Murray on Stags youth set-up, Boston mistake and his new job

[Chadman]

Had a great chat with Adam Murray last week and he spoke warmly about seeing Flitcroft giving the youth set-up importance once more, how it was a mistake to join Boston after Stags, about enjoying passing on his wisdom and life experiences plus his footballing knowledge to the youngsters at Barnsley and how he has now definitely retired after last season's brief comeback!

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[Vice President]

It is important that we remember Adam Murray more for the great player that he was for us, rather than as a disappointing manager.

Most people will remember Matt Green for single handedly getting us out of the conference (which he did in a way) ...... but the real driving force behind the team that season was Adam Murray .... ably supported by Green, Stevenson, Luke Jones, Dempster, Marriot etc. There was a time when Matt Green stopped scoring, and Stevenson & Jones scored the crucial goals - Murray was usually involved in the build up to most of our goals and kept us going right to the end.

I think he is better suited to coaching youth players than being a manager.

[lifestags]

We had a special team for that league, Briscoe was magnificent for us as well, for about 3 seasons! If he had a manager like DF(he would get the best out of him physically) he would of gone on to play much higher.

[Bradders]

Agree about Briscoe. What a shot he had! He's still playing, but never reached his potential. Too lazy, I think.

[Vice President]

We had a special team for that league, Briscoe was magnificent for us as well, for about 3 seasons! If he had a manager like DF(he would get the best out of him physically) he would of gone on to play much higher.

Indeed! Briscoe's clever play for the penalty against Wrexham was crucial to our promotion (not to mention some other moments of brilliance).
I think that Briscoe & Stevenson could/should have had better careers post-Mansfield.

[Stoney]

Murray wasn't that bad of a manager, don't get me wrong he had to go when he did as we were going no further but he didn't have half the money that Evans had at his disposal and considering that he did a half decent job. Some of his signings on a limited budget were fantastic and are our top players today. Pearce, Benning, Hamilton and Rose come to mind straight away.

I'd welcome Murray back as a coach any day of the week and we should be thankful for what he did for this club he was integral in getting us back into the football league.

[Rob]

Murray wasn't that bad of a manager, don't get me wrong he had to go when he did as we were going no further but he didn't have half the money that Evans had at his disposal and considering that he did a half decent job. Some of his signings on a limited budget were fantastic and are our top players today. Pearce, Benning, Hamilton and Rose come to mind straight away.

I'd welcome Murray back as a coach any day of the week and we should be thankful for what he did for this club he was integral in getting us back into the football league.

He did make some great signings, absolutely no-one can deny that. My biggest disappointment was the style his side adopted, whether that was intentional or not, it was a surprise that someone who played the game on the front foot developed a side that didn't. In his initial loan spell with us, his performances were right up there with the likes of Holland and Lowery.

[Captain Cunno]

We should take him back as chief scout seeing as his signings were still half the team Evans regulary picked .(even with all the money he had.)

Signings that would make us more money than any of Evans signing I hasten to add.
Rose CJ for just two.

[wardy12345]

Is it just me or is the Chad website god awful and an near impossible to read on an iPhone

[arsene wengers coat]

Adam Murray is a club legend. That word is used too frequently bit in this case it's true.

I too was disappointed how his side evolved into a deeply defensive, slow, static, disjointed bunch.

He could certainly pick a player!

[Vice President]

I agree that Rose, Benning, Bennett, Hamilton & Pearce were good signings, but to put things in perspective .... after a year and a half, the overall results & performances weren't good enough, and we were heading for another relegation battle.

Steve Evans' players were poor on an individual basis - However he achieved far better results. Olejnik, Whyte, & Mellis are the only stand-out players from his time here. (Diamond, Mirfin, Anderson, Butcher, Atkinson & Angol were decent players on paper, but didn't deliver).

Flitcroft's signings seem to be 'up there' - (Preston, Bishop, Sweeney, Khan, Walker, Davies are decent players), but we still lack that 20 goal striker.
Having said that, the real difference is that David Flitcroft is getting us to play better football, and right now, we are in a better league position than any of his predecessors.

[Chris M]

Muzza was an inspirational player for us. Throughout our last two seasons in the Blue Square he had injections in his ankle before every game in order to play.

When he arrived on loan from Derby in 2002 he was pure class, scoring goals regularly.

My favourite memory of Muzza though was in late March 2013. Adam put out an appeal on Stagsnet on a Sunday lunchtime to help clear the pitch of snow. He then spent the rest of Sunday and most of Monday helping supporters clear the snow. He then played on the Tuesday night against Nuneaton, winning man of the match. It was so important to get that game on as we were already playing three times a week in order to fit all our games in and faced the prospect of playing four games in a week to complete our fixtures.

Many players are described as a club legend, but Muzza fully deserves the accolade.

