Archived News from March 2015
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BURY PREVIEWS/BROWN INJURY NOT AS BAD AS FEARED
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Murray: Effort levels must remain high
mansfieldtown.net Gaffer calls on his players to deliver more high level performances in upcoming games. Read more at http://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/article/murray-effort-levels-must-remain-high-2331439.aspx#zfy0d47DewCUxkwD.99 Manager Adam Murray has called upon his players to keep their foot on the gas ahead of back-to-back home games in the coming week against Bury and AFC Wimbledon. Our team go into this game on the back of two impressive results on the road - a priceless 1-0 victory at Newport County, before last weekend’s 1-1 draw at Cheltenham Town. With three wins from our last four home matches, our form at One Call Stadium has been impressive in recent weeks, and Murray is keen for our players to give 110% effort in ensuring that continues. “Obviously it would be great to get six points and we’ll be doing everything that we can to do that,” said Murray. “We’ve made this place a little bit of a fortress at the minute and the only way we can continue that is to keep our foot down and go in at 110%. “We understand the challenges that we’re going to face over probably the next month of games and we’re prepared. We’ve put ourselves in a semi-decent position, but there’s no point doing all the hard work and getting to where we’ve got, if we’re going to take our foot off the gas and sit back. “So our focus is firmly on Bury and we want to get something out of the game.” He continued: "It's been a decent week. We've had to train on the pitch a couple of days this week because our training ground has been closed, but 'Mez' (Michael Merriman, groundsman) has been working hard on the pitch to make sure that we get it right." Speaking about the Shakers in more detail, our gaffer added: “We’re going into the game now a little bit of a different animal [compared to when we lost at Bury in December], we’ve got a lot more confidence in the group and we’ll be looking to put them on the back foot. “Bury have obviously had a very good season so far themselves. Knowing a couple of the guys down there, I know they’ve got high expectations and they’re probably batting a bit lower than where they expect to be. “With the resources and the infrastructure that they’ve put in, they are a top three side in this league and they’ll be expecting to get in there, so it’s a great game for us, a good challenge, and we go into it all guns firing.” In injury news, winger Junior Brown is still expected to miss our next couple of games, but news on his hamstring injury isn’t as bad as was first feared. “Junior had a scan in the early part of this week and fortunately it’s not as bad as first expected, but this weekend and Tuesday may come a little too soon,” continued Murray. “We obviously presumed the worst with the way that he came off so we were happy that it wasn’t long-term, but these games might come a little bit too quick for him.” If Brown does miss out, youngster Jeffrey Monakana, on loan with us from Sky Bet Championship outfit Brighton & Hove Albion, could be handed a place in the starting line-up. Our boss added: “We’ve got a good option in Jeff coming in. I think he’s shown glimpses of what he’s about when he’s had the opportunity and he’s more than capable of coming in and doing a very good job. “He’s a bit different to Junior. He’s more direct, he’s obviously very quick and he carries the ball well, so he’s a great option to have and I’m pleased for him.” Several first team players got a run out for our reserve team in a Final Third Development League (East Division) fixture away to Doncaster Rovers in midweek. Despite trailing by three goals after 50 minutes, a penalty by Matt Rhead and a goal by Rakish Bingham set up a tense finale, but it wasn’t enough as our second-string ultimately lost 3-2. Reflecting on the game, Murray said: “We got some minutes into a couple of the boys, so it was good for them and it was a decent game. The lads put a good shift in so we were pleased with them.” One of those players who played 90 minutes in South Yorkshire was defender Michael Raynes, who has been out of action for the last few weeks. “He’s raring to go is ‘Raynesy’,” continued the gaffer. “The tough thing for him at the minute is ‘Riles’ (Martin Riley) and ‘Taff’ (Ryan Tafazolli) they’ve been performing at what I feel is a high level over the last couple of weeks. “So ‘Raynesy’ is a professional, he’s a top man and a leader in the dressing room and he’s been in the game long enough to understand that he’ll have to bide his time and wait for his shirt again.” ------------- Stags relieved Junior Brown injury not serious by John Lomas, chad.co.uk, Thursday 12 March 2015 Mansfield Town were delighted to discover Junior Brown’s hamstring injury is not a serious one and he could be back in less than two weeks. http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/mansfield-town/stags-relieved-junior-brown-injury-not-serious-1-7152696 The winger limped off after 65 minutes of Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Cheltenham, but boss Adam Murray said today: “Junior had a scan in the early part of the week and fortunately it was