Archived News from November 2017
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CHECKATRADE EVERTON U23 GAME PREVIEWS
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Gaffer aiming to progress in Trophy
mansfieldtown.net, Monday 30 October 2017 Stags' boss Steve Evans has confirmed he will make 'wholesale changes' for tomorrow night's final Checkatrade Trophy group stage match against Everton U23s, but admits he still wants to progress in the competition. We will book our place in the second round of the competition if our result against the Toffees at One Call Stadium tomorrow night (Tuesday 31 October, 7.45pm) betters rivals Notts County's scoreline against Lincoln City next week. And although the competition ranks fourth in the gaffer's list of priorities this season, the former Leeds United manager wants his side to book their place in the next round regardless. "We have a priority of League Two, followed by the FA Cup, followed by the Carabao Cup, followed by the Checkatrade. The Checkatrade is a good competition in its own right, but it doesn't sit in our list of priorities," the Stags' chief said. https://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/2017/october/gaffer-aiming-to-progress-in-trophy/ "At 7.45pm tomorrow night it will [be a priority], because we want to progress in the tournament. If we can go out and get the win tomorrow night, I do believe with what will happen elsewhere, it will see us progress in the tournament. We would rather progress than not progress, but it's just not a priority. "We've got an Everton team coming here tomorrow night who have got young men who will be determined to show whoever the new manager's going to be at Everton that they're worthy of a new contract, because most of them probably expire at the end of the season. "I think they should have won the game at Lincoln, by all accounts, but they lose. They've got Premier League youngsters, Premier League players, Premier League quality and it'll be a good game for our guys." After six of the side who started in the win against Notts County last week were named in the starting XI against Exeter City in Sky Bet League Two, the manager wants those who play tomorrow night to show why they deserve a starting berth in our Emirates FA Cup clash with Shaw Lane on Saturday. "Will the team at Shaw Lane be the same as the team that played against Exeter? No, so that means the players playing here tomorrow night have a chance. I'm only being honest to our supporters, as I have been since the day I walked in; there will be changes, wholesale changes. "The way to get back in the team is to produce a performance against Everton that says you should play at Shaw Lane. "We have to get a good performance tomorrow night. I'm looking for three or four players to be saying: 'I should be in your first team when we go to Shaw Lane' and once again we'll pick the team for Shaw Lane with real integrity." One man who will be involved against the Toffees is defender Zander Diamond, who has been sidelined with a groin injury since the defeat to Accrington Stanley in August. The gaffer said: "There's going to be players tomorrow night who we do have an eye on to be involved on Saturday, none more so than our captain, Zander Diamond. "He will play tomorrow night, all being well in training today and if he has no ill effects from a real strenuous work-out at the weekend - away from the Exeter game - then we're hopeful that him and others will stake a claim." Supporters will be able to login to iFollow Stags to view the manager's full news conference later today. Tickets for the fixture can be bought online at http://www.stagstickets.co.uk --------------------- Evans wants progress in ‘low priority’ Checkatrade Trophy chad.co.uk, by MARK DUFFY, Monday 30 October 2017 Steve Evans says he wants to see Mansfield Town qualify for the latter stages of the Checkatrade Trophy - despite the competition being bottom of his list of priorities when it comes to silverware. Stags host Everton’s under-23 side at the OneCall Stadium on Tuesday night knowing that they could progress into the second round if their result is better than that of Notts County when the Magpies play Lincoln next week. And whilst the much-maligned competition is often seen as a hindrance rather than a help to many a manager’s campaign, Evans wasn’t quite so critical of it. He said: “I’ve said before that on our list of priorities, the Checkatrade Trophy, which is a good competition in its own right, comes in fourth behind the league, the FA Cup and the Carabao Cup. Read more at: http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/evans-wants-progress-in-low-priority-checkatrade-trophy-1-8831171 “But we want to win because I believe that will be enough to see us progress, which is what we want to do in whatever competition we play in irrespective of how important it is to us.” Everton’s young side have lost both of their games so far in Group G but Evans expects a tough and useful test on Tuesday. He said: “What you have with these sides are young men determined to show they’re good enough to earn new contracts and the chance to play in the Premier League. “That’s particularly the case with Everton given they’re about to have a new manager and they’ll want to impress. “They were unlucky not to beat Lincoln, by all accounts, but this will be another good game for us, albeit one where we’ll make changes to give players some valuable minutes.” Those players are expected to include club captain Zander Diamond, who has had two months on the sidelines with a groin injury but is someone Evans wants to see back in the fold as soon as possible. He said: “He’ll play against Everton with a view to him being involved at Shaw Lane on Saturday as well. He and others will want to stake a claim for Saturday’s game, after all, three of the four midfield players who featured in the last round of the Checkatrade Trophy at Notts County were then in the side to play Exeter last weekend and were outstanding, so it’s a good window for those that do take part. “There are players we certainly have an eye on to be involved against Shaw Lane and beyond so it’s important they perform. “They’re up against a team with Premier League players and the quality that brings, so it’s a great test for our lads.” ---------------------------------- Martin Shaw @shawma1 Oct 31 @Everton http://www.evertonfc.com/news/2017/10/31/jeffers-keep-building-momentum … "...with no chance of progressing to the knockout stages of the competition." Wrong. Everton can qualify. ----------------- Jeffers: Keep Building Momentum http://www.evertonfc.com/news/2017/10/31/jeffers-keep-building-momentum 31 October 2017 Francis Jeffers says Everton’s youngsters must use the momentum from their last-gasp win against Swansea City last time out when they travel to Mansfield Town in the Checkatrade Trophy on Tuesday evening (7.45pm kick-off). An Under-21 side heads into the last of their three Checkatrade Trophy group stage games with no chance of progressing to the knockout stages of the competition. But coach Jeffers, who will again take charge of the young Blues in the absence of regular boss David Unsworth, says the game still provides a worthwhile test and presents an opportunity to build more confidence after a 2-1 comeback victory over the Swans in Premier League 2 last Friday. The clash at Mansfield’s Field Mill will be the seventh game in 23 days in the Under-23s’ schedule, having played in three different competitions this month - and Jeffers says the coaching staff have had to manage that gruelling schedule carefully. “It’s important to rest at times like this to rest between games,” Jeffers told evertonfc.com. “You have to look after the lads and do the right things. We’ve had a couple of knocks as well so it’s a case of trying to get everyone back and ready for another tough game. “Whoever plays know it’s going to be a big test but we’re back on a winning streak now, so the lads should be confident. They need to use the momentum from Friday night into this game. “It’ll be a different type of game, different type of football against a League Two team who will be happy to go a bit more direct. “It’s another big test for our lads and it’s one we’re looking forward to.” Head back to evertonfc.com later to follow updates from the game with our live blog. A full match report will also be available after the full-time whistle. ------------------- |
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