Archived News from October 2012
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TELFORD PREVIEWS
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video interview with Paul Cox --->
http://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/article/cox-new-arrivals-a-possibility-379192.aspx?pageView=full#anchored Cox: new arrivals a possibility mansfieldtown.net, 20th September 2012 Manager Paul Cox has confirmed that he may look to add some new faces to his squad ahead of our weekend trip to AFC Telford United. Speaking at his weekly press conference, our boss stated that he has held discussions with three unnamed trialists, though deals to bring them to the club are yet to be finalised. Cox said: “I've held discussions with three trialists who have been with us over the past week and we've got to make a decision on who we bring in.” “We have to be analytical about the situation and look at what they are going to bring us, not just for Saturday, but in the coming weeks too. “I'll sit down with the chairman later today and we'll see what happens. We may also have to dip into the loan market if necessary.” With talisman Matt Green suspended until the clash with Hereford United later this month, Cox also revealed that his squad has been hit by a series of fresh injuries in recent days. Gary Roberts looks set for a spell on the sidelines with an ankle injury, whilst Andy Todd (hamstring), Jamie Hand (knee) and Nick Wright (knee) have all been ruled out of Saturday's clash. Cox continued: “Injuries have kicked in and it's going to be a long season. We've got a few that are missing at the moment.” “Jamie Hand looks like he could be a long-term one and is going to have a scan on his knee, whilst Nick Wright and Andy Todd are both out injured. “We're down to about 20 fit players, but we won't be recalling anyone who is out on loan.” Our squad travel to Shropshire on Saturday to lock horns with a Telford side who sit just two places below us in the Blue Square Bet Premier table. The Bucks were one of only a handful of teams that we failed to beat last season, with a 1-1 draw at One Call Stadium being followed up with a dour goalless game at the New Bucks Head. And our manager is fully aware of the dangerous threat that is posed by Andy Sinton's side. “Telford have done really well. They've got off to a great start and it's never an easy place to go and get a good result,” said Cox. “But the lads have worked hard in training over the past week and I've told them to get their heads down. We have to earn the right to win a football match.” ----------- Stags boss Paul Cox's rallying call chad.co.uk, Thursday 20 September 2012 PAUL Cox has told his side to start enjoy their football ahead of two testing away trips to AFC Telford and Macclesfield Town this week. http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town-fc/stags-boss-paul-cox-s-rallying-call-1-4941711?utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitterfeed His side showed five changes and a new formation as they ground out a nervy 2-0 home win over Braintree Town last Saturday. It was a vital win with a game at 10th-placed AFC Telford on Saturday followed by a daunting trip to the second-placed Silkmen on Tuesday. “We have a tough run of games coming up and I want the players to start embracing them and the bit of pressure that comes with it,” he said. “They have to start enjoying it. If not it hampers performances and a bit of anxiety sets in. It will be a long season if we don't get rid of it.” Said Cox: “ In the build-up to Saturday some of them were walking around as if they had the world on their shoulders. “I was pleased that we looked strong, kept our shape and Braintree never looked like they were going to break us down. I thought we passed the ball well at time, too, and it was good to score two goals and keep a clean sheet. “I still have belief in the boys and think we will be there or thereabouts. That is not being arrogant. We must stick to our principles, work hard and keep our mindset and we have as good a chance as anyone.” Cox added: “I thought Lee Stevenson looked a threat all game and Jake Speight did what he was brought in to do. These players will get fitter and stronger. Ryan Tafazolli was absolutely immaculate on his debut for such a young boy.” Cox played three trialists in a friendly at Rainworth MW on Monday night (see inside) and said he is in talks with two of them about contracts --------------- Mansfield Town boss Paul Cox looks for cover for away games at Telford and Macclesfield chad.co.uk, Thursday 20 September 2012 WITH Stags down to 20 fit players today, Mansfield Town boss Paul Cox admitted he may bring in some cover for the two tough away games this week at AFC Telford (Saturday) and Macclesfield Town (Tuesday). http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town-fc/mansfield-town-boss-paul-cox-looks-for-cover-for-away-games-at-telford-and-macclesfield-1-4945664?utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitterfeed With some players already out on loan to get fit, Matt Green suspended and Ross Dyer, Gary Roberts and Jamie Hand nursing lengthy injuries, now Andy Todd, Nick Wright and youngster Scott Rogers have all joined them in the treatment room. Cox is in talks with