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Archived News from April 2005

PALMER AND SLADE REACTION
4th April 2005 18:17


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Audio interview with Carlton Palmer from BBC Radio Nottingham (RealPlayer needed)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/nottingham/realmedia/football/2005/stags_grimsby_home_palmer.ram

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PALMER THANKS PLAYERS FOR SPIRIT
Evening Post website

Mansfield Town 2 v 0 Grimsby Town
Mansfield manager Carlton Palmer took a huge step towards winning over his critics at Field Mill as he was finally cheered from the pitch following his side's 2-0 win over Grimsby.

Palmer had suffered torrents of abuse since he stepped in as caretaker manager when Keith Curle was suspended in November and there has been little let up since he took on the job full-time.

Home games have been a nightmare in recent weeks with Mansfield's record of three wins and two draws in the last five away matches in stark contrast to the two points gained from five winless home games.

But against Grimsby it finally came right.

Simon Brown and Adam Rundle found the net - the first time the Stags have scored more than once at home in 15 games - and Palmer was a happy man as some of the fans finally chanted his name.

"I knew it would come eventually," he said.

"Everywhere I have been in my career I have been vilified but I have always won them round and that's what I am doing here.

"It's my job to win them round by doing a good job with the team and I was delighted with the lads.

"I am starting to smell a togetherness in the dressing room now, if you've got that you can achieve anything.

"I said to them at half-time that we needed to up the tempo a bit. I know a few of the lads were feeling tired out there as I have been working them hard but I thought we could score a few more and we probably should have done.

"I am delighted with the young players. In fact the only player I had a question mark over before the game was Colin Larkin and he asked to come off injured before half-time when I would have pulled him off anyway as I don't believe he was giving us his lot.

"He won't play for this club again - he doesn't show the hunger and desire required.

"I don't want to talk about the play-offs - I just want to finish the season as strongly as we can. But it would be interesting if we won at Yeovil next week!"

Grimsby manager Russell Slade deplored his side's lack of ability to find the net and said: "We missed Michael Reddy again and Matty Harrold is going back, so scoring goals is a bit of worry right now.

"But this game did help shape my ideas for next season. If players think there is nothing to play for at this time of year when we find ourselves in mid-table then they are foolishly mistaken.

"They are playing for contracts and some of them needn't come knocking on my door asking 'where's mine gaffer?' I won't name individuals but I have my own ideas.

"Both goals stemmed from us giving the ball away in bad areas. The first was Mansfield's first real opportunity in the half which was disappointing, though the lad took their second goal very well."

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CHAD website:

"Everywhere I have been in my career I have been vilified but I have always won them round and that's what I am doing here," said a delighted Palmer.
"It's my job to win them round by doing a good job with the team and I was delighted with the lads today.
"I am starting to smell a togetherness in that dressing room now and if you've got that you can achieve anything."
"I said to them at half-time that we needed to up the tempo a bit.
"I know a few of the lads were feeling tired out there as I have been working them hard. But I thought we could score a few more and we probably should have done.
"The only player I had a question mark over before the game was Colin Larkin and he's asked to come off injured before half-time when I would have pulled him off anyway as I don't believe he was giving us his lot.
"He won't play for this club again now. He doesn't show the hunger and desire we require.
"I gave Rhys Day one rollicking after the Oxford game and he has done very well today while Alex Neil has given me no option but to offer him a new contract with the way he has played.
"I don't want to talk about the play-offs as I just want to finish the season strongly. But it would be interesting if we won at Yeovil next week!"

Grimsby boss Russell Slade said: "We missed Michael Reddy again and Matty Harrold is going back so scoring goals is a bit of a worry right now.
"But this game helped shape my ideas in terms of individuals and next season.
"If players think there is nothing to play for at this time of year when we find ourselves in mid-table then they are foolishly mistaken.
"They are playing for contracts and they needn't come knocking on my door asking where is mine gaffer. I won't name individuals but I have my own ideas.
"Both goals stemmed from us giving the ball away in bad areas. The first was Mansfield's first real opportunity in the half which was disappointing, though the lad took their second goal very well."
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