Welcome To The Lions Den

[Gary@Millwall]

Money Talks As Andy Banks Integrity Walks

Windebank told Millwall Fans not to worry after news broke Juventus manager Andy Banks had stabbed Windebank in the back by breaking a season long loan deal and other promises with regard Dutch defender Silvano Vos.

With news breaking on discord that Barcelona manager Sam Bradwell pants had pulled down the world of FFO realised that Andy Banks had potentially brought the game into disrepute by going back on the season long loan agreement Millwall and Juventus had signed.

Although Silvano has not set the world on light in the eight appearances and 769 minutes he has played for the Lions there is a fear this betrayal by Andy Banks could have an adverse effect on the Lions promotion push.

Windebank was quick to dismiss these concerns as we caught up with him at the training ground.

"Look I can't say I am not disappointed with the behaviour of Andy going back on an agreement we had in place but football is a business and if Andy can pull down the pants of a EFL manager I can't really grumble.

Me and Andy have been in communication each week to talk about Silvano's game performances to discuss whether he is going to develop into a superstar and we have both been concerned that Silvano goes missing in games. In the 769 minutes he has played he has only accumulated a 169 abs the worse in our entire team.

Andy has been fully open about his negotiations once Sam Bradwell had made contact and has been very helpful to my Club by giving me two squaddies for one of mine so that I did not fall foul of FFO squad rules.

When Andy told me Sam was going to pay £115m albeit for a double 18 rated defender/midfielder I said to Andy there is no way you can turn that offer down as that is well above market valuation.

Thankfully a week ago a manager that does have integrity Lee Clark at Crystal Palace loaned us Fabián Balbuena for the season and I am please to announce he will be getting far more minutes than the minimum required by the season long loan arrangement.

So we wish Silvano well and hope he has a great career at Barcelona".

July Media

Andy Banks Integrity - 384 Words

[Gary@Millwall]

Silvano Vos To Make Sensational Return To The Den Saturday 3rd August For Season Long Loan

Jimmy Greaves catch line was "Football is a funny old game" and never has that rung truer than the shenanigans that have been around Silvano Vos. It started with Andy Banks cancelling a season long loan deal between Juventus and Millwall with discussions on going on whether Millwall could raise the cash to purchase Vos at the end of season. This Millwall dream came to a shuddering end when Barcelona manager and long term FFO friend Sam Bradwell used his new status of having a historically successful Club and top job to offer a ridiculous sum of money to Andy Banks, that despite his faults has always been a man of integrity, to throw that integrity in the bin and cash in.

The negotiations between the two EFL giants were ongoing for nearly a week, with there being frustration on Juventus side whereby a end of season purchase sum was offered to Windebank understood to be substantially lower than the mammoth Andy Banks ended up extracting from Bradwell's prostrate. Even though the amount Bank's asked Windebank for was quite reasonable Windebank could not guarantee he could raise the amount and in the meantime Bradwell agreed to pay Juventus the extortionate asking price.

With the transfer agreed Silvano's form went through the floor performing only one or two actions in the next three games. Windebank held a emergency meeting with Silvano and it was clear he was disappointed that Banks had sold him and he was so uncertain about moving to Barcelona due to Bradwell's transfer addiction that he asked to only feature on the bench for the last two remaining games at the Den.

In a very strange week Silvano's concerns transpired to be correct as he was officially listed for transfer along with three other wonderkids on Friday 25th July.

Windebank was shocked when Arsenal manager gave him a called at 9am on the same day asking if Millwall would be interested in taking Silvano back for a season long loan deal as Barcelona supremo Sam Bradwell had contacted him about purchasing Vos. Windebank confirmed he would love to take Vos back on loan as Vos had just spoke to him saying he did not feel ready for top tier football and he would learn a lot more under Windebank's wing as many youngsters have over the years.

At 3pm Windebank received a call an enraged Humphris telling him the deal was off as Vos had been sold under his nose to an unknown Club. With that Windebank and Vos accepted the situation.

Vos was on the bench at Bramall Lane to see his former team mates perform absolute robbery to secure three valuable points away to last seasons Premier League Club Sheffield United despite being slapped silly and propel themselves into the play off places.

Then a 2:26pm on Saturday 26th July Windebank got a call from Jason Fortune who now manages Windebank's former Club Sporting Lisbon asking him if he would take Vos on loan for the season and play him 100% game time. With Windebank having a long history developing Jason's players Windebank accepted this surprise offer especially knowing like with Darren, Jason is a man of utmost integrity and Silvano now has stability to focus on Millwall's promotion attempt this season.

Windebank had this to say

It's been a very strange week or so, I was extremely disappointed in Andy Banks behaviour despite understanding that football is a business. However, the fact that two managers with mega integrity both wanted and trusted me to take Vos back on a season long loan feels me with pride and I cannot thank either of them enough for trusting me with such a talented player.

Vos is over the moon to be back and will be a mainstay of my team from Monday next week when he pulls on the rampant Lion at the Den against Fulham.

July Media

Vos Return - 665 Words

[Gary@Millwall]

Kyle Walker Departs The Den, Is Windebank Starts To Accumulate Cash For End Of Season Infrastructure Investment?

With ten League games played and the Lions sitting 7th in the Championship just outside the playoffs due to a weaker goal difference to 6th place Sheffield United, Windebank has sold defensive stalwart Kyle Walker to Spanish Giants and League Leaders Barcelona for a very healthy £28 Million pounds.

Walker will be missed by the Den faithful after making 42 Club appearances. Walker has an impressive return for the Lions making 57 key tackles 40 key passes and taking 52 shots. He scored 4 goals for the club and 4 assist being booked 5 times and getting sent off once.

With Kyle Walker being 35 years of age and Windebank securing the services of Silvano Vos it really makes sense to cash in on a player who is coming to the end of his career and will be butchered at the end of the season when he loses 900 abs across all outfield skillsets.

The Club statement says that this sale is in preparation for the end of season infrastructure investment with Millwall and Windebank one of the biggest advocates of the Academy. The Club have already said that they are trying to raise the funds so they can add another 10,000 seats to the Den and hire another Coach and Scout.

However with Spot Auctions due to start and to continue throughout the season it will be interesting to see if Windebank tries to secure one of these players to add additional quality to his squad following an impressive start to the season which has seen the Lions only lose two games, winning four and drawing four.

More impressively the Lions have won three FA Cup games including a great victory at Turf Moor which saw the Burnley manager come under pressure following the defeat to "the amateurs of Millwall".

Millwall are also in the hat for the 3rd round of the FLT Cup as well as the Quarter Finals of the FA Cup with only one other Championship Club which is Fulham who currently sit top of the Championship and visit the Den on Monday.

Windebank had the following words to say:

It was a very hard decision to let Kyle go but £28m was just to good for us as a Club to turn down. With our unexpected progression in the FA Cup our financial situation after ten games is a lot healthier thanks to the additional £7.5m in gate receipts above our budget and of course we are now guaranteed £3m end of season prize money for making the latter stages of this historic competition.

The Chairman has told me that further investment in the Club infrastructure is the number one priority this close season but has said if a player comes up that will improve the first team then we will be in for them, this is whether it is through the transfer market or the Spot Auctions.

For now we thank Kyle for his services to our Club and wish him all the best in helping Sam Bradwell trying to win the EFL

August Media

Walker Leaves - 526 Words

[Gary@Millwall]

Millwall Fans Co-dy Believe It As £44m Flop Toney Is Replaced By Gakpo

The Den car park was packed as news filtered through that Barcelona's 25 year old Dutch striking sensation Cody Gakpo was performing his medical and about to sign a five year contract for the Championship Lions.

Ivan Toney had been given the benefit of the doubt by the Lions faithful despite being signed from their bitter Rivals from East London during the close season, but over the last few games the fans were turning on their star striker as he continued to draw blank after blank with each passing game.

