Archived News from September 2015
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CLEMENTS OUT FOR 2 WEEKS WITH GROIN INJURY
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23 Sep 2015
twitter Mansfield Town FC @mansfieldtownfc NEWS: Manager Adam Murray has confirmed that midfielder Chris Clements will be sidelined for 'a couple of weeks' with a groin injury ----------------- Clements sidelined with groin injury mansfieldtown.net, 23rd September 2015 Stags’ manager Adam Murray has confirmed that midfielder Chris Clements will be out of action for ‘a couple of weeks’ with a groin injury. Read more at http://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/article/clements-ruled-out-2705565.aspx#sqSwDRFmlvIhCCKT.99 Clements limped off in the first half of our 1-0 defeat at Luton Town on Saturday and Murray revealed the full extent of the injury during this morning’s news conference. “It wasn’t the news that we wanted. Luckily for us, Clem’s [been] a quick healer in the previous injuries he’s had, [he’s been out for] half the time than what he’s been diagnosed so hopefully that’ll be the case this time,” Murray said. “For an exact timeframe, we’re not 100% sure but it’ll be a couple of weeks at least.” The midfielder has been an ever-present in the Stags’ side so far this season, scoring two goals along the way. Murray said that Clements has been in a ‘rich vein of form’ but the Stags’ boss believes that he has sufficient cover to replace the ex-Hednesford Town man. “We were looking forward to building from the performances he’s put in, but these things happen. He’s been dictating games on his own at times which is brilliant for him and the partnership he’s got with Chappy (Adam Chapman) has been superb for us. “We’ve got players who can come in and take that mantle. If it means we re-jiggle the shape a little bit to get the best out of the players coming in then we’ll do so but like I keep saying, although we’ve got a small squad, we’ve got a very functional squad and a very strong squad.” Murray's news conference will be available to view, in full, on Stags Player later. --------------------------- Murray in confident mood ahead of Plymouth test mansfieldtown.net, 23rd September 2015 Stags’ boss Adam Murray is confident that his side can continue their good form into this weekend’s game at home to Plymouth Argyle (3pm). The Pilgrims currently lie third in the Sky Bet League Two table and Murray knows that his side will need to be at their best to compete with last season’s play-off semi-finalists. Read more at http://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/article/murray-confident-ahead-of-plymouth-test-2705849.aspx#3a4kFm4X8ElK4QBh.99 “We’re going to have to be on our mettle, we’re going to have to stay focussed and keep concentrated for 90-odd minutes. It’ll be one of those games where we’re going to have to be at our best but I think our performances through 70% of the season have been good," Murray said. “The signings they’ve brought in over the summer have made them a more efficient outfit. It’ll be a test for us on Saturday but we’re confident going into it. We went to Luton [last Saturday] believing we could win and we believe we can beat these on Saturday too.” Following the Stags’ 4-0 victory over Crawley Town during their last home outing, Murray wants his side to assert their authority on the game against Plymouth on Saturday. “We’re at home so we’ll want to set the tempo but we’ll do it in a structured way. We’re going to have to be aware of their threats but we have to understand that we’ve got a lot of threats in our own team. “There’ll be certain people who are ‘let off their leash’ to set the tempo for us but at the same time we’ll be defensively organised and we’ll have an infrastructure in place to deal with their threats.” The gaffer is pleased with the performances of his side so far this season but now wants results to reflect that consistently. “I think our form has been good. Our performances, especially away from home, have been excellent so we want to keep building on that. We want our performances and our results to mirror each other and my ethos is if the process is right then the results will come. “This season’s all about progressing and as long as I see that then I’ll be happy.” Murray is hoping for the Stags’ fans to turn out in their droves again this weekend and says that it is important that they work in tandem with the team, he said: “It’s a two-way thing. I think there are times where we have to get them going and there’s times where they need to get us going. “You have off-days and you rely on them to kick you in and some days they have off-days and we have to kick them in with our performances so it’s a joint venture, the fans know that. “We wanted to set out this season as a progressive season where we’re