v Millwall (H) Match Thread

[Gone]

Bullied 1st half by a typical Rowett team, they are always horrible and extremely boring to watch a bit like listening to him talk. Sibley isn’t Lawrence and showed last night why he hasn’t been playing, thought Casin was great and looks to be a player in the making. 2nd half much better 1st time in a while Morrison has looked on it, well for 20 mins then he just gets deeper and deeper. CKR made a huge difference hope he can stay fit for the run in. 3 other points to note, our set pieces are abysmal, Festy needs to learn to release the ball earlier if he can master that he’ll be one hell of a player, and last Malone is a complete cockwomble. 

[BramcoteRam84]

The last couple of nights with Reading winning and our defeat have been body blows, no doubt! But we still have a chance in this. Lots of football to be played.

Conceding that first goal so early killed any momentum before we had chance to build any. Millwall had been given a lead which is the worst thing you can do, and the result was a Millwall performance that was a carbon copy to many we’ve seen before. Rowett can set up a team and is a decent manager who I thought received a lot of unfair criticism when he was here. He will always be a snake though. I was thinking the other day there could’ve been a different path had Rowett stayed, maybe Mel would have pushed the cost cutting, we wouldn’t have signed Waghorn, wouldn’t have had Gibson on our backs and maybe avoided the crap of the last few years? Who knows. 

The second half performance showed just how passive we were in the first half. With a decent ref we may have levelled but defeat was deserved IMO. We now need to look at winning 1 of the next 2 away games. 
 

Thought a number of players had mixed performances but thought Kazim Ravel and Ebiowei all had positive impacts when they came on. Really disappointed with Sibley, another opportunity missed. His movement at times was non-existent. We missed Lawrence significantly.

We move on and the next 2-3 weeks could have a major bearing on whether or not the great escape is still on.

[VulcanRam]

Maybe just me then, but I thought Millwall looked decent, very solid at the back with a lively top three. It is a very Gary Rowett team - not bothered about possession, doesn't really press until in their own half. They had our number last night and missed two other sitters in the first half, overloading through the middle and finding space behind the advanced full backs.

Second half they did what most teams do at 2-0 away, just sat and saw what we had, which was very little regards actually goal threat. Don't think their time wasting was anything worse than anyone else. Ref should have played for another three mins at the end, which was frustrating but shows we can't keep relying on doing something post-90 mins.

I don't think we have a squad capable of playing Sat-midweek. We looked knackered from the outset. No complaints from me, Millwall deserved their win.

Good to see CKR back, surprised Stearman wasn't used. Lawrence was missed. 

[Brammie Steve]

Memo to EFL.

Reinstate Reading’s points deduction.

There must be some way to relegate Rooney’s Rams!

(Note alliterative use of Rs.)

 

The EFL are not vindictive.

Nor did the Titanic sink!

Edited February 24, 2022 by Brammie Steve

[jono]

9 hours ago, rammieib said:

Their right back was about 5’9 and Buchanan couldn’t win a header against him. Why did he not play Forsyth tonight?

Rooney has this strange obsession with Buchanan.

Maybe so, but there was that quite brilliant tackle in the penalty box in the second half. 

[Papahet]

Did Malone even get to the bus before going on Twitter to post?

The guys the biggest rick I've seen in a DCFC shirt for a long time, absolute zero class for us.

No idea why he's no bitter 

Edited February 24, 2022 by Papahet

[VulcanRam]

11 hours ago, Jourdan said:

Tonight was a classic case of an experienced Championship manager and a typically well-drilled and organised team knowing how to get a result and spoil the fun.

I hope it will be a lesson for Rooney and the players, because whichever league we are in next season, there will be plenty of teams who will follow the same blueprint. Birmingham almost did the exact same job on us 3.5 weeks ago.

I am not too despondent personally. I expected us to win tonight, but we have to remember this: would it be DCFC if we didn’t make life especially difficult for ourselves?

I just hope we see a reaction in the next two or three games. It’s a bad result but you can always counterbalance a bad result by getting a good one elsewhere. Going to high flying Luton and winning and a night like tonight is quickly forgotten.

It really comes down to Rooney and the players now to dig deep. How much do they have left to give?

Do they want to be the nearly men who threatened to do the impossible, burned brightly and faded rapidly? Or do they want to be the guys who came firing back yet again and found a way?

 

What to exactly? Are you suggesting the players aren't digging deep and giving their all? 

[ttkk]

Tame Millwall fan here. I have posted before, but not for a while. 

I enjoyed the game last night, mainly because you got it on, unlike Blackburn Rovers! Seriously though, as football fans, we all know the epicaricacy or 'schadenfreude' nature of the game's culture... and last night was a classic example. It was interesting and enjoyable to see a large crowd gather to get behind their city's only professional team so passionately, as their young and patched up side gallantly tries to overcome the huge obstacle of a 21 point deduction. I mean that by the way. I am not taking the Michael. This sense of spectacle was heightened by the fact that I was one of the 514 band of followers of perhaps the most unfashionable football club in England, managed by a disliked former Derby manager and containing some unpopular former 'Rams'. 

I think once the disappointment of losing what on paper looked like a winnable home match dissipates for you, you will be once again be filled with pride and no little hope - as Rooney and your players are doing an amazing job. I see some are already in that place. As others have pointed out, your young side came up against a very experienced and well-drilled defence last night. However, it must also be noted, that the reason we 'celebrated like we had won the league', is because we are going through our own injury crisis, and are also having to field a lot of young players, including a 15 year old! 

I also take issue with being called 'tin-pot'. Yes, we are a small club at Championship level, but I would not say we are tin-pot. I associate 'tin-pot' with clubs with no real character, history or romance. The sort of club whose fans sing the same old generic songs as everyone else - thankfully I have never heard a Millwall crowd sing a generic football chant like 'Everywhere We Go' or 'Easy' etc. etc. In fact, because of our strong sense of identity and character, I have only ever heard us sing very Millwall centric songs - NOLU, Let Em Come, Millwall to different tunes. 