Ivan Toney's stats are nothing short of appalling and wonderkid Aidomo Emakhu has thankfully been carrying the side that sees Millwall still in both cups and sitting three points of the top of the Championship in 5th place.

Ivan Toney will play his last game for the Lions on Friday against Bristol City at the Den which will be his 18th appearance for the Club where he has amassed 50 shots 7 key passes and 2 key tackles. He has been booked twice and sent off once and only scored 2 goals and provided one assist.

The deal sees Ivan Toney and £12m going to Barcelona with the Lions getting 25 year old Cody Gakpo wearing the famous Rampant Lion in South East London.

Cody is five years younger than Ivan and his stats so far this season completely blitz the 30 year old. Cody has made 20 appearances been man of the match twice and had 56 shots made 21 key passes scoring 8 goals and making 2 assists.

This is a major coup for a Club Millwall's side and appears to show Windebank continues to shock the FFO world as he only owns one outfield player over the age of 30. This is a shocking stat considering the way FFO expect Windebank to go about his business usually buying players heading towards the end of their careers so he can try and compete with the big boys.

How long is this new template going to last for? only time will tell.

We caught up with Windebank as he introduced Gakpo to the waiting fanbase.

Windebank's Comments

This is a big day for the Club and when you consider the FFO FA only let our little Club join FFO last season we have now been able to sign players from two of FFO dynasty's. First we were able to sign Mason Mount Chelsea and now we have signed Cody Gakpo from Barcelona.

Make no bones about it Cody is a massive signing for our Club and is only 66abs away from being a 21 rated 17 passing striker and only 25 years old. There is real value in Cody as once he rates up will have a sell him now value of £50m.

Cody has signed a 5 year contract and we are very hopeful he will add the goals we have been lacking to start challenging at the top of the League, we felt as a Club we needed someone to take the pressure off of young Aidomo who is having a fantastic season scoring eleven goals already. If we can get both of them gelling there could be no limit on how far we can go this season.

We have a big game against Bristol City at the Den on Friday who sit 3 points above us in 2nd place and we are really hoping Ivan Toney will finish his Millwall career in style and show the Millwall faithful and his new employers Barcelona what a player he actually is.

Cody will be with us for a big week next week where we play Huddersfield Town and Middlesbrough, with our massive FA Cup Quarter Final game against Fulham sandwich in between. What a week for Cody and us as a Club that will be.

August Media

Gakpo - 650 Words

[Gary@Millwall]

Windebank Praised By Board And Fans Alike Following Historic FA Cup Quarter Final Win

Millwall fans are still celebrating after witnessing their hero's destroy Championship and London rivals Fulham 3-0 at the Den earlier today.

A brace from Cody Gakpo either side of 20 year old Romain Esse's forth goal of the season saw the Den and social media erupt as Millwall fans were in complete shock that their side will be in the Semi Final hat for the first time in their very short FFO history.

In an interview on Millwall TV the Club Chairman had the following to say.

"This is a huge day for the Club and we cannot thank Windebank and the players enough for this amazing achievement. To think we were only elected to the FFO League at the beginning of last season and now we have a game at Wembley to look forward to on the 25th September is real Roy of the Rovers stuff.

Everyone at the Club from the Canteen lady to the groundsmen to the players and everyone on the Board will be as itching to see who we draw as much as the fans.

We now have the chance of testing ourselves against the game giants with all three other teams in the draw being managed by managers that have won endless Trophies across multiple Leagues.

The reason we bought Windebank in as manager is because he knows how to win Trophies and we wanted him to build something really special at the Den but not in our wildest dreams did we think he would get us to the last four of the FA Cup in our 2nd season in FFO when you consider how tiny our Club is and how tight our budget is.

We are currently in the early season promotion race which in itself is a remarkable achievement when you consider our 12th place finish last season.

Although we are currently in dreamland I think everyone at the Club realises that our FA Cup dream will come to a shuddering halt at Wembley no matter who we draw and I know Windebank has been crying out for a crack at Chelsea and there is now a one in three chance Windebank will get his chance when the draw is made.

No matter what the outcome of the draw or the result Windebank's overachievement means that the Club will have earned £12.5m from gate receipts and are guaranteed to receive £5m for reaching the last four.

When Windebank come to me and said he wanted to risk £12m of the £39m we had in the bank to bring Cody Gakpo to the Club from Barcelona I was apprehensive. I mentioned that we had spent £44m on Ivan Toney and he was really struggling and did we want to risk our infrastructure budget for next season on Cody. Windebank would not be swayed though and after he has scored 3 goals in two games he has effectively repaid a third of the outlay with that tremendous brace today. He has also already eclipsed Ivan Toney who only managed two goals in eighteen appearances without the £10m increase in Cody's sell him now value.

All in all today is a good day for Millwall and our thanks goes to Windebank for keeping the FA Cup dream go on a little longer."

The head of the supporters association said

"Over the last couple of weeks we have seen quite a few sides see their managers quit and last season a few of the Den faithful were calling for Windebank's head. We should count ourselves lucky that we have a manager that does not run when the going gets tough and knows how to build teams with limited resources.

Today was a very special day and a few Chelsea mates of mine have been on the phone hoping they miss us in the Cup Draw as they don't want the potential embarrassment of becoming our 5th victims in the Cup this season.

In a fan poll 85% of Millwall supporters surveyed want Steve Talbot's Chelsea due to the arrogance of claiming London was his as he got off the plane at Gatwick from Madrid".

[Gary@Millwall]

Data Department Compare First Team Players Abs Gains To Youth Academy Development After Ten Weeks

With Millwall investing £53m into their Academy during the close season purchasing a Coach for £20m a Scout for £25m and a academy player for £8m and endless discussions on Discord about whether the Academy was worth Clubs investing huge chunks of their ever depleting resources, the Millwall Data team have completed analysis after ten weeks to compare the main squad player development to the Academy players development.

Due to the fact that the Board have already decided that a further £45m (if still a Championship Club £65m in the unlikely event Millwall get promoted) with another Coach and Scout being recruited at the end of season, plus a further £15m being invested to turn the Den into a 55k stadium. The Club thought it would be prudent to demonstrate to fans that this big investment was the best option for the long term prosperity of Millwall Football Club and hopefully help other managers decide if this route would work for their Clubs as well.

We will be taking the following approach in the analysis we are about to present.

1. The eleven first team players will be listed with abs gains after 10 weeks displaying the total games they have played for Millwall Football Club
2. The abs gains for the nine Millwall Academy players will be listed as a comparison adjusted for mid-season event which was a negative butchering for the 2nd season in a row
3. Union Berlins Academy development will also be listed to see how another Clubs Academy is performing.
4. A forecast for EOS 4 at 25 weeks as both teams have a coach, EOS 5 at 30 weeks as both teams will have 2 coaches and EOS 6 at 30 weeks as both teams will still have two coaches with season 6 meaning both Clubs have no Coach Investment due to the 3 year contract rule
5. The Forecast is calculated on weekly average abs development taking Season 3 abs in each discipline excluding mid season event plus 10 weeks of season 4 divided by 30 weeks (20 weeks season 3 plus 10 weeks season 4) multiplied by 25 weeks for season 4 and 30 weeks for season 5 and season 6.

Goalkeeper

First Team - James Trafford - Started 24 rated - Played 27 games

KABS - 595

Millwall Academy - S Romero - Average abs gains over 30 weeks so far 62 KAB

KABS so far this season 567

KABS 25 weeks - Season 4 = 1,538
EOS 4 Rating = 20 years Old = 22 rated 287 KABS
KABS 30 weeks - Season 5 = 1,845
EOS 5 Rating = 21 Years Old = 24 rated 132 KABS
KABS 30 weeks - Season 6 = 1,845
EOS 6 Rating = 22 Years Old = 25 rated 977 KABS

Romero averaged 66 abs per week season 3 and is performing worse so far after 10 weeks in season 4 with 57 abs per week which is a total average applied of 62 abs per week.

