Mahon: My Experience Will Help Palace...Derry Role

[Macmoish]

Croydon Guardian

Mahon: My experience will help Palace

Wednesday 30th March 2011

* By Graham Moody »


Gavin Mahon hopes his experience can be the defining factor in keeping Crystal Palace in the Championship.

The holding midfielder joined on loan for the rest of the season from Queen's Park Rangers last Thursday as manager Dougie Freedman brought in cover for the injured Alex Marrow.

Despite injury having prevented 34-year-old Mahon, who George Burley also expressed an interest in when Eagles manager, from playing a first-team game in almost 16 months, he is confident he can have an impact in the final eight matches of the season.

"There is a difficult period coming up which is a challenge for me, for Dougie and for all the players and we are all ready for it," said Mahon.

"Dougie knows what he is going to get with me, an experienced professional and an experienced footballer around the ground and the training ground.

"At this time of the season you just need a bit of guile and an old head around the place to calm it down in games when you are winning one nil and need to shut up shop.

"You need little things like that, a bit of experience in knowing how to kill games off, and I think that is what I can bring to the team.

"The last 12 months have been frustrating for me with on and off little niggles.

"But now I am back training fully I am just looking forward to the games coming up.

"It is the important part of the season, the business end, so let's bring it on

www.yourlocalguardian.co.uk/sport/football/crystalpalace/eaglesnews/8939619.Mahon__My_experience_will_help_Palace/?

[Macmoish]

South London Press

Sport

Mahon aims to be Palace must-have summer item

Thursday, 31 March 2011

By Richard Cawley

GAVIN Mahon has bumped into Dougie Freedman during shopping sessions in Hertfordshire earlier in the season - now he’s attempting to show that he will be an ideal summer acquisition for the Palace boss.

The 34-year-old midfielder signed a short-term deal last week with the Eagles until the end of the season after leaving QPR, where he had been on a month-to-month contract since returning from a knee problem in September.

And Mahon knows that his six-week stay in SE25 is a chance to impress his new employers.

“I told Dougie that I’d come in and show him what I’m all about as a player and as a man and if he likes that then hopefully I can extend into next season as well,” explained the former Watford captain.

“I’m looking at it as a mini-trial. It’s a different environment, different coaching and a chance for me to show what I can do.

“I’ve met Dougie once or twice when he’s been out shopping in Hatfield Galleria and he would ask how I’ve been getting on. Dean Austin’s kids go to the same school as mine in St Albans and he was also asking if I was fit."

Don't miss tomorrow's South London Press for the full story.

www.southlondon-today.co.uk/Sport.cfm?id=11923&headline=Mahon%20aims%20to%20be%20Palace%20must-have%20summer%20item

[Macmoish]

Croydon Today

Former Palace captain Shaun Derry Palace instrumental in Mahon signing

By daniel jones [e-mail]

NEW signing Gavin Mahon was convinced of a move to Selhurst Park by the man many Eagles fans will be hoping he can finally replace.

Palace have been crying out for an experienced ball winner in the middle of the park ever since former captain Shaun Derry left last summer.

And it was Derry, now at Mahon's parent club Queens Park Rangers, who told the Eagles latest addition that a move to south London would be a good idea.

"I've been quite good friends with Shaun ever since he moved to QPR," said the 34-year-old. "I'd spoken with him a few times about Crystal Palace and he always said what a great club it was and what good times he had here.

"So when the chance came up I didn't really have any doubts."

Previous manager George Burley had been keen on a move for Mahon (pictured) before he was sacked and Dougie Freedman continued to watch the situation closely.

Freedman finally decided to bring him in just before the cut off for emergency loans last Thursday, believing the former Watford and Brentford man would be a useful addition in Palace's battle to beat the drop.

Mahon is confident he can repay the manager's faith.

"I think I can do just the job he is after," he said. "In situations like this you need a few older heads around the place.

"Hopefully I can add that bit of experience on match days and at the training ground.

"In games sometimes you need a calmer influence just to put his foot on the ball or know when to take the sting out of the game and shore up a 1-0 win. That's what I can bring."

The former Rangers captain has endured a frustrating season in west London having hardly featured due to a series of niggling knee injuries.

But he is convinced those problems are behind him and says he can't wait to get back into action and help keep the Eagles in the Championship.

"It's been a frustrating time for me but this move has given me a chance for some football again," he said. "Now I'm back in training and fully fit, I'm raring to go and looking forward to the games coming up.

"I've been looking at the team's results of late and like so many sides in the Championship we seem to be able to beat anyone on our day.

"Hopefully we can start grinding out a few results away from home as well because that seems to be where the problems lie at the moment."



www.thisiscroydontoday.co.uk/sport/Derry-s-Palace-nudge-Mahon/article-3395196-detail/article.html

[harlowranger]

Possibly would help if he even played or made the bench didnt happen today for him , not going to be another Rowlands to Millwall scenario is it !