Furthermore, Millwall have a rich and proud history - pioneers of professional football in London and the South no less. The only club able to challenge the dominance of the northern and midlands sides in the late Victorian era in football's oldest competition - the FA Cup. In fact, this is the reason Millwall are the only senior football club in English football to earn their nickname through footballing endeavour and achievement! Formerly the 'Dockers', Millwall were christened the 'Lions of the South' by the national press, after giving the likes of Aston Villa (the best club side of the Victorian era), Everton, Preston NE and yes, Derby County, bloody noses in the cup! 

Moreover, I was first taken to The Den by my granddad and uncle in 1985. By my maths, in the 37 seasons that have followed, Millwall and Derby County have played at the same level in 23 of them. That hardly suggests that going by endevours on the pitch, that Derby County are a vastly superior outfit. In fact that reflects rather poorly on Derby County, who represent a whole city and since Chesterfield have slipped out of the Football League, are the only representative for the whole of Derbyshire playing top level football. Whereas Millwall have to compete with some of the biggest clubs in world football in Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United (spit) only a tube ride away, plus the likes of Crystal Palace and Charlton Athletic on our doorstep. I would argue that rather than being 'tin-pot', we are a very well-run club that gets the most out of its resources, allowing us to be a humble but proud second tier battler that no-one likes playing at The Den or in the cups. That may not be 'ambitious', but what's the alternative? Chase the dream like Derby County? 

That leads me on to Gary Rowett. Many Millwall fans are not enamoured with him either. You are correct, sometimes the football is painful. But needs must. Again, I take issue with it being 'typical' Millwall. From my time supporting the club Millwall have always been an aggressive and direct team yes, but in a positive way. That is to say, taking the game to the opposition, especially at The Den. However, Rowett is a dour pragmatic manager. That isn't Millwall, more like Charlton! But, times have changed, the Championship is full of big city clubs with regional level support like Derby County, Nottingham Forest, Sheffield United etc, all wanting to get into the promised land, as well as clubs like Bournemouth and Fulham, their pockets filled with the filthy lucre of parachute payments. Millwall currently need to keep their heads down and become more and more entrenched, like a tick in the Championship beast and hope we get a lucky season like Burnley or Huddersfield Town did, or even the jammiest of jammy clubs - Crystal Palace! 

Also, the club hierarchy are quite happy for a steady ship, as their main concern is this: https://www.millwallfc.co.uk/news/2020/february/millwall-reveal-plans-for-stadium-redevelopment/

The opportunity to develop land around The Den, which would allow us income streams to compete seriously for promotion. If and when it gets given the green light (Lewisham Council has already approved the adjoining Renewel development), then I would imagine Huski will fully takeover the club and maybe our ambitions will increase. Until then, it is all aboard the keep it steady Rowett Express! 

Okay, if you bothered to read all that, I will sign off by genuinely wishing you well... because as football fans of a grand old club like Derby County, you certainly do not deserve what you have been through! Even if you do not win this battle, I am positive you will bounce back stronger for it! Good luck. 

[TomBustler1884]

3 minutes ago, ttkk said:

Tame Millwall fan here. I have posted before, but not for a while. 

I enjoyed the game last night, mainly because you got it on, unlike Blackburn Rovers! Seriously though, as football fans, we all know the epicaricacy or 'schadenfreude' nature of the game's culture... and last night was a classic example. It was interesting and enjoyable to see a large crowd gather to get behind their city's only professional team so passionately, as their young and patched up side gallantly tries to overcome the huge obstacle of a 21 point deduction. I mean that by the way. I am not taking the Michael. This sense of spectacle was heightened by the fact that I was one of the 514 band of followers of perhaps the most unfashionable football club in England, managed by a disliked former Derby manager and containing some unpopular former 'Rams'. 

I think once the disappointment of losing what on paper looked like a winnable home match dissipates for you, you will be once again be filled with pride and no little hope - as Rooney and your players are doing an amazing job. I see some are already in that place. As others have pointed out, your young side came up against a very experienced and well-drilled defence last night. However, it must also be noted, that the reason we 'celebrated like we had won the league', is because we are going through our own injury crisis, and are also having to field a lot of young players, including a 15 year old! 

I also take issue with being called 'tin-pot'. Yes, we are a small club at Championship level, but I would not say we are tin-pot. I associate 'tin-pot' with clubs with no real character, history or romance. The sort of club whose fans sing the same old generic songs as everyone else - thankfully I have never heard a Millwall crowd sing a generic football chant like 'Everywhere We Go' or 'Easy' etc. etc. In fact, because of our strong sense of identity and character, I have only ever heard us sing very Millwall centric songs - NOLU, Let Em Come, Millwall to different tunes. 

Furthermore, Millwall have a rich and proud history - pioneers of professional football in London and the South no less. The only club able to challenge the dominance of the northern and midlands sides in the late Victorian era in football's oldest competition - the FA Cup. In fact, this is the reason Millwall are the only senior football club in English football to earn their nickname through footballing endeavour and achievement! Formerly the 'Dockers', Millwall were christened the 'Lions of the South' by the national press, after giving the likes of Aston Villa (the best club side of the Victorian era), Everton, Preston NE and yes, Derby County, bloody noses in the cup! 

Moreover, I was first taken to The Den by my granddad and uncle in 1985. By my maths, in the 37 seasons that have followed, Millwall and Derby County have played at the same level in 23 of them. That hardly suggests that going by endevours on the pitch, that Derby County are a vastly superior outfit. In fact that reflects rather poorly on Derby County, who represent a whole city and since Chesterfield have slipped out of the Football League, are the only representative for the whole of Derbyshire playing top level football. Whereas Millwall have to compete with some of the biggest clubs in world football in Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United (spit) only a tube ride away, plus the likes of Crystal Palace and Charlton Athletic on our doorstep. I would argue that rather than being 'tin-pot', we are a very well-run club that gets the most out of its resources, allowing us to be a humble but proud second tier battler that no-one likes playing at The Den or in the cups. That may not be 'ambitious', but what's the alternative? Chase the dream like Derby County? 