continuously seeing steps forward and we see not only the team but the football club growing and I think that’s happening.” The full news conference will be on Stags Player later. ---------------------- Adam Murray confident Mansfield Town can see off high-flying Plymouth Argyle chad.co.uk, by John Lomas Mansfield Town will be respectful of the high quality of opposition when third-placed Plymouth Argyle visit on Saturday - but boss Adam Murray is confident the Stags can still win the game. Argyle have won three out of four of their away games so far as well as victory at AFC Wimbledon in the Johnstone Paint’s Trophy. http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/mansfield-town/mansfield-town-news/adam-murray-confident-mansfield-town-can-see-off-high-flying-plymouth-argyle-1-7476482?utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitterfeed So Murray knows they represent a far bigger threat than that posed by Crawley Town, whom Stags put to the sword 4-1 in their last home game. “They’ve had a very good start,” said Murray. “We have obviously watched their games over the beginning part of the week and they are a strong outfit. “The signings they have brought in over the summer have made them a more efficient kind of outfit. They are really solid and an attacking threat as well. “It’s going to be a tough task for us on Saturday, but we are more than confident going into it. “We keep saying it. We went to Luton believing we could win and we believe we can beat these on Saturday too.” He added: “We are going to have to be on our mettle. We are going to have to stay focused and concentrate for 90-odd minutes. It will be one of the games that we will have to be at our best, but our performances through 70 per cent of the season have been good and we look to push on now. “We are going into a group of games in which we want to pick some points up and get back into the play-offs and cement our position there. But like we said from day one, this season is all about progressing and as long as I see that I will be happy. “We are at home so we want to set the tempo. But we are going to have to do it in a structured way. We can’t be willy-nilly. We are going to have be aware of their threats but, at the same time, be aware we have a lot of threats of our own. “There will be certain people let off the leash to set the tempo for us, but at the same time we will be defensively organised and we’ll have an infrastructure in place to cope with their strengths.” As soon as Plymouth is out the way, the games come thick and fast with tough trips to Stevenage on Tuesday and Dagenham & Redbridge the weekend after. “It’s been good to have a couple of weeks on the training ground,” said Murray. “The boys have worked really hard. We have pushed them physically and done the tactical work. “So we are prepared for three games in a week and they are games in which we want to go into and put more points on the board and keep progressing - that’s all we can ask for. “We wanted to set out this season as a progressive season where we continuously see steps forward and see not just the team but the football club growing, and I think that’s happening. “Our form has been good. Our performances, especially away from home, have been excellent. So we want to keep building on that. “We want the performances and results to mirror each other and my ethos is that if the process is right, the results will come. “Sometimes you are on the wrong end of the inches like were were on Saturday when Luton got the little bit of luck that we didn’t. That’s football. As long as we stick to our process you earn the luck and we will be on the right side more often than not.” Murray is likely to bring Jack Thomas into central midfield in place of the injured Chris Clements while Lee Collins is favourite to get the nod for the right back position with skipper Nicky Hunt serving a one-game ban. With some players off ill with a virus this week, Murray will not know until the last minute if he is going to be able to name a full bench. -------------------- Depleted Mansfield Town may bring in loan cover chad.co.uk, by John Lomas, Wednesday 23 September 2015 Depleted Mansfield Town may need to bring in a loan player as cover for the busy month ahead as injury, suspension and a lingering virus begins to take its toll. http://www.hucknalldispatch.co.uk/sport/local-sport/depleted-mansfield-town-may-bring-in-loan-cover-1-7476390? After starting the season with a small squad, Stags are already without at least four and possibly six or seven players for this weekend’s tough visit of high-flying Plymouth Argyle. Boss Adam Murray has had the One Call Stadium fumigated and taken all possible measures to head off the possible devastation the virus could cause after it hospitalised teenage centre half Corbin Shires last weekend. With