The Lion Roars Diary - August 2008

30th August Millwall 2-1 Huddersfield Town: Entertainment has been a rare ingredient in Millwall home games in recent weeks/months/years (delete as appropriate), but after Huddersfield took the wind out of the Lions puffed up sails early on with a bicycle kick goal by Dickinson (only the second ever seen at this ground), control was gained and with Kandol and Grabban netting and Harris hitting the post the encounter appeared to have reached it's fair conclusion. Referee Keith Hill then awarded a penalty for a foul outside the box in the 90th minute. Forde stood up to Unsworth's pile-driver and the Den erupt for the first time in months...
...Afterwards, a relieved Kenny Jackett says, "Overall, it was a good performance by Millwall, and a deserved win. There were some ups and downs along the way, but generally I thought we took the game to Huddersfield. We created a lot and played with a good tempo"...
...Needless to say, Stan Ternent sees it differently, "We deserved to be in front early on, but we gave away ridiculously poor goals. At the moment everything that could go against us is doing so, but that's pretty normal when you are bottom of the League. We'll turn it around." After watching the penalty incident back on video, we would suggest Mr Ternent, as usual, is talking out of his arse...
...As a matchday programme taster, Paul Robinson explains how important the forthcoming Paint Pot game with Colchester is; "The trophy provides clubs at our level with the most realistic chance of a Wembley appearance so it's one we are certainly taking very seriously at The Den."

29th August Despite the previous day's statement Millwall sign young left winger Karl Moore on loan. The 18-year-old signs a six-month deal and says, "I had a good spell under Kenny, a very enjoyable time and had a good partnership with Lairdy and Grimes. Hopefully we can re-find that form"...
...Gillingham sign Curtis Weston. Manager Mark Stimson says, "He wants to get on the ball, he's creative, with a little nasty streak in him and I think that's from his Millwall days." So what are you trying to say Mark?

28th August A NEC spokesman says of Ryan Smith, "The technical staff are not convinced of the additional value of Ryan Smith compared to the players in the current squad. Although the end of the transfer window is in sight, NEC only want to sign players who will add something to the options available"...
...Ali Fuseini is in trouble with the FA for signing with two agents...
...Despite the imminent closure of the transfer window Kenny Jackett admits that he isn't looking to spend any more of the chairman's money, "At the moment I am working very hard to achieve success with the players we've got. Things may change if Ryan Smith goes, but I am not planning to make major signings before Monday's transfer deadline at the moment."

26th August NEC Nijmegen claim, "Sinds vandaag traint de Ryan Smith (21) op proef mee bij N.E.C. De Engelse jeugdinternational zal tot en met donderdag meetrainen en is afkomstig van Millwall FC." In other words, he's having a trial.

25th August An interesting aside to a tactical decision for the previous game at Northampton. Kenny Jackett explains the deployment of full back Tony Craig in a midfield position, "We have lacked some competitiveness in midfield so far leading me to play three in there, which I don't want to do"...
...The club will find out in a few days how much they will be fined for last season's disciplinary nightmare, which amounted to 60 yellow cards and five red cards.

23rd August Northampton Town 0-0 Millwall: A drab goalless draw with little creativity, and fewer shots, but nevertheless an important away point after a poor start to the season. Hopefully it will boost the confidence of some of the struggling players...
...After the game Kenny Jackett says, "In the second half we probably looked the stronger, physically, but we couldn't turn that into shots. We had lots of ball around their box, a lot of ball in their half, and we had a lot of crosses today, but we didn't attack the ball well, especially in the box. I thought Northampton shaded it in the first half and we shaded it in the second"...
...Cobblers boss Stuart Gray says, "We gave it a go but we just lacked that bit of quality in the final third during the second half."

22nd August It's time for the Sky Crossbar Challenge once again. Neil Harris' wood clattering effort could be his season highlight…
…The South London Press claims, "Paul Ifill is believed to have been watched by Millwall boss Kenny Jackett with an eye to a move back to The Den"...
...Stewart Till says of his departure from Millwall's board, "I want to carry on being involved if possible. It just seems easier to come back when this project is a bit further forward. I will still be available to give any advice on things like marketing. I have been working on a very ambitious film distribution plan involving hundreds of millions of dollars and it is all coming to a head. It is a 24-hour-a-day commitment so I couldn't give the club enough attention during the week. Since I couldn't get to board meetings, it felt inappropriate to stay a director and the chairman John Berylson is happy for me to have a hiatus in my involvement."

