Archived News from July 2021
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CLOUGH, LAPSLIE, MARK ROBINS REACTION
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‘Wonderful’ to see fans back - manager
mansfieldtown.net, Tuesday 27th July 2021 Boss Nigel Clough says it was a ‘lovely feeling’ to see the return of supporters to One Call Stadium for the first time in over 17 months. The Stags welcomed Coventry City for a pre-season friendly in front of over 2,500 fans, with George Lapslie’s second-half goal separating the sides. The manager, speaking after the game, says it was ‘wonderful’ to see supporters at One Call Stadium for the first time under his tenure. “It was wonderful [to have the fans back],” he told iFollow Stags. “We came out and sat at the bottom of the [Quarry Lane] stand [before the game] and the noise was great from there. “They made an awful lot of noise. It surprised some of the players a little! Some of them haven’t been in front of a crowd here, myself included, and it was a lovely feeling.” Reflecting on his side’s third successive pre-season victory, the boss says the Stags ‘worked very hard,’ along with performing in ‘encouraging’ fashion. https://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/2021/july/gaffer-post-coventry/ “Physically, the lads worked very hard,” he added. “Those who needed 90 minutes got it, and then it was a good performance as well. “Like Saturday [at Hull], it was encouraging. I think you can see the signs of how we’re trying to play and what we want to do. “It [win over Coventry] hopefully set the tone here for ten days’ time [season opener versus Bristol Rovers]. “We caused some problems and I think on another night we’d have probably scored two or three goals. “It was a brilliant ball from Stephen McLaughlin [in the lead-up to the goal], the run from Danny Johnson, the cut-back, then you end up with a tap-in. It was good all-round play. “We put some great balls into the box and created chances all throughout the game. It was a perfect game for us. “We didn’t learn an awful lot about Nathan Bishop (below), as he didn’t have a lot to do! We were pleased with his concentration, his positioning, distribution, all those sorts of things. We’re thrilled to have him in the team. “Defensively, I thought we looked pretty solid. They had one or two chances, which they’re going to have, but we were very pleased.” There was a word on any further potential activity from the boss, who explained that ‘in an ideal world’ he would bring in one more defender. “I think in an ideal world [we’d bring in] a defender. We’re a little light in that area and we’ve been chasing a centre-half. “I think we need another to really challenge in that area. We’re always trying to improve the team and the squad, so we certainly won’t be bringing someone in for the sake of it.” iFollow Stags subscribers can watch the manager’s interview in full by logging into mansfieldtown.net/ifollow later tonight. --------------------- Mansfield Town fans delight and surprise team and manager with noise levels on return to the One Call Stadium chad.co.uk, By John Lomas, Tuesday 27th July 2021 Nigel Clough was delighted and surprised by the level of noise created by Mansfield Town supporters as they returned to the One Call Stadium tonight for the first time in 17 months to see Stags beat Coventry City in a friendly. A crowd of 2,539 got right behind their side from the second they left the tunnel and manager Clough said: “It was wonderful. Myself and a number of the lads have not played in front of fans here and it was a lovely feeling. “For a pre-season game a few of the lads were very surprised as well as me. https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town-fans-delight-and-surprise-team-and-manager-with-noise-levels-on-return-to-the-one-call-stadium-3325827 “It was absolutely brilliant to see supporters back in and making that noise. “I was just saying to Stephen McLaughin imagine what it's going to be like in 10 days time and he said 'good - it gets you going' - and it does. “It gets us going and hopefully has the opposite effect on the opposition. If we can get on the front foot out there with the crowd behind us I hope not many teams will look forward to coming here.” Stags dominated and created openings but had to settle for a 1-0 win thanks to a George Lapslie finish. “It was a good performance and encouraging. On another night we would have scored two or three more,” said Clough. “I think you can see the signs of how we want to play “We got what we wanted out of that physically and tried to set the tone of how we want to play this season, especially here at home. “We won't always be able to do that. Other teams will do things against us that will make it difficult but you can see the pattern of what we're trying to do.” There was a debut for newly-arrived Manchester united loan keeper Nathan Bishop, but Clough smiled: “We didn't learn an awful lot about Nathan Bishop as he didn't have much to do. “But we were pleased with his concentration, his positioning and his distribution. “We are absolutely thrilled to have him in the team at