The Opposition View: Millwall

With thanks to ThatMillwallPod on Twitter/X, Jack May gets an opposing perspective on this midweek tie.

How would you sum up your start to the season so far?

Mixed bag. We’re playing some expansive attacking football that have wielded some very good performances. The points haven’t been there but the performances overall have been encouraging just need to convert to points. 

What were your expectations at the start of the season? And what are you expecting now?

I think for the most part we expected to struggle to some extent. Lots of turnover in the clubs hierarchy aswell as a new direction, going younger with sell on potential have made this a project that will take time. Staying up is the expectation right now 

This is your 8th consecutive season in the Championship since promotion from League One in 2017. What’s the board’s vision? Are you working up to a Premier League push? 

Since James took over from his late father John our ambition hasn’t changed but the direction has. We’ve converted to a modern style of doing things bringing in young potential. The aim is to become self sufficient and eventually make a push for the premier league. 

What do fans think of manager Neil Harris?

Neil is a club lengend. He’s Mr Millwall. He came in to an impossible task last season with 13 games left and kept us up and took us mid table. No-one outside of the berylson family has done more for this club than Harris. He’ll be given time because he deserves it. He’s Millwall royalty. 

Highlight of the season so far?

Probably the home domination of Sheffield Wednesday. A complete performance with fluidity and complimentary football in defence and attack 

Low point of the season so far?

Cardiff away. Hadn'’t won all season at the time and the performance was just so poor very low blow. 

Where do you think you can cause us some problems on Wednesday? 

Romaine Esse. 19 year old England elite squad player who’s on the radar of multiple premier league clubs has the ability to unlock any defence and has shone this season. With multiple goals and some assists already he is a real live wire someone we won’t have here for long but someone who gives everything and is unpredictable for the opponent. 

What about weak areas? Where should we be looking to exploit?

Left hand side of our defence. We don’t have a typical defensive left side in both attacking and defensive areas. Joe Bryan the resident left back is more of an attacking full back and watmore who usually starts on that LW position is prone to being caught out leaving Bryan on an island. That’s the weak spot. 

What’s your view on Plymouth Argyle at home right now? Is this a match you should be winning? 

I don’t rate Wayne Rooney much he has a pretty poor away record overall and hasn’t had a good managerial career while I love how Plymouth have done so much with so little since entering the championship I expect them to be strugglers in this league for the foreseeable and that’s not to discredit them that’s a praise. But Millwall at home are a very tough outfit to play against the crowd are loud and create a deafening atmosphere it’s one of the toughest players to go on an away day when Millwall turn it on. The expectation is Millwall should be winning this game but this is Millwall. We’d beat top of the league 99/100 and lose to bottom of the league 99/100. 

Is it too early to call this a six-pointer? 

I think in some ways it is a six pointer for us. Especially for Harris. We’ve won 2/10 and with Burnley, Leeds and other big games coming back to back this is a game we cannot afford to drop points in or Harris and the players will feel the heat 

Score prediction?

Plymouth after the huge away loss last time out and missing a key player to a red card with Millwall getting relatively  healthy with players coming back. A long journey on midweek night for Plymouth 

I’m going 

Millwall 2-0 Plymouth.

If an Argyle fix isn’t enough, you can also find Jack on Plymouth Sporting News where he covers sporting developments on all things Plymouth.