Archived News from February 2017
|
EVANS ON TARGETS, ATMOSPHERE AND U21 PREVIEW
|
 |
|
Boss wants three more players before window shuts
mansfieldtown.net, 30th January 2017 Stags’ boss Steve Evans says he wants to add three more players to his squad before the January transfer window slams shut tomorrow evening. Clubs across England have until 11.00pm tomorrow to add to their playing squads for the second half of the season and the manager is looking to further improve the Stags after already making six signings during the window. And the gaffer says he would like to add three more new faces to his squad before tomorrow’s 11.00pm deadline, however the player for which the £300,000 bid was submitted earlier this month now looks unlikely to join the club. “One of them was here [on Saturday] and watched us and went away impressed. He’s here today and he’s happy to make something happen, providing of course that we can get the nod from their chairman," the Stags' chief said. “I think the big deal’s probably more than we’re willing to pay, and it’s a lot more. I think our chairman made it absolutely clear to me, let’s establish if it’s more or a lot more, and it’s a lot more. There is no doubt that John Radford would have paid more money and we would’ve got that deal done. Read more at http://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/article/2016-17/boss-wants-three-more-players-before-window-shuts-3545923.aspx#BOBfs6FlRsg00X3b.99 “The second one’s very much alive, and that’s the one we’re literally sitting by the phone [for]. Hopefully it’s not a long day tomorrow because it means you’re chasing things through before the 11 o’clock deadline.” The former Leeds United boss says he now has to be more meticulous in his approach to bringing players to the club after already vastly strengthening his squad. “You always like improving what you’ve got, that doesn’t matter whether it’s personally or business-wise, which in our case is football. “We want to improve on what we had on Saturday, we want stronger options in certain areas of the pitch. “In reality, in terms of areas of the pitch now, it’s getting harder to strengthen and to remember we’re in the level we are and we are the club we are.” Speaking at this afternoon’s news conference at One Call Stadium, the manager said he turned down a bid for one of his players yesterday, however he has presented a couple of his players with the opportunity to move away from the club. “I received a call yesterday out of the blue offering a reasonable amount of money for one of our players. I’m not going to say who it is because the call was made in a reasonable and very professional manager. “We wanted it to be manager to manager and chairman to chairman if accepted, but it’s wonderful when you speak to John Radford and he says ‘do you want to sell him?’ [I reply] ‘no I don’t’ [and he says] ‘okay, tell them no’. “We have offered one or two players the opportunity to move on, that’s based on game-time and based on how you see things going forward. It’s a similar chain, it's based on us getting who we want in. I’ve told those lads to go away and think about it and I’ll speak to them closer to the end of the day. “And the kids have gone away to speak to their loved ones or those close to them, advisors or whatever. If it’s yes then we’ll see what can happen and if it’s no and they’re in the building, we still trust them. "They’re in the group, they’re good players and we have to trust all of our players.” Supporters can view manager Steve Evans’ news conference, in full, on Stags PlayerHD. --------------- Boss lauds improved atmosphere mansfieldtown.net, 30th January 2017 Stags’ boss Steve Evans says some of the players described the atmosphere in Saturday’s win over Leyton Orient as the best they had ever experienced at One Call Stadium. Today was the first time the manager has spoken to the media after Saturday’s victory as fitness and rehabilitation coach Lee Taylor was on post-match interview duties because the boss was busy speaking to potential transfer targets. And Saturday’s match was the first since the introduction of our designated ‘singing section’, situated in Q block of the Ian Greaves Stand upper tier, and the boss had high praise for the volume of the Stags’ support. “After the game, the players obviously won the game, so they were on a bit of a high anyway, but they were raving and saying it was the best atmosphere some of them had played in anytime at the One Call Stadium,” the gaffer said. “Consider when you look at some of the great days in the past two or three years, and there’s been great days, and you think the atmosphere was electric. Read more at http://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/article/2016-17/boss-lauds-improved-atmosphere-3546116.aspx#wmekLJET0A8icIyB.99 “More importantly, for me, it was very good when we needed them. We came in at half-time and in the first half they saw us have a lot of the ball but not do as much with it as we should do. “We got the early goal in the second half and I think it was a bit of a carnival going on up there in the second half.” Over 3,600 Stags’ fans took advantage of our fantastic buy one, get one free offer for Saturday’s game and the manager says the quality of