Union Berlin Academy - H J Butt - Average abs gains over 30 weeks so far 70 KAB

KABS so far this season 724

KABS 25 weeks - Season 4 = 1,747
EOS 4 Rating = 19 years Old = 21 rated 434 KABS
KABS 30 weeks - Season 5 = 2,096
EOS 5 Rating = 20 Years Old = 23 rated 530 KABS
KABS 30 weeks - Season 6 = 2,096
EOS 6 Rating = 21 Years Old = 25 rated 626 KABS

Butt averaged 67 abs per week season 3 and is performing better so far after 10 weeks in season 4 with 72 abs per week which is a total average applied of 70 abs per week.

Data Analysist Comment

One of the biggest gripes on discord is the low rating levels academy players are entering the academy at when comparing to the players they have in their squads especially the big teams. With a growing vocal contingent of managers of the big team Clubs stating that investing in the academy is a waste of Club Funds because with skill creep and auction buys the academy players are never going to reach the standard of the current players in the game and the auction players entering the game each season.

It is not clear what view point is correct but a clearer picture will appear when the outfield players are added in my next instalment which will be defenders.

September Media

Academy Goalkeepers - 761 Words

[Gary@Millwall]

Data Department Defenders Comparison Between First Team Millwall Academy and Union Berlin Academy Development


First Team Defenders Development after 10 weeks

Jérôme Boateng - Played 26 Games

Starting Ratings - TK 20 PS 17 SH 8 - TAB 77 PAB 501 SAB 957

Abs Gain after 10 weeks TAB 438 PAB 350 SAB 273 Total 1,061
Average weekly Abs Gain = TAB 44 PAB 35 SAB 27

Danny McNamara - Played 26 Games

Starting Ratings - TK 18 PS 15 SH 8 - TAB 341 PAB 52 SAB 548

Abs Gain after 10 weeks TAB 726 PAB 348 SAB 248 Total 1,322
Average weekly Abs Gain = TAB 73 PAB 35 SAB 25

Fabián Balbuena - Played 19 Games

Starting Ratings - TK 18 PS 13 SH 5 - TAB 337 PAB 857 SAB 612

Abs Gain after 10 weeks TAB 436 PAB 281 SAB 136 Total 853
Average weekly Abs Gain = TAB 44 PAB 28 SAB 14

Silvano Vos - Played 24 Games

Starting Ratings - TK 17 PS 18 SH 4 - TAB 898 PAB 611 SAB 220

Abs Gain after 10 weeks TAB 341 PAB 399 SAB 222 Total 962
Average weekly Abs Gain = TAB 34 PAB 40 SAB 22

Muhlis Dağaşan- Played 26 Games

Starting Ratings - TK 17 PS 14 SH 2 - TAB 339 PAB 678 SAB 641

Abs Gain after 10 weeks TAB 640 PAB 357 SAB 87 Total 1,084
Average weekly Abs Gain = TAB 64 PAB 36 SAB 9

Millwall Academy Defenders

The 30 week average is applied to 25 weeks for Season 4 and 30 weeks each to season 5 and season 6

Cissokho Abs Gains after 10 Weeks - TAB 478 PAB 316 SAB 161 Total 955 - Average per week over 30 weeks TAB 48 PAB 29 SAB 16

TABS 1,199 PABS 732 SAB 398 - 25 weeks - Season 4 = Total 2,329
EOS 4 Rating = 20 years Old = TK 18 PS 15 SH 7 TABS 425 PABS 860 SAB 834
TABS 1,439 PABS 878 SABS 478 - 30 weeks - Season 5 = 2,795
EOS 5 Rating = 21 Years Old = TK 19 PS 16 SH 8 TABS 865 PABS 738 SAB 312
TABS 1,439 PABS 878 SABS 478 - 30 weeks - Season 6 = 2,795
EOS 6 Rating = 22 Years Old = TK 21 PS 17 SH 8 TABS 304 PABS 616 SAB 790

Eboue Abs Gains after 10 Weeks - TAB 386 PAB 221 SAB 98 Total 705 - Average per week over 10 weeks (Added to Academy Season 4) TAB 39 PAB 22 SAB 10

TABS 965 PABS 553 SAB 245 - 25 weeks - Season 4 = Total 1,763
EOS 4 Rating = 18 years Old = TK 17 PS 14 SH 7 TABS 834 PABS 366 SAB 74
TABS 1,158 PABS 663 SABS 294 - 30 weeks - Season 5 = 2,115
EOS 5 Rating = 19 Years Old = TK 18 PS 15 SH 7 TABS 992 PABS 29 SAB 368
TABS 1,158 PABS 663 SABS 294 - 30 weeks - Season 6 = 2,115
EOS 6 Rating = 20 Years Old = TK 20 PS 15 SH 7 TABS 150 PABS 692 SAB 662

Radu Abs Gains after 10 Weeks - TAB 438 PAB 226 SAB 137 Total 801 - Average per week over 10 weeks TAB 45 PAB 23 SAB 15

TABS 1,123 PABS 579 SAB 385 - 25 weeks - Season 4 = Total 2,087
EOS 4 Rating = 19 years Old = TK 17 PS 12 SH 13 TABS 524 PABS 475 SAB 1
TABS 1,348 PABS 695 SABS 462 - 30 weeks - Season 5 = 2,504
EOS 5 Rating = 20 Years Old = TK 18 PS 13 SH 13 TABS 872 PABS 169 SAB 463
TABS 1,348 PABS 695 SABS 462 - 30 weeks - Season 6 = 2,504
EOS 6 Rating = 21 Years Old = TK 20 PS 13 SH 13 TABS 220 PABS 864 SAB 925


Millwall First Team Defenders to Academy Defenders Analysis
After ten weeks the mid-point of the season Danny McNamara is the standout defender amassing a total of 1,322 abs and averaging 73 tackling abs per week this is substantially higher than best performing Academy prospect Cissokho who is averaging 48 tackling abs per week.
However, when comparing to the other five first team defenders Cissokho is ranked 3^rd best ab gaining main stat defender

1. Danny McNamara – First Team – weekly TAB gain 73
2. Muhlis Dağaşan – First Team – weekly TAB gain 64
3. Cissokho – Academy Prospect – weekly TAB gain 48
4. Radu – Academy Prospect – weekly TAB gain 45
5. Jérôme Boateng – First Team – weekly TAB gain 44
6. Fabián Balbuena – First Team – weekly TAB gain 44
7. Eboue – Academy Prospect – weekly TAB gain 39
8. Silvano Vos – First Team Prospect – weekly TAB gain 34

If we take into account Union Berlins Academy defenders to demonstrate a wider Academy development 10 week weekly average and enable Academy comparisons the list is like this.

