Archived News from August 2018
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FUTCHER: BUTCHER OFF TRANSFER LIST
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Stags' squad in a 'really good place' - Futcher
mansfieldtown.net, Thursday 16 August 2018 Stags’ assistant manager Ben Futcher has said that the Mansfield squad is in a ‘really good place’ ahead of our third league match of the season against Colchester United on Saturday. Mansfield cruised to the second round of the Carabao Cup by way of a resounding 6-1 victory over Accrington Stanley on Tuesday night, an evening that saw manager David Flitcroft make four changes to the side that featured against Yeovil. Assistant manager Futcher spoke of the strength in Stags’ squad, adding that the players who featured took their opportunity. “We’ve had a good start [to the season],” he said. “Obviously the first game of the season we had a fantastic performance and result. “We then went to Yeovil which was a tough game, [that left us with] things to work on but left with a point. https://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/2018/august/futcher-pre-colchester/ “Then, the other night [Stags’ 6-1 win over Accrington], for everyone who was here I’m sure they really enjoyed it. “We’ve put a lot of hard work in on the training ground. The lads have really bought into it. We’ve tried changing the style since we’ve been in over the summer. Pre-season was massive for that. A lot of credit goes to the boys because they’ve really bought in. “When you see the football like the sixth goal, it’s really pleasing and I hope everyone’s enjoying it. “They were down to 10 at the time because they had to take someone off but full credit goes to our boys because the [sixth] goal was fantastic. “It was probably the best goal I’ve been involved in since I’ve been in coaching. It was fantastic and great to see. I think you could see when we scored all the lads were in shock, they were that happy. It was brilliant and capped off a fantastic night for the club. “When you make some changes and the lads come in, you want to see them take their opportunity and everyone has done that. Some lads got a little rest and some lads got the opportunity and they’ve taken it. “The squad is in a really good place and everyone is firing on all cylinders. It’s certainly given the manager some food for thought.” Ahead of tonight’s second round Carabao Cup draw, Futcher explained that he is hoping for a home fixture. “There are some fantastic draws. A lot of the Premier League teams have come in now. Obviously we want a Premier League side or a local one against someone like Forest would be fantastic. “We’ll wait and see but hopefully it’ll be a good draw for the football club. We like it at home at the minute and we really enjoy playing here so anyone at home will be a good draw for us.” Stags’ assistant boss also revealed that midfielder Calum Butcher has been taken off the transfer list. “Calum [Butcher] has come off the transfer list. He’s definitely part of what we’re doing. I think it was always a difficult one with Butch because he really didn’t enjoy it here last season. “He was keen to leave in the summer after what happened last season. But he’s come in and really got his head down. He’s worked really closely with the manager and worked hard in training. “Whenever he’s come in he’s been great and he’s really enjoying his football at the moment. I think you saw on Tuesday night a Calum Butcher who’s fit, firing and enjoying his football is definitely a great addition to our squad. “Butcher is an attacking-midfielder. He’s had two promotions out of League One playing as an attacking-midfielder and that’s where we see him. “Like you saw the other night, he had a hand in two or three goals and was fantastic. He can run, is powerful and dynamic. When he’s on it, like he was the other night, he’s a real handful.” Futcher then looked ahead to this weekend’s fixture, as we welcome Colchester United for a 3pm kick-off at One Call Stadium. “[Colchester are a] good side,” he said. “They’ve been building now for two or three years and they’ve invested in the summer. They signed Harry Pell for a considerable amount of money and they’re going to be strong this season. “They were excellent on Saturday against Port Vale. It’s a really tough game. We’re worrying about us and what we do. That’s all we’ve done this season is focus on what we do and the players going out there to express themselves and enjoy their football. “We really want to try and get at anyone at home, no matter who it is. We want to really impose ourselves on them and get a strong result. “I think in the pre-season games the fans could really see what we were trying to do. They all got right behind the lads. That’s followed into the start of the season and the results have backed that up.” iFollow Stags subscribers can watch Ben Futcher’s interview in full by logging into mansfieldtown.net/ifollow later today. ----------------- Mansfield Town goal best Accrington boss has ever seen live chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS, Thursday 16 August 2018 Vastly experienced Accrington Stanley boss John Coleman