Archived News from December 2008
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OXFORD PREVIEWS
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Stags' long-term injury victim keeper finally kicks a ball
CHAD.co.uk, 03 December 2008, By Stephen Thirkill STAGS' injured goalkeeper Jason White has kicked his first ball in anger as he continues his long road to recovery from a knee injury. Meanwhile Blackwood unlikely to return to the team before Christmas. Read at CHAD website here White has been absent from the first-team squad after he underwent an operation to cure the problem back in August. He has been receiving one-to-one physio treatment at Lilleshall since and this week resumed training once again. Boss Billy McEwan told Chad: "This is a big boost for both player and the club. No matter what people say about him and how good or not he is it is important we give him a chance to show what he can do. "I have not seen him, he is new to me and he will get the opportunity to prove what he can do. It is a long road to recovery and can be very hard when you see the rest of the team playing and you cannot be involved. "I was out injured for 18 months and it is a lonely business where people do not want to know. We have kept him involved in the first team as much as possible. "Jason now needs to build up his muscle strength and to keep working hard, but he is heading in the right direction." But fellow absentee Michael Blackwood, who limped out with an ankle injury in the FA Cup clash away to York, is unlikely to return to the team before Christmas. Added McEwan: "The balance of the team is a little one-sided when Blackwood is not in the team. His injury means we have had to change the shape of the side a lot. "Having him back in the team will be like having a new signing but it is unlikely to happen before Christmas." ------------------ Foundations in place to move Stags forward, says manager McEwan CHAD.co.uk, 03 December 2008, By Stephen Thirkill MANSFIELD Town now have the foundations in place to kick on up the league table, according to boss Billy McEwan. Read at CHAD website here The Stags' began pre-season with just two players on their books and are currently lanquishing at the wrong end of the Blue Square Premier table. And according to McEwan the disruption to his team's pre-season schedule has not helped Mansfield's prospects for their first season outside the Football League. "It has been very difficult rebuilding the team. On 9th August we were rushing to get a team together. It was a panic and we couldn't prepare and have a proper pre-season which does not help,"said McEwan. "It took time to get the team together. As the takeover dragged on players I had targeted in my transfer dossier signed for other clubs, which was very frustrating." But McEwan believes the Field Mill outfit are progressing well and are heading in the right direction. He said: "The progress the club has made in this short space of time on and off the field has been fantastic and we are getting praise from other clubs for what we have achieved. "We got to top of the league in the early part of the season, but we were never going to stay there. We have to be realistic though because we had not played the big boys and we do not have a big enough squad. "The fans have to be patient. We are playing well and are close to stringing wins together and moving up the table. We have got a good bunch of players here and the foundations are there to build on next season." ------------------ Billy McEwan audio interview 02 December 2008 Listen at mansfieldtown.net here -------------- Stags need fans' support for TV game, says boss Billy CHAD.co.uk, 02 December 2008, By Stephen Thirkill BOSS Billy McEwan is calling on Stags' fans to get behind their side ahead of Thursday's Setanta televised clash with Oxford United at Field Mill (7.45pm). http://www.chad.co.uk/stags/Stags-need-fans39-support-for.4753665.jp Stags go into the home game looking for their first win in three outings after their 1-0 reverse away to Forest Green and 1-1 draw with Weymouth on Saturday. Said McEwan: "We have been on the road for the past two games and we are looking forward to playing again in front of our own supporters. "They have a 'new' boss in Jim Smith (appointed yesterday) and any team managed by him will be a battling side. "It is going to be a tough game for us, but it is a game we will be looking to win. "We have to build on our last home performance and the positives from the last away game. "The supporters need to stay loyal because their support is vital and makes all the difference to the players. "We need to give them something to cheer about and something to get excited about. We need 100 per cent effort and committment from the players for the rest of the reason. He added: "I feel sorry for the players because they deserve a lot more in terms of results from their performances. "We are playing well and are very close to getting the wins. We need time to build things up, it cannot happen overnight." McEwan is also calling on his squad to stay focused on the game and to forget the presence of the nationwide Setanta TV cameras. "Being in front of the Setanta cameras should make no difference to us. You just have to get on with the job and stay focused,"said McEwan. "I played in front of 70,000 fans in Scotland and 55,000 at Anfield but I didn't hear the noise because I was so