Chris Clements and Chris Beardsley injured and Nicky Hunt suspended, if other players do not recover fully from the effects of the virus, Stags may not be able to fill the bench on Saturday. “We are just going through numbers at the minute but we might be a little low on the bench on Saturday. We are down to bare bones at the minute,” said Murray. “The virus kicked in again and we’ve had a couple off Monday, Tuesday. But the work we are doing this week will enable us to get a good platform in the game.” Murray expects to sit down with chairman John Radford before the weekend and see how the land lies on possible reinforcements. “I will hopefully have a conversation in the next 24 hours with the powers that be and see what we can do,” he said. “Obviously we are going into a month where we have got some tough away fixtures and play Saturday/Tuesday, so suspensions etcetera could hurt us this month. We’ve got to be prepared for everything, so if we can do something we will.” The club were very worried over Shires’ health, but he now appears to be on the mend. “He is out of hospital, but he is still bed-ridden,” said Murray. “He is still feeling weak. He is still run-down. So he’s not been in. He will be a couple of weeks to build himself back up. It’s knocked him for six. “So we are just trying to find out where the source is. It’s a strange one. We’ve had the place cleansed from top to bottom. Everything we can do to nullify it and minimise the risk we’ve done. Players aren’t kissing each other. “It’s a strange one. But it’s one of those things and we’ve got to deal with it. We’ve had the doctor in to see if there is anything else we can do and we have to get on with it.” Although other players have suffered from the effects of the virus this week, they seem to have escaped the worst of it. “They have not been as bad as Corbin. They’ve not had to go to hospital or anything but it’s the same kind of thing and it’s knocked them a bit,” explained Murray. “They’ve had a few days off so we will see if we can get them back in towards the end of the week and if they are in any state to be involved on Saturday. What we can’t do with such small numbers at the minute is risk them coming back into the squad and risk any of the others getting it.” On striker Beardsley’s shin injury, he added: “He is struggling. He is improving but he is still going to be a couple of weeks.” Have you got something to share on the story? Were you there? What do you think? - Send your pictures, videos or story and we'll publish the best ----------------- Big Mansfield Town chance at last for patient Lee Collins chad.co.uk, by John Lomas Summer signing Lee Collins is hoping to get the nod to properly begin his Mansfield Town career at last when high-flying Plymouth Argyle visit tomorrow. Centre half Collins, 26, was hailed as a great signing when he arrived at One Call Stadium from Northampton and given the captain’s armband pre-season. However, injury wrecked his chances of starting the campaign. http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/mansfield-town/mansfield-town-news/big-mansfield-town-chance-at-last-for-patient-lee-collins-1-7476926?utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitterfeed Now, after one start in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy at Notts County and three appearances as substitute, he looks likely to replace suspended skipper Nicky Hunt at right back tomorrow - a position he is very comfortable in. Said Collins: “I can play all across the back four. I am predominantly right-footed, it’s just I have somehow always played on the left and left back all my career. I have no problems stepping in there. I’ve got to go in there and give it my all. “My injury was just a spell of bad luck really. It happened a week before the season started after working so hard to try to keep a place for the opening game. We’d started to form a good partnership and looked a solid back four. “I had a slight twinge against Leicester. I though what was that and ran it off. In the week after in training I thought there is something wrong with this and went and got it checked as soon as we could. Everything was dealt with really professionally and I got it diagnosed. “I had a stress fracture in my second toe in my metatarsal. It was the week before the season started and was just bad luck really. It was from years of over-compensating in the way I was running. So I have got new orthotics in my shoes that have re-compensated it - so to speak. So I am running normal now and I get no pain. “But the lads have stepped in and done the business really so I can’t complain. “I’ve had a few minutes, but I can’t be knocking on the manager’s door when the lads have got the second best defensive record so far. “So it’s just one of those. I’ve got to bide my time. There’s plenty of