Archived News from November 2008
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Commentary of tomorrow's game at Forest Green will be brought to you exclusively by BBC Radio Nottingham Online at bbc.co.uk/nottingham (click on listen live, note you will need Real Player to be installed on your computer). Commentary will be by David Jackson and Martin Shaw.
------------ CHAD.co.uk VIDEO: Globetrotting midfielder happy with Stags video here --> http://www.chad.co.uk/stags/VIDEO-Globetrotting-midfielder-happy-with.4716865.jp CHAD.co.uk, 20 November 2008 , By John Lomas STAGS' midfielder Adnan Ahmed has been around the world - but he seems to be settling well in Mansfield. This week the loanee Pakistan international tells us all about the car crash that led to his move to the the Mill, as well as what it was like growing up with the stars at Manchester United's Academy. He also tells us how he is finding the football at Conference level plus his future hopes for Stags. ------------- Let's get a run going - Stags boss McEwan CHAD.co.uk, 20 November 2008 , By John Lomas BILLY McEwan is urging his side to get a run going and build on last weekend's home win over Salisbury when they travel to Forest Green Rovers on Saturday. http://www.chad.co.uk/stags/Let39s-get-a-run-going.4716244.jp Like Stags, Rovers were among the early-season table-toppers and, like Stags, they have plumetted down to the wrong end of the table after a bad run. Rovers have failed to win any of their last 12 BSP games, conceding 30 goals in the process, but they expect one or two of their injured players to be back in contention for Saturday's clash at the New Lawn and McEwan said: "We won't underestimate them. "It will be a tough game. I know Jim's (Harvey) philosophy and he has been unlucky with injuries. But we know he has some quality players down there. "But we had a good result last weekend against a decent Salisbury side and we need to get on an unbeaten run and build up some momentum. "We have good players here that a lot of opponents would love to have in their teams. They command respect from fellow managers in the league and when we play them they know it will be a tough game. "We have to make sure we keep it going and achieve as high a level of consistency as possible. "I think people are now beginning to understand we are a Conference club and our players are Conference players and this is a very tough league. We are in a battle." With a long haul to Weymouth ahead the following week, Stags know anything earned in the next two games will be earned the hard way. But McEwan added: "The difference between home and away is a mental thing. "It is just a different environment. Whether we played the opposition at Field Mill, at Wembley Stadium or on a training pitch, it's still the same players. The pitches are all green with white lines and a ref in the middle! "We will go out to win every game. A draw is the least you get." Michael Blackwood and Jason White are back doing light jogging with the Stags. But, apart from those, McEwan has no other senior players out for Saturday. Rovers boss Harvey has caused a stir by stating that six of his side are not good enough and has already brought in a familiar face to Stags fans, Cheltenham Town midfielder Josh Low, on a month's loan. Injured midfield pair Alex Lawless and Lee Fowler and defender Mark Preece could be back this weekend to boost Rovers though Ryan Robinson (back), Chris Thomas (virus) and Adriano Rigoglioso (groin) remain doubtful. --------------------- McEwan: Stags must find consistency Evening Post, November 21, 2008 BILLY McEwan today called on his Mansfield side to shed their inconsistency. http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/football/McEwan-Stags-consistency/article-491536-detail/article.html The longest the Stags have gone unbeaten this season is four games, and that was back at the end of August and start of September. Ahead of tomorrow's match at Forest Green Rovers, McEwan said: "We have to look for an unbeaten run and to build up some momentum. "We have players here that a lot of other clubs would like to have in their teams. "I think we have commanded respect from other managers in the league, and they know when we play them it is going to be a tough game. %3Cbody%3E%3Cdiv%20id%3D%22adDiv%22%3E%3CA%20HREF%3D%22http%3A//ads.anm.co.uk/ADCLICK/CID%3Dfffffffcfffffffcfffffffc/AAMSZ%3D452x118/SITE%3DTHISISNOTT/AREA%3DFOOTBALL/SUBAREA%3D/ARTICLE%3D491536/acc_random%3D2151169529/pageid%3D/RS%3D10307.