One thing that stood out from being at both Ipswich and Southend games was how difficult we found it to get decent possession in the final third. Balls out of defence were mostly being lost and coming straight back. When Gas came on yesterday, we finally had a target man who was winning headers, linking up play and made the likes of Carey and Apter more of a threat. If he is going to Bolton, then the lack of this type of player in our squad concerns me despite all the other signings.
If you play with a ‘target man’ you are basically playing with ten and a half men and giving up territory, more so with Nathan’s preferred game-plan which is based upon players finding space or running into space.
But you need the alternative option to change things when your normal style of play isn’t working. Not saying we should start with a target man, but should have the option on the bench. Not sure that’s Leaburn’s or Mbik’s game despite their size. With nine subs allowed a target man could be a handy addition.
One thing that stood out from being at both Ipswich and Southend games was how difficult we found it to get decent possession in the final third. Balls out of defence were mostly being lost and coming straight back. When Gas came on yesterday, we finally had a target man who was winning headers, linking up play and made the likes of Carey and Apter more of a threat. If he is going to Bolton, then the lack of this type of player in our squad concerns me despite all the other signings.
If you play with a ‘target man’ you are basically playing with ten and a half men and giving up territory, more so with Nathan’s preferred game-plan which is based upon players finding space or running into space.
But you need the alternative option to change things when your normal style of play isn’t working. Not saying we should start with a target man, but should have the option on the bench. Not sure that’s Leaburn’s or Mbik’s game despite their size. With nine subs allowed a target man could be a handy addition.
With the 9 additions and the likes of Mbick, Kanu and Fullah added to those of our remaining squad from last season we have plenty of much better players to fill the bench places and change the gameplan if necessary.
What we have done is sign the best of League One. I think that is a sensible approach.
Agreed. I remember George Graham when he was at Arsenal
being asked about his transfer strategy, and his answer always stuck with me “Never
sign a player that thinks they are doing you a favour”. As we found out towards
the end of our PL days, it only takes a couple of bad signings/dickheads and
the whole ship will start to sink. Far better to sign younger, hungry players
with something to prove, then Ben Watsons of this world will no longer be
stealing a living from us!
Just listened to Second Tier pod bottom 8, can't believe they don't have us in there tbh.
They have Wednesday, Preston, Hull, Blackburn, Watford, Oxford, Stoke and Wrexham all finishing below us at least.
I would love to see that, and curious to hear why they think that is on the next episode.
Really decent listen tbh, they are growing on me. I feel a lot of the time they are joking and not trying to actually one up eachother, they sound a bit like siblings.
I've never listened to a podcast in my life really but really enjoying these while I'm out and about or doing mundane drives.
What we have done is sign the best of League One. I think that is a sensible approach.
It is a very sound approach imo, you want players who are trying to climb the leagues and improving, not players regressing and had their time in the sun.
I was reading Millwalls forums earlier, as I was curious to see what they think of our transfer business with us playing them soon. First of all, they definitely care about us way more than they let on 😂 secondly, they don't seem to think we are doing good business. They think we are overpaying for League 1 players. Which I think is a bit of a short sighted take.
Really looking forward to playing them. Not expecting a win, but I expect us to give them a game now. The last few times we played them, we have had pathetic sides, and were a club in dissaray. The feeling is good around the club now, and we have more quality than when we last played them, a lot more quality.
Here was our line up last time:
For me, only Lockyer and Cullen make our XI now from that team, and I would say Lockyer is subjective. The current version of Albie Morgan at Blackpool also might make our XI.
They're of course a better side now as well, with a better manager, but it's gonna be a cracking game at the Valley.
What we have done is sign the best of League One. I think that is a sensible approach.
They're of course a better side now as well, with a better manager, but it's gonna be a cracking game at the Valley.
A much better side I would say. I just had a look at the team we had out when we beat you at The Den that season. Like you with Charlton I would say there are only a couple of players who would get in our team today, Jed Wallace (as he was then) and Jason Molumby (although he wasn’t as good for us then as he is now). Oh and of course Cooper, who IS still in our team lol. Maybe Bart in goal. Other than that, even in their prime, most of that team wouldn’t get near our team, or even our squad, these days.
Good post by the way and agree it’s going to be a cracking game. I’ve said it on here before, if you don’t get excited for these sort of games you might as well jack it in. This is what football is all about, local derbies and bragging rights.
What we have done is sign the best of League One. I think that is a sensible approach.
They're of course a better side now as well, with a better manager, but it's gonna be a cracking game at the Valley.
A much better side I would say. I just had a look at the team we had out when we beat you at The Den that season. Like you with Charlton I would say there are only a couple of players who would get in our team today, Jed Wallace (as he was then) and Jason Molumby (although he wasn’t as good for us then as he is now). Oh and of course Cooper, who IS still in our team lol. Maybe Bart in goal. Other than that, even in their prime, most of that team wouldn’t get near our team, or even our squad, these days.
Good post by the way and agree it’s going to be a cracking game. I’ve said it on here before, if you don’t get excited for these sort of games you might as well jack it in. This is what football is all about, local derbies and bragging rights.
Yeah you've definitely come on leaps and bounds as a club since then.
