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Archived News from July 2015

GREEN MAY PLAY TAMWRTH/TRIALIST PEARCE/BLAIR+JONES
15th July 2015 23:35


Mansfield Town fans could get first glimpse of Matt Green in Tamworth friendly
chad.co.uk, by John Lomas, Thursday 09 July 2015

Mansfield Town fans may get their first sighting of returning goal ace Matt Green in this Saturday’s pre-season friendly at Conference North club Tamworth (3pm)

Green, who returned to the Stags this summer after two injury-hit years with Birmingham City, was not involved in last weekend’s opening friendly at Rainworth MW.

http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/mansfield-town/mansfield-town-fans-could-get-first-glimpse-of-matt-green-in-tamworth-friendly-1-7350626

But, after another full week’s training he now looks set to join the squad for a game in which boss Adam Murray will extend players’ time on the pitch, all having played 45 minutes last weekend.

On Green’s absence from Rainworth, Murray said: “Greeny missed the first two days of pre-season because he had a pre-booked holiday before he signed for us.

“The week before he came in and did all his fitness testing he needed to do. He did a large chunk of his fitness work last week with triple sessions.

“Now I want to get the right game time into him at the right times and we might see him Saturday. It’s all about building the minutes up.

“We might possibly stretch players’ game time a little bit at Tamworth. The games coming up against Leicester and MK Dons will be used more of a fitness work-out, more of a tactical workout, looking at our defensive shape and structure.

“In between that we can get a bit more game time into the boys and focus on us with the ball a little more.

“I am looking forward to the games we’ve got coming up and I want to try a few different styles and a couple more formations.”

After a week-long residential training camp at Melton Mowbray’s Brooksby College, Stags romped home 5-1 in the first game at Rainworth and Murray said: “It’s going really well. Obviously it’s only really just started, but it has been a good eight or nine days.

“It’s been intense and the last week at Brooksby College was superb and probably went a little bit better than I anticipated, which was good.

“We’ve got a good group together and it’s gelling well and we are now starting to up the tempo a bit.

“We’ve had certain specific fitness workouts we’ve done, but the ball work has been intense.

“The majority of the stuff has been working on us without the ball. I want to get the basics in for us to set off and play when we do get the ball.

“It’s still early days but the group is buying into everything we are doing and they are a pleasure to be around.

“We want look at a few different things, people playing in different areas, different people playing together. More importantly I want to bed into our team what we are about.”

Tamworth will be a much tougher proposition than Rainworth on Saturday but Murray said the result was not important as long as players are following instructions and moving forward with the way he wants them to play and gelling.

“I’ve got no interest in the results pre-season,” he said. “The lads are going into each game with different targets that they need to get within the game, based on what we’ve been working on in training.

“Results don’t matter. I think we’ve seen over the years that you can win every pre-season game and be awful in the season.

“It’s about getting the process right during games and I believe that will enable us to get results.”

Murray also has the issue of integrating 12 new faces signed this summer so far.

He said: “There is a little bit of a challenge there but what we’ve done with our recruitment is we have worked hard on doing the background work, so we knew we were bringing in excellent people which helps the gelling process and it’s like they’ve been together for months.

“With the experience we’ve got and because some of the lads we’ve brought in have played at the top level, it enables that kitting process to be quicker than it would if we’d just brought in a group of kids.

“The older pros are helping the younger players and at the moment there is a good feeling around the camp.

“Now we need to up the tempo and there will be some different work this week. The boys are off today, they are in tomorrow, then we go to Tamworth.”

The new faces have linked up with the small number of players that remained after Murray’s summer cull and on the players left from last season, Murray said: “They need to up their game.

“From the boys that did stay here, and there are probably less than a handful if you don’t count the group of kids, I believe they are good players and I believe in the right structure and the right team they can be effective.

“They need to step up, they need to improve and they need to buy into the new mentality of the group.

“We want to be successful this season - we are not just going through the motions. I don’t think any of us want to go through what we went through last season.

“From day one when the new players walked through the door, they knew there is a fresh focus and a fresh energy in the group. There is a real buzz about them and they are working hard. That will ultimately lead us to results.”

On his young players, he added: “The good thing for us we can still affect their growth, the way they look at the game and the way they play.