last. Defensively we looked pretty solid and we had a look at Elliott Hewitt at right back as an option.” Clough had high praise for the midfield trio who ran the show. He said: “Although we have seven or eight new players in, when you get that trio in midfield of Maris, Quinn and Clarke, they have played together for six months now and that definitely shows. “They are ones who get us going and we cause some problems. “I have said all along I don't think we can get better than those three. “But we have brought Ryan Stirk in as cover and he fitted in quite well when he came on. He will be needed this season as those three won't stay fit all the way through the season.” Clough won't get carried away as Stags followed the win at Hull City with this victory over the Sky Blues. “We lost to Matlock and Grimsby and then beat two Championship sides, that's why pre-season counts for nothing apart from the physical side and how you're trying to play,” he said. “But there looks a lot of promise there. “I just hope we're not one of those teams who play better against better teams as we have to deal with all sorts in League Two. “That will be one of our biggest challenges. We know against good footballing sides we can play. We have to deal with the other side of things too.” ---------------------- One more in and one out for Mansfield Town? chad.co.uk, By John Lomas Nigel Clough is still hoping to bolster his central defensive department - and that could be boosted by funds freed up by the departure of Corey O'Keefe. The Mansfield Town boss wants one more in to complete his summer business and the departure of transfer-listed defender O'Keeffe would boost that ambition. “I think in an ideal world we'd like another defender in - we are a bit light in that area,” he said. “We have been chasing a centre half and Tom Naylor was obviously the one that we thought we'd got. https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/one-more-in-and-one-out-for-mansfield-town-3326991 “I don't just want cover in that area, though. I want someone who can really challenge. “We are always trying to improve the team and the squad, so we won't be just bringing anyone in for the sake of it.” Clough has been looking to offload O'Keeffe and keeper Mark Stech. He said: “There is not a lot of interest in Marek at the moment. “But we need three goalkeepers. George Shelvey has got a slight thigh problem at the moment, so we will see what happens in the next few weeks. “We have had a bit of interest in Corey O'Keeffe which hopefully will get followed up this week.” ----------------------- Squad spirit is already high - midfielder mansfieldtown.net, Tuesday 27th July 2021 George Lapslie is already buoyed by the ‘chemistry’ inside the Stags’ dressing room, the attacking-midfielder revealed after an impressive 1-0 win at home to Coventry City this evening. The 23-year-old slotted home four minutes after half-time in another encouraging pre-season display from Nigel Clough’s men. And with the new league campaign on the horizon, Lapslie says that the new-look squad is settling well. “We’re in a good place as a team,” he said. “It’s [the squad] up there with one of the best I’ve played in. “In terms of performances and the dressing room, everyone is pulling together. “We have no ‘bad eggs’ in the dressing room. Even Stirky [midfielder Ryan Stirk], who signed four hours ago, he’s already said how good the dressing room is. “All the new boys have been top class and hopefully we can kick-on together.” https://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/2021/july/squad-spirit-is-already-high---midfielder/ Last year’s Player of the Season described this pre-season as his career’s toughest to date. “We’ve spoken about the intensity of our pre-season, and we’re starting to reap the rewards a little for that. “It’s been the toughest pre-season of my career so far. It’s been quite relentless on some days. It’s bringing the boys closer together, more than anything. The team chemistry is at a high and we’re bringing each other through it. We can’t wait for the season to start.” And with new signing Rhys Oates also able to play competently in an attacking midfield role, Lapslie feels that competition for places can only be beneficial for the squad. “You always need healthy competition for places. There’ll be times when you’re not always in the starting eleven, it’s about getting three points as a team and getting towards the right end of the table.” Speaking of the return of supporters this evening, he added: “It was class. I couldn’t believe there were just 2,500 inside, it sounded a lot more. If the fans are like that, week in week out, teams will hate coming here.” --------------------- George Lapslie can’t wait to get started after most gruelling pre-season of his career chad.co.uk, By John Lomas Midfield ace George Lapslie is hoping the most gruelling pre-season of his life can help him and the other players make an immediate impact on League Two when the new season kicks off against Bristol Rovers a week on Saturday. Lapslie, who signed full time in January after a successful three month loan spell from Charlton