Fan Review: Millwall's early season review

Heading into the international break, the Lions sit 12th after achieving nine points from the opening six games with the 4-0 loss to Fulham being their sole defeat of the season so far. 

We spoke to Nick Hart from Achtung! Millwall Podcast to get an insight into Lions's start to the season as Millwall regroup back at Calmont Road for the international break before they embark on a thrilling run of fixtures. 

How would you describe Millwall’s start to the season?

Mid-table respectability is a far more solid opening to 2018-19 than we might have dared hope when we narrowly escaped relegation last season. 

Some might say that the football hasn’t been overly exciting so far, but manager Neil Harris will point at the points tally - which is all he will be judged on in the end.

Where do they need to improve? 

In Conor Mahoney and Jed Wallace, we have two exciting wingers, but both need to deliver better quality crosses from positions of real danger. We don’t get to the bye-line often enough given that we have a striker in Matt Smith who will cause aerial mayhem if we can get the right kind of ball into him.

What player has stood out? 

As all involved with the club know, Ben Thompson always gives 100% and is Millwall through and through. But since his return from loan at Portsmouth last season he has allied his natural enthusiastic game with more depth - he has gone from a loaned out player wondering where his future lies, to being the first-choice pick on the manager’s team-sheet each week. A massive achievement by Ben. 

What player has left you disappointed? 

At a reputed £1.5 million, Ryan Leonard is the club’s all-time biggest money signing. And although this might be small sums by most of our Championship competitor’s standards, I feel the jury is very much out on the signing. Let’s put it this way, I have yet to see a million-pound game-changing moment from Leonard - here’s to hoping though ...

What is the fan consensus, is it simply just surviving or pushing for a playoff place? 

Survival in the Championship will always be made against the financial odds and achieved by a combination of team spirit combined with the volcanic Millwall support. There is no other game in town for the Lions.

That said, any student of The Den will swiftly tell you that the fans are drama junkies. Simple survival or mediocre finishes will not satisfy the Lions’ deep-seated need for big-name scalps or Championship high rollers coming unstuck. It’s in our blood.

How impressive has Alex Pearce been as captain? 

Very solid. I admit I had my doubts over Pearce last season, but he brings on-field leadership and defensive nous - good signing by Harris.

Has Neil Harris’ overhaul won you over? 

The bad apples of last season’s squad have all been shown the door and frankly, good riddance - as the collective spirit this season is plain to see. Many want to see more passing football played by the Lions and less of the direct stuff. 

That said, last weekend there howls from the West Upper to ‘get the ******** ball forward’ when the Millwall side engaged in a little Pep style possession, so Neil Harris can’t please everybody. 

I say let’s get the ball forward to our creative players, in the right positions early and let’s play our football in the opposition final third (copyright - Jack Charlton 1994).

Some exciting fixtures after the international break, will that help Millwall up their game? 

Absolutely, with home games like QPR, Leeds and Cardiff coming up The Den’s atmosphere will be hot. All are decent sides, but in front of a pumped-up home crowd, I am expecting some of the biggest fixtures of the season. Why not get yourself down there? It beats B&Q of a Saturday afternoon I can tell you.