February 6, 2024 • 43 mins
Myles Thornton hosted the voice of reason Phil Coleman and Super FanTed Robinson discussing The Transfer Window, Financial Fair Play, Joe Edwards’ tenure so far, and much more!
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Music and Audio credits:
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
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(00:01):
Hi, Bethany Mantalo. Here youhave joined us for the magnificent monthly Millwell
Podcast, which features thoughts from thepanel about what affects the beautiful Game and
Millwell Enjoy. Hello, Runner,and welcome to this season's fourth No One
Likes Us Talking monthly Show. I'mmy host, Marles Thornton and with me
I have the No One Likes toTalking team of your former line Phil Coleman
(00:24):
and Millwell, super Fan Ted Robinson. Not everybody likes them, but they
don't care, even in film superFan Ted, how are you both?
Yeah? Have good Thanks Miles.I've never been called super about anything,
but thank you anyway. Miles justappreciated. I was writing this and I
(00:45):
thought, why not calling the superfan and super Film's got a ring to
it. Its better than super.Since the last Monthly Show, then,
guys, Joe Edwards has settled inat the Den. He's now got four
wins, four draws and seven lossesin fifteen games managed. Phil will start
with you, mate. We washaving a chat about this but just before,
(01:07):
what would you make of his tenureso far? I'd probably say it's
a work in progress. I thinkthe transition period is going to be lengthy.
Obviously, he's under pressure because firstand foremost he's got to pick up
points and keep us in the league. We're not a million miles away from
the bottom. We're not winning milesaway from the top. But he's got
(01:29):
a problem. He's coming to aclub as a young, inexperienced manager and
it's not easy getting to know players, their strengths and their weaknesses. Are
they're capable of changing, they canthey adapt to what he wants. If
they can't, some of them willgo down the pecking order, and depending
on their contract, they could gothis summer. But he's got a decent
(01:51):
squad as he had a decent squad, and he will see them day to
day on the training ground and whocan play, defend, attack as he
wants it. So he's in alooking at making changes in a club.
You can come in and make bigchanges straight away. For me, that's
(02:12):
a bit risky. It takes timeto sister players and changing, or you
can come in and the alternative tobig changes, there's lots of little changes.
I used to call them little onepercenters, and they all add up
and it's a bit of a lessof a risk at the bottom line,
he's got to carry on winning pointswhile he gets what he wants. It
may all be that he's got tosolve that defensive problem and create clean sheets,
(02:36):
and his biggest headache is trying tosort out the final third and creating
and scoring goals, which is thetubest part of football, whether you're in
Brazil or man City, trying toscore goals in a tough league. Great
teams. You've only got to lookat my cup of the team in the
Championship. They've come down from thePremier League. They're not necessarily going back.
(02:57):
They've got great defenders and keepers earninggood money and it all adds up.
And if Joe cracks that one,keep mc clean sheet and we score
more goals, that's the perfect reciperecipe, but that might take time,
along with bringing through the youngsters,dealing with loans, dealing with other issues
like injuries. It's not easy andhopefully he's getting good advice. He needs
(03:23):
to bounce off. Somebody looking athim. It looks like he wants to
play three five and one or twostrikers, so definitely wing backs for me.
That's flexible. So you're under pressure, you're bringing the five defenders back
in the midfield, sitat in front. If you're attacking, those wing backs
become wingers, which is normal forquite a few clubs all over the world.
Now that exposes the outside center backsand for me, I think Cooper
(03:47):
is being played on in behind Brian. But that's up. That's up to
Joe that sort of those tactical issuesout and get the right players in the
right positions and polishing everything up.And they say, winning points is is
absolutely I keeping us in this league. And then he'll get to the summer,
which will be key if we're stillin the championship. Whose contracts are
up, who goes whose days,who comes in, and then as time
(04:13):
goes by, and it could bethat long process. As I mentioned that
Joe web Buzz gets the players thathe wants, the style of play that
he wants, and it moves on. But good luck to him, But
for me, it's definitely work inprogress. And yeah, keep on winning
games while developing what you want overall, tally ted your thoughts met anything,
God on to that wonderful war now. Yeah, yeah, you Peel covers
(04:34):
all sorts of things out and thathe's right about every one of them,
I think. I mean, thething is pel I think me and you've
got what I think. It's veryshort supplying fans these days and as patients.
I can see in the games thatJoe's been in charge, right,
but the results may not be toodifferent than what Gary Rat got in lots
(04:55):
of respects. But don't get thisteam was always being even under Gary Red.
They've had spells where they haven't wonmany games. They've had a run
of losses, should we say,But what I've seen with since Joe's come
in is there is an improvement insome of the players in the confidence they've
got with the ball. I meanthe way out back three have started knocking
(05:16):
the ball around or getting it outto the wing backs. I'm not so
jumping now as I was when Iwas under Gary Rout. Let's put it
that way. They seem to bea bit more confident in what they're trying
to do. We moved the ballwhen we're playing well, we're a lot
quicker, it seems to get fromback to front in a proper passing manner,
(05:39):
not just hoofed up there, ifthat's the right phrase. And Joe's
managed to do that in these playersit's new to them. I think it's
a different style of play. It'sthe back free and feel I'm sure will
appreciate. This seemed to push rightup further and out than they did before,
(05:59):
which we always worried about when theypush forward because of lack of pace.
I still say they've got a bitof lack of pace, but they're
encouraged to push right up onto thehalf way line now, so you can
see Joe's methods getting through to someof them. That doesn't mean it's perfect
at the moment. It doesn't meanthat there ain't things to work on,
because there always is. The onething I haven't liked since Joe's been here
(06:25):
was the performance against QBR, becauseI think the one thing no Millwall fan
likes to see, and no footballfan likes to see, is their side
out fault. And that's what Ithought QBR did to us. I don't
mean it was a better side thanus, but they have thought us and
that was disappointing to say that.But by large, things I think are
(06:45):
going in the right way because someof the football they have played there's been
it's been good, very good,been attractive. You know, the first
alfare against Middlesbrough was cracking. Evenon Saturday. We look quite dominant until
we give the one go away thatthey got. So there's been some good
aspects about Joe, but what wehave to understand is this guy. It's
his first manager real job, andas Phil knows, it's entirely different being
(07:11):
a coach than it is to bethe number one, the main person,
and he's learning and learning on thejob, so to speak. So he
says the right things for me aftermatches when I've heard him talk about what
the performance was like and whatever,you he seems very knowledgeable, seems like
(07:32):
the right man for me. It'simportant that we stay in this division.
I think we've certainly got enough todo that and hopefully we achieve that and
then the next season could be somethingspecial for us, I think. And
also, while you were talking,Ted, I've got a few bits in
my head. Joe Edwoods has hadto get the players on your side as
(07:55):
well, because when a new managercomes in, and I've been a part
of what I'm going to say nowhas been a player and a coach and
both on that side of the fencewhen a new manager comes in, and
I will mention Peter Anderson once andonce only. Thank God for that.
Yeah, you're trying to work himout and straight away, I'm sorry,
but no credibility whatsoever. Jules Grahamcomes in total credibility. The fellow had
(08:20):
won everything, he's done everything,and straight away his coaching sessions were meticulous.
So you bang on ball with afellow, whether you liked him or
not, you're on board. AndI've had other managers where poor man management,
great coach, great man management,poor coach. When you get them
both together, the players will beon side far quicker. So Joe's had
to deal with that and I thinkthe players will be trusting him now.
(08:41):
They can see he's a good coachand he's got a real problem because it's
not easy building something whilst maintaining something. And what I mean by that is
the players have got to maintain hardwork. They've got to be tough to
beat. They've got to put ashift in every week. They've got a
clean sheet, keep a clean sheet. He's got to deal with injury,
but he's also got to be creatingand changing things. Now we've moved from
(09:03):
what looks like forty percent possession tofifty five percent possession, but we're going
to lose games even though we're improvingbecause on the training ground he will be
working on patterns to play which allowsthose players instead of under Gary Row,
there will be sort of like backstopsand they'll be safety nets. All through
the patterns of play, keeping possession. While you keep possession, you're getting
(09:24):
players forward. But unfortunately, everynow and again there's going to be an
interception, and because you've pushed upas a defense and because the midfield have
got further forward, those interceptions areabsolute killers because there's nobody own and they're
stray onto you. So he's gotto solve that as well. So he's
trying to keep a clean sheet.He's trying to score goals. He's trying
to develope the possession, get playersfurther up the pitch, get the wing
(09:46):
backs to become out and out wingersor even in the box, scoring goals.
But if you give the ball away, oh dear me, it's hell.
So he's got that transition from attackto defense and defense to attack,
and it's not easy. Great playersdo it. They do both. They
get forward, they play, theydon't give the ball away. If they
do, they've got a knack ofgetting back and delaying and slowing everything down.
(10:09):
So it's for me, it's atransformation and hopefully you'll get it.
He may well need some better playersto do it, but he certainly looks
like he's polishing what we've got,which is no many feet and well done
too. Yeah exactly. We'll takea break there and listen to myself.
Stand God, when talking about BurnseyTown, Burmersey Town, you heard of
(10:35):
them, but what about them?They're a football club based in Robert.
