Archived News from November 2009
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PREVIEWS + CLARE LOAN EXT + GARDNER AVAILABLE
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David Holdsworth audio interview from Radio Nottingham, 12Nov2009 --> http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/m/mansfield_town/8355277.stm? Holdsworth may drop top scorers Holdsworth's says six forward places are up for grabs against Crawley Mansfield Town manager David Holdsworth has warned he could drop leading scorers Rob Duffy and Kyle Perry against Crawley on Saturday. The pair have notched up 20 goals between them already this season but Holdsworth said that meant nothing. He told BBC Radio Nottingham that all six forward positions are open. "If anybody lets their guard down they are vulnerable. I've got competition for places and players have to deliver," he said. Holdsworth said he felt forwards left the defence exposed and should have played with more intelligence in their FA Cup first round draw against Forest Green. "You should never be satisfied with what you're doing always want more. "[20 goals] doesn't count for anything - you're only as good as your last game. "Reputations don't do anything, you don't win a game on paper, so players don't get selected unless they're pulling their weight," he said. ---------------------- David Holdsworth audio interview from bluesqfootball.com, 12Nov2009 --> http://www.bluesqfootball.com/story/0,20970,13040_5691157,00.html? video - Wednesday press meeting with Paul Heckingbottom and David Holdsworth, 11Nov2009 --> http://www.mansfieldtown.net/page/NewsDetail/0,,10325~1872994,00.html? Battle is on for places - Holdsworth, 11Nov2009 --> http://www.mansfieldtown.net/page/FromTheBoss/0,,10325~1872989,00.html Clare to extend loan at Gateshead, 11Nov2009 ---> http://www.mansfieldtown.net/page/NewsDetail/0,,10325~1872807,00.html Gardner made available for loan, 11Nov2009 --> http://www.mansfieldtown.net/page/NewsDetail/0,,10325~1873137,00.html --------------- video - Stevie Istead http://www.chad.co.uk/stags/VIDEO-Istead-looks-to-cement.5814453.jp? ------------------- Stags extend Clare loan deal CHAD.co.uk, 11 November 2009, By Stephen Thirkill MANSFIELD Town have extended Daryl Clare's loan deal with Blue Square Premier rivals Gateshead. http://www.chad.co.uk/stags/Stags-extend-Clare-loan-deal.5815991.jp Clare, who has finished as top scorer in the Conference during his career, will remain with the North East club until 1st January 2010. The former Chester striker, who failed to find a regular place in the Stags starting line-up following the emergence of Kyle Perry and Rob Duffy has starting five games for Gateshead but has yet to score. Clare will not be able to face Stags when the two sides meet under the terms of the loan deal. ---------------------- Defender Gardner put up for loan by Stags CHAD.co.uk, 11 November 2009, By Stephen Thirkill STAGS defender Scott Gardner has been put up for loan by the field mill club. http://www.chad.co.uk/stags/Defender-Gardner-put-up-for.5816042.jp Gardner (21) began the season at right-back before losing his place to Gary Silk after two matches following a suspension. Boss David Holdsworth told the club's official website http://www.mansfieldtown.net: "Scott has expressed a desire for first team football and I do not want to stand in his way. "He is a tremendous young man and I believe he will do a good job at any level, including the Conference. He started the season as my first choice right-back." ---------------------- Bradley to be loaned, Clare deal extended Evening Post, November 11, 2009 MANSFIELD Town are to send striker Jason Bradley on loan to King's Lynn for the rest of the season once he has returned from injury. http://www.thisismansfieldtown.co.uk/news/Bradley-loaned-Clare-deal-extended/article-1503499-detail/article.html The 20-year-old Sheffield Wednesday and Darlington player linked up with Carl Heggs' side earlier in the season before suffering an ankle injury on debut. But Bradley hopes to return within the next month and is then set to return to the Walks to get some first team games under his belt. "I like Jason, he has got something about him, but he still has a long way to go in his development," said manager David Holdsworth. "It's important he gets regular football to help with that and Carl is keen to take him." Striker Daryl Clare's loan spell at Gateshead has be extended. He will stay with the north-east club until January 4. Defender Tom Naylor, meanwhile, may be handed a trial by Doncaster Rovers after impressing in Mansfield's friendly game against Rovers on Tuesday. ------------------- Holdsworth warning for Stags strikers Evening Post, November 12, 2009 DAVID Holdsworth today issued a warning to his Mansfield Town strikers: "Drop your guard and you'll be out of the