two of the three trialists who played in Monday's reserves win at Rainworth and said: “I will be speaking to the chairman later on and, if the talks with the trialists don't come off, we may have to dip into the loan market to cover ourselves. It's not just about Saturday.” Although they have won five of their last seven games and four on the bounce at home, away from the One Call Stadium, Stags have struggled, losing three out of four on their travels. AFC Telford have won one and drawn two of their home games but drew 3-3 away to Cambridge United last weekend, despite an injury crisis of their own which saw them only just able to muster 16 players. Although left back Ryan Valentine and left winger Steve Leslie are expected back tomorrow they still have seven out injured and Dan Preston serving a six-game ban ----------------------------------------------- AFC Telford v Mansfield Town match preview panel Friday, September 21, 2012 Nottingham Post Squad (from): Young, Salmon, Davies, Trainer, Jones, St Aimie, Leslie, Taylor, Brown, Rose, Chilvers, Rooney Spray, Roberts, Collister, Byfield. http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/story-16954667-detail/story.html Team news: Bucks' boss Andy Sinton's side is struggling with five or six injury doubts, although he hopes to have Luke Hubbins involved in the squad. Former Notts County man Liam Chilvers (pictured) has been signed to provide cover in defence and could make his second start against the Stags. Squad (from): Marriott, Sutton, Speight, Clements, Rhead, Beevers, Murray, Stevenson, Daniel, Tafazolli, Geohaghon, Thompson, Jones, Meikle, Briscoe, Howell. Team news: With striker Matt Green suspended until the clash with Hereford United, manager Paul Cox also has a number of fresh injury problems to deal with. Gary Roberts looks set for a spell on the sidelines with an ankle injury and Andy Todd (hamstring), Jamie Hand (knee) and Nick Wright (knee) have all been ruled out of tomorrow's clash --------------- video interview - Meikle: the best is still to come http://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/article/meikle-the-best-is-still-to-come-379785.aspx?pageView=full#anchored 20th September 2012 Winger Lindon Meikle insists it is only a matter of time before the team start to re-produce the kind of form that led to us achieving a play-off place last season. The 24-year-old spoke with an unbridled desire to succeed as he frankly admitted that our start to the new campaign had been far from good enough. However, Meikle thoroughly expects that it won't be long until we deliver a ferocious message of intent to our Blue Square Bet Premier rivals by producing an emphatic result. “There's no way we have played anywhere near our best,” admitted the winger. “We're still waiting for that big turning point, like Newport [County] at home last season, where we just absolutely rip a team to pieces. “It will come soon. And when it does, it will set in and we'll just start winning games. “We've got a good squad, some very talented players and we can only get better.” “Meikle has flourished in the top tier of non-league football since manager Paul Cox brought him to One Call Stadium from Eastwood Town almost 18 months ago. His strong, determined and committed performances at club level have ensured that he has become a regular figure at international level for Paul Fairclough's England C team. The winger played for the full 90 minutes as Fairclough's 'Three Lions' earned a courageous 2-1 victory over Belgium at the Gemeentalijik Sportstadion in Zaventem last week. I appreciate being in the England C team,” said Meikle. “There's plenty of young players in this league who are as good as me, perhaps even better, but the fact I'm getting picked proves that I'm doing well for Mansfield Town. “International football is slightly different. You have to stay more focussed for the full 90 minutes and it's a different environment, but it's brilliant to be in the team.” Meanwhile, midfielder Lee Stevenson also hopes to retain his place in manager Paul Cox's first team in the coming weeks. The attacking-midfielder netted a goal against Braintree Town in his first start of the season last weekend, as we recorded our fourth home victory of the campaign. Stevenson said: “I've had to be patient and wait for my chance, but I was glad to be in the team and get on the score sheet last Saturday.”Meikle: the best is still to c “It's obviously up to the gaffer what he does now, but I'd love to be able to stay in the team and show the fans what I can do on a regular basis.” -------------------- Jake Speight ready to seize starting chance at Mansfield Town Friday, September 21, 2012 Nottingham Post JAKE Speight is gunning to make a starting berth his own after scoring against Braintree Town last week. http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/story-16955001-detail/story.html The striker was a hit with the Stags during his first spell during the 2009/10 season, but mainly made an impact from the bench. During that time, he scored 17 league goals from just 15 starts, coming on as a substitute a further 18 times. It earned a move to Bradford and then Wrexham, for whom he netted 21 times last season as he became a first-team regular, starting 33 