They're currently members of the Kent FootballLeague Premier Division and play at the Saint
Paul Sports Grand. The ground sharewith Fisher on matchdays. It's where the
Millwall Lionesses, Romans and Pride playeron Sundays. Oh yeah, I know.
(10:56):
Well if real war or away I'llget along. Check out the fixtures
and details on the Burnsey Town website. I will. We'll give it a
go one hundred. Thank you verymuch as well to Nolan, just talking
(11:16):
for sponsoring Saturday February our next homegame of twenty twenty four, and say
hello to the no letters in attendance. They are of course sponsoring the game.
And a special thanks to myself frommyself and the club, Amon Barkley
and the No alights Is talking teamfor sponsoring the game. So then we
all will have sold out quite afew home games this season. Lots of
(11:39):
people coming from abroad to watch us. Some fans on social media have scrutinized
these tourists and said they shouldn't becoming and are ruining the den's atmosphere.
Ed what do you make of it? Will swear on these podcasts, so
I can never really remember one onone. Look, these pre boarders are
at the end of the day.The thing with Millwall Football Club and the
(12:01):
thing about football in general, ifthere's spaces in the ground, then people
whoever they are are you're told tobuy a ticket and go along and watch.
And these foreigners, a lot ofthem sit around by me and guess
what, they're all supported Millwall.So I don't see why these people.
What would you want with I'd ratherhave a stadium that's full because the money's
(12:22):
going into the Millwall's bank, thena stadium that's half aull full of the
people that, let's face it,the people that go every week. Because
at the end of the day,if Millwall was in the First Division,
after people, probably the ones onsocial media that are moaning about these foreigners
that are coming into the ground probablywouldn't be going because they'd be saying that
(12:45):
football was rubbish or something like that. So at the end of the day,
if it makes money for our club, you've got to brand brace it
and that these people, like I'dsay, I wouldn't find they're not coming
in cheering the opposition. They're stillcheering Millwall and some of them make more
more noise than somebody ever got ourown people in the in the ground,
you know. So I'm all forit if I'd love it to be sold
(13:09):
out every week with everybody that livedjust around the corner from the ground,
But that doesn't happen. So youtake the people in that want to come,
want to come and watch it,aren't we Quite a few of the
people in the public are going aswell. They come over from Norway,
they come over from Sweden, andyou know, they make a weekend of
it, and then they will tellyou they are Merewall fans. So I
(13:31):
don't know what the problem is withthe people that say it's a problem.
I don't know how it takes awayfrom the atmosphere because the atmosphere then is
what it is whatever game we play, and it's normally pretty good. So
I generally have no idea what thesepeople are talking about. And to me
in the inside the ground, everybodybeing in their cheering for me or the
(13:54):
Mordern area, it doesn't bother mewhere they come from. That aded a
little bit like one, but Ithink one off, yeah, that's a
good rattead. I'm thinking here asyou're talking, we've got the past versus
the present. And you know,if you wanted the crowds of the eighties
(14:18):
and nineties to now, you've madea good look at most clubs have built
new stadiums, they put on newstands, you know, the fans.
There's two thousand and three thousand crowdsat non league games now, you know.
And we have higher gates. Youknow, we've got an improved average
attendance. Wonder what days. I'lltell you why. Because it's an attractive
(14:41):
league to watch, it's the championship. You know, you've got good oppositions,
attracts, crowds normally, a goodatmosphere. It helps that the London
Tourist Board of wactus on there mustvisit and all of that actually helps gate
income. We're close to send Londonwith one stot from London Bridge on on
(15:03):
the tourist marketing board. But fansdemand new signings and that will cost money
and all fans bringing that money.And it doesn't matter whether you're seventy eighty
years old or you're a baby downat the den. We need the income
and it doesn't matter where it comesfrom. Or we mentioned it earlier,
we're going to fall f out offinancial fair play rules and the Derby counters
(15:26):
of this world. And you touchedon that said we've got fans from all
over the place. They're flying fromabroad. I mean the lad Yen's Bardell
is just one. He flies infrom Germany for every game. We're going
to ban him. You know,he's spending a fortune supporting the club,
so whether it's for one game,some people to I've got a little story
(15:46):
as well. My son lives inNew Jersey and the parents of the kids
that he coaches, he's been tellingthem he's based his coaching company on Meal.
We've got the same lion, he'sgot the same colors. He's called
them lions, and he's been tellingthe parents I'll mill all this Meal that
well, some of the parents decidedlygot to London for Alody and the first
thing they did is they went tothe Mill. They went down there.
(16:07):
I had a fantastic experience. Couldn'tunderstand why they were swearing so much and
cursing at their own players and booingtheir own players, But they have had
a hell of an experience. They'vegone back to New Jersey and they're telling
all the parents, You've got togo to Meal. It's a crazy place.
You must visit. So the wordsout there, you know, and
whoever's promoting the club is doing afantastic job because we need to build a
(16:30):
fan base and we can't have areputation of violence. You know, it's
gone. You know, I wasin those times. I saw I saw
from the pitch, I saw ofpunch ups on the terraces, and you
know, we've had Ellie cops andapt risers and police vans at hotels the
night before a game. So thatreputation killed that crowds. Now what am
I seeing? Youngsters, families,foreign fans. That's that's that's to be
(16:55):
admired. You know, they wanta hostile, violent atmosphere. But we
also want it to be safe.And as I say, that creates income.
You get a full house, youcreate lifelong supporters and fantastic eighteen thousand
crowds, great atmosphere, and alsosecond ary income because these fans, these
foreign fans will come over. Theywon't just buy their ticket for thirty two
(17:15):
pounds. They'll buy a shirt,they'll buy a tracktop, they'll spend money
on food and beer, and againall that adds up to getting players in
and running the club prudently. AndI think you mentioned Ted, it's better
to have eighteen thousand including tourists comingover than an empty Soulis Stadium of about
eight nine thousand hardcore fans. SoI'm with you all that, Ted.
(17:36):
You know, we've moved a long, long way, and the long mat
continue and I actually look forward tothe ground being developed and we get twenty
thousand plus every week. Yeah,exactly. Sorry, I was gonna say,
I've been many conversations for you allabout how you make how you get
people into the ground. You know, how do we get supporters coming back
towards what is obvious ways you geta successful team in a sense, if
(18:02):
they're winning on a pitch, tendsto mean that people want to come in
this day and age. The daysof when I grew up, when you
just supported your local team and youwent regardless and it didn't matter what division
you were in sort of gone toa certain extent. People want to come
out and watch a successful team.So you have to make your football team
attractive. There's a few ways youcan do that. Your old side,
(18:23):
Wrexham Field, they sort of gotthese big owners come in and genered it
up the old community about what's goingto happen, and it's sort of brought
on the success that they're having atthis moment in time. I was winning
one nil field by the way,but now they're losing to one to back.
That's another story, but you knowwhat I mean. There's different ways
(18:45):
of getting people through the door.And Milwoll have found a way of attracting
people from abroad to come and seeus and come and watch us, and
that is it. The key isat the end of the day, you
get eighteen fas stadium every game.We all know if we got in the
Premier League, you wouldn't get aticket for love the money for our stadium
because if we're a small club likeours can sell out Wembley when they go
(19:08):
there. You know, you justhave to say to yourself, well,
where's all the rest of them weekin week out? You know, let's
double the amount that can get intoour stadium. Yet they don't or they
wasn't turning up week in week out. So if you know, someone comes
over and makes a trip to London, I feel with saying to see a
football and want to take in afootball game, I'd rather they took meal
(19:30):
Wall in and they went to Chelseaor anywhere else. And so yeah,
let's let's hope it carries on likethat. Yeah, as you're talking,
Ted, I just I just drotteda few things down. Fans need a
safe place. They need an attractiveplace, or an attractive team, an
attractive league or in a damn goodleague. And for the last five seasons
(19:52):
we ain't yo yoing up and down, which puts fans off, you know,
because if you go down you geta lesser standard. You're not playing
Leads, you're not playing Southampton,you're playing whoever's in Division one. But
the ticket prices will probably be thesame because you've got to maintain the players
contracts. There's a word of Mouth. You know, the family have gone
back to New Jersey and at somestages you're going to get a load of
(20:14):
people from New Jersey coming over totake in the game. You've got football
in the community which is doing agreat job. I'm sure the club are
working in schools and talking to schools, and some of the football in the
community are going into the schools.And then there's the marketing bit, the
tourist board or the club and TikTokand all the social media channels. It
all adds up to eighteen thousand crowdsand I've never known an average fourteen thousand
(20:36):
crowds. You know, last endof last season, look at the Old
Den. Everybody in me included,what a place but my life. You
know, you were struggling sometimes inthe seventies. Eight is to get full.
I played in front of two andtwo, nine hundred or four thousand.
You know, we've built a fanbase and I don't care how you
do it. As I've just mentioned, the people coming through the gates are
(21:00):
sustained in the club. It's alifeline and it allows us to build and
if the word gets out and theywill bring a friend the next gate we'll
be begging for tickets. We'll needa stand extension. So I don't care
who pays, I don't care thesecondary spend it. It's all good for
the club and it allows the clubto move forward and that's what every fan
wants. That's as well. Sorry, just to finish off balls, you
(21:22):
know. Again, I've been inmeetings about talking about whether they could buildings,
extend the stadium or make it biggerand make it larger feel the corners.