claimed CJ Hamilton’s late sixth goal for Mansfield Town in Tuesday’s 6-1 Carabao Cup rout was one of the best he has ever seen live. Hamilton provided the unstoppable finish, but it was the passing sequence before it that tore through the Accrington ranks, depleted to 10 men after using all three subs and suffering another late injury. “When you start seeing football like Tuesday when we scored a goal after 26 passes, it’s really pleasing and I am hoping everyone is enjoying it,” smiled assistant manager Ben Futcher. “John is a top manager and he’s seen a lot of football. They were down to 10 men at the time, but full credit to our boys. “The goal was fantastic and probably the best goal I’ve been involved in since I have been coaching. “When we scored I think all the lads were in shock, they were that happy. “It was brilliant and really capped off a fantastic night for the club.” He added: “We’ve had a good start to the season and we are pleased with the first three games. “We have put in a lot of hard work on the training ground - the lads have really bought into it. We have tried changing the style since we’ve been here.” Read more at: https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/mansfield-town-goal-best-accrington-boss-has-ever-seen-live-1-9305794 ----------------- Nottingham Forest loan man praised by Mansfield Town assistant chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS, Thursday 16 August 2018 Tyler Walker has an extra shock at the end of Tuesday night’s heroic display against Accrington Stanley when he found out his dad, Forest and England legend Des Walker, had been in the crowd to see his man of the match display. Tyler Walker bagged a first half hat-trick in the 6-1 thrashing of Accrington Stanley and later discovered his dad had made a low key trip to see him, paying at the turnstiles. “I believe his dad doesn’t like telling him when he comes to watch him,” said Stags assistant boss Ben Futcher. “He is a credit to his dad. He’s a fantastic professional and to get a hat-trick in front of his old man must have been a very proud moment for Tyler and for Des.” Stags are enjoying having the Forest prospect on loan for the season, Futcher adding: “The manager and I have looked at him a couple of times and tried to sign him, but not got him. So to come to Mansfield and been able to sign him was fantastic. “He is a great kid and he works so hard. The ball sticks when it gets to him and he is a natural finisher. “But I am sure he’d be the first to point to the work the lads are doing behind him and the assists he is getting have been great.” Read more at: https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/nottingham-forest-loan-man-praised-by-mansfield-town-assistant-1-9305818 ---------------- Butcher set to revive Mansfield Town career after coming off transfer list chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS, Thursday 16 August 2018 Powerful midfielder Calum Butcher is ready to revive his Mansfield Town career after coming off the transfer list. The former Millwall man quickly fell out of favour with former boss Steve Evans after joining Stags last summer and found himself farmed out on loan to Billericay Town for the second half of the campaign. It looked certain he would leave in the summer, but has enjoyed working with new manager David Flitcroft and his performance against Accrington Stanley on Tuesday underlined how good he can be. “Calum has come off the transfer list and he is definitely a part of what we are doing,” smiled assistant boss Ben Futcher. “It was always a difficult one with Butch. He really didn’t enjoy it here last season and he was keen to leave in the summer after what had happened. Read more at: https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/butcher-set-to-revive-mansfield-town-career-after-coming-off-transfer-list-1-9304871 “But he has come back, really got his head down, and worked quite closely with the manager. “He has been fantastic in training and whenever he’s come in he’s done great. “He is really enjoying his football now and I think you saw that the other night. “A Calum Butcher who is fit, firing and enjoying his football is definitely a great addition to any League Two squad or team.” He added: “I don’t know about where he was played last season but Calum Butcher is an attacking midfielder. “He has had two promotions out of League One, playing as an attacking midfielder and that’s where we see him. “As you saw the other night he had a hand in two or three goals and he was fantastic. “He can run, he is powerful, he is dynamic, and when he is on it, like he was on Tuesday, he is a real handful.” ------------------ Mansfield Town looking to loan Paul Anderson chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS, Thursday 16 August 2018 Clearly out of Mansfield Town’s plans for the new season, the club are hoping they can get experienced Paul Anderson out on loan before the end of the month with a view to a permanent deal. Anderson was transfer-listed at the end of last season and Stags assistant boss Ben Futcher said: “Ando is still available and still on the list. “We have spoken to his agent a couple of times but nothing