Archived News from August 2017
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EVANS REACTION; AND CONFIRMS BID FOR STRIKER
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Stags' boss confirms new striker bid
mansfieldtown.net, Saturday 29 July 2017 Stags' gaffer Steve Evans has this evening confirmed the club have submitted a bid for a new striker. The boss was speaking following this afternoon's 2-0 pre-season victory over Alfreton Town, which came courtesy of second half goals from striker Danny Rose and midfielder Jacob Mellis. And the gaffer confirmed after the game that the club have submitted a new bid for an un-named frontman. He said: "We are trying to buy one and we are trying to loan one (another player) and we felt yesterday that we were there with it, but we didn't quite get there. "[The bid's] for a striker, [but] it's none of the names of players we have been linked to. People will see his CV and people will see goals and he will be an asset to what we have got. https://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/2017/july/gaffer-alfreton/ "I have to leave that business to the people above me [but] I know firsthand the player wants to join us. "The loan player is subject to the [other] club getting a player this weekend and he would also like to join us [but] it's only when the secretary walks into my office and says the player is registered, that I believe they have become our player. 'We have been resolute with who we have got and we will see if we can get it done. We have until the end of August but we can see if we can get it done by Monday or Tuesday. "We are trying really hard - we were [working] quite late yesterday, myself and the chairman (John Radford), and the chief executive was there as she pulls it all together." Both goals at Alfreton came in the final 15 minutes of the game and the former Leeds United manager was impressed by the quality of both goals. "Danny Rose's [was] an excellent finish, but the involvement of CJ Hamilton in that goal included some great link up play. It was a brilliant finish and [he] puts it where the 'keeper has no chance. "The second goal, we will see a lot of fantastic goals, and I think supporters who didn't come today will see, not many players can genuinely sit three or four defenders on their backside and 'walk it' into the net. "Jacob Mellis has all the ability in the world but we have got to get him working hard when we don't have the ball. "We wanted to come here and get a clean sheet, work hard and let the players try and prove a point into why they should be involved at Crewe. I think some have stepped up and been really good in spells, and some have been off a little bit. "If you consider the likes of Burnley brought a strong side here and needed a last minute goal for a 3-2 [win], then I think in spells we dominated and missed some chances. I would describe our performance as patchy." Looking ahead to the final pre-season friendly against Rainworth Miners Welfare on Tuesday, the boss revealed he is yet to decide who will be involved in the fixture. "We had a very tough training session yesterday and Thursday. [They were] two real tough days for the players and then we have come here today and shaped up the way we have so we will make that decision on Monday. "To be honest to Rainworth, they deserve a good side sent to them, but what I won't do is lie to our supporters and will tell them on Monday." Supporters can now view the manager's post-match interview on iFollow Stags. ------------------- Stags boss Evans close to double signing chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS, Saturday 29 July 2017 Steve Evans is hoping to have two new faces in his squad early next week if the two transfer deals he is working on pay off. Both players want to come and Evans said one was a striker they were trying to purchase and the other would be a loan player. After today’s 2-0 friendly win at Alfreton, he explained he can’t formulate his XI to start the season until the deals happen or fall through. “It will depend on what business we can do in the next 48 hours,” he said. “I think if it goes beyond the 48 hours they won’t be in the starting line-up. “We are trying really hard. We are trying to buy one and loan one. Read more at: http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/stags-boss-evans-close-to-double-signing-1-8676871 “We probably felt at one stage yesterday we might have been there with the purchase. But we didn’t quite get there. “I know first hand the player would like to join us and the loan player is subject to them getting a player this weekend that they are after. He would also like to join us. “We are close but it’s only when the secretary walks into my office and says they are signed and registered that they become our player. “We do have until the end of August but we’d love to have them here Monday or Tuesday.” On the identity of the striker, he smiled: “It is quite interesting. It’s none of the names people have linked us with. “But if we get this young man people will see his CV and see goals and I think he would be an asset along with what we’ve got. “It’s great to see the competition for places we have now but we want to try to make it a bit tougher.” Stags finally broke Alfreton resistance today with two fine goals in the last 10 minutes. Evans said: “I said before the game I wanted to have a clean sheet, work hard and let players prove a point why they should be involved at Crewe. “I think some have stepped up and been really good in spells and some have been off it a little bit. “But Burnley sent a really strong side here 10 days ago and scored last minute to get a 2-2. “In spells we have really dominated and missed a number of chances so it could have been more. “I would describe our performance as patchy, but getting there with an end goal of next Saturday. “But our fans saw some super football at times at a tough place to come - we purposely picked Alfreton.” Danny Rose broke the deadlock on 80 minutes and Evans said: “Danny is an excellent finisher. I was really pleased with the movement of CJ Hamilton in that goal with some great link-up play. Rosey takes it into the box and it’s a brilliant finish. He puts it where the keeper has no chance.” The game was then settled by a superb solo effort from Jacob Mellis and Evans purred: “You won’t see many players genuinely sit three or four defenders on their backside and walk it into the net. “Jacob Mellis has all the ability in the world and we just have to get him working hard when we’ve not got the ball. “It was great to see David Mirfin played like he played today too. I saw him at Matlock and I thought I’d signed his uncle or his cousin! “But we knew the kid had a virus and had been badly ill but he said he felt really good today and I think his performance showed that.” Trialist Jordan Slew again did not feature and Stags currently have no deal on offer for him. “Jordan is still training with us. At this stage we’re not going to do anything, but things do change,” said Evans. “He has couple of offers in our league. He is a great lad and can use our facilities and you never say never in this business. “If he takes one of the options we’ll be the first to shake his hand and wish him well.” Evans must now decide what team to send to Rainworth MW on Tuesday for the final friendly. “I will take a look at the data from today and we will make a decision on Monday, but in fairness to Rainworth they deserve us to send a good side. They are the salt of the earth,” he said. --------------------- Alfreton boss delighted with display in defeat by Stags chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS, Saturday 29 July 2017 Alfreton Town boss John McDermott was delighted to see his side push League Two neighbours Mansfield Town all the way before losing today’s friendly 2-0 to two late high-quality finishes. The National League North side kick-off their season with a visit from Blyth Spartans next weekend and McDermott said: “I was very pleased with that apart from the scoreline - no one likes to lose. “Overall I thought we were excellent. First half I thought we looked a threat going forward. “After 15 minutes they had to change their system to match mine and that’s down to the players. They forced a League Two full-time team who are fancied for promotion to change for us. So we were doing something right. Read more at: http://www.derbyshiretimes.co.uk/sport/football/alfreton-boss-delighted-with-display-in-defeat-by-stags-1-8676878 “At half-time I think we deserved to go in at least 0-0. “In the second half fitness comes into it and then they obviously brought another team on. They’ve got two teams to try and beat us with. “If they’d kept the team on they started with I think we’d have got a result out of it. “But it was fresh legs, sharpness, and someone who was playing for Chelsea not long ago who has made the difference with clever play and pace.” He added: “Overall pre-season has been very good for us. We’ve managed to play against some good sides and we’ve done well going forward and not been bullied. That’s what our league is about. “You have to be able to handle sustained pressure and then have the bravery to go and play when you can.” New boss McDermott has had a busy summer, signing 16 players, but said: “I said today it doesn’t look like we have 16 new players. It looks like a few of them have been together for years. “Now it’s all about having a clean bill of health for the first game.” ------- |
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