In all this sort of stuff beingspoken about, the only way that
Millwall Football Club would ever get tothat situation is when the demand for tickets
is more than what we've actually got, which means we need to be in
the Premier League before you can evenconsider that. Because we all know there's
(21:47):
lots of people out there. I'vegot friends and you know the Millwall fans
in their art, but they don'tgo week in week out. If we
was in the Premier League, they'dwant a season ticket. That's the way
football works, unfortunately, you know. But to get to that stage,
we need to have our ground beingfilled up week in week out in a
(22:08):
championship, which, for me,to be quite honest, I think is
the best football for meal Wall thatthere could be. The Premier League could
be really tough because even if wewas to fill our grand we're not going
to unless a big investor came andhad the money to really sort of.
I mean people always say about Brentford, but Brentford have got a big investor
back in them, you know whatI mean. They haven't just doing it
(22:30):
off of the crowds that they hadbefore they got into the Premier League,
that's for sure. But the bottomnine is as a club, we need
to fill that stadium up week inweek out in a championship and then hopefully
if we get in the Premier League, maybe they might go for a bigger
stadium because it probably probably would needit. Ted I've got another one,
little one. It's a little one, but it's big in terms of what
(22:52):
we're talking about. I'll go toAris Bar and you walk in there sometimes
before a game and there's thirty fortyin there. I went there for the
Middlesbrough game. It was packed queuingoutside the door. So they've changed it.
They've they've redecorated it, they've doneit all up. They've moved a
few things around. Are pretty certainthat they're not all members in there,
(23:15):
but the place was heaving, soit may have it may have taken a
bit of money from the local pubs, but Harry's Bart was packed and the
big going over the counter was hundredtimes more than the season before. Now,
if you make those changes and itbecomes attractive, people come in,
and that's what you've got to dowith a club. You've got to look
at exploiting every single opportunity of gettingyou own income through Harry's Bar, change,
(23:41):
through I don't know, pie andmass being sold at the ground,
and through marketing, and if touristscome in, so be it, because
it's along the same lines. It'sjust making more money for the club and
that allows you to keep moving forwardin this in this game, which as
much as I ate it, andI said to Miles earlier, football is
ruined money. It's ruined football.But if you have got money, you're
going to be at the bottom ofleague, relegated and you could fall out
(24:03):
the Football League like your South Endsand Chesterfields of recent times, Notts County
and Wrexham. The money comes backin and not Scunty and Wrexham, and
funny enough to cut the league inso we have to be really good at
making changes. We have to bereally good at promotion and marketing and getting
those fans through the door. Yepon some great analysis there and we're already
(24:23):
half an hour into the show.We'll take a break there and listen to
our fantastic sponsors. Demilson's Family fillthe directors alerdein Marsa from it. Your
funeral directors are famed for caring formill families. Where are you located and
(24:44):
how far afield if you travel toaccommodate the needs foot off families. Well,
we've got two branches, the mainones in Elton in Wilhall Road and
we've got another one in locks Bottomwhich is near Orpington Mill fans around us.
We cover all areas and we dotravel for families. We had the
lady very recently that passed away upnorth, but it was a ways to
come back to South London for afuneral, so that's what we did.
(25:07):
We went out to Sheffield and webrought it back. We quite often carry
out funerals to mill families all overSouth London and ken right down to the
South coast. Dean Wilson Independent FamilyFuneral directors Karen from mill Will Families no
matter how near or far, shouldyou need them at any time? Bring
to eight three three one one oneone one. That's eight three to three
(25:33):
one one one one one. I'myour host, Mark Stawnton with me other
no ansers talking monthly show team withTed Robinson and Phil Coleman. Thanks very
much to Dean Wilson for sponsoring ourmonthly show. Last week Millill signed two
new players, each on loan fromtwo Premier League clubs. The first was
Jaffeic Tangganga online from Spurs and thesecond Michael Oberfemi Online from Burnley. Phil,
(25:57):
What do you think either of thesewere to the line squad? Is
it a sign of intent from JoeyWoods? Interesting enough? Both Londoners,
both with very good pedigrees, qualityplayers. Not seeing enough of them to
make your mind up, but theylook Call it the slips the snips off
(26:18):
scene. Tang Gang has played inthe Premier League. He's coming in as
a center back or right back,but given that we've got a couple of
right backs and ones already on loanfrom Arsenal, I think he's coming in
as a center back. He's playedevery age group for England. Looks like
he's had a few injuries that haveheld him back a little bit, but
(26:38):
tang Ganger looks at another potentially verygood loan and I would probably say some
fans won't agree with me, butwhen you sign players, they have to
be better than what you've got,and he looks like he's better than what
we've got at the moment at theback as the free center backs, he
looks athletic, which gives us thatpace and that is you probably know from
(27:03):
some of our conversations and our WHAT'SAPmessage group that I love defenders with pace
and anybody that's athletic at the back, I feel safe for more secure.
It's having big center backs, butthey need to be quick because they're getting
them with some of the quickly strikersin the Championship. Michael Ober for me
a game a striker a Republic atEarland International and not seeing much of it,
(27:32):
but I did a bit of diggingthis morning and interest in his development.
For the age of ten, hewas at Chelsea Arsenal Watford, Southampton.
He's played five years in the Championship. In the Premier League. He's
played for the Republic of ONOL nineteento twenty ones. He's got four caps,
and it was one of these commentswhere, oh, my word,
he's going to cause defenders a sleeplessnight because I read this, Owe my
(27:56):
word, where I was shot forone hundred meters is ten point eight.
Well that is incredibly quick. Sothis guy is going to cause defenders a
sleepless night. He's going to giveus an attacking option. I'd like to
see him and what War together becausewhat Woar's quick as well, and they
will cause problems with the pace.And I'm beginning to think that Joe Webbles
(28:19):
has got a few lads that havegot pace, and is that his intent?
He wants somebody up quick up front. He's only five foot seven,
but he's ten point eight for onehundred meters. You know, he's not
off the qualifying time for the Olympics. So yeah, it look two quality
pedigree players and that they look athletic, and in Michael ober Fermi's case,
it's damn quick. So yeah,exciting times. Get them too in the
(28:42):
team straight away, look forward seeingthem. Yeah, definitely now, but
as you said, Phil, youknow we need fast center. Back to
Jake Cooper and John Nudgerson, I'mfast. No, everybody knows my feelings
about having three very quick center backs. You're allowed. It allows you to
push up the pitch. You're notgoing to get done. I look at
(29:03):
Tottenham on the telly, Aston Villaon the telly. They're all pushing up
because they got really quick defenders andif the ball over the top, if
there's a counter attack, they're notfuss because they are quicker than the strikers
and they're going to get their firstI couldn't say that our defenders, but
if you did say I'm going toplay tang Ganga, I'm going to play
(29:25):
a fit Leonard and I'm going tofit a fit hard In. Those three
center backs would fill me with moreconfidence because of their pacing, their athleticism
and as much as Hutchinson and Cooperhave done the job and they've won millions
of headers, I think the game'schanging the balls on the floor a lot
more. They're feeding the ball intoquick strikers in the channels. They're trying
(29:45):
to split the defenders getting behind ourwing backs. And to play Joeble's style
of football, I think you needquick defenders. The free center backs need
to be really quick, so thismight fit. But I will say,
if you're bringing these two in andyou might another player in, that's it.
If if they're all fit, thatis one big squad that he has
got to keep happy. He mayworth the loan a few outs, but
(30:10):
that could be a very very bigsquad, all first team quality players.
You know, you've got twenty fivepossibly more players now that you've got to
keep happy, and the people havebeen knocking on the door. So on
one hand it's great competition for places, but on the other hand, you've
got to keep these players fit thatare not youngsters, that they're senior pros
that won first team games. Soyeah, difficult job bouncing bouncing that squad.
(30:34):
Yeah, definitely tech, would youmake it, mate? Yeah,
well said, they're quality players,don't they. I mean, of course
they're going to be a little bitring rusty because neither of them are played
too much football recently. But Ithought to Ganger, I know people will
focus on the one bad pass thatcosts us a goal. Of course they're
(30:55):
allot for negatives of my word.He looked at our field fields, but
to me, he comes across likean old fashioned defender, you know,
he's games defending first, but he'scomfortable coming out with a ball, which
is he looks strong to me.That's the thing I like about him.
He looks strong. He looks likeit's going to take someone a little bit
(31:15):
special to get past him. ButI'm sure as he the more games he
plays, the better he get.The same with Michael Webber family. I
always like the look of a player, but when I've seen his name on
a team sheet against this, Ithink, oh God. Or coming off
the bench, you know, oberFemi's an explosive type of players, one
of them sort of players that I'mpretty sure, well, I don't feel
(31:38):
when he was a center half.He likes a battle. But there's certain
players and their qualities that you thinkstraight away, oh God, I meant
for a game of the day,And I think ober Femi is the sort
of guy that would put the fearof God up players with his pace.
As Field's pointed out, the speedof the guy nearly caught the guy out
(31:59):
on Saturday, but he sort ofappeared from nowhere all of a sudden.
