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Archived News from December 2006

SHIRTLIFF, BARKER AND FAIRCLOUGH REACTION
18th December 2006 17:49


Shirtliff plans January sales
CHAD
STAGS boss Peter Shirtliff reiterated his intention to make big changes during the January transfer window after his side's latest flop, a 2-1 defeat at Barnet on Saturday.
Mansfield Town, with only one win in eight games, now desperately need to beat Chester City on Friday (7.45pm) ahead of the tough Boxing Day trip to Darlington (3pm).
"It is the same players making the same mistakes week in week out and there is only one answer to that and that comes in January," said Shirtliff.
"We just can't concentrate for 90 minutes.
"We are like a pack of cards. When one goes down, they all go down. That's how it is at the moment.
"It is not like we have seven or eight players who will carry the rest.
"I need to go out and bring players in who will stand up and be counted.
"Fresh faces always give a boost. I am not saying that as a threat against the current players. We need them - there is no doubt about it.
"I do have players in mind. It all needs shaking up."
He added: "For 45 minutes I thought we were excellent. We controlled the game, we had chances, their keeper made good saves and we hit the post.
"It looked like it would be 0-0 at half-time and then they got a goal from a corner. The lad might have been climbing all over someone but sometimes you get those decisions and sometimes you don't.
"At half time they were positive and we felt we could get back into it.
"Then straight away in the second half we shoot ourselves in the foot and give away another goal and it is happening far too often and leaves us a mountain to climb. It was another unbelievable goal to concede - ridiculous.
"That gave Barnet a lift and they got more confidence and started running past us and playing better.
"We did pull a goal back near the end but I thought that flattered us. We were amateurish for the last 45 minutes.
"I don't know what I am going to get from this side from half to half let alone game to game which is ridiculous.
"This game was there for the taking. Sometimes I don't know what words to say and I just keep repeating myself."
Former Stags management pair Steve Parkin and Tony Ford parted company with struggling Rochdale on Friday.
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SHIRTLIFF VOWS TO HUNT FOR FRESH TALENT FOR MANSFIELD
Evening Post, 18 December 2006
Peter Shirtliff confirmed he wants to make widespread changes to the Mansfield squad after their latest away day debacle at Barnet.

The Stags boss was dismayed after watching his side fall 2-0 behind after lapses in concentration.

And despite Richard Barker's late strike for his 14th goal of the season, the visitors could not steal a point, leaving Shirtliff determined to introduce fresh blood in the January transfer window.

"We are like a pack of cards at the moment - when one goes down they all seem to go down together," he said.

"I need to sign players who stand up to be counted because I don't think I have the players to stand up.

"I have got some players in mind and there needs to be changes. It needs shaking up. The game was there for the taking.

"The players keep making the same mistakes week in, week out and there is only one thing to do when that is happening and that will come in January."

Shirtliff was again frustrated Mansfield could not sustain their first half performance into the second.

He said: "For 45 minutes we were excellent. We controlled the game.

"To go in 1-0 down was disappointing but the players were positive and felt they could get back into the game but then they shot themselves in the foot.

"At the start of the second half we gave away another stupid goal which is happening far too often - and we had a mountain to climb."
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Audio interview with Peter Shirtliff from BBC Radio Nottingham (RealPlayer needed)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/nottingham/realmedia/football/2007/stags_barnet_away_manager.ram
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Audio interview with Richie Barker from BBC Radio Nottingham (RealPlayer needed)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/nottingham/realmedia/football/2007/stags_barnet_away_player.ram
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PETER LEFT FUMING BY DEFEAT
Evening Post website
Mansfield manager Peter Shirtliff was left fuming after his shot-shy side wasted a host of chances in their 2-1 defeat at Barnet.

Shirtliff was left frustrated as goals from Ismail Yakubu and Adam Gross handed Barnet a much-needed win and saw them leapfrog Mansfield in the table. Richie Barker head home a late consolation for the visitors.

"For 45 minutes I thought we were excellent," said Shirtliff. "We controlled the game and made chances and their goalkeeper made a couple of great saves.

"I thought if we could go in at the break 0-0, we could go on and win the game. Even after they scored their goal I still thought we could win it.

"But then we gave away a stupid second goal, which was amateurish, it was two entirely different halves that we played.

"It was the same problem at Bury last weekend. Sometimes I don't know what to say. I keep telling lads what they are doing wrong, but they keep making the same mistakes.

"There is only one thing you can do about that. All their chances came from throw-ins and set-pieces - it's not that difficult to defend against - it's that simple."

Barnet manager Paul Fairclough was not impressed with his own side's performance, but was happy to take all the spoils.

"It was one of those games and arguably the most forgettable 45 minutes I can remember since I have been here," Fairclough said.

"Santa came very early for us and delivered an early Christmas present. It was an ugly win, but I will take it.

"We've played 10 times better than that this season and not taken anything from the match.

"Our long-term target is to reach the play-offs and if we chip away we might just find ourselves in an interesting position.

"We may have taken the points, but we need to give Mansfield a huge amount of credit because they gave everything."

 

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