Beast v Beast (Mansfield v Wimbledon)

[Hamez]

I know it was only one game but I thought Yussuf looked awful for us on Tuesday night.

 

[StagsForLife]

As did I, he could benefit from a loan imo.

 

[Flaxman's Alibi]

Eased Hearn back in with 30 and then 75 minutes, but he's missed the last 3. FGR due to illness and then Saturday and Monday's game with a hamstring twinge (he was never going to make Monday after missing Saturday). I'm not sure we'll risk giving him too many full games and instead save him for the next one. I'd rather him last 75 minutes most weeks than give him 90 for a handful of games and breakdown. He does a lot of work on his own with the physio away from the rest of the squad.

Not sure what Rhead's got now - 6 in 8 or something and several assists. He's that experienced, clever head up front that we've not had since we've been down here and not really had since Mark Stallard (slightly different players, mind). I think he'll struggle against the top 5 sides but he'll eat some defences down here for breakfast as will Hearn if he stays fit.

Problem we've got is that they're really the only two strikers we have. If they're injured, we head down to 18-20 year olds from the youth system.

Well, all of our former players who left for Lincoln went with good wishes. I'd have personally kept Rheady, he's the type who you appreciate whilst he's in your shirt and the opposition are busy calling him a fat barstool.

 

[Amber Nectar]

And it's great to see boom boom Rheady hitting the ground running.

Surely that would be boing boing Rheady.

And just to add I think he is player which you don't properly appreciate until he has gone. Not only a man mountain, who is a nightmare with the ball in the air (which was most of the time whilst Paul Cox was in charge) but is surprisingly good with the ball at his feet, holding the ball up. Though he wouldn't fit in to this seasons formations. All the best to him and the other ex stags at the Imps.

 

[Conker]

Come on, Rhead is dog at this level.

 

[Amber Nectar]

League 2 is a bridge too far for him, I agree. The conference... then this is a different story. Yes, not the best player but one which will cause the opposition a lot of problems - if you play to his strengths.

 

[Flaxman's Alibi]

Surely that would be boing boing Rheady.

And just to add I think he is player which you don't properly appreciate until he has gone. Not only a man mountain, who is a nightmare with the ball in the air (which was most of the time whilst Paul Cox was in charge) but is surprisingly good with the ball at his feet, holding the ball up. T

Surely that would be boing boing Rheady.

And just to add I think he is player which you don't properly appreciate until he has gone. Not only a man mountain, who is a nightmare with the ball in the air (which was most of the time whilst Paul Cox was in charge) but is surprisingly good with the ball at his feet, holding the ball up. Though he wouldn't fit in to this seasons formations. All the best to him and the other ex stags at the Imps.

Of course, that'll be a combination of the 2 minutes memory and failing to write stuff down.
Dammit.

 

[WH_Stag]

Should win this one. 2-0, 3-1? managed a win last year and we were awful, much improved this year and these are the sort of teams we should be beating now if we want to do anything decent in the league.

Expecting them to lump it to Akinfenwa, do they have another tactic? I think green will grab him self another goal or two, looked quality at york.

Lol at Liam Hearn injured again. Getting what he deserves after using this clubs resources then pissing off to Lincoln, although i thought he looked pretty crap in the league when he played so he was no great loss. Wouldnt mind seeing Lincoln back in the league, good luck this year!

 

[Luke Imp]

He sat out the final weeks of pre season with us because of Ramadan so he wasn't eating properly. His previous injuries could be to do with this? Just guesswork as you said he broke down in the last game of your pre season but he's been fine for us thus far.

Perhaps, but I highly doubt it. It's been a continual problem for him. In 8 years, he averages around 10 appearances a season.

I suppose it's possible that a year out of FT football has helped him a bit, but we'll see.

 

[Richard Cranium]

Hearn left because Lincoln offered him 2 years. You can't knock him for that at this level. Not like being a reserve in the PL on £25k a week.

 

[Luke Imp]

No we didn't. 1 year.

 

[Richard Cranium]

Oh yeah, Rhead was 2. Hearn was offered something where he'd only make any money if he was fit and making appearances.

 

[spireite]

You have to feel for Hearn. He could have had a successful league career you feel if he didn't break all the time. It's hard to have sympathy for the clubs that sign him though - you know what you're getting, really

 

[Luke Imp]

Hang on a minute, he's only had proper injury issues at two Clubs - Grimsby and Mansfield! We've probably had more minutes and goals out of him already than he did for his 18 months or so at Mansfield.*

*Unless this is a Chesterfield/Mansfield wind-up post, in which case the Lincoln fan will retreat...

 

[spireite]

Hang on a minute, he's only had proper injury issues at two Clubs - Grimsby and Mansfield! We've probably had more minutes and goals out of him already than he did for his 18 months or so at Mansfield.*

*Unless this is a Chesterfield/Mansfield wind-up post, in which case the Lincoln fan will retreat...

Is that right? He always seems to be getting long term injuries from what I've seen! Is it not a bad one this time?

 

[AdamStag]

Which is why Mansfield had him on a 1 year contract pretty much on pay as you play basis. It was unfortunate.

Word had it Lincoln offered him a 2 year deal on a much better deal we offered, so I hope for both players sake it works - the standard for forwards in the conference is a big gap to the league.

