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Archived News from October 2008

STAGS SIGN EMILE SINCLAIR + PREVIEWS
20th October 2008 20:47


Stags sign Forest striker ahead of Dragons clash
. . . and may bring in another new face on Friday
CHAD.co.uk, 16 October 2008 , By John Lomas
BILLY McEwan bid to bring in a new player before Saturday's clash with Wrexham (3pm), when Stags look to halt a three-match losing streak against their former Football League rivals, finally paid-off late on Thursday.
http://www.chad.co.uk/stags/Stags-sign-Forest-striker-ahead.4601287.jp

Earlier in the day he revealed that he was hoping to sign a fresh face before the end of the day - reportedly a striker, though the manager remained tight-lipped as to the player's identity.

However, late in the afternoon he managed to bring in Nottingham Forest reserve striker Emile Sinclair on a month's loan.

The 20-year-old striker will go straight into the Stags' squad for the home game on Saturday.

The pacey striker has been on the fringes of the Forest first team this season - and last season scored against Leyton Orient as a substitute for the Reds.

And the new faces at Field Mill may not stop there. Earlier in the week McEwan signed keeper David Knight and now he hopes to add a midfielder before the Dragons clash.

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Sinclair on month's loan to Stags
Evening Post, Thursday, October 16, 2008

FOREST striker Emile Sinclair has been sent out on a month's loan to Mansfield Town.
http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/football/Sinclair-month-s-loan-Stags/article-406514-detail/article.html
The 20-year-old striker will go straight into the Stags' squad for their game at home to Wrexham on Saturday.
The tall and pacey striker is a regular in the reserves at City Ground and has been on the fringes of the first team.
And despite never starting a game for the Reds, he does have one senior goal to his credit, in the 4-0 victory over Gillingham last season.
"What Emile is first and foremost is competition for places, " said Mansfield boss Billy McEwan.
"I hope people will want to come along on Saturday to see what he is like. We are pleased to have him."
McEwan added he is confident of another player – a midfielder – coming in before the weekend.
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Photos of new signing Emile Sinclair, in action for Nottingham Forest.





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Mansfield Town v Wrexham
BBC.co.uk

Wrexham will be without midfielder Andrew Fleming, who is to have surgery after injuring knee ligaments and may be out until Christmas.

Striker Jefferson Louis (hamstring) faces a late fitness test but full-backs Simon Spender (elbow) and Kyle Critchell (ankle) are still out.

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Louis to miss out on Stags return
Evening Post, Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Jefferson Louis is set to miss out on a return to Mansfield with new club Wrexham because of injury.
http://www.thisismansfieldtown.co.uk/news/Louis-to-miss-out-on-Stags-return.aspx
The tall striker is the Red Dragons' top scorer this season with eight goal in 13 starts.

But he has tweaked his hamstring and is unlikely to recover in time to play at Field Mill.

Louis told thisismansfieldtown.co.uk: “It is a shame because it was a match I was really looking forward to.”

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VIDEO: O'Connor optimistic on Stags' return to form
CHAD.co.uk, 16 October 2008 , By John Lomas
MANSFIELD Town striker Aaron O'Connor hopes stuttering Stags can get their season back on course after three straight defeats when Wrexham visit Field Mill this Saturday.
In an exclusive video interview with Chad he gives his thoughts on the current dip in form, the four-point deduction, and the task ahead on Saturday.
video here --> http://www.chad.co.uk/stags/VIDEO-O39Connor-optimistic-on-Stags39.4601080.jp

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Stags boss McEwan chasing player as Dragons clash looms
CHAD.co.uk, 16 October 2008 , By John Lomas
BILLY McEwan is still working hard to bring in a new player before Saturday's clash with Wrexham (3pm) as Stags look to halt a three-match losing streak against their former Football league rivals.
http://www.chad.co.uk/stags/Stags-boss-McEwan-chasing-player.4601287.jp
On Thursday he revealed that he was hoping to sign a fresh face before the end of the day - reportedly a striker, though the manager remained tight-lipped as to the player's identity.

Wrexham have won twice since former Wales star Dean Saunders took over as boss and will include last season's Stags strikers Simon Brown and the in-form Jefferson Louis who will both be desperate to mark their return with a win.

"I actually tried to sign Dean Saunders when I was manager at Sheffield United and he was at my old club Brighton," said manager McEwan.

"It was all set to go through but the money never appeared on the table and he eventually signed for Oxford for £65,000 and they went on to sell him for millions, but that's football."