There was only an inch away fromnicking the ball offer the guy. But
they're quality players. Miles and that'sthe thing. If this is what Joe
Edwards is aiming for, this isthe quality of sort of player he's going
for, then Meal Wolve's in goodhands because both these guys got a little
(32:23):
something to prove with their self,which is great because they can prove it
down at Millwall, you know,to a few people, because they've had
a couple of injuries and they comeback. But they've certainly got the talent,
the pair of them, and that'swhat's important in any football team,
football club. Your players need tobe talented. They are, yeah,
(32:45):
you know, but the bottom lineis you can't have too many good talented
players. And I'm excited to seethese guys get fully up the speed and
playing for the rest of the seasonand play into the capabilities, which I'm
sure Joe's open as well. Yeah, you touched on something there said about
(33:07):
to take. Ganga likes to defendlike a rarity. They defenders that want
to tackle, want to mark,want to impose themselves. And because he's
athleticism, because he's quick. I'veread an article on him and he actually
quoted about himself. I want todefend. I enjoyed the challenge. I
want to market. I want tomake it difficult for my opponent. And
(33:28):
trust me, they're like a rarebreed that everybody wants to get the ball
down and play. They want totest it and look good across the back
Listen, if you're in the backfour, if you're in the back three,
if you're in the back five,space never scored a goal. Players
do. And you have to markin the box. You have to win
headers, you have to get tight, you have to take these players on.
You have to dominate strikers. AndI think you're right said that he
(33:52):
looks like he wants to do thatand he's happy doing that, right and
again said pace was the one thingthat didn't scare me. But when you've
got a quick winger or a quickstriker, you're always very alert. I
was more than happy fighting Joe Jordan. You know niall Quinn at six foot
seven, not a problem. Thatwas my fight. I was in the
element. But if you put aquick one, who springs them Brian mild
(34:17):
runny ragged pace, absolute pace,and it just I don't know. I
think there's a sick sign of intenthere that Joe Edwards wants quick strikers and
quick defenders, but he's out ofmy book of coaching there, because if
you've got quick defenders, you're nevergoing to get done. If you've got
a quick striker, a defender isgoing to start thinking, oh my word,
he's bloody quick, and you startdropping off, which allows you to
(34:37):
get further forward as the attacking team. So yeah, I'm all in favor
of that. And I'll also sayted to touch on another one injuries.
We've got some of our better playerscoming back now they're getting match fit,
right, they're fit, but youhave to be match fit. And I
look at Denri and Saville, Imean they're going to be starting soon.
And as the midfielder playing out oftheir skins, Lenards come in back,
(35:00):
you know that these players should bein the first team, that they're what
I would call it the first pick. So I add these two lonies coming
in, add the Noyan saddle,add Leonard, and all of a sudden,
we're beginning to put together a betterteam in the last few weeks,
which is half on the players thathave been holding the shirts. Yeah,
(35:22):
we've got better players. It's bonkers. Club has moved on so far.
I firmly believe most of the fansdon't appreciate just how good the players are
on the pitch, but they're playingagainst even better players because they're at Leeds
United and they're at Southampton and they'reat Leicester. I mentioned in in the
first part of the show that JoeWebbers has got a long term job,
(35:43):
and his long term job will bethe next transfer window, which is the
summer, and players will leave andplayers will come. He depending on whether
they're on a two or three yearcontract, and if he doesn't like them
and they're on three year contracts,unless he can get them out and it's
better it's to the betterment for theplayer, they won't go. So it's
a difficult one, but you couldup with a midfield bit un ballads of
the Norrie Saville, Leonard one Fleming, Sorry Billy Mitchell, Sorry Campbell,
(36:07):
sorry Honeymoon. But there's some reallytop players in that squad and I think
it's creating competition for places, butit's also saying we've got a wage for
somebody might have to be offloaded,and definitely in the summer, particularly if
Joe Embers he's got his eyes onthe Bluzz that he actually wants so interesting
times, very interesting times. Phil. We'll take a break there and listen
(36:30):
to a good mate of mine,Harvey Brown, talking about the Lions Field.
Hi, Harvey Brown here, Iam proud of the Lions Field Hub,
which is jointly owned by Kelly andEllen Webster and they have been supporting
families within our community for over twoyears on meal match days. If you
(36:52):
would like to donate to them,they have a match day donation hub by
the ESI sixteen bar at Coleblow Laneend of the ground where they accept any
food or money and toiletry donations ifyou can help. Any donations will be
received with thanks. Thanks Thatt,Harvey, and of course the Lions Food
(37:17):
Hub are a brilliant organization. Ifyou don't forget to bring your items for
the Lion's Food Hub for any homegomethis season, you can hand them in
or even make a donation at thehub. So the left of the cold
Blow Lane stand just opposite the Bluebus bar. You mentioned two quick things,
Miles. You mentioned this bit.I'll call him a tapping merchant,
(37:38):
and I've played with plenty of them, and you've known a few the linekers
at this world. But this bitneeds that service. He'll get a ball
across the backstick and he'll tap itin. He gets a little cross where
he's pulled off the back. Heneeds service. I'll see him. He's
constantly finding space in and around apenalty are of the six yard box,
but nobody's picking him out of this. I've called it over the past year.
(38:00):
Disconnecting the final third. He goesto the back post, we cross
to the front. He goes tothe fronts to echo about nisbit. Steve
Clark, the Scottish manager, saidand quoted that he was the best finisher
that they had and I'll see him. You know, they have the warm
up before the game and they taketheir shots against that boy. He hits
(38:22):
it so cleanly that he is atop class finisher. But he has to
be given the ball to finish andthat is the key to it. And
you know that shot, if itwas a foot lower, goes in the
top of the net. We'd beenthey'd been raving about in his bit because
it had been a fantastic finish firsttime. Didn't think about it. And
(38:45):
that's he just needs one of themto go in and I'll just get the
feeling if he gets kickstarted in thescoring goals, or more importantly, we
get the players that could play aroundhim to feed him. He will score.
He will score goals this season.He's a literally a top goalscorer.
Tired with Zian Fleming, Yeah,I'd let them to have been the players
(39:05):
that Melwll fans have picked out.Yeah, but we've got the players we've
got. We've got the Norri hecan pass the ball. Fleming can pass
the ball. If what bore getspast his defender, uh Norton, Caffy
could get forward. And as forthe guy coming in, you know,
he's going to take away off overfor me. He's going to command attention
because he's so quick over the top, and if he gets behind he squares
(39:29):
it, you might get a tapin. So we've got the players.
It's just joining up. It's justpolishing it so as a Fleming knows where
he is, and the Norri canslip those balls through throw before me.
And if it's a cut back fromthe dead ball line, because of the
kids' pace, you might find whatbooks it's more serviced. So yeah,
it's it's interesting to see how thesedigsaw puzzle pieces have been put into place
(39:52):
just to their COVID to a certainextent. Field. The other thing is
that I generally don't think Joe Edwardshas found or put out what he would
consider he's best side so far,because he had so many injuries here and
there, and people dropping out thesquad for one reason or another, and
you know, coming back in andanother one drops out. You know,
(40:13):
there's no doubt in my mind thatthe Nori is the best pass for a
ball that we've got, and I'msure that showing a style that he wants
to play, he wants Denry outthere, you know. So there's been
many occasions where we've had sides outthere that are not really our best side,
you know, And I think he'sstill finding that, still feeling his
(40:34):
way around with that. And oncehe gets the players out there that he
wants out there in the style thathe wants to play, we're going to
take some beating, I think.Yeah, And it's no good fans moaning
the growing wise then orange on thebench. You know, it's still a
long season. We've still got fourmonths left, and you don't bring back
your enterplies too quickly because you're goingto lose them for the four months if
(40:54):
you give them a couple of weekson the bench, give him the proverbial
twenty minutes at the end, startfor sixty these players will come on and
last the whole season. And you'vealso got this situation where I mentioned it
earlier in the show. I'm beginningto see a statement of intent when you're
bringing ober Femi Tanganga. You're startingto say, I will pace at the
(41:14):
back and pace up front. Paceup front means the likes of Nisbit haven't
got a fight center backs. Thecenter backs are going to be skinned by
the pace, and it's a newdimension. All of a sudden, Millwall
got some pace up front. Insteadof Brad Shore running the channels and ni
Bit looking to find at tapping,all of a sudden, we might have
somebody else. And the maku isa bit like that. They've got these
(41:35):
varieties and they've got this pace,this athleticism, and it makes center backs
and defenders worry and they drop off. So we our possession might go from
fifty four percent seventy percent because they'rescared of the threat of the balling behind
because the kid ober Femi has gotpace. So that the dimensions might change
(41:55):
things might change with the intent.We've now reached the end of our fourth
monthly show this season. We reallyhope you have enjoyed it. Once again,
thank you very much to Emails andFamily Directors for sponsoring this show.
Phil, thank you very much forcoming on, Mate, no problem,
Absolutely love it every time and superfan Ted. Thank you mate. It's
(42:15):
my pleasure, my pleasure, Miles, I tell you, and it's one
that will to be on a showwith a real legend exactly exactly that.
