Opinion: Here's what we learnt about Mansfield Town this pre-season

The basics show two wins and three defeats with victories at Retford and Alfreton and losses against Barrow, Derby County and a behind-closed doors reversal against Lincoln City.

Those results of course mean nothing with the games all about getting the required minutes in the legs and hopefully players coming through unscathed. Thankfully Mansfield have largely done that aside from a hamstring issue for Baily Cargill and a strained back for Liam Roberts.

What we can take from the summer though is that Stags will undoubtedly go into the new League One campaign stronger than when the final whistle blew at the end of the memorable 5-4 win over Cardiff City on the final day of last season.

The changes have not been massive with two just names supplementing an already solid squad to make up the class of 2026/27.

Nigel Clough’s big task over the summer was to strengthen the one area that really needed it - up top - and he has done that well.

David McGoldrick and Michael Smith have been snapped up, bringing with them plenty of quality as well as experience of playing at a higher level. The expectations being placed on the duo to bang in the goals that Stags need if they are to mount a play-off push is understandably high amongst the fans.

But the early signs that McGoldrick, who scored 15 league goals with Barnsley last season, and Smith have got what Stags are looking for are encouraging and many fans getting a first glimpse of the pair against Derby will have liked what they saw.

Smith, a three-times League One promotion winner, bagged his second goal of pre-season with a tidy turn and finish. He’s impressed me from what I have seen so far and seems to have an eye for a goal and be a player who is not afraid to try his luck. The more shots you have the more chance you have of finding the back of the net afterall.

Throughout pre-season Nigel has also made plenty of references to the quality that McGoldrick possesses. It’s something that we saw first hand on Friday night with the former Derby man looking a class act.

McGoldrick played in the hole behind Tyler Roberts and Smith in a new-look formation and got himself into some great positions to cause the Rams bother. Aside from his excellent positional play I thought McGoldrick looked calm, creative and steady throughout. He used the ball effectively and with vision and, even when placed under plenty of pressure, rarely gave the ball away.

The signs certainly look good that he will not only bang in a few goals but also create plenty of chances for his team-mates to get on the end of.

The one question that pre-season hasn’t answered is how will Nigel integrate his two new frontman into an attack-minded starting eleven and what that formation will be.

We’ve seen Stags experiment with a 3-4-1-2 set-up in the second half at Alfreton and against Derby and play without the usual left wing-back. It’s a switch that Clough admits he is still uncertain as to whether it can be used in League One week in week out.

Mansfield certainly looked to be excellent going forward and with far more goal threat than usual thanks to having three forwards on the pitch, but it does run the risk of Stags getting exposed defensively, especially against the better sides in League One.

Nigel has always spoken of the need to maintain the right balance in the team with increased attacking threat not costing Stags the defensive solidity they worked so hard to attain last season.

The stakes are perhaps higher now after the somewhat landmark tenth place finish last term. and, in my view, Stags do need to find a more adventurous approach and to take games to their opponents.

Only time will tell if a new way of setting up the team is the right way to go. Perhaps it is a case of ‘He who dares wins.’ Afterall, it's a big gamble but it’s one that comes with plenty of rewards if it pays off.