That leads me on to Gary Rowett. Many Millwall fans are not enamoured with him either. You are correct, sometimes the football is painful. But needs must. Again, I take issue with it being 'typical' Millwall. From my time supporting the club Millwall have always been an aggressive and direct team yes, but in a positive way. That is to say, taking the game to the opposition, especially at The Den. However, Rowett is a dour pragmatic manager. That isn't Millwall, more like Charlton! But, times have changed, the Championship is full of big city clubs with regional level support like Derby County, Nottingham Forest, Sheffield United etc, all wanting to get into the promised land, as well as clubs like Bournemouth and Fulham, their pockets filled with the filthy lucre of parachute payments. Millwall currently need to keep their heads down and become more and more entrenched, like a tick in the Championship beast and hope we get a lucky season like Burnley or Huddersfield Town did, or even the jammiest of jammy clubs - Crystal Palace! 

Also, the club hierarchy are quite happy for a steady ship, as their main concern is this: https://www.millwallfc.co.uk/news/2020/february/millwall-reveal-plans-for-stadium-redevelopment/

The opportunity to develop land around The Den, which would allow us income streams to compete seriously for promotion. If and when it gets given the green light (Lewisham Council has already approved the adjoining Renewel development), then I would imagine Huski will fully takeover the club and maybe our ambitions will increase. Until then, it is all aboard the keep it steady Rowett Express! 

Okay, if you bothered to read all that, I will sign off by genuinely wishing you well... because as football fans of a grand old club like Derby County, you certainly do not deserve what you have been through! Even if you do not win this battle, I am positive you will bounce back stronger for it! Good luck. 

See, if you could encourage some of the class of your response to certain players (Malone, your number 2, Bennett) and the more unsavoury elements of your fanbase, you'd see a lot more respect and appreciation for your club!

In all honesty, Millwall didn't have to work too hard last night which is frustrating. I've seen you play dirtier or worse at Derby so fair enough!

[RoyMac5]

8 minutes ago, ttkk said:

Moreover, I was first taken to The Den by my granddad and uncle in 1985. By my maths, in the 37 seasons that have followed, Millwall and Derby County have played at the same level in 23 of them. That hardly suggests that going by endevours on the pitch, that Derby County are a vastly superior outfit.

Some of us have been watching Derby for a bit longer and so know what a great club we are!

Quite happy for you to support a club 'no-one likes'. The Snake and the firestarter have found home. ?

[TheresOnlyWanChope]

5 minutes ago, ttkk said:

Tame Millwall fan here. I have posted before, but not for a while. 

I enjoyed the game last night, mainly because you got it on, unlike Blackburn Rovers! Seriously though, as football fans, we all know the epicaricacy or 'schadenfreude' nature of the game's culture... and last night was a classic example. It was interesting and enjoyable to see a large crowd gather to get behind their city's only professional team so passionately, as their young and patched up side gallantly tries to overcome the huge obstacle of a 21 point deduction. I mean that by the way. I am not taking the Michael. This sense of spectacle was heightened by the fact that I was one of the 514 band of followers of perhaps the most unfashionable football club in England, managed by a disliked former Derby manager and containing some unpopular former 'Rams'. 

I think once the disappointment of losing what on paper looked like a winnable home match dissipates for you, you will be once again be filled with pride and no little hope - as Rooney and your players are doing an amazing job. I see some are already in that place. As others have pointed out, your young side came up against a very experienced and well-drilled defence last night. However, it must also be noted, that the reason we 'celebrated like we had won the league', is because we are going through our own injury crisis, and are also having to field a lot of young players, including a 15 year old! 

I also take issue with being called 'tin-pot'. Yes, we are a small club at Championship level, but I would not say we are tin-pot. I associate 'tin-pot' with clubs with no real character, history or romance. The sort of club whose fans sing the same old generic songs as everyone else - thankfully I have never heard a Millwall crowd sing a generic football chant like 'Everywhere We Go' or 'Easy' etc. etc. In fact, because of our strong sense of identity and character, I have only ever heard us sing very Millwall centric songs - NOLU, Let Em Come, Millwall to different tunes. 

Furthermore, Millwall have a rich and proud history - pioneers of professional football in London and the South no less. The only club able to challenge the dominance of the northern and midlands sides in the late Victorian era in football's oldest competition - the FA Cup. In fact, this is the reason Millwall are the only senior football club in English football to earn their nickname through footballing endeavour and achievement! Formerly the 'Dockers', Millwall were christened the 'Lions of the South' by the national press, after giving the likes of Aston Villa (the best club side of the Victorian era), Everton, Preston NE and yes, Derby County, bloody noses in the cup! 

Moreover, I was first taken to The Den by my granddad and uncle in 1985. By my maths, in the 37 seasons that have followed, Millwall and Derby County have played at the same level in 23 of them. That hardly suggests that going by endevours on the pitch, that Derby County are a vastly superior outfit. In fact that reflects rather poorly on Derby County, who represent a whole city and since Chesterfield have slipped out of the Football League, are the only representative for the whole of Derbyshire playing top level football. Whereas Millwall have to compete with some of the biggest clubs in world football in Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United (spit) only a tube ride away, plus the likes of Crystal Palace and Charlton Athletic on our doorstep. I would argue that rather than being 'tin-pot', we are a very well-run club that gets the most out of its resources, allowing us to be a humble but proud second tier battler that no-one likes playing at The Den or in the cups. That may not be 'ambitious', but what's the alternative? Chase the dream like Derby County? 

That leads me on to Gary Rowett. Many Millwall fans are not enamoured with him either. You are correct, sometimes the football is painful. But needs must. Again, I take issue with it being 'typical' Millwall. From my time supporting the club Millwall have always been an aggressive and direct team yes, but in a positive way. That is to say, taking the game to the opposition, especially at The Den. However, Rowett is a dour pragmatic manager. That isn't Millwall, more like Charlton! But, times have changed, the Championship is full of big city clubs with regional level support like Derby County, Nottingham Forest, Sheffield United etc, all wanting to get into the promised land, as well as clubs like Bournemouth and Fulham, their pockets filled with the filthy lucre of parachute payments. Millwall currently need to keep their heads down and become more and more entrenched, like a tick in the Championship beast and hope we get a lucky season like Burnley or Huddersfield Town did, or even the jammiest of jammy clubs - Crystal Palace! 

