BY OLLY TOMLIN
Millwall host Stoke City in their first Championship game of the 2022-23 campaign.
The Lions will be looking to get off to a winning start against the Potters and aiming for the top-six in Gary Rowett’s third full season in charge.
One of the players that Millwall will need to look to limit the threat of is Jacob Brown.
This player has contributed to 17 Goals + Assists and Millwall come off the back of the fixture against Ipswich playing a 5-2-1-2 formation and will need to create chances if they want any chance to win this match.
My prediction for this game will be a 2-1 win to the Lions
I hope to see Rowett play a 5-2-1-2 formation so that Millwall can get the scoring form going.
HERE’S WHAT A STOKE FAN SAID:
How do you expect it to go for your club this season?
Really can’t call it right now to be honest, our pre season has been a bit disappointing and we clearly have not yet clicked yet. Michael O’Neill is under huge pressure from the fans this season so he needs to start well for his own sake but I personally feel that he will come good and once the team have settled and IF players can stay fit then we have a chance to make a mark. Importantly we need to find an identity something that has been missing for far too long, we don’t know if we are a direct team, on the deck team or something else, no doubt injuries are to blame up to now but there feels an element of apathy around the place right now. My early prediction and one that no doubt is clouded by my red tinted glasses but I am going to say sneaking into 6th place but sadly would be equally unsurprised to see a 10-14th place finish again.
Do you have the right manager?
Wow where to start here. When Nathan Jones left he did so in an awful mess bottom of the league, a dreadful points total (only 1 other team have ever survived with that total) and a st of players who didn’t care less, when MON came in we were all were convinced league 1 was on the cards. MON came in and transformed us grinding out results and some very impressive scorelines along the way which meant he guided us into what was a comfortable finishing position. Since then his main aims have been to move out a huge amount of players who didn’t want to play for the club and ones who were on obscene salaries that no championship club could pay, this meant we were on the cusp of FFP sanctions and no room to pay fees or get the players we want. Luckily we have managed to do some creative (but legal) accounting and sold one of our assets to get on the right side of this and we have slowly been moving those wasters on and have brought in younger hungrier players, which while positive was our weakness last season as inexperience cost us 30 points from winning positions. His style of play seems to be a wing back system which is fair enough but we look slow and laboured at times so he needs to find an identity and stick to it and find a plan B when things don’t go right on the pitch. I do think he is a good manager and I don’t think the other names people are asking for would improve us in any way but another mid table finish will spell the end for him as the fans will hound him out and no doubt the owners would have to buckle under the pressure.
How’s your transfer business?
Yes positive we have now brought in 7 people to the team and are likely to find another 1 or 2 coming in before the end of the window. Main highlights for me have been Dwight Gayle, Harry Clarke & Will Smallbone. Dwight we know at this level was prolific a few years ago and if he can hit those heights on his return to the league and gets the supply then he could be the envy of every club in this league. Harry Clarke has filled the void left by Tommy Smith at RWB, an attacking full back who seems to have the ability, the pace and attitude that stoke have needed at that RWB spot for a while so hopefully he can make his mark. Smallbone is a loanee from Southampton which quit frankly very few people know much about, Southampton have been raving about him and have sent him out to get some much needed game time. An attacking midfielder who could finally be the replacement for Nick Powell who while a great player is always injured. He came on in our last pre season game and was integral to our best two attacking moments including 1 goal so more of the same needed! Overall yes happy with business so far but we still need a target man to suit our wingback style of play and probably wing back cover for Clarke which im sure we will address so I give it a solid 7/10 so far.
Key Player?
Our key player is going to be Tyrese Campbell, he has come back looking lean and very fit after a long layoff but prior to this was the most inform striker outside of Brereton Diaz. Pre-season he scored a few tidy goals and linking up play well and has his pace back all attributes that make Tyrese an absolute nightmare for defenders, so seems like he could be back on his way to the levels before. He could well be up there with top goalscorers if he gets the supply!
What formation and style of play do you play?
5-3-2 / 3-5-2 with pacey attacking full backs seems to be his main go too since he starting building his own team. The formation when it works well is great and Tymon knows how to cross a ball so with a fit strike force could be deadly BUT it is also one bone of contention among fans as it feels like quite a slow pace at times and we struggle to break teams down when having the ball, especially those who sit in. We are at our best when letting other teams have possession and then we aim to quickly turn it over and hit teams with pace on the break.
What are your fans like and what do they expect of the players?
When we are good we are great, when we are split (like now) we sadly spend more time fighting with each other playing the whose right / whose wrong game meaning we don’t back our own team. Stoke fans are known for being the loudest around but quite frankly that is as present as our bet365 fortress tagline i.e. none existent in recent times. Stoke fans ask for players who play with heart and give everything, we don’t expect to win every game but having been stuck with players who didn’t care two jots about us or the club the fans probably feel a little disillusioned. We can get our atmosphere back and I hope we do because its hair raising stuff when we are behind them. It needs to start by fans just giving MON and the team a chance before writing them off and then the lads need to perform on the pitch!
How do you think the game will go and a prediction for the result?
Very hard fought game, we don’t have a good history in London whatsoever and I fully expect a cagey start. If we can stop you scoring early then a close 1-1 with be the outcome, who knows maybe one of us sneaks it. I wish I could say a win with confidence but I think we are a team very much a ‘work in progress’ and not going to be at our best for a few weeks yet, you could well play us at the perfect time.
IMAGE – MILLWALL FC