That's sure I'm talking about you knowthat? All right? Oh, thank
you so much. Sorry, Iwas thinking about Miles myself. The next
(42:37):
show is the weekly Melwill Fans show, hosted by Bethany Manxlo myself and Ted
bull Back on the panel alongside didamazing Stan Godwin. Thanks for listening, guys,
Hi, Bethany Mantalo. Here youhave joined us for the magnificent monthly Millwell
Podcast, which features thoughts from thepanel about what affects the beautiful Game and
Millwell Enjoy. Hello, Runner,and welcome to this season's fourth No One
Likes Us Talking monthly Show. I'mmy host, Marles Thornton and with me
I have the No One Likes toTalking team of your former line Phil Coleman
(00:24):
and Millwell, super Fan Ted Robinson. Not everybody likes them, but they
don't care, even in film superFan Ted, how are you both?
Yeah? Have good Thanks Miles.I've never been called super about anything,
but thank you anyway. Miles justappreciated. I was writing this and I
(00:45):
thought, why not calling the superfan and super Film's got a ring to
it. Its better than super.Since the last Monthly Show, then,
guys, Joe Edwards has settled inat the Den. He's now got four
wins, four draws and seven lossesin fifteen games managed. Phil will start
with you, mate. We washaving a chat about this but just before,
(01:07):
what would you make of his tenureso far? I'd probably say it's
a work in progress. I thinkthe transition period is going to be lengthy.
Obviously, he's under pressure because firstand foremost he's got to pick up
points and keep us in the league. We're not a million miles away from
the bottom. We're not winning milesaway from the top. But he's got
(01:29):
a problem. He's coming to aclub as a young, inexperienced manager and
it's not easy getting to know players, their strengths and their weaknesses. Are
they're capable of changing, they canthey adapt to what he wants. If
they can't, some of them willgo down the pecking order, and depending
on their contract, they could gothis summer. But he's got a decent
(01:51):
squad as he had a decent squad, and he will see them day to
day on the training ground and whocan play, defend, attack as he
wants it. So he's in alooking at making changes in a club.
You can come in and make bigchanges straight away. For me, that's
(02:12):
a bit risky. It takes timeto sister players and changing, or you
can come in and the alternative tobig changes, there's lots of little changes.
I used to call them little onepercenters, and they all add up
and it's a bit of a lessof a risk at the bottom line,
he's got to carry on winning pointswhile he gets what he wants. It
may all be that he's got tosolve that defensive problem and create clean sheets,
(02:36):
and his biggest headache is trying tosort out the final third and creating
and scoring goals, which is thetubest part of football, whether you're in
Brazil or man City, trying toscore goals in a tough league. Great
teams. You've only got to lookat my cup of the team in the
Championship. They've come down from thePremier League. They're not necessarily going back.
(02:57):
They've got great defenders and keepers earninggood money and it all adds up.
And if Joe cracks that one,keep mc clean sheet and we score
more goals, that's the perfect reciperecipe, but that might take time,
along with bringing through the youngsters,dealing with loans, dealing with other issues
like injuries. It's not easy andhopefully he's getting good advice. He needs
(03:23):
to bounce off. Somebody looking athim. It looks like he wants to
play three five and one or twostrikers, so definitely wing backs for me.
That's flexible. So you're under pressure, you're bringing the five defenders back
in the midfield, sitat in front. If you're attacking, those wing backs
become wingers, which is normal forquite a few clubs all over the world.
Now that exposes the outside center backsand for me, I think Cooper
(03:47):
is being played on in behind Brian. But that's up. That's up to
Joe that sort of those tactical issuesout and get the right players in the
right positions and polishing everything up.And they say, winning points is is
absolutely I keeping us in this league. And then he'll get to the summer,
which will be key if we're stillin the championship. Whose contracts are
up, who goes whose days,who comes in, and then as time
(04:13):
goes by, and it could bethat long process. As I mentioned that
Joe web Buzz gets the players thathe wants, the style of play that
he wants, and it moves on. But good luck to him, But
for me, it's definitely work inprogress. And yeah, keep on winning
games while developing what you want overall, tally ted your thoughts met anything,
God on to that wonderful war now. Yeah, yeah, you Peel covers
(04:34):
all sorts of things out and thathe's right about every one of them,
I think. I mean, thething is pel I think me and you've
got what I think. It's veryshort supplying fans these days and as patients.
I can see in the games thatJoe's been in charge, right,
but the results may not be toodifferent than what Gary Rat got in lots
(04:55):
of respects. But don't get thisteam was always being even under Gary Red.
They've had spells where they haven't wonmany games. They've had a run
of losses, should we say,But what I've seen with since Joe's come
in is there is an improvement insome of the players in the confidence they've
got with the ball. I meanthe way out back three have started knocking
(05:16):
the ball around or getting it outto the wing backs. I'm not so
jumping now as I was when Iwas under Gary Rout. Let's put it
that way. They seem to bea bit more confident in what they're trying
to do. We moved the ballwhen we're playing well, we're a lot
quicker, it seems to get fromback to front in a proper passing manner,
(05:39):
not just hoofed up there, ifthat's the right phrase. And Joe's
managed to do that in these playersit's new to them. I think it's
a different style of play. It'sthe back free and feel I'm sure will
appreciate. This seemed to push rightup further and out than they did before,
(05:59):
which we always worried about when theypush forward because of lack of pace.
I still say they've got a bitof lack of pace, but they're
encouraged to push right up onto thehalf way line now, so you can
see Joe's methods getting through to someof them. That doesn't mean it's perfect
at the moment. It doesn't meanthat there ain't things to work on,
because there always is. The onething I haven't liked since Joe's been here
(06:25):
was the performance against QBR, becauseI think the one thing no Millwall fan
likes to see, and no footballfan likes to see, is their side
out fault. And that's what Ithought QBR did to us. I don't
mean it was a better side thanus, but they have thought us and
that was disappointing to say that.But by large, things I think are
(06:45):
going in the right way because someof the football they have played there's been
it's been good, very good,been attractive. You know, the first
alfare against Middlesbrough was cracking. Evenon Saturday. We look quite dominant until
we give the one go away thatthey got. So there's been some good
aspects about Joe, but what wehave to understand is this guy. It's
his first manager real job, andas Phil knows, it's entirely different being
(07:11):
a coach than it is to bethe number one, the main person,
and he's learning and learning on thejob, so to speak. So he
says the right things for me aftermatches when I've heard him talk about what
the performance was like and whatever,you he seems very knowledgeable, seems like
(07:32):
the right man for me. It'simportant that we stay in this division.
I think we've certainly got enough todo that and hopefully we achieve that and
then the next season could be somethingspecial for us, I think. And
also, while you were talking,Ted, I've got a few bits in
my head. Joe Edwoods has hadto get the players on your side as
(07:55):
well, because when a new managercomes in, and I've been a part
of what I'm going to say nowhas been a player and a coach and
both on that side of the fencewhen a new manager comes in, and
I will mention Peter Anderson once andonce only. Thank God for that.
Yeah, you're trying to work himout and straight away, I'm sorry,
but no credibility whatsoever. Jules Grahamcomes in total credibility. The fellow had
(08:20):
won everything, he's done everything,and straight away his coaching sessions were meticulous.
So you bang on ball with afellow, whether you liked him or
not, you're on board. AndI've had other managers where poor man management,
great coach, great man management,poor coach. When you get them
both together, the players will beon side far quicker. So Joe's had
to deal with that and I thinkthe players will be trusting him now.
(08:41):
They can see he's a good coachand he's got a real problem because it's
not easy building something whilst maintaining something. And what I mean by that is
the players have got to maintain hardwork. They've got to be tough to
beat. They've got to put ashift in every week. They've got a
clean sheet, keep a clean sheet. He's got to deal with injury,
but he's also got to be creatingand changing things. Now we've moved from
(09:03):
what looks like forty percent possession tofifty five percent possession, but we're going
to lose games even though we're improvingbecause on the training ground he will be
working on patterns to play which allowsthose players instead of under Gary Row,
there will be sort of like backstopsand they'll be safety nets. All through
the patterns of play, keeping possession. While you keep possession, you're getting
(09:24):
players forward. But unfortunately, everynow and again there's going to be an
interception, and because you've pushed upas a defense and because the midfield have
got further forward, those interceptions areabsolute killers because there's nobody own and they're
stray onto you. So he's gotto solve that as well. So he's
trying to keep a clean sheet.He's trying to score goals. He's trying
to develope the possession, get playersfurther up the pitch, get the wing
(09:46):
backs to become out and out wingersor even in the box, scoring goals.
But if you give the ball away, oh dear me, it's hell.
So he's got that transition from attackto defense and defense to attack,
and it's not easy. Great playersdo it. They do both. They
get forward, they play, theydon't give the ball away. If they
do, they've got a knack ofgetting back and delaying and slowing everything down.
(10:09):
So it's for me, it's atransformation and hopefully you'll get it.
He may well need some better playersto do it, but he certainly looks
like he's polishing what we've got,which is no many feet and well done
too. Yeah exactly. We'll takea break there and listen to myself.
Stand God, when talking about BurnseyTown, Burmersey Town, you heard of
(10:35):
them, but what about them?They're a football club based in Robert.
They're currently members of the Kent FootballLeague Premier Division and play at the Saint
Paul Sports Grand. The ground sharewith Fisher on matchdays. It's where the
Millwall Lionesses, Romans and Pride playeron Sundays. Oh yeah, I know.
