GARY BIDS TO SHARPEN LIONS’ CLAWS
IF YOU ask Millwall boss Gary Rowett if he’s concerned about his team’s lack of goals, he pauses for a second, chuckles and says: “Yes, it doesn’t take a genius to work that out, does it?”
Defensively, the Lions are a pretty tough nut to crack, having conceded a mere 29 goals in 28 Championship games this term. It’s at the other end of the pitch where they are having greater problems – they’ve only scored 29 as well.
Heading into the weekend, only a handful of clubs had scored fewer, including all three in the relegation zone. Indeed, Fulham sharp-shooter Aleksandar Mitrovic had scored just one fewer than Millwall on his own!
It’s not for the want of trying as Rowett is exploring every avenue open to him to help the Lions bare their teeth more often. Last Saturday’s 2-0 home success against West Brom, which ultimately cost Baggies boss Valerien Ismael his job, was a step in the right direction as Mason Bennett and Benik Afobe found the net.
However, there was more frustration for the Millwall faithful when the Lions played out a goalless draw with Preston at The Den on Tuesday night. In fact, it could have been worse but for Lilywhites playmaker Ben Whiteman hitting the post with a second half penalty.
In reality, it was no great surprise the game ended with honours even as only Derby (12) have played out more draws than Millwall (10) and Preston (11) this term. If the mid-table Lions could have turned just a few of those games into victories, they would have been far closer than eight points off the play-offs pre-weekend.
But that’s where they lay and Rowett, ever the realist, knows he hasn’t got the multi-million pound budget of some of their loaded Championship rivals to bring in premium forwards.
Quality
“There’s not an easy solution to it,” said the former Cambridge, Derby and Birmingham defender who notched up two years in the Lions hotseat in October.
“When you look at some of the players in this division that get into double figures, there’s very few of them - and they cost a lot of money.
“What we have got to do is work incredibly hard to find the way as a team to do that, but you look at the quality of players we’ve got on the pitch: Oli Burke, Mason Bennett, Benik Afobe, Jed Wallace, Connor Mahoney, Tyler Burey.
“We are trying to do that, but we need to be better. It’s something that we have to get better at because that defines where you end up in the table.”
Having signed Scotland winger Burke, 24, on loan from Sheffield United earlier in the window, Rowett returned to do business with the Blades on transfer deadline day with a last-minute loan swoop for Luke Freeman, right.
The Lions boss is hoping the talented 29-year-old midfielder, who has played for the likes of Bristol City and QPR, can give his side that extra cutting edge.
“Luke is a good player, a Championship player proven over the years,” said the 47-yearold ex-Burton, Birmingham, Derby and Stoke manager. “He’s another player that has probably had a lack of game time recently so again, a bit like Burkey, he will need a little more time to get up to speed.
“With someone like Luke, you are looking for him to just do something a little bit different that unlocks the door.
“In time, I think we will get better and our attacking options will get stronger. The players will get fitter and our squad will look to have a bit more depth to it.”
Boost
Keeping hold of talismanic winger Jed Wallace has also given the Lions a boost as they go into the final few months of the season. With his contract up in the summer, it was thought Millwall might cash in on him – and Nottingham Forest led the pursuers – but, finally, the 27-year-old stayed put and returned from injury as a substitute against Preston. “That was one of the big things this window,” explained Rowett. “We wanted to keep Jed, you want to keep your best players available.
“We need that attacking quality, those extra options, in the final third to give us a chance to win games. In the last few weeks we have put young players on to try to win games against good sides and it’s difficult to do that.
“What we’ve been able to do against Preston, and will be able to do in the future, is put in players that know
what it takes to win games in the Championship and the likes of (young) Tyler Burey to come on and give you that little bit of zip.”
The south-east London side don’t have the big bucks to compete with top-end Championship clubs in the transfer market, some of whom have hefty parachute payments to call on. Dipping down the football ladder for talent isn’t easy either.
Different
“We set out to bring some young, permanent players in and we had four or five bids rejected for players we spoke about,” said Rowett. “As soon as you leave one window you have to start looking at the next window. We need to go down a slightly different route in terms of our recruitment model at times but it’s difficult. One team had a one-and-a-half million pound offer turned down to buy a young player out of League Two, so there’s no easy way to bring top quality young players into a football club.
“We have to try to find the best players available for us and we have seen some of our own youngsters come through and add that extra little bit of zip and quality.”
Of course, if players already in the building can prove their worth, it’s a win-win for all concerned. After a number of spells out on loan, right wingback Danny McNamara, 23, has really grasped his first team chance over the past year.
“He showed that real spark and desire to want to play for the club, and he’s learning the role,” said Rowett, left. “There are certain things we are working on with Danny to see if he can add those little bits of extra quality in the final third which defines whether he will be a really good Championship wingback or full-back, or potentially a Premier League wing-back or full-back.
Character
“He’s worked hard, he always wants to do extra, he’s a good character. If there are 50-50s out there, he will go full blooded and do what it takes for the team and the club.”
It was McNamara’s long ball which created a good chance for Afobe early in the second half against Preston, but the striker wasn’t able to fully capitalise after a heavy touch and build on his goal against West Brom.
With Tom Bradshaw sidelined with a knee injury, the onus is on the 28-year-old Stoke loanee, who has bagged seven goals this term, to lead the line.
“He’s the type of striker in this division who can get between ten and 20 goals,” said Rowett. “He’s had quite a few chances this season and I think he’ll be disappointed he’s not in double figures already, but you always feel there is one opportunity for him and he’s got the quality to go and finish it off, which he did at the weekend.
“The attacking players we’ve brought in will help him a little bit and give him more chances.”
Next up for the Lions is a trip to league leaders Fulham, Mitrovic and all, on Tuesday night. So will a free week leading up to it be a benefit? “I’ll let you know afterwards,” laughed Rowett.