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28th February
Viking Stavangar take Maurice Ross on trial; in La Manga,
of all places. Even when you fail at professional football
you seem to land on your feet…
…Ross Gaynor scores
both goals in the Republic of Ireland’s under 21 draw
with Madeira.
27th February
Millwall Holdings Plc. Announce a half-yearly pre-tax loss
of £2.9m. An increase of half a million, but it doesn’t
bother chairman Heather Rabbatts, who says in here statement,
"A high calibre team has since been appointed to develop
the regeneration vision. This team includes Stock Woolstencroft,
a leading architectural firm responsible for a number of major
developments across the country, CBRE land assembly advisers,
currently involved with masterminding the 2012 site assembly
and Hepher Dixon Planners, the firm which led the planning
on behalf of the new Arsenal Stadium in North London"…
Of course, that’s
all well and good – we may, one day, find out about
these regeneration plans, but of far more interest is another
quote, “The Board is in advanced stages of negotiations
regarding significant additional funding for the Company and
the Club which is vital to ensure continued trading and to
progress the regeneration proposals. Further details will
be announced in due course.”
25th February Dave Brammer is
caught up in the promotion talk, "We have three home
games now - if we can take the points we'll be in the top
six and we have the ability to stay there." Oh dear.
And it’s two games Dave.
24th February
Blackpool 0 Millwall 1: This will surely go down
as the “What if?” season. Such has been the turnaround
to what began as a truly appalling start, talk of a highly
unlikely Play Off spot just won’t go away. Again, we
see a controlled and measured win at high flying Blackpool.
A Dave Brammer wonder goal separates the sides in a tough
contest...
...Willie
Donachie says afterwards, “We talked a lot about character
after the Leyton Orient game and said that it takes a strong
character to bounce back if something goes against you. Today
was a great example of character from the players”...
...Millwall
appoint a new coach - former Sheffield Wednesday and Rangers
striker Colin West. The plan is for West to coach the strikers
and scout in the north...
...Nothing to do with us
- unless we go up of course, but soon-to-be-relegated Charlton
thrash west ham.
22nd February Ross Gaynor is
called into the Republic of Ireland under 21 international
squad after scoring a hat-trick whilst on loan for Sutton
United.
20th February
Millwall 2 Leyton Orient 5: There are several mentions
in this issue about this remarkable game. To summarise, it
was one of our best performances of the season yet we were
hammered by a team that simply capitalised on some horrendous
individual errors...
...Willie Donachie is equally
miffed by events, "It was bizarre. Three bad goals in
just over 10 minutes was completely the opposite to what we've
been doing for the last few months. The players are down,
we all make mistakes but it's how you react to them, that's
the test, and I felt the players showed a lot of character.
There were some good things in the game though, like passion,
commitment and character. And Dave Brammer ran the game for
us - we've let five in but he ran the game. It's my responsibility
- it's that simple - but it's about strong, reliable characters
who can play. We're getting there but it didn't work tonight."
18th February Questioned about
an unlikely Play Off appearance Willie Donachie says, "It's
always been my aim, the top six, but I'm not going to talk
about that. We did that early on and we went the other way.
We've just got to focus on the old cliché - 'take each
game as it comes'."
17th February
Oldham Athletic 1 Millwall 2: Not a classic by any
means, but Oldham were top and Millwall even went a goal behind.
Talk about reversal of fortune. Marvin Williams equalises
Paul Warne's opener, just fifty seconds after coming on, and
Poul Hubertz earns a penalty that Darren Byfield dispatches
with ease to grab three extraordinarily impressive points…
…Manager
Donachie is happy afterwards, "It keeps you in the job
for another week. The gods were with us." He also raises
suspicions that he and Richard Shaw are having some sort of
love in, with further praise for his skipper, "Shaw was
outstanding. You can't beat experience"...
...Meanwhile, up in the
land of the midnight sun, Fil Morais scores a cracker for
St Johnstone.
16th February
Poul Hubertz reveals that he isn't happy, "I have spoken
to the boss about going out on loan as there are plenty of
teams in this division who want me and anyway the club said
'no'"...
...Dawlish
Town centre-half Craig Fenner is been invited for a month-long
trial with the Lions...
...Neil Harris tells the
South London Press about the team's hopes of promotion, "We
are probably capable of getting into the top six but we'll
have to go on a fantastic run to do it - like Palace did [in
2004]. Our main aim at the moment has to be getting 50 points
as soon as possible, then having another look at the table."
15th February Jeff Burnige gets
a nice little junket to Trinidad, as does Joe Little, and
two other Millwall staff, to watch two young players. The
money is spent on bringing back 18 year old Lester Peltier
and 23 year old Jason Marcano for trials.
13th February
Watford youngster Claude Seanla, former Liverpool forward
James Frayne and Fisher's Damien Scannell all appear in the
reserves on trial...
...Irish club St Patrick's
Athletic take Robbie Ryan on trial.
10th February
Millwall 2 Chesterfield 1: Millwall completely took
control of the first half and fairly took the lead through
Darren Byfield's 11th of the season. Chesterfield enjoyed
their purple patch in the second period. It lasted a little
longer than the Lions boss expected and when they equalised
he was forced to bring Chris Hackett and Poul Hubertz on.
It did the trick and even made it look a master-stroke as
both players combined to net the winner...
...Manager Donachie says,
"I was pleased for Poul. He was angry yesterday when
he found out he wasn't playing, but that's what we want -
a bit of passion. Instead of being miserable he got angry
and did something about it."
4th February The Sundays reveal
that Maurice Ross has been exposed as an internet chat room
lothario, Nottingham Forest are on the verge of taking Jody
Morris on loan. Oh, and that Lucas Neill apparently supported
west ham united as a kid - despite the fact that he told TLR
in more than one interview that he was a Liverpool fan with
pictures of them on his wall as a child.
3rd February
Yeovil Town 0 Millwall 1: Despite spending much of
the game time-wasting the respect pays off, as the Lions make
the most of an early Ben May goal to see out a fairly dull
game with a win based on hard work and application...
...Dave
Brammer makes his Lions debut in an altered midfield shape
and does pretty well...
...Willie
Donachie says, "I was delighted with the bravery and
the passion. And the unselfishness of the players working
for each other. I am not going to get carried away, but this
is a great win away from home"...
...Earlier in the day the
young Lions sadly fail to make the most of their chances at
St. James' Park and crash out of the FA Youth Cup to a 70th
minute goal to Newcastle United's kids.
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