Archived News from April 2015
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MURRAY TO EXPERIMENT IN FINAL GAMES
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Gaffer aims for enthusiastic finish
mansfieldtown.net, 23rd April 2015 Boss wants team that play in final two games to make fans feel proud. Read more at http://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/article/gaffer-aims-for-enthusiastic-finish-2419177.aspx#3HlUHxZK4zKAaHDE.99 Manager Adam Murray has hinted that he will field teams that will aim to make supporters feel proud in the final two games of this season. Mid-table Portsmouth visit One Call Stadium for the final game of the campaign in North Nottinghamshire on Saturday, before our team make the trip to Accrington Stanley on the last day. “I’m going to pick two teams [for the games against Portsmouth and Accrington Stanley] that I want to represent the football club in a way that when people walk out the ground, they are proud of them,” said Murray. “I’m going to pick two teams that go out there and want to show an enthusiasm to play for Mansfield Town. We’ll be looking at certain things and we’ll be experimenting with certain things. “When I walk across the pitch at full-time, I want to see a team or individuals that are moving forward. Certain people have had their chance and it’s time for others now to build on and show what they’re about.” Murray has hinted that some young players, such as Liam Marsden, Corbin Shires and Joe Fitzpatrick, could play a part before the end of the season. He continued: “It would be nice to give these boys some minutes and more importantly the experience. We’ve got two tough games which they’ll get a lot from. They’ll be able to test themselves, we’ll be able to look at them in different formations and different areas of the pitch which will be good for us. “That’s the nice things of going into these two games. We can allow them the freedom to go and play.” Although our boss is keen for our team to end the season strongly and improve their league position, he admits that plans are already underway for the 2015/16 campaign in Sky Bet League Two. “The preparations and the planning, because there is so much to do for next season, has already begun,” said Murray. “We’ve still got two games to go and I want to see certain things. There are still six points to play for and a chance to put points on the board and when there is a game of football to be played, I want to win it.” He added: “But plans and preparations are being started for the whole reason that there is going to be so much to do over the summer. It’s important we get started as quickly as possible because we don’t want to miss the train with certain things.” ---------------- time as Stags boss Murray plans for the future chad.co.uk, by John Lomas, Thursday 23 April 2015 Mansfield Town manager Adam Murray said he will use the last two League Two games to experiment ahead of Saturday’s final home game against Portsmouth. http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/mansfield-town/experiment-time-as-stags-boss-murray-plans-for-the-future-1-7225067 He also said he has meetings planned with chairman John Radford and the board this week to discuss next season when he promised fans they will see an Adam Murray team that they can be proud of. Youngsters Liam Marsden, Jack Thomas and Joe Fitzpatrick are all expected to add their minutes played this Saturday while we could also see a debut for defender Corbin Shires. Striker Dan Fletcher, who has already been blooded, is away on loan with Carlton Town but will be back in time for next week’s final game at Accrington. “The preparation and planning for next season has started already and I am looking forward to it,” said Murray. “But we have two games to go and there are still six points to play for. While ever there are points to put on the board and a game of football, I want to go out there and win it. “There is so much to do, it’s important we get started as quickly as possible as we don’t want to miss the train on certain things. “I will pick two teams I want to represent the football club in a manner that people will walk out the ground feeling proud of. It will be two teams that will show enthusiasm to play for Mansfield Town and I can experiment with certain things. “I have a blank canvas so I can now start being the manager I want to be. I have a couple of meetings with the board and chairman this week. I want them to know how I see this going and put out a product that is me. “I don’t want to be in this job if people can’t see Adam Murray out there in the team I field. “Actions speak louder than words and people have heard too many words this season. There has been a lot of talk and a lot of reasons and they feel like excuses. If I was a fan I would be bored of talking. “I want to put the hard work in now behind the scenes as I want my actions to speak. Hopefully I will get the ingredients and be