“The big think we lacked last year was consistency. It’s all right being brilliant for one game and then no one sees you for four. That’s not going to get you anywhere.

“So a big thing we need from all our boys this season is a level of consistency that, even when we are not playing well, and there will be periods through the season when we are not playing well, we have got to be able to grind results out.

“I want us to have an attacking and attractive way of playing, but you have to be able to do the rubbish stuff as well. We are not going to be able to be expansive and open every game. We are going to have to turn up at some places and be horrible and do the nasty stuff.

“It’s about getting that consistency and to that we have to have all the different types of ingredients and three or four different game plans.”

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Further Injury Setback For Jones
mansfield103.co.uk, Thursday 9th July, 2015

There has been mixed news for two injured players at Mansfield Town.

Luke Jones and Matty Blair are both out-of-contract now but boss Adam Murray is hoping to discuss new deals with them once they are fit again.

http://www.mansfield103.co.uk/sport/story/?n=3723&utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

Jones has not kicked a ball in anger since he returned to the Stags last season and Murray revealed today that the defender has had a setback with his Achilles injury.

He said: "He was in the plastic boot to give the tendon time to heal but when it came out it had not healed properly and was still very weak.

"He's in with the specialist next week, I think, to decide what the next course of action is."

Meanwhile, there is better news for Matty Blair who is ahead of schedule as he comes back from a knee ligament injury but Murray says he will not rush the midfielder back before he is fully ready.

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Chris Clements’ return to Mansfield Town never in doubt says boss Adam Murray
chad.co.uk, by John Lomas, Thursday 09 July 2015

Although he only signed his new contract last week as pre-season began, Mansfield Town boss Adam Murray said there was never any doubt in his mind that midfield ace Chris Clements would return for a fourth season with the Stags.

“I don’t think was ever any doubt,” said Murray. “It probably went on a bit longer because we weren’t in a rush.

http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/mansfield-town/chris-clements-return-to-mansfield-town-never-in-doubt-says-boss-adam-murray-1-7350802?utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitterfeed

“He gave me his word and I gave him mine right at the start of the summer. There was never really any doubt. He had his holiday, enjoyed time with his son, then he came back and signed.

“I know people start worrying and think that people are looking elsewhere and not committed to the club but that was never the case with Clem. He trusts me and I trust him. I didn’t need to rush to get him into the building to sign a piece of paper.”

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Ollie Palmer move a good deal for Mansfield Town
by John Lomas, chad.co.uk, 9 July 2015

Mansfield Town manager Adam Murray has wished departing striker Ollie Palmer all the best on his move to Leyton Orient.

Palmer was not in Murray’s plans for the new season and thinks he has managed to get a good deal for club with undisclosed fee he pulled in.

http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/mansfield-town/ollie-palmer-move-a-good-deal-for-mansfield-town-1-7350819?utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitterfeed

“I believe I got us a good deal,” he said. “Ollie was someone who didn’t really fit into the road I am going down.

“It was important he got the best move for him and I made sure I got the best deal for the club.

“He was keen to get back down south. We had no problem with that as we have brought in four excellent strikers and we’ve still got young Dan Fletcher who is still learning his trade but is a raw talent.

“We have got a real mixture of everything within the four boys we’ve brought it.”

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Blank weekend before season starts for Mansfield Town?
chad.co.uk, by John Lomas

Mansfield Town now look likely to keep the weekend before the season kicks-off blank as Adam Murray aims to send his men into the new campaign ‘fresh’.

http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/mansfield-town/blank-weekend-before-season-starts-for-mansfield-town-1-7350946?utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitterfeed

A mooted game at Lincoln City never came to fruition for Saturday, 1st August, and with 13 friendly games planned, the Stags boss feels he has more than enough.

“We may not play a game the weekend before the season starts,” he said.

“Everyone looks at pre-season and it’s one of these habits of football that everyone will say we’ve got to play the weekend before the season and we’ve got to put the team out we are going to start the season with.

“It’s a load of cobblers and I’d rather we had a full week’s training from Monday to Friday and go into the first game fresh.

“We put together an intense schedule and it might be the case that halfway through pre-season we may give the boys a two-day break away from everything to regenerate and refresh everything.”

Stags head for Conference North side Tamworth tomorrow (3pm) before games at Retford on Monday (7.30pm) and Worksop on Wednesday (7.45pm).

