Archived News from August 2017
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EVANS PREVIEWS RAINWORTH
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Rainworth squad to be decided tomorrow
mansfieldtown.net, Monday 31 July 2017 Stags' boss Steve Evans says supporters will discover tomorrow afternoon the type of squad to face Rainworth Miners Welfare in our final pre-season friendly later that evening. Our nine-match pre-season schedule comes to a close at Kirklington Road tomorrow night (7.30pm kick-off), just four days before the beginning of the 2017/18 Sky Bet League Two campaign. And the boss told http://www.mansfieldtown.net earlier today: "We're going to decide in the morning. We've trained them really hard today. Before both of our games at Gainsborough and Matlock, we trained in the morning really intensely and then went out and played in the evening," the manager said. "We'll train in the morning and then have a look at it, but by mid-afternoon, we'll put our squads up on the official website and no doubt they'll be copied into the Chad and then our supporters can see for themselves. https://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/2017/july/gaffer-31-july/ "What I don't want to do is lead the fans to say there is [first team players involved] and then there's not - I won't do that to the Mansfield supporters. I have to take care of the squad here and I have to take care of the game at Crewe more than I have to take care of the game at Rainworth, but I have a lot of respect for the people up there." The former Leeds United boss believes he has eight players in his mind who will start against Crewe Alexandra on Saturday, but admits that all could change between now and the season's curtain raiser. "I think we're almost there now. I'd be lying to our supporters if I said we're not almost there. Myself and Paul Raynor probably have the same eight players on a piece of paper that we're thinking and it's done neutrally. "I don't lead him and he doesn't lead me. There's probably eight down there [on the team-sheet] and three competing, but I won't be frightened to change it if people go down the standards later in the week." Looking ahead to Saturday's match at The Alexandra Stadium, the manager expects the Railwaymen to pose a tough opening day test for his side. "I think the boys have come in today with what seems to be a little bit more focus. There's always a great atmosphere but it's a little bit quieter than normal, and that's because they know that the big opening day is coming soon and it's a very tough one at Crewe. "We know how tough our opening day is, but we know how tough our opening 10 is. I've already said if we're in that top group after 10, we'll get promoted - I don't hear any other manager saying that but I believe that. "The challenge is to be in that top group after 10, because it's going to be really, really tough." The gaffer also provided the club's supporters with an update on the bid which was submitted for a new striker over the weekend. "The chief executive's in the building so I'll be having an update shortly, but as of this morning there was nothing further to what I reported over the weekend. We're trying to do something and we'll try very quickly now if we can. "We'll know in the next 24 hours if we can. Any offer that we have accepted, we then get permission to talk, and that has a little chain behind it. We really need to be doing something by tomorrow." Supporters can login to iFollow Stags to watch the manager's interview in full. ------------------- Evans gives Stags transfer deals 24 hours to be completed chad.co.uk, JOHN LOMAS, Monday 31 July 2017 With no further news on his two possible signings, Mansfield Town boss Steve Evans today gave both deals 24 hours to be completed if they are to figure in Saturday’s League Two opener at Crewe. Evans revealed on Saturday that he was in the market to buy a goalscorer and wanted the other play, believed to be a midfielder, on loan. However, he said this afternoon: “I will be having an update with the chief executive later but, as of this morning, there was nothing further than what I reported at the weekend. Read more at: http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/evans-gives-stags-transfer-deals-24-hours-to-be-completed-1-8679291 “We are trying to do something and we’ll know very quickly now if we can. We will know within the next 24 hours. “The first thing would be that any offer we make has to be accepted and then get permission to talk. That has got a little chain behind it. We really need to be doing something by tomorrow.” ----------------- Stags leave it late to decide Rainworth friendly team chad.co.uk, JOHN LOMAS, Monday 31 July 2017 Stags boss Steve Evans will not make up his mind on what side to send up to neighbours Rainworth MW for tomorrow night’s (Tuesday, 7.30) final pre-season friendly until after lunch tomorrow. Evans had originally promised to send a strong side up to Kirklington Road, but with the new season just days away, he said today that he will see how his players are after a planned tough session in the morning and let fans know in good time. “We have trained the players very hard today,” he said. “Both games at Matlock and Gainsborough last week we trained really intensely in the morning and then they went out and played in the evening. Read more at: http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/stags-leave-it-late-to-decide-rainworth-friendly-team-1-8679286 “From our point of view we will train in the morning and then we’ll have a look at. But by mid-afternoon we’ll put our squads up on the official web site and the Chad