Archived News from July 2018
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FLITCROFT/FUTCHER REACTION TO RETFORD/HEDNESFORD
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Stags put a shift in at Retford, says boss.
mansfieldtown.net, 14 July 2018 Mansfield Town boss David Flitcroft says his players 'put a shift in' under scorching sunshine as Stags ran out 5-0 winners at Retford United. In a one-sided affair, Mansfield enjoyed a rich harvest of chances, but were unable to find the net as often as they desired - especially in the first half. Stags, though, sharpened the knife in front of goal in the second period, scoring four. But it was the work ethic of his players which most pleased manager David Flitcroft. "All my players put a shift in that i'd expect," said the manager, speaking minutes after the full-time whistle at Cannon Park. https://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/2018/july/stags-put-a-shift-in-at-retford-says-boss/ "Looking visibly at sort of Omari, Lee Angol, Jordan Graham, Calum Butcher, Will Atkinson and Bish, it looked like we covered a lot of ground with a good intensity - certainly in the second half and the back end of the first half. "I was concerned obviously with the pitch so hopefully we haven't got any injuries as that's the biggest thing in pre-season - you design a pre-season to get everyone through. We're hoping we have a full body count on Monday to train. "Those were the two main things i wanted from today's game." Speaking about the match, he said: "We were a little bit wasteful. Omari has put some good quality in, especially in the first half from corners. We've not hit the target a couple of times and spurned quite a few chances. "I enjoyed a few aspects and the passing phases that we've been trying to work on. The lads have definitely put a shift in today." Thanking hosts Retford United, he said: "We've been looked after and they've been so accommodating. It's a lovely feel and vibe to this football club. A massive thank you to Retford for their welcome and for staging the game." Watch the manager's interview in full by logging in/subscribing to iFollow Stags. -------------------------- Excitement builds as big clubs head for Mansfield chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS As he continues his quest to bolster his defence before the big kick-off, Mansfield Town manager David Flitcroft is excited by the quartet of big home pre-season friendlies over the next two weeks. Derby County visit on Wednesday (7.30) followed by Sheffield United on Saturday (3pm), Sheffield United next Tuesday (7.30) and Rotherham United a week on Saturday (3pm). “We have some great quality coming down to the One Call with the teams we’ve got,” he said. “These home fixtures will give supporters a chance to see the new players that they’ve not seen yet. Read more at: https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/excitement-builds-as-big-clubs-head-for-mansfield-1-9253340 “The quality opposition will certainly raise the levels. I am hoping to see a raising of quality and a raising of performance. “I am also hoping to see a raising in fitness levels as we drive through pre-season. “These will be much sterner tests as we come up against unbelievable quality from the Championship. “They are games we really enjoy and look forward to. “But the main priorities will be minutes played, distances covered and making sure we realise what is important - which is the start of the season date and working towards that.” Flitcroft has been playing 3-5-2 so far in pre-season but with only two fit centre halves is working hard to try to bring in more. “A defensive player is absolutely necessary,” he said. “At the minute I’ve got two centre halves and I’m playing with a back three and I am having to manoeuvre players around. “But it also gives us a chance to look at certain players in different positions - we had Hayden White playing right side centre half on Saturday. “But we are short defensively - we need centre half cover. It’s imperative we get that right.” However, Flitcroft is very happy with his midfield options and had special praise for Will Atkinson’s display as a wing back. “I do like our midfield. I like the balance and I like the flexibility,” he said. “Will Atkinson’s performance today has told me everything about Will - his willingness and honesty to run and the quality he has got. “We have good options down the centre of the pitch and good wing back options.” ------------------------ Flitcroft hoping squad survived sun-baked Retford friendly chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS Stags manager David Flitcroft thanked Retford United for their efforts in staging Saturday’s pre-season friendly and kept his fingers crossed that none of his side had picked up injury on a sun-ravaged Cannon Park pitch. “All my players put in the shift I’d expect,” he said after an emphatic 5-0 victory. “Looking visibly at players like Omari (Sterling-James), Lee Angol, Jordan Graham, Calum Butcher, Will Atkinson and Bish (Neil Bishop), it looked like we covered a lot of ground on a big pitch with a good intensity - certainly in the second half and the back end of the first half. “With the weather we have had over the last six weeks, I was obviously concerned with the pitch as it was scorched and burnt. “But they have done the best job possible with it and hopefully we haven’t got any injuries as that’s the biggest thing in pre-season - you design a pre-season to get everyone through. We’re hoping we have a full body count on Monday to train. On the game itself, he added: “We were a little bit wasteful. Read more at: https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/flitcroft-hoping-squad-survived-sun-baked-retford-friendly-1-9253334 “Omari has put some good quality in, especially in the first half from corners. We’ve not hit the target a couple of times and spurned quite a few chances. “I enjoyed certain aspects and the passing phases that we’ve been trying to work on. The lads have definitely put in a shift. “Retford United were fantastic with us. We’ve been looked after and they’ve been so accommodating. “It’s a nice feel and a lovely vibe to this football club. A massive thank you to Retford for their welcome and for staging the game.” ----------------------- Futcher pleased with level of fitness shown in pre-season stalemate mansfieldtown.net, 14 July 2018 Stags' assistant manager Ben Futcher believes today's 0-0 draw with Hednesford Town was crucial in terms of building fitness, with the majority of Mansfield Town players who started the game playing the entire 90 minutes. Futcher took charge of today's clash against Hednesford, while Stags' boss David Flitcroft watched on at Cannon Park, where another Mansfield Town XI put five past Retford without reply. The game at Keys Park may have finished goalless, but the affair was not short of drama, with tempers flaring on several occasions, and Stags creating a number of chances to win the match. Despite having the chances to emerge as victors in the match, Futcher remained delighted with the way his side performed, and was pleased with how 10 of the 11 players who started the match played the full 90 minutes. "It was a really good game where the lads got 90 minutes in," he said. "Fitness-wise it was perfect and the pitch was lovely. https://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/2018/july/futcher-post-hednesford-draw/ "They changed their team a lot at half-time but our lads really did well. "First-half I thought it was a bit scrappy, but very competitive. I think second-half, when we settled down, we moved the ball. "We could've got four or five really in the second-half. But the workout was really good and the fitness is really there for the lads now with their first 90 minutes. Plus there were no injuries so I'm delighted. "It's early days yet and it's still about fitness really. I think first-half it was really scrappy and there were a lot of stoppages." Futcher was also pleased with how his side performed a second-half that saw the Stags link up superbly time after time. "Second-half, when we moved the ball a bit quicker, we were a bit brighter and I thought we really dominated. It was a decent exercise. "We'll keep developing as the pre-season goes and we'll fine tune things. The final third we'll tidy up a bit now as we draw into the season. But it's all quite good at the minute. "There were quite a lot of tackles going in [in the first-half]. Second-half we really upped it and hit the strikers a bit earlier and caused them a lot of problems." Stags' assistant boss also commended the intensity his players showed in the second period, and will be hoping they can take the level of energy showed in today's game into the clash with Derby County on Wednesday at One Call Stadium. "First-half it wasn't there with the intensity we wanted, but second-half [I was] really happy with them," he added. "There's still plenty of time to go until the first game of the season. Everyone is trying to impress. "Everyone's got 60 to 90 minutes today and that was the plan. We'll come back on Monday and see where everyone's at, and look forward to Derby County at home on Wednesday." ------------------------ |
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