Archived News from August 2020
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COUGHLAN, CHARSLEY, PAUL WARNE REACTION
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Boss calls for ‘quality’ in final third
mansfieldtown.net, Saturday, 22nd August 2020 Manager Graham Coughlan has drawn confidence from the Stags’ first-half display against Championship side Rotherham United, during which the amber and blue carved out several opportunities. It was the Millers who ran out eventual 3-0 winners in the behind-closed-doors affair at One Call Stadium, despite a hugely promising opening period from the Stags. The boss has called on his players to produce ‘quality’ when looking to convert their chances. “I thought we were very good for the first 45 minutes,” he told iFollow Stags. “We had some really good moments - and then you’re asking for that little bit of quality. “We looked a real threat and looked really dangerous. We had some really good moments that we’ve been working on. It was really pleasing in the first 45 minutes. https://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/2020/august/gaffer-post-rotherham-friendly/ “The second-half was a non-event for us. Rotherham made a lot of changes and upped the tempo. It hurt us at times and then we go to pot with our discipline. “If you start pulling people down at the edge of your own box, at this level - Championship level - you’re going to get punished. “It was a disappointing second-half, but a really pleasing first-half.” Listing what has impressed him most during Mansfield’s pre-season campaign, the boss added: “I think the attitude, work rate, honesty and the togetherness that the lads have shown early doors [has impressed me most in pre-season]. “The first 45 minutes today really encouraged me, which is another positive. I’m [also] really pleased to see so many young lads making an impact on the first team squad. “All-in-all, we’re in a decent place. We have plenty of time between now and 12 September to build on it more.” The manager also gave his thoughts on Stags’ next fixture, a trip to face Preston North End in the Carabao Cup first round next Saturday. “We’re not ready for Preston,” he said. “I think that’s obvious. We were preparing for a September 12 start. We then get information that our game [against Preston] is on the fifth. “All of a sudden, we’re playing next Saturday. Four or five of the lads have played 90 minutes today and that’s their first 90 minutes. “It’s not a nice scenario to be in. You’re given a date and a timeline, and to bring that forward is running the risk of injury and it’s not ideal. “We’ll get up and get on with it. We’re adaptable. We’ll go across and give a good account of ourselves. We’re a fit group, but it’s just that match sharpness that we’re lacking, so advantage Preston. “Fitness - we’re getting there. We’re building that, but the lads will need another 90 minutes under their belts before we can contemplate taking on Tranmere here. “There is a good mood about the camp and they’re an honest, hard-working group.” There was also an update on midfielder Ollie Clarke, who the boss says is expected to be available for selection in time for Mansfield’s Sky Bet League Two opener against Tranmere Rovers. “Ollie [Clarke] has been annoying me to play [him] - he’s wanting to play, but I’m not going to risk anybody. “I’m certainly not going to put anyone on the pitch if there’s any risk. He’s training, he’s on the grass, but isn’t quite up to full speed - that will come this week. “Ollie Clarke - I want him ready for September 12 [first game of league season] - I didn’t want to risk him today and I probably won’t risk him next week.” iFollow Stags subscribers can watch Graham Coughlan’s interview in full by logging into mansfieldtown.net/ifollow later today. ------------------------ Mansfield Town boss blasts EFL over scheduling of Carabao Cup tie with Preston North End chad.co.uk, By Stephen Thirkill, Saturday, 22nd August 2020 Mansfield Town manager Graham Couglan has let rip at the EFL. The Stags gaffer has been angered by the EFL’s decision to schedule their Carabao Cup clash with Preston on 29th August - two weeks ahead of the opening day of the new League Two season. He says it leaves Mansfield unprepared with a number of players not ready for action. “We are not ready for Preston, that is clear and obvious,” he said. “We were preparing for a 12th September fixture. https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town-boss-blasts-efl-over-scheduling-carabao-cup-tie-preston-north-end-2950241 “We then get the info that the Preston fixture is on the 5th September. All of sudden the EFL in their wisdom decide to insist on us playing next Saturday. “We are nowhere near ready, that's four of the lads today (against Rotherham) that have played 90 minutes, that is their first 90 minutes. “I have got another 12-14 players who haven’t got anywhere near 90 minutes. It is not a nice scenario to be in. “You are given a date and a timeline and bringing it forward runs the risk of injury