Mansfield Town (A) Saturday 2nd August 3:00pm

[TheSwift]

XI: O'Donnell, O'Connor, Holden, Downing, Henry, Bradshaw, Sawyers, Baxendale, Webber, Flanagan, Morris
Subs: Taylor, Chambers A, Benning, Manset, Clifford, Chambers J, Heath, Bakayoko, Kinsella, Grimes, MacGillivray

Billy Clifford on trail from Chelski. Rumoured to be coming in on loan as Sam Mantom cover guy.

[SaddlerCrewe]

Max Clifford

Think it's Billy Clifford, Max is a bit too old!

[dobbster71]

& behind bars!!

[TheSwift]

Max Clifford

Think it's Billy Clifford, Max is a bit too old!

Me and my memory :lol:

[Registered Saddler]

(Billy) Clifford is under contract with Chelsea for the rest of the season so it would definitely be a loan rather than a transfer. As he's playing for us today, you'd assume that it's pretty much done and dusted especially as Mantom is still injured.

Anyone know what formation we're playing. It could be a 4-2-3-1 if Webber's out on the right, but I'm going to guess he's playing a diamond midfield in a 4-4-2 which seems to be Smith's new favourite tactic. I still need to be convinced.

[SaddlerCrewe]

& behind bars!!

It's probably best not to mention his touch..

[paddy]

Depending on what site you look at, Clifford was released by Chelsea at the end of last season. So he'd be on trial, while others say he's on loan

Surprised he's not starting though so he can get some game time

[EvenFlow]

Kinsella on for O'Connor quite early. Haven't seen any reason why, but first assumption would be (yet another) injury.

[NEWPORT SADDLERS DAD]

Depending on what site you look at, Clifford was released by Chelsea at the end of last season. So he'd be on trial, while others say he's on loan

Surprised he's not starting though so he can get some game time

If he has been released perhaps he's Deano's mystery signing from last week.

[paddy]

Why say he's a trialist though if he's the mystery signing??

[NEWPORT SADDLERS DAD]

Why say he's a trialist though if he's the mystery signing??

Good point,perhaps he wants to see him play before signing him.

[m&m]

You would hope that our management team had seen all of the players in action before signing them.
You do wonder sometimes though...

Anybody got any idea what the score was today?

[clawtheolder]

E & S says 0-0 report.

[clawtheolder]

Clifford spending a week on trial after being released by Chelsea.

[latviancheese]

Sounds like it was a fascinating match...

[JonnyOwen]

Proper boring game at times.

Negatives:

- O'Connor went off with a knock early on
- Sawyers is beginning to make even me, a happy clapper, annoyed. Lightweight, can't seem to shoot unless there is 20 yards of free space ahead of him and looks devoid of confidence. Give me Grimes or Baxo there any day of the week when he is in that kind of form.
- The Defence and Flanagan look extremely lightweight. I think last season it was fine for Downing alongside Butler to get away with being a bit lean and athletic, but this season he has to adapt to be without him, and that means bulking up a bit - he gets manhandled and out muscled in 1 on 1's way too easily. Flanagan definitely can't play on his own at the bottom of a midfield diamond, get's roughed up way to easily. Shied out of a few tackles and a header, definitely more of a supporting midfielder than a defensive one.
- Webber whilst doing nothing bad, did nothing of real not either.
- Holden looks nervy.
- Portions of the team look slightly devoid of confidence, mainly O'Connor, Downing, Sawyers and maybe Bradshaw.
- Manset looks unfit.

Positives:

- Grimes looks handy again, when he got the ball his first instinct was to look up to see if he could shoot, which is refreshing.
- Benning and Taylor down the left continues to impress me both offensively and defensively.
- Clifford looked quite good, great on the ball and threaded a nice pass for Manset in the second half.
- Morris is very lively with some brilliant feet.
- Baxendale would look very good when he got in his proper position centrally just outside of the area where he can find space and shoot, the shot part is what lets him down though!
- Henry looks a great prospect, good brain, feet and passing range on him. Quite raw and very lightweight, which is to be expected.
- Kinsella looks good on the ball as well.
- Manset continued to work hard, but he did look quite tired when he came on. Lacking match fitness.
- Bakayoko is fudge class.

[derbysaddler]

Why cant Smith fudge learn to balance his team recruitment drives? Either we get left shy upfront now he's at it in defence, so frustrating.

[Ancient Moaner]

Looks like our 'red hot' attack has really impressed, as we smashed 4th Division Mansfield with a 0-0
win!
We all know that these are just practice matches, but come on........... :?

[BathSaddler]

Looks like our 'red hot' attack has really impressed, as we smashed 4th Division Mansfield with a 0-0
win!
We all know that these are just practice matches, but come on........... :?

According to one of Mansfield's independent websites, Stagsnet, Walsall were "impressive" and "a very good side". Add to that the fact that Mansfield have had a good pre-season, beating the likes of Notts County and Leeds at home [losing to Aston Villa] and beating Conference sides Grimsby and Lincoln away.

I know results in friendlies are pretty meaningless, but thought it worth pointing the above out! :)

[SoccerHQ]

I think Smith has gambled on the attacking side by reckoning Sawyers having a storming 40 game season in the number 10 role.

Bit of a worry if he's not having a great pre season and looking low on confidence.