{ the news }
 
An independent supporters' website dedicated to Mansfield Town FC
Archived News from March 2009

CLARE NO-GO, SOLDIERS INVITED TO CHEER STAGS
9th March 2009 14:20


Holdsworth: I know Stags need to add firepower
Evening Post, 03 March 2009

DAVID Holdsworth today likened his Mansfield Town side to Premier League Everton, saying both need to add to their firepower.

http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/football/Holdsworth-know-Stags-need-add-firepower/article-739879-detail/article.html

Like the Toffees, the Stags have been in impressive form of late, losing just one of their last eight games with six clean sheets.
But Holdsworth is well aware there are limitations to his side at the moment and yearns for a top-class hot-shot to lead the line.
"Everyone knows we are short of a prolific scorer up front," said Holdsworth.
"Otherwise, we are going to have to try to win 1-0 every week and I know we can't do that.
%3Cbody%3E%3Cdiv%20id%3D%22adDiv%22%3E%3CA%20HREF%3D%22http%3A//ads.anm.co.uk/ADCLICK/CID%3Dfffffffcfffffffcfffffffc/AAMSZ%3D452x118/POS%3D/SITE%3DTHISISNOTT/AREA%3DFOOTBALL/SUBAREA%3D/ARTICLE%3D739879/acc_random%3D3159502790/pageid%3D/RS%3D10484.10340.10183.10232.10236.10244.10257.10278.10281.10307.10323.10330.10331.10332.10364.10319.10419.10420.10425.10427.%22%20target%3D%22_new%22%3E%3CIMG%20SRC%3D%22http%3A//iad.anm.co.uk/anmdefaultad.gif%22%20ALT%3D%22%22%20border%3D0%20style%3D%22margin-bottom%3A%200px%3B%22%3E%3C/A%3E%3C/div%3E"I sometimes see us in Everton's mould. We are hard to break down and not the best footballing side because we haven't got that type of player.
"I think Everton's top two scorers are Cahill and Fellaini and they are their two midfielders.
"They make sure they look after what they have got but they will have to bring in the Youngs and Agbonlahors to make the difference. The same type of equation applies to us."
One player who will not be looking to add to the Stags' goal tally – before the end of the season at least – is Rushden striker Daryl Clare.
A stumbling block is thought to be Diamonds' demands for a fee – believed to be £7,500.
Holdsworth said: "I know we aren't in a position to go and spend money on a player who is only contracted to a club for another ten weeks," said Holdsworth.
Scott Gardner (thigh) and Louis Briscoe are unlikely to play any part in Mansfield's home game against Lewes on Saturday. Holdsworth estimates Briscoe will be out for another two weeks while he hopes Gardner will return to light training at the end of this week.

----------------

Clare move a no-go insists Holdsworth
CHAD.co.uk, 02 March 2009, By John Lomas

Despite more stories linking Rushden hot shot Daryl Clare with an imminent move to Field Mill, Stags manager David Holdsworth insisted it is not on the cards.
Full story at CHAD.co.uk here

Diamonds are believed to want a minimum fee of £10,000 for the striker's services and Holdsworth said: "We are not in a position where we can go out and spend money on a player who is contracted to his club for another 10 weeks, whether that be DaryADVERTISEMENTl Clare or anyone. It wouldn't be fair.

"Whoever I bring in must be financially viable and financially rewarding too.

"Too many times in the past Mansfield Town have brought players in on deals and they have stayed for five minutes and given nothing.

"I want a good return for players and thankfully there are tons of them out there who want to come. It is great being the manager here at the moment and my phone keeps ringing.

"But their profile must be correct before I will bring them here. They must be committed, honest and disciplined and a team player."
He added: "Everyone's uncle and brother knows we are short of Mr Prolific up front.

Everyone needs one to get into the play-offs and we are keen to put that right sooner or later. It is mandatory.

"You need one up in the higher echelons of the goalscoring charts or you have to try to win 1-0 every week and you can't do that. A goalscorer is always the final component of the emergence of any club.

"It's not just at our level. Look at the big clubs. Look at Arsenal. Their problem is they haven't scored for four games. That's what they are missing at the moment.

"I think we are very similar in our make-up to that at Everton where the top two scorers are midfield players. They need that bit more too.

"But I admire the way David Moyes is going about things there. You look after what you have got. They are hard to beat and industrious."

-----------

Stags' Holdsworth rules out Clare loan deal
Evening Post, 02 March 2009
Mansfield manager David Holdsworth today rubbished claims he is about to sign Rushden striker Daryl Clare on loan until the end of the season.
Full story at Evening Post website here

It has been reported over the weekend that the former Boston and Burton sharpshooter was set to agree a deal at Field Mill.

Holdsworth has made no secret of the fact he has enquired about the well-travelled hitman.

But a stumbling block is thought to be Diamonds' demands for a fee – believed to be £7,500 – even though the player's contract expires in the summer.

“I don't think we are in a position, in fact I know we aren't, to go and spend money on a player who is only contracted to a club for another 10 weeks,” said Holdsworth.

“That is true whether it be Daryl Clare or anyone else and whenever we bring players here now it must be financially viable and rewarding for us.”