team." http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/football/Holdsworth-warning-Stags-strikers/article-1504191-detail/article.html? Last weekend's front three against Forest Green Rovers – Rob Duffy, Kyle Perry and Jake Speight – have contributed 25 goals between them so far this season. But the manager was not happy with their contributions at the New Lawn and insists they must keep up standards. "The goals they have scored don't count for anything and reputations don't get you anywhere either," said Holdsworth. "You are only as good as your last game and they can do more than they did at Forest Green. Players don't get selected if they are not pulling their weight. "If people think I am happy to take a draw away from home then they don't know me at all. "I don't care whether people have got nine, ten or 19 goals, if they are not doing their job I will remind them of their duties and if they still don't do it, they could find themselves sitting down." But Holdsworth is happy with Mansfield's improvement away from home ahead of Saturday's visit to Crawley. He said: "We have worked hard and things have changed dramatically in the last nine months." Jason Bradley is going on loan to King's Lynn for the rest of the season while Daryl Clare's loan at Gateshead has been extended until January 4. ---------------------- Holdsworth ready for tough time at Crawley CHAD.co.uk, 12 November 2009, By Stephen Thirkill STAGS boss David Holdsworth knows his side will be in for a tough battle when they travel to Crawley on Saturday. http://www.chad.co.uk/stags/Holdsworth-ready-for-tough-time.5816213.jp? Mansfield travel south on the back of a six game unbeaten streak in all competitions and looking for their fifth away win of the season. But they know Crawley, who were thumped 4-0 at Field Mill on the opening day of the season, will come out all guns blazing and looking for revenge. "It was a dream start against Crawley at the start of the season, we played very well on the day," said Holdsworth. "After the game Steve Evans was complimentary about our club and how far we have come. "This is a different side to that of last season and the mentality is different at this club. "Crawley are a dangerous team, they will be up for a battle and we will have to fight hard and have a strong referee. "They will use the opening day of the season as motivation.I want us to just think about going there and picking up the three points. "This sort of game is where you find out more about your players. I want us to go down there, defend properly and be professional." Stags have no fresh injury worries ahead of the game, with Louis Briscoe still expected to miss out after his recent injury. --------------------- Places are up for grabs, warns Holdsworth CHAD.co.uk, 11 November 2009, By Stephen Thirkill TOUGH-TALKING Stags boss David Holdsworth has warned his players they will be dropped from the team if they fail to perform. http://www.chad.co.uk/stags/Places-are-up-for-grabs.5815684.jp The warning comes after a number of players failed to perform to expectations in the FA Cup tie against Forest Green, which Stags so nearly lost. "You are only as good as your last game and certain players were not good enough in their last game,"said Holdsworth. "I have got some decisions to make for the Crawley game, there are six places up for grabs. "Our defence was exposed against Forest Green. The front three need to perform better as a unit and not play as individuals and the midfield need to return the ball better. "Our second phase play was not good enough and we need to be more aware and compete better for the second ball. Determined Holdsworth also warned his squad that past performances and reputations counted for nothing in his eyes. Said Holdsworth: "Reputations get you nowhere and players will not get selected if they are not performing as I expect. "We got the draw on Saturday but we should never be satisfied. We must always strive for more to take the club forward." -------------------------- Somner working on booking problem BBC audio ----> http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/mansfield_town/8355122.stm? Wednesday, 11 November 2009 Mansfield Town midfielder Matt Somner has said manager David Holdsworth is trying to help him avoid picking up so many bookings. Somner lost his place in the Stags side after serving a one-match ban for receiving five cautions this season. "It won't stop me from tackling, but I'll maybe make better decisions," Somner told BBC Radio Nottingham. The 26-year-old is hoping for a recall at Crawley on Saturday in the Blue Square Premier. Somner added: "I'm not going to stop doing what I do because it gets me in the team, but I think some of [the tackles which led to] my bookings didn't need to be made. "It [suspension] happens to me most seasons. It's horrible because obviously you haven't lost your place - it's just one of those things that happens. He added: "The way I play