1. Danny McNamara – First Team – weekly TAB gain 73
2. Muhlis Dağaşan – First Team – weekly TAB gain 64
3. Edcarlos – Union Berlin Academy Prospect – weekly TAB gain 55
4. Burdisso – Union Berlin Academy Prospect – weekly TAB gain 51
5. King – Union Berlin Academy Prospect – weekly TAB gain 49
6. Cissokho – Millwall Academy Prospect – weekly TAB gain 48
7. Radu – Millwall Academy Prospect – weekly TAB gain 45
8. Jérôme Boateng – First Team – weekly TAB gain 44
9. Fabián Balbuena – First Team – weekly TAB gain 44
10. Eboue – Millwall Academy Prospect – weekly TAB gain 39
11. Silvano Vos – First Team Prospect – weekly TAB gain 34

This comparison allows us to see that only two Millwall first team defenders are gaining more average weekly abs than five of the six Academy prospects across the Millwall and Union Berlin’s Academies.
If we project the weekly averages over the course of a full season to 20 weeks but apply 25 weeks to both the Millwall and Union Berlin Academy prospects due to both Academies having one Coach, the total TAB gains list is as follows:

1. Danny McNamara – First Team – Season TAB gain 1,460
2. Edcarlos – Union Berlin Academy Prospect – Season TAB gain 1,375
3. Muhlis Dağaşan – First Team – Season TAB gain 1,280
4. Burdisso – Union Berlin Academy Prospect – Season TAB gain 1,275
5. King – Union Berlin Academy Prospect – Season TAB gain 1,225
6. Cissokho – Millwall Academy Prospect – Season TAB gain 1,200
7. Radu – Millwall Academy Prospect – Season TAB gain 1,125
8. Eboue – Millwall Academy Prospect – Season TAB gain 975
9. Jérôme Boateng – First Team – Season TAB gain 880
10. Fabián Balbuena – First Team – Season TAB gain 880
11. Silvano Vos – First Team Prospect – Season TAB gain 680

Applying the extra 5 weeks training that one coach provides Danny McNamara remains top but Edcarlos outperforms the rest of the Millwall First Team players but three of the other five first team defenders start to lag behind both Millwall’s and Union Berlin’s Academy Prospects.
If we project the weekly averages over the course of a full season but apply 30 weeks as both Millwall and Union Berlin will be hiring a second coach in the close season the total abs gains list is as follows:

1. Edcarlos – Union Berlin Academy Prospect – Season TAB gain 1,650
2. Burdisso – Union Berlin Academy Prospect – Season TAB gain 1,530
3. King – Union Berlin Academy Prospect – Season TAB gain 1,470
4. Danny McNamara – First Team – Season TAB gain 1,460
5. Cissokho – Millwall Academy Prospect – Season TAB gain 1,440
6. Radu – Millwall Academy Prospect – Season TAB gain 1,350
7. Muhlis Dağaşan – First Team – Season TAB gain 1,280
8. Eboue – Millwall Academy Prospect – Season TAB gain 1,170
9. Jérôme Boateng – First Team – Season TAB gain 880
10. Fabián Balbuena – First Team – Season TAB gain 880
11. Silvano Vos – First Team Prospect – Season TAB gain 680

30 weeks training demonstrates that all Union Berlin’s defenders would potentially outperform Millwall’s best first team defender, with Millwall’s Academy prospects not losing much ground on their best performing first team defender and all Academy prospects gaining massively on three of the five first team defenders.

Disclosure
This is a point in time of ten weeks and the first team players have had the benefit of being in all cup competitions at this point. However as Millwall is in the worse European Cup the FLT we would have played slightly less games than those teams in the other European Cups who get six group games.

October Media

Academy Defenders - 1,426 Words

[Gary@Millwall]

Data Department Midfielders Comparison Between First Team Millwall Academy and Union Berlin Academy Development


First Team Midfielders Development after 10 weeks

Mason Mount - Played 19 Games

Starting Ratings - TK 2 PS 21 SH 18 - TAB 551 PAB 366 SAB 370

Abs Gain after 10 weeks TAB 88 PAB 189 SAB 370 Total 647
Average weekly Abs Gain = TAB 9 PAB 19 SAB 37

Yusef Kabadayi - Played 27 Games

Starting Ratings - TK 8 PS 18 SH 14 - TAB 821 PAB 579 SAB 918

Abs Gain after 10 weeks TAB 234 PAB 541 SAB 453 Total 1,228
Average weekly Abs Gain = TAB 23 PAB 54 SAB 45

Romain Esse - Played 27 Games

Starting Ratings - TK 7 PS 18 SH 14 - TAB 610 PAB 80 SAB 191

Abs Gain after 10 weeks TAB 213 PAB 384 SAB 467 Total 1,064
Average weekly Abs Gain = TAB 21 PAB 38 SAB 47

Millwall Academy Midfielders

The 30 week average is applied to 25 weeks for Season 4 and 30 weeks each to season 5 and season 6

Guardado Abs Gains after 10 Weeks - TAB 272 PAB 548 SAB 148 Total 968 - Average per week over 10 weeks (Added to Academy Season 4) TAB 27 PAB 55 SAB 15

TABS 680 PABS 1,370 SAB 370 - 25 weeks - Season 4 = Total 2,420
EOS 4 Rating = 18 years Old = TK 16 PS 19 SH 3 TABS 107 PABS 143 SAB 642
TABS 816 PABS 1,644 SABS 444 - 30 weeks - Season 5 = 2,904
EOS 5 Rating = 19 Years Old = TK 16 PS 20 SH 4 TABS 923 PABS 787 SAB 86
TABS 816 PABS 1,644 SABS 444 - 30 weeks - Season 6 = 2,904
EOS 6 Rating = 20 Years Old = TK 17 PS 22 SH 4 TABS 739 PABS 431 SAB 530

Cardy Abs Gains after 10 Weeks - TAB 270 PAB 498 SAB 153 Total 921 - Average per week over 30 weeks TAB 27 PAB 49 SAB 18

TABS 685 PABS 1,216 SAB 438 - 25 weeks - Season 4 = Total 2,339
EOS 4 Rating = 20 years Old = TK 14 PS 17 SH 5 TABS 512 PABS 611 SAB 567
TABS 822 PABS 1,460 SABS 525 - 30 weeks - Season 5 = 2,807
EOS 5 Rating = 21 Years Old = TK 15 PS 19 SH 6 TABS 334 PABS 71 SAB 92
TABS 822 PABS 1,460 SABS 525 - 30 weeks - Season 6 = 2,807
EOS 6 Rating = 22 Years Old = TK 16 PS 20 SH 6 TABS 156 PABS 530 SAB 617

Ricchiuti Abs Gains after 10 Weeks - TAB 179 PAB 435 SAB 267 Total 881 - Average per week over 30 weeks TAB 17 PAB 43 SAB 26

TABS 434 PABS 1,069 SAB 650 - 25 weeks - Season 4 = Total 2,153
EOS 4 Rating = 19 years Old = TK 5 PS 17 SH 14 TABS 539 PABS 755 SAB 741
TABS 521 PABS 1,283 SABS 780 - 30 weeks - Season 5 = 2,584
EOS 5 Rating = 20 Years Old = TK 6 PS 19 SH 15 TABS 61 PABS 37 SAB 521
TABS 521 PABS 1,283 SABS 780 - 30 weeks - Season 6 = 2,584
EOS 6 Rating = 21 Years Old = TK 6 PS 20 SH 16 TABS 582 PABS 320 SAB 301


Millwall First Team Midfielders to Academy Midfielders Analysis
After ten weeks the mid-point of the season Yousef Kabadayi is the standout midfielder amassing a total of 1,228 abs and averaging 54 Passing abs per week this is surprisingly lower than best performing Academy prospect Guardado who is averaging 55 passing abs per week, however Yousef total abs gain 260 abs greater than Guardado.
When comparing to the other two first team Midfielders Guardado is ranked best ab gaining main stat Midfielder:

1. Guardado – Academy Prospect Team – weekly PAB gain 55
2. Yousef Kabadayi – First Team – weekly PAB gain 54
3. Cardy – Academy Prospect – weekly PAB gain 49
4. Ricchiuti – Academy Prospect – weekly PAB gain 43
5. Romain Esse – First Team – weekly PAB gain 38
6. Mason Mount – First Team – weekly PAB gain 19

If we take into account Union Berlins Academy Midfielders to demonstrate a wider Academy development 10 week weekly average and enable Academy comparisons the list is like this.