%22%20target%3D%22_new%22%3E%3CIMG%20SRC%3D%22http%3A//iad.anm.co.uk/anmdefaultad.gif%22%20ALT%3D%22%22%20border%3D0%20style%3D%22margin-bottom%3A%200px%3B%22%3E%3C/A%3E%3C/div%3E"But we have been inconsistent, which is frustrating for everyone. "We need a level of consistency in results and performances and we are looking to build that up over the coming weeks and months." Mansfield have won just one game away from home this season, at Salisbury. But McEwan feels the problems on the road have been in the players' minds, rather than down to a lack of ability. He said: "The away form is a mental thing, because whether you play a team at Field Mill, Wembley or on the training ground, you're still up against the same players. "We have to have the belief as well as the ability, as individuals and as a group. "We had that when I was at York and that's why we won so many away games." On-loan midfielder Adnan Ahmed has hinted he would be prepared to follow the lead of Max Chanot and Emile Sinclair and extend his loan spell. The midfielder has impressed with his distribution and work-rate since joining from Tranmere Rovers. He said: "I have to see what the Tranmere manager says. "But I am enjoying it and I would definitely consider staying if my club are happy." -------------- McEwan ready for Stags tough away trips CHAD.co.uk, 18 November 2008, By Gordon Foster STAGS boss Billy McEwan is looking to build on Saturday's first win in six BSP games in what he readily acknowledges will be a difficult task at Forest Green Rovers this weekend. http://www.chad.co.uk/stags/McEwan-ready-for-Stags-tough.4705417.jp "Now we have to forget about Salisbury (3-0) and concentrate on Forest Green," he said ahead of the first of two tough away matches (Forest Green, 22nd November and Weymouth, 29th). "We've got to start picking points up away from home. Our away form has not been the best (just one League win all season) so that is an area where we have to get our teeth into. "There are a lot of games coming up in a short time and a lot of points to be won or dropped. We've dropped enough points already and we have to make sure that we respect Forest Green as we do every opponent. "I know their players and their manager Jim Harvey, and knowing them I know it will not be an easy game. They were top of the league early in the season, and I fancied them for the play-offs with the squad they have. "Jim is doing a similar job at Forest Green to what he did at Morecambe where he did wonders, and it was effectively his side that Sammy McIlroy took up into the league. The job there was already done. "Now he's doing the same at Forest Green. They were unfortunate last year finishing just outside the play-offs, and they had aspirations about making them this year because they have some very good players. "His problem is that he has picked up injuries to key players, and small clubs like them, and us, don't have a big budget to help over situations like that. "It's the sort of thing that can hamper the progress of a club as we know for ourselves with Michael Blackwood, who is progressing at Lilleshall but we don't know when he will be back. "It's a big game for both teams because both are down near the bottom of the table and it's a game where we can't afford to drop points. "We have two tough league games coming up and four of the last five have been away. We're pleased by the way we bounced back against Salisbury but that was last week. "We can't rest on our laurels, it's what we do this week and in the games to come that counts. "Our recent games including very good performances at Chesterfield and at York in the Setanta Shield have re-inforced the belief that I have in the players and what we are trying to achieve. "I keep on saying you can't build a whole club overnight or in four or five months. "Teams are built over a period of time after a foundation has been put down. In the meantime we are trying to be successful too. "Maybe after our good start to the season people's expectation levels went up and one or two got carried away, but football has a nasty habit of kicking you in the teeth. "But the progress that we have been making is encouraging, bit by bit what we are doing on the training ground is getting through and showing in games, and players are starting to adhere to the standards we are trying to set. "We've got to maintain what we believe in regarding the way we want the club to progress on and off the pitch and eventually we'll get it right but it needs time and patience. "Players have done things in other ways at other clubs under other managers, and I'm having to say 'no, you don't do that now, you do it the way that has given me success over the years, and we can do it here', but you have to be realistic and know it happens over a period of time." ----------------- |
Latest | November 2008