Archived News from December 2020
|
GRIMSBY PREVIEWS/McLAUGHLIN STAYS TO END OF SEASON
|
 |
|
Be positive and play forward this weekend, says boss
mansfieldtown.net, Wednesday 9th December 2020 Although boss Nigel Clough is expecting a ‘battle’ away at Grimsby Town this weekend, he has challenged his squad to perform with ‘freedom’ at Blundell Park. The Stags go into Saturday’s fixture having lost just once in their last ten matches in all competitions, and with the two sides both sitting on 15 points in the Sky Bet League Two standings. The manager says that the way his side have performed in recent weeks is ‘very encouraging,’ and wants his side to play with attacking intent at the weekend. “I’ve always enjoyed watching Ian Holloway’s teams, because they’re honest and hard-working,” he told iFollow Stags. “I think they’re in one of these runs at the moment that every team gets into, where you just need a break. I hope they get one, but not on Saturday. “I think it will be a battle, but I think we have to play. We’ve played in the last few league games with a sense of freedom. https://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/2020/december/nigel-clough-pre-grimsby/ “I think we have to play with an element of freedom to win games. We can’t let it [league position] dominate our thoughts or be negative. “We like the majority of what we’re seeing in the squad. The work rate has been excellent and we’ve asked them to be more positive and play forward - the way they’ve taken it all on board has been very encouraging. “We want to be positive and we want to attack. We want to create chances and score goals, and I think the players have taken that on board. “The next stage is finishing off a few more of those chances. Players enjoy attacking and going forward. “We have to go out there with an intent to attack with purpose. When we need to defend, we need to defend much better than we did on Saturday [against Crawley]. “I’d much rather draw a game 3-3 than 0-0. It’s easier to work on stopping goals going in than it is on creating goals and scoring.” The boss then spoke of Tuesday’s friendly between the Stags and Nottingham Forest, an action-packed affair that finished four goals-apiece. Striker Andy Cook and attacking midfielder Tyrese Sinclair both notched a brace in a game that the manager used to assess players outside of the usual starting XI. “We went 1-0 down, then 2-1 up, 3-2 down, 4-3 - and there were four penalties in the game as well, two for each side and both converted,” he added. “It’s about your attacking intent - wherever and whenever we play, let’s try and create some chances. “Cooky [Andy Cook] has scored two more good goals and we’re learning that Tyrese Sinclair can be a threat. He put two penalties away and is another attacking option that we need. “Stephen McLaughlin came back in after a couple of weeks out with an ankle [injury] and he played 90 minutes, so it’s good to have him back involved. “Then we’re looking at the likes of Aaron O’Driscoll, Rollin Menayese, Aidan Stone - we’re just learning about all of the players and what level they’re at.” It was also revealed in Wednesday’s news conference that winger Stephen McLaughlin (below) has penned a contract extension until the end of the season. Nigel Clough highlighted the former Southend man’s versatility as one of the reasons for his new deal. “We’re delighted - I think he’s done very well since we’ve seen him in the last few weeks,” explained the boss. “I think the first time we saw him was against Walsall and he played left-back that day. So that’s another position he can cover for us. “He can certainly play in midfield in any of those positions, so it’s good to have him back available and here until the end of the season. “We’ll check on his ankle this morning to make sure he’s okay. He should be back in the squad on Saturday.” There was also an injury update on defender James Perch from the boss: “James Perch is coming on well and stepping up his running. Saturday might be a bit too soon for him. “We think sometime next week he’ll be back in training. Ideally, with a hamstring, you want him to have a few days training first. “The other thing that will go against him next Tuesday is that it’s Carlisle away. Sitting for eight or nine hours on a bus might not be the best thing for his hamstring. Realistically, we’re probably looking towards Southend.” iFollow Stags subscribers can watch Nigel Clough’s interview in full by logging into mansfieldtown.net/ifollow ------------------------ Nigel Clough encouraged by early signs at Mansfield Town chad.co.uk, By Stephen Thirkill, Wednesday 9th December 2020 Nigel Clough feels Mansfield Town are heading in the right direction. Stags have lost just once since Clough stepped into the hot seat on 6th November. And the former Burton boss says he is encouraged by the character and positive approach now on display from his boys. “They are a hardworking honest set of players and that’s been confirmed in recent weeks,” he said. “They have adapted well to what we are asking. https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/nigel-clough-encouraged-early-signs-mansfield-town-3062222 “One of the things we asked was for them to be more positive and