focused. "I will be telling the players to go out there and be professional, to try and entertain and to get the three points." On Tuesday night Mansfield then head to high-flying Kidderminster Harriers on Tuesday. Harriers are fifth in the table and also in the third round of the FA Cup, winning eight of their last nine games. -------------------------- Stags keen to open contract talks Evening Post, 02 December 2008 MANSFIELD chairman Andy Perry has revealed he is eager to offer contract extensions to the Stags' leading players. http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/football/Stags-keen-open-contract-talks/article-515234-detail/article.html Manager Billy McEwan has not publicly disclosed the length of deals members of the squad are tied to. But it is believed no-one has been offered terms beyond the end of this season. In the past Mansfield often lost their biggest assets for nothing by failing to open contract talks until the end of each campaign. But Perry said: "I totally agree with fans who say we need to extend the contracts of our better players. "It is a conversation we have already had at the club. "We said we wanted to sit down and look at it during December." The loss of players was always a source of frustration to fans, who saw it as showing a lack of ambition. And they do not want the likes of Gary Silk and Jonathan D'Laryea to walk away from Field Mill in the summer. Perry said: "If you can tie up some of your best players, it is as good as a new signing. "It sends out the massage to players that if they produce the goods they will be rewarded. "Already we are getting offered players for next season, so the sooner the better." Perry is hoping there will be a decent crowd for Thursday's game with Oxford United, despite it being screened live on Setanta. He says the club might introduce special offers to help supporters with a busy Christmas period of home games coming up. "We are looking all the time at what other clubs are doing," he said. "Getting bums on seats is not just for financial reasons but for the team's benefit as well." Meanwhile, Max Chanot has been given a four-match ban following his sending off at Weymouth – his second of the season. -------------------- White back, Chanot leaves Evening Post, 02 December 2008 Jason White today moved a step close to ending his injury nightmare at Mansfield when he kicked a ball for the first time since his knee operation. http://www.thisismansfieldtown.co.uk/news/White-back,-Chanot-leaves.aspx The 24-year-old goalkeeper picked up the problem in pre-season and has been sidelined ever since. After going under the surgeon's knife, he is now working hard to get back to fitness following a spell at Lilleshall. “It is a big bonus Jason is back kicking a ball because he has been out for a long time,” said Mansfield manager Billy McEwan. “It was a very bad injury, but he has been getting specialised one-on-one treatment. “He has to look to get some reserves games now and maybe go out on loan. It's a big step in the right direction. Meanwhile, defender Max Chanot has returned to Sheffield United following his sending off at Weymouth. The Frenchman has been banned for four games by the FA after also being dismissed in an earlier game for Mansfield at Stevenage Borough. McEwan added: “Max was man of the match in his first game and played really well in the Setanta Shield as well. “He had a couple of iffy games, but you get that with young players who are learning. “I thought he was unlucky to be sent off at Stevenage and though he didn't make contact with the player on Saturday, he should never have been in that situation on the first place. “But he will learn from it and it will benefit him and Sheffield United in the long run.” ---------------- Stags goalkeeper close to ending injury nightmare Evening Post, 02 December 2008 Jason White today moved a step close to ending his injury nightmare at Mansfield when he kicked a ball for the first time since his operation. http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/football/Stags-goalkeeper-close-ending-injury-nightmare/article-517668-detail/article.html The 24-year-old goalkeeper damaged his knee in pre-season and has been sidelined ever since. After going under the surgeon's knife, he is now working hard to get back to fitness following a spell at Lilleshall. "It is a big bonus Jason is back kicking a ball because he has been out for a long time," said Mansfield manager Billy McEwan. "It was a very bad injury, but he has been getting specialised one-on-one treatment. "He has to look to get some reserves games now and maybe go out on loan. It's a big step in the right direction. Meanwhile, defender Max Chanot has returned to Sheffield United following his sending off at Weymouth. The Frenchman has been banned for four games by the FA after also being dismissed in an earlier game for Mansfield at Stevenage Borough. McEwan added: "Max was man of the match in his first game and played really well in the Setanta Shield as well. "He had a couple of iffy games, but you get that with young players who are learning. "I thought he was unlucky to be sent off at Stevenage and though he didn't make contact with the player on Saturday, he should never have been in that situation on the first place. "But he will learn from it and it will benefit him and Sheffield United in the long run." -------------------- |
Latest | December 2008