Millwall head coach, Neil Harris has acknowledged his young players are exciting him this season. Dan Kelly, Adam Mayor and Alfie Massey have all had a mention as Harris looks towards tomorrows game at the Swansea.Com (3pm)
That aside Harris gave the nod to Mihailo Ivanovic against Derby County last Saturday. Coming off the bench he scored in a 1-1 draw. The nineteen year old 6’5” Serbian rumoured to be the Lions biggest transfer fee of the summer is a unit. Not dissimilar to Zǎn Vipotnik. The main Lions man at the moment is Romain Esse, an academy product who has started every game this season. He has three goals and one assist to his name and also scored the winner in the League Cup first round away at Portsmouth.
Esse mostly plays on the right side of midfield (or wing) and has some pace to be aware of. Swans coach, Luke Williams will have done his due diligence on the nineteen year old. He will be difficult for the Swans to manage on Saturday. He was actually subbed off during the 1-0 win over Plymouth on Wednesday with an injury. However, he has since stated, "Don’t worry guys, I’ll be good for Saturday. I’m feeling good, strong and healthy. I think I’ll be good. We’ve got another good game Saturday, and I’m looking forward to another three points.” Harris has called him quality on a number of occasions this season.
Millwall are resurgent compared to their earlier results this season. They drew away at West Bromwich Albion at the start of the month, then again on Saturday against Derby County and that Esse goal earned the Lions three points this week. Much touted striker Macaulay Langstaff hasn’t quite had the impact he would have hoped since transferring from Notts County (the club their fans said he would never leave) He has scored just one goal this season and assisted two. He will be involved come tomorrow’s game.
Matt Grimes v Millwall, September 2021
Millwall sit one place above the Swans having scored one more goal this season. They do score goals (fourteen this season) but they also concede (12) The Swans have scored eight and conceded seven. It is a home game, and it is very much one the Swans will want to not only win, but score a goal. Their last four games have returned nothing. The Swans have had some horrendous midweek journeys in the last few weeks. Two midweek trips to Sheffield, and on Saturday they went down 1-0 to Blackburn Rovers. That’s a whole load of travelling for the fans and a home game on a Saturday is much welcomed. The next one is right at the end of November against Portsmouth.
The last group of games look like this. It’s pretty obvious where the issues are.
That’s one goal in five games. Regardless of certain fans discontent at the moment, Luke Williams can only work with the tools he has at his disposal. And the Swans offer salaries far below many teams in the Championship. There in is the problem. Adam Reach was on a salary of twenty thousand pounds a week up until his contract at West Bromwich Albion ended in June (unconfirmed source) And that is believed to have been his weekly salary for three years until he left the Hawthorns. We assume he didn’t fit within the Swans salary structure ? Or maybe he wanted too much ? Was he good enough ? Either way whatever has been saved must be funnelled into those Harry Darling and Ben Cabango discussions.
We reported on the feel good factor around Luke Williams yesterday. Well, the lack of it.
Click —> ⚽️ Luke Williams Poll
This truly is a catalyst for Luke come this Saturday, his team really do have to win and score goals (well, that goes without saying) Otherwise that relegation spot gets ever closer.