the last week has shown that. We had 60 shots in the last three games and it is now a gradual thing to work towards converting more of those chances. “The signs are encouraging but it is still very early days. We have only had four weeks but the signs are encouraging. “It's lovely when you come back from 3-1 down in injury time and you are even looking for a winner. It’s amazing how much belief the players get from that.” Stags have enjoyed a midweek free of competitive football and played out a 4-4 draw at Nottingham Forest for players who didn’t feature against Crawley. It saw Andy Cook score twice to take his tally to three goals in two games. Mansfield travel to a struggling Grimsby side low on confidence at the weekend - with Clough knowing his side still need to up for the fight. “Grimsbyy will be a tough game,” added Clough. “They were unlucky to lose against Newport (on Tuesday). “Like all Ian Holloway sides, they are fast and hardworking - they just need a break. “The first goal will be important. Some of the stats you see in the Premier League are incredible when it comes to first goa. “If you concede first you hardly ever come back to win these days and we've emphasised the importance of the first goal to the players. “Newport worked hard before taking control of the game at Grimsby and we need to do the same. The hard work is part of our team ethic.” Stags have been boosted by the news that winger Stephen McLaughlin has signed a new contract until the end of the season. ------------------------ Boss has put a smile on our faces - defender mansfieldtown.net, Wednesday 9th December 2020 Wing-back Kellan Gordon has spoken of how ‘intense and very competitive’ training sessions under boss Nigel Clough are changing the ‘mentality’ of the Mansfield Town players. The Stags go into this weekend’s match against Grimsby Town having lost just one match in the last ten, an impressive run that follows a disappointing start to the campaign. Gordon says that the ‘positivity’ that Nigel Clough has brought to the club is generating a shift in mentality at the club. “I think positivity is a big factor [to upturn in form] because when you put that in a team and believe in them, you then go out and want to show why the gaffer [Nigel Clough] believes in us,” he told iFollow Stags. “He [Nigel Clough] has come in and put a smile on everyone’s faces. Training is enjoyable - he has us laughing, but when it’s time to be serious, it’s time to be serious. “He’s set us up the way he wants us to play, and that’s the way we do it. It [training] is sharp, intense, but that’s what you want as a player. https://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/2020/december/gordon-pre-grimsby/ “It’s very intense and very competitive. Everyone wants to win and we have that winning mentality, where no-one wants to lose in training.” The former Derby County man also reflected on Saturday’s thrilling 3-3 draw with Crawley Town, a match that saw the Stags fight back from 3-1 down to rescue a point. Gordon says that the comeback shows the ‘strong mental character’ of the squad. “It [Crawley match] was a mad game. We were comfortable in the first-half, but there was a moment of madness in the second-half. “I think we showed good character to come back in the game and not lose. I think we would have lost that game a few months ago. “We have a strong mental character now and we believe in ourselves again. We know that we can match teams in this league and that’s why we got our heads down and grinded it out. “We had mixed emotions. We went in at half-time believing we could win the game, but in the second-half it took a turn. “We were happy to get the draw, but ultimately you want to win games. My overall personal feeling was disappointment because I wanted to win the game.” The defender then discussed his personal performances this season, an assessment that coincides with nine consecutive league starts for the 22-year-old. “I feel like I’m consistently playing games and playing well at the moment,” he said. “I just need to keep putting in those performances for the team. Hopefully I can help the team win more games. “I’ll play wherever the gaffer [Nigel Clough] wants me to play. I’ll play where I’m needed to play. “I’m just happy to be playing because I was out [of the team] for a long time. I’m just happy to be back in the team. “I think I’ve been quite effective at right-back recently. I’ve enjoyed playing as an attacking full-back - putting in crosses and creating chances is my job. “I feel fit and strong at the minute. I’m going out there and just want to do my best for the team. I feel like I’m doing well at the minute, so I just want to keep that up.” iFollow Stags subscribers can watch Kellan’s interview in full by logging into mansfieldtown.net/ifollow. -------------------------- Kellan Gordon believes Stags are benefitting from new-found identity chad.co.uk, By Stephen Thirkill, Wednesday 9th December 2020 Kellan Gordon believes Mansfield Town are benefiting from a new-found positivity and identity. Results and performance levels have improved since Nigel Clough took over as Stags look to climb up the league table. And the midfielder believes it is all thanks to the hard-working going on