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5 players Millwall should sign this Summer.

5 players Millwall should sign this Summer

 

Millwall have faced a tough summer so far, with Mikel Kieftenbeld being the latest of last season’s Lions to depart the club. There is also another issue with many of Millwall’s successful loanees having to go back to their former sides, most notably Benik Afobe and Daniel Ballard, both of whom played a crucial role in a relatively successful 2021/22 season for the Lions.

It is clear that Millwall are going to need to invest in some new faces if we want to compete with the rest of the Championship this season, so I have put together a list of 5 players I would love to see at the Den next season.

 

Dominic Telford (Newport County)

With Benik Afobe going back to Stoke, Jed Wallace almost definitely leaving the club, and both Smith and Bodvarsson leaving in January, there is no doubting the Lions are in desperate need of some attacking options, and despite having a low budget, this would for me be seen as a decent solution to this issue. Even though he spent last year playing League Two football, I feel that Dom Telford would be the perfect Benik Afobe replacement for the summer window. He has not played in the Championship since he was a teen, so this move would no doubt be a risky one. However, with 25 goals in 37 League Two appearances for Newport in League Two last season, I have no doubt that he could bag a few in the Championship next season.

 

Charlie Austin (Free Agent)

Whilst he may not be at the peak of his career, there is no doubt that Charlie Austin still has ability. The English-born striker has done it everywhere in English football, from non-league to the Premier League. There is also an argument for him being a huge asset off the pitch, as he could work on mentoring some of the younger strikers coming up such as Tyler Burey and Isaac Olaofe. There is a guarantee with Austin that if you give him chances, he will find the goal. And with full backs Scott Malone and Danny Mcnamara whipping in crosses, I can’t see a way that Austin wouldn’t be capable of bagging 10 goals next season if he was to move to the Lions.

 

John Mcatee (Grimsby Town)

Even though he was playing non-league football last season, there is no doubt that Mcatee is more than ready for a big move, and whilst his beloved Grimsby Town managed to secure promotion to League Two in 2021/22, the 22 year old would not be able to turn down a move to a Championship club next season. My pick for Non League player of the season last year, Mcatee would be a risk as he has never played at this level, but his creative ability in the No.10 role is something I feel we could seriously use next season in the Championship, especially if Jed Wallace leaves (which is looking more and more likely by the day).

 

Tom Lawrence (Derby County)

Whilst Derby County had an underwhelming end of the season, being relegated to League One, they would have finished mid-table in the Championship had it not been for injuries, meaning that half of their squad at least will be ready to play in the Championship next season, and will have the quality to do so. Whilst Tom Lawrence didn’t hit the heights of previous seasons in 2021/22, there is no doubting that this man has quality. He is also a player of whom Rowett has experience managing, therefore potentially putting the Lions in a fantastic position to be able to sign the Welshman. Also, whilst he has already had a fantastic career, it is easy to forget that he is only 28, meaning that there is still potential for Rowett to have him play a role in this Millwall side for a few years as we push towards our Premier League dream.

 

Cameron Borthwick-Jackson (Burton Albion)

Seeing as Burton Albion managed to sign Brown on a free from Oldham Athletic in 2021, you would not think he would be one of the players in this list, however since signing for Burton Albion, he has been a massive part of their squad and a solid member of the defense, making 37 appearances for the Brewers in League One. The Lions may need to look to the lower leagues when recruiting players for the upcoming season as Millwall do not have as much disposable income as some other teams in the second tier. The need for a left back is huge for the 2022/23 season, seeing as Murray Wallace has been predominantly used as a centre back recently.

 

Written by Kieran Hill For That Millwall Podcast.

Twitter: @kieranhillfooty

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Kieftenbeld Signs for FC Emmen

We have found our first new reinforcement of this transfer period in Maikel Kieftenbeld. The 31-year-old midfielder signs a contract for two seasons with an option for a third season at De Oude Meerdijk.

Maikel is a well-known player in Dutch football. Via the combined youth academy of FC Twente and Heracles Almelo, he joined Go Ahead Eagles in 2007, where he made his debut in professional football in 2008. In 2010 he made the switch to FC Groningen. Between 2008 and 2015, he played a total of 235 official matches in Dutch professional football. He also played a total of five games for the Dutch Juniors in 2010 and 2011.

Then followed a foreign adventure. He wore the blue of Birmingham City until January 2021, until he made the switch to Millwall FC. His contract with the Championship club expired this summer.

Maikel: “After seven great years in England, the time has come for me to return to the Netherlands. FC Emmen is a great club with ambition and I hope to be able to be important to the team with my experience. I am looking forward to entering the Eredivisie with FC Emmen in a swirling stadium De Oude Meerdijk.”

