Archived News from November 2014
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CONCORD PREVIEWS / HOPE TO KEEP OLIVER
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Murray remains grounded ahead of Concord cup tie
mansfieldtown.net, 24th November 2014 Caretaker boss Adam Murray is remaining level-headed ahead of tomorrow’s FA Cup First Round replay at Concord Rangers, despite an impressive display from our side against Plymouth Argyle on Saturday. Read more at http://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/article/stags-hoping-to-extend-oliver-loan-2101076.aspx#3XwvKOu64lGHXW08.99 After Paul Cox parted company with the club less than 24 hours earlier, our side defied the odds to breach the tightest defence in the Football League and pick up an important three points. Despite the pleasing victory, however, Murray isn’t getting carried away and is anticipating a tough encounter when we head to the tiny Aspect Arena tomorrow night. The Vanarama South outfit, who usually average attendances of about 250 spectators, expect a big crowd for the clash and our caretaker chief is well aware that their players will be fired up. He said: “It’ll be a tough game. We had them watched again on Saturday and I think as we saw here, they’ll have a lot of spirit and a lot of desire and work ethic to get a result. “Coupled with that they’ve got good ability in the team, so we’ll go there knowing everything that the tie is going to involve - not just football-wise, because when you have an away game, especially in the FA Cup, it’s always going to be tricky. “We’ve seen already this season that there have been a couple of hiccups. We’ll make sure that these boys are prepared and we’ll do our best.” Meanwhile, striker Vadaine Oliver could extend his loan spell with us following ‘positive’ negotiations with his parent club, Crewe Alexandra. The 23-year-old, whose loan expires today, scored the only goal in Saturday’s win and has made three appearances for us over the past month. “We’ve spoken to Crewe already and the talks we’ve had have been positive,” continued Murray. “We’ve just got to touch base with Vadaine today and we’ll see where he wants to go with it. The decision will be his, but we’d like to keep him if it’s possible.” Our caretaker chief hasn’t ruled out further player movement before the window for loan deals closes on Thursday. He added: “Hopefully, there will be a little bit of movement. I don’t think these last few days could have been more hectic, obviously with the build up to Saturday, the planning and the preparation for Tuesday, then with the loan window closing it’s a jam packed few days. “The way I’m looking at things I’d like to bring in at least another attacking option.” A full interview from Adam Murray’s press meeting will be available on Stags Player later today. To subscribe, click here. ------------------ Hectic week ahead as Murray ponders Stags job chad.co.uk, 24 November 2014 After a whirlwind weekend, Mansfield Town caretaker manager Adam Murray faces a hectic week in which he admits he will have little time to consider his long term future. http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/mansfield-town/hectic-week-ahead-as-murray-ponders-stags-job-1-6968855 Murray was pitched into the hot seat on Friday night after manager Paul Cox decided to leave the club, and enjoyed a superb opening 1-0 win over Plymouth a day later. Now he faces a tricky FA Cup first round replay at Conference South Concord Rangers tomorrow night, a chase on to extend Vadaine Oliver’s loan from Crewe, which expired today, and a race to bring in two more players - a striker and a winger - before Thursday night’s loan transfer deadline. Then there is the small matter of a trip to League Two leaders Luton Town on Saturday. Club legend Murray, on his third spell with Mansfield, would be a popular choice with supporters as the new manager and is the bookies’ favourite. “Just when I thought the last five days couldn’t get any more hectic, we have the loan deadline as well,” he smiled. “It’s been a jam-packed few days. “I hope we have a bit of movement before Thursday night. I would like to bring another attacking option into the building. The chairman has been really positive about it. “We do have good attacking options already been but I think we need more. “Probably another area, if possible, would be an out-and-out winger. “We have a number of lads here already on loan and we have a lot of defensive options. Now we have changed the system, we are overloaded in that area, but I can’t do anything about that. It’s already done.” On keeping Oliver, he said: “I have spoken to Crewe and the talks we had were positive. Now I have go to speak to the player and see where he wants to go with it. The decision is his, but we’d like to keep him here if possible. “I know Vadaine was over the moon with Saturday, now it’s just if a club from a higher league comes in for him.” After Tuesday’s 1-1 home draw with Concord, Murray knows the size of the banana skin they have to get past tomorrow on Canvey Island. “It will be a tough one,” he said. “We had them watched again on Saturday and, as we saw here, they have a lot of spirit, desire and work ethic. “It will be tricky down there and not just football-wise. Away games in the FA Cup are always tricky and we’ve already seen a few hiccups this season. We must make sure the boys are prepared. “I just hope we bounce on from Saturday with the same enthusiasm and energy. I want us to be positive and make things happen. We need to go on the front foot and have a right go at them.” Murray was delighted by the response of the players to his first game in charge in which he had Stags back to playing football on the floor with width. “I wasn’t really surprised by Saturday’s performance. I was a case of just getting some belief into the boys in the short amount of time we had,” he said. “I have been with them for a while and I am well aware of their ability. The big thing was getting them to work together and they did themselves proud. “There is no chance of me getting carried away by one performance. But there is no hiding that it was everything we could have asked for. There was endeavour, desire and bravery, which was a big thing for us. We showed ability and courage on the ball and dictated the game.” With applications flowing into the club, Murray knows he will need to make time as soon as possible to decide if he will throw his hat in the ring too. “I would imagine every man and his dog are in for it - it’s a great job,” he said “But I am not concerned about that. It doesn’t affect what I am doing. “It’s a massive decision for both me and the club. “I am not getting caught up with one great result and think it will be like that every week. “I need to make a decision where I want to go with my career and I won’t make that yet. The focus has to be on making sure the boys are right and understand what we are about.” With his reluctance to end his playing days at 33, Murray knows a player-manager role could be an option. But he said: “It hasn’t been discussed and I’ve not thought about it to be honest. “I still enjoy playing and have been happy with my personal performances. But, with everything that’s happened, I have not had time to reflect on my own personal circumstances.” Stags have no new injury worries for once and even had better news on midfielder Jamie McGuire. His knee injury was initially expected to keep him out for four to six weeks but has improved and is now looking more like two to three weeks. ----------------- |
Latest | November 2014