Archived News from November 2011
|
COX, THOMPSON, GREEN, SINTON REACTION
|
 |
|
Mansfield 103.2 post-match interviews with Paul Cox and John Thompson and a WEB EXCLUSIVE interview with Matt Green that came in too late to be played on air. Listen here.
----------------------------------- Mansfield Town manager Paul Cox told BBC Radio Nottingham: AUDIO INTERVIEW ---> http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/15704951.stm "We just lacked a cutting edge and an end product. The lads have worked hard but we didn't create. "Our delivery in the box wasn't good, our end product was nothing today. That's sometimes down to a bit of quality in depth. "We've got good players and you want quality in your squad." ------------------------------------------------------------- Stags boss Cox will strengthen squad after goalless AFC Telford draw chad.co.uk STAGS manager Paul Cox is on a mission to strengthen his squad this week after misfiring in front of goal in a 0-0 draw at AFC Telford on Saturday. http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town-fc/stags_boss_cox_will_strengthen_squad_after_goalless_afc_telford_draw_1_3987028?utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitterfeed “I had a positive chat with the chairman yesterday and have the green light to go out and spend a bit of cash. “Next week is a big week for us as I believe the loan window closes next Saturday. “If our two loan players go back we have a squad of 20 which is 10 or 11 short of what the other teams up there with us have.” He added: “We are not in a bad position and we even managed to go up a place today. As long as we are on the tails of the so-called bigger clubs by Christmas I will be happy. “I am a football manager, not a miracle worker, and this is going to take time. It is a building process. “I am not going to sign 75 players and get rid of this 11. We have a group here whose honesty sometimes gets the better of them. “If we nurture some of these young lads we might have some gems in the next 10-18 months. But they sometimes need a bit of a rest to get their form or mindset back and you then need quality to go in which we don't have in depth at the moment.” On the 0-0 draw, he added: “I thought we played some good football today, especially in the second period, without having an end product – simple as that. “We had a couple of scare in the first 20 minutes but, apart from that, I thought we were comfortable. “I thought only one team was going to win it, but our final ball or our final shot were a bit sloppy and if you don't score a goal you don't win games. “It wasn't just the forwards, our end product from wide areas wasn't good enough either. “Lindon Meikle has flown back from England C duty and looked a bit leggy. He worked his socks off today but his end product was a bit erratic. I feel quite sorry for him as he is quite down in there right now. “The lads worked hard and did all I asked of them. They just need to work on their end product. I think that will come with bringing more quality into the squad. Our decision-making needs to be better and we are relying too much on individuals to win matches at the moment. “I thought John Thompson was absolutely outstanding. We played the ball out of the back and got the full backs forward. John was a massive positive today.” ------------------------------------ Cox gets green light for Stags signings Nottingham Post MANSFIELD Town boss Paul Cox is preparing a fresh assault on the transfer market before Saturday's loan deadline after seeing his side fire blanks at AFC Telford. http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/story-13909197-detail/story.html The Stags claimed a point from a 0-0 draw at the New Bucks Head with a first clean sheet in 13 matches. But Cox was frustrated by Mansfield's lack of potency going forward as they never seriously tested home goalkeeper Ryan Young. He believes the best way to address those shortcomings is by bringing in new faces. The manager will, no doubt, be looking to use some of the six-figure fee Mansfield are poised to receive for Tom Naylor following his move to Derby County. "We played some good football, especially in the second half, we defended well and I was pleased with the effort the players put in," said Cox, "But there's no doubt we lacked a cutting edge and that is why we didn't get the result we wanted. "It's not just something to look at on the training field, it's something we need to look at in terms of adding more quality to the squad. "I had a positive chat with the chairman on Friday and he has given me the green light to go out and spend a bit of cash. "I would like someone up front and in other areas too, but it's hard." ------------------ Brave Stags defender Thompson 'very happy' after finally making Mansfield Town debut chad.co.uk MANSFIELD Town defender John Thompson was a happy man tonight after getting through his first 90 minutes in a Mansfield shirt in a 0-0 draw at Telford. http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town-fc/brave_stags_defender_thompson_very_happy_after_finally_making_mansfield_town_debut_1_3987032 And the former Irish international, signed in the summer, admitted there were times he thought his career may be over after that horrendous pre-season challenge by Ilkeston's Gary Ricketts that left him with a badly broken nose and over 40 facial stitches in a pre-season friendly. “I am very happy to get through 90 minutes as it's been nearly four months since the injury,” he said. “I was a great feeling to be out on the pitch again playing football as there were times when I didn't think I was going to get back. “It was a bad injury. Everyone has seen the pictures and I have quite a few others where it looks worse. “I had to stay in the house for over a month, eating and drinking through straws and it wasn't a nice time for my family or anyone. “It's been a long road. I have taken little steps and am back now which is brilliant. “I am generally a tough character and as soon as I was back on the training ground I realised I was just heading balls and doings things naturally. So it doesn't really concern me now. “I have hit the 30 mark while I've been injured and I have to admit I am getting on a bit now. But I am generally a fit lad. “Everyone at the club has been absolutely brilliant with me – the manager, the chairman, who came to see me at home, and the physio, Jason Truscott, who has gone now, looked after me well. I hope I can repay them all with more clean sheets.” With Thompson's debut came the club's first clean sheet in 12 games. He said: “We came here with the aim of getting a clean sheet and we did that. I thought the back four were brilliant today and on another day we'd have scored a goal or two as well. We just lacked that killer instinct in front of goal. “There were a lot of positives to take from today.” ----------------------------------------------------------------- John Thompson relieved after making Mansfield debut http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/15835961.stm?