allowed to do what I want to do and people will see what type of manager I am. “Certain individuals have had their chance. It’s time for other people to build on and show what they are about.” On the youngsters, he added: “Liam has not had much chance this season as our defending has been quite fragile and it would not have been fair to put that pressure on him. “Joe has shown again what a talent he is and we’ve all seen what Jack is about. It will be nice to give these boys some minutes and the experience. “We have two tough games in which they will be able to test themselves and I can use them in different formations and different areas of the pitch. We can allow them the freedom to go and play. They can express themselves without the anxiety and pressure of recent weeks. “It will be nice on Saturday for fans to be able to breath a sigh of relief, look at our prospects and see them taking this place forward.” Despite criticism for saying it, Murray again today reiterated that he believed this season had been a successful one as his target of avoiding relegation had been achieved. “I know people have lost their heads because I said the season has been a success, but I had only one target when I took the job,” he said. “As a group we have achieved that. But there’s always some people who expect us to win every game. “When you are down there it gets tough. Clubs below us have changed managers and got experienced managers in, but they are struggling. When you are down there everything kicks you in the so and so’s. “So this has been an achievement for us. People must understand what our target was - not promotion or the play-offs. It was staying in the League. “It could have been a make or break scenario being my first job. But it was a risk I was willing to take. “It’s a season I’d like to wipe off. It’s been horrible, it’s been horrendous, the worst four or five months of my life. “I have put an enormous amount of pressure on myself as I didn’t want to let the football club down. Because I am so close to the club, the thought of letting it down kills me. “The lessons I have learned on the football side of it, the individual side of it and the environment side of it have been huge. “I think I could have played for a couple more years. Instead I’ve been thrown in at the deep end and I am grateful for that as what I’ve learned could have taken me a couple of years had I gone into a mid-table job. “I have got more wrinkles and if I grow my hair there is more grey in it, so I have to keep shaving it off.” Stags’ safety was assured last weekend, despite a lacklustre display in the 3-1 defeat at Cambridge, which left Murray and his side not knowing whether to laugh or cry. “There were a lot of mixed feelings,” admitted Murray. “I was angry at the performance, but there was a sweet feeling that would be in the Football League next year, which was the target we had set. So it was a weird feeling. “Saturday was nothing new. If it had been a bolt from the blue then you would probably accept it. But it’s been a common theme with this group. They’ve put in some great performances and then the next games are below par. They’ve done it a number of times this season like the Luton and Oxford games. It’s why we are where we are in the League. “A lot of things need changing, I’ve known that for a long time, and they will be addressed. At the same time, as much as people don’t want to, you have to give this group of players credit for keeping this club in the Football League.” ------------------ Adam Murray: Mansfield Town manager set to sign new contract Mansfield Town manager Adam Murray has said he expects to sign a new contract with the League Two club. Murray, 33, became the youngest boss in the Football League when he was appointed player-manager in December . The Stags are currently 21st in the league, with six losses in their last seven games, but safe from relegation. "I've had a couple of chats with the chairman and hopefully it'll be sorted out within the next few days," Murray told BBC Radio Nottingham. read more at http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/32430151 "I'm hoping it'll get done as soon as possible so everybody can put closure on it and we know where we're going." Murray has also made 16 appearances for the club as a player this season. -------------- Winger Brown wants to stay a Stag next season chad.co.uk, by John Lomas Junior Brown is hoping to be part of the Adam Murray revolution next season. http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/mansfield-town/winger-brown-wants-to-stay-a-stag-next-season-1-7225614?utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitterfeed The winger joined on loan from Oxford last November and his exciting early performances quickly earned him a permanent move to the end of the season in the January window. Brown, who has just come back from a four-game ban, said ahead of tomorrow’s visit of Portsmouth: “I settled in here