IT’S hard to argue that Millwall’s start to the Championship campaign has made any sense when looking at their performances and results.
The Lions started the season poorly but occupy a place in the top six ahead of the World Cup break. Their defensive issues have been well documented, but they have, in fact, benefited from playing a formation that uses fewer defenders.
Their four-match winning run was ended by 1-0 defeat against the side at the very bottom of the league table before playing out a 0-0 draw at home to another underperforming team who had ten men on the field for more than half the game a week later. Just as question marks began to be raised once again, they put four goals past one of the strongest defensive outfits in the division in their own backyard, winning 4-2.
EFL expert Gabriel Sutton has also struggled to comprehend Millwall’s campaign to date, although he was able to pinpoint why Gary Rowett’s side have been able to surge into the play-off places after 20 league games.
“When we started the season, it looked like Millwall had some goalscoring potential but had obvious issues at the back,” he told NewsAtDen.
“I think there have been one or two changes that Gary Rowett has made more recently to try and fix the defensive issues, actually going from the 5-2-3 or 5-3-2 to the 4-2-3-1 that we’ve more commonly associated with him at other clubs in his career.
“That’s clearly made an impact because since then, defensively, there probably has been a bit more solidity. Maybe it’s a bit more about trusting individual defenders to win their individual duels as opposed to having a bit more chaos that you perhaps have when you have three out-and-out centre-backs.
“I also think there have been games where Millwall have shown real potential going forward with the odd 10/10 performance, whether that’s Zian Flemming, Tom Bradshaw, even Andreas Voglsammer looks like he’s got some quality about him. I think there’s potential going forward and I think it’s about clicking those two parts together.
“If you can find that formula, I think you’ve got a good chance of the play-offs.”
That being said, there’s a long way to go and a number of ways that Millwall can still improve. Gabriel initially put them in his top six for his pre-season predictions, but believes that they still need to strengthen if they are to vie for a place in the Premier League.
“I also put Coventry in my top six, and one of the things I like to prioritise with teams is whether they’ve got stability in the dugout, a stable core of players, and certainly for Millwall the answer to that is yes. They’ve got a good defensive base and I’m thinking whether Flemming can add that spark of creativity while you keep that solidity in place.
“For me, I can see Millwall going into the market for another striker in January. I think a target-man type could help because, if you look at George Long’s distribution, it tends to be quite direct. I’m not shocked that you’ve not necessarily been able to produce the attacking magic like you did at Preston North End in all your games so far – a couple of 0-0’s before that – if a big part of that is Long’s goal kicks from long to Tom Bradshaw, who isn’t going to win much in the air.
“I feel like if you could put a 2017-18 Steve Morison type into this Millwall side, that could make the difference.”
This optimism hasn’t necessarily been shared by the supporters, many of whom questioned whether Rowett was able to take the club any further after three years of continuous progression. There is no denying that the bar has been raised as a result and expectations are much higher than they were at the start of his tenure, although Gabriel still believes that the 48-year-old is the right man for the job.
“For me, from an outside perspective, I see Gary Rowett as a consistent seven plus out of ten Championship manager. I think wherever he’s been, apart from Stoke, he’s either met expectations or in some cases massively exceeded them. I think you’ve got to be mindful of that.
“I don’t think he’s someone that always necessarily shows his emotions in a raw, out-and-out way, although I suppose he gave it a real moment post-match at Deepdale which I think was important to a lot of fans. I think a little bit more passion certainly helps.
“I think he’s drilled this Millwall side into shape for much of his last three years in charge, and I think if they find that defensive consistency this season and add the quality of Zian Flemming and Andreas Voglsammer, Billy Mitchell having a great season of course, then I think you’re in with a chance.”
Those sorts of individuals have been crucial for Millwall, and Gabriel doesn’t hesitate when asked about his three standout players so far this season.
“I think Zian Flemming would definitely be one,” he explains. “I did a bit of digging on this lad when he first signed because he’d been at Fortuna Sittard, and I think the feeling was that he wasn’t necessarily playing in a great team but he was that attacking spark. He could do a bit of everything and he brought that bit of quality to them.
“I think he’s doing something similar at Millwall really. It was a lovely free-kick at Deepdale where he almost drilled it under the wall, quite a deceptive free-kick in a way. Then he seems to be almost flexing his muscle in front of the fans when celebrating as well, so he seems to be embracing the Millwall spirit which I think is really important.
“There have probably been players that have gone to Millwall in the past that have possibly been a bit of a shrinking violet if you like, they have all the ability but not quite been able to stand up to the demands of playing at The Den. I think this lad can.
“Another lad who certainly can is Billy Mitchell. Whenever someone comes through the Millwall academy, especially in midfield, from afar there’s always this assumption that they’re going to be really energetic, really tenacious and love a sliding challenge, and that’s about it!
“With Billy Mitchell, I think that stereotype from afar is probably wrong. I saw him for one of the goals at Deepdale, there was that lovely through ball down the right-hand side where he released Danny McNamara. It shows that he’s got that eye for a pass in his locker as well. That’s really exciting.
“Then I think you go a bit more to your usual suspects, your Jake Cooper’s and your Shaun Hutchinson’s who are very solid defenders.
“They would be my three: Zian Flemming, Billy Mitchell and Jake Cooper.”
Of course, the big question is whether Millwall can maintain their current form. Being in the top six in November is obviously fantastic for the club, but their success will be judged on whether or not they can keep their place come 5pm on May 6th, 2023.
“I’d be surprised if Blackburn are in the position they currently occupy. I think Watford could be vulnerable, you beat them 3-0! I even thought you were quite competitive against Norwich in the first half of that game, then sort of turned a bit in the second half.
“Certainly I don’t see any reason why you can’t sustain that challenge.”
Photo: Millwall FC