Archived News from July 2017
|
EVANS REACTION TO MATLOCK GAME
|
 |
|
Stags' chief eyes up starting line-up at Crewe
mansfieldtown.net, 25 July 2007 Mansfield manager Steve Evans has intimated that 'six or seven' of his squad are already set for a starting spot when the Stags take on Crewe Alexandra in the first game of the new League season next month. The Stags travel to Alexandra Stadium for the League Two opener aiming to get off to a positive start and build on last season’s 12th place finish having narrowly missed out on the play-offs. The One Call Stadium boss was speaking post match at Matlock Town, where his side won 4-0, whilst another first team XI beat Gainsborough by the same scoreline. “I’ve got six or seven in the team already [for the starting line-up at Crewe] - some of them are at Gainsborough,” said the Stags' chief. https://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/2017/july/steve-evans-post-matlock-win/ “I've come here tonight [to Matlock]. David Mirfin has been out with a bad virus and lost nearly four kilos of weight and I came to make sure he was OK, and I’ve come [to Matlock] to look at one or two things that I wanted to look at. There were certain things across the midfield that I wanted to look at first hand. “If you look at the people at Gainsborough, I pretty much know inside out what most of them could do with the exception of course being [Omari] Sterling-James. But I’ve told our supporters many times that he’s going to be a huge player for this club. I’ve been told by Richard Cooper [U21s' coach] that he’s been absolutely sensational tonight, along with Alfie Potter. “We’ve had the debrief from Gainsborough and there’s been some very good individual performances, which is great because, as I said before the game, there’ll be a mix of the two teams that line-up at Crewe.” Striker Lee Angol opened and finished the scoring at Matlock, while midfieldersWill Atkinson and Jacob Mellis were also on target in the second half as the Stags came through a fiery encounter unscathed. Gladiators’ midfielder Callum Lloyd was shown a straight red card after the interval for a rash challenge on Mellis, a decision that proved to be the turning point as the visitors made their numerical advantage pay. “I think it probably flattered us a little bit - it probably took us about an hour for us to realise that we were playing for places at Crewe,” continued Evans. “Like with Forest the other week, we got the second goal and the game opened up and then it could have perhaps been any score; we hit the bar and missed a couple of good chances. But it’s 90 minutes - hopefully everyone wakes up tomorrow injury free.” “There’s big pluses for us all over tonight, in terms of we’ve scored eight goals and not conceded. “As far as we know we’ve come through injury free. We’ll probably play a 60 and a 30 at Alfreton, and the same at Rainworth in midweek because we’ve got to be respectful to them as well. But after Alfreton we’ll pretty much know where we’re at. While the manager is facing a welcome selection dilemma on the field, he admits that a decision has almost been made on trialist Jordan Slew. The 24-year-old striker left Plymouth Argyle at the end of last season following their promotion from League Two. “I’ve got a meeting with the Chairman and the Chief Executive tomorrow on a number of transfer matters, and that’s obviously the top end of it because we have to be very respectful as to whether we’ll do something with Jordan or not,” said Evans. “I need to sit down with the Chairman, we’ll share our thoughts and between Paul Rayner, myself, the Chairman and the Chief Executive, we’ll make a decision that’s right for us.” Subscribers to iFollow Stags can watch the manager's interview in full. ---------------- Evans slams ‘reckless’ tackle as Lloyd sees red against Stags chad.co.uk Steve Evans described former Stag Callum Lloyd’s dangerous tackle on midfielder Jacob Mellis last night as a ‘rush of blood’. Mansfield Town won the friendly 4-0 at Matlock Town but manager Evans was just relieved to see Mellis escape without serious injury and then add a goal against the Gladiators’ 10 men. Evans said: “There were some really meaty challenges all night, but competitive challenges. But that was just reckless and late and out to injure a player really. Read more at: http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/evans-slams-reckless-tackle-as-lloyd-sees-red-against-stags-1-8670125 “It’s a shame as it’s not what the people at Matlock Town stand for. “They’ve been very courteous to give us the game on a wonderful pitch and I think the kid has just had a rush of blood. “I’ve seen him play many times and he doesn’t do that type of thing. He’s normally a good, honest lad.” ---------------- Stags plot next transfer move after deal stalls chad.co.uk Mansfield Town manager Steve Evans will today sit down with chairman John Radford and chief executive Carolyn Radford to discuss their next move in the transfer market with the new season just 10 days away. Evans has brought in 13 new faces so far and had two more targets, the major one of which is now starting to look like it won’t happen. Today may see them move in to other names on the list while a decision must also be made on trialist striker Jordan Slew, who didn’t figure in either friendly last night. “I’ve got a meeting with the chairman and the chief executive on a number of transfer matters, and that’s obviously the top end of it because we have to be very respectful as to whether we’ll do something with Jordan or not,” said Evans. Read more at: http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/stags-plot-next-transfer-move-after-deal-stalls-1-8670130 “I need to sit down with the chairman, we’ll share our thoughts and between Paul Rayner, myself, the chairman and the chief executive, we’ll make a decision that’s right