football on show should encourage supporters to return in future. “We want carnival days and afternoons and I’m sure everyone here on Saturday will want to come back. Whether they come back is subject to having enough money etc. but they’ll want to come back because you couldn’t be here and not wish to come back. “I’ve spoken to neutral people; people at senior level from Sheffield Wednesday were here obviously keeping an eye and a re-run on Jake [Kean] and they spoke to me on Saturday evening and said what a great atmosphere for a game in League Two.” Supporters can log in to Stags PlayerHD to view Steve Evans’ news conference in its entirety. -------------- Can new Stags ‘singing section’ cheer side to glory? chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS Mansfield Town are hoping their new singing section in the Ian Greaves Stand will help cheer them to promotion glory this season. The section was formed at the last minute last weekend when three fans, James Perrin, Daniel Maddison and Mitch Bailey, asked for a meeting with CEO Carolyn Radford, director Steve Hymas and head of media and communications Mark Stevenson to set up the new area. With a drummer providing the backing the section sang throughout the game among a crowd boosted by the club’s ticket offer Chairman John Radford said: “The new singing area was terrific, and aided the players to the excellent three points. “We must commend those fans who quite literally sung for 90 minutes, creating a great atmosphere in which the players thrived. Read more at: http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/can-new-stags-singing-section-cheer-side-to-glory-1-8364156 “I’m told that the noise from One Call Stadium could be heard from miles around. This is what we want. All credit to the fans, stewards and everyone involved. “Our club is in a great place right now, re-energised by our new manager and his new signings and now is the time for everyone to jump on this football rollercoaster with us and enjoy the ride.” He added: “I think it was a good turnout, considering that the match was just after Christmas. “We appreciate that at this time of year, people can be short on a bob or two, but we sincerely thank those supporters who had either come back to watch us after an absence or new fans wanting to sample what we have to offer. “They are all most welcome at our club. “The desire from our point of view is to now see those supporters return to One Call Stadium on a regular basis, having witnessed the capabilities, passion and quality of our players, particularly in the second half. “From the fans I have spoken to, everyone had a great day with us at One Call Stadium.” Manager Steve Evans added: “I think the new section helped us massively. It was an electric atmosphere. “After the game the players were on a bit of a high anyway, but they were raving saying it was the best atmosphere some of them had played in at any time here at the One Call. “More importantly it was very good when we needed them. First half they’ve seen us have a lot of the ball but not do as much as we should do, but they stayed behind us and I think it became a bit of a carnival up there in the second half. “We want carnival days here and I am sure everyone here on Saturday will want to come back.” ------------------- Stags to field strong side in under 21s match mansfieldtown.net, 30th January 2017 A number of senior players will take part in tomorrow's Central League match against local rivals Chesterfield at Rainworth Miners' Welfare (2.00pm kick-off). Stags built on their 2-1 victory over Notts County a fortnight ago with a resounding 4-2 win against York City last week as two vastly different Stags' sides started the calendar year in brilliant fashion. And manager Steve Evans revealed at Monday afternoon's news conference that the Central League clash will be used for senior players to improve their match sharpness. "It’s another opportunity for the supporters who are perhaps local or have got time off work or perhaps some of the retired gentlemen or ladies in the town to come and see them," the gaffer said. Read more at http://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/article/2016-17/under-21s-preview-stags-vs-chesterfield-3544323.aspx#g10ShR6SSgdL6kiH.99 "Giving supporters an idea of who will play, certainly Scott Shearer will be involved, Jamie McGuire, Jack Thomas, [James] Baxendale, Yoann Arquin will be involved, Paddy Hoban will be involved. "There’s no point in me saying to the supporters months ago that when I come in I’ll play these boys and then not play them. "There’ll be weeks that we don’t; there will be weeks where we think the minutes are up there but we pick these players based on their minutes in the last four games. When you look at the minutes in the last four games, all of the players that will go out there tomorrow need that." Last week's victory over York City saw a young Stags' side display an incredibly impressive performance. Defender Kieran Harrison struck the opener, before striker Tyler Blake dazzled his way to a treble in a fantastic first-half which finished 4-0 to Mansfield. Although the Minstermen re-shaped and reduced the arrears via substitute Aaron Haswell and frontman Ryan Edmondson, they ultimately