McEwan doesn't believe there is a lot wrong at the moment as his side struggle to pick up points that came so easily earlier in the campaign.

"There is a thin line between success and failure and on Saturday we need to remember what put us where we were in the first quarter of the season and drive back on up the table," he said.

"We haven't had much luck recently and there have been three diabolical decisions against us in the last three games. If they'd gone for us then that would have been another nine points.

"But you have to work hard for your lucky breaks and I don't believe we worked hard enough at Burton the other night.

"You have got to run your blood to water and we didn't do that enough.

"We need to demand more from each other and help drive each other on. I don't want boys out there, I want men. We are in a battle and have got to do more in certain areas and hope things turn round."

On loan defender Max Chanot returns after a one game suspension and strikers Mark Stallard and Aaron O'Connor are training after shaking off colds.

Games with the Dragons have a special significance for McEwan after two crucial clashes in the Seventies, one of which saw the Stags clinch the Third Division title and the other which saw Peterborough miss out on promotion.

Stags clinched the title at the Racecourse Ground and he said: "It was 30 years ago but it is still very vivid in my mind,

"We were already promoted and it was just a matter of going on to win the title. But Wrexham needed to win to come up with us.

"We managed to win the game with a late goal and were champions while Wrexham missed out as Crystal Palace went up.

"It was a fantastic atmosphere to play in and we took thousands of fans.

"To win a Championship as a player is extra special as not that many achieve it at any level throughout their careers.

"The following season I left Mansfield halfway through to join Peterborough and coincidentally we played Wrexham on the last day of the season and needed the points to go up while it was Wrexham were already up.

"I was in a midfield battle against Arfon Griffiths for the second year on the trot and I said to him, come on Arfon you're already up, but he said remember last year and no way were they taking their foot off the pedal! In the end they won and we missed out!

"Last season I was watching the battle going on at the bottom of League Two and it was both Mansfield and Wrexham that dropped out of the League together and here we are clashing again!"
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Moses: Stags have the players to stop the rot
Evening Post, October 15 2008
SKIPPER Adie Moses today admitted Mansfield Town fans' frustrations are justified – but is convinced the current squad can turn things round.
http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/football/Moses-Stags-players-stop-rot/article-401308-detail/article.html
After a promising start, things have turned sour for the Stags in the last couple of weeks.
A four-point deduction and four defeats in five have seen Mansfield slide down the table after briefly topping the Blue Square Premier.
Moses acknowledges the performances as well as results have been disappointing but he remains convinced there is enough ability in the camp to put an end to the bad run.
"Things aren't going our way but we can't use that as an excuse and you can appreciate why the fans are upset," said Moses.
"No supporters like to see their team lose. They want to see us playing good football, creating chances and winning.
"We, as players, are just as disappointed because we want to do well too.
"We know we have the quality. We have some good exciting young players and those who can score goals.
"But I do think we are confident of turning it around. There would be a big problem if we weren't."
Moses knows the importance of Saturday's home clash with Wrexham, who were relegated with the Stags from League Two at the end of last season.
He feels a win over the Welshman could kick-start Mansfield as they bid to climb back up the table.
Moses said: "It is a massive game for us against Wrexham. If we could get a win over them it would give us a big lift."
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Stags 'will not struggle'
Evening Post, October 16 2008

MANSFIELD'S current squad is better equipped to deal with hard times than last season's, insists Jonathan D'Laryea.
http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/football/Stags-struggle/article-403590-detail/article.html
The midfielder was part of the team relegated from League Two after failing to recover from a disastrous start.
They have started better this season but a dip in form has seen the Stags lose four of their last five matches.
But having sampled the mood in both camps, D'Laryea is convinced this season's team will not struggle for long.
He said: "I think the atmosphere in the squad is a lot better than last year.
"The points deduction has brought the lads closer and made us more determined.
"We had a decent start and we know we can get points at this level.
"There are a lot of experienced players who have been in tough situations before.
"We have had a bit of bad luck, but we need to make sure we perform at our best so we don't need to rely on that."
D'Laryea has taken his turn out of the side along with Gavin Hurren and Matt Somner as Billy McEwan has shuffled his pack in midfield.
And the former Manchester City trainee feels that has been a blessing in disguise.
He said: "It has been hectic, with a lot of midweek games, so it was good to have a rest.
"But it keeps you on your toes because you know you can't afford to have bad games or you could be out for much longer."
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Max Chanot audio interview from mansfieldtown.net here

 

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