Also, the club hierarchy are quite happy for a steady ship, as their main concern is this: https://www.millwallfc.co.uk/news/2020/february/millwall-reveal-plans-for-stadium-redevelopment/

The opportunity to develop land around The Den, which would allow us income streams to compete seriously for promotion. If and when it gets given the green light (Lewisham Council has already approved the adjoining Renewel development), then I would imagine Huski will fully takeover the club and maybe our ambitions will increase. Until then, it is all aboard the keep it steady Rowett Express! 

Okay, if you bothered to read all that, I will sign off by genuinely wishing you well... because as football fans of a grand old club like Derby County, you certainly do not deserve what you have been through! Even if you do not win this battle, I am positive you will bounce back stronger for it! Good luck. 

Good post. Probably was a 'typical Millwall' performance but I wouldn't mind that if it were my team winning. Thought Millwall were really good in the first half. Closed everything down, forced Derby into errors. Millwall do have to compete with a lot of clubs in London for support. Notice now that Millwall have 24 wins to Derby's 23 wins in past meetings. The Derby v Millwall fixture at Pride Park has become a bogey match recently (for Derby).

[Gee SCREAMER !!]

10 minutes ago, ttkk said:

Tame Millwall fan here. I have posted before, but not for a while. 

I enjoyed the game last night, mainly because you got it on, unlike Blackburn Rovers! Seriously though, as football fans, we all know the epicaricacy or 'schadenfreude' nature of the game's culture... and last night was a classic example. It was interesting and enjoyable to see a large crowd gather to get behind their city's only professional team so passionately, as their young and patched up side gallantly tries to overcome the huge obstacle of a 21 point deduction. I mean that by the way. I am not taking the Michael. This sense of spectacle was heightened by the fact that I was one of the 514 band of followers of perhaps the most unfashionable football club in England, managed by a disliked former Derby manager and containing some unpopular former 'Rams'. 

I think once the disappointment of losing what on paper looked like a winnable home match dissipates for you, you will be once again be filled with pride and no little hope - as Rooney and your players are doing an amazing job. I see some are already in that place. As others have pointed out, your young side came up against a very experienced and well-drilled defence last night. However, it must also be noted, that the reason we 'celebrated like we had won the league', is because we are going through our own injury crisis, and are also having to field a lot of young players, including a 15 year old! 

I also take issue with being called 'tin-pot'. Yes, we are a small club at Championship level, but I would not say we are tin-pot. I associate 'tin-pot' with clubs with no real character, history or romance. The sort of club whose fans sing the same old generic songs as everyone else - thankfully I have never heard a Millwall crowd sing a generic football chant like 'Everywhere We Go' or 'Easy' etc. etc. In fact, because of our strong sense of identity and character, I have only ever heard us sing very Millwall centric songs - NOLU, Let Em Come, Millwall to different tunes. 

Furthermore, Millwall have a rich and proud history - pioneers of professional football in London and the South no less. The only club able to challenge the dominance of the northern and midlands sides in the late Victorian era in football's oldest competition - the FA Cup. In fact, this is the reason Millwall are the only senior football club in English football to earn their nickname through footballing endeavour and achievement! Formerly the 'Dockers', Millwall were christened the 'Lions of the South' by the national press, after giving the likes of Aston Villa (the best club side of the Victorian era), Everton, Preston NE and yes, Derby County, bloody noses in the cup! 

Moreover, I was first taken to The Den by my granddad and uncle in 1985. By my maths, in the 37 seasons that have followed, Millwall and Derby County have played at the same level in 23 of them. That hardly suggests that going by endevours on the pitch, that Derby County are a vastly superior outfit. In fact that reflects rather poorly on Derby County, who represent a whole city and since Chesterfield have slipped out of the Football League, are the only representative for the whole of Derbyshire playing top level football. Whereas Millwall have to compete with some of the biggest clubs in world football in Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United (spit) only a tube ride away, plus the likes of Crystal Palace and Charlton Athletic on our doorstep. I would argue that rather than being 'tin-pot', we are a very well-run club that gets the most out of its resources, allowing us to be a humble but proud second tier battler that no-one likes playing at The Den or in the cups. That may not be 'ambitious', but what's the alternative? Chase the dream like Derby County? 

That leads me on to Gary Rowett. Many Millwall fans are not enamoured with him either. You are correct, sometimes the football is painful. But needs must. Again, I take issue with it being 'typical' Millwall. From my time supporting the club Millwall have always been an aggressive and direct team yes, but in a positive way. That is to say, taking the game to the opposition, especially at The Den. However, Rowett is a dour pragmatic manager. That isn't Millwall, more like Charlton! But, times have changed, the Championship is full of big city clubs with regional level support like Derby County, Nottingham Forest, Sheffield United etc, all wanting to get into the promised land, as well as clubs like Bournemouth and Fulham, their pockets filled with the filthy lucre of parachute payments. Millwall currently need to keep their heads down and become more and more entrenched, like a tick in the Championship beast and hope we get a lucky season like Burnley or Huddersfield Town did, or even the jammiest of jammy clubs - Crystal Palace! 

Also, the club hierarchy are quite happy for a steady ship, as their main concern is this: https://www.millwallfc.co.uk/news/2020/february/millwall-reveal-plans-for-stadium-redevelopment/

The opportunity to develop land around The Den, which would allow us income streams to compete seriously for promotion. If and when it gets given the green light (Lewisham Council has already approved the adjoining Renewel development), then I would imagine Huski will fully takeover the club and maybe our ambitions will increase. Until then, it is all aboard the keep it steady Rowett Express! 

Okay, if you bothered to read all that, I will sign off by genuinely wishing you well... because as football fans of a grand old club like Derby County, you certainly do not deserve what you have been through! Even if you do not win this battle, I am positive you will bounce back stronger for it! Good luck. 

You lost me at that bit. 

Weirdly, I can remember well when Chelsea were a regular 2nd division team playing in an empty stadium with crumbling concrete, albeit they won a couple of cups early seventies.  You can thank Derby for Arsenal getting the chance of 100 years in the top division.  They had the deciding vote to invite them in from Division 2 where they regularly hung around mid table. 

[ttkk]

2 minutes ago, TomBustler1884 said:

See, if you could encourage some of the class of your response to certain players (Malone, your number 2, Bennett) and the more unsavoury elements of your fanbase, you'd see a lot more respect and appreciation for your club!