Chairman Ronald Lubbers: “We already made an attempt to contract Maikel in the winter of 2020-2021. Unfortunately for us, ‘Kieft’ eventually made a nice transfer from Birmingham City to Millwall. Since then we have always kept in touch and are therefore happy that it has now worked out. With his experience, quality and role in the dressing room, Maikel will really add something.”

Welcome, Michael!

Taken and translated from https://fcemmen.nl/welkom-maikel-kieftenbeld/

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MILLWALL have demanded a meeting with Lewisham Council as lease negotiations over The Den drag on.

MILLWALL have demanded a meeting with Lewisham Council as lease negotiations over The Den drag on and prevent the club moving to the next phase of their regeneration plans.

It is more than three years since an agreement was reached with the Council that saw Millwall stay at their home, after fears the club would be forced out by Lewisham’s plans to compulsorily purchase land around The Den.

And in January of this year, the initial planning application for the New Bermondsey redevelopment was approved. Millwall told Southwark News at the time that they hoped “Lewisham Council can now hasten the finalisation of the lease for land around The Den so that Millwall can be at the heart of these endeavours as promised”.

As well as their plans to redevelop The Den, Millwall are set to submit a planning application this month for a new training ground in Sevenoaks. Lions chief executive Steve Kavanagh has been much more satisfied with how Sevenoaks Council have worked with the club.

“I’ve demanded a meeting with the mayor of Lewisham,” Kavanagh told NewsAtDen this week. “I have expressed in a couple of podcasts I did that we’re very frustrated that the lease negotiations are still ongoing nearly three years later.

“We need the lease to move to the next stage and we’re extremely frustrated that the Council haven’t so far come forward with a deliverable plan that is commercially viable for what is required around here.

“And the speed with which, and the way that Sevenoaks have worked with us, flies in the face of what’s been going on in Lewisham. But hopefully we can get that logjam resolved soon and allow that aspect to move forward as well.

“They [the new training ground and the redevelopment of The Den] are two key components in the long-term viability and sustainability of this club.

“We’re frustrated, we want to get it going. As we’ve seen with Sevenoaks, the way we’ve worked with the Council to get this through to this stage to be ready to go to a planning application shows how eager we are to develop the club and the assets.

“We want to do that around The Den as well and we’re very frustrated it’s taken this long and the Council haven’t so far come up with a commercially viable solution to how we do that from a lease perspective.”

 

Taken from News at Den website-https://newsatden.co.uk/84900-frustrated-millwall-want-meeting-with-lewisham-council-mayor-as-den-lease-negotiations-drag-on/

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MILLWALL have confirmed the departures of technical coach Joe Carnall and head of performance Laurence Bloom.

MILLWALL have confirmed the departures of technical coach Joe Carnall and head of performance Laurence Bloom.

Carnall (above) has stepped down “to pursue new opportunities”, while Bloom is joining Cambridge United.

“Carnall joined the club with Gary Rowett in October 2019 and has worked as part of the senior squad’s coaching team, and alongside other departments, over the course of the past two and a half seasons, contributing significantly to eighth, 11th, and ninth-place finishes in the Championship during that time,” Millwall said. “He has stepped down from his position to pursue new opportunities in the future.

Head of performance Laurence Bloom, left

“Bloom arrived at Millwall in June 2016 with the responsibility of enhancing the club’s sports science and performance functions and helped the Lions achieve promotion from League One at the end of his first season at the club. He has been an integral member of staff throughout his six years, helping with the overall effort of consolidating the Lions in the top half of the Championship in recent campaigns.

“Everyone at the club would like to wish both Carnall and Bloom, who is joining Cambridge United, the very best of luck in the future careers, and thank them for their outstanding efforts, commitment, and professionalism throughout their respective time with Millwall.”

Taken from News at Den website – https://newsatden.co.uk/84891-84891/

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FORMER Millwall striker Alfie Pavey has urged the club’s released youngsters not to “give up” and to “go and sign somewhere to play 30, 40 games”.

FORMER Millwall striker Alfie Pavey has urged the club’s released youngsters not to “give up” and to “go and sign somewhere to play 30, 40 games”.

The Lions released their retained list this month and under-23s Sean O’Brien, Junior Tiensia, Kai Garande, Dan Moss and Jayden Davis were not given new deals.

Pavey, 26, was released by Millwall in the summer of 2017 after eight substitute appearances for the club.

The forward has since enjoyed a career in non-league football, playing for clubs including Dartford, Maidstone United and Havant & Waterlooville.

Pavey scored six goals in 18 games on loan at National League Dover Athletic last season. He will leave Maidstone – who were promoted as National League South champions – this summer.

Pavey had advice for the youngsters leaving the Lions after this season.

