Archived News from May 2021
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CLOUGH AND DARRELL CLARKE REACTION
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Boss pleased by strong end to season
mansfieldtown.net, Saturday 8th May 2021 Manager Nigel Clough says there is ‘grounds for optimism’ after his side’s ‘encouraging’ end to the season, with the Stags winning four of their last five matches in Sky Bet League Two. Mansfield concluded their 2020/21 campaign away at Port Vale on Saturday afternoon, with two goals from Stephen McLaughlin and a further strike from Stephen Quinn securing a comfortable 3-0 win. The boss, reflecting on the win over the Valiants, says his side were worthy of more than the three goals they scored at Vale Park. “It was similar to recent performances, and similar in the fact that it should’ve been more. We started the game really well,” he told iFollow Stags. https://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/2021/may/gaffer-post-port-vale/?fbclid=IwAR0ie_WwWjBLecpQlvbPHyripIq0fsd22485zT0yIi0EU5yf281mQSBCUtw “We should’ve scored more today, and that’s the next stage. When you play as well as that, you deserve to score more goals. “We want to attack, go forward and be positive. Both full-backs got forward today and Stephen McLaughlin has the ability to do that [score]. “Our second one was a proper team goal from a proper team player [George Lapslie to set it up]. He gets all the way to the byline and then cuts it back. “He [Lapslie] scores a few for us but it’s just as important to set them up like that. “We’ve relaxed a little in the right way since we ensured our safety. I hope that you see us setting the tone for next season [with recent performances]. “Some of the football at times was of a higher league standard, which was encouraging. But we still have to do more of it. “We’ll be working on that and to keep doing the right things and dominating the games more if we can. “I’ve said ‘well done’ to the lads for finishing well and with a clean sheet. We finished on 58 points, which was quite some distance away a few months ago. “It’s nice to reach that stage and I hope everyone’s looking forward to returning for pre-season. We want to sign some good players in the summer, and there is grounds for optimism if we get the players we want.” Looking towards a summer of recruitment heading into next season, the boss shared information on potential incomings at One Call Stadium. “We’ve had chats individually with the players, so we’ll be making our announcement on who is staying and going next week. “Then we’ll get straight onto our targets and securing them as quickly as we can. We’ll have to be patient with some, we know that. “We’ll chase our number one targets for as long as we can. It’s early stages [now] but we’re in the hunt. “We’re happy with our targets and we’re happy that we have a good chance of signing them. “I don’t think there will be too many loans. We might do Jamie Pardington on a loan from Wolves, hopefully on a similar sort of deal. “But generally, we want permanent signings in both penalty areas, defenders and attackers. “We’d certainly like Stephen [Quinn] in, so negotiations are currently ongoing with him. “For the last three or four months we’ve been identifying players. We have a good, healthy list of players, but we want to chase our number one targets. They are number one for a reason. “We’re in a very good position to assess players and we get a healthy budget at this level. It was important to finish the season well, because players see how we’re playing, so they want to join us and have a go.” Lastly, the manager offered his summary of the season, and shared a message to the fans ahead of a potential return of spectators to stadiums next term. “It’s been a strange season in many ways. We only had the five months or so, but it’s been strange for lots of reasons. “We’ve had empty stands, and have had to get used to it. I can’t wait for the supporters to be back in. “I’m very pleased to finish where we have. It should be more [points] and should be better [final position], but hopefully that will be next season. “[My message to the fans is] stay behind us next season as much as you can. There are enough signs to say ‘this is how we want to play’ and ‘this is how we want to go about it.’ “We want to try to have an enjoyable and successful season.” iFollow Stags subscribers can watch the manager’s interview in full by logging into mansfieldtown.net/ifollow. ---------------- "It should have been more!" Nigel Clough reacts to Mansfield Town's 3-0 win at Port Vale chad.co.uk, By Duncan Browne, Saturday 8th May 2021 Mansfield Town ended their season with a 3-0 win at Port Vale, but manager Nigel Clough believes 'it should have been more'. Stephen McLaughlin scored twice and Stephen Quinn also found the net in the final game of the League Two season. “It was similar to recent performances, and similar in the fact that it should’ve been more. We started the game really well,” he told iFollow Stags. https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/it-should-have-been-more-nigel-clough-reacts-to-mansfield-towns-3-0-win-at-port-vale-3229633?fbclid=IwAR17M061BiV0XKehQAVhFUoJaq6_8z70Fj_RKaq_NY82R8zmu94sDky3URw “We should’ve scored more today, and that’s the next stage. When you play as well as that, you deserve to score more goals. “We want to attack, go forward and be positive. Both full-backs got forward today and Stephen McLaughlin has the ability to do that (score)." The Stags concluded the campaign with four wins from five, something Clough believes is no fluke. “We’ve relaxed a little in the right way since we ensured our safety. I hope that you see us setting the tone for next season. “Some of the football at times was of a higher league standard, which was encouraging. But we still have to do more of it. “We’ll be working on that and to keep doing the right things and dominating the games more if we can. “I’ve said ‘well done’ to the lads for finishing well and with a clean sheet. We finished on 58 points, which was quite some distance away a few months ago. “It’s nice to reach that stage and I hope everyone’s looking forward to returning for pre-season. We want to sign some good players in the summer, and there is grounds for optimism if we get the players we want.” ----------------------- Mansfield Town want Quinn and Pardington to stay chad.co.uk, By Duncan Browne, Saturday 8th May 2021 Nigel Clough wants Stephen Quinn and Jamie Pardington to remain at One Call Stadium. Midfielder Quinn and keeper Pardington joined the club on loan from Burton Albion and Wolverhampton Wanderers respectively earlier this year. Now Clough hopes he can extend their stays further. Speaking of his summer targets, he said: “I don’t think there will be too many loans. We might do Jamie Pardington on a loan from Wolves, hopefully on a similar sort of deal. “But generally, we want permanent signings in both penalty areas, defenders and attackers. https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town-want-quinn-and-pardington-to-stay-3229650?fbclid=IwAR0yuAWPf_wNT_v9zmymei3MyIyW_z7X9X5N2RhJxqf4kYKTXUUhgwIlnPg “We’d certainly like Stephen (Quinn) in, so negotiations are currently ongoing with him." The Stags will issue their retained and released lists in the coming days. “We’ve had chats individually with the players, so we’ll be making our announcement on who is staying and going next week," Clough added. “Then we’ll get straight onto our targets and securing them as quickly as we can. We’ll have to be patient with some, we know that. “We’ll chase our number one targets for as long as we can. It’s early stages but we’re in the hunt. “We’re happy with our targets and we’re happy that we have a good chance of signing them. “For the last three or four months we’ve been identifying players. We have a good, healthy list of players, but we want to chase our number one targets. They are number one for a reason. “We’re in a very good position to assess players and we get a healthy budget at this level. It was important to finish the season well, because players see how we’re playing, so they want to join us and have a go.” -------------------- Stay with us for success! Nigel Clough sends message to Mansfield Town fans chad.co.uk, By Duncan Browne Manager can’t wait to see stands full again... Nigel Clough can't wait for the Mansfield Town fans to return - and he hopes they will be treated to a successful season. But Clough also believes the Stags faithful will also have a part to play. "Stay behind us next season as much as you can," he said. https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/stay-with-us-for-success-nigel-clough-sends-message-to-mansfield-town-fans-3229651 "There are enough signs to say ‘this is how we want to play’ and ‘this is how we want to go about it.’ “We want to try to have an enjoyable and successful season.” Reflecting on the 2020-21 campaign, which saw Clough replace Graham, Coughlan in the dug-out as the club finished 16th, he added: “It’s been a strange season in many ways. "We only had the five months or so, but it’s been strange for lots of reasons. “We’ve had empty stands, and have had to get used to it. I can’t wait for the supporters to be back in. “I’m very pleased to finish where we have. It should be more (points) and should be better (final position), but hopefully that will be next season." ----------------------- Port Vale boss Darrell Clarke - 'I can't wait to get rid of the deadwood' stokesentinel.co.uk, By Michael Baggaley, 8 MAY 2021 Port Vale manager Darrell Clarke says he ‘can’t wait to get rid of the deadwood’ after his team finished the season with a 3-0 defeat at home to Mansfield. Clarke will speak to all of his out-of-contract players on Monday before publishing his retained list either later that day or on Tuesday. He says some ‘genuine’ players might be released as part of his rebuilding plans but he is looking forward to starting next season without some other players. Clarke made five changes to his side but they were fortunate not to be beaten more heavily. He said: “It is always about the results. It was a shocking performance, a real bad performance individually and collectively. It takes a bit of the gloss off the run of form we have had - ending with a couple of defeats. https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/port-vale-darrell-clarke-mansfield-5391868 “I said to my players there - I had the whole group in there, all 29 of them - ‘What have you done over the course of these 46 games to think that you warrant a place here next season?’ “I am excited, I really am. There will be one or two tears shed for one or two genuine boys that might not make the cut on Monday. There will be one or two right good principled points made to one or two players that I will enjoy saying. Because for me, being a professional footballer is every single day, living your life right, doing all the things right. We have got a few in there, there are quite a few lads in there that have done quite well for me over a period of the 18 games. “But there are a few for me that don’t do it justice. I can’t wait, I am excited to build for the future…and I can’t wait to get rid of the deadwood if I am honest.” ----------------------- 'Not good enough' - Port Vale manager's comments suggest clear out is on the cards stokesentinel.co.uk, By Michael Baggaley, 8 MAY 2021 Managers often say releasing players is the hardest part of their job. It doesn't sound like Darrell Clarke will be losing much sleep. At least, not about everyone. Speaking after this 3-0 defeat at home to Mansfield, the manager suggested the out-of-contract players he will release fall into two categories: Good characters who don’t have, or perhaps no longer have, the ability - but then those whose attitude he feels fall well short of his requirements. Clarke has lifted Vale from relegation candidates to 13th since he was appointed in February. But the lack of quality he talked about in his opening seven winless games was obvious here as a team with five changes was fortunate not to be on the end of a much heavier defeat. The manager said: “When I came into this building, I already knew about one or two players to be honest with you. I just wanted to bring a clean slate and put it all together. The job needed doing, we needed to make sure we were still in League Two. https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/not-good-enough-port-vale-5392213 “We have done that, sixty points. Yes, pats on the back, but we are 13th in League Two. Not good enough. The whole group. Not good enough. “But individually there have been some good players in that group, I have got some good players so I am excited for the future. I can’t wait to get Monday and Tuesday out of the way and then….the rebuild has been going for a while to be honest with you so I am looking forward to that (after) ending on a damp squib. Vale’s out of contract players are Scott Brown, Dino Visser, Tom Scott, Adam Crookes, Zak Mills, Ryan Campbell-Gordon, David Fitzpatrick, Shaun Brisley, Luke Joyce, Cristian Montano, Dan Trickett-Smith, Tom Pope, Mark Cullen, Kurtis Guthrie and Harry McKirdy. So, Clarke was asked, should we anticipate a major clear out? The manager, quite rightly, wants to tell the players first, but did say the decisions will be made on their poor form that got them in relegation trouble in the first place, as well as their revival over the last two months to stay up. He said: “You can anticipate whatever you want, you will have to wait until Monday evening. “I have said I will try to be respectful all the time so all I am saying is I am judging this over the course of 46 games. “I have been in here for 18 games. The team has been consistently picked on a regular basis and the lads have done well over a period of time. There were a few changes, a few opportunities for lads there today. “They were a little bit rusty so I am certainly not blaming just the lads who have come into the team. That’s not right either. What I am judging on and looking at is over the 46 games and whether they have done enough in their lifestyles, in their life. How they have conducted themselves and are they going to be better next season? “The answers to those will be delivered on Monday and we will see where we are heading.” He added: “Quality comes into it. Some players have hearts the size of lions but are they ever going to reach the quality of being able to get out of this division? “That is why I mean there will be one or two where they are not easy decisions because they have given me everything. Their hearts have been in the right place but I have to judge and assess whether they are going to be quality enough to take me forward. “We will see and we will all have the answers on Monday.” The players under contract are: James Gibbons, Nathan Smith, Tom Conlon, Jake Taylor, Scott Burgess, Danny Whitehead, Alex Hurst, David Amoo, David Worrall, Devante Rodney and Theo Robinson. Leon Legge’s contract status hasn’t been confirmed but he is likely to have triggered a new deal through an