and is not ideal. “We will get up and get on with it, we are adaptable and we will go across and give a good account of ourselves. “We are a fit group, it is just that match sharpness that we are missing - so advantage Preston. “Yes they are a Championship team, so I can see why the EFL want to look after them and not ourselves.” Coughlan was left pleased by his side’s first half display in their 3-0 defeat to Rotherham on Saturday afternoon. Stags enjoyed a great spell as they saw a number of chances once again go begging. “I was pleased with the first 45 minutes, I thought we were very good and had some good moments. “We looked a threat and dangerous and had some good moments and patterns that we have been working on. “You are asking for that extra bit of quality to put the ball in the net. “The second half was a non event for us. Rotherham made changes and upped the tempo. “They cut us up at times with sharper passing and more incisive movement and then we go to pot with our discipline. “If you start pulling people down at the edge of your own box, at this level - Championship level - you’re going to get punished. “It was a disappointing second-half, but a really pleasing first-half.” ------------------- Preston v Mansfield: Graham Coughlan upset about timing of cup tie https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/53890358 Mansfield Town boss Graham Coughlan says his team were "threatened with expulsion" if they did not bring their Carabao Cup first-round tie against Preston forward to this Saturday. The game has been rearranged because of a number of North End players being called up for their national squads. The EFL said the tie, originally set for 5 September, was moved to "protect the integrity of the competition". It confirmed both clubs were involved in discussions about the rescheduling. The match will be the Stags' first competitive fixture since 7 March after the League Two season was curtailed because of the coronavirus pandemic. "It's ludicrous. We're three weeks out from being ready," Coughlan told BBC Radio Nottingham. "It's running the risk of injury before a ball has been kicked. We're nowhere near ready to go. "We've been forced into it with the or fines if we didn't co-operate and play against Preston." ------------------------ Midfielder reflects on first 90 minutes in pre-season mansfieldtown.net, Saturday, 22nd August 2020 Midfielder Harry Charsley believes it was beneficial to get a full 90 minutes of action ahead of the 2020/21 season opener next weekend. The Stags travel to Preston North End in the Carabao Cup for the new season’s curtain-raiser on August 29. Meanwhile, though, Mansfield faced off against Sky Bet Championship side Rotherham United in preparation for their first competitive fixture since early March, this afternoon. And despite a 3-0 scoreline favouring the Millers, Charsley drew attention to getting minutes in the legs ahead of the next campaign. “It was a tough game today against good opposition,” he began. “That was my - and a lot of the lads’ - first 90 minutes today since the Northampton game. I was feeling it a little but glad we got through it, and I don’t think there are any injuries either so that’s another positive. https://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/2020/august/charsley-post-rotherham/ “We’ve had a few games and built it up to 90 minutes. Personally, I feel great and I feel ready to start the season. We’ve had a tough pre-season - the gaffer has worked us hard to get us ready.” Graham Coughlan’s side controlled large parts of the first period at One Call Stadium and could easily have taken the lead. Both defender Mal Benning and new signing George Maris had opportunities that were ultimately squandered, and the 23-year-old subsequently weighed up the positives with the negatives. “I thought we created a few chances in the first half. They’re a Championship side so it’s never going to be easy but I thought [we had] good pieces of play in their half. “But with the second half, obviously, [we’re] really disappointed as a whole. “It is a relatively new team with lots of new signings, so I think it will take a bit of time to get used to each other but I think we’re doing alright at the moment. We just have to get the final bits ready for the start of the season.” The Irishman also touched upon his side’s recent trip to the Lake District, where the new signings were given a chance to bond with the rest of the already established roster. “It was good to do that,” he stated, in regards to the squad’s trip. “We needed to get to know each other a little better, the new players, so I think everyone really enjoyed it. “I think we’re expecting to hit the ground running. We’ve been training every day and working really hard. We’ve had a few games now, so hopefully we’ll start well and be able to carry that on. “I want to get into the team and stay in the team, play as many games as possible and get Mansfield as high as possible [in the league standings].” iFollow Stags subscribers can watch Harry's interview