Archived News from December 2016
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EVANS VERY CLOSE ON DECISIONS ON PLAYERS
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Boss finalising player decisions with signings on horizon
mansfieldtown.net, 20th December 2016 Stags’ boss Steve Evans says he is ‘close’ to deciding which members of his squad will play a part in the second half of the League Two campaign with the January transfer window looming ever closer. The manager revealed at last week’s ‘Christmas with Steve Evans’ event in the 1861 Suite at One Call Stadium that he had clinched a deal to sign two players once the January transfer window opens. And Stags’ chief Evans says he has almost decided in which areas he needs to improve most, but admits that the Christmas double-header against Morecambe and Doncaster Rovers gives his players a late opportunity to make their mark. “I think now we’re getting very close to decisions being made. Of course, football is the type of match where someone on Boxing Day or someone on New Year’s Eve can change that whole picture,” the manager said. Read more at http://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/article/2016-17/boss-finalising-player-decisions-with-signings-on-horizon-3479668.aspx#doky89Opc7GGrtZu.99 “We’ve worked very closely with the players, almost living and breathing with them over the four weeks, myself and Paul (Raynor) and Lee (Taylor), so from that point of view, I think we’re very close on decisions. “The chairman (John Radford) is very aware of my thoughts on an ongoing basis, as is the chief executive (Carolyn Radford) - I speak to them most, if not every day and they know my clarity of thought.” The former Leeds United boss says he is speaking to further players in addition to the two who have already agreed to join the club and is looking to add to an already strong core of players at One Call Stadium. “We’ve signed two and we’re deep in conversations with two or three more. It’s not going to be seven and eight and nine players, it would be impossible to make those kinds of decisions. “There’s a lot of talented players in our dressing room and when you’re a very talented player, you need other talented players in certain positions to be with you. The bulk of the squad is obviously going to stay, we want to work with them, we think they’ve got plenty to offer. “I’ve got to produce a team on the pitch that does these supporters, our chairman and CEO and board of directors justice.” Looking ahead to 2017, the Stags’ boss says his aim is to be within six points of the play-offs after the conclusion of the festive trio of games against Morecambe, Doncaster Rovers and Blackpool. “If you take the three matches, we’ve got two at the One Call against Morecambe and Doncaster Rovers, the league-leaders respectively, then we make the journey up on New Year’s Day to play on the second at Blackpool - we have to be within six points of the play-offs at the end of those three games. “If we’re within six points of the play-offs, it’s going to be interesting in the second half of the season. “I obviously know in my head what I’m planning to do [in the second half of the season]. Mr Radford and Mrs Radford are, to date, backing those plans and know what we’re trying to do, and it excites me really because we could be so much better and a better team to watch.” Supporters can watch Steve Evans' news conference, in full, on Stags PlayerHD. ------------------ Evans keen to see Stags hit the ground running in 2017 chad.co.uk, Tuesday 20 December 2016 Steve Evans says he wants Mansfield Town to emerge from a testing festive period within touching distance of the play-off places. The Stags face two home games before the year is out and then a trip to Blackpool for the opening fixure of 2017, looking to arrest a run of three league matches without a win. They remain just five points outside the play-offs despite being in 17th position in what is again proving a very tight League Two, and Evans doesn’t want to see that gap widen. He said: “We face Morecambe and Doncaster at home and then Blackpool away, and frankly we must make sure we’re within six points of the play-off zone at the end of that spell. Read more at: http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/evans-keen-to-see-stags-hit-the-ground-running-in-2017-1-8298915 “If we can achieve that it will be an interesting second half of the season. I know what I want to do and the chairman and CEO here are backing that, and it excites me because we can be so much better and be a much more exciting team to watch next year.” Boxing Day’s opponents Morecambe lie just two places and three points below Mansfield in the table with a game in hand, and Evans knows they are highly capable of beating his men if Stags aren’t at their best. He said: “They’re unpredictable. Jim Bentley has done a staggeringly good job there in the circumstances he’s faced at times. They’re capable of beating the leaders or losing to the bottom side, as we can be too, but they have lots of winners in their team and a manager who wears his heart on his sleeve.” Reflecting on his first few weeks in charge of the Stags, Evans said: “It’s been enjoyable so far, and also heartwarming given the response I’ve had from people in the town. I’m tired, given the amount of work and analysis we’re putting in, but hopefully it’ll all be to the benefit of Mansfield Town.” “Parts of two games weren’t good enough, namely the first half-an-hour against Exeter on Saturday and also a third of the game at Carlisle in the league. “The performances in those spells were unacceptable in any shape or form, but the days have gone where you just hammer the players and shout at them, it’s about educating them and working with them in house to put things right. In other games we’ve done well, particularly the wins over Crawley and Blackpool and being unlucky not to beat Colchester.” Two as yet unnamed new signings look set to be annoucned once the transfer window reopens, with Evans adding: “We need to make sure that in the second-half of the season we’re much stronger. “We’re getting very close to deciding what personnel need to change, although we’re at a time of year where someone having a good couple of games over Christmas can change that whole picture. “We’ve worked very closely with the players for four weeks and the chairman and CEO talk to us regularly so we know how we’re all thinking. We’re deep in conversations with two or three more players although we won’t be bringing in huge numbers. “The new faces have lots of quality and are dependable. Fans will be able to judge them with their own eyes and I think they’ll be pleased with what they see.” ---------------- Steve Evans quotes: "We'd hope to unveil the players on 1st January or maybe a day or two before. “We’ve signed two and we’re deep in conversations with two or three more. It’s not going to be seven and eight and nine players, it would be impossible to make those kinds of decisions. "People telling me you can't do what you did at Rotherham. We'll see..." -------------- |
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