Mansfield v Crawley

[Casey]

I can't see a thread so here it is.

I will not be there as I'm away with my family but it would have been fun to sing "You fat b'stard at Evans".

McNerney still out after a minor knee op. Connolly should be fit after a Cambridge karate chop to the throat. I'm hoping that means we drop Alex Davey and start with Connolly and Addison Garnett at the back. Garnett is young but he is big and strong and although not as gifted as Davey he is safer.

Roberts played sixty odd minutes on Tuesday. Still short of match fitness but he looks a very good player for this level. Big bonus him being back. In fact most if our injuries are clearing up as Harrold played and I noticed Payne back on the bench Tuesday.

We have to be wary of the new manager bounce (and with Evans it could be a big bounce) but I think we might get something from this game.

Stick me neck out 1-2

Casey

 

[WH_Stag]

we have a lot of injuries, meaning one fit centre back. But even with some slight changes we should beat this lot.

Start of a new era.. 3-0

 

[northstandexile]

I was actually surprised that Evans looked a lot slimmer than I remembered.

 

[Casey]

Amazing! Davey comes on and we let in three goals. He goes off and we don't let in another. I'm getting paranoid about him. Thing is, he isn't that bad.

We need to turn this around quickly. We're following Morecambe down the table.

Casey

 

[Conker]

Good result against admittedly a shit team, but we usually get beat by them at home (i.e. Stevenage, Grimsby etc)

 

[WH_Stag]

deserved win, OG was unlucky.

Evans has had one training session and working with clements about getting in the box and loosing his marker... already scored two goals. Evans will improve us no doubt, the matching of his former success is up to him

 

[hellogregory]

Is it worth backing Mansfield for promotion now while the odds are decent?

 

[PaulHaddock]

Good result against admittedly a shit team, but we usually get beat by them at home (i.e. Stevenage, Grimsby etc)

Gr8 banter.

 

[Conker]

Gr8 banter.

Not banter, you were fucking awful. Didn't exactly bode well for Mansfield considering they lost.

I can only assume you didn't go to the game shag.

 

[WH_Stag]

Not banter, you were fucking awful. Didn't exactly bode well for Mansfield considering they lost.

I can only assume you didn't go to the game shag.

Agreed Grimsby are one of the worst teams I've seen and the fact we lost just made it clear to me, a big murray supporter, that his time was coming to an end. Now we have an experienced head in to sort things out we'll leapfrog cleethorpes fc pretty soon.

We actually looked decent today, evans said theres a lot of work to do with this squad and i know he'll get rid of a few and bring in some of his own players come january but were improving and today was really positive for the first time this season.

 

[PaulHaddock]

Not banter, you were fucking awful. Didn't exactly bode well for Mansfield considering they lost.

I can only assume you didn't go to the game shag.

I did go to the game actually, shag. Terrible game. Doesn't mean we're a shit team; we're 6th and 3 points ahead of you.

You aren't shit either. You're 11th ffs. Quite funny seeing how big bollox Mansfield are after 1 game though.

 

[AdamStag]

I did go to the game actually, shag. Terrible game. Doesn't mean we're a shit team; we're 6th and 3 points ahead of you.

You aren't shit either. You're 11th ffs. Quite funny seeing how big bollox Mansfield are after 1 game though.

Trust me, if there is a group of fans who are pessimistic it's us lot. I didn't go to the Grimsby game, but as others said with Stevenage it was one of those games which really wouldn't have done adam any good

 

[AdamStag]

As for yesterday, what the hell was that....

We scored 3.
We attached.
We looks half decent.

What's all that about? Clements either had a one off good game or we've finally have someone in charge who knows what to do with him. Clements had always worked with Murray in whatever capacity at Mansfield, and maybe there might be a decent player in there - he's the ability.

His first goal summed up the difference to the 2 managers nicely - under Murray Clements wouldn't have been (or been allowed to) be that far up the pitch to take advantage of a mixup in the Crawley box - today he was, and he scored as a result.

A fine example of how you make your own luck

 

[Richard Cranium]

Much better. Onto Blackpool now, Another 3 points and Evans will have equalled the amount of home games we've won under Murray all season. It won't be easy as Blackpool are doing well but the buzz around the place now is great. We'll enjoy it whilst it lasts.

 

[Conker]

I did go to the game actually, shag. Terrible game. Doesn't mean we're a shit team; we're 6th and 3 points ahead of you.

You aren't shit either. You're 11th ffs. Quite funny seeing how big bollox Mansfield are after 1 game though.

I'm on about that game ya melt.

It was fucking embarrassing from my perspective, I think you only had one proper shot on target and that was the penalty!

Quote me the 'big bollox' Mansfield in this thread then pal.

 

[PaulHaddock]

I'm not even sure what you're on about anymore, I've accepted it was a shit performance but that doesn't mean we're a shit team.

 

[AdamStag]

I'm not even sure what you're on about anymore, I've accepted it was a shit performance but that doesn't mean we're a shit team.

I've not yet seen a decent team in this league, including ourselves. Even Plymouth weren't Upto much

 

[Never Mind The Paul Cox]

Grimsby can't be that bad.

Away wins against us, Luton and Plymouth now I think isn't it?

Have they played Pompey away yet?

Bogle seems to be the best striker in the league by far.

 

[Flaxman's Alibi]

Incredible how professional players can raise their efforts by a good 20% when faced with the reality of having to crawl out of their comfort zone to prove their worth. The extra application was both a credit to the aura of Steve Evans, and an insult to the former manager too.

Of course it helped a bundle that the mindset was transformed to an attacking emphasis - the midfield hasn't looked as industrious as that all season, and it bodes well for the rest of the season; but the thing that shone off the pitch far more than anything else was the huge amount of effort put in - the players were shagged out come the last ten minutes.

Evans' reputation obviously goes before him. The players know that the easy ride is over and it's time to earn their dollar (and then some). We've all suspected that largely we have a squad which ought to be challenging for a top 7 place, and if they can repeat that type of performance, then Evans won't have to perform much surgery on the squad during the transfer window.

I'll be a curious spectator at the Blackpool game, to see if the performance levels are matched.

 

[Flaxman's Alibi]

I've not yet seen a decent team in this league, including ourselves. Even Plymouth weren't Upto much

Adam, I agree. From all of the teams that I've seen so far, it looks the poorest League 2 in quite some time. I think the makeup of the league table tells us that the league is much of a muchness, apart from the top 3.

The team that improves the most and can sustain a run, from the pack of about 20 clubs can still nick an automatic spot. It's just whether anyone is actually up to it.

I'd be happy to predict now that it is likely to be 50+ points for the teams that get relegated; and maybe sub 70 points for the last play off berth.

 

[AdamStag]

Adam, I agree. From all of the teams that I've seen so far, it looks the poorest League 2 in quite some time. I think the makeup of the league table tells us that the league is much of a muchness, apart from the top 3.

The team that improves the most and can sustain a run, from the pack of about 20 clubs can still nick an automatic spot. It's just whether anyone is actually up to it.

I'd be happy to predict now that it is likely to be 50+ points for the teams that get relegated; and maybe sub 70 points for the last play off berth.

Totally agree.

A lot of that was my annoyance at Murray and his tactics towards the end, whereas lots of other clubs will have similar (and realistic) expectations f going for a playoff space, I thought the performances from the players, and the tactics by Murray were a disaster.

I want Evans to be a knob to them, though also their friend - the players need to know what is expected - I still believe an imposing midfielder and a decent goalkeeper are important in January