In all honesty, Millwall didn't have to work too hard last night which is frustrating. I've seen you play dirtier or worse at Derby so fair enough!

Sadly, we have got some unsavoury elements in the fanbase, but at the risk of being an apologist, we are a club based in a deprived inner London ward. A watch of the classic, albeit depressing Nil By Mouth will inform you of why Millwall may have more issues than the likes of Reading, Wycombe and Bournemouth etc. However, I would always argue that overall, the Millwall fanbase is more Only Fools and Horses in character than Football Factory. Indeed, some of the best characters in it are real life Millwall fans - Uncle Albert, Syd, Mickey Pearce... and writer John Sullivan said all he did was take characters from the places he hung out in in SE London and put them on screen. I reckon Del was based on my dad! That is my experience of being a Millwall fan, drinking in pubs with characters like Del, Rodney, Granddad, Denzil etc etc... 

It is sad that the otherside of Millwall completely overshadows the normal, SE London side. Stories like this https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/millwall-fans-topping-the-table-for-charity-giving-on-last-day-of-cancer-deadline-day/ never make the national splash that a few idiots do. But it is a cross we have to bear.

As for the players... I do not know their individual circumstances, but they are young men and will react to a big crowd on their back. I don't know if they were getting social media messages from Derby fans in the build up, or outside the stadium or in the warm-up etc. I certainly did silly things in my 20s that I would not be proud of now, but which were reactions. Perhaps I am being too forgiving, I don't know. Tensions were always going to be high last night for Derby fans, I get that. 

 

[jimtastic56]

10 hours ago, kevinhectoring said:

The first half was just soggy. Wrong starting line up for me by some way. The Bielik/Bird conundrum unresolved. Underestimating the benefit of Fozzie’s and Stearman’s experience. Endless long balls (including from Allsop) to no target (except occasionally Festy), aerial crosses into a box with no one up front who will score headers, Plange for long periods playing off no one, or attackers running across each other. At the moment I don’t see Lee or Louis as starters against a craggy team like that, they don’t have the edge (mystified by the recent attempt to play Lee at CB). We have given up the high pace overloading midfield that served us so well in Dec/Jan (admittedly Tommo went off the boil and Joz is injured but it is what our youngsters do best at least the fast ones and teams find it hard to counter). And Festy’s licence to roam seems to have been confiscated but maybe that only works when Fozzie is on. The second half was Much better  - CKR brought some sense to proceedings, Ebiowei did nicely and Morrison had one of his better games. But too late by then (and I’m not sure there is correlation between Morrison playing well and us winning) 
 

Don’t mind him experimenting but today’s failings we have seen before. So maybe Bielik should come on after 30 mins or more. Festy is our biggest threat but perhaps hold him back until the game is more stretched, he struggles to manage 90.    We miss Jags - so should we play Bielik deep with Bird central and ahead of him? (Bielik plays out of defence like no one in the league and it’s Rooney’s way). Bird needs to play centrally I think or not at all. Or do we throw caution and play Bielik as AM ? He can score, he has the killer pass ... There needs to be a plan and none was evident today until it was too late

 

Talking about Bird v Beilik in the holding role. Most Rams fans rated Beilik at about 5/6 last night. We did look better when he went off and Bird dropped into his position. Bird has a better range of passes, gets us further up the pitch and is more mobile. Beilik did too many 10 yard sideways passes. And pulled out of nearly every challenge. Remember we are in Beilik’s 3rd season and he doesn’t have an assist to his name. Rooney could swing the axe v Luton

[VulcanRam]

26 minutes ago, ttkk said:

Tame Millwall fan here. I have posted before, but not for a while. 

I enjoyed the game last night, mainly because you got it on, unlike Blackburn Rovers! Seriously though, as football fans, we all know the epicaricacy or 'schadenfreude' nature of the game's culture... and last night was a classic example. It was interesting and enjoyable to see a large crowd gather to get behind their city's only professional team so passionately, as their young and patched up side gallantly tries to overcome the huge obstacle of a 21 point deduction. I mean that by the way. I am not taking the Michael. This sense of spectacle was heightened by the fact that I was one of the 514 band of followers of perhaps the most unfashionable football club in England, managed by a disliked former Derby manager and containing some unpopular former 'Rams'. 

I think once the disappointment of losing what on paper looked like a winnable home match dissipates for you, you will be once again be filled with pride and no little hope - as Rooney and your players are doing an amazing job. I see some are already in that place. As others have pointed out, your young side came up against a very experienced and well-drilled defence last night. However, it must also be noted, that the reason we 'celebrated like we had won the league', is because we are going through our own injury crisis, and are also having to field a lot of young players, including a 15 year old! 

I also take issue with being called 'tin-pot'. Yes, we are a small club at Championship level, but I would not say we are tin-pot. I associate 'tin-pot' with clubs with no real character, history or romance. The sort of club whose fans sing the same old generic songs as everyone else - thankfully I have never heard a Millwall crowd sing a generic football chant like 'Everywhere We Go' or 'Easy' etc. etc. In fact, because of our strong sense of identity and character, I have only ever heard us sing very Millwall centric songs - NOLU, Let Em Come, Millwall to different tunes. 

Furthermore, Millwall have a rich and proud history - pioneers of professional football in London and the South no less. The only club able to challenge the dominance of the northern and midlands sides in the late Victorian era in football's oldest competition - the FA Cup. In fact, this is the reason Millwall are the only senior football club in English football to earn their nickname through footballing endeavour and achievement! Formerly the 'Dockers', Millwall were christened the 'Lions of the South' by the national press, after giving the likes of Aston Villa (the best club side of the Victorian era), Everton, Preston NE and yes, Derby County, bloody noses in the cup! 

Moreover, I was first taken to The Den by my granddad and uncle in 1985. By my maths, in the 37 seasons that have followed, Millwall and Derby County have played at the same level in 23 of them. That hardly suggests that going by endevours on the pitch, that Derby County are a vastly superior outfit. In fact that reflects rather poorly on Derby County, who represent a whole city and since Chesterfield have slipped out of the Football League, are the only representative for the whole of Derbyshire playing top level football. Whereas Millwall have to compete with some of the biggest clubs in world football in Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United (spit) only a tube ride away, plus the likes of Crystal Palace and Charlton Athletic on our doorstep. I would argue that rather than being 'tin-pot', we are a very well-run club that gets the most out of its resources, allowing us to be a humble but proud second tier battler that no-one likes playing at The Den or in the cups. That may not be 'ambitious', but what's the alternative? Chase the dream like Derby County? 