I am always going to pick up yellow cards. If I get a booking for a tackle, which may need to happen then fair enough." -------------------- Heckingbottom praises Stags' battling spirit CHAD.co.uk, 11 November 2009, By Stephen Thirkill FULL-BACK Paul Heckingbottom has praised the Stags' fighting qualities after rescuing draws in their last two games. http://www.chad.co.uk/stags/Heckingbottom-praises-Stags39-battling-spirit.5815897.jp Mansfield appeared to be down and out against Histon in the league and Forest Green in the FA before late goals rescued a 1-1 draw in both games. That determination has seen the Field Mill club go on a six game unbeaten streak as they battle for promotion back into the Football League. The former Bradford City defender said: "We are protecting an unbeaten run. Over the 90 minutes against Forest Green we did not deserve it, but we kept battling and got our reward. "It is a really positive attitude we have within the squad. You can have all the possession, but if you are mentally weak then you are going to get stung." The experienced Heckingbottom added: "There are games where we have not played at our best, but we feel that we are still going to win the game. "Beating Oxford gave us a lot of confidence because we matched them in every area. We feel like we have a great chance of achieving something this season. "But achievements don't just come to a player, you cannot just wait for things to happen. We have to go out and achieve things and be determined." Stags know they will have to be at their battling best at the weekend when they face a Crawley side likely to be fired up and looking for revenge after their opening day drubbing at Field Mill. ----------------- Stags set for massive three weeks CHAD.co.uk, 11 November 2009, By Stephen Thirkill BOSS David Holdsworth is calling on his troops to maintain their high standards as Stags prepare for a busy spell of seven games inside three weeks. http://www.chad.co.uk/stags/Stags-set-for-massive-three.5814478.jp Stags kick off the potentially season-defining period away to Crawley in the Blue Square Premier on Saturday, before facing Forest Green next Tuesday in the FA Cup replay and back to back home games against Eastbourne and Luton. Confident Stags go into the game knowing a solid points haul will keep the Field Mill club firmly inside the play-off zone and provide them with further momentum to push on as they continue to chase leaders Oxford United. But with such a hectic period ahead boss David Holdsworth knows he will have to protect his squad as best as he can. Said Holdsworth: "I am mindful that we have two big weeks coming up and we perhaps have to manage each game with one eye on the next because we do not have a big enough squad to rotate. "The Luton match is a big game for us, but there are no easy games in this league. "All the teams at the bottom are working hard and we have to keep our focus on each individual game and maintain the high standards we have set. "Standards is a word I use a lot and I expect standards to be maintained with everything, whether that is hoovering the carpet or making a cup of tea. "We have a lot of games in a short space of time so we will have to manage our training accordingly as well. "We will probably do more theory work and light training." With Stags' resolve likely to be tested during the hectic period, their never-say-die-attitude, which has rescued two late draws in the last two fixtures could be a defining influence. "We try to install this never-say-die attitude into our players and to play to the very end and not give up,"added Holdsworth. "My players have been fantastic in this respect and I think the world of them. "We did not play well against Forest Green, but we kept going and kept working hard to get our rewards. "It is all about motivation and the desire to win and do our very best and I am delighted with my players." All eyes turn to the league this Saturday as Stags look to maintain their play-off push with the tricky trip down south to face Crawley. Stags go into the fixture holding a four game unbeaten run and looking for their fifth away win of the campaign. Said Holdsworth: "Crawley are always up for the fight and we will have to go there and compete. I am looking forward to the challenge ahead." Stags' England C players Kyle Perry and Scott Garner have been withdraw from the squad to face Poland on 17th November due to a clash with the FA Cup replay at home to Forest Green Rovers. ------------------- Stags can cut Oxford lead, insists Speight Evening Post, November 11, 2009 JAKE Speight believes Mansfield can rein in Blue Square Premier leaders Oxford United in the lead up to Christmas. http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/football/Stags-cut-Oxford-lead-insists-Speight/article-1501378-detail/article.html? The Stags are ten points behind in the race for top spot, even though