Archived News from July 2022
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CLOUGH REACTION
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Boss pleased with pre-season outings
mansfieldtown.net, Sat 23 July 2022 Mansfield Town manager Nigel Clough says his squad have played ‘five good games’ this pre-season as his side prepare for next Saturday’s 2022/23 season opener at Salford City. Across those five matches, the Stags scored 14 times - conceding just once. This afternoon’s 3-0 victory at Oldham ensured Mansfield ended their pre-season campaign unbeaten after a draw against Rotherham and victories over Retford, Matlock and Sheffield United. https://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/2022/july/boss-pleased-with-pre-season-outings/ Speaking to iFollow Stags pitchside after a dominant display at Boundary Park, the gaffer said: “We’ve had five good games. “We’re very pleased defensively with the fact we’ve only conceded the one goal, a corner against Rotherham. “We’ve got away with a couple [of missed opportunities]. We did against Sheffield United, and we did again today. I hope that continues well into the season. We're not quite up to speed yet which we always knew we wouldn't be, with the short break and the slightly changed pre-season.” "So I think that's going to come in the next few weeks as we get the games under our belt. And I'm glad we've got the five substitutions available. Early season especially we're going to need them. The boss, again, used the entirety of his outfield matchday squad as his players gained further match fitness. “I thought we were a little bit lethargic today [at times],” he said. “We’ve had a tough week against Rotherham and Sheffield United. “A few lads are catching up [on match fitness] and it looked like that. “We kept a clean sheet again and I thought we scored three very good goals. “The main chances they [Oldham] had came through our mistakes - a little bit through fatigue - but good to get the final one [pre-season match] out the way.” This afternoon saw the boss’ injury list possibly extend. The Stags’ chief provided the latest on his squad’s absentees. “Jason Law, first of all, he had a dead leg last week and he got another whack on it. He was the first one to come off. “JJ [O’Toole] has got a whack on his knee so we’ll have to see how that settles. “Riley [Harbottle] is okay. He was coming off anyway, he got poked in the eye. “George Lapslie felt his thigh after training yesterday - just tight. There was no point in risking him. “Quinny with his hip, he got a whack against Sheffield United [and] trained yesterday but was a little bit uncomfortable [afterwards]. Again, there’s no point in risking him. “We think there will be no Wallace [for the Salford fixture next week]. Not sure about Perchy.” Mansfield have signed five players this summer. The gaffer is pleased at how his latest additions are settling in. “Will Swan looked very good today,” said Nigel. “Hiram Boateng, again, was excellent. “[As did] Christy Pym. “The players that we’ve brought in have improved us and that’s the aim.” Striker Danny Johnson joined Walsall on loan until 15 January 2023 this afternoon. “Danny has gone out to Walsall so it leaves us with a space [in the squad] if we can fill it,” said the boss. "Walsall were the ones who were keenest on Danny. There was a couple of options for him. We couldn't quite get a permanent done. So it's an initial six month loan possibly with a view to a permanant. "It just didn't quite work out football wise with Danny. We had no problem with him at all. We wish him all the best at Walsall." “We’re pleased with James Gale in the last week or so. “He struggled a bit [in the] early pre-season but I think he’s done well in the games as of late. “If we don’t get another forward player in, it might be that we’ll be using him which is absolutely fine. “Whoever we bring in has to be better than him. “We’ve had some bids turned down in the last couple of weeks. There's not many players out there. "Championship clubs are finding it difficult to get players in, and it's a knock-on effect, like a housing chain ... Premier League are waiting on some, they can't let them out to the Championship, so though Championship can't let them out to League One and Two. "There's not that many good players available at the moment, especially out of contract." "We're happy with what we've got. One more would be nice." “There’s a chance of one in and one out [before the Salford match]. “Maybe a couple of ins, we’ll see. “We’ve got that space with Danny going out.” "The plan was to get James Gale and George Cooper out on loan because that would benefit their development. "If we can get another forward, a good one ... or a midfield, just a good player, ... because we can throw people up front ... Jordan can go up front, Hawks can go up front, as well as Swan, Akins and Oates. "It's just good players you are looking for." Ahead of next weekend’s 2022/23 curtain raiser at Salford, the manager outlined his hopes for the campaign. “[The aim is] To improve on last season’s achievements, that’s it,” he said. “We made the play-off getting from second from bottom [to Wembley]. “Hopefully, we won’t have that extended poor run and we’ll be there or there abouts. “I think we’ve got the squad to do that.” On what gives him the confidence to think it might be an even better season, Clough said: "To retain the nucleus of the squad that did ever so well. The five players we've brought in we think have improved us. We were three points off automatic promotion, we're looking to make that three points up if we can." Asked about Ryan Broom, a bit of interest in him if Barry Fry is to be believed: Clough laughed: "Yes we made an enquiry while we were dealing with Peterborough over Christy Pym. "But Ryan made it clear he would like to stay in League One, at least if he can." ------------------ @kellangordon25 Pre season signed off with my first 90 mins in 12 months,always nice to get a clean sheet and assist to top it off on to next week ----------------------- Oldham midfielder frustrated with Mansfield defeat By Suzanne Geldard https://www.theoldhamtimes.co.uk/sport/20377775.oldham-midfielder-frustrated-mansfield-defeat/ NATHAN Sheron is looking for Latics to bounce back from a disappointing pre-season friendly performance against Mansfield Town. John Sheridan was without half of his summer signings, with Liam Hogan, Zaine Francis-Angol, Jordan Windass and Lois Maynard in the stands having picked up minor knocks in training, while defender Will Sutton was sidelined through injury, having just played his first 90 minutes at Bradford Park Avenue in midweek. But Sheron said the absences could not be used as an excuse for slipping to a 3-0 defeat in the final home friendly. "We have injuries, but we’re three weeks into pre-season and we need to crack on and get ready for the season," said Sheron, who started at the heart of Latics' defence alongside Harrison McGahey in Hogan's absence. "It was a frustrating afternoon, particularly coming on the back of what we thought was a positive performance against Wigan last week. "It was disappointing that we dropped our standards so low but we need to try and not get too down about it. We’ve got to roll our sleeves up and go again. "We want to be winning games. I know pre-season isn’t all about results but we want to be doing well and in that respect it’s been frustrating." -------------------- |
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