Just looking at some of the quality; Joe Bryan, Tanganga, Casper De Norre, Ivanović, Doughty, Crama (wanted Charlton to sign him)
It just isn't the Millwall of old, and I don't think any of these podcaster types are putting you outside top10. I personally think the top6 is very hard to predict, and whichever teams make it up will be very good sides.
I can't wait. The closer it gets and the more I'm watching the footie on telly the last few days, the more I am getting buzzing for it. Can't wait for it to be back.
What we have done is sign the best of League One. I think that is a sensible approach.
They're of course a better side now as well, with a better manager, but it's gonna be a cracking game at the Valley.
A much better side I would say. I just had a look at the team we had out when we beat you at The Den that season. Like you with Charlton I would say there are only a couple of players who would get in our team today, Jed Wallace (as he was then) and Jason Molumby (although he wasn’t as good for us then as he is now). Oh and of course Cooper, who IS still in our team lol. Maybe Bart in goal. Other than that, even in their prime, most of that team wouldn’t get near our team, or even our squad, these days.
Good post by the way and agree it’s going to be a cracking game. I’ve said it on here before, if you don’t get excited for these sort of games you might as well jack it in. This is what football is all about, local derbies and bragging rights.
Yeah you've definitely come on leaps and bounds as a club since then.
Just looking at some of the quality; Joe Bryan, Tanganga, Casper De Norre, Ivanović, Doughty, Crama (wanted Charlton to sign him)
It just isn't the Millwall of old, and I don't think any of these podcaster types are putting you outside top10. I personally think the top6 is very hard to predict, and whichever teams make it up will be very good sides.
I can't wait. The closer it gets and the more I'm watching the footie on telly the last few days, the more I am getting buzzing for it. Can't wait for it to be back.
Haha I’m the same. I get excited before every season but this year I’m on another level. I did all the friendlies and I’m doing every game in the first couple of months of the season, including Newport away on a Tuesday night in the league cup. Must be mad. Do you ever grow out of this? I hope not 😁
And yes the team we’ve got this year, I’m really excited about. Such a good balance and depth. With the manager, and the board, everything at the club really, just feels like the stars are aligning for us. But as they say, it’s the hope that kills you. We’ve had so many false dawns I really shouldn’t let myself get too excited. I still haven’t fully recovered from the Blackburn defeat a couple of season ago 😆
Not The Top 20 podcast was fascinating. Whilst they've predicted the finishing places, they're not particularly sold on anyone 16th to 24th when you hear what they have to say.
I do think it could be pretty open within those 9 sides for who gets relegated. There is a chance a Blackburn or Stoke start very poorly and completely fell apart.
Oddly if you only listened to what they had to say about us, youd presume they had us in relegation. Don't seem impressed by us at all, apart from they like Nathan Jones.
Not The Top 20 podcast was fascinating. Whilst they've predicted the finishing places, they're not particularly sold on anyone 16th to 24th when you hear what they have to say.
I do think it could be pretty open within those 9 sides for who gets relegated. There is a chance a Blackburn or Stoke start very poorly and completely fell apart.
Oddly if you only listened to what they had to say about us, youd presume they had us in relegation. Don't seem impressed by us at all, apart from they like Nathan Jones.
Seems a similar theme for us, Derby and Oxford. In nearly all the previews I've listened too, there are questions about the transfer business, but the main reason they have us and those 2 higher than they would normally is because of Nathan Jones, John Eustace and Gary Rowett.
Comments
Agreed. I remember George Graham when he was at Arsenal being asked about his transfer strategy, and his answer always stuck with me “Never sign a player that thinks they are doing you a favour”. As we found out towards the end of our PL days, it only takes a couple of bad signings/dickheads and the whole ship will start to sink. Far better to sign younger, hungry players with something to prove, then Ben Watsons of this world will no longer be stealing a living from us!
They have Wednesday, Preston, Hull, Blackburn, Watford, Oxford, Stoke and Wrexham all finishing below us at least.
I would love to see that, and curious to hear why they think that is on the next episode.
Really decent listen tbh, they are growing on me. I feel a lot of the time they are joking and not trying to actually one up eachother, they sound a bit like siblings.
I've never listened to a podcast in my life really but really enjoying these while I'm out and about or doing mundane drives.
I was reading Millwalls forums earlier, as I was curious to see what they think of our transfer business with us playing them soon. First of all, they definitely care about us way more than they let on 😂 secondly, they don't seem to think we are doing good business. They think we are overpaying for League 1 players. Which I think is a bit of a short sighted take.
Really looking forward to playing them. Not expecting a win, but I expect us to give them a game now. The last few times we played them, we have had pathetic sides, and were a club in dissaray. The feeling is good around the club now, and we have more quality than when we last played them, a lot more quality.
Here was our line up last time:
For me, only Lockyer and Cullen make our XI now from that team, and I would say Lockyer is subjective. The current version of Albie Morgan at Blackpool also might make our XI.
They're of course a better side now as well, with a better manager, but it's gonna be a cracking game at the Valley.
Just looking at some of the quality; Joe Bryan, Tanganga, Casper De Norre, Ivanović, Doughty, Crama (wanted Charlton to sign him)
It just isn't the Millwall of old, and I don't think any of these podcaster types are putting you outside top10. I personally think the top6 is very hard to predict, and whichever teams make it up will be very good sides.
I can't wait. The closer it gets and the more I'm watching the footie on telly the last few days, the more I am getting buzzing for it. Can't wait for it to be back.