1. Guardado – Millwall Academy Prospect Team – weekly PAB gain 55
2. Yousef Kabadayi – First Team – weekly PAB gain 54
3. Cardy – Millwall Academy Prospect – weekly PAB gain 49
4. Buzaky – Union Berlin Academy Prospect – weekly PAB gain 45
5. Ricchiuti – Millwall Academy Prospect – weekly PAB gain 43
6. Cambiasso – Union Berlin Academy Prospect – weekly gain 43
7. Romain Esse – First Team – weekly PAB gain 38
8. Rui Costa – Union Berlin Academy Prospect – weekly gain 38
9. Mason Mount – First Team – weekly PAB gain 19

This comparison allows us to see that only one Millwall first team midfielder is gaining more average weekly abs than five of the six Academy prospects across the Millwall and Union Berlin’s Academies, with Millwall’s youth prospect Guardado’s performing better weekly than any of the other players first team or Academy.
If we project the weekly averages over the course of a full season to 20 weeks but apply 25 weeks to both the Millwall and Union Berlin Academy prospects due to both Academies having one Coach, the total TAB gains list is as follows:

1. Guardado – Millwall Academy Prospect Team – Season PAB gain 1,375
2. Cardy – Millwall Academy Prospect – Season PAB gain 1,225
3. Buzaky – Union Berlin Academy Prospect – Season PAB gain 1,125
4. Yousef Kabadayi – First Team – Season PAB gain 1,080
5. Ricchiuti – Millwall Academy Prospect – Season PAB gain 1,075
6. Cambiasso – Union Berlin Academy Prospect – Season gain 1,075
7. Rui Costa – Union Berlin Academy Prospect – Season gain 950
8. Romain Esse – First Team – Season PAB gain 760
9. Mason Mount – First Team – Season PAB gain 380

Applying the extra 5 weeks training that one coach provides Two Millwall Academy players and one Union Berlin Academy player main stat ab gain beats Millwall’s first team best performer Yousef Kabadayi. The other two first team players finish in the bottom two by substantial amounts.
If we project the weekly averages over the course of a full season but apply 30 weeks as both Millwall and Union Berlin will be hiring a second coach in the close season the total abs gains list is as follows:

1. Guardado – Millwall Academy Prospect Team – Season PAB gain 1,650
2. Cardy – Millwall Academy Prospect – Season PAB gain 1,470
3. Buzaky – Union Berlin Academy Prospect – Season PAB gain 1,350
4. Ricchiuti – Millwall Academy Prospect – Season PAB gain 1,290
5. Cambiasso – Union Berlin Academy Prospect – Season gain 1,290
6. Rui Costa – Union Berlin Academy Prospect – Season gain 1,140
7. Yousef Kabadayi – First Team – Season PAB gain 1,080
8. Romain Esse – First Team – Season PAB gain 760
9. Mason Mount – First Team – Season PAB gain 380

30 weeks training demonstrates that all Academy players from both Academies would outperform all Millwall first team players. More surprisingly the gains on main stat are quite substantial when 30 week training seasons kick in.

Disclosure
This is a point in time of ten weeks and the first team players have had the benefit of being in all cup competitions at this point. However as Millwall is in the worse European Cup the FLT we would have played slightly less games than those teams in the other European Cups who get six group games.

October Media

Academy Defenders - 1,426 Words
Academy Midfielders - 1,271 Words

October Total Media = 2,697 Words

[Gary@Millwall]

Data Department Strikers Comparison Between First Team Millwall Academy and Union Berlin Academy Development


First Team Strikers Development after 10 weeks

Cody Gakpo - Played 9 Games

Starting Ratings - TK 2 PS 17 SH 20 - TAB 635 PAB 541 SAB 988

Abs Gain after 10 weeks TAB 0 PAB 127 SAB 266 Total 393
Average weekly Abs Gain = TAB 0 PAB 13 SAB 27

Aidomo Emakhu - Played 26 Games

Starting Ratings - TK 1 PS 13 SH 18 - TAB 41 PAB 934 SAB 555

Abs Gain after 10 weeks TAB 11 PAB 279 SAB 593 Total 883
Average weekly Abs Gain = TAB 1 PAB 28 SAB 59

Millwall Academy Strikers

The 30 week average is applied to 25 weeks for Season 4 and 30 weeks each to season 5 and season 6

Robin Van Persie Abs Gains after 10 Weeks - TAB 150 PAB 212 SAB 457 Total 819 - Average per week over 30 weeks TAB 13 PAB 23 SAB 46

TABS 336 PABS 583 SAB 1,158 - 25 weeks - Season 4 = Total 2,078
EOS 4 Rating = 19 years Old = TK 7 PS 13 SH 18 TABS 218 PABS 401 SAB 409
TABS 404 PABS 700 SABS 1,390 - 30 weeks - Season 5 = 2,493
EOS 5 Rating = 20 Years Old = TK 7 PS 14 SH 19 TABS 622 PABS 101 SAB 799
TABS 404 PABS 700 SABS 1,390 - 30 weeks - Season 6 = 2,493
EOS 6 Rating = 21 Years Old = TK 8 PS 14 SH 21 TABS 25 PABS 801 SAB 189

McGeady Abs Gains after 10 Weeks - TAB 221 PAB 198 SAB 507 Total 926 - Average per week over 30 weeks TAB 20 PAB 20 SAB 47

TABS 496 PABS 503 SAB 1,187 - 25 weeks - Season 4 = Total 2,186
EOS 4 Rating = 19 years Old = TK 8 PS 14 SH 17 TABS 103 PABS 741 SAB 832
TABS 596 PABS 604 SABS 1,424 - 30 weeks - Season 5 = 2,624
EOS 5 Rating = 20 Years Old = TK 8 PS 15 SH 19 TABS 699 PABS 345 SAB 256
TABS 596 PABS 604 SABS 1,424 - 30 weeks - Season 6 = 2,624
EOS 6 Rating = 21 Years Old = TK 9 PS 15 SH 20 TABS 294 PABS 949 SAB 680

Millwall First Team Strikers to Academy Strikers Analysis
After ten weeks the mid-point of the season Aidomo Emakhu is the standout striker amassing a total of 883 abs and averaging 59 shooting abs per week this is surprisingly lower than best performing Academy prospect McGeady who’s total abs are 926 but main average is lower at 47 shooting abs per week. Cody Gakpo ab gains are distorted due to only being purchased recently.
Here is a comparison of the first team strikers and academy strikers for main stat:

1. Aidomo Emakhu – First Team – weekly SAB gain 59
2. McGeady – Academy Prospect – weekly SAB gain 47
3. Van Persie – Academy Prospect – weekly SAB gain 46
4. Cody Gakpo – First Team – weekly SAB gain 27

If we take into account Union Berlins Academy Strikers to demonstrate a wider Academy development 10 week weekly average and enable Academy comparisons the list is like this.

1. Aidomo Emakhu – First Team – weekly SAB gain 59
2. McGeady – Millwall Academy Prospect – weekly SAB gain 47
3. Kapo – Union Berlin Prospect – weekly Sab gain 47
4. Van Persie – Millwall Academy Prospect – weekly SAB gain 46
5. Robbie Keane – Union Berlin Prospect – weekly SAB gain 45
6. Cody Gakpo – First Team – weekly SAB gain 27

This comparison allows us to see that both the Millwall and Union Berlin Academies are tracking virtually the same for the strikers. First team player Aidomo Emakhu’s is performing better than the prospects and unfortunately due to Cody Gakpo’s lack of time at the Club the optic is distorted but this will reduce at the end of season.
If we project the weekly averages over the course of a full season to 20 weeks but apply 25 weeks to both the Millwall and Union Berlin Academy prospects due to both Academies having one Coach, the total TAB gains list is as follows:

1. Aidomo Emakhu – First Team – Season SAB gain 1,180
2. McGeady – Millwall Academy Prospect – Season SAB gain 1,175
3. Kapo – Union Berlin Prospect – Season Sab gain 1,175
4. Van Persie – Millwall Academy Prospect – Season SAB gain 1,150
5. Robbie Keane – Union Berlin Prospect – Season SAB gain 1,125
6. Cody Gakpo – First Team – Season SAB gain 540

Applying the extra 5 weeks training that one coach provides Two Millwall Academy players and one Union Berlin Academy player main stat ab gain beats Millwall’s first team best performer Yousef Kabadayi. The other two first team players finish in the bottom two by substantial amounts.
If we project the weekly averages over the course of a full season but apply 30 weeks as both Millwall and Union Berlin will be hiring a second coach in the close season the total abs gains list is as follows:

1. McGeady – Millwall Academy Prospect – Season SAB gain 1,410
2. Kapo – Union Berlin Prospect – Season Sab gain 1,410
3. Van Persie – Millwall Academy Prospect – Season SAB gain 1,380
4. Robbie Keane – Union Berlin Prospect – Season SAB gain 1,350
5. Aidomo Emakhu – First Team – Season SAB gain 1,180
6. Cody Gakpo – First Team – Season SAB gain 540

30 weeks training demonstrates that all Academy players from both Academies would outperform all Millwall first team players. More surprisingly the gains on main stat are quite substantial when 30 week training seasons kick in.