they are the only side to beat Chris Wilder's Us. But striker Speight feels Mansfield have the ideal chance to extend their excellent recent unbeaten run as four of their next six games are against struggling sides. "There are a few games where we could have picked up a few more points," said Speight. "The Barrow game was a disappointment and maybe on another day we might have won against Histon, even though a draw was probably fair. "But now we have got the FA Cup game out of the way, we have got a run of games where I feel we have a chance of closing the gap on Oxford. "I think as players, like the fans, you look at the games and assess where you might be able to pick up the points. "This looks like a spell when we can do it but at the same time you have to perform, whether playing teams at the top or the bottom, or you will get beaten. "The better you are going in the league, the more teams raise their game and want to beat you. We need to stay strong and keep picking up the good results." One of Mansfield's biggest disappointments was their 4-1 defeat to Luton Town in their second game. The Hatters have since been taken over by Richard Money following the sacking of Mick Harford. Speight is hoping the Stags can gain some kind of revenge over the Hatters at Field Mill. He said: "When we went to Luton I think we made them look a lot better than they were by not playing very well." A Mansfield friendly side lost 4-1 to Doncaster Rovers yesterday. Craig Dobson scored for Stags. ------------------- Dobson on target in Stags friendly defeat Evening Post, November 10, 2009 MANSFIELD Town boss David Holdsworth was pleased with the way a youthful side acquitted themselves in a behind-closed-doors friendly at Doncaster Rovers this afternoon. http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/football/Dobson-target-Stags-friendly-defeat/article-1501002-detail/article.html The Stags were beaten 4-1 as the hosts, without a competitive game this weekend, featured a number of their Championship squad. But Holdsworth was pleased the likes of Ryan Williams, Matt Somner, Craig Armstrong, Craig Dobson and Ollie Hotchkiss all got some match time under their belts. And he was also happy with the contribution of some of the youth teamers who figured. "It was a very useful exercise for some of the young lads against a Doncaster side featuring some first-team players," said Holdsworth. "It give those boys a sense of what they should be aiming for if they want to play at a high level." Dobson scored Mansfield's goal. Meanwhile, Holdsworth insists Mansfield have had no formal approach from Eastwood Town for Jonathan D'Laryea. The Badgers' boss Paul Cox revealed last week he is an admirer of the midfielder, who is currently out on loan at Northwich Victoria. -------------------- Super seven to test Stags squad – Holdsworth Evening Post, November 10, 2009 DAVID Holdsworth today admitted Mansfield Town's run of seven games in 22 days will push his squad to its limits. http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/football/Super-seven-test-Stags-squad-8211-Holdsworth/article-1495527-detail/article.html? Following Saturday's trip to Crawley, the Stags have three successive midweek games sandwiched between their Saturday fixtures. Holdsworth knows it will be important to juggle his resources to give key players a breather when possible. "I try to manage each game on merit and try to pick a team that will win a specific game – which is what I'll do at Crawley," he said. "But at the same time I am mindful that we have a big two or three weeks and we perhaps have to manage things with one eye on the next fixture. "We have got three very important home games coming up – we really must turn up for those – so the personnel may have to be rotated. "We have got Luton here but also Eastbourne – and that game is just as important. There are no easy games. "We will definitely manage the training and there won't be that much between all the matches. "But we haven't got a big enough squad to rotate things too much. "Maybe where we were looking at opportunities to loan people out before, we won't do that now for a while." Holdsworth has set Louis Briscoe a target of returning for the FA Cup first round reply against Forest Green Rovers a week on Tuesday. The right-midfielder has not figured since damaging his knee falling down stairs at home before the game at Eastbourne in mid-October. Holdsworth said: "Louis has done his rehab and now we are looking to get him on to light ball work. "He may join in with the rest of the team towards the end of the week. "He has maintained a good fitness and Forest Green is a realistic ambition." Mansfield have a behind- closed-doors friendly at Doncaster Rovers today. Ed Eley, Matt Somner, Craig Dobson, Blair Sturrock, Craig Armstrong and trialist Anthony Peters are all set to figure. ------------------- |
Latest | November 2009