By Jr
April 11 2005

Even after years of following Millwall, the club’s ability to self-destruct never ceases to amaze me. Although never on the verge of greatness, at least the Lions could have had a shout of reaching the play-offs had funds been made available for player/boss Dennis Wise to spend. Even after years of following Millwall, the club’s ability to self-destruct never ceases to amaze me.

Although never on the verge of greatness, at least the Lions could have had a shout of reaching the play-offs had funds been made available for player/boss Dennis Wise to spend in the transfer market.

If you only pay peanuts, you can’t expect to get the crème de la crème.

It’s generally perceived that Millwall are poor paymasters, but it makes it all the more baffling when you hear that Wigan’s wage bill is reportedly only half what the Lions fork out.

The Latics have certainly spent much more on the transfer market than Millwall, who have been reluctant or unable to spend much of the money received from the summer sale of Tim Cahill.

It’s always difficult to replace a quality player but, when such meagre transfer funds are made available, the task for the manager becomes even more difficult.

Millwall’s last opponents Crewe have had a similar experience.

Since selling Dean Ashton to Norwich, the Railwaymen haven’t won a single game.

Yet like Millwall, Crewe are a club punching above their weight.

Without hordes of fans to finance expensive signings, they have to home-produce their stars before selling them off to stay solvent.

The Crewe business model could be the blueprint of the future for Millwall.

But Wise has always insisted he wants proven Premiership players at the club, and that policy may fly in the face of the views of the incoming chairman Jeff Burnige - who is keen to blood the youngsters.

However, as Wise has already observed, it is difficult for a whole clutch of inexperienced players to gel together under the first team spotlight.

Despite their obvious talent, graduates from the academy cannot all be thrown in the deep end together.

While they learn their trade, they need experienced professionals around them to help them when the chips are down.

In an ideal world that is.

Wise has found that reality is harsh at Millwall.

Promises regarding transfer funds have been broken, perhaps necessarily, and not surprisingly results have suffered.

But Rome wasn’t built in a day and it certainly wouldn’t have been built any quicker with everyone bickering.

Many fans have complained about Millwall “airing their dirty laundry in public”, but when communication channels break down that can be an inevitable consequence.

Judging by recent polls conducted by the Lions Trust, Millwall supporters are pleased about Burnige’s forthcoming appointment and would also like Wise to stay on as manager.

Whether the two can work together remains to be seen, but it would be an experiment worth trying.
In the meantime, though Millwall’s form is stuttering at best, you have to fancy the Lions to get at least a point against West Ham.

Wise’s boys will treat this like last year’s FA Cup semi-final against Sunderland - with any luck - and will take great satisfaction in derailing the Hammers’ play-off hopes.

Prediction: West Ham 1 Millwall 2