for us.” “There are a couple of other targets that we’ve made moves on today. “I said if nothing happened with our preferred target last week, which was going to involve a decent sum of money, we can’t get an answer for that. “They’ve not moved yet as they’ve not got their target in. So we have to almost abandon that and look after ourselves.” -------------------- Stags side starting to take shape after friendlies chad.co.uk Mansfield manager Steve Evans has ‘six or seven’ players now pencilled in for starting spots as his side takes shape for the first game of the EFL season at Crewe Alexandra on 5th August. Evans was speaking after both halves of his squad pulled off impressive 4-0 away wins at non-League opposition last night. Evans had told his players they were all still in contention ahead of the friendlies as he tried different combinations at Matlock Town, where he and assistant Paul Raynor were in attendance, and at Gainsborough Trinity, where the team were taken by Mike Whitlow and Richard Cooper, who look after the U21s. “I’ve got six or seven in the team already for Crewe and some of them are at Gainsborough,” he said. Read more at: http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/stags-side-starting-to-take-shape-after-friendlies-1-8670053 “I’ve come to Matlock tonight. David Mirfin has been out with a bad virus and lost nearly four kilos of weight and I came to make sure he was OK, and I’ve come to look at one or two things that I wanted to look at. “There were certain players across the midfield that I wanted to look at first hand. “If you look at the people at Gainsborough, I pretty much know inside out what most of them can do with the exception of course being (Omari) Sterling-James. “But I’ve told our supporters many times that he’s going to be a huge player for this club. I’ve been told by Richard Cooper that he’s been absolutely sensational tonight, along with Alfie Potter. “We’ve had the debrief from Gainsborough and there’s been some very good individual performances, which is great because, as I said before the game, there’ll be a mix of the two teams that line-up at Crewe.” Eventually, a Lee Angol brace along with strikes from Will Atkinson and Jacob Mellis won a game in which ex-Stag Callum Lloyd was sent-off after the break for a rash tackle on Mellis. “I think it probably flattered us a little bit - it probably took us about an hour for us to realise that we were playing for places at Crewe,” added Evans. “Like with Forest the other week, we got the second goal and the game opened up and then it could have perhaps been any score; we hit the bar and missed a couple of good chances. “But it’s 90 minutes - hopefully everyone wakes up tomorrow injury free.” “There’s big pluses for us all over tonight, in terms of we’ve scored eight goals and not conceded. “We’ll probably play a 60 and a 30 at Alfreton on Saturday, and the same at Rainworth in midweek because we’ve got to be respectful to them as well. But after Alfreton we’ll pretty much know where we’re at.” ------------------ Kirkwood praise Matlock Town despite heavy Mansfield Town defeat by IAN RICHARDSON, matlockmercury.co.uk Joint boss Glenn Kirkwood says his Matlock team was “excellent” despite losing 4-0 at home to a strong Mansfield Town side on Tuesday night. The additional fixture was hastily arranged last Friday at Mansfield’s request, with the Stags sending first team squads to both the DCJ Group Arena and to Gainsborough Trinity. Matlock finished the game with ten men after the 58th minute sending off for midfielder Callum Lloyd with the score at just 1-0 and the Stags last two goals came in the final three minutes. “It’s not very often the bookies get it wrong, Mansfield are favourites to win League Two,” said Kirkwood. Read more at: http://www.matlockmercury.co.uk/sport/football/kirkwood-praise-matlock-town-despite-heavy-mansfield-town-defeat-1-8669840 “I thought we were unfortunate to be a goal down at half time, we played really well and held our own against a top, top side. “We matched them for long periods, they were always going to be fitter than us, and in the end the scoreline was a bit unfair. We’ve got a lot of good players who are showing what they can do and we’re more than happy with the way things are going.” Matlock added to their squad after Tuesday’s game with their fifth signing of the summer as full back Ryan Wilson signed on the dotted line. Wilson, the son of former Derby and Chelsea striker and former Ilkeston manager Kevin Wilson was with Alfreton Town last term after joining them from Conference National side Gateshead. Wilson also played for his father at Ilkeston. “Ryan’s played very well and is very versatile being able to play at both right back and left back as well as in midfield, he’s a fit strong lad who is a very good player,” said Kirkwood. “We’re still looking to add a couple more before the season starts.” The remainder of Matlock’s pre season campaign sees them playing non league sides. A youthful line up was expected to have played at Staveley last night (Wednesday) before Matlock head to Worksop Town on Saturday and Heanor Town on Tuesday. Their final warm up game is at home to Belper Town next Friday. He added: “I’ll be wanting us to take a leaf out of Mansfield’s book when we play these sides, we’ve got to approach the game in the same way as Mansfield did against us, they had pace, power, aggression and were bang on it from the first minute, it was the perfect lesson for us. We’re still improving , we’re ticking along nicely.” Cleveland Taylor, Michael Williams and Rory Coleman are all on holiday and will return against Heanor. On the injury front, Adam Yates will need a check after coming off with a leg injury against Mansfield. Marc Newsham (tight hamstring) and Luis Rose (thigh) should have recovered in time to face Worksop. -------- |
Latest | July 2017