(10:56):
Well if real war or away I'llget along. Check out the fixtures
and details on the Burnsey Town website. I will. We'll give it a
go one hundred. Thank you verymuch as well to Nolan, just talking
(11:16):
for sponsoring Saturday February our next homegame of twenty twenty four, and say
hello to the no letters in attendance. They are of course sponsoring the game.
And a special thanks to myself frommyself and the club, Amon Barkley
and the No alights Is talking teamfor sponsoring the game. So then we
all will have sold out quite afew home games this season. Lots of
(11:39):
people coming from abroad to watch us. Some fans on social media have scrutinized
these tourists and said they shouldn't becoming and are ruining the den's atmosphere.
Ed what do you make of it? Will swear on these podcasts, so
I can never really remember one onone. Look, these pre boarders are
at the end of the day.The thing with Millwall Football Club and the
(12:01):
thing about football in general, ifthere's spaces in the ground, then people
whoever they are are you're told tobuy a ticket and go along and watch.
And these foreigners, a lot ofthem sit around by me and guess
what, they're all supported Millwall.So I don't see why these people.
What would you want with I'd ratherhave a stadium that's full because the money's
(12:22):
going into the Millwall's bank, thena stadium that's half aull full of the
people that, let's face it,the people that go every week. Because
at the end of the day,if Millwall was in the First Division,
after people, probably the ones onsocial media that are moaning about these foreigners
that are coming into the ground probablywouldn't be going because they'd be saying that
(12:45):
football was rubbish or something like that. So at the end of the day,
if it makes money for our club, you've got to brand brace it
and that these people, like I'dsay, I wouldn't find they're not coming
in cheering the opposition. They're stillcheering Millwall and some of them make more
more noise than somebody ever got ourown people in the in the ground,
you know. So I'm all forit if I'd love it to be sold
(13:09):
out every week with everybody that livedjust around the corner from the ground,
But that doesn't happen. So youtake the people in that want to come,
want to come and watch it,aren't we Quite a few of the
people in the public are going aswell. They come over from Norway,
they come over from Sweden, andyou know, they make a weekend of
it, and then they will tellyou they are Merewall fans. So I
(13:31):
don't know what the problem is withthe people that say it's a problem.
I don't know how it takes awayfrom the atmosphere because the atmosphere then is
what it is whatever game we play, and it's normally pretty good. So
I generally have no idea what thesepeople are talking about. And to me
in the inside the ground, everybodybeing in their cheering for me or the
(13:54):
Mordern area, it doesn't bother mewhere they come from. That aded a
little bit like one, but Ithink one off, yeah, that's a
good rattead. I'm thinking here asyou're talking, we've got the past versus
the present. And you know,if you wanted the crowds of the eighties
(14:18):
and nineties to now, you've madea good look at most clubs have built
new stadiums, they put on newstands, you know, the fans.
There's two thousand and three thousand crowdsat non league games now, you know.
And we have higher gates. Youknow, we've got an improved average
attendance. Wonder what days. I'lltell you why. Because it's an attractive
(14:41):
league to watch, it's the championship. You know, you've got good oppositions,
attracts, crowds normally, a goodatmosphere. It helps that the London
Tourist Board of wactus on there mustvisit and all of that actually helps gate
income. We're close to send Londonwith one stot from London Bridge on on
(15:03):
the tourist marketing board. But fansdemand new signings and that will cost money
and all fans bringing that money.And it doesn't matter whether you're seventy eighty
years old or you're a baby downat the den. We need the income
and it doesn't matter where it comesfrom. Or we mentioned it earlier,
we're going to fall f out offinancial fair play rules and the Derby counters
(15:26):
of this world. And you touchedon that said we've got fans from all
over the place. They're flying fromabroad. I mean the lad Yen's Bardell
is just one. He flies infrom Germany for every game. We're going
to ban him. You know,he's spending a fortune supporting the club,
so whether it's for one game,some people to I've got a little story
(15:46):
as well. My son lives inNew Jersey and the parents of the kids
that he coaches, he's been tellingthem he's based his coaching company on Meal.
We've got the same lion, he'sgot the same colors. He's called
them lions, and he's been tellingthe parents I'll mill all this Meal that
well, some of the parents decidedlygot to London for Alody and the first
thing they did is they went tothe Mill. They went down there.
(16:07):
I had a fantastic experience. Couldn'tunderstand why they were swearing so much and
cursing at their own players and booingtheir own players, But they have had
a hell of an experience. They'vegone back to New Jersey and they're telling
all the parents, You've got togo to Meal. It's a crazy place.
You must visit. So the wordsout there, you know, and
whoever's promoting the club is doing afantastic job because we need to build a
(16:30):
fan base and we can't have areputation of violence. You know, it's
gone. You know, I wasin those times. I saw I saw
from the pitch, I saw ofpunch ups on the terraces, and you
know, we've had Ellie cops andapt risers and police vans at hotels the
night before a game. So thatreputation killed that crowds. Now what am
I seeing? Youngsters, families,foreign fans. That's that's that's to be
(16:55):
admired. You know, they wanta hostile, violent atmosphere. But we
also want it to be safe.And as I say, that creates income.
You get a full house, youcreate lifelong supporters and fantastic eighteen thousand
crowds, great atmosphere, and alsosecond ary income because these fans, these
foreign fans will come over. Theywon't just buy their ticket for thirty two
(17:15):
pounds. They'll buy a shirt,they'll buy a tracktop, they'll spend money
on food and beer, and againall that adds up to getting players in
and running the club prudently. AndI think you mentioned Ted, it's better
to have eighteen thousand including tourists comingover than an empty Soulis Stadium of about
eight nine thousand hardcore fans. SoI'm with you all that, Ted.
(17:36):
You know, we've moved a long, long way, and the long mat
continue and I actually look forward tothe ground being developed and we get twenty
thousand plus every week. Yeah,exactly. Sorry, I was gonna say,
I've been many conversations for you allabout how you make how you get
people into the ground. You know, how do we get supporters coming back
towards what is obvious ways you geta successful team in a sense, if
(18:02):
they're winning on a pitch, tendsto mean that people want to come in
this day and age. The daysof when I grew up, when you
just supported your local team and youwent regardless and it didn't matter what division
you were in sort of gone toa certain extent. People want to come
out and watch a successful team.So you have to make your football team
attractive. There's a few ways youcan do that. Your old side,
(18:23):
Wrexham Field, they sort of gotthese big owners come in and genered it
up the old community about what's goingto happen, and it's sort of brought
on the success that they're having atthis moment in time. I was winning
one nil field by the way,but now they're losing to one to back.
That's another story, but you knowwhat I mean. There's different ways
(18:45):
of getting people through the door.And Milwoll have found a way of attracting
people from abroad to come and seeus and come and watch us, and
that is it. The key isat the end of the day, you
get eighteen fas stadium every game.We all know if we got in the
Premier League, you wouldn't get aticket for love the money for our stadium
because if we're a small club likeours can sell out Wembley when they go
(19:08):
there. You know, you justhave to say to yourself, well,
where's all the rest of them weekin week out? You know, let's
double the amount that can get intoour stadium. Yet they don't or they
wasn't turning up week in week out. So if you know, someone comes
over and makes a trip to London, I feel with saying to see a
football and want to take in afootball game, I'd rather they took meal
(19:30):
Wall in and they went to Chelseaor anywhere else. And so yeah,
let's let's hope it carries on likethat. Yeah, as you're talking,
Ted, I just I just drotteda few things down. Fans need a
safe place. They need an attractiveplace, or an attractive team, an
attractive league or in a damn goodleague. And for the last five seasons
(19:52):
we ain't yo yoing up and down, which puts fans off, you know,
because if you go down you geta lesser standard. You're not playing
Leads, you're not playing Southampton,you're playing whoever's in Division one. But
the ticket prices will probably be thesame because you've got to maintain the players
contracts. There's a word of Mouth. You know, the family have gone
back to New Jersey and at somestages you're going to get a load of
(20:14):
people from New Jersey coming over totake in the game. You've got football
in the community which is doing agreat job. I'm sure the club are
working in schools and talking to schools, and some of the football in the
community are going into the schools.And then there's the marketing bit, the
tourist board or the club and TikTokand all the social media channels. It
all adds up to eighteen thousand crowdsand I've never known an average fourteen thousand
(20:36):
crowds. You know, last endof last season, look at the Old
Den. Everybody in me included,what a place but my life. You
know, you were struggling sometimes inthe seventies. Eight is to get full.
I played in front of two andtwo, nine hundred or four thousand.
You know, we've built a fanbase and I don't care how you
do it. As I've just mentioned, the people coming through the gates are
(21:00):
sustained in the club. It's alifeline and it allows us to build and
if the word gets out and theywill bring a friend the next gate we'll
be begging for tickets. We'll needa stand extension. So I don't care
who pays, I don't care thesecondary spend it. It's all good for
the club and it allows the clubto move forward and that's what every fan
wants. That's as well. Sorry, just to finish off balls, you
(21:22):
know. Again, I've been inmeetings about talking about whether they could buildings,
extend the stadium or make it biggerand make it larger feel the corners.