seems to be moving on that one at the minute. “He had had a lot of injuries and he is a bit behind at the minute. "Probably at this minute in time he is a long way behind the rest of the players. “CJ (Hamilton) is doing fantastic, we’ve also got Hayden White can move up one so it might be difficult. But you never know in football.” Read more at: https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/mansfield-town-looking-to-loan-paul-anderson-1-9305774 ------------------ Selection headache for Mansfield Town after fringe players shine in big win chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS, Thursday 16 August 2018 Mansfield Town manager David Flitcroft has some major decision to make on his starting XI for Saturday’s visit of Colchester United after some of his fringe players shone in Tuesday night’s Carabao Cup demolition of Accrington Stanley. After two excellent opening displays, Flitcroft rested four of his side on Tuesday only to see their replacements hit top form in a resounding 6-1 success. “When you makes changes and lads come in you want to see them take their opportunity and everyone has done that,” said assistant manager Ben Futcher. “In the first two games we were strong and everyone has done well. But some lads got to rest on Tuesday and other got an opportunity which they took. Read more at: https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/selection-headache-for-mansfield-town-after-fringe-players-shine-in-big-win-1-9305255 “The squad is in a good place, everyone is firing on all cylinders, and they have certainly given the manager some food for thought.” Opponents Colchester are tipped for promotion this season and followed an opening day 0-0 draw at Notts County with a 2-0 home win over Port Vale before losing their Carabao Cup tie on penalties after drawing 2-2 at Cheltenham. “Colchester are a good side,” said Futcher. “They have been building now for two or three years. “They have invested in the summer on a number of strikers and they signed Harry Pell from Cheltenham for a considerable amount of money. “They look strong this season and they have had a good start and they were excellent on Saturday against Port Vale. They like to play the right way and move the ball around.” Futcher continued: “It will be a really tough game, but we are worrying only about us, it’s what we do, and that’s all we’ve done so far this season. “We are focusing on what we do - players going out to express themselves and enjoy their football, being on the front foot. “We really want to get after anyone we play at home, no matter who it is, as you saw against Accrington. “We want to really impose ourselves on them and hopefully get another strong result.” Stags hope for another noisy home support with Futcher saying: “I think in the pre-season games the fans could see what we were trying to do and got right behind the lads. “That has followed us into the season and the results have backed it all up. Everyone has bought into what we’re trying to do and it’s been fantastic.” ----------------- Hamilton credits Stags' boss for improved fitness mansfieldtown.net, Thursday 16 August 2018 Mansfield Town right wing-back CJ Hamilton has attributed his increased fitness levels to the work that Stags’ boss David Flitcroft has his players doing on the training ground. Hamilton, who scored and assisted in Stags’ emphatic 6-1 win over Accrington on Tuesday night, says he feels ‘a lot fitter’ compared to previous seasons. “Pre-season was built on a lot of fitness-based stuff. He [David Flitcroft] wants to get everyone running faster, running stronger and people look like they can run for a half-an-hour after the game, so we’re so fit. “Everyone wants to run forward and it makes a big difference when everyone is that fit and wants to keep going. “I feel a lot fitter. I feel like I cover a lot more distance in games at higher speeds. I do more sprints - a lot more than I was doing the past two years. https://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/2018/august/cj-pre-colchester/ “The manager encourages you to run forward. When you run forward you know the ball is going to be forward, so you’re always on the run. You can trust your teammates and everyone has to run. “We’re doing different phases of play in training where people can be in positions to be higher and actually play football and trust each other as a team.” Hamilton finished off an illustrious team goal in the third-minute of added time in the 6-1 win over Accrington, capping off a 25-pass sequence with a confident strike past Accrington keeper Jonny Maxted. “If you look back at the amount of passing we did, everyone is getting on the ball, trusting each other and going forward at the same time,” Hamilton said. “It’s crazy how we ended up finishing it as well. “I looked back on it last night when it came up so I had a look for myself and I was buzzing with the whole teamwork and effort that was put into the goal. Obviously I was there to finish it off. “It was a lot better when I watched it back because I didn’t realise it was that many passes. “When you’re in the game you don’t really count passes. You don’t look and you can’t see, you’re