not as bad as first expected. “This Saturday and Tuesday may come a bit too soon, but we hope he might be back the following week. We are just happy it’s not longer term. “It’s always difficult when someone pulls up like that and you are getting your subs ready. But if the ball comes into their area of the pitch they have to go back into action. “You try to get them off as quickly as possible to limit the damage. “But we have a good option in Jeffrey Monakana. He has shown us glimpses of what he is about and he is more than capable of doing a good job. He is a bit different to Junior. He is more direct and very quick and carries the ball well for us. Stags reserves were beaten 3-2 at Doncaster yesterday, strikers Matt Rhead and Rakish Bingham with the goals, Rhead with a penalty and then a flick-on for Bingham’s strike. Stags were 3-0 down just after the break, but battled back hard with central defender Michael Raynes skippering the side on his return from injury. “It was a decent game and the boys played some good stuff,” said Murray. “Michael Raynes is ready to go now, but Martin Riley and Ryan Tafazolli have been performing at a high level over the last few weeks. “Michael is a professional and a top man. He is a leader in the dressing room and he has been in the game long enough to know he has to bide his time and wait for a shirt again.” ----------------- Mansfield Town boss Adam Murray hoping for home sweet home this week by John Lomas, chad.co.uk, Thursday 12 March 2015 Manager Adam Murray has called on his players and fans to produce a big push this weekend to try to all but secure the club’s League Two safety as the Stags take on Bury and AFC Wimbledon inside four days at One Call Stadium. http://www.hucknalldispatch.co.uk/sport/local-sport/mansfield-town-boss-adam-murray-hoping-for-home-sweet-home-this-week-1-7153321 Stags probably only need to win three of their last 11 matches to end their relegation worries and their home form has been good of late. “It would be great to get six points and we will be trying everything we can to do that,” said Murray. “We have made this place a bit of a fortress at the minute and we must keep our foot down and go 110 per cent. “We have created a bit of an atmosphere here and managed to pick the results up. It’s important we don’t take our foot off the pedal as that has been an important part of our recent run. “Our supporters can really play their part too as they affect us in a huge way.” Saturday’s visitors Bury are in sixth place and back in December gave Stags a bit of a footballing lesson in the 2-0 win at Gigg Lane. Murray said: “Looking back now, that was at the start of our journey and we have made some small steps since then, so we go into this one a bit of a different animal. We have a bit more confidence and we want to put them on the back foot. “Bury have had a very good season so far. But there are high expectations there and they probably feel they are batting a bit below where they are expected to be. “It’s a great game for us, a good challenge, and we’ll go into it all guns firing.” Bury’s outspoken manager David Flitcroft hardly endeared himself to the Stags last season when he accused them of pitch-doctoring before their visit, but Murray said: “He is a very good manager and a very good coach. They play some really good stuff and are effective. “We have had to train on the pitch a couple of times this week as our training ground has been closed, but Mez (groundsman Michael Merriman) is working hard on it to make sure he gets it right for us.” Stags have only lost once in six games, have taken seven points of the last nine available, and Murray added: “I am delighted to see little seeds of the hard work we have done here coming through. “I will be delighted at the end of the season when we have achieved what we need to and delighted at the end of next season when we get out of this league.” Murray mentioned last weekend that he wanted to try and bring Scunthorpe loanee Billy Kee back to the One Call next season, but said today: “Nothing has gone any further with it yet. “We must focus on the 11 games left and finish as high as we can as that will determine the moves we do make.” --------------- Reggie Lambe to miss Stags v York game after Bermuda World Cup call-up by John Lomas, chad.co.uk, Thursday 12 March 2015 Mansfield Town look set to be without winger Reggie Lambe for the potentially important home game with relegation rivals York City on Saturday, 28th March. http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/mansfield-town/reggie-lambe-to-miss-stags-v-york-game-after-bermuda-world-cup-call-up-1-7153310 Lambe has been called up by Bermuda to take part in the two-legged FIFA World Cup Russia 2018 qualifying match against the Bahamas. The first leg will be on Wednesday, 25th March 25th in the Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium, in Nassau, Bahamas with the return leg in Bermuda, on Sunday, 29th March at the National Sports Centre. The squad fly out to the Bahamas on Sunday, 22nd March which will see Lambe (24) having to make a mad dash to join them after the away game at Hartlepool on Saturday, 21st March. The Bermudian team, led by coach Andrew Bascome, has an average age of 23 and still includes a few players from their last World Cup campaign, as well as some of those who