In all this sort of stuff beingspoken about, the only way that
Millwall Football Club would ever get tothat situation is when the demand for tickets
is more than what we've actually got, which means we need to be in
the Premier League before you can evenconsider that. Because we all know there's
(21:47):
lots of people out there. I'vegot friends and you know the Millwall fans
in their art, but they don'tgo week in week out. If we
was in the Premier League, they'dwant a season ticket. That's the way
football works, unfortunately, you know. But to get to that stage,
we need to have our ground beingfilled up week in week out in a
(22:08):
championship, which, for me,to be quite honest, I think is
the best football for meal Wall thatthere could be. The Premier League could
be really tough because even if wewas to fill our grand we're not going
to unless a big investor came andhad the money to really sort of.
I mean people always say about Brentford, but Brentford have got a big investor
back in them, you know whatI mean. They haven't just doing it
(22:30):
off of the crowds that they hadbefore they got into the Premier League,
that's for sure. But the bottomnine is as a club, we need
to fill that stadium up week inweek out in a championship and then hopefully
if we get in the Premier League, maybe they might go for a bigger
stadium because it probably probably would needit. Ted I've got another one,
little one. It's a little one, but it's big in terms of what
(22:52):
we're talking about. I'll go toAris Bar and you walk in there sometimes
before a game and there's thirty fortyin there. I went there for the
Middlesbrough game. It was packed queuingoutside the door. So they've changed it.
They've they've redecorated it, they've doneit all up. They've moved a
few things around. Are pretty certainthat they're not all members in there,
(23:15):
but the place was heaving, soit may have it may have taken a
bit of money from the local pubs, but Harry's Bart was packed and the
big going over the counter was hundredtimes more than the season before. Now,
if you make those changes and itbecomes attractive, people come in,
and that's what you've got to dowith a club. You've got to look
at exploiting every single opportunity of gettingyou own income through Harry's Bar, change,
(23:41):
through I don't know, pie andmass being sold at the ground,
and through marketing, and if touristscome in, so be it, because
it's along the same lines. It'sjust making more money for the club and
that allows you to keep moving forwardin this in this game, which as
much as I ate it, andI said to Miles earlier, football is
ruined money. It's ruined football.But if you have got money, you're
going to be at the bottom ofleague, relegated and you could fall out
(24:03):
the Football League like your South Endsand Chesterfields of recent times, Notts County
and Wrexham. The money comes backin and not Scunty and Wrexham, and
funny enough to cut the league inso we have to be really good at
making changes. We have to bereally good at promotion and marketing and getting
those fans through the door. Yepon some great analysis there and we're already
(24:23):
half an hour into the show.We'll take a break there and listen to
our fantastic sponsors. Demilson's Family fillthe directors alerdein Marsa from it. Your
funeral directors are famed for caring formill families. Where are you located and
(24:44):
how far afield if you travel toaccommodate the needs foot off families. Well,
we've got two branches, the mainones in Elton in Wilhall Road and
we've got another one in locks Bottomwhich is near Orpington Mill fans around us.
We cover all areas and we dotravel for families. We had the
lady very recently that passed away upnorth, but it was a ways to
come back to South London for afuneral, so that's what we did.
(25:07):
We went out to Sheffield and webrought it back. We quite often carry
out funerals to mill families all overSouth London and ken right down to the
South coast. Dean Wilson Independent FamilyFuneral directors Karen from mill Will Families no
matter how near or far, shouldyou need them at any time? Bring
to eight three three one one oneone one. That's eight three to three
(25:33):
one one one one one. I'myour host, Mark Stawnton with me other
no ansers talking monthly show team withTed Robinson and Phil Coleman. Thanks very
much to Dean Wilson for sponsoring ourmonthly show. Last week Millill signed two
new players, each on loan fromtwo Premier League clubs. The first was
Jaffeic Tangganga online from Spurs and thesecond Michael Oberfemi Online from Burnley. Phil,
(25:57):
What do you think either of thesewere to the line squad? Is
it a sign of intent from JoeyWoods? Interesting enough? Both Londoners,
both with very good pedigrees, qualityplayers. Not seeing enough of them to
make your mind up, but theylook Call it the slips the snips off
(26:18):
scene. Tang Gang has played inthe Premier League. He's coming in as
a center back or right back,but given that we've got a couple of
right backs and ones already on loanfrom Arsenal, I think he's coming in
as a center back. He's playedevery age group for England. Looks like
he's had a few injuries that haveheld him back a little bit, but
(26:38):
tang Ganger looks at another potentially verygood loan and I would probably say some
fans won't agree with me, butwhen you sign players, they have to
be better than what you've got,and he looks like he's better than what
we've got at the moment at theback as the free center backs, he
looks athletic, which gives us thatpace and that is you probably know from
(27:03):
some of our conversations and our WHAT'SAPmessage group that I love defenders with pace
and anybody that's athletic at the back, I feel safe for more secure.
It's having big center backs, butthey need to be quick because they're getting
them with some of the quickly strikersin the Championship. Michael Ober for me
a game a striker a Republic atEarland International and not seeing much of it,
(27:32):
but I did a bit of diggingthis morning and interest in his development.
For the age of ten, hewas at Chelsea Arsenal Watford, Southampton.
He's played five years in the Championship. In the Premier League. He's
played for the Republic of ONOL nineteento twenty ones. He's got four caps,
and it was one of these commentswhere, oh, my word,
he's going to cause defenders a sleeplessnight because I read this, Owe my
(27:56):
word, where I was shot forone hundred meters is ten point eight.
Well that is incredibly quick. Sothis guy is going to cause defenders a
sleepless night. He's going to giveus an attacking option. I'd like to
see him and what War together becausewhat Woar's quick as well, and they
will cause problems with the pace.And I'm beginning to think that Joe Webbles
(28:19):
has got a few lads that havegot pace, and is that his intent?
He wants somebody up quick up front. He's only five foot seven,
but he's ten point eight for onehundred meters. You know, he's not
off the qualifying time for the Olympics. So yeah, it look two quality
pedigree players and that they look athletic, and in Michael ober Fermi's case,
it's damn quick. So yeah,exciting times. Get them too in the
(28:42):
team straight away, look forward seeingthem. Yeah, definitely now, but
as you said, Phil, youknow we need fast center. Back to
Jake Cooper and John Nudgerson, I'mfast. No, everybody knows my feelings
about having three very quick center backs. You're allowed. It allows you to
push up the pitch. You're notgoing to get done. I look at
(29:03):
Tottenham on the telly, Aston Villaon the telly. They're all pushing up
because they got really quick defenders andif the ball over the top, if
there's a counter attack, they're notfuss because they are quicker than the strikers
and they're going to get their firstI couldn't say that our defenders, but
if you did say I'm going toplay tang Ganga, I'm going to play
(29:25):
a fit Leonard and I'm going tofit a fit hard In. Those three
center backs would fill me with moreconfidence because of their pacing, their athleticism
and as much as Hutchinson and Cooperhave done the job and they've won millions
of headers, I think the game'schanging the balls on the floor a lot
more. They're feeding the ball intoquick strikers in the channels. They're trying
(29:45):
to split the defenders getting behind ourwing backs. And to play Joeble's style
of football, I think you needquick defenders. The free center backs need
to be really quick, so thismight fit. But I will say,
if you're bringing these two in andyou might another player in, that's it.
If if they're all fit, thatis one big squad that he has
got to keep happy. He mayworth the loan a few outs, but
(30:10):
that could be a very very bigsquad, all first team quality players.
You know, you've got twenty fivepossibly more players now that you've got to
keep happy, and the people havebeen knocking on the door. So on
one hand it's great competition for places, but on the other hand, you've
got to keep these players fit thatare not youngsters, that they're senior pros
that won first team games. Soyeah, difficult job bouncing bouncing that squad.
(30:34):
Yeah, definitely tech, would youmake it, mate? Yeah,
well said, they're quality players,don't they. I mean, of course
they're going to be a little bitring rusty because neither of them are played
too much football recently. But Ithought to Ganger, I know people will
focus on the one bad pass thatcosts us a goal. Of course they're
(30:55):
allot for negatives of my word.He looked at our field fields, but
to me, he comes across likean old fashioned defender, you know,
he's games defending first, but he'scomfortable coming out with a ball, which
is he looks strong to me.That's the thing I like about him.
He looks strong. He looks likeit's going to take someone a little bit
(31:15):
special to get past him. ButI'm sure as he the more games he
plays, the better he get.The same with Michael Webber family. I
always like the look of a player, but when I've seen his name on
a team sheet against this, Ithink, oh God. Or coming off
the bench, you know, oberFemi's an explosive type of players, one
of them sort of players that I'mpretty sure, well, I don't feel
(31:38):
when he was a center half.He likes a battle. But there's certain
players and their qualities that you thinkstraight away, oh God, I meant
for a game of the day,And I think ober Femi is the sort
of guy that would put the fearof God up players with his pace.
As Field's pointed out, the speedof the guy nearly caught the guy out
(31:59):
on Saturday, but he sort ofappeared from nowhere all of a sudden.
