Archived News from January 2017
|
EVANS ON REDSHAW / TAFT / U21 PREVIEW
|
 |
|
Senior players to appear for under 21s
mansfieldtown.net, 16th January 2017 Stags’ boss Steve Evans says Mansfield Town will field a strong side in tomorrow’s Central League Cup clash against local rivals Notts County. After Saturday’s Sky Bet League Two fixture ended in stalemate at Meadow Lane, the two sides will meet again tomorrow at Kirklington Road, the home of Rainworth Miners Welfare (2.00pm kick-off). The boss has always said that the under 21s’ side presents the perfect opportunity for members of the first team squad to acquire competitive game-time and he says that a number of senior pros will be part of Mike Whitlow’s squad for tomorrow’s game. Speaking to the local press at this morning’s news conference, the gaffer revealed that the likes of goalkeeper Scott Shearer, midfielders Jamie McGuire, Jack Thomas, Kevan Hurst and Ashley Hemmings, and forwards Danny Rose and Pat Hoban will all be included in the squad for the game against the Magpies. “I think if I didn’t use it I would have been telling the Mansfield Town fans ‘porkie pies’ when I walked in because they’ve not been allowed to play,” the Stags’ gaffer said. Read more at http://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/article/2016-17/stags-to-send-strong-side-to-face-magpies-3523027.aspx#YceJGW9SfvKM7MIE.99 “I wouldn’t go as far to say it’s the strongest ever Mansfield Town team in a reserve fixture but it will be strong. “The days are gone where these people get told they don’t need to play in the under 21s games and try to get into the starting XI on a Saturday, that’s why they’re there. “If there are any Stags’ fans around, get yourselves up to Rainworth for 2 o’clock. It’ll be a good line-up but that doesn’t mean you win, of course. “It doesn’t matter what team the opposition send, it’ll be a competitive game but we’re asking players to go out and work extremely hard and get the benefits when it comes to picking a team on Saturday.” The Stags’ chief says he is still working hard to bring players in to improve his squad and revealed that a move to bring Blackpool forward Jack Redshaw to the club fell through at the last minute. “We tried to do something with Jack last week and they tried to do something with one of ours. It was almost getting near to being done and it never got across the line but we’ve not revisited that this morning. “We’ve tried to do a number of players, we’re trying to do a number of players in different positions, it’s not just in a front area of the pitch. “We’re trying all the options. When someone says perhaps it’s not right to do a permanent, why can’t it be a loan? Then if you see the progress and how we do things here as a football club, you may wish to make it a permanent. “So we’ve had all sorts of discussions, but the nice thing is, we’re starting to be able to get players in that, dare I say it, perhaps wouldn’t be here at the start of the season.” Defender George Taft has been sidelined since mid-September with a hamstring injury and the manager today provided an update on how his recovery is progressing. “We’re probably talking maybe a month to see him back in contention for the first team. “Obviously with Lee Taylor (fitness and rehabilitation coach) coming in and working him so hard, he’s quickly advanced in terms of his recovery and his recuperation is speeding up, which is great. I look forward to working with him. “When I saw him at Burton I always thought he was a talented boy; big, strong and aggressive. He’s a lovely kid as well, he’s working so hard behind-the-scenes." Supporters can view manager Steve Evans' news conference by logging into Stags PlayerHD. ------------------ Stags hoping on new face tomorrow chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS, Monday 16 January 2017 Mansfield Town hope they might bring in another new player as early as tomorrow - and that could rise to three by the weekend. Boss Steve Evans also confirmed today that he almost signed Blackpool forward Jack Redshaw late last week - a deal that is not yet dead. Evans, who has now brought in five new faces this month, said: “I’ve not been off the phone since Saturday evening. I’m quite a sad individual. “On Saturday evenings when people are enjoying time with their family, my family just have to put up with the fact that I am on the phone, texting and ringing. “But hopefully we will have some joy by the morning. “We are literally waiting on three clubs getting back to us. “There is one loan and possibly two permanents or two loans and a permanent. One of the loans could became a permanent. We are trying all the options. Read more at: http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/stags-hoping-on-new-face-tomorrow-1-8337431 “The nice thing is we are starting to be able to get players in that, dare I say it, perhaps wouldn’t have come here in the early part of the season.” On a possible deal with Blackpool for 26-year-old Redshaw, he said: “We tried to do something with Jack last week. “They tried to do something with one of ours and it was near to being done, but never got across the line. “There were different conversations about Jack, one was a permanent, one was a loan and was a loan with a view. “It didn’t work out because there was another deal with someone else perhaps going in the direction of Blackpool and we couldn’t get it done. “But we were really up against the timeline. We were ready late morning on Friday and the chances are that if Jack had joined us then he would have been sat up in the stand watching it anyway. “We like, as a minimum, two or three (training) sessions unless for team reasons we need to put someone in like we did with Hayden White on Saturday. “It’s not dead. But we have not not revisited that this morning. (There are other players we are trying to get in.) We are trying to sort a number of players in different positions, not just in the front area of the pitch.” He added: “We have four good strikers though my good friend Neil Warnock I think had 10 at Sheffield United. I think John Radford may say you’re not getting 10, I might get five or six of them! “There’s nothing in every area of the pitch that makes