Disclosure
This is a point in time of ten weeks and the first team players have had the benefit of being in all cup competitions at this point. However as Millwall is in the worse European Cup the FLT we would have played slightly less games than those teams in the other European Cups who get six group games.

October Media

Academy Defenders - 1,426 Words
Academy Midfielders - 1,271 Words
Academy Strikers - 1,004 Words

October Total Media = 3,701 Words

[Gary@Millwall]

Millwall Board Effectively Put Windebank Under Transfer Embargo

With Seasons 4 transfer window slamming shut this Saturday 19th October 2024 the Millwall Board have announced on the Club Website that the only transfers that the Board will sign-off on will be deals that bring a net financial cash gain to the Club.

It was widely reported that Windebank wanted to attempt to bring Enzo Fernandez to the Den from Southampton but the Board flatly denied Windebank the chance to make a bid. The reason given was that due to the Sell Him Now values being reviewed downwards by the FFO FA in the close season the Board were not willing to take the risk that they would not be able to recoup the expenditure in the close season to finance spending that has already been sanctioned.

The Board said the following on their website

"The Board stated very early into the season that it would be investing £25m in a Scout, £20m in a second coach and £15m adding 10,000 seats to the Den to make it a 55,000 Stadium. That is a massive £60m investment and with the Club Accountant stating that the end of season balance is currently forecast to be £59.7m with League final placing prize money and no way to forecast what the objective money will be as the FFO FA has never released how that is calculated there was not enough financial bandwidth to finance a bid to Southampton to try and bring Enzo to South East London.

We are disappointed to tell Windebank and the fans that news but with the additional news that the FFO FA will be reducing Sell Him Now Values with no indication what that financial butchering will be we just cannot take the gamble that we wont have a financial blackhole that we will not be able to plug.

Financial Austerity imposed upon all Clubs is really starting to bite as the FFO FA seem to apply a Marxist Financial agenda. By this we mean that to stop the quartet of biggest teams in the two top divisions hoarding huge cash balances the FFO FA have adopted rigid fiscal policies that effect the other 90% of Clubs the worst. It has been proven time and time again that rigid control from the top always impacts the majority more then it does the teams these decisions are meant to control.

Has with all Marxist/socialist policies the Elite always benefit and the rest suffer the most.

What we would say to the FFO FA is that these Financial austerity decisions are really going to bite this season when Clubs lose copious amount of players due to being 31 years of age or older with currently a zero Sell Him Now value from their squads. This could be compounded with Teams losing players that have not made their minutes making some Clubs roster shrink so low in roster numbers that they will not have the financial resources to meet the 23 player requirement.

The SHN values are being reduced due to a lack of finances across the game forcing teams to sell their players to the SHN bucket. To penalise Clubs that can't afford the wages on 22 rated players seems totally unfair, but Socialism is always unfair, and the Millwall Board would suggest a rule is put into place that says no player rated 20 or over can be sold to the SHN bucket.

The Millwall Board would also suggest the FFO FA engage non Socialist economist when making it's season 5 fiscal policies because although we have only been in the game for nearly two seasons now we hired a manager that has great business acumen which is demonstrated by the way Windebank has fulfilled his commitment to amass £60m in funds for our infrastructure costs as well as building a team that reached the FA Cup and FLT Cup semi finals this season and still has a chance of reaching the play-offs.

Windebank has informed us that he has seen these trends numerous times in his 20 seasons in FFO management and has made a prophecy that a large chuck of Clubs across all Leagues are going to be in financial trouble this close season and beyond.

Managers and Chairmen will argue that there is currently £1.9 billion in the game but that only averages £24.5m a team which is ridiculously low when factoring in BHN values for poor squad numbers and infrastructure costs as well as ensuring that a Club can manage their next season wage bills.

If you take out the current top eight balances and Blackburn Rovers and West Ham United still have their auction buys to be deducted

Juventus £227m
Manchester City £183m
Blackburn Rovers £104m
PSG £102m
Manchester United £93m
West Ham £89m
Atletico Madrid £74m
Leeds United £72m

Only £1bn is currently in the game an average of £14m per remaining 72 teams.

There is a financial ticking time bomb coming and we are just thankful that Windebank has embraced our philosophy of investing in our Academy because the transfer market looks a step to far for 90% of Clubs as it will stagnate to a shuddering halt, if not this close season it will be the next.

We can only hope this Socialist fiscal policy is reviewed as soon as possible."

October Media

Academy Defenders - 1,426 Words
Academy Midfielders - 1,271 Words
Academy Strikers - 1,004 Words
Transfer Embargo - 889 Words
Hot Topics Liverpool Financial Analyst - 702 Words
Hot Topics Liverpool Financial Analyst - 260 Words

October Total Media = 5,522 Words

[Gary@Millwall]

Windebank Delights Board and Fans after signing Five Year Contract Extension

With only six games to go until the season finishes the Millwall Board have acted swiftly to tie down Windebank to a long term deal and continue the great work he has done with his unfancied lack of resources side.

Millwall currently sit 7th in the Championship and were beaten in the FA Cup and FLT Cup semi finals in what has proven a remarkable season for the South East London Club and has really put Millwall on the map.

With the likely usual close season managerial merry-go round about to kick off and rumours that a big club was interested in Windebank taking over to try and appease their long suffering fans with trophies the Millwall Board wanted to tie Windebank down for the long term.

This new contract will see Windebank at the helm until the end of season 9 where there is a realistic hope that Millwall will be rubbing shoulders with the established big boys.

The Millwall Board are also impressed that Windebank has acted swiftly to attract two of the best Academy prospects to a season long loan deal with an option from both home Club managers for a further years extension.

We are pleased to announce that Manchester City's manager Nick Lovell and Wolverhampton Wanderers manager Ray Wallace have sanctioned the following two players will be plying their trade in Bermondsey next season.

P_Stenman 19 swe 1 17 15 4 24 1 500 887 513 - Manchester City Academy Player
T_Silva 19 bra 1 17 16 12 28 1 507 189 19 - Wolverhampton Wanderers Academy Player

With both Clubs having a Coach and nine weeks training still remaining both players should be 18 16 rated when they join the Lions ranks in the close season.

Windebank Comment

I am proud that a Club I love has entrusted me with a long term deal to continue the great work we are doing as a Club. We have a long way to go until we can compete with the big boys but the template we have set out is starting to bear fruit.

I would also like to thank Nick and Ray for trusting me and Millwall to develop their outstanding Academy players with Stenman and Silva joining Romero Cissokho and Cardy in the Millwall first team squad for next season.

This will give us the opportunity to move two defenders on and try and use any cash raised to improve other areas of the squad.

We will have a very young defence next season with Danny McNamara being the oldest player at 26 years of age but he knows Millwall inside out and will help the four 20 year olds develop into great defenders.

