Lomas Looks To Wind Up Wounded Lions

With Football League hostilities set to resume this weekend, we test the readiness of each of the Capital’s representatives ahead of the new campaign.

This time, it is the turn of the Den to come under the intense scrutiny of the Net Capital team; we delve into the world of Steve Lomas, as he attempts to galvanise his Millwall side and plot an escape route away from the relegation storm that had threatened to engulf the South Londoners towards the close of the Kenny Jackett era.

2013-14 Preview: Millwall

At the outset of the 2013-14 season in SE16, the question that will surely be on the minds of many is: Which Millwall are going to turn up this year?

Will it be (a) the one which threatened the play-off places before Christmas, or (b) the side that slumped following the sale of goal-getter Chris Wood to Leicester City in January?

Will we see (a) the team that reached the FA Cup semi-finals for only the fifth time in their history, or (b) the ragtag mob who folded and ended up just two points above the murky waters of relegation?

And in the stands, will we see (a) the loveable “Pride of London” who donated to the family of the late Lee Rigby and to Lewisham hospital and who turned down sponsorship from pay day lenders to instead agree a partnership with Prostate Cancer UK free of charge, or will it be (b) the “no-one likes us, we don’t care” side that stands out, once ex-West Ham United captain Steve Lomas takes to the touchline for the first time since his move from St. Johnstone for the visit of Yeovil Town this Saturday?

The answer to each of these posers may, in fact, be ‘(c) none of the above’. For, while fans in pubs across the capital and beyond debate the pros and cons of following up the success of the club’s fourth-longest serving manager by hiring a man who gave eight years’ service to the Lions’ biggest rivals, Lomas is quietly going about his business, giving the club a whole new look and assembling a group of players who look to have more than enough about them to significantly improve on last season’s disappointing 20^th place finish.

Of those acquired, the return of Steve Morison on loan from Leeds United will surely give the Bermondsey faithful greatest cause for optimism, based on the striker’s history with the club, having scored 17 goals in 43 appearances for the Lions between 2009 and 2011.

After being farmed out to Leeds as part of the deal that took Luciano Becchio to Norwich City on January transfer deadline day and being deemed surplus to requirements at Elland Road this summer, Morison will have a point to prove and the environs just South of the Thames may be exactly the right place for him to rediscover his killer instinct in front of goal. Indeed, he has hit the ground running in pre-season with goals and assists capping a string of impressive performances.

He is one of many to have moved to Millwall since May, with Middlesbrough’s loss being the Lions’ gain, as two 29-year-olds; Putney-born midfielder Nicky Bailey, formerly of Charlton Athletic, and Australian international striker Scott McDonald, who was top scorer at the Riverside last term with 14 league goals; were recruited, following the expiration and termination of their respective contracts, to give the squad a more streetwise feel.

One-time England under-21 goalkeeper, Stephen Bywater, has come in from Sheffield Wednesday on a two-year deal to compete with David Forde for the number one spot, while striker Jermaine Easter’s move from Crystal Palace has been made permanent to add a further option up front.

Richard Chaplow, 28, has been brought in to bolster the midfield after Southampton cancelled his contract, following an injury-hit two-month loan spell in South London last season. Winger Lee Martin, now 26, who came up through the ranks at Wimbledon and began his professional career at Manchester United before eventually being released by Ipswich Town in May, has also signed to add strength-in-depth on either flank.

American Chairman John Berylson has, thus far, backed Lomas’ forays into the transfer market without hesitation and does not look like stopping any time before the end of next month, if rumours that two unsuccessful bids have been made for Bristol City striker Steven Davies are to be believed.

His side were undoubtedly in need of reinforcements following last season’s alarming collapse, especially after the departure of Ireland u-19 international and much-vaunted forward prospect Conor Wilkinson to Bolton Wanderers and news that midfield lynchpin Liam Trotter is to undergo knee surgery that will keep him out of the start of the campaign. However, the season’s start will see the comeback of Paul Robinson, the club captain having been absent since September 2012 with a niggling groin injury.

Changes have also been made behind the scenes, with a familiar face lining up alongside Lomas in the home dugout this weekend in the form of all-time record goalscorer Neil Harris, who returns as coach following his retirement through injury at the end of last season, while former Chelsea striker and QPR caretaker manager Mick Harford joins as Lomas’s assistant after a brief spell with MK Dons.

Pre-season has included encouraging wins over Crawley Town and Gillingham, as well as in defender Robinson’s testimonial against Rayo Vallecano, with a 0-3 loss at Brentford the only blip on the radar.

The club face an opening set of fixtures that will not terrify them, as they will not face a top-half team from last season in any of their first four fixtures and do not come up against a team which has dropped down from the Premier League until the visit of QPR then a trip to Reading in quick succession in October.

If the new signings can settle in time for the early battles to be negotiated and momentum to be gained, this is a Millwall side that should be able to comfortably secure second-tier football for another year and possibly even drive on towards the play-off places. On the other hand, should Lomas fail to register a solid start, one feels the ex-hammer may come under immense pressure long before Santa comes to town.