players step up their quality of performance than competition for places - much better than a manager screaming on a training ground. “I will always pick the team honestly, no matter if I cuddle you on a Saturday and you score me a last minute winner. If you deserve to be on the bench next game you’re on the bench.” ---------------------- Stags boss promises strong reserves side for County rematch chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS, Monday 16 January 2017 Mansfield Town boss Steve Evans will keep his promise to play strong sides in the club’s reserve fixtures, starting tomorrow with a rematch against Notts County in the Central League at Rainworth MW (2pm). When Evans took over, he found previous boss Adam Murray had tried to use the Central League fixtures as U21 fixtures to try to bring on the club’s younger players. However, Evans immediately said he would be sending out much stronger sides to keep fringe players sharp while still giving youngsters a chance when possible., “If I didn’t use this game for our fringe players tomorrow I would have been telling the Mansfield Town fans porky pies when I walked in,” he said. Read more at: http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/stags-boss-promises-strong-reserves-side-for-county-rematch-1-8337333 “Players have not been allowed to play when they’ve wanted to play. “I won’t go as far as to say it will be the strongest Mansfield Town team ever in a reserve fixture, but it will be strong. I can say players like Shearer, McGuire, Thomas, Hemmings, Hurst, Hoban, and Danny Rose will play.” He added: “The days are gone when these people get told they don’t need to play in the U21s games to try to get into the starting XI on a Saturday. That’s why they are there. “So if there are any Stags fans around, get yourself up to Rainworth for 2pm and it will be a good line-up. “It will be a competitive game and we are asking players to go out and work extremely hard and get the benefits when it comes to picking the team on Saturday.” ------------------- Stags boss Evans tipping rivals Cambridge for play-off spot chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS Mansfield Town will try to extend their unbeaten run to six games at resurgent Cambridge United on Saturday (3pm) with Stags boss Steve Evans already tipping the U’s for a play-off spot. But Evans has urged his men to stay with the pace while he completes his January transformation of the team, particularly in the current tough run of three away League games out of four. After a dire start to the campaign, Shaun Derry’s side are one point and one place outside the play-off zone and Evans said: “We know Saturday is going to be extremely tough. “We are going down to face a team that I think will finish in the play-offs. “They did take Leeds United apart for 60 minutes in a cup tie and I know the quality that is at Elland Road. Read more at: http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/stags-boss-evans-tipping-rivals-cambridge-for-play-off-spot-1-8338883 “So we are coming up against an opposition that’s certainly going to be up there. “We’ve been to Notts County, we go down to Cambridge, we come home to Leyton Orient and then go away to Barnet, so there are three away games out of four. “I know it levels itself out, but at this difficult time of the year as it gets towards the third week in January, it’s a key period in the season. “So we need to retain that five or six point gap to the play-off places as a minimum and then see how February, March and April go.” He added: “What I do know is that we will be much better as every week of the season goes past because we have signed players to help the group and a lot of players I have inherited are starting to stand up and produce real good performances, Rhys Bennett being a great example. “The objective is to make sure we are getting something from most, if not every, game. That point on Saturday, as much as we are disappointed and think we’ve left two behind, could be vital come the early part of May.” Evans felt the two dropped points in the derby at Notts County last weekend were down to players letting the occasion get to them. “Unfortunately we played with our hearts,” he said. “When you go into a derby situation you have to play with your heads as well. I don’t think we did that enough. “Having said that the opposition didn’t have a shot on target in 95 minutes and we missed two clear-cut chances in the second half. “Yoann Arquin should have scored at the far stick and Paddy Hoban should have scored with the last kick of the game. It’s a big miss when you look at it back. “The stats from the last four games state we are doing something right in the defensive area of the pitch, though we’ve still got a long way to go. “We rode our luck a bit in a couple of those games not to concede, so we won’t kid ourselves we’ve achieved something there. “But every player old and new are working so hard on the training ground. “Maybe, dare I say, drawing away from home in the past, they’d have said let’s be happy with a point on the road. But I think there were a lot of players who knew we’d come up a little bit short on Saturday. “They knew on Saturday. There was a real quiet eeriness in the dressing room on Saturday.” ------------------- Stags players set to go out on loan chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS Three or four current Mansfield Town players could be heading out on loan following enquires from other clubs - but boss Steve Evans won’t let anyone go until he has brought in adequate cover. Evans has already brought five new faces into the club and is hoping for three more - possibly one later today. Last week he revealed he had turned down two bids to buy winger CJ Hamilton, who is currently in the first XI. Evans smiled: “No one would be bidding for CJ after Saturday would they? I think it was a bit much for the young man. But he is a terrific talent. Read more at: http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/stags-players-set-to-go-out-on-loan-1-8337898 “But we have had a couple of people come on to take players on loan and we are just assessing our options now. “As I said last week, it’s a bit of a chain reaction while