21st August The Stock Exchange declares that, "The Board of Millwall Holdings plc announces that Stewart Till (Non-Executive Director) is stepping down from the Board, with immediate effect, in order to concentrate on establishing his new film business."

19th August Lenny Pidgeley joins Woking for a month's loan.

17th August Kenny Jackett admits defeat in his chase for Jay Simpson, "Jay's time with us has been mutually beneficial and I will keep my eyes open for any movement but it is not looking likely in the coming month. He is now in a period that he can get under his managers nose after good season with us and try to get in Arsène's [Wenger] plans."

16th August Millwall 1-1 Southend United: Ahmet Brkovic's dramatic injury-time equaliser snatches a draw for Millwall after David Forde gifted the Shrimpers an early lead with a dubious race out and flap move to a cross. It's nervy stuff after a couple of bad results but overall the Lions can count themselves unlucky to have not won...
...Manager Jackett muses, "I thought we deserved the point. We had some clear cut chances; Zak Whitbread and Dave Martin both went close, and apart from their goal I don't remember Southend having a chance"...
...Shrimpers manager Steve Tilson is a bit gutted, "Whatever happens in 90 minutes, to get to injury time and be winning, it is always disappointing to then concede"...
…Millwall are drawn at home to Colchester United in the Paint Pot Trophy.

14th August Mark Phillips signs for Brentford. It's always nice when one of our rejects stays in football. Especially when they haven’t been rewarded with the chances that so many others receive.

12th August Millwall 0-1 Northampton Town: Kenny Jackett's tactics come under fire after a disorganised opening sees the Cobblers take the lead through Jason Crowe. A change to 4-4-2 after the break sees complete Lions domination, but no goals. And an early exit from the League Cup...
...As Lions fans trudge home after yet another early Cup exit, Kenny Jackett claims, "There were some real positives to take from tonight. I thought we dominated from the last 15 minutes of the first half to the end of the match. We created some good chances but we need to put them away. We also need to start games better and be more aggressive"...
...Stuart Gray replies, "We coped with everything they put into the box and Mark Bunn really only had two saves to make."

11th August Needless to say, an appeal against Paul Robinson's disgraceful red card at Oldham is rejected by the corrupt noddies that decide these things.

9th August Oldham Athletic 4-3 Millwall: Tresor Kandol heads home an Alan Dunne cross in the first minute to put the Lions ahead before Andy Liddell equalise. The Lions are however, all over the hosts and a 3-1 leads was well deserved after an own goal by Rueben Hazell and a Lewis Grabban header. The game turns when Lee Hughes comes on and almost immediately cons the referee into sending Paul Robinson off. Jackett's adventurous 4-3-3 system then falls apart into chaotic disorganisation and led by Hughes, Athletic go on to win...
...Afterwards a bemused Lions boss says, "We should have had enough with ten men, we were getting pressed, but we sat back off of them. I understand this can happen with momentum, but we had spent the whole game getting in their faces"...
...On Paul Robinson's red card the manager adds, "He thinks it was harsh, but there is nothing we can do about it now unfortunately. I will reserve judgement until I watch it on DVD because from my angle it was difficult to see if there was contact or not"...
...Panto villain, as well as real villain, Lee Hughes, denies cheat claims "I made a run onto the ball through and their guy clipped the back of my leg and took me down. It was a definite penalty." Of course if this were an American crime show, any evidence supplied would be considered untrustworthy.

7th August Kenny Jackett signs Tresor Kandol from Leeds united on a 6th month loan deal. The 26-year-old was signed from Barnet for £200,000 at the start of 2007 and he agreed a new contract at Elland Road last season, tying himself to the club until 2011.

3rd August the News of the World predicts Millwall will end 20th...
...The Times predicts Millwall will end 22nd.

2nd August Exeter City 1 Millwall 0: The Lions close their pre-season campaign with a defeat at Exeter's St James Park. Craig McAllister scores the winner on 63 minutes. Of more concern is Kenny Jackett's departure from the thus far tried and trusted 4-4-2 for a 4-3-3. Team: 1) Forde, 2)Dunne, 3) Craig (Frampton), 4) Laird, 5) Robinson, 6) Whitbread, 7) Brkovic (Hackett), 8) Abdou (Grimes), 9) Alexander, 10) Grabban, 11) Fuseini

1st August arsenal rebuff Millwall's advances to Jay Simpson. He still thinks he can play for their first team. Bless