Mansfield Town



Odds: 33/1









Last Five Seasons

2005/06 - 16 (League Two), 2004/05 - 13 (League Two), 2003/04 - 5 (League Two), 2002/03 - 23 (League One, Relegated), 2001/02 - 3 (League Two, Promoted).



2005/06 Cup Progress

FA Cup Third Round vs Newcastle United (a) - lost 1-0.

Carling Cup Third Round vs Millwall (h) - lost 3-2.

Football League Trophy Northern Section First Round vs Hereford Utd (h) - lost 1-0.



Top Goal Scorer 2005/06: Ritchie Barker (striker) - 23 goals.



Players In

John Mullins (Reading - Free), Matthew Hamshaw (Stockport County - Free), Carl Muggleton (Chesterfield - Free).



Players Out

Jason Talbot (Port Vale - Free), Adam Rundle (Rochdale - Free), Fraser McLachlan (Morecambe - Free), Rhys Day (Aldershot - Free), Gus Uhlenbeek (Released), Allan Russell (Released), Kevin Pressman (Released), Kyle Jacobs (Released).



Mansfield Town have had a couple of disappointing seasons in League Two following their play off final defeat against Huddersfield Town at the end of the 2003/04 campaign. Peter Shirtliff's side finished a lowly sixteenth last season and he has responded by shipping out eight of his underachieving squad.



One of the only bright points of an otherwise below par campaign was the emergence of Ritchie Barker as a 20 plus goal a season striker. The 31 year old forward netted 23 league and up goals last term following far less prolific stints at former clubs Rotherham United, Macclesfield Town, Brighton & Hove Albion and Sheffield Wednesday.



With so many players released, Shirtliff began the rebuilding process by recruiting Stockport County captain Matthew Hamshaw on a two year contract. Hamshaw spent 12 months at the Hatters following five years at Sheffield Wednesday where he was a first team regular. He made almost 90 appearances since making his debut in August 1998.



Shirtliff is also keen to run the rule over young Manchester City defender Paul Collins during pre season following his release from the City of Manchester Stadium. Collins was noticed playing in the same youth team as Jonathan D'Laryea who joined Mansfield for a nominal fee at the end of January.



Striker Chris Beardsley wants to repay the club's faith in him after he was offered a new one-year deal after he missed nearly all of the 2005/06 season with an oblique fracture of his left leg.



Verdict

It is always difficult to predict how well a new team will fair but Mansfield will need to keep hold of Ritchie Barker following a prolific 2005/06 campaign. Better than sixteenth is expected but another mid table finish could be on the cards.

By: David Walker

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David Walker runs VCBet free bet and UK poker websites. A free email course: "Seven Days to Better Betting" is available at both of these websites.