October Media

Academy Defenders - 1,426 Words
Academy Midfielders - 1,271 Words
Academy Strikers - 1,004 Words
Transfer Embargo - 889 Words
Hot Topics Liverpool Financial Analyst - 702 Words
Hot Topics Chelsea Financial Analyst - 260 Words
Contract Extension - 461 Words
Hot Topics Arsenal Financial Analyst - 193 Words
Hot Topics Leeds Financial Analyst - 231 Words
Hot Topics Man United Analyst - 263 Words
Hot Topics Man City Financial Analyst - 220 Words
Hot Topics Spurs Financial Analyst - 284 Words
Hot Topics Southampton Financial Analyst - 261 Words
Hot Topics Blackburn Financial Analyst - 297 Words
Hot Topics Aston Villa Financial Analyst - 288 Words
Hot Topics Newcastle Financial Analyst - 298 Words
Hot Topics Barnsley Financial Analyst - 289 Words
Hot Topics Leicester Financial Analyst - 308 Words
Hot Topics Cardiff Financial Analyst - 322 Words
Hot Topics Crystal Palace Financial Analyst - 289 Words
Hot Topics West ham Financial Analyst - 376 Words
Hot Topics Burnley Financial Analyst - 312 Words
Hot Topics Everton Financial Analyst - 285 Words
Hot Topics Watford Financial Analyst - 293 Words
Hot Topics Sheffield Wednesday Analyst - 298 Words
Hot Topics Championship Club by Club Financial Analyst - 5,245
Hot Topics EFL1 Club by Club Financial Analyst - 5,486

October Total Media = 21,851 Words

[Gary@Millwall]

Millwall Season 4 Review

Millwall fans were hoping to see the Club take a step forward this season and although the season was full of exciting Cup runs they finished in 12th place in the League for the 2nd season in a row.

The season had lots of ups and down but a lack of depth took its toll as the Lions received 39 yellow cards and 10 red cards in the most bizarre referring performances that put pay to any chance of Millwall improving on last seasons League performance.

The fanbase was ecstatic seeing the Club reach the FA Cup Semi Final and FLT Cup Semi Final which earned Windebank a new five year contract and they are excited to see three players promoted from the Clubs Academy and the development of the younger players after receiving 25 weeks training for the first time.

The opening Eight League gave the fans a lot of hope where despite Millwall losing the opening game of the season they went on a seven game unbeaten run where they won 3 and drew 4 amassing 13 points from a possible 24.

The following seven League games had the Den faithful starting to believe they could be playing Premier League football in season 5 when the Lions won 5 League games including a four game winning streak, setting a new Club record and only losing two. 15 points from a possible 21 in that period was a great return and the Lions were showing promotion form amassing 28 points from a possible 45 just above the 2 points per game average that usually secure promotion.

Then the wheels started to fall of as the Lions set a new Club record that no one wants to see as they a massive 13 games without a win obliterating the previous record of just 6 games without a win.

That terrible run saw the Lions draw 7 of those 13 games but it was a pathetic 7 points out of a possible 39 that basically ended any chance of promotion despite 10 games being left in the season.
Football is a cruel mistress and it’s the hope that kills most fans and hope of sneaking into the play-offs when the Lions won 3 of the next four games but only 1 win in the final 6 games which had 4 defeats, and a last game of the season draw meant the Lions finished in the same position as last season but with 1 less point.

Millwall’s record for season 4
Played 38 Won 12 Drew 13 Lost 13 Scored 47 Conceded 46 Points 49

Home Record
Played 19 Won 5 Drew 8 Lost 6 Scored 24 Conceded 25 Points 23

Away Record
Played 19 Won 7 Drew 5 Lost 7 Scored 23 Conceded 21 Points 26

Season 4 Records

Biggest Home Win = 4-2 Stoke City
Biggest Away Win = 4-0 Fulham
Biggest Home Defeat = 3-1 Wolverhampton Wanderers
Biggest Away Defeat = 3-0 West Bromwich Albion
Highest Scoring Game = 4-2 Stoke City Home

Most Games Won in a Row = Four
Most Game Without Defeat = Seven
Most Games Lost in a Row = Two
Most Games Without a Win = Thirteen

Most Goals in a Season = Aidomo Emakhu 21 Goals
Most Assist in a Season = Yusuf Kabadayi 8 Assist
Most Shots in a Season = Aidomo Emakhu 139 Shots
Most Passes in a Season = Yusuf Kabadayi 76 Passes
Most Tackles in a Season = Danny McNamara 62 Tackles
Most Saves in a Season = James Trafford 364 Saves
Most Conceded in a Season = James Trafford 59 Goals

Club Records

Biggest Home Win = 5-1 Nottingham Forest (Season 3)
Biggest Away Win = 4-0 Fulham (Season 4)
Biggest Home Defeat = 4-0 Bristol City (Season 3)
Biggest Away Defeat = 3-0 Fulham (Season 3)
Highest Scoring Game = 5-4 Ipswich Town Away (Season 3)

Most Games Won in a Row = Four (Season 4)
Most Game Without Defeat = Seven (Season 4)
Most Games Lost in a Row = Five (Season 3)
Most Games Without a Win = Thirteen (Season 4)

Most Goals in a Season = Aidomo Emakhu 21 Goals (Season 4)
Most Assist in a Season = Yusuf Kabadayi 8 Assist (Season 4)
Most Shots in a Season = Aidomo Emakhu 139 Shots (Season 4)
Most Passes in a Season = Yusuf Kabadayi 76 Passes (Season 4)
Most Tackles in a Season = Danny McNamara 62 Tackles (Season 4)
Most Saves in a Season = James Trafford 364 Saves (Season 4)
Most Conceded in a Season = James Trafford 63 Goals (Season 3)

Ten of the Sixteen Club records were broken in Season 4 despite a worse point total than the previous season.

The main reason for this is the record breaking season in reaching both Cups Semi Finals again setting records after the FA Cup 3^rd Round and FLT Cup 2^nd Round being the best the Club had previously achieved.

FA Cup

Millwall beat Rotherham United 3-1, Bradford City 2-0, Premier League Giants Burnley 4-2 and Fulham 3-0 to reach the FA Cup Semi Final.

Despite a brave effort an injury time winner for Livi Edwards Liverpool put pay to a fairytale ending as they came up short to the eventual winners.

FLT Cup

Millwall beat Portsmouth 2-0, Stoke City 1-0, Red Bull Leipzig 3-1 and overturn a 1^st leg 2-1 loss at home to Coventry City with a 2-0 win away to Coventry City in the Quarter Finals.

The Lions fans dream of a final appearance came to a shuddering halt when two players were sent off in the home first leg and the Lions losing 4-1. The superior Wolverhampton Wanderers also won the 2^nd leg 2-1 to record a stonking 6-2 victory and a well deserved place in the FLT Final.

November Media
Season 4 Review - 975 Words

Total Words November - 975

[Gary@Millwall]

Season 5 Close Season Preparation Sees Millwall Go Younger Than Any Windebank Team In History

With the FFO Football Academies able to release players that are 19 years of age at the end of the season, these players will start season 5 at 20 years of age. Windebank acted fast and secured two quality defenders from Manchester City and Wolverhampton Wanderers also receiving a fee of £5m for each player to play their young starlets 100% of the time.

The quick thinking of Windebank saw Mike Bridge do is usual trick of following the lead of his Championship rival and piggy back on the back of yet another Windebank masterstroke with Norwich City's new manager also mimicking the South East Londoners trend setting move.

Windebank has also had three academy players sign their first professional contracts with Argentine goalkeeper Sergio Romero, French defender Aly Cissokho and French defensive midfielder Julien Cardy all joining the first team for pre-season training in advance of season 5.

Following a terrific season where James Trafford won the Championship Golden Glove trophy the tiny South East London Club received an offer from North London Giants Arsenal that could not be turned down whereby £20m plus young 21 year old Dutch Keeper Rome-Jayden Owusu-Oduro will be between the sticks at the Den for the pre-season and beyond.

