor turned down by Mansfield on Tuesday, with the Stags saying the offer did not match their valuation of the young player. Top scorer for Mansfield this season is Matt Green, the on-loan Oxford United speedster, who has five goals to his name. The 24-year-old was on target in the rout of Newport six days ago, when livewire winger Louis Briscoe (2), striker Ross Dyer and right-back Luke O'Neill were also on target. It' has been a busy week off the pitch for Mansfield, who, amid a publicity frenzy, made Carolyn Still the youngest ever chief executive of a football club, aged 29. Mansfield (probable 4-4-2): Alan Marriot, Luke O'Neill, Joe Kendrick, Ritchie Sutton, Ben Futcher, Louis Briscoe, Adam Murray, Anthony Howell, Lindon Meikle, Ross Dyer, Matt Green ---------------------- Stags aim to avoid scalping at Barrow chad.co.uk, Thursday 15 September 2011 HIGH-FLYING Mansfield Town head for Barrow on Saturday (3pm) aiming to avoid becoming the latest leading side to fall to the Cumbrians and extend their current fantastic run of results. http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town-fc/stags_aim_to_avoid_scalping_at_barrow_1_3776843 And manager Paul Cox feels Saturday's longest trip of the season is so important he will know afterwards where the club will be in the table come Christmas. After Saturday's fantastic 5-0 televised drubbing of Newport County, Paul Cox's men have now won four on the bounce without conceding a goal – the first time the club have achieved that since the promotion-winning season of 1976/77 – and confidence is sky high. But Barrow's 3-1 win over Wrexham last weekend was the second time they have taken the scalp of a table-topping team already this season and Cox knows Stags will pay heavily if they take the Bluebirds lightly. “We must approach the Barrow game in the right mindset again or the wheels will fall off,” he said. “You only have to look at their results to know we underestimate them at our peril. “I honestly believe that after Saturday I will be able to tell where we are likely to be at Christmas. I may be able to say we can go to a hard place and get a result. “We have got to be even more prepared than last weekend. Going away to Barrow is a totally different concept. “It will be a totally different environment and a different mindset to come up against. It is going to be a hell of a battle. The two guys in charge up the have done a great job and I know they like to bring the 'big boys' down a peg or two. “Thankfully our lads really have the bit between their teeth right now and I am sure will look at this as a challenge and know they can't just go there, stroll round and pose. If they do that they will come away with nothing. “We are going up on Friday. I always believe the lads would prefer to sleep in their own beds. I would prefer to sleep in mind. But on this occasion I believe it would be best to go up there overnight. Barrow have won their last two and their season includes a 4-0 thrashing of Fleetwood with striker Adam Boyes already finding the net seven times. Barrow will be without injured central defenders Phil Bolland and Mike Pearson but have brought in Oldham striker Ryan Brooke on loan to cover for injured forward Andy Cook. On Tuesday night (7.45) Mansfield are back in action at home to Telford United who, despite being 17th, drew 1-1 with Stockport last weekend and have won at York as well as beating Newport at home --------------------- Stags dressing room reminds skipper Murray of past glories chad.co.uk, Thursday 15 September 2011 ADAM Murray knows a thing or two about promotion. http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town-fc/stags_dressing_room_reminds_skipper_murray_of_past_glories_1_3776834?utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitterfeed So it can only bode well that the Stags skipper feels the current dressing room spirit reminds him of that in the previous Stags and the Oxford United promotion-winning dressing rooms from his past glories. Ahead of Saturday's trip to Barrow, he said: “This is one of the best dressing rooms I have ever been in – and I've been in a few! “It's brilliant and definitely reminds me of the kind of atmosphere we had here when we went up before and when I got promotion with Oxford. “Everyone is buzzing both in training and in matches and working hard for each other.” Murray also paid tribute to central midfield partner Anthony Howell, saying: “To be honest he is horrible! “Even in training he is horrible and for me that's brilliant. “We knew Newport had some decent players in midfield last weekend and we just said to Anthony go and get around them in the first 20 minutes and that's what he did. “It allows me to concentrate on what I am better at. Last season I got carried away trying to do too much and my performances were not what they could have been. “Anthony is doing a lot of work for me which allows me to try to make things happen a bit more.” Murray is also helping boss Paul Cox with offering advice for the squad for Saturday's long haul to Barrow. “Once you get your head round the journey, that's half the job done,” he said. “It is in the middle of nowhere and Barrow get a lot of results through where it is. “They are a good team who know their jobs and are hard to beat. We have to go there and do what we've been doing.” ----------------------- Stags keeper says Gateshead thumping was a blessing in a disguise Nottingham Post, Thursday, September 15, 2011 ALAN Marriott believes Mansfield Town's 3-0 thumping at Gateshead has proved to be a blessing in disguise. http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/story-13332795-detail/story.html The Stags were devastated by the display they produced in their second game of the season and subsequently given a rollicking by boss Paul Cox. Since then, Mansfield have gone six games unbeaten and won their last four matches without conceding a goal to move up to fourth place in the Blue Square Bet Premier. Looking back, goalkeeper Marriott feels the setback at the International Stadium was a significant turning point for the club, who go in search of their fifth win on the bounce at Barrow on Saturday. "The Gateshead game gave us the kick up the backside we needed," said Marriott. "We had tried various formations in pre-season and the gaffer was versatile, perhaps changing from what he believed in to try to suit the players. "But since then, with the way we have lined up and the players who have been picked, we have been winning matches and had a point to prove." Mansfield have rejected a bid for 20-year-old defender Tom Naylor from League One outfit Bournemouth. He is currently on trial at Fulham after training last week with Derby County --------------------- |
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