quite quickly. Knowing several of the players made it quite easy. “I have enjoyed my time here and we will have to see what happens with regard to next season. “It’s difficult this time of the season as everything is up in the air contract-wise and where you are going to be playing. But as a player you accept that and have to deal with it. You have to keep working hard and putting in performances to get something here or somewhere else. “With the fans, the lads and the staff, it would be nice to stay here, but it’s not down to me. “My decision isn’t the deciding factor. That will be down to the gaffer and the board. I will just try putting in performances that will try to sway their decision in my favour. “We are all fighting for our futures. You have to keep working hard and show the staff you are committed to the cause and that we want to be here next season. “Six points from these last two games would stand players in good stead to maybe earn another contract here. “It’s a big day for us, being the final home game of the season. We need to put in a big performance and sign off with a good result. “Portsmouth have had a difficult season. At the start you’d have expected them to be in and around the top spots. But you can’t take anything for granted and maybe they have done at times. We just have to focus on ourselves and put in a good performance for the fans and ourselves.” Does Brown believe that, with the club now being safe, they can express themselves more tomorrow without the pressures of relegation worries? “You’d like to think so,” he said. But the pressure wasn’t on last Saturday and we didn’t perform. We have to work hard and, if we do, good things will come. “It was frustrating at Cambridge, having performed so well on the Tuesday. But that physically and mentally took a lot out of the lads. “On Saturday we didn’t really give a good account of ourselves which was disappointing. “But we still have two games left, six points to play for, and it would be nice to finish the season well. “We have found it tough at times. This is a work in progress with a new manager and a new group of players. The focus now is on getting it right next season. “We go into these games hoping to get six points and working hard to the end of the season.” On his four-game ban, for a red card at Hartlepool, he added: “It was annoying not being involved, working hard in training and not being in the thick of it come the weekend. “I just kept working hard, came back in (against Tranmere) and we got a valuable win we needed in difficult circumstances. “My hamstring had been irritating me which wasn’t helping get the best out of my performances. So in a way it was a godsend to miss four games, which was valuable rest and recovery time. “But a lot of players play on with niggles at the end of the season. It’s part and parcel of the game. You do what you have to do for the team.” ------------------ WADDOCK: FANS DESERVE A PERFORMANCE image: http://www.portsmouthfc.co.uk/cms_images/waddslead522-2421107_478x359.jpg PUBLISHED 24th April 2015 by Neil Weld Boss looks ahead to Mansfield trip We’ll remain professional in our approach and make sure we play to a decent standard" Gary Waddock Just two victories in 22 matches. Read more at http://www.portsmouthfc.co.uk/news/article/gary-waddock-on-mansfield-town-v-portsmouth-in-sky-bet-league-2-2421121.aspx#tPx20UkuGQcUFBS7.99 That is all Pompey have to show from their efforts on the road in League Two this season. They have one last chance to build on that with a trip to face Mansfield - another side guaranteed to play fourth tier football next term - this weekend. And Gary Waddock is hopeful his troops can send the large travelling contingent home with smiles on their faces. The caretaker Blues boss said: “We’ve got our pride and we’re representing this fantastic football club. We also owe it to the supporters to give it our all. “I’ve been very impressed with the number of fans that go to away games - it’s amazing really. “We’d like to get a result for them because our form on the road hasn’t been the best and we want to put it right at Mansfield. “I’ve been encouraged by the way we’ve played in our last couple of games, but we haven’t been rewarded for that and I’d like that to change. “Once these two games are finished then the players can think about switching off and going on holiday. “Until that point we’ll remain professional in our approach and make sure we play to a decent standard.” Nyron Nosworthy has been added to Pompey’s long injury list after suffering a hamstring injury in last week’s defeat to Bury, but James Dunne could feature after returning to training. Waddock said: “We’ve got a lot of players out at the moment and couldn’t fill the bench last Saturday. “We’ll have a look at James Dunne to see if there was any reaction to him returning to training and then go with the lads who are fit and available.” ---------------------- |
Latest | April 2015