Millwall v Boro
Saturday 16 August, 15:00 BST
I will be in Germany for a week starting on Thursday 14th. Hence, I needed to write the preview early – mainly before the Cup match. I hope I can watch the game during the holiday, though.
Our League Start
Boro started the League season with a win over Swansea. We kept a clean sheet, and the defense looks sorted out even if van den Berg might be leaving. Alos the spine of the team looks strong in midfield at the moment. Hackney and Morris are as good as any in the league, and they are covered by Kanté, McCabe and Woolston. We can even afford to sell Barlaser, if we find a club interested in him!
In addition to a specialist left wing back – there is cover for Bangura in Silvera and Borges – Boro need a striker and possibly attacking midfielder. Conway place is cemented now as Forss looks a bit rusty and might need a few months playing regularly on loan. A high-quality striker is needed urgently.
Currently we have Burgzorg and Whittaker starting at number 10’s behind Conway. But there is competition there - McGree has a minor injury issue and Azaz joined the first team in training on Monday. The latter could be on the bench at Millwall on Saturday. Also, Gilbert is a good option. We have players in there but perhaps Mr. Gibson saw a chance to improve with Akpom – that would have possibly meant a loan move for Gilbert or selling Burgzorg, I think. And now we have signed speedy Sontje Hansen, too.
Boro legacy at Millwall
Millwall are often seen as a graveyard for ex-Boro players. Last season they had Duncan Watmore and Lian Roberts in their team. The latter became famous for his high-feet tackle in the cup and has since gone to Mansfield Town. Having been offered a new deal following the conclusion of the 2024–25 season, Roberts departed Millwall having been unable to reach an agreement.
On 19 May 2025, the club announced Duncan Watmore (aged 31) would be leaving in June when his contract expired. He has a degree in economics and business management and is without a club now.
George Saville signed for Luton Town recently. In July 2021 Saville rejoined Millwall on a long-term contract for an undisclosed fee (Boro paid £ 8M). He was offered a new contract by the club at the end of the 2024–25 season, however an agreement could not be reached, and he subsequently departed the club. On 11 June 2025, Saville agreed to join League One side Luton.
The longest serving former Boro player at Millwall is Macaulay Langstaff. The Stockton-born player played for Marton FC, Stockton Town and Billingham Synthonia among others. The former Boro youth team member became famous for his goals for Notts County.
He started the 2023–24 season strongly at County, with 11 goals in his first 15 appearances. He recorded a first-half hat-trick in Notts' 5–0 win over Morecambe on 29 December, which was his first hat-trick in the English Football League. By the start of 2024, he was the top scorer in the EFL, with 20 goals in 27 appearances. He won a third consecutive golden boot award for the 2023–24 season with a tally of twenty-eight and finished the season as the top scorer in the EFL.
On 8 July 2024, Langstaff signed for Championship club Millwall on a long-term contract for an undisclosed fee. Last season he played 34 games and scored once in the League. Last Saturday he scored for Millwall at Norwich.
This season Millwall has signed two players from Boro. As everyone knows, Josh Coburn played on loan at Millwall last season. And he had made up his mind to sign for the Lions before Edwards took over at Boro. On 26 June 2025, Millwall completed the permanent signing of Coburn for an undisclosed club-record fee of up to £5million.
Ajay Matthews is an 18-year-old forward who recently joined Millwall FC from the Boro for an undisclosed fee, signing a long-term contract. He is an England Under-17 striker who made a few substitute appearances for Boro in the Championship last season, in addition to playing for their academy. Millwall sees him as a promising young talent with a strong work ethic and goal-scoring ability.
Millwall have also signed Australia international Massimo Luongo from Ipswich 25 July 2025. Former QPR midfielder Luongo made 12 Premier League appearances for the Tractor Boys last season.
Luongo, 32, famously never played while at Boro in 