MANSFIELD MATTERS:FOR THE FANS, BY THE FANS!
  • Home
  • 2022/23
  • MM Club Shop!
  • PODCAST
    • Series 1 (2017/18)
    • Series 2 (2018/19)
    • Series 3 (2019/20)
    • Series 4 (2020/21)
    • Series 5 (2021/22)
    • Stags Stories >
      • A Trip Down Memory Lane
      • Legends LIVE
  • Back In Time
    • Into The Unknown
    • The Conference Years >
      • Stags 2011-12 (Play-offs)
      • Stags 2012-13 (Champions) >
        • Audio Highlights
        • Reserves & Youth
        • Youth
      • 2011: When Dreams Came True
      • 2012: The Year Of The Stag
    • Stags 2013-14 (Football League Return)
    • Stags 2014-15
    • Stags 2017-18
    • Stags 2018-19
    • Stags 2019-20
    • Stags 2020-21
    • Stags 2021/22

Match Preview: Ebbsfleet (A) BSBP Game #8

7/9/2012

0 Comments

 
Picture
Craig Priest previews tomorrow’s trip to Stonebridge Road

As I wrote earlier in the week, after defeat on Bank Holiday Monday at Grimsby we needed some home comforts to get back to who we are – we’ve certainly done that with two consecutive victories on home turf to make the information and stat sheets look more appealing than before, now we must spread our wings and go and get the results on the road too.

Tomorrow we make the 332 round trip from the One Call Stadium to Ebbsfleet, who in my opinion are one of the toughest teams to visit. Regardless of their league position or recent form, they have a settled set up with a successful long serving manager and a settled core squad of talented players – they are a side who get the basics of the game spot on and a side that can threaten from set plays and look to win the latter in any given situation. Tomorrow for me will give us an indication as to if we have stopped giving those silly set pieces away or not, if we do give them away then we’ll be nailing our own coffin as Liam Daish’s men will exploit us. Of course the Stonebridge Road outfit have clear weakness, something which again will show us if we have progressed – winning sides against Ebbsfleet at Stonebridge Road don’t need to play well, they just need to show the character to punish mistakes and penetrate weakness, it comes as no surprise then that the only teams to take all three points home from Ebbsfleet finished in the top ten – the exception being Darlington. 
Picture
I’m no scout nor am I a football manager (expect for when I’ve a spar half hour and get FM12 loaded up!) but I’ve watched enough football now to know how to spot strength and weakness – I always tend to watch opposing clubs match highlights to get a feel for how they line up and what styles of play to expect to be commentating on, this morning I watched recent highlights of Fleet’s games against Wrexham and Luton – I know again I may get slated for this but I believe tomorrow we should ease off on the Big Ex’s throws. In the opponents half Ex has had 17 throws against both Woking and Tamworth, they are a crowd pleaser for sure and are affective, especially if we are sharp during the second phase of play, take Matt Rhead’s striker against Woking and Luke Jones’ effort midweek for example – however Ebbsfleet have a very narrow run off, reducing the effectiveness of the throw and, most importantly, are a weak side defensively when opponents attack with pace. When we get a throw we allow Ex time to jog over, dry the ball and prepare the bullet – something which for arguments sake takes just under a minute, this amounts to 17 minutes per match. 

In the minute we allow for Big Ex to go across and deploy the weapon, we allow opponents time to regroup, refocus, reshape and recompose – qualities which I believe make Ebbsfleet strong and difficult to break down, I’m not saying let’s not use Geohaghon’s throw to affect, I’m saying that maybe during key stages of the game, when we’ve kept the ball for a prolonged spell and had Ebbsfleet chasing the game or when the hosts are beginning to look tired, let’s take a quick one and release Briscoe and Meikle down each flank, get drilled crosses into the box and let Green, Rhead maybe Speight and Wright too, play to their strengths – scoring goals. Ebbsfleet are strong in the air at the back and have battling players, this could make it difficult to make the second phase of play from a Geohaghon throw pay off for us – fleet are also strong and quick of the break, 80% of their 10 goals so far this term have been from counter attacking moves judging by their highlights. Again I’m not being negative and saying I don’t want us using the Geohaghon throw, I’m just saying that we have an added ace up our sleeve just encase we struggle to win with the hand we’ve already got.

Going back to the form tables, Liam Diash may be a tiny bit concerned that his side have only picked up one win so far this term, an epic open day 5-4 over newly promoted Nuneaton – his side come into the game against Stags with two draws and three defeats from their last five games whilst Stags have four wins and one defeat. Again form tables mean nothing it’s all about who performs best on the day; however we’re at that teetering stage where we either kick on and climb, or continue going in and endless spinning circle from win to defeat. I guess in a way it’s like when you learn to ride a bike, do you start at the top of a hill and let momentum guide you along or do you start at the bottom and pedal hard and fast with the desire to get to the top? One is lazy and teaches nothing, the other is tough and demanding but teaches so many values.      

I know that the boys are heading down for the game as I type, what I don’t wish to do is spark the debate about overnight stays. Some people say that whenever Mansfield stay overnight they lose and therefore shouldn’t, other say it helps in the preparation, fresh legs, fresh minds and all that – personally I’m not fussed so long as the bys put in the performance and come away with the result we all want – a win.  