That leads me on to Gary Rowett. Many Millwall fans are not enamoured with him either. You are correct, sometimes the football is painful. But needs must. Again, I take issue with it being 'typical' Millwall. From my time supporting the club Millwall have always been an aggressive and direct team yes, but in a positive way. That is to say, taking the game to the opposition, especially at The Den. However, Rowett is a dour pragmatic manager. That isn't Millwall, more like Charlton! But, times have changed, the Championship is full of big city clubs with regional level support like Derby County, Nottingham Forest, Sheffield United etc, all wanting to get into the promised land, as well as clubs like Bournemouth and Fulham, their pockets filled with the filthy lucre of parachute payments. Millwall currently need to keep their heads down and become more and more entrenched, like a tick in the Championship beast and hope we get a lucky season like Burnley or Huddersfield Town did, or even the jammiest of jammy clubs - Crystal Palace! 

Also, the club hierarchy are quite happy for a steady ship, as their main concern is this: https://www.millwallfc.co.uk/news/2020/february/millwall-reveal-plans-for-stadium-redevelopment/

The opportunity to develop land around The Den, which would allow us income streams to compete seriously for promotion. If and when it gets given the green light (Lewisham Council has already approved the adjoining Renewel development), then I would imagine Huski will fully takeover the club and maybe our ambitions will increase. Until then, it is all aboard the keep it steady Rowett Express! 

Okay, if you bothered to read all that, I will sign off by genuinely wishing you well... because as football fans of a grand old club like Derby County, you certainly do not deserve what you have been through! Even if you do not win this battle, I am positive you will bounce back stronger for it! Good luck. 

Good post @ttkk

Hate our fans calling other clubs tinpot, it's just a childish response to losing normally. I've said it before plenty of times on here, and I appreciate if I'm a minority voice, but I like Gary Rowett and think he's a good championship manager. His football with us wasn't spectacular, but it was better and more effective than some before and since. He left here because having got us into the play offs he was told by Mel Morris there was no money to spend so he left and went to Stoke. Mel then appointed Frank Lampard and gave him loads of money to spend. I've never really understood why our fanbase is so bitter towards him when he also represented us very well as a player.

[ttkk]

18 minutes ago, RoyMac5 said:

Some of us have been watching Derby for a bit longer and so know what a great club we are!

 

True. Interestingly, I have always wondered what would have happened if Clough had rocked up at The Den in 1967. This was when the London docks were still open and Millwall were still able to draw upon a huge catchment area of local support. Most people in football have forgotten that Millwall were one of the best supported clubs in England when the London docks were thriving, with gates of over 40,000 for Third Division South football and 15-20,000 for reserve games! 

Back then, if Clough could have worked his magic like he did at Derby County, a provincial club, at a London club with a huge catchment area of working class support, then I am positive Millwall would be an established top flight club now. 

My other half is from Suffolk, I often muse with her Ipswich Town supporting family the same thing about Alf Ramsey. If he could have made Millwall, rather than a club not long out of non-league, champions of England, in an era that we had that huge catchment area of local support... 

Oh well.

[jono]

9 minutes ago, ttkk said:

Tame Millwall fan here. I have posted before, but not for a while. 

I enjoyed the game last night, mainly because you got it on, unlike Blackburn Rovers! Seriously though, as football fans, we all know the epicaricacy or 'schadenfreude' nature of the game's culture... and last night was a classic example. It was interesting and enjoyable to see a large crowd gather to get behind their city's only professional team so passionately, as their young and patched up side gallantly tries to overcome the huge obstacle of a 21 point deduction. I mean that by the way. I am not taking the Michael. This sense of spectacle was heightened by the fact that I was one of the 514 band of followers of perhaps the most unfashionable football club in England, managed by a disliked former Derby manager and containing some unpopular former 'Rams'. 

I think once the disappointment of losing what on paper looked like a winnable home match dissipates for you, you will be once again be filled with pride and no little hope - as Rooney and your players are doing an amazing job. I see some are already in that place. As others have pointed out, your young side came up against a very experienced and well-drilled defence last night. However, it must also be noted, that the reason we 'celebrated like we had won the league', is because we are going through our own injury crisis, and are also having to field a lot of young players, including a 15 year old! 

I also take issue with being called 'tin-pot'. Yes, we are a small club at Championship level, but I would not say we are tin-pot. I associate 'tin-pot' with clubs with no real character, history or romance. The sort of club whose fans sing the same old generic songs as everyone else - thankfully I have never heard a Millwall crowd sing a generic football chant like 'Everywhere We Go' or 'Easy' etc. etc. In fact, because of our strong sense of identity and character, I have only ever heard us sing very Millwall centric songs - NOLU, Let Em Come, Millwall to different tunes. 

Furthermore, Millwall have a rich and proud history - pioneers of professional football in London and the South no less. The only club able to challenge the dominance of the northern and midlands sides in the late Victorian era in football's oldest competition - the FA Cup. In fact, this is the reason Millwall are the only senior football club in English football to earn their nickname through footballing endeavour and achievement! Formerly the 'Dockers', Millwall were christened the 'Lions of the South' by the national press, after giving the likes of Aston Villa (the best club side of the Victorian era), Everton, Preston NE and yes, Derby County, bloody noses in the cup! 

Moreover, I was first taken to The Den by my granddad and uncle in 1985. By my maths, in the 37 seasons that have followed, Millwall and Derby County have played at the same level in 23 of them. That hardly suggests that going by endevours on the pitch, that Derby County are a vastly superior outfit. In fact that reflects rather poorly on Derby County, who represent a whole city and since Chesterfield have slipped out of the Football League, are the only representative for the whole of Derbyshire playing top level football. Whereas Millwall have to compete with some of the biggest clubs in world football in Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United (spit) only a tube ride away, plus the likes of Crystal Palace and Charlton Athletic on our doorstep. I would argue that rather than being 'tin-pot', we are a very well-run club that gets the most out of its resources, allowing us to be a humble but proud second tier battler that no-one likes playing at The Den or in the cups. That may not be 'ambitious', but what's the alternative? Chase the dream like Derby County? 

