BY KIERAN HILL
How we can beat Blackpool and get the fans back on the side of Gary Rowett!
As you may know, Millwall’s recent form has been nothing short of diabolical in recent games, with the Lions picking up just 3 points in their last 5 league matches, which is simply not good enough if we are aspiring to end the season anywhere near those seemingly implausible playoffs.
One issue in which fans were quick to criticise when Rowett first took the reigns over the South London club was the negative style of football in which we played, with us quickly becoming one of the most boring teams in the league, and the issue of being “boring” was never as much of a problem as it is now, as we always used to have a solid defence behind us, however this season, we’ve been struggling to both find the net and to stop the ball going into our own net.
Instant changes are imperative. Starting with a need to change formation.
Without injuries, I wholeheartedly believe that our best XI would be in the 4-3-3 formation, where two out of the three in midfield would sit just in front of the defence which would allow a “number 10” figure to be the main playmaker in midfield. Seeing as he is our record signing and got more goal contributions in the Eredivisie than Manchester United’s 100-million-man Antony, it makes perfect sense to have Zian Flemming in the 10 role, as I feel this system would allow him to flourish.
It goes without saying that Bartosz Bialkowski should remain our starting goalkeeper. As for the issue regarding the back four, my ideal back four from right to left would be: Ryan Leonard, Jake Cooper, Charlie Cresswell, and Callum Styles. Whilst this may seem risky seeing as Leonard and Styles are not by trade full backs, I feel that so far this season they have been a lot better defensively than Danny McNamara and Scott Malone, so this role would suit them better. In an ideal world, we would sign a left back in January to allow Styles to play as a central midfielder in this system, but until that happens, I feel he would be more than competent filling in at left back.
In the midfield three, this needs to be where the bulk our creativity comes from, however the Lions need a “dog” to carry out defensive duties sitting in front of the defence, look no further than Billy Mitchell. Whilst his football style may not be as attractive as some, I feel he is an essential member of the team as his defensive capabilities are fantastic, and if Millwall do switch to a 4 back system, we need players in the midfield to be able to defend as well as be creative. However, the main man feeding Flemming needs to be George Saville, as he is one of the best Millwall players at getting the ball from defence into attack, I feel that the partnership of Saville and Mitchell could work wonders in a 4-3-3 system. With Zian Flemming in the number 10 role, that would be my ideal midfield.
The front three is simple: Tyler Burey, Tom Bradshaw, Andreas Voglsammer. With Afobe not quite delivering the goods so far this season, I think we would be best off with this front three up top instead. With Burey on the left, and Voglsammer on the right (but interchanging) this would allow us to have three players on the pitch at one time who know how to put the goal in the onion bag, and with Flemming being unchained in this system, I feel we could cause some Championship defence’s some serious problems!
IMAGE – MILLWALL FC