There was only an inch away fromnicking the ball offer the guy. But
they're quality players. Miles and that'sthe thing. If this is what Joe
Edwards is aiming for, this isthe quality of sort of player he's going
for, then Meal Wolve's in goodhands because both these guys got a little
(32:23):
something to prove with their self,which is great because they can prove it
down at Millwall, you know,to a few people, because they've had
a couple of injuries and they comeback. But they've certainly got the talent,
the pair of them, and that'swhat's important in any football team,
football club. Your players need tobe talented. They are, yeah,
(32:45):
you know, but the bottom lineis you can't have too many good talented
players. And I'm excited to seethese guys get fully up the speed and
playing for the rest of the seasonand play into the capabilities, which I'm
sure Joe's open as well. Yeah, you touched on something there said about
(33:07):
to take. Ganga likes to defendlike a rarity. They defenders that want
to tackle, want to mark,want to impose themselves. And because he's
athleticism, because he's quick. I'veread an article on him and he actually
quoted about himself. I want todefend. I enjoyed the challenge. I
want to market. I want tomake it difficult for my opponent. And
(33:28):
trust me, they're like a rarebreed that everybody wants to get the ball
down and play. They want totest it and look good across the back
Listen, if you're in the backfour, if you're in the back three,
if you're in the back five,space never scored a goal. Players
do. And you have to markin the box. You have to win
headers, you have to get tight, you have to take these players on.
You have to dominate strikers. AndI think you're right said that he
(33:52):
looks like he wants to do thatand he's happy doing that, right and
again said pace was the one thingthat didn't scare me. But when you've
got a quick winger or a quickstriker, you're always very alert. I
was more than happy fighting Joe Jordan. You know niall Quinn at six foot
seven, not a problem. Thatwas my fight. I was in the
element. But if you put aquick one, who springs them Brian mild
(34:17):
runny ragged pace, absolute pace,and it just I don't know. I
think there's a sick sign of intenthere that Joe Edwards wants quick strikers and
quick defenders, but he's out ofmy book of coaching there, because if
you've got quick defenders, you're nevergoing to get done. If you've got
a quick striker, a defender isgoing to start thinking, oh my word,
he's bloody quick, and you startdropping off, which allows you to
(34:37):
get further forward as the attacking team. So yeah, I'm all in favor
of that. And I'll also sayted to touch on another one injuries.
We've got some of our better playerscoming back now they're getting match fit,
right, they're fit, but youhave to be match fit. And I
look at Denri and Saville, Imean they're going to be starting soon.
And as the midfielder playing out oftheir skins, Lenards come in back,
(35:00):
you know that these players should bein the first team, that they're what
I would call it the first pick. So I add these two lonies coming
in, add the Noyan saddle,add Leonard, and all of a sudden,
we're beginning to put together a betterteam in the last few weeks,
which is half on the players thathave been holding the shirts. Yeah,
(35:22):
we've got better players. It's bonkers. Club has moved on so far.
I firmly believe most of the fansdon't appreciate just how good the players are
on the pitch, but they're playingagainst even better players because they're at Leeds
United and they're at Southampton and they'reat Leicester. I mentioned in in the
first part of the show that JoeWebbers has got a long term job,
(35:43):
and his long term job will bethe next transfer window, which is the
summer, and players will leave andplayers will come. He depending on whether
they're on a two or three yearcontract, and if he doesn't like them
and they're on three year contracts,unless he can get them out and it's
better it's to the betterment for theplayer, they won't go. So it's
a difficult one, but you couldup with a midfield bit un ballads of
the Norrie Saville, Leonard one Fleming, Sorry Billy Mitchell, Sorry Campbell,
(36:07):
sorry Honeymoon. But there's some reallytop players in that squad and I think
it's creating competition for places, butit's also saying we've got a wage for
somebody might have to be offloaded,and definitely in the summer, particularly if
Joe Embers he's got his eyes onthe Bluzz that he actually wants so interesting
times, very interesting times. Phil. We'll take a break there and listen
(36:30):
to a good mate of mine,Harvey Brown, talking about the Lions Field.
Hi, Harvey Brown here, Iam proud of the Lions Field Hub,
which is jointly owned by Kelly andEllen Webster and they have been supporting
families within our community for over twoyears on meal match days. If you
(36:52):
would like to donate to them,they have a match day donation hub by
the ESI sixteen bar at Coleblow Laneend of the ground where they accept any
food or money and toiletry donations ifyou can help. Any donations will be
received with thanks. Thanks Thatt,Harvey, and of course the Lions Food
(37:17):
Hub are a brilliant organization. Ifyou don't forget to bring your items for
the Lion's Food Hub for any homegomethis season, you can hand them in
or even make a donation at thehub. So the left of the cold
Blow Lane stand just opposite the Bluebus bar. You mentioned two quick things,
Miles. You mentioned this bit.I'll call him a tapping merchant,
(37:38):
and I've played with plenty of them, and you've known a few the linekers
at this world. But this bitneeds that service. He'll get a ball
across the backstick and he'll tap itin. He gets a little cross where
he's pulled off the back. Heneeds service. I'll see him. He's
constantly finding space in and around apenalty are of the six yard box,
but nobody's picking him out of this. I've called it over the past year.
(38:00):
Disconnecting the final third. He goesto the back post, we cross
to the front. He goes tothe fronts to echo about nisbit. Steve
Clark, the Scottish manager, saidand quoted that he was the best finisher
that they had and I'll see him. You know, they have the warm
up before the game and they taketheir shots against that boy. He hits
(38:22):
it so cleanly that he is atop class finisher. But he has to
be given the ball to finish andthat is the key to it. And
you know that shot, if itwas a foot lower, goes in the
top of the net. We'd beenthey'd been raving about in his bit because
it had been a fantastic finish firsttime. Didn't think about it. And
(38:45):
that's he just needs one of themto go in and I'll just get the
feeling if he gets kickstarted in thescoring goals, or more importantly, we
get the players that could play aroundhim to feed him. He will score.
He will score goals this season.He's a literally a top goalscorer.
Tired with Zian Fleming, Yeah,I'd let them to have been the players
(39:05):
that Melwll fans have picked out.Yeah, but we've got the players we've
got. We've got the Norri hecan pass the ball. Fleming can pass
the ball. If what bore getspast his defender, uh Norton, Caffy
could get forward. And as forthe guy coming in, you know,
he's going to take away off overfor me. He's going to command attention
because he's so quick over the top, and if he gets behind he squares
(39:29):
it, you might get a tapin. So we've got the players.
It's just joining up. It's justpolishing it so as a Fleming knows where
he is, and the Norri canslip those balls through throw before me.
And if it's a cut back fromthe dead ball line, because of the
kids' pace, you might find whatbooks it's more serviced. So yeah,
it's it's interesting to see how thesedigsaw puzzle pieces have been put into place
(39:52):
just to their COVID to a certainextent. Field. The other thing is
that I generally don't think Joe Edwardshas found or put out what he would
consider he's best side so far,because he had so many injuries here and
there, and people dropping out thesquad for one reason or another, and
you know, coming back in andanother one drops out. You know,
(40:13):
there's no doubt in my mind thatthe Nori is the best pass for a
ball that we've got, and I'msure that showing a style that he wants
to play, he wants Denry outthere, you know. So there's been
many occasions where we've had sides outthere that are not really our best side,
you know, And I think he'sstill finding that, still feeling his
(40:34):
way around with that. And oncehe gets the players out there that he
wants out there in the style thathe wants to play, we're going to
take some beating, I think.Yeah, And it's no good fans moaning
the growing wise then orange on thebench. You know, it's still a
long season. We've still got fourmonths left, and you don't bring back
your enterplies too quickly because you're goingto lose them for the four months if
(40:54):
you give them a couple of weekson the bench, give him the proverbial
twenty minutes at the end, startfor sixty these players will come on and
last the whole season. And you'vealso got this situation where I mentioned it
earlier in the show. I'm beginningto see a statement of intent when you're
bringing ober Femi Tanganga. You're startingto say, I will pace at the
(41:14):
back and pace up front. Paceup front means the likes of Nisbit haven't
got a fight center backs. Thecenter backs are going to be skinned by
the pace, and it's a newdimension. All of a sudden, Millwall
got some pace up front. Insteadof Brad Shore running the channels and ni
Bit looking to find at tapping,all of a sudden, we might have
somebody else. And the maku isa bit like that. They've got these
(41:35):
varieties and they've got this pace,this athleticism, and it makes center backs
and defenders worry and they drop off. So we our possession might go from
fifty four percent seventy percent because they'rescared of the threat of the balling behind
because the kid ober Femi has gotpace. So that the dimensions might change
(41:55):
things might change with the intent.We've now reached the end of our fourth
monthly show this season. We reallyhope you have enjoyed it. Once again,
thank you very much to Emails andFamily Directors for sponsoring this show.
Phil, thank you very much forcoming on, Mate, no problem,
Absolutely love it every time and superfan Ted. Thank you mate. It's
(42:15):
my pleasure, my pleasure, Miles, I tell you, and it's one
that will to be on a showwith a real legend exactly exactly that.
That's sure I'm talking about you knowthat? All right? Oh, thank
you so much. Sorry, Iwas thinking about Miles myself. The next
(42:37):
show is the weekly Melwill Fans show, hosted by Bethany Manxlo myself and Ted
bull Back on the panel alongside didamazing Stan Godwin. Thanks for listening, guys,
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