LAST TIME WE MET

Picture
Last tem Paul Cox’s Stags took maximum points from Fleet; Matt Green opened the scoring at Stonebridge Road back in January of this calendar year before Gary Roberts grabbed a further two in a solid 3-0 victory. At the One Call Stadium it was again Green who was on target netting the game’s only goal in March of this calendar year.

I think it’s fair to say every Stags fan remembers our first meeting with Ebbsfleet, our debut game outside the football league on August 9th 2008, a match in which we trailed 2-0 at half time – the events of that day still haunt me, an eye opener to say the least.

Since and including that ‘historic’ day, I use the term loosely! The Stags and Fleet have met six times, Ebbsfleet recording only one victory, winning 2-1 at Stonebridge Road in November of 2009. There have been 16 goals between the pair, Mansfield have scored 12 of them.

TEAM NEWS

Once again the Stags have no fresh injury worries, Ross Dyer the only one who remains out of action. Defensive pair Ryan Tafazolli and Andy Owens returned to training earlier in the week and whilst the may not been 100% match fit, they have still trained and could travel. The Reserve team trip to Wrexham next Wednesday afternoon could be a more viable option though.

In other team news, young winger Joel Holland has joined Shepshed Dynamo on a month’s loan deal, he links up with Jobe Shaw whose already clocked up two starts for Shepshed during his loan spell with them. 

*UPDATE 2pm* John Dempster won't be available for the Stags either, having joined Tamworth on a months loan deal 

MATCH COVERAGE

If you can’t get to the match tomorrow then log onto our MM-LIVE Page from 2pm. Scott Rogers will be alongside me for build up and of course, full match commentary – also broadcast on 106.9FM, the only place on FM you can catch full match commentary.

Interact throughout the show via TEXT 07982 865 624 or TWEET us @mtfcmatters – This is the show for the fans by the fans, getting your voices heard.

The views expressed in this blog are those of the writer and not those of Mansfield Matters or it’s related organisations – to submit a piece email mtfcmatters@gmail.com
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    ABOUT MM-BLOG

    If you enjoy the Mansfield Matters Podcast, our Blog page is very similar - just in article form as team members share their views on matches and events! 

    Fancy submitting an article, DM us on Facebook/Twitter to get our attention, or email mtfcmatters@gmail.com (please note, this inbox isn't monitored often so it may take a while to get back to you) 

    Please read the disclaimer on the home page. 

    Categories

    All
    2011 12 Season Review
    2011-12 Season Review
    2013 14 Pre Season
    2013 14 Pre-Season
    2013/14 Season
    2014/15 Pre Season
    2014/15 Pre-Season
    201516 Seson
    2016 17
    2016-17
    2017 18
    2017-18
    2018 19
    2018 19 Pre Season
    2019 20
    2019-20
    2019 20 Pre Season
    2020 21
    2021 22
    2021 22 Pre Season
    Awards
    Capital One Cup
    Checkatrade Trophy
    Craig Priest
    EFL Cup (Carabao)
    EFL Trophy
    EFL Trophy (Leasing.com)
    EFL Trophy [Papa Johns]
    Fa Cup
    Farewell Matt Green
    Featured Bloggers
    Friendly
    Game Review
    Green Energy Challenge Trophy
    History
    Hot Topics
    Into The Unknown
    John Thompson
    Jpt
    Kirsty Swann
    League Cup
    Legends Live
    Manager Review
    Mansfield Matters Weekly
    Mark Plumb
    Match Preview
    Match Preview 2012 13
    Match Preview 2012-13
    Match Preview 2013 14
    Match Preview 2013-14
    Match Preview 2017 18
    Match Report
    Match Report 13 14
    Match Report 13-14
    Match Report 14 15
    Match Report 14-15
    Match Report 17 18
    Match Report 18 19
    Match Report 19 20
    Match Report 2012 13
    Match Report 2012-13
    Match Report 20 21
    Match Report 21 22
    Memory Lane
    Mid Season
    News
    Paul Cox 100
    Player Review
    Play Offs
    Play-Offs
    Play Offs [League Two]
    Podcast
    Pre-season1213
    Pre Season 17/18
    Reserve Team
    Rhys Day Testimonial
    Road Trips
    Season Review 2012 13
    Season Review 2012-13
    Sky Bet League Two
    Stags Stories
    Stags Youth
    Supporter Blog
    The Exhibition XIs
    Twelve Against Time
    Under 21s
    Wembley 2011
    Where Are They Now
    Your Views

    Archives

    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    January 2016
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    November 2011

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • Home
  • 2022/23
  • MM Club Shop!
  • PODCAST
    • Series 1 (2017/18)
    • Series 2 (2018/19)
    • Series 3 (2019/20)
    • Series 4 (2020/21)
    • Series 5 (2021/22)
    • Stags Stories >
      • A Trip Down Memory Lane
      • Legends LIVE
  • Back In Time
    • Into The Unknown
    • The Conference Years >
      • Stags 2011-12 (Play-offs)
      • Stags 2012-13 (Champions) >
        • Audio Highlights
        • Reserves & Youth
        • Youth
      • 2011: When Dreams Came True
      • 2012: The Year Of The Stag
    • Stags 2013-14 (Football League Return)
    • Stags 2014-15
    • Stags 2017-18
    • Stags 2018-19
    • Stags 2019-20
    • Stags 2020-21
    • Stags 2021/22