just trying to get your own movement right and make sure you’re in a position where you can help the team and try to score.” The 23-year-old also notched an assist in the Carabao Cup first round clash, with a textbook cross to Danny Rose, who struck home to extend Stags’ lead to 5-1. “It was a great ball by [Jacob] Mellis and when I saw Rosey, I knew I had to set him up. I was delighted to get the assist,” Hamilton said. In his third-year as a Stag, Hamilton has transitioned from his more accustomed position as a left winger to a spot at right wing-back. He credited much of the smoothness of that transition to Flitcroft and assistant manager Ben Futcher. “I have to give a big shout to the gaffer, he’s been telling me how to slot in, and obviously Futch has been helping me as well in how to get into a position where you don’t actually give yourself too much to do. I fancy myself in a one-versus-one battle against anyone. “Obviously because it’s right wing-back, it’s about positioning because it can be a defensive back-five sometimes. I’m enjoying it, because I’d rather get myself more advanced up the pitch now. “That’s what we’re working on at the minute, and obviously trying to get more goals and assists. [This year] I’m more confident and I believe in myself more.” Following two convincing home victories to begin the campaign, Hamilton also commended the fans and noted the squad has made it a point to defend their home turf this season. “The fans have been brilliant. Ever since pre-season kicked off, they’ve been behind the team 100 percent. I think they’re enjoying what the manager is trying to bring to the club - the different style of play. So it’s very good. “You don’t want anyone to ever come to your backyard and beat you. We want this to be our fortress, so as long as we defend our fortress I think we’ll do very well.” iFollow Stags can watch CJ Hamilton’s interview in full by logging into mansfieldtown.net/ifollow later today. ---------------------------- CJ enjoying his new role at Mansfield Town chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS, Thursday 16 August 2018 CJ Hamilton is enjoying his new role as Mansfield Town’s right wing back. After being used mostly as a left winger last season, new boss David Flitcroft has elected to harness the terrifying pace of Hamilton from the back this term and in Tuesday’s 6-1 hammering of Accrington Stanley, Hamilton set up the fifth goal for Danny Rose before netting the sixth himself at the end of a delightful 26-pass move. Hamilton said he is also learning every day about the defensive side of his job - and enjoying every minute of his new challenge. “Being a right wing back, it’s about positioning defensively - you’re part of a back five at times - but I am enjoying it,” he said. “I have adapted quicker than I thought I would. “I want to get myself more advanced up the pitch and that’s what we are working on at the minute. And I want to try to get more goals and assists. Read more at: https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/cj-enjoying-his-new-role-at-mansfield-town-1-9305251 “The gaffer has been telling me how to slot in. And Futch (assistant manager and former defender Ben Futcher) has been helping me as well, telling me how to get my position right so you don’t give yourself too much to do. I fancy myself in a one-to-one battle with anyone. “I am more confident now than when I joined the club - I believe in myself a lot more.” Hamilton said he was fitter than ever after the pre-season work and all the players were now strong enough to keep up the pace until well after the end of games. “Pre-season was built on a lot of fitness-based stuff,” he said. “The manager wanted to get everyone running faster and stronger and last throughout a game. “But people now look like they could run for another half-hour after a game, we are so fit and want to keep going. “I feel a lot fitter myself. I’m covering a lot more distance in games at a lot higher speeds - I do a lot more sprints than I was doing last year. “The manager encourages us and we want to run for him.” On his goal against Accrington, he added: “It was 100 per cent one of the best goals I’ve ever been involved in. “If you look back at the amount of passes, everyone was getting on the ball and trusting each other. It was crazy how we ended up finishing it as well. “I look back on yesterday and I was buzzing with the whole team work effort put into the goal and, obviously, for me to finish it off. “It was a lot better when I watched it back as I didn’t realise there were that many passes. When you are out there you are not counting passes, just trying to get your own movement right.” With 11 goals, two wins and a draw so far, Stags will hope to continue their superb start to the season when Colchester United visit on Saturday. “Colchester have always been good when they have come here,” said Hamilton. “They are a tough team to beat. But if we play our game I think we can get all three points. “You don’t want anyone to ever come to your back garden and beat you. We want every team to come here and be fearful of a tough game.” ---------- |
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