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Krystian Pearce: Mansfield boss Adam Murray praises trialist
bbc.co.uk, Thursday 9th July, 2015

Mansfield Town manager Adam Murray says trialist centre-back Krystian Pearce has "everything" it takes to play at League Two level.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/33458545

The former Notts County defender left Torquay United in the summer and has been training with the Stags.
Murray told BBC Radio Nottingham: "He's only 25, but has real good experience and the potential to go on again.
"At League Two level he carries a bit of everything; he is big, strong and quick, and can also play."
But Murray said he was also talking to two other players.
"Krystian is one we are looking at," Murray added. "But it is getting the balance with who is going to be best for this squad and who will help us push on."

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Mansfield Town: Boss Adam Murray registers as player
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/33477305

Mansfield Town manager Adam Murray says he will register as a player but does not expect to feature this season.

The 33-year-old midfielder took caretaker charge of the Stags last November before being appointed player-manager in December.

Murray told BBC Radio Nottingham: "I'll probably register as a player, just in case we do go through any suspensions or injuries.

Murray last played in February and only made 16 appearances last season.

"I wouldn't say I'd retired but unless there's a major incident where I've got to put myself in, then I won't be," he added.

"I'm hoping that I won't be called on."

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Krystian Pearce one of three candidates as Mansfield Town chase new defender
chad.co.uk, by John Lomas, Thursday 09 July 2015

Mansfield Town boss Adam Murray is on the verge of bringing in another centre half and, although former Notts County defender Krystian Pearce in currently in on trial, he is said to be among three candidates to strengthen the squad.

Murray has brought 12 new faces in so far - the joint busiest club in the country with neighbours Notts County - but admits another centre half is on his shopping list.

http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/mansfield-town/krystian-pearce-one-of-three-candidates-as-mansfield-town-chase-new-defender-1-7350770?utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitterfeed

“I think that’s the one area we need to strengthen,” he said. “All over the pitch we’ve got reasonable numbers for competition.

“It’s not a big squad, which is what I wanted. During my chats with the board we agreed it was important we had a tight-knit group.

“But this is one area we are still looking to strengthen in. There are probably three we are looking at.

“Krystian played on Saturday, but he hasn’t trained all summer. He has been training on his own and I know myself it’s tough. He is not up to speed and is probably seven days behind in work to the other boys.

“But I was really pleased with the 45 minutes he put in last weekend. I think people locally know what he is about. He was flying at Notts County and I think they out-priced him with a move to the Championship.”

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EARLIER STORY

Illness almost ended Torquay defender Krystian Pearce's career
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/24567228
By Brent Pilnick, BBC South West Sport, 17 October 2013

Torquay United centre-back Krystian Pearce says a mystery illness almost ended his career.
The 23-year-old collapsed after his side's 2-1 loss at Newport County last month and spent four days in hospital as doctors tried to find a cause.
The former Notts County defender has since been given the all-clear.
"The doctor told me at one point that I wasn't going to be able to play and that was a bit nerve-wracking and a scary thought," he told BBC Devon.
Pearce, who signed for the Gulls in the summer after three seasons at Meadow Lane, still has no idea what caused him to become ill.
"I collapsed on the Thursday morning before training and spent the day in hospital.
"They did a load of checks on my heart because they thought it was a heart problem, but they passed me fit to play and I trained the next day and played on the Saturday.
"Straight after the game I went into the changing room and didn't feel so good.
"I was struggling to breathe, I was really hot and just felt light-headed.
"It was nerve-wracking because I got told I was all-clear and two days later I'm back in hospital.
"They called the ambulance and I spent the next four days in hospital up there hooked up to the monitors for more checks on my heart and stuff."
Doctors were particularly concerned because of Pearce's medical history - he collapsed twice when he was a boy - making doctors fearful that the former Birmingham City trainee had a heart condition.
But his heart is fine, although the incident did make him have to contemplate a premature end to his time as a footballer.
"When someone says your career might be over at just 23 and you're just starting out and all of a sudden you might have to do something different, you think scary thoughts.
"Luckily I got the all-clear to come back and play again.
"It's still a mystery so I'm just trying to eat well and do the right things and keep training."

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Latest | July 2015