“Just don’t give up,” Pavey told NewsAtDen. “You feel like the world’s coming down on you but at the end of the day you’ve just got to go back out there.

“At that age it’s not about money or having to pay your bills, it’s about trying to build a career.

“Just go and sign somewhere. Just go and play 30, 40 games in the season and do the best you can.

“Earn your stripes. There is nothing better than doing that and then trying to kick on from there.

“I had to do that at Dartford. I left Millwall and signed for Welling for two weeks. It didn’t work out, I had to leave. I went to Dartford and scored 25 goals and have had a career out in non-league.

“Definitely sign somewhere and go play games.”

*Read a long interview with Alfie Pavey in this Thursday’s Southwark News, including his Millwall debut at Wolves, Neil Harris’ influence on the dressing room, his release from the club – and getting into trouble after drinking with Sid Nelson in New Cross.

taken from News at Den website

 

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The Championship play-off final on Sunday confirmed the line-up for the 2022-23 season in the second tier.

The Championship play-off final on Sunday confirmed the line-up for the 2022-23 season in the second tier.

Nottingham Forest’s 1-0 win over Huddersfield Town at Wembley meant they joined Fulham and AFC Bournemouth in the Premier League.

Norwich City, Watford and Burnley were relegated from the top flight.

Wigan Athletic, Rotherham United and Sunderland were promoted from League One, to take the places of Barnsley, Derby County and Peterborough United.

2022-23 Championship teams:

Birmingham City

Blackburn Rovers

Blackpool

Bristol City

Burnley

Cardiff City

Coventry City

Huddersfield Town

Hull City

Luton Town

Middlesbrough

Millwall

Norwich City

Preston North End

Queens Park Rangers

Reading

Rotherham United

Sheffield United

Stoke City

Sunderland

Swansea City

Watford

West Bromwich Albion

Wigan Athletic

First fixtures to be played the last weekend of July 2022.

 

Story taken from News at Den Website-https://newsatden.co.uk/84876-championship-line-up-confirmed-for-millwall-as-forest-taste-wembley-glory-against-huddersfield/

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That Millwall Podcast Championship team of the season.

Lee Nicholls has taken Huddersfield to the Championship play-off final with his consistent form for the Terriers. Nineteen clean sheets and 151 saves has been vital to Huddersfield’s success.

In at right-back is Djed Spence, who’s team, Nottingham Forest will join Huddersfield in the play-off final. The Middlesbrough loanee has racked up 175 recoveries, 188 interceptions and three assists for the Reds.

The first in at centre-back is Lloyd Kelly, who makes an average of 18.64 defensive actions per game and wins 5.51 aerial duels per match.

The middle of the back three is Tosin Adarabioyo – who has led Fulham straight back to the top flight. 67.43 passes per game shows the strategy of playing out from the back and he has done that superbly.

Millwall’s Murray Wallace – who won the Lions player of the season is in at left centre-back. The stalwart has won an average of 6.38 interceptions per game where he has been deployed both in the back three and at wing-back.

Harry Toffolo has been a revelation for Huddersfield over the last couple of years and he makes left-back. The attacking wing-back makes 4.56 attacking actions per game and both he and Sorba Thomas are so dangerous down the left.

The first of two central midfielders, Philip Billing is your all round midfielder. An average of a goal every four games is extremely impressive for a midfielder.

John Swift – who is out of contract this summer partners Billing – has an average of 6.75 attacking actions per game whilst making 3.45 dribbles for the Royals.

In behind the front two is Millwall’s Jed Wallace – an impressive 10.93 attacking actions per game partnered with an average of 0.36 assists per game is an excellent return.

Dominic Solanke is up front in the two after the Bournemouth striker notched 29 goals and had an average of 2.83 shots per game for the Cherries.

How can you not include this man? Aleksander Mitrovic tumbled records on his way to 43 Championship goals in the 2021/22 season – whilst scoring 0.95 goals per game as Fulham were crowned champions.

Stat Data provided from our stat partner @ComparisonatorE

Written by Kai Bennett.

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Millwall reveal the new training ground plans.

Millwall Football Club is delighted to reveal plans for its proposed new training ground in West Kingsdown to supporters for the first time.

An overview of the club’s entire vision for the site, including design images, layout, the benefits for the local community, a proposed timeline, and more can be viewed by clicking here.

The move into Kent will see the first team and Academy training operations combined on one site and also become the new home for much of the club’s office and support staff.

In recent months, the club has liaised extensively with local residents and the wider community of West Kingsdown and aims to submit its formal planning application by the end of June.

Millwall chief executive Steve Kavanagh discusses all the above and much more in the linked interview taken from Millwall Fc websitehttps://www.millwallfc.co.uk/news/2022/may/millwalls-ceo-talks-about-training-ground-plans/