Ian Holloway's galvanised Millwall should act as a blueprint for easily dismantled Leeds
Telegraph 10/8/14
Millwall defeated Leeds with the togetherness that the Yorkshire club have needed since owner Massimo Cellino's arrival
By Tom Prentki
There is a fresh positivity about what Millwall are doing on the pitch, but off it the story is all too familiar.
Whereas the talking point ought to have been the Lions’ impressive start to the season as they defeated Leeds United 2-0 at the Den, instead, an incensed Ian Holloway found himself condemning a significant section of the Millwall support for taunting opposition supporters with songs related to Leeds-born former broadcaster Jimmy Savile, and the stabbing of Leeds supporters ahead of their fixture with Galatasaray in 2000.
“Ian is a manager who sees his role as engaging with the whole aspect of the club and is taking responsibility for engaging with the fans on a personal level at events such as this week’s fans’ forum,” said a club spokesperson.
“We are hopeful of doing great things on the pitch this season and want to be vying at the top end of the Championship, but unfortunately, we realise that the perception of the club takes a long time to change despite all the excellent work going on here.”
Among the 2,000-strong Leeds following, who Holloway said “behaved impeccably,” was a surprise face – Nile Ranger. The controversial former Newcastle striker is rumoured to be under consideration for a contract by owner Massimo Cellino.
The Sardinian is himself rarely far from the action and kept a close eye on his new head coach Dave Hockaday in the dressing room and the dugout both before and after Leeds’ abject showing in south-east London.
Cellino, who has said he wants to get Leeds “ready to face the Premier League,” described his new club’s current status as “a big mess” and those who saw them soundly beaten by Holloway’s rejuvenated Millwall would not disagree.
Holloway said he has “come here for the long-term” – words a Cellino manager never dare utter – and his side took just eight minutes to plot their course to three points when Mark Beevers swept Lee Martin’s cross past a statuesque Leeds defence to score only his second goal for the Lions.
“I don’t get many like that to be fair,” said Beevers. “I think the boys played really well. The sky’s the limit. We’ve got the players in the squad to go all the way (to the Premier League).“
Leeds are also fancied for the drop by the bookmakers and it was no surprise when Shaun Williams doubled their advantage in the closing minutes from the penalty spot after Lewis Cook had tripped Lee Gregory.
Holloway has stamped his own idiosyncratic mark on his squad over the summer, including setting up a players’ union and blasting out Michael Jackson tracks alongside the training pitch.
“It’s more for the older generation,” said Beevers of the union. “Anything you need you can go to them and they can go to the manager.” It is hard to imagine such a democratic structure under Cellino’s watch.
Millwall defeated Leeds with the togetherness that the Yorkshire club have needed since owner Massimo Cellino's arrival
By Tom Prentki
There is a fresh positivity about what Millwall are doing on the pitch, but off it the story is all too familiar.
Whereas the talking point ought to have been the Lions’ impressive start to the season as they defeated Leeds United 2-0 at the Den, instead, an incensed Ian Holloway found himself condemning a significant section of the Millwall support for taunting opposition supporters with songs related to Leeds-born former broadcaster Jimmy Savile, and the stabbing of Leeds supporters ahead of their fixture with Galatasaray in 2000.
“Ian is a manager who sees his role as engaging with the whole aspect of the club and is taking responsibility for engaging with the fans on a personal level at events such as this week’s fans’ forum,” said a club spokesperson.
“We are hopeful of doing great things on the pitch this season and want to be vying at the top end of the Championship, but unfortunately, we realise that the perception of the club takes a long time to change despite all the excellent work going on here.”
Among the 2,000-strong Leeds following, who Holloway said “behaved impeccably,” was a surprise face – Nile Ranger. The controversial former Newcastle striker is rumoured to be under consideration for a contract by owner Massimo Cellino.
The Sardinian is himself rarely far from the action and kept a close eye on his new head coach Dave Hockaday in the dressing room and the dugout both before and after Leeds’ abject showing in south-east London.
Cellino, who has said he wants to get Leeds “ready to face the Premier League,” described his new club’s current status as “a big mess” and those who saw them soundly beaten by Holloway’s rejuvenated Millwall would not disagree.
Holloway said he has “come here for the long-term” – words a Cellino manager never dare utter – and his side took just eight minutes to plot their course to three points when Mark Beevers swept Lee Martin’s cross past a statuesque Leeds defence to score only his second goal for the Lions.
“I don’t get many like that to be fair,” said Beevers. “I think the boys played really well. The sky’s the limit. We’ve got the players in the squad to go all the way (to the Premier League).“
Leeds are also fancied for the drop by the bookmakers and it was no surprise when Shaun Williams doubled their advantage in the closing minutes from the penalty spot after Lewis Cook had tripped Lee Gregory.
Holloway has stamped his own idiosyncratic mark on his squad over the summer, including setting up a players’ union and blasting out Michael Jackson tracks alongside the training pitch.
“It’s more for the older generation,” said Beevers of the union. “Anything you need you can go to them and they can go to the manager.” It is hard to imagine such a democratic structure under Cellino’s watch.