Holdsworth is determined to ensure that from now on Mansfield get value for money from any new players brought in.

He said: “There have been too many times before where this club has lost out in deals, where players have stayed for five months and given us nothing.

“There are tonnes of players who want to come here and it's great that the phone is ringing.

“I want a return from my players and I know there profile must be correct.

“That is my responsibility and I enjoy it. The type of player I want is committed, honest, disciplined and certainly a team player.”

Scott Gardner (thigh) and Louis Briscoe are unlikely to play and part in Mansfield's home game against Lewes on Saturday.

Holdsworth estimates Briscoe will be out for another two weeks while he hopes Gardner will return to light training at the end of this week.

----------------

Holdsworth calls for reality check for Lewes visit
CHAD.co.uk, 02 March 2009, By John Lomas
Stags fans have been warned not to expect a cricket score when bottom club Lewes visit Field Mill on Saturday.
Full story at CHAD.co.uk here

Anticipation is high after the Stags' recent run of one defeat in eight and Lewes have just lost 12 BSP games on the trot, including 1-0 at home to Stags.

But Holdsworth warned: "Let's be honest, we are now expected to win on Saturday. I know exactly what the fans are thinking - we will beat Lewes by five goals. But it's time for a reality check.

"Yes I want to win. One old gentleman has already stopped me, put down his walking stick, congratulated me on Saturday's result and then told me to win 5-0 on Saturday. I told him to go home, have a beer and watch Neighbours and relax. One step at a time.

"I want to beat everyone, of course I do. But I will take a 1-0 on Saturday now.

"Lewes have had a tough time and I feel for their manager. He is having a very hard time. But eight weeks ago this would have been a relegation battle so we have come a long way and that means me and my players are doing something right.

"But I will not be going out gung-ho to win 5-0 on Saturday - though I would be delighted if we did win by five.

"Football has a habit of smashing you in the teeth if you show any looseness. You let your guard down as a manager and you end up with apple crumble round your mouth! There are no easy games and I still keep getting grey hairs."

He added: "I would say to our fans, please come out and support us this weekend. The supporters at Rushden were absolutely outstanding and we were all one big happy family which is not something you can create overnight."

Stags will have little time to recover from the Lewes game before they head off on their third away match in four games with a trip to third-placed Cambridge United, who are unbeaten in six games, on Tuesday.

"The tight schedule begins this week with a midweek game so it will be a case of managing rest days, ice baths and recovery sessions," he added.

Louis Briscoe will be out for another two to three weeks with his back injury while Scott Gardner will return to light training this week after a hamstring strain but needs a reserve outing before he returns to the squad.

------------

Hard summer ahead for Stags players
CHAD.co.uk, 02 March 2009, By John Lomas

The Mansfield Town squad face a tough summer as David Holdsworth plots his path to success next season.
Full story at CHAD.co.uk here

"I want every player's body fat down to 10 per cent for pre-season, that goes for whoever I bring in - unless I sign Mr Blobby," he said.

"I have started planning pre-season and it will be a culture of professionalism. Those that buy into it will stay and I will help them.

"Our fitness levels have already improved 25 per cent since I came here which is pleasing. Success comes from hard work and being organised - that's a no-brainer. But there is still a lot of work to be done."

---------------

Boss says - give the credit to the players
CHAD.co.uk, 02 March 2009, By John Lomas

STAGS boss David Holdsworth insisted his players should be getting the credit for their current run of superb form.
Full story at CHAD.co.uk here

Saturday's 1-0 win at Rushden made it five wins and two draws in his eight games in charge, including six clean sheets.

But he insisted: "It is the players who should be getting the credit. They are working their socks off and the togetherness on Saturday was absolutely outstanding.

"The team spirit was phenomenal both on the pitch and in the stand where those not playing were the first on their feet when we scored.

"That is fantastic to see as a manager and I would have loved to be the leader in there as a player. There were so many happy faces. I had a great Saturday night and Sunday with my family.

He added: "The boys are very, very motivated and they are flying at the moment. There is no better feeling."

"We proved there was no hangover from that defeat at Oxford. You pick people up again. But it's not about me. My job is to make sure they are organised and give them a belief and motivate them. But they are the ones who have to go out there and produce.

"If you could bottle our team spirit at the moment it would be very expensive!"

------------------

Soldiers invited to cheer on Stags
Evening Post, 02 March 2009
Mansfield Town have invited local soldiers from the Mercian Regiment to attend their next home match against Lewes for free.
Full story at Evening Post website here

The Mansfield and Ashfield-based serviceman will soon fly out to Afghanistan and the club want to send them off in style.

More than 50 troops and their partners have confirmed that they will come to Saturday's game at Field Mill.

A Stags representative and the regiment's senior officer will make a pitch-side introduction prior to kick off, accompanied by two soldiers in ceremonial dress.

Mansfield chairman Andrew Perry: “We are delighted to host the Mansfield soldiers for our next home match and we hope to launch initiatives which will enable more soldiers and their partners to come to future home matches.”

“We hope they all enjoy their day with us and we wish them a safe journey to Afghanistan.”

---------------

 

Latest | March 2009