That leads me on to Gary Rowett. Many Millwall fans are not enamoured with him either. You are correct, sometimes the football is painful. But needs must. Again, I take issue with it being 'typical' Millwall. From my time supporting the club Millwall have always been an aggressive and direct team yes, but in a positive way. That is to say, taking the game to the opposition, especially at The Den. However, Rowett is a dour pragmatic manager. That isn't Millwall, more like Charlton! But, times have changed, the Championship is full of big city clubs with regional level support like Derby County, Nottingham Forest, Sheffield United etc, all wanting to get into the promised land, as well as clubs like Bournemouth and Fulham, their pockets filled with the filthy lucre of parachute payments. Millwall currently need to keep their heads down and become more and more entrenched, like a tick in the Championship beast and hope we get a lucky season like Burnley or Huddersfield Town did, or even the jammiest of jammy clubs - Crystal Palace! 

Also, the club hierarchy are quite happy for a steady ship, as their main concern is this: https://www.millwallfc.co.uk/news/2020/february/millwall-reveal-plans-for-stadium-redevelopment/

The opportunity to develop land around The Den, which would allow us income streams to compete seriously for promotion. If and when it gets given the green light (Lewisham Council has already approved the adjoining Renewel development), then I would imagine Huski will fully takeover the club and maybe our ambitions will increase. Until then, it is all aboard the keep it steady Rowett Express! 

Okay, if you bothered to read all that, I will sign off by genuinely wishing you well... because as football fans of a grand old club like Derby County, you certainly do not deserve what you have been through! Even if you do not win this battle, I am positive you will bounce back stronger for it! Good luck. 

Top post. Thing is fans support their clubs. In my Corinthian world that is how it should be. We feel aggrieved in that the EFL has shown itself to be swayable, vindictive, inconsistent, blind and hypocritical. Some of our comments reflect that and old boys will always get stick if they weren’t fan favourites in the day and if they parted from us badly - Bennett / Malone. 
Alex Pearce on the other hand was a great pro, full on gent and a sportsman of the highest order. I’d clap him … always. 

For the record, although I am really down this morning it was a pretty good game for a neutral . The early goal was a kick in the gut which took some fight from us. After that it was a battle between Strength, experience, organisation versus eager passion. I’d suggest we were more skilful,(I am biased)  but your front men were persistent and worked for each other. Your defence was physically and organisationally up to the job. I haven’t checked the ages of all our players but apart from Byrne and Davies I think our oldest starter was 22/23
 

I think without the early goal we could have won it and a draw would not have been unfair to either side but you won, that’s sporting competition. I think also that some of the ire is historical, there have been a number of close games between our clubs, despite different managers, there’s always an impression that the Lions are just a bit too comfortable with gamesmanship. That said I doubt we have always been innocents. … Mind you, your No 2 hasn’t a sporting bone in his body. No 2 is what he is. He thought it was funny or clever. It wasn’t. It was low, cheap and disgraceful (That’s my fuddy duddy traditional getting an outing !) 
 

Thanks for the good wishes, same to you, and if you come across any other strugglers in or around us I hope you give them what you gave us !

[angieram]

27 minutes ago, ttkk said:

Tame Millwall fan here. I have posted before, but not for a while. 

I enjoyed the game last night, mainly because you got it on, unlike Blackburn Rovers! Seriously though, as football fans, we all know the epicaricacy or 'schadenfreude' nature of the game's culture... and last night was a classic example. It was interesting and enjoyable to see a large crowd gather to get behind their city's only professional team so passionately, as their young and patched up side gallantly tries to overcome the huge obstacle of a 21 point deduction. I mean that by the way. I am not taking the Michael. This sense of spectacle was heightened by the fact that I was one of the 514 band of followers of perhaps the most unfashionable football club in England, managed by a disliked former Derby manager and containing some unpopular former 'Rams'. 

I think once the disappointment of losing what on paper looked like a winnable home match dissipates for you, you will be once again be filled with pride and no little hope - as Rooney and your players are doing an amazing job. I see some are already in that place. As others have pointed out, your young side came up against a very experienced and well-drilled defence last night. However, it must also be noted, that the reason we 'celebrated like we had won the league', is because we are going through our own injury crisis, and are also having to field a lot of young players, including a 15 year old! 

I also take issue with being called 'tin-pot'. Yes, we are a small club at Championship level, but I would not say we are tin-pot. I associate 'tin-pot' with clubs with no real character, history or romance. The sort of club whose fans sing the same old generic songs as everyone else - thankfully I have never heard a Millwall crowd sing a generic football chant like 'Everywhere We Go' or 'Easy' etc. etc. In fact, because of our strong sense of identity and character, I have only ever heard us sing very Millwall centric songs - NOLU, Let Em Come, Millwall to different tunes. 

Furthermore, Millwall have a rich and proud history - pioneers of professional football in London and the South no less. The only club able to challenge the dominance of the northern and midlands sides in the late Victorian era in football's oldest competition - the FA Cup. In fact, this is the reason Millwall are the only senior football club in English football to earn their nickname through footballing endeavour and achievement! Formerly the 'Dockers', Millwall were christened the 'Lions of the South' by the national press, after giving the likes of Aston Villa (the best club side of the Victorian era), Everton, Preston NE and yes, Derby County, bloody noses in the cup! 

Moreover, I was first taken to The Den by my granddad and uncle in 1985. By my maths, in the 37 seasons that have followed, Millwall and Derby County have played at the same level in 23 of them. That hardly suggests that going by endevours on the pitch, that Derby County are a vastly superior outfit. In fact that reflects rather poorly on Derby County, who represent a whole city and since Chesterfield have slipped out of the Football League, are the only representative for the whole of Derbyshire playing top level football. Whereas Millwall have to compete with some of the biggest clubs in world football in Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United (spit) only a tube ride away, plus the likes of Crystal Palace and Charlton Athletic on our doorstep. I would argue that rather than being 'tin-pot', we are a very well-run club that gets the most out of its resources, allowing us to be a humble but proud second tier battler that no-one likes playing at The Den or in the cups. That may not be 'ambitious', but what's the alternative? Chase the dream like Derby County? 