games left.” Collins’ lay-off was the open door needed by Ryan Tafazoli, who has been in superb form at centre half ever since. “I had no doubt he could do that,” said Collins. “He is a solid defender. I think we’ve got some of the best defenders in the league really, so for one of us to drop out, there are definitely adequate replacements to step in. “Krystian Pearce - he’s been there, done it. He’s did it from an early age when he was representing England through all the age groups. He’s done amazing. He is solid, strong, but he’s really composed when he gets the ball as well.” On full backs Hunt and Mal Benning, he added: “Hunty has been around the block for god knows how long. But you wouldn’t think it. He runs around like a youth, gets on it, drives us forward, and he’s got a lot of quality about his game. “Mal lets his left foot do his speaking for him and he’s got an absolute engine with his lungs to back it up too. “The whole squad is really together. It’s a really good environment to be in. Obviously we are going through a good spell and it’s when you go through bad spell when you see true character. But I have no doubt that in this group we’ve got it. “The group, the way the manager has got the lads, it’s just a really good atmosphere to be around. Not in a way the lads get too comfortable and take things for granted. Everyone wants to succeed.” Northampton fans were shocked and disappointed by Collins’ departure and he said: “It was very flattering. I still live down there and still bump into their fans every now and again and they tell me the same. “I like to think they valued my time there. I definitely valued it. But this is a new chapter in my career and I am grabbing it with both hands. “I sort of read the signs for the few months building up to the end of the season that I wasn’t going to get a new deal. I was playing week in week out but I knew something was missing and that I wasn’t going to get a deal. “I had a few clubs interested. Obviously I thought about my family and moving. I have a four-year-old girl and she has lived in about five or six houses, so I took that into account. “But the biggest thing was I came in and had a sit down with the manager for 45 minutes to an hour. We didn’t talk about money or anything like that. We just talked about his plans, what he expects from me, what he wants to do this year and it really excited me. That was the biggest call for me.” Collins began his career at Wolves, but before he could play a first team game, was sent on loan spells to Hereford and Port Vale before a permanent move to Vale Park. After 162 appearances for them, he had spells at Barnsley and Shrewsbury before settling at Northampton early in 2013. “It’s had its ups and downs but I’d like to think I have had a solid enough career so far,” he said. “The highlights have been getting promoted from League Two to League One, getting a move to the Championship and signing for Mansfield.” While at Barnsley, Collins was in the same squad as Stags legend Bobby Hassell. “I didn’t realise how much of a cult he was until I came here and we went up to Barnsley to do his testimonial,” said Collins. “He is a lovely lad. He’s had an amazing career and all the best to him for what he does in the future.” Hassell has now gone to play in India and Collins added: “That’s amazing. It’s a new chapter in his life. It just showed at the testimonial game. He’s paid his time here and there and it was nice for the fans to show their respect. “It will take a long time to fill those shoes, but I will give it a go. “I want to play as many games as possible. I want to win games. I want to get goals and I want to get promoted.” Collins knows how tough tomorrow’s game will be. “Plymouth are not up there by fluke,” he said. “They’ve really gone for it this year. “Some of my mates played them a few weeks ago and said they were a really strong outfit. They couldn’t break them down very well and they counter quite well. We will have a game plan for them and we will have to execute it on Saturday.” He said Stags were keen to bounce quickly back from the Luton defeat last weekend to return to the top seven in what is a very tight division so far. “Especially second half, we really took it to them. They just got their goal and sat behind it for the rest of the game whereas we really went for it which we should have done in the half. We can move on and learn from it, but there was definitely a point there for us. “It’s the same every year. You can have a little bad run and two wins on the bounce and you are straight back in the mix. There is nothing to worry about. “We definitely don’t want to do back to back losses. But a couple of wins and you are right up there and it takes a few weeks for you to fall out.” -------------------- |
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