we are trying to get players. “Whether it be a written offer to buy them or whether it be to take their contracts on or bring them in on loan, sometimes if we are going higher levels we are in a little bit of a chain. “Can the manager afford to let that player out in respect of has he got cover? Is he waiting to sign someone himself? “So the three or four we’ve had offers in to take certain players on loan, our answer has been yes, we can possibly do that. But we need to get in who we want first.” ------------------ Taft nearing Stags return chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS Central defender George Taft is around four weeks away from a Mansfield Town comeback after injury. The summer signing from Burton Albion played just seven games for the club before his hamstring went against Barnet on 10th September. “We are probably talking maybe a month to see him back in contention for the first team,” said manager Steve Evans. Read more at: http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/taft-nearing-stags-return-1-8337888 “Obviously with Lee Taylor coming in and working him so hard, he has quickly advanced in terms of his recovery and recuperation. It is speeding up, which is great. “I am looking forward to working with him. When I’ve seen him at Burton I always thought he was a talented boy, big, strong and aggressive - he needs to bend down to get through the doors. “I need to go onto a ladder to talk to him man to man! “He is a lovely kid as well. He is working so hard behind the scenes. No one ever notices that. We are not the Premier League.” ------------------- Stags boss confirms interest in Redshaw by MATT SCRAFTON, blackpoolgazette.co.uk Mansfield Town boss Steve Evans has confirmed his interest in signing Blackpool striker Jack Redshaw. Rumours over the future of the 26-year-old had circulated on social media after the former Morecambe man posted an inspiration quote above "moving on" having followed Mansfield on Twitter. Evans has since confirmed the club was close to agreeing a deal late last week, which also included a Stags player going in the opposite direction, but added the deal is not dead in the water. He said: “We tried to do something with Jack last week. “They tried to do something with one of ours and it was near to being done, but never got across the line. Read more at: http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/sport/football/blackpool-fc/stags-boss-confirms-interest-in-redshaw-1-8338084 “There were different conversations about Jack, one was a permanent, one was a loan and was a loan with a view. “It didn’t work out because there was another deal with someone else perhaps going in the direction of Blackpool and we couldn’t get it done. But we were really up against the timeline. "We were ready late morning on Friday and the chances are that if Jack had joined us then he would have been sat up in the stand watching it anyway. “We like, as a minimum, two or three (training) sessions unless for team reasons we need to put someone in like we did with Hayden White on Saturday. “It’s not dead. But we have not not revisited that this morning. We are trying to sort a number of players in different positions, not just in the front area of the pitch.” It is thought Redshaw, who is continuing his recovery from a long spell out on the sidelines with shin splints, could be sent out on a loan deal to get him some crucial game time. ------------------- Bowyer: Redshaw remains a Blackpool player by MATT SCRAFTON, blackpoolgazette.co.uk, Wednesday 18 January 2017 Blackpool manager Gary Bowyer has confirmed Jack Redshaw was close to moving to League Two rivals Mansfield Town - but that deal is now dead in the water. Bowyer was responding to speculation after Stags boss Steve Evans revealed they were close to agreeing a deal for the 26-year-old forward, thought to be a loan move, late last week. Evans also said any potential deal might have involved a Mansfield player going in the opposite direction an agreement couldn't be struck. The speculation was later fueled by Redshaw posting an inspirational quote on his Twitter page about "moving on" having also followed Mansfield. Speaking after last night's win against Barnsley, Bowyer said a deal was close to being agreed at the end of last week but the two parties couldn’t get it over the line. “Any business we look to do we try and keep it private and confidential,” Bowyer said. “There was an enquiry. We thought it was going to happen but it didn’t happen, so he’s our player. “At the time, we both agreed he needs games and at this particular time, we feel he needs more than just five minutes here and ten minutes there. “So both parties agreed it would be in the best interests to get out on loan and Mansfield enquired. It’s not happened and we now move on. “But look at how quickly football can change, he might find himself involved on Saturday now.” Redshaw has struggled for minutes this season as he continues his recovery from shin splints, but the former Morecambe man could be involved against Yeovil on Saturday following an injury to fellow striker Kyle Vassell. Read more at: http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/sport/football/blackpool-fc/bowyer-redshaw-remains-a-blackpool-player-1-8340560 ---------------------- later: Evans on Jack Redshaw, Thursday 19 January 2017 : "the deal is as dead as a do-do. The boy Coulthirst becoming available changed everything." from full interview: http://www.player.mansfieldtown.net/latest-news/69dcf8bd-0197-438c-9d44-c97dd810cdb6 --------------- Evans quote (16Jan2017) : “We tried to do something with Jack last week and they tried to do something with one of ours. It was almost getting near to being done and it never got across the line but we’ve not revisited that this morning." “It didn’t work out because there was another deal with someone else perhaps going in the direction of Blackpool and we couldn’t get it done. But we were really up against the timeline." He was referring to a possible deal with Clements going to Blackpool and Redshaw coming to Mansfield. --------------- 20 Jan 2017 Rochdale have signed Blackpool forward Jack Redshaw on loan. ---------------- |
Latest | January 2017