games. But since rejoining Mansfield in the summer, he has been restricted to just two starts, in the 4-1 defeat at Grimsby and against Braintree. His progress was held back by a groin injury in pre-season but he has still managed four goals after coming off the bench six times. Now, with star striker Matt Green serving a three-game suspension, Speight hopes to cement his place as the Stags prepare to travel to AFC Telford tomorrow. And the 26-year-old said: "I had the groin injury in pre-season and it held me back and I have been playing catch-up. But hopefully I will get my chance and when I do, I will keep the shirt. "I have come on and scored goals but my main aim is to be starting games and scoring goals. "When I was here before I got labelled super-sub but I was just coming back into full-time football then. I did not mind so much. "Now I have proven myself at this level and I want to be playing and scoring goals. "Greeny has a suspension so it is up to me to come in, if picked, and show what I can do. "I have improved my all-round game since I was last here and I hope to do it again. "I need to go in and do well for myself and the team." ------------------------ By Steven Humbles | 20th September 2012 Match Preview: Bucks v Mansfield Town http://www.afctelfordunited.co.uk/news/match-preview-bucks-v-mansfie-672982.html AFC Telford United welcome one of the pre-season promotion favourites Mansfield Town to the New Bucks Head on Saturday. The Stags' manager certainly needs little introduction to the New Bucks Head. Paul Cox took over last summer having resigned at Eastwood Town, where he frequently came up against Telford. Cox guided Eastwood to two successive promotions and, in his final season at Coronation Park, a 19-game unbeaten run saw his side clinch fourth spot in Blue Square Bet North only for ground problems to make the Badgers ineligible for the play-offs. Cox enjoyed an excellent first season in charge at Field Mill as the Stags finished third in the Blue Square Premier last term before losing to York City in the play-off semi-finals. After a strong end to last season the Nottinghamshire club are rightly one of the fancied sides in this season's promotion chase and that status was reflected by the club's decision to award Cox a new two-year contract during the summer. However Mansfield have made a surprisingly mixed start to the season with fifteen points from nine matches. They have also suffered some heavy defeats having conceded four goals in losing to each of Newport, Gateshead and Grimsby Town although there have been signs of recovery recently with three victories in their last four, all at Field Mill. There are also some familiar faces in the Mansfield squad, with two former Eastwood players in attacking midfielder Lee Stevenson and striker Lindon Meikle – both of whom have frequently impressed against the Bucks. Stevenson – who notched 96 goals in three seasons at Eastwood - scored twice against the Bucks for Eastwood during the 2010/11 campaign, whilst the diminutive Meikle always proves to be a livewire in attack. The Stags' promotion credentials have also been reinforced by some high-calibre acquisitions during the summer. Cox has bolstered his defence with the signings of George Pilkington (Luton), Luke Jones (Kidderminster), Andy Owens (Southport) and Lee Beevers (Walsall). Centre-half Pilkington spent the last three seasons with Luton, having previously played more than 250 games for Port Vale in the Football League, whilst Jones played for the Stags in 2009/10 before joining Forest Green. In midfield former Macclesfield, Hereford and Shrewsbury midfielder Jamie Tolley, 29, agreed a free transfer to the Stags from Wrexham whilst promising midfielder Chris Clements has signed for an undisclosed fee from Rob Smith's Hednesford Town, where he scored 17 goals last season. In attack Cox has also sent a clear signal of the club's intentions with the acquisition of two proven Blue Square Bet Premier goalscorers. Cox completed a double summer raid on Aggborough by snaring highly-rated striker Nick Wright, who turned down a new deal at Kidderminster having netted 15 times in 43 games last season, whilst he also re-signed striker Jake Speight from Wrexham for an undisclosed fee. Speight scored 21 goals in 33 Blue Square Bet Premier starts last season. Most recently, Cox has returned to Aggborough once more to re-sign defender Exodus Geohaghon, who is well-known to Bucks' fans from his time with Redditch United. Geohaghon has joined Mansfield, also for an undisclosed fee, after just two months with Kidderminster. He had a loan spell at Field Mill last season, making 15 appearances and scoring twice. Bucks' boss Andy Sinton is certainly in no doubt about the scale of the task facing his side, who continue to be decimated by injuries. “Mansfield have spent big and I don't think it will be long before they get to where they want to be,” Sinton said. “Sometimes when you make changes it takes time for people to settle in. They'll certainly be in the mix for the top five.” Saturday's game is likely to come too soon for Telford's walking wounded, although Luke Hubbins is hoping to feature against Newport County on Tuesday ------------------ |
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