at the training ground. “We have got a structure of how we want to play and an identity,” he said. https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/kellan-gordon-believes-stags-are-benefitting-new-found-identity-3062338 “He (Nigel Clough) wants hard work, honesty and to not let our heads drop when it's not going our way, He wants us to have a strong mental character. “We are enjoying thigns and playing with a freedom. Ww have taken that from the training pitch into games and that is why we are showing that we can win games and come back from losing. “Earlier in the season we would have lost against Crawley, but we showed great character to get back in it and not lose. “If you watch the games you can tell how much more positive we are. “We don’t let our heads drop if we concede and we're creating a lot of chances. "We need to take positives from that and hope we convert more of the chances. “Nigel has been brilliant for me since he came in, I'm getting a run of games and paying consistency. “I just need to keep my performances strong and do well for the team.” Stags have beaten promotion-chasers Forest Green Rovers and Cambridge United away in recent weeks. And the former Derby man believes it shows that Mansfield are more than a match for anyone in the division. “We have matched ourselves against the top teams in this division,” he added. “They are higher than us in the table but we beat them. “It shows we have a good squad and we can only take the positives from that and keep it going. "We know we could have done better this season with the squad we have, but we can only take the positives from the recent games. “We are starting to show what we can do and the results are speaking for themselves. "It’s starting to become where we know we can put a run together. If we carry on as we are doing we know we can climb the table.” --------------------- Grimsby Town could make new signing before Mansfield game as Ian Holloway reveals free agent plans The Mariners boss is looking to add more experience to his side, and he's not waiting for the January transfer window to open grimsbytelegraph.co.uk, By James Findlater, 10 DEC 2020 Ian Holloway has revealed he could make three new signings for Grimsby Town before the January transfer window opens - and one could arrive before Saturday. The Mariners boss has already spoken of his plans to not only trim his squad over the next month or so, but to add more experience. To that end, Bilel Mohsni and Ludvig Öhman have both already left the club, while Holloway has hinted some of his loan players may return to their parent clubs. And rather than wait for the window to open on January 2, the Town boss is looking to get a head start on his business by adding some free agents before the New Year - and possibly even before Saturday. “I’m not waiting until next month,” Holloway told Grimsby Live. https://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/grimsby-town-transfer-free-agents-4786513 “I don’t think I can wait that long, I need some more experience in my team. “We’re far too young - that’s why I put Sam (Russell) in the other day to give Macca (James McKeown) a bit of a breather, because I think I think it might be too much for Ollie (Battersby). I really rate Ollie, but it might be too much for him. “This division is all about having the right experience in the right places, and then adding a little sprinkling of youth. “It might be three before January, just to tide me over. That’s why I made those decisions the other week (releasing Mohsni and Öhman). “It might have looked strange then, but as I say, we have a plan, and we’re going to work to that plan. “I didn’t plan to be as low as we are at the minute, and maybe expectations changed when we beat Cheltenham away, but that night we were excellent, and we had Hanson in the dressing room. “It makes a huge difference when those lads who have just signed are up for it and at it, and then they see Hanson there, but unfortunately we haven’t been able to do anything. “It really is a vital ingredient at times in this division. “We’ve got to try and get through this period, and I believe we will with what I’m going to try and do now.” Holloway has been given backing to add to his options over the next couple of months, with Town chairman Philip Day stating “finance is not an issue” ahead of the January window. Some fans have questioned Mr Day’s remarks, given he has also said the club are close to their salary cap limit, but Holloway insists he will be able to get down to business. “Watch this space - we’re at it, we’re on it, and we’re not all blocked up, I can make some changes because I might be able to send back some of the loanees. “All the people worrying I can’t make changes because we might be up to the limit and all that, just settle down and let’s see if you can try and support us through a bit of a horrible period, and I believe we’ll come out the other end. “I didn’t stop working yesterday, talking to my bloke, talking to other blokes, getting names so I’m ready to do things. “We’re sadly lacking experience in vital areas at the minute, particularly the spine of my team, and I’ve got to make sure I get that right.” ---------------------- |
Latest | December 2020