{ the news }
 
An independent supporters' website dedicated to Mansfield Town FC
Archived News from November 2005

SHIRTLIFF AND BARKER AND HARFORD REACTION
8th November 2005 21:49


Peter Shirtliff spoke to Mansfield 103´2 Jason Harrison.
Transcribed by Martin Shaw.

I´m very proud. We never gave up. It was a fantastic performance. We showed great spirit. I fancied Richie to score, but maybe not 2. It was a good cup tie, which could have gone either way. At 3-3 I wanted us to go for the win. So I sent Rhys up and he caused confusion and it´s fallen for us.

Rotherham´s first goal, they got a bit of luck, but it was a good finish. We didn't defend well in fairness for their 2nd goal, though it was a good goal. Their last goal was a Jason Talbot own goal. Overall we´ve had a couple more chances than them on the day.

Jon Hjelde got a whack and it was sore, so when he got booked I thought lets get Rhys on.

I´m disappointed that Gus has been sent off. It´s another 3 games. There was a bit of a wrestle .. why not just give them a yellow card each.

It´s back to work on Monday for a very important game on Friday. We´re only one point off the bottom, we´ll prepare properly and well try and get a result. There was a terrific turnout today, I can´t speak highly enough of them. Even when we were down they were cheering for us because they could see the lads were trying.

--------------
Richie Barker spoke to Radio Nottingham´s David Jackson
Transcribed by Martin Shaw.

I never thought anything like that would happen. To be honest I´d not had a great game for 70 minutes. I was not even close to a shot at goal. Luckily a couple of things have fell for me.

Because I´ve got some good friends on that Rotherham team, including the keeper, and so I was quite subdued after the fourth goal. It was in front of Tivoli end where I had 4 good years.

I´m pleased I got a good reception before the game though I didn´t hear it as I was tossing the coin when my name was read out.

Winning becomes a habit so hopefully we can keep this good run going and its important for myself and Brownie to keep scoring. You have good times and bad times, you can't get too carried away with the good times just as you can't with the bad times. The number of chances we created was unbelievable, we must have had 6-7 chances, and coming back from 3-2 down to win 4-3, well we´ll not go too far wrong.
-------------

Rotherham Utd Official Site:

Rotherham United twice came from behind to level matters in their FA Cup tie against Mansfield Town but after they had taken a second half lead they were knocked out of the competition on the wrong end of a
4-3 scoreline.

Manager Mick Harford blasted: "I am devastated but you can't win matches if you defend like that. It was shocking, you can blame the officials who were probably worse than we were but you can't afford to let in goals like that.

"We got back into the game comfortably but we just can't defend properly as we leave players unmarked, we aren't picking up and every ball that goes to the middle of the pitch looks like being a goal.

"You can't win games like that, you defend as a team and that is shocking at the moment as are the decisions and that is costing us games. We work day in and day out so if things don't work out you have to bring some other players in.

"We are defending poorly and we just aren't reliable as we were at the beginning of the season. When you score three goals at home you expect to win but our defending just wasn't there.

"Perhaps they don't handle responsibility, I will have to sort that out. We aren't marking properly. Michael Keane deserved to be sent off and I will come down on him like a ton of bricks, he deserved it.

"I am not sticking up for him, they both deserved to go. Now we have to try and turn things round next week, I will keep working with the players to try and improve them.

"If we attack like that we will be OK but if we defend like that it will be a long season."

------------------
THE LEAGUE PAPER: GUEST COLUMN BY PETER SHIRTLIFF
transcribed by carole

PETER SHIRTLIFF
Guest column by the Mansfield manager

Hard work starts now:

WHEN I was appointed manager at Mansfield this week, I sat down with the players and thanked them for all their efforts.

The results over the last six weeks since I have been caretaker manager have had a major impact on me getting the job and I'm grateful to the players.

We have moved off the bottom of the table, but there is no point us sitting back now and thinking everything is fantastic. We need to continue the improvement and keep working hard.

I enjoyed being caretaker manager and, to be quite honest, I got on with it like I was the manager from the off.

The board have been good to me. They allowed me to get on with the job and I didn't pester the chairman Keith Haslam to make a decision one way or the other. He's been pleased with the improvement, but, as I've said, it is just a start.

I have had a few situations when I have been on shortlists for managerial jobs in the past, so I'm grateful this chance has come my way and intend to make the most of it.

I was appointed when Carlton (Palmer) left because he bought me to the club, but I could understand his reasons for going and he told me straightaway to go for the job. I spoke to him earlier in the week and he was delighted for me that I had got it.

I've got my own management ideas and I don't intend to model myself on anyone – I'm going to be my own man. I learned a lot from playing under the likes of Howard Wilkinson, Lennie Lawrence, Ron Atkinson, Graham Taylor and Jack Charlton in my career.

Indeed, I played under three international managers in Jack Charlton, Howard Wilkinson and Graham Taylor. They all made me captain at some time or other, which isn't a bad record.

I've also got to thank the fans for being positive too. They have seen some good performances and are really getting behind us.

My first game since being appointed manager will have been yesterday's game at Rotherham in the FA Cup. It will have been a difficult one, but I am sure we will have had a go. I know from my playing days that Mick Harford's side will be competitive – I've got the scars to prove it.

I'm looking to strengthen the squad all the time and there is a little bit of money to spend, but not a fortune. It will be a case of trying to get a couple of players in on loan, but the current squad is adequate and I think we can work on improving the players we've already got.
I'm delighted with our strikers Richie Barker and Simon brown. They have started playing with a bit of confidence and they look a real threat.

At the other end, Kevin pressman has done well. It shows how old Kevin is that I used to be a team-mate of his at Sheffield Wednesday. He's made some really good saves of late and is a nice steadying influence on the team. We are quite a young side and Kevin has got the presence and experience we need at the back.

I like to keep an eye on how my other clubs are doing and I was really pleased Wednesday got promoted last season and I hope they manage to stay up this year. They have got such fantastic support.

Another of my former clubs, Charlton, are really going well in the Premiership and are a model for Football League clubs. I think Alan Curbishley is the second longest serving manager in the Premiership and he's a good lad. I'm really pleased for him and the club.

I had three fantastic years there. Lennie Lawrence was manager and I was captain. We didn't set the world alight, but staying in the old First Division was success in itself in those days.

Alan has done an incredible job and been consistently successful for so many years. I'll be delighted if I can do the same.

 

Latest | November 2005