That leads me on to Gary Rowett. Many Millwall fans are not enamoured with him either. You are correct, sometimes the football is painful. But needs must. Again, I take issue with it being 'typical' Millwall. From my time supporting the club Millwall have always been an aggressive and direct team yes, but in a positive way. That is to say, taking the game to the opposition, especially at The Den. However, Rowett is a dour pragmatic manager. That isn't Millwall, more like Charlton! But, times have changed, the Championship is full of big city clubs with regional level support like Derby County, Nottingham Forest, Sheffield United etc, all wanting to get into the promised land, as well as clubs like Bournemouth and Fulham, their pockets filled with the filthy lucre of parachute payments. Millwall currently need to keep their heads down and become more and more entrenched, like a tick in the Championship beast and hope we get a lucky season like Burnley or Huddersfield Town did, or even the jammiest of jammy clubs - Crystal Palace! 

Also, the club hierarchy are quite happy for a steady ship, as their main concern is this: https://www.millwallfc.co.uk/news/2020/february/millwall-reveal-plans-for-stadium-redevelopment/

The opportunity to develop land around The Den, which would allow us income streams to compete seriously for promotion. If and when it gets given the green light (Lewisham Council has already approved the adjoining Renewel development), then I would imagine Huski will fully takeover the club and maybe our ambitions will increase. Until then, it is all aboard the keep it steady Rowett Express! 

Okay, if you bothered to read all that, I will sign off by genuinely wishing you well... because as football fans of a grand old club like Derby County, you certainly do not deserve what you have been through! Even if you do not win this battle, I am positive you will bounce back stronger for it! Good luck. 

Thank you for an interesting post, I think there are fans like you at every club who understand the importance of history for each team.

I also know you're a club with some awful fans, we've got some too. I don't like being treated like a criminal so I don't go to Millwall away matches. Shame, because I enjoy talking to away fans where that's possible (QPR and Fulham being the best London clubs for that.)

You're right that you are in the shadow of lots of big clubs, but we are relatively close to a range of bigger clubs too. You can tell your dislike for Crystal Palace, btw! 

I'm sure if you get the investment you need you'll ditch Rowett and the ex-Derby players just as quickly as you welcomed them. Until then, enjoy the pragmatic football. God, I hated it when Rowett was here.

Unfortunately for us in our current predicament, we have an academy that favours flair over fight, our youngsters were never going to compete with the sly tactics employed throughout. I rue the day that physicality triumphed over football but most of the successful teams go down that route these days.

We have much bigger problems than worrying about Millwall's style of play right now. You have my sympathy, having to watch it every week.

[Gee SCREAMER !!]

10 minutes ago, ttkk said:

Sadly, we have got some unsavoury elements in the fanbase, but at the risk of being an apologist, we are a club based in a deprived inner London ward. A watch of the classic, albeit depressing Nil By Mouth will inform you of why Millwall may have more issues than the likes of Reading, Wycombe and Bournemouth etc. However, I would always argue that overall, the Millwall fanbase is more Only Fools and Horses in character than Football Factory. Indeed, some of the best characters in it are real life Millwall fans - Uncle Albert, Syd, Mickey Pearce... and writer John Sullivan said all he did was take characters from the places he hung out in in SE London and put them on screen. I reckon Del was based on my dad! That is my experience of being a Millwall fan, drinking in pubs with characters like Del, Rodney, Granddad, Denzil etc etc... 

It is sad that the otherside of Millwall completely overshadows the normal, SE London side. Stories like this https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/millwall-fans-topping-the-table-for-charity-giving-on-last-day-of-cancer-deadline-day/ never make the national splash that a few idiots do. But it is a cross we have to bear.

As for the players... I do not know their individual circumstances, but they are young men and will react to a big crowd on their back. I don't know if they were getting social media messages from Derby fans in the build up, or outside the stadium or in the warm-up etc. I certainly did silly things in my 20s that I would not be proud of now, but which were reactions. Perhaps I am being too forgiving, I don't know. Tensions were always going to be high last night for Derby fans, I get that. 

 

Scott Malone is just a twit and was when he was here.  He seems just as highly regarded at other places he's been.  I seem to recall a fair few of your own supporters reminiscing that he was a **** *** and not that keen for him to come back when it was mooted. Derby stuck by Bennett through a number of personal issues - not just the infamous car journey- and gave him 3 contracts when he was absolute dog poo or terminally injured.  His behaviour since leaving here in regard to this has been, quite frankly, abhorrent.  

[ttkk]

16 minutes ago, Gee SCREAMER !! said:

You lost me at that bit. 

Weirdly, I can remember well when Chelsea were a regular 2nd division team playing in an empty stadium with crumbling concrete, albeit they won a couple of cups early seventies.  You can thank Derby for Arsenal getting the chance of 100 years in the top division.  They had the deciding vote to invite them in from Division 2 where they regularly hung around mid table. 

I do not like Chelsea, but they are not this small club that came good through money many portray them to be. Their story is a bit unromantic, as they were founded to generate money for the landowner of Stamford Bridge. But since entering the Football League in 1906 they have always been a very well supported club. And if you look at their historical record, the 1980s were a blip, not the other way around. 

As for Arsenal, yep, very familiar with their story. Millwall and Arsenal were great rivals in the very early days, until they stabbed us in the back. It was Millwall, the best and biggest team in London at the time, who were invited to be the first southern club to join the Football League, not Arsenal. We turned them down to form our own competition - the Southern League. As at the time, Millwall thought it was better to play clubs like Arsenal, rather than travel to Darwen, Bootle etc. where cost of travelling would be high and crowds less interested. But unbeknown to us, Arsenal had gone behind our back. 

So it was no surprise when they engineered their way into the First Division without winning promotion. 

However, once they had moved to Islington, they were always destined be a big club. Meanwhile, Millwall naively stayed loyal to the Southern League far too long and lost ground on the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea, Spurs and West Ham... clubs that were far their inferior at the turn of the century (indeed, Chelsea didn't even exist then!).