We all have forwards that we sign who fail badly, look at Shayne Bradley

 

[womble76]

We are definitely not one of those teams to pick up your standard three points. . We are much improved this season. Last away game akinfenwa started on the bench so we obviously have more than 1 tactic. We shall see tomorrow

 

[Richard Cranium]

I don't think anyone sees you as a side where we should just turn up and win. We've not won at home yet but hopefully we change that tomorrow. We need to start taking our chances or instead we'll leave disappointed.

 

[Luke Imp]

Is that right? He always seems to be getting long term injuries from what I've seen! Is it not a bad one this time?

He was a late comer to FT football (26) but didn't have any injury issues until his second season with Grimsby. I can't remember which way round he did it but he did his cruciate, came back and then ruptured his Achilles in his other leg.

His only issue here has been a slight hamstring injury in the last 10 days where we've just played it safe with him. Not been that bad because he's been able to take part in fitness tests and has been in full training all week.

Which is why Mansfield had him on a 1 year contract pretty much on pay as you play basis. It was unfortunate.

Word had it Lincoln offered him a 2 year deal on a much better deal we offered, so I hope for both players sake it works - the standard for forwards in the conference is a big gap to the league.

We all have forwards that we sign who fail badly, look at Shayne Bradley

As above, Hearn signed a one year deal.

Word from our end, via Hearn probably, was that you offered him a 6 month deal with a basic wage that he couldn't live on but incentivised with appearances/goals. We offered him a one year deal with a better, but still low, basic wage and appearance/goal bonuses.

 

[iWomble]

Expecting them to lump it to Akinfenwa, do they have another tactic?

I doubt if he'll start so yeah, I think we do.

 

[WH_Stag]

I doubt if he'll start so yeah, I think we do.

Lump it to who ever else in on the pitch then? cracking plan b.

I think it will be a really good game today.

 

[Stagat]

GOOD START

 

[Flaxman's Alibi]

Think we mugged a point today from easily our poorest league performance of the season. Wimbledon dominated midfield and didn't give us a sniff from open play. Dons should be disappointed with a point.

We seem to have settled in to this very disappointing attacking method for our home games, which mainly employs knocking it long for Green, who is many things but never a target man.

Yet away from home we seem braver and much more creative. Strange.

As for the referee. An extremely odd performance. First half he gave every decision to us, second half he gave everything (apart from the red card) to the Dons. In fact, we started calling him 'the compass' as he could only point to north.

 

[StagsForLife]

Shit performance from us but loved Nicky Hunt for giving them a taste of their own medicine by going down holding his head.

WHY PLAY ONE UPFRONT AT HOME.

 

[womble76]

Another away point but seems like we should have taken all 3.

 

[Richard Cranium]

If we had played away then that would have been perfect. At home, and all we did was knock it to Green all game. Fucking shite

 

[WH_Stag]

We didnt get going which was a shame but to be bang average and still not look like loosing was a good thing. Only clements turned up and he was quality.

They really did hoof it to fatty all game it was funny to watch because he was so poor, He couldn't jump, run, pass it, shoot, he even fell over his own feet and what a thud when he hit the floor.... bit of a gimmick rather than a good player, i expected a lot more from him. But for a league two side looked alright in midfield, Rigg? the winger looked pretty good, if they cut out the plan A longball to akinfenwank they would be a dangerous side. Few of their players were soft as shite though, and tried to con the ref which is something that needs cutting out of football.

We seem to be waiting for things to click into place. Iron a few things out and a couple alterations and we will 100% be better off than last year, ill take slow progress and the point today.

 

[AdamStag]

I think the 2 themes of the day were how wank the ref - especially against wimbledon and how stupid Murray was with his ridiculous defensive tactics - which were abysmal and echoed a similar stance from paul cox.

The fact was Mansfield played a dreadful hopeless attempt at playing at home to a side that in fairness was more than capable but given far too much time and respect for what their team could produce.

The ref in general was hopeless, mainly favouring us in the first half, them in the second, Id strongly encourage them to appeal the red given late on - it was laughable

 

[Alanstag]

Wimbledon started by lumping it up to Akinfenwa and Elliot which we just couldn't deal with and deservedly took the lead. There looked only one team in it until our free kick and Clements came up with a bit of quality, after which we looked a lot better and needed to score again. The second half was so stop-start and scrappy no team got any real momentum going as the ref had just absolutely lost it, so it ended up a very frustrating game.

A draw was probably fair in the end, though you would think that we should deal better with long balls and be able to withstand a bit of pressure. I wish Murray would play with two proper wingers at home instead of this stupid obsession of playing Rose and Thomas wide right. I think the system works a lot better away from home as teams will set up to have a go at us and open up space for us. Though at home teams will come here and be more cautious so we need to start having a proper go at them.

 

[pride_of_notts]

Shit performance from us but loved Nicky Hunt for giving them a taste of their own medicine by going down holding his head.

WHY PLAY ONE UPFRONT AT HOME.

I don't think there is anything wrong with playing one up front the issue as in previous games I have seen is the midfield not being quick enough to support Green. As for Hunt found it a bit embaressing I really don't like the rolling on the ground whether it's us or the opposition