[yorkshire stag]

remember him as a player not a manager

Good luck Muzza

[Rob]

I agree that Rose, Benning, Bennett, Hamilton & Pearce were good signings, but to put things in perspective .... after a year and a half, the overall results & performances weren't good enough, and we were heading for another relegation battle.

Steve Evans' players were poor on an individual basis - However he achieved far better results. Olejnik, Whyte, & Mellis are the only stand-out players from his time here. (Diamond, Mirfin, Anderson, Butcher, Atkinson & Angol were decent players on paper, but didn't deliver).

Flitcroft's signings seem to be 'up there' - (Preston, Bishop, Sweeney, Khan, Walker, Davies are decent players), but we still lack that 20 goal striker.
Having said that, the real difference is that David Flitcroft is getting us to play better football, and right now, we are in a better league position than any of his predecessors.

A bit of an unfair comparison as Murray had nowhere near the wage budget of the other two. Otherwise, a fair summary.

[Amberheart]

We should take him back as chief scout seeing as his signings were still half the team Evans regulary picked .(even with all the money he had.)

Signings that would make us more money than any of Evans signing I hasten to add.
Rose CJ for just two.

I'd agree with that , he's got an eye for a good player

[MutinyOnTheCounty]

Muzza was an inspirational player for us. Throughout our last two seasons in the Blue Square he had injections in his ankle before every game in order to play.

When he arrived on loan from Derby in 2002 he was pure class, scoring goals regularly.

My favourite memory of Muzza though was in late March 2013. Adam put out an appeal on Stagsnet on a Sunday lunchtime to help clear the pitch of snow. He then spent the rest of Sunday and most of Monday helping supporters clear the snow. He then played on the Tuesday night against Nuneaton, winning man of the match. It was so important to get that game on as we were already playing three times a week in order to fit all our games in and faced the prospect of playing four games in a week to complete our fixtures.

Many players are described as a club legend, but Muzza fully deserves the accolade.

Totally agree - Muzza was the embodiment of that hungry, gritty, promotion-winning campaign. Even though his legs had gone, the battling influence he provided on pitch certainly lifted the players and fans. Defeat was something he would never comprehend, organising the players up until the final whistle. Green provided the goals, but Muzza was the heart of that team.

Plus he'll always be a legend for taking the feet from under that gobby Wrexham fan!

It's a shame there isn't something in the ground dedicated to him - maybe they could name the treatment room after Muzza, from all his fond memories there?

[Billy the fish]

remember him as a player not a manager

Good luck Muzza

Exactly and throw big George Foster in that category both legends

[Mr Grimsdale]

It is important that we remember Adam Murray more for the great player that he was for us, rather than as a disappointing manager.

Most people will remember Matt Green for single handedly getting us out of the conference (which he did in a way) ...... but the real driving force behind the team that season was Adam Murray .... ably supported by Green, Stevenson, Luke Jones, Dempster, Marriot etc. There was a time when Matt Green stopped scoring, and Stevenson & Jones scored the crucial goals - Murray was usually involved in the build up to most of our goals and kept us going right to the end.

I think he is better suited to coaching youth players than being a manager.

That's about right VP.

[Vice President]

It's a shame that some legends sour everything when they go into management:

George Foster was a legend as a player, but isn't so fondly remembered as a manager, as with Adam Murray. George Foster was a more successful manager than Adam Murray, but he still blotted his copybook (with two relegations, albeit from a higher league).

Stuart Boam is so bitter about his time as manager that he doesn't want anything to do with the club anymore - allegedly.

Only Peter Morris succeeded in being a great player and a successful manager. He took us higher than any other manager, and yet strangely we don't seem to give him very much kudos. I guess, its because his success was built on his predecessor Dave Smith's team, and the fact that he quickly jumped ship when we were struggling in the second tier, which culminated in relegation. - Although that might not have been down to poor management per se.

The moral of this story is ... if you are a playing legend and want to be remembered fondly, then think twice about managing your old club!

[milne6]

It's a shame that some legends sour everything when they go into management:

George Foster was a legend as a player, but isn't so fondly remembered as a manager, as with Adam Murray. George Foster was a more successful manager than Adam Murray, but he still blotted his copybook (with two relegations, albeit from a higher league).

Stuart Boam is so bitter about his time as manager that he doesn't want anything to do with the club anymore - allegedly.

Only Peter Morris succeeded in being a great player and a successful manager. He took us higher than any other manager, and yet strangely we don't seem to give him very much kudos. I guess, its because his success was built on his predecessor Dave Smith's team, and the fact that he quickly jumped ship when we were struggling in the second tier, which culminated in relegation. - Although that might not have been down to poor management per se.

The moral of this story is ... if you are a playing legend and want to be remembered fondly, then think twice about managing your old club!

i thought jack lester did a great job at chesterfield last season...