appearance clause. Clarke added: “If you are talking about the boys that are already contracted, Tom Conlon is the sort of character I want in this football club. Nathan Smith is the sort of character I want in this football club. Gibbo is the sort of character I want at this football club. That is to name but three. “They have epitomised what I am about. Gibbo has been unfortunate with his injuries but if you are talking about attitude, application and desire to be better, that is what we want. I want to build a squad of those players.” The biggest name out of contract is Tom Pope, the club’s 115-goal post-war record scorer. Clarke added: “Popey is great in the changing room. Tom Pope is a legend of the football club. So, obviously that conversation on Monday….we will see which way that goes. “Tom has trained hard, he has struggled with his fitness levels, obviously coming back from his arm injury, but everything has be taken into account, not just on Tom Pope, on every individual. “So, we will see how things end up.” Pope will be 36 in August but can’t fall into the poor attitude category. He’s played a huge part in keeping his home-town club in the Football League over the last four years and, when he did break his arm and suffer a shoulder injury in the Trophy at Sunderland in January, he refused to come off because all the substitutes had been used and he didn’t want to leave his team to finish the game with ten men. If this was his final game, his Vale career deserved a better finish than a 3-0 defeat played behind closed doors. He was recalled to the starting XI along with Harry McKirdy, Scott Burgess, Alex Hurst and Mustapha Olagunju but a disjointed team were outplayed by a Mansfield side with four changes. In fact, this was a game when the players not in the side looked even better. Vale looked all over the place defensively without Leon Legge but also missed the suspended Cristian Montano who is reportedly a target for Livingston. The visitors never looked back after Stephen McLaughlin fired them in front from 25 yards on ten minutes. A deserved second arrived on the half hour when Shaun Brisley gave the ball away just inside the Mansfield half and George Lapslie ran into the area before squaring for Stephen Quinn to score. Scott Brown probably should have got to McLaughlin’s 25-yard free kick which made it 3-0 on 63 minutes, but he still came out of the game in credit having prevented his side from an absolute hammering. It would be a surprise if the keeper isn’t on the retained list. It’s hard to predict the rest. ---------------------- Port Vale manager Darrell Clarke's response to Mansfield Town defeat was short but to the point chad.co.uk, By Duncan Browne, Saturday 8th May 2021 Darrell Clarke didn't spend much time dwelling on defeat to Mansfield Town, but his thoughts were straight to the point. The former Stags midfielder - who made 159 appearances for his home-town club between 1995 and 2001 - watched his Port Vale side end their season with a 3-0 home defeat. Stephen McLaughline netted twice with Stephen Quinn also on target for Nigel Clough's side, Mansfield ending the campaign 16th in League Two, three places behind their hosts. "It's always about the results - a shocking performance, real bad performance, individually, collectively, as a group," Clarke told Vale's YouTube channel. https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/port-vale-manager-darrell-clarkes-response-to-mansfield-town-defeat-was-short-but-to-the-point-3229627?fbclid=IwAR2n5e7RCdbNcdF6Bl_fLCFL32qXqhLmuvuADb6tvHeuHjbWbMX9j6iZp3Y "It takes the gloss off the run of form we've had ending with a couple of defeats." Clarke opted not to spend any more time discussing the game but instead turned his attention to Monday, when he will announce his retained and released lists. "I can't wait to get rid of the dead wood," he added. -------------------- Tyrese Sinclair @ty_sinclair27 (twitter) Great win to wrap up a Roller coaster season, we’ll be back better and stronger for the 21/22 season up the stags! @mansfieldtownfc ty.sinclair27 (instagram) End of a (emoji) season on a personal note I’m happy with my first season in the professional game but next year I’ll be back fitter, stronger and sharper than ever! KW @Keatonward10 (twitter) Great end to a season that I’ll remember for the rest of my life... can’t wait for the next keatonward (instagram) Great way to end the season yesterday... back at home where it all began and can’t wait to go again next year, my first professional season definitely one to remember _j_law29 Great way to end the season, ready for the next KG @kellangordon25 Season of ups and downs but I’m only gonna come back stronger and harder next season @mansfieldtownfc David Sharpe @DavidSharpe91 Nice way to end the season. 4 wins from our last 5. Now for a very important summer window. Thank you for the support throughout the season on iFollow and hopefully we have you with us in person from August 7th onwards!! @mansfieldtownfc ------------------ |
Latest | May 2021