Deals have also been completed that sees auction buy Tsygankov (named changed) go to Atletico Bilbao for £43m, number 2 keeper Deschamps move to Luton Town for £9m and squad striker Cabral move to PSG for £13m.

One signing that bucks the trend is 33 year old Mahrez joining the Den in a £50m move from Anfield. It will be interesting to see whether he will get a game for the South East London Club as there are concerns that he will not fit in the dressing room due to be so much older than the first team players.

Currently Millwall will have a 21 year old first choice keeper with the number 2 being 20 years old. Four 20 year old defenders and 26 year old one Club man Danny McNamara, one 20 year old and two 21 year old midfielders plus 33 year old Mahrez and 26 year old Gakpo and 21 year old Club record scorer Aidomo Emakhu.

This is by far the youngest squad Windebank has ever created and there is a sense of real excitement at the Den to see what other deals Windebank does and how this talented group of youngsters develop over the next season.

Windebank Comments

Its with a heavy heart that we say goodbye to James Trafford, a player I purchased for £60m from the FFO Auction when Millwall entered the game. James has been a fantastic servant for the Club where he has made 92 appearances and made 677 saves conceding 122 goals and only picking up 3 yellow cards. James had a terrific save to conceding ratio with a goal going past him every 5.5 shots. However when a Club like Arsenal come looking it is really hard to convince players to stay and we could not turn down £20m plus 21 year old Owusu-Oduro who played 49 times for the Gunners last season making 246 saves and conceding 67 goals. Yes that's a lot worse average than James of a goal every 3.7 saves but lets be honest Owusu-Oduro was facing the top players week in week out and faced the best players in Europe. If Owusu-Oduro has a great pre-season he could well be our Captain that would make him 25 rated.

We have a very healthy cash balance for a Club our size and may well look to reduce age on Mahrez and Gakpo but it will depend on what player come up on the market.

The rumours are true we tried very hard to sign Vos permanently but cannot compete with Southampton who have made a massive bid for a player that was great for us last season. It's a shame but we are so grateful to Jason Fortune for loaning him to us last season and wish both Jason and Vos well for the future.

The Recruitment team are working around the clock to find the right players and we are really hopeful our scouts will have identified the best 17 year olds to join our Academy.

For now we will be patient and see if we can add even more under 21 players to our first team squad and really shock the FFO world who are used to my teams being as old as mountains.

November Media
Season 4 Review - 975 Words
Season 5 Close season preparation - 763 Words

Total Words November - 1,738

[Gary@Millwall]

Millwall Finally Get One Of Their Top Targets As Silvano Vos Signs Five Year Contract

Millwall fans will wake up in the morning ecstatic that Silvano Vos has signed for the Bermondsey Club permanently from Sporting Lisbon after a season long loan from Portuguese giants Sporting Lisbon.

Windebank has been trying to sign the player since season 4 ended and after a couple of weeks he managed to finally seal a deal with Sporting Lisbon supremo Jason Fortune for the 20 year old defender come defensive midfielder who made 48 appearances for the Lions making 45 key tackles, 65 key passes creating 5 goals and having 18 shots scoring 1 goal.

It is a deal that sees the Lions sacrifice Cody Gakpo who made 32 appearances for the Lions making 38 key passes creating 2 goals and had 112 shots scoring 13 goals for the Club. Danny McNamara will also join the Portuguese giants after making 83 appearances for the Lions making 105 tackles 100 key passes creating 4 goals and scoring 4 goals after 45 shots. In addition Millwall will be paying £10m and receiving Silvano Vos and squaddie defender Simpson.

The signing of Silvano Vos means that Windebank will no longer be pursuing Enzo Fernandez despite lodging a big £53m bid for the Argentinian midfield maestro.

With a £65m bid for attacking midfielder Phil Foden being lodged with Manchester City and Windebank still waiting to hear if the bid will be accepted Millwall fans will be wondering if there is a change of playing style coming next season to accommodate the most youthful squad Windebank has ever assembled.

We caught up with Windebank as he was leaving the Den.

Windebank's Comments

I am delighted to finally get one of my top targets and was surprised me and Jason were finally able to reach a deal for Vos. Things have stalled for us in the transfer market as we had a very hefty offer for Washington at Bayer Leverkusen knocked back from Freddie earlier in the week. Freddie said it was a generous offer but he is building Leverkusen around the 20 year old striker.

I have to admit I had given up hope of signing Vos and lodged a £53m for Enzo but me and Jamie could not reach a deal we were both happy with as quite rightly Jamie wanted a lot more money than we could afford to pay and I have spoken to Jamie before coming to the press to say we can no longer pursue any deal as Vos gives us the defensive midfield steel we require. I really hope Jamie gets the amount of money he requires for his Club Southampton.

We have a £65m in for Phil Foden who we would love to bring to South East London and Manchester City manager Nick Lovell has reached out to say he will be making a decision on Foden in the coming days.

We have Mahrez coming in from Liverpool once bonanza opens and Aidomo Emakhu is really looking forward to learning from the Liverpool superstar.

Once the bonanza deals are done and the academy players added to the squad this is a very youthful Millwall side with great passing ability and I cant wait for pre-season to start as we get these players to gel together.

November Media
Season 4 Review - 975 Words
Season 5 Close season preparation - 763 Words
Silvano Vos - 553 Words

Total Words November - 2,291 Words

[Gary@Millwall]

Millwall Smash Transfer Record With Phil Foden Becoming A Lion

Millwall fans were outside the Den as Phil Foden passed his medical and was introduced to a packed Den carpark.

Foden held aloft his new Millwall shirt with the number 47 displaying his name with a huge smile on his face as Millwall and Premier League heavyweights Manchester City finally came to a deal believe to be in the region of £75m.

This smashes the previous record transfer fee of £60m paid to secure James Trafford in the season 3 FFO Auction.

This means Windebank has secured two of his three targets with Vos and Foden now plying their trade at the Den and third target Washington staying at Leverkusen it looks like Windebank's transfer dealings this close season are finished, other than a Auction bid.

Mahrez will not play a game for the Lions as Windebank acted swiftly to move him on happy to take a £5m loss as Mahrez passed a medical at White Hart Lane and will be plying his trade at Tottenham Hotspurs next season.

The world of FFO will be shocked to see that for the first time ever Windebank does not have an outfield OAP in his ranks with Foden being the oldest first team player at 25 years of age.

Amazingly if you include the 23 man squad the average age is 24.57 years of age, with the starting eleven average age being 20.82.

This means Millwall could potentially be the youngest starting eleven in all four FFO Leagues, which would shock everyone in the game including the Millwall Board and fanbase.

After finishing 12th in the Championship for the 2 season the Bermondsey based Club has been in FFO it will be interesting to see if this extremely young first team and squad can finish record the highest League finish in season 5.

Windebank Commented

Foden is a magnificent capture for our Club and we have had to remain patience in our much publicised pursuit of the attacking midfielder, he brings calm, experience and quality to our fledging side and is well worth smashing our transfer record for.

We submitted an aggressive bid a couple of weeks ago and gave Manchester City supremo Nick Lovell the space to work out how he was going to take his superstar team forward. When Nick reached out we upped our initial bid to try and secure Foden's signature and last night Nick gave us the price to secure the deal and now Phil Foden becomes our star player and the most experienced member of our youthful team.

We no longer have the resources to try and secure our only missing target of the three we wanted and Washington will continue to ply his trade at Bayer Leverkusen.

There will be no more transfers this close season as we will commit our remaining balance to try and secure our number one target at the Auction.

November Media
Season 4 Review - 975 Words
Season 5 Close season preparation - 763 Words
Silvano Vos - 553 Words
Phil Foden - 489 Words

Total Words November - 2,780 Words