Millwall have spent this transfer window buying players who have something to prove and they SHOULD keep us up
There will also be fewer harder working managers than Lions boss Neil Harris in the Championship this season
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MILLWALL have enjoyed an almost-perfect transfer window - but it still must be put in context.
In securing seven signings they have spent more than £40million less than Middlesbrough, and just over half what Friday night’s opponents Nottingham Forest splashed out on Daryl Murphy.
Six of those seven players were on the list Lions boss Neil Harris handed club chairman John Berylson just four days after May’s play-off final win over Bradford.
The seventh, Ryan Tunnicliffe, released this summer by Fulham, had been on the radar for some time and Millwall moved for him after seeing two bids for Ryan Leonard were knocked back by Southend.
Millwall spent £1.2m in total on fees on three players: George Saville and Jed Wallace from Wolves, and Jake Cooper from Reading.
New full-backs Conor McLaughlin and James Meredith, who signed from Fleetwood and Bradford respectively, were named in the League One team of the year last season.
Harris recruited 6ft 4in striker Tom Elliott after his contract with Wimbledon expired.
All those players, like the club this season, have something to prove.
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Millwall are one of the favourites to go down, but when it was put to Harris by a journalist this week that the aim would be to “avoid relegation”, he quickly snapped back: “Your words, not mine.”
Elliott was signed to take some pressure off target man Steve Morison.
The former Norwich and Leeds striker – who turns 34 later this month – played 107 times in the last two seasons, and was Millwall’s top scorer in 2016-17.
Millwall are unapologetically direct under Harris, and Morison is key to how they play.
He dominated most League One defences, but may not be able to repeat that against better players, so the Lions’ game plan may not be as effective.
Even so, every player will know his job.
Millwall were a mess when Harris took over in March 2015. But he has re-organised and re-energised the club, given them an identifiable playing style, and there will be fewer harder working or more diligent managers in the division next season.
He wouldn’t admit it now, but if he keeps Millwall up it will be an impressive achievement.
Season prediction: 19th
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