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter By David Jackson, BBC Radio Nottingham Mansfield Town defender John Thompson says he feared for his career after a horrific facial injury in pre-season left him housebound and eating through a straw. Thompson finally made his debut against AFC Telford on Saturday after nearly four months on the sidelines, and he helped the Stags keep a first clean sheet in 13 games. But pleased as the 30-year-old defender was with his contribution, he was just thrilled to be back on the pitch again. "It's great to be playing football because there were times when I didn't think I would get back," Thompson told BBC Radio Nottingham. "I had to stay in my house for more than a month and was eating and drinking through straws." Thompson, who moved to Field Mill from Notts County in the summer, had his nose broken and needed 40 stitches following the pre-season friendly against Ilkeston FC in August. Stags manager Paul Cox abandoned the match with 17 minutes remaining when Thompson became the third player to be injured following challenges by Ilkeston striker Gary Ricketts, who was subsequently banned and fined by his club. And although Republic of Ireland international Thompson has made a full recovery, the time spent getting back to fitness, and the extent of the injury, have left a lasting impression. Thompson added: "It's been a tough road. It was a bad injury and everyone who saw the pictures would say that and I have lot more pictures that were even worse. "It's been nearly four months since the injury and it wasn't a nice time for anyone in my family but I am over it now. "There were dark times but you take little steps and little steps and to be out there playing with the boys again was brilliant. "I'm very happy and pleased with myself - especially to get through 90 minutes." The versatile Dublin-born defender admitted there were occasions when he wondered how he would react when he did play full-contact football again. "There was a little bit of doubt but I am generally quite a tough character, and as I soon I got my first training session back I realised I was heading balls and doing things naturally," Thompson said. "It's not going to really concern me." Thompson's return also means he has joined a select group of players who have represented Nottinghamshire's three main clubs. He has played 100 games for both Forest, where he started his career, and Notts County. "I have lived in Nottingham since I was 17 and it's a great city," Thompson said. "To play for those three clubs is a great achievement and it's something I am really proud of. "They are the three clubs whose results I always look out for now." FIVE PLAYERS TO PLAY FOR FOREST, NOTTS AND STAGSContinue reading the main story Trevor Christie, Jason Lee, Colin Calderwood, Darren Ward and John Thompson. FIVE JOHN THOMPSON FACTS •Born in Dublin on 12 October 1981 •Captained the Nottingham Forest Under-19 team to the Premier Academy League title in 2000 •Skippered the Republic of Ireland U21 side and has represented his country at every level •Made the first of three full international appearances against Canada in 2003 •Led Notts County to promotion from League Two in 2010 ------------------------------ Sinton pleased with Bucks' response http://www.telfordunited.com/club-news/sinton-pleased-with-bucks-response.html After his lowest moment as a manager at Chelmsford City last week, Andy Sinton was much more content with his side after the Bucks produced a much-improved display in the 0-0 draw with Mansfield Town at the New Bucks Head. "Last week has been and gone but we let ourselves down and I wanted that overturning," Sinton said after the game. "It's been a horrible week for everyone connected with the club but I was pleased and proud of the boys today. We've gone at least some way to giving us something to build on." Richard Davies came close on three occasions to making a breakthrough for the Bucks, but although the goal never arrived Sinton was delighted with the manner of the performance. "We showed great commitment, passion and desire. We didn't win the game but we were much better and if we put in performances like that the elusive win won't be too far round the corner. It was an even game but I thought we were more than a match for them and that gives us something to build on." The Telford manager also paid tribute to the supporters who turned out in their numbers despite last week's disappointment. "The crowd really got behind the players today. Maybe reality has settled in and people realise we're going to be in a battle. The fans were excellent. They turned this into a hostile place for Mansfield to come and that's what we need. They need the players to ignite them and I thought the players did that today, albeit we didn't have that killer instinct to turn another tight game in our favour." Sinton gave debuts to three new players and was positive in his assessment of each. "Jay (Smith) has been round the block. He's a good leader and he's experienced which is maybe what we've lacked. Ashley (Cain) is one of the quickest players in the league. We couldn't get him on the ball as much as I would have liked today but he was one of my major targets in the summer. Steve Jones comes with a fantastic pedigree. He hasn't played for a while so I didn't want to start him today but even in the twenty-five minutes he was on he showed glimpses of what he might bring to the team." Sinton also refused to rule out further additions to the squad. "I'll put a couple of calls in over the weekend. We've picked up an injury today so we might be able to do something before Thursday's deadline. I'm always looking to strengthen and it's become evident to me over the last five or six weeks that we really need to strengthen. We'll look to add quality and I need people who can come into the Conference and handle it. I won't bring people in for the sake of it - they've got to be better than what we've got and I believe that the three additions this week will strengthen us as a team." ---------------------- |
Latest | November 2011