in full by logging into mansfieldtown.net/ifollow later today. -------------------------- Harry Charsley confident Mansfield Town can hit the ground running chad.co.uk, By Stephen Thirkill, Saturday, 22nd August 2020 Midfielder Harry Charsley says he expects Mansfield to hit the ground running when they kick off the new campaign. Stags start the League Two season at home to Tranmere Rovers with Charsley confident the new-look squad is raring to go. “I think we’re expecting to hit the ground running,” he said. “We’ve been training every day and working really hard. “Personally I feel ready to start the season. We have had a tough pre-season and the gaffer has worked us hard. https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/harry-charsley-confident-mansfield-town-can-hit-ground-running-2950263 “We train with a good intensity and that makes us fitter as players. We’ve had a few games now, so hopefully we’ll start well and be able to carry that on. “I want to get into the team and stay in the team, play as many games as possible and get Mansfield as high up the table as possible.” And the former Everton youth player believes a recent team bonding trip to the Lake District will pay dividends. “It was good to do the trip,” he said. “We needed to get to know each other a little better and get to know the new players, so I think everyone really enjoyed it.” Mansfield play their first competitive match at the weekend at Preston in the Carabao Cup first round. ---------------------- POST-MATCH - Mansfield workout gives the lads more confidence - Warne https://www.themillers.co.uk/news/2020/august/post-match--a-useful-workout-that-gives-the-lads-more-confidence---warne/#.X0FW2tfqNac.twitter Rotherham United boss Paul Warne was left satisfied with his side’s pre-season run out against Mansfield Town which saw the Millers record a 3-0 win in the behind closed doors encounter at the One Call Stadium. A collector’s item in the form of a sumptuous Joe Mattock free kick set the visitors on their way before a clever Michael Smith backheel and a header from summer signing Mickel Miller ensured a comfortable victory over their League Two counterparts. The majority of the players who started the game in Nottinghamshire were handed at least 60 minutes’ worth of action, while a raft of second half changes saw the remainder of the squad get time on the pitch. A trialist goalkeeper was deployed between the sticks for the entirety of the friendly fixture allowing Warne a proper look at his potential new recruit in a match environment. Speaking in the wake of the game at the One Call Stadium, Warne admitted that there were plenty of positive signs from his team whilst acknowledging that they still have some work to do before they are the finished article. “We kept a clean sheet, we rode our luck a bit at times but generally for a workout it was good. It gives the lads a bit more confidence,” he told http://www.themillers.co.uk. “Playing pre-season and getting messages across is important. Look, there were loads of parts of the game today from a coach’s point of view that we weren’t happy with, but overall, we won the game and that is what football is all about. “We obviously filmed the game and we’ll show them back the bits that we didn’t like and also the bits we really did like and hopefully we can increase the learning a bit more.” Warne’s side, whose performance in the 2019/20 season in the set pieces department was exceptional, were again proving their usefulness in that department with Mattock’s delightful opener coming from a dead ball situation before Miller headed home from a corner. “We always say to the lads that we want to be the best team on set pieces like we were last year. We want to be the best defence and I want to see us as ‘Special Teams’ on set pieces,” he explained using a reference to the NFL setup. “It is a good way to win football games. “Joe Mattock was excellent today on set pieces. I’m pleased for Joe and I thought he looked really good today, he’s an established left back. “We need people who can be reliable. We had Dan Barlaser last season.” Speaking of the club’s ambitions for the new season, the Millers boss revealed that he has reiterated his players should strive for excellence ahead of the 2020/21 Sky Bet Championship kick off and is hoping that in reaching for the stars, they can achieve their goals for the new campaign. “We’re under no illusions about how difficult it is going to be in the league we’re in but I think we can take it on with a real smile and determination,” Warne added. “I don’t think you should put ceilings on people’s dreams and I say that to the lads all of the time. I think we should at least look at the top of the league. We want to attack it and we’ll take defeats as all teams do, but it is about how we react to that and how we can be the best version of ourselves. “Hopefully by the time the season starts the lads are in good fettle, they have a real belief and they start with a smile on their faces.” --------------- |
Latest | August 2020