captured the gold medal in the Natwest Island Games, held in Bermuda, in 2013. They are also fresh off a good series of international friendly matches against Grenada, who, as of 12th February, were ranked 25 places above Bermuda, at 155th. The first match ended in a 2-2 draw, and the second saw Bermuda come away with a morale-boosting 2-0 victory. Lambe, who joined Stags in September after spells with Ipswich Town, Bristol Rovers, Toronto and Sweden’s Nyköpings BIS, has already played 15 times for his country, netting all four of his international goals in one game against St Martin in 2008, aged 17. He has netted four times for the Stags as well, including a vital late winner at Newport County on 3rd March. By the time York visit, Mansfield will hope to have fellow winger Junior Brown back from a hamstring injury after a scan this week revealed the damage not to be as bad as first feared. --------------- Ravenhill: Squad positive ahead of Bury game mansfieldtown.net, 12th March 2015 Skipper wants a strong performance against promotion-chasing Shakers to boost strong finish to season. Read more at http://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/article/stags-capable-of-getting-three-points-against-bury-2329455.aspx#kDjliUoqV7MiCOIk.99 Midfielder Ricky Ravenhill wants our team to produce another good performance when we entertain Sky Bet League Two high-flyers Bury this weekend. We go into the fixture on a three-game unbeaten streak, having beaten Dagenham & Redbridge and Newport County prior to last Saturday's 1-1 draw away to Cheltenham Town. Looking ahead to this weekend's game against Bury, Ravenhill said: "We want to take each game as it comes and this one coming up on Saturday is a big game. They are a good team and have proved that over the season, but we know we are capable of giving them a good game. If we turn up and play as well as we can we can get the three points. “There is nothing to fear in this league. It's just all about consistency and who puts in the best performance on the day. We've beaten good teams in the league so far and know we can do it again,” the 34-year-old added. Reflecting on the draw at Whaddon Road, the midfielder continued: “We weren’t happy with the way that we played in the first half although when you’re away from home and you come in 0-0 to some level you have done your job. I thought we went out second half and took the game to them and in the end we were disappointed we didn’t get all three points.” Ravenhill believes it is vital that his team continues to battle the challenges thrown at them: “There are a lot of games coming thick and fast and you’re going to get times like that. In an ideal world you will go out and play brilliant every game, but that’s never going to happen. “As long as we do better than them (the opposition) then hopefully we will get a lot of results. “There are some big games to play and we have a lot of football left. We want to finish as strong as we can. We are confident knowing that when we come back next season it’s going to be a strong successful season. “We have seen it on a number of occasions when you put a number of back-to-back wins together and the league changes so much. There is a lot to play for this season and we’re going to try starting this weekend by getting three points,” he added. Ravenhill was pleased with the efforts of striker Billy Kee after he scored the equaliser against the Robins. He continued: “Billy has been working so hard on the training ground and everyone knows what ability and record he has around these leagues. "Hopefully, now he is going to put it all together. We know what he is capable of and hopefully he will do it on Saturday for us." The midfielder is also impressed with the younger players coming through the ranks here at One Call Stadium. The 34-year-old added: “I love seeing the youngsters come through and since I’ve been here I have been impressed with the good bunch of young players that there are around the club. "Players like Jack Thomas, Joe Fitzpatrick and Corbin Shires are really good players and they’re not looking out of place at all.” --------------- Skipper Ricky Ravenhill impressed by Stags’ youth production line by John Lomas, chad.co.uk Stags skipper Ricky Ravenhill reckons the club’s future is in good hands after seeing the quality of young talent coming along the club’s youth conveyor belt. http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/mansfield-town/skipper-ricky-ravenhill-impressed-by-stags-youth-production-line-1-7153346?utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitterfeed Ahead of tomorrow’s visit of Bury, Ravenhill admitted he had no idea just how high the quality of Mansfield Town’s youth system was until he signed with three of the future stars given new contracts last week. “I love seeing them come through,” he said. “Since I have been here it’s one thing that has really impressed me. You don’t know about that before coming in. “I have seen six or seven players who have a good chance of coming on and progressing over the next few years. “Jack Thomas, Joe Fitzpatrick and Corbin Shires are really good players who train with us quite often and don’t look out of place which makes you quite optimistic for the future of the club. “But they will need a bit of experience to help them along the way. I am fully