fell short of completing a stunning comeback in the six-goal thriller. Ritchie Humphreys’ young Spireites resume League action this January after three consecutive fixtures in the Cup group stage. They secured a 3-2 win against Nottingham Forest, a 0-0 draw against Shrewsbury, and another victory at home against Notts County (2-0). Chesterfield’s reserves will now look to up the ante in the Central League, where they sit a place above the Stags in fourth. The two in-form sides have collected the same number of points (6), but the Derbyshire-based outfit possess a better goal difference of -2 as opposed to Mansfield’s -8. Chesterfield’s last domestic league fixture was in December 2016 against Hartlepool United, which resulted in a 5-0 humbling away from home. The Stags’ and the Spireites’ young guns have played against each other once this season, back in September when Chesterfield took the plaudits 4-2 in a League Cup clash. Centre-back Laurence Maguire and veteran striker Gary Taylor-Fletcher stole the show with their respective doubles, while a youthful Mansfield side halved the deficit via the striking partnership of Zayn Hakeem and T. Blake. Supporters are welcome to attend tomorrow’s game at the following address: Rainworth Miners’ Welfare Kirklington Road, Mansfield, Notts, NG21 0JY Entry is £3 for adults and free for under 16s. -------------------- Record bid priced out, but Stags boss Evans closes in on three targets chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS, Monday 30 January 2017 Mansfield Town boss Steve Evans is closing in on three major targets just over 24 hours before January’s transfer window slams shut. It does look like last week’s main target - the subject of a club record bid of £350,000 - has been priced out the equation at the moment. But Evans is delighted with the quality of the three he looks able to bring in and now just wants to get the deals complete as soon as possible. “We are very much closer, but they are never done until they’re done,” he said. “We have had a player in this morning, I’ve showed him round the facilities and we are just waiting on his club to give us permission to make it happen. We have to be a bit patient on that. Read more at: http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/record-bid-priced-out-but-stags-boss-evans-closes-in-on-three-targets-1-8361724 “On the second one, I am waiting on a call back from the manager now, and on the third, we are just about to make a move. “We understand he has just possibly become available.” Evans added: “One of the players I want in was here watching on Saturday and said afterwards to me, tongue in cheek, how am I going to get in that team? I think second half it was as good as we’ve played. “He went away impressed and he’s here today and happy to make something happen, provided of course we can get the nod from their chairman. “So we have lots of little things going on and on top of that we have got back-ups to those. “The one thing we want to make sure when we all go to bed tomorrow night is that Mansfield Town Football Club has a playing squad good enough to try to have a good end to the season.” Stags last week bid a club record £350,000 for a player, believed to be Exeter City striker Ollie Watkins. But it would seem at this moment the player’s club have priced him out of what Mansfield are prepared to pay. “We haven’t dropped our interest but I think the big deal is more than we are prepared to pay. And it’s a lot more. “Our chairman said to me, let’s establish if it’s more or a lot more, and it’s a lot more. “There is no doubt John Radford would have paid more money and we’d have got that deal done. But I think the kid’s representatives was prepared to bring the boy here and have a chat.” Evans is hopeful of getting his men well before the 11pm deadline tomorrow but is no stranger to getting deals over the line right at the death. “I am prepared for a long day today, but hopefully it won’t be tomorrow as we are chasing through to the 11pm deadline,” he said. “You always like improving what you’ve got. We want to improve the product for the Mansfield Town supporters. “I’d like three in - the chairman is okay with that. He know what we are trying to do. “I had a fantastic meeting with him last Thursday when we spoke for three or four hours on nothing but football and players. “In an ideal world if I was sitting here tomorrow night at 11pm with the three I am in for now then we will be better than we are today. “That doesn’t mean they will start every game, but they are adding some quality in key positions.” He continued: “I would like to go to a game at Luton tomorrow night. Hopefully that can still happen. “But I can remember my time at Rotherham United, the deadline was 11pm and we signed a boy from Norwich, Luciano Becchio, and it was registered at 10.59 and 47 seconds. “There were sweats in the office and, of course, you don’t know from the Football League for an hour. So we sat in the office until midnight before we got the fact back it had been registered in time. “We don’t want to be in that position tomorrow. We want to be in control of it.” ------------------ Mansfield turn down bid for player, but two could still leave tomorrow chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS, Monday 30 January 2017 Mansfield Town have turned down a cash offer for one of their first team players ahead of tomorrow’s transfer window closing. But two senior fringe players may still yet go out on loan before the 11pm deadline depending on who comes in. Manager Steve Evans was delighted not to be pressured into selling one of his players, saying: “The chairman must take great credit. “I received a call yesterday out the blue offering a reasonable amount of money for one of our players. “I am not going to say who it is as the call was made in a reasonable and very professional manner. Read more at: http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/mansfield-turn-down-bid-for-player-but-two-could-still-leave-tomorrow-1-8361827 “They wanted it to be manager to manager and chairman to chairman if accepted. “But it’s wonderful when you speak to John Radford and he says do you want to sell him? No I don’t. So tell them no. “That’s great as we’ve all been around League Two when those offers come in and you have to accept them for the cashflow management of the football club.” He continued: “You don’t necessarily need the money but you need the cashflow. “The nice thing from our point of view is we have issues like every football club has, but we have no issues when it comes to managing the cash at the club because of the chairman and the CEO.” However, a couple of fringe players have been offered the chance to go out and get more regular senior football if Stags can get replacements sorted in time. “We have offered one or two players the opportunity to move on,” said Evans. “That is based on game time and how we see things going forward, based of course on a similar chain that we get who we want in. “I have told those lads to go away and think about it and I will speak to them at the end of the day. “As I said to them, we are a football club with a chairman and chief executive that prides itself on treating people properly. They are not just footballers, they are people and someone’s sons or husbands. “So we have to treat them properly. We have given them an option saying there may be a lack of game time here so do you want to consider something else. “They have gone away to speak to their loved ones, those closest to them or their advisers and will come back with answers. “If it’s yes then we will see what can happen. If it’s no and they are in the building then we still trust them. They are in the group and they are good players.” ------------------- Will Akinde come back to haunt old boss Evans? chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS Steve Evans will come up against one of his former signings on Saturday as Mansfield Town try to leapfrog Barnet into the League Two play-offs places. Stags head for London in 10th place, two places and only a point behind the Bees as well as three points off the top seven. But manager Evans knows more than most that his side will have to suppress goal ace John Akinde after signing him for Crawley back in 2011. Evans said: “This is a club that’s up there fighting for the play-offs. “I watched a full run of their game at Carlisle yesterday morning, they drew and should have won the game despite playing with 10 men. “They missed a big chance late on from a striker that I have signed before, John Akinde - a big lad who will always be a threat at this level and the level above.” Read more at: http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/will-akinde-come-back-to-haunt-old-boss-evans-1-8366027 Akinde’s goals have been vital for Barnet over the past few years and there’s a reason why he’s top scorer by some way, and why he was linked with a move to a higher level during the January window. The 27-year-old currently has 19 for this season. An unbeaten League start to 2017 so far has seen Stags firmly back in the play-off running but now also just nine points off the automatic top three promotion places. Evans said at the start of the January transfer window that he wanted his side to stay with the pace and be six points or better off the play-offs places by the time they went to Barnet, which has been achieved with plenty to spare. “Targets are always moving. We have to approach every game one at a time,” said Evans. “But we are only looking at the place and team above us. If you’re 10th in the table, you’d rather be ninth. You’d rather be eighth if you’re ninth and all the way up. “All we know is if we can go and put in a good performance at Barnet that result will take care of itself. “It won’t be about what Barnet do. Yes that will have an effect on it, but it is about what we do. Do we play at the top of our game?” He added: “When we do, like we did in the second half against Orient last Saturday, we do tend to pick up a point or a win. “If last Saturday had been a boxing match, in that first half I think we’ve took them into the corner, but not knocked them out in any fashion. We were a punch away from that. “We were half a yard off it all over the pitch but we dominated the ball. “But I think second half was the most dominant since we’ve been here. Could it have finished seven or eight? It could have done and certainly should have finished five or six.” ------------------- |
Latest | February 2017