MANSFIELD MATTERS:FOR THE FANS, BY THE FANS!
  • Home
  • MM-Blog
  • 2020-21
  • PODCAST
    • Stags Stories
    • Legends LIVE
    • A Trip Down Memory Lane
    • Series 1 (2017/18)
    • Series 2 (2018/19)
    • Series 3 (2019/20)
  • 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
    • 2019-20

Preview ‘The Recovery’ Swindon (H)

13/10/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
As Swindon arrive at the One Call Stadium tomorrow, Mansfield Town need to do just one thing – recover, as individuals and as a team, to get their season back on track after a turbulent few weeks of performances.

Yes the Notts County derby-day victory is still recent and some will therefor argument my claim of ‘Turbulent few weeks’ – but let’s be honest, things go out of the window on Derby Day and that match a side, our performances haven’t been great for a fair few weeks now.

Swindon are a good side managed by the experienced David Flitcroft who knows exactly what it takes to get teams promoted from this level and compete higher up, after taking charge in the summer once a certain Steve Evans opted to stay with the Stags – he’s assembled a good squad and there an ‘all or nothing’ side who will be in the mix.

In League Two thus far we’re unbeaten at home and are fourth in the home form table for the last six matches – we’re making it difficult for teams to come and play us which is great, but if anyone have the quality to disrupt that, it’s Swindon – especially if we play the way we have been doing.

The silly mistakes have to stop, the energy levels have got to rise and the want and desire has also got to re-appear pretty sharpish ahead of a week where really, you need to be focussed and switched on with trips to Barnet and Newport within the next week to come.

Swindon play quickly from back to front but are very much a confidence team, reflected in the fact they’ve suffered heavy losses against the likes of Crawley (3-0) and Barnet (4-1) but in turn have comfortably beaten Luton and Stevenage – tomorrow is very much about who takes the front foot early.

If I were Steve Evans I’d be looking to mix things up, it’s risky but I’d be tempted with a 3-4-1-2 formation – bringing Rhys Bennett back into the fold alongside Pearce and Mirfin in the central role, a position he’d far better suited too for me – performing well as captain for the reserves against Rainworth and Grimsby in recent weeks in that role.

Going three at the back allows a little more expression in our play and if we get the midfield combination right, we’ll be able to push higher up and stay tight. Watching Swindon’s highlights, for me it seems like they struggle with pace and flair down the flanks – with that, I’d be tempted by CJ Hamilton. The wide man looked sharp in pre-season and, like Bennett, has impressed in the reserves – he deserves a shot, especially with the miles and games we’ve got coming up, fresh legs and flare are exactly what we’ve lacked.

To be fair, I can sit here all night and harp on about how we should play at Swindon’s weak-link, but the honest issue is Mansfield Town turning up and WANTING to win the game. That was the frustration last weekend and at Cheltenham, it needs to not become a problem – and sometimes when problems are becoming more regular, you just need to face them head on.

​We do have the quality within the dressing room, it’s time to show it on the pitch and show the league exactly who we are. It’s a massive ask, BUT honestly I see no reason why we can’t come away from the next three games (Swindon, Barnet and Newport) with the maximum nine points and show some consistency and depth.
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


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
    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
    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 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
  • MM-Blog
  • 2020-21
  • PODCAST
    • Stags Stories
    • Legends LIVE
    • A Trip Down Memory Lane
    • Series 1 (2017/18)
    • Series 2 (2018/19)
    • Series 3 (2019/20)
  • 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
    • 2019-20