http://www.sloh.org/kent-athletics-squad/
A preview of the league 2006/07 – Millwall
Millwall
Prices: 14 / 1
Last five seasons
2005/06 – 23 (Championship, Relegated), 2004/05 – 10 (Championship), 2003/04 – 10 (Championship), 2002/03 – 9 (Championship), 2001/02 – 4 (Championship).
2005/06 Cup Progress
FA Cup Third Round (replay) vs Everton (a) – lost 1-0.
Carling Cup Fourth Round vs Birmingham City (h) – lost 4-3 on penalties with the score 2-2 in overtime.
Top Scorer 2005/06: Ben May (front) – 11 goals.
Players in
Adam Cottrell (Charlton Athletic – Free), Gavin Grant (Gillingham – Free), Darren Byfield (Gillingham – Free), Leonard Pidgeley (Chelsea – Free), Zak Whitbread (Liverpool – Free), Filipe Morais (Chelsea – Free), Derek McInnes (Dundee United – Free), Tom Brighton (Clyde – Free), Richard Shaw (Coventry City – Free), Chris Day (Oldham Athletic – Free)
Players out
Andy Marshall (Coventry City – Free), Curtis Weston (Swindon Town – Free), Josh Simpson (launch), Trevor Robinson (Released), Joe Healy (launch), Carl Asaba (released), Sammy Igoe (launch), Carlos Fangueiro (launch), Berry Powell (release).
Millwall surprisingly crashed out of the Championship last season after several seasons as a solid top 10 side and even secured a place in Europe during the 2004/05 after reaching the FA Cup final. Surprisingly, the Lions went through five managers last season as the club tried to halt the slide in League One, with Steve Claridge, Colin Lee, David Tuttle, Tony Burns and Alan McLeary have disastrous short periods on the bench.
Nigel Spackman, after nearly five years of management takes charge of the new season and wholesale changes were made to the staff of the game. At the time of writing, Spackman has bought 10 new players and sent out nine in his attempt to return to the second level in the first time of asking.
Gillingham striker last season, Darren Byfield, left the team to join Millwall on a contract Kent two years. The former Aston Villa striker Rotherham United and Sunderland finished the season as top scorer with 14 goals despite missing several weeks through suspension and injuries.
Veteran Richard Shaw, after nearly 11 years in the city of Coventry and the former West Bromwich Albion midfielder Derek McInnes, who joined in a free transfer from Dundee United, will add experience to the team while the club also is taking a chance in Scotland under 21 striker Tom Brighton International. The Rangers alumnus Clyde scored nine goals last season and helped to call the Scottish giants Celtic Cup in January.
Verdict
Millwall What need is stability and consistency after the disaster of last season. Spackman has brought a lot of quality for the club and if they can gel quickly then a play off place, pushing for an automatic promotion place is not out of the question.
About the Author
David Walker runs
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websites. A free email course: “Seven Days to Better Betting” is available at both of these websites.
Part Four: Bellotti/Kent press conference