and then supporters can see for themselves. “What I don’t want to do is tell the fans there are first team players involved and then there are not. “I don’t want to do that to out supporters. I know some will go and watch it whether it’s our U21s or the first team. “Others won’t go unless it’s the first team - they probably don’t have the money to just jump up there and take a fixture in. “I have to take care of the squad here and the game at Crewe more than I have to take care of the game at Rainworth, but I have a lot of respect for the people up there.” ----------------- Last chance to stake claim for place at Crewe chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS Steve Evans believes three of the starting places at Crewe on Saturday are still up for grabs in training this week. The Mansfield Town manager and assistant Paul Raynor have settled on about eight of the side to start the new season at Gresty Road. But, with no more friendlies and a talented squad fighting neck and neck to play, the door has been shut on no one as yet. “I’d be lying to our supporters if I didn’t say I think we’re almost there now,” said Evans. “Myself and Paul Raynor probably have the same eight players on a piece of paper that we are thinking of neutrally. “Two other members of staff, not expecting the question, got the question and seven or eight of them were named again. “So there are probably eight with competition still for the other two or three, but I won’t be frightened to change it if people let down their standards later in the week as we need to be really ready for Crewe.” Evans added: “If we get a point, it’s a good start. If we get three it’s a great start. “It’s the nature of the league. You have to try as best you can to get something on the road and normally you would say you win your games at home and you win promotion. “So from our point of view we are going to go there and try to get our first clean sheet. If we get that it means we have at least got a point - that’s the first benchmark.” Read more at: http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/last-chance-to-stake-claim-for-place-at-crewe-1-8681335 ---------------- Stags boss tips Railwaymen to challenge this season chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS Mansfield Town’s highly anticipated League Two campaign finally gets underway at Crewe Alexandra this Saturday with boss Steve Evans tipping the Railwaymen to be up there challenging too. The Stags go into the campaign as bookies’ favourites for promotion. But, after one season in League Two following relegation, Evans believes Saturday’s opponents are ready to chase a League One return. “They stabilised last year after relegation, but looking from a distance this year I’d say the board have probably added a bit more money to the budget,” said Evans. “You don’t bring Chris Porter in on cheap money or keep players around like Chris Dagnell if you are not investing in your squad. It looks a really competitive Crewe this year and I think they’ll be challenging. “Our boys have come in today and there seems to be a bit more focus. There is always a great atmosphere but it’s a bit quieter than normal and that’s because they know the big opening day is coming soon and it’s a very tough one at Crewe. “Paul Raynor watched them (Crewe) first hand yesterday and I watched them 10 days ago so we are very aware of what they are about. “We will be very much focused on what we can do and how we can influence that game. “There is a lot of work to be done on the team and the shape prior to that. He continued: “I think Crewe are much stronger. They have got better players in the building. “They have one or two very good young players they had last year who probably just buckled a bit when the pressure came for them to get the manager and club points. “But they seem to have a real maturity about them in pre-season as kids do when they grow up. “But when you talk about kids, they also have the likes of Porter and Dagnell up front who are probably 60 years old between them. “So they have a nice bled of that youth and the chemistry of the more experienced players, very much like we’ve tried to do.” Crewe appointed former Stags defender Dave Artell in January after the sacking of Steve Davis and he has just signed a 12-month rolling contract. “I think a good man (Davis) lost his job and it’s great to see him back in football down at Leyton Orient,” said Evans. “They will be challenging in the Conference National. “But at Crewe, Dave has gone in there and he is an experienced player who has come up against my teams many times. Big Dave is a real competitor on and off the pitch and it’s going to be tough. I think Dave has done a super job. “They have signed some good players. They play with a really good structure. They have one or two very talented kids who will no doubt go for money as part of the way that Crewe Alexandra do things. “So we know how tough our opening day is - but we know how tough our opening 10 games are. “I have already said if we are in that top group after 10, we’ll get promoted. I don’t hear any other managers saying that, but I believe that.” He added: “Our challenge is to be in that top group after 10 and it’s really tough. “We come out of Crewe and, forgetting the cup game which is tough, we have to play Forest Green, just promoted with the momentum, go to Accrington, where no one likes to go, followed by two or three local derbies.” Read more at: http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/stags-boss-tips-railwaymen-to-challenge-this-season-1-8681333 -------------------- |
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