committed to this club and want to stay here as long as I can.” Boss Adam Murray has said he wants to blood as many youngsters as possible this season once safety is achieved. Stags can all but do that with wins over Bury tomorrow and AFC Wimbledon on Tuesday in two home games in four days, which would probably only leave them needing one more win from their last nine games. “The end of the season is coming up and we have some big games to play,” said Ravenhill. “We have 11 to go and there is a lot of football left to be played. We want to finish as strongly as we can. “But you can’t look too far ahead or you will get tripped up in the short term. Game by game we will tick them off towards our points targets. “We won’t let this season go in any shape or form. Once we are safe we will try to finish as high as we can. “Put two, three, four back-to-back wins together and the league changes so much it’s frightening. There is a lot to play for as there are a lot of places we can move up. “I know it’s a cliché but we will take each game at a time and Saturday is a big game. Bury are a good team, they’ve proved that over a season and spent a lot of money. “But we know we are capable of giving them a good game if we turn up. There is nothing to fear in this league, it’s all about consistency.” Last weekend it took a goal by the home side to spark Stags into life and earn a 1-1 draw at fellow strugglers Cheltenham Town. Ravenhill said: “We were not happy with the way we played in the first half, though away from home to come in at 0-0 at half-time, we had to some level done our jobs. But we knew we could do better. “In the second half we took the game to them and, at the end of the day, we were disappointed we didn’t get all three points. “We have had a lot of games coming thick and fast and you are going to get times like that. You get times when people are not quite 100 per cent but you have to come through those times. “If you have got seven or eight players on their game and they are better than the opposition are, then you are going to get a lot of results. “But we don’t want to go 1-0 down every time before we get into gear.” Stags’ equaliser on Saturday came from Scunthorpe loan striker Billy Kee, who looks to be hitting form in his final month at the club. “He is working so hard,” said Ravenhill. “Everyone knows his ability and his record in this league. I hope he can now start putting it all together. “He has had a stop-start season so far. But he scores goals like that day in day out on the training ground.” ------------------ Flitcroft ahead of the Mansfield Town clash Thu 12 Mar 2015 buryfc.co.uk David Flitcroft believes the side the Mansfield Town side they will come up against on Saturday will be different to the ones in previous seasons. Read more at http://www.buryfc.co.uk/news/article/flitcroft-ahead-of-mansfield-town-2330242.aspx#XKJLUBvEqfFAXxwt.99 Saturday will see the Shakers come up against a Mansfield Town side that under new manager, Adam Murray, has changed significantly. For the past few years, especially under the tenure of Paul Cox, the Stags were known as a tough tackling and very direct team. However, Bury manager David Flitcroft feels all that has changed under Murray. Flitcroft believes his side will be coming up against a passing side on a very large pitch, which will suit his own teams style of play, hopefully making for an entertaining game of football. Speaking this afternoon ahead of the match, David Flitcroft said: “We played them just as Adam Murray took over, and you could see the difference in styles. Last season they were the most combative and direct team in the league I felt. “With Murray now taking over and having had time to bring some players in, it’s been an interesting one because he wants to put his philosophy in place there. “He was a fantastic footballer and he’s been able to implement a more of a passing style. He’s totally come away from what the previous manager did. “He’s looking to move the ball around the pitch and if I was manager of that club I would too because it’s a really big pitch. “When you want to play a passing style you can get the ball down and really move it well, and he’s bought some footballers in to help him do that. “It’s going to be a game that we are looking forward to; we need to get back to keeping clean sheets and building from that.” Flitcroft has admitted that even though promotion is his main aim this season and one he will work hard to achieve for the club. He knows that the infrastructure being put in place will help the club going forward, irrespective of whether promotion is achieved. He explained: “Everyone knows our plan here, but you have to have a plan B. I do dream there’s no doubt about that. “I know what I want for Bury Football Club, but there’s potentially a bigger picture including the things that we are doing behind the scenes. “We have got a football club here that we’re in charge of and that is being run as a business. People just look at the first eleven players on the pitch, but that’s not everything. “It’s about the people behind the scenes who are doing fantastic work. There is an infrastructure being put into place and we’ve got a real plan of how we want the club to go forward.” Watch the full interview on the Bury FC Network here. -------------------- |
Latest | March 2015