Athletic, ended up with a clean sweep of Player of the Year awards last season, inlcuing the Chad Readers’ Stags Player of the Year, which he finally received after the midweek Coventry City friendly. And the 23-year-old believes Stags can make a big impact this season and said the dressing room chemistry is among the best he's ever experienced. “It's all coming together now,” said. “It's all about the intensity of our pre-season training and we're starting to reap the rewards for that. https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/george-lapslie-cant-wait-to-get-started-after-most-gruelling-pre-season-of-his-career-3327586 “It's been a very tough pre-season - the toughest pre-season of my career so far. "Hopefully we will reap the rewards of it when the season starts. “It's been quite relentless on some days " On one day in particular when we went to Allestree Park and then swimming afterwards it was probably the toughest day of my life in terms of pre-season. “You think you're done and you're not. You just have to keep going and keep going. “But it is bringing the boys together more than anything. You want to get fit and you're all going through it together. “Everyone is pulling each other through it and the team bonding and team chemistry at the minute is high.” He added: “It is tough both physically and mentally - physically more so but, mentally, there are definitely times when you're thinking 'ah, we've still got this to do'. “But everyone is getting each other through it, we are getting to the back end of it now and I can't wait for the season to start.” Stags fans returned to the One Call Stadium for the first time in 17 months to see their side boss a young Championship squad from Coventry with some high quality passing and win the game 1-0 - with a superbly-engineered Lapslie goal. “That's the way the gaffer wants us to play and if we start fast we know the fans are going to get behind us,” said Lapslie. “I think we are in a good place as a team, not only in terms of performances but also in the changing room. “The team chemistry is up there as probably one of the best I've experienced. Everyone is really pulling together in the right direction and there are no bad eggs in there. “Even Ryan Stirk, who had only signed four hours before, the first thing he said in the changing room was that 'the older lads are so good here aren't they?' He said everyone speaks to you and you feel part of the group. “If someone else comes in, that's what will happen again. “All the new boys have been top class too - great lads. "They are a great bunch and hopefully we can now just try to kick on.” Lapslie said the competition for places is very high. “You always need that and with the quality we've got there are going to be times when you're not always in the starting XI,” he explained. “But all the boys know that and, as I have said, we are all pulling in the same direction. “If we're winning and you're not starting it's not the end of the world. “It's just about getting three points and getting to the top of that table hopefully.” As an attacking midfielder, Lapslie has a new competitor for his midfield shirt in the versatile Rhys Oates, who has signed from Ipswich Town and also plays as a striker. “I would never think my place is going to be guaranteed. Rhys is top class and a great lad as well. "There will be times when he's playing and I'm not. “But it won't always be the case as there might be times when Oatesy is playing as a striker or I am playing a bit deeper. “As long as we're all pulling in the same direction it doesn't matter who's playing, where you're playing individually or who is scoring the goals. "As long as you're winning, who cares?” Boss Nigel Clough has brought in three new strikers and Lapslie said: “It is a strong department. “Baz (Jordan Bowery) is top class for this level. Then you've got the new boys - Hawks (Oli Hawkins), DJ (Danny Johnson) and Oatsy - they all bring something different to the team. "They are all going to play a massive part in the season that's coming and hopefully it works well.” After being locked out of the One Call Stadium since February 2020, the returning Stags fans made an absolutely deafening noise on an emotional night against Coventry that surprised and delighted manager Clough and his players. “The fans were class against Coventry to be fair,” smiled Lapslie. “I couldn't believe it when they said there were only 2,500 in as it sounded like a lot more. “We know if we get off to a quick start that is going to snowball and we will get more and more as I know we can hold over 9,000 in here. “If the fans are like that week in week out then other teams are going to hate coming here and if that's the case then we can hopefully pick up the results.” London-born Lapslie came through the youth system at Charlton Athletic and made 26 starts for the Vailants, 54 appearances in total, and netted three goals. For the Stags, he arrived last October and, despite a spell out injured, Lapslie made 32 appearances, only two of those coming off the bench, and scored a crucial nine goals. ------------------------ INTERVIEW: Mark Robins Mansfield Reaction The Sky Blues got another 90 minutes in the tank... https://www.ccfc.co.uk/news/2021/july/interview-mark-robins-mansfield-reaction/ Mark Robins believes tonight’s latest run out was the best the Sky Blues have played this pre season and shows the hard work on the training ground is paying off despite the result. “I thought tonight was the best we’ve looked this pre season really, there was a bit more, you could see the work we have done with them certainly for the for 60/70 minutes. “This was a really young team alongside the likes of Tyler Walker and Ben Sheaf. “Bright got half an hour and we had a look at a couple of trialists, then you have Jones and Wilson they are all in need of games so that’s why it was a bit disjointed. “You can’t get any rhythm because you have players getting ill and having to isolate so we haven’t got the squad together.” City came closest to opening the scoring with arguably one of the best opportunities of the game when Jodi Jones almost picked out Trialist A. “We could have had the first goal of the game when Jodi Jones put his free kick in and the lad can’t quite direct his header towards goal. “On another day that goes in.” In the second half Robins rang the changes with an average of 19 heading into the final 20 minutes as the Gaffer gave some of the younger players in the squad minutes against League Two opposition. “The kids that came on were really young kids and maybe the opposition were a bit too powerful for them but it gives them a brilliant insight into playing first team football so for me it was a really good work out.” The workout came against Nigel Clough’s Mansfield side, who edged a tight game after George Lapslie found the back of the net following the restart. “Nigel’s teams always try to play as they are street wise and have players of good knowledge and good ability, with the likes of Quinn and McLaughlin out there on the left-hand-side. “The diamond they play was and they play some decent football and I thought we did ok without hurting them too much.” City take on Norwich City tomorrow evening at Chesterfield’s Technique Stadium. --------------------- Coventry City boss praises 'best' performance so far as Sky Blues beaten by Mansfield Town By Matt Lee https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/sport/football/football-news/coventry-city-mark-robins-mansfield-21162607 Mark Robins praised his Coventry City players for their performance against Mansfield Town on Tuesday evening despite another defeat in the pre-season clash. The Sky Blues are yet to win any of their matches ahead of the upcoming Championship season - losing to MK Dons, Cheltenham Town, and Spanish side Sevilla - and are enduring selection issues with several players out injured or isolating due to coronavirus. Several of Robins' first team players, members of staff and Under-23 players have either been ill or isolating, having tested positive for the virus. Experienced players Liam Kelly and Matty Godden are also sidelined as they both continue their recovery and were unavailable for the trip to Nottinghamshire. Sign up and sign on for your fantastic free 40-page Coventry City pre-season guidecoventrytelegraph Despite having to name a blended squad of senior and youth players, Robins was full of praise for those selected, and he hopes the players will carry that level of work ethic into the league campaign. He said: "I thought tonight was the best we’ve looked this pre season really, there was a bit more, you could see the work we have done with them certainly for the 60/70 minutes. "This was a really young team alongside the likes of Tyler Walker and Ben Sheaf. "Bright [Enobakhare] got half an hour, and we had a look at a couple of trialists, then you have [Jodi] Jones and [Ben] Wilson they are all in need of games, so that’s why it was a bit disjointed. "You can’t get any rhythm because you have players getting ill and having to isolate, so we haven’t got the squad together." City came closest in the first minute when Jones' free-kick picked out a trialist, but the player was unable to convert from close range. Robins made wholesale changes for the second half as he handed minutes to youngsters Blain Rowe, Aaron Evans-Harriott, Harrison Nee and Fabio Tavares. It meant City's players had an average age of just 19 as they competed during the final 20 minutes. And the youngsters gave a good account of themselves in front of the Sky Blues boss despite George Lapslie scoring a winner for the hosts. "The kids that came on were really young kids, and maybe the opposition were a bit too powerful for them, but it gives them a brilliant insight into playing first team football, so for me it was a really good work out." ----------------------- Nathan Bishop @natthb13 Stags debut, clean sheet, positive win and wow did it feel good with the fans; top support all night! #UPTHESTAGSYellow heartBlue heart David Sharpe @DavidSharpe91 After 14 months at the club, I finally got to see our supporters in the ground last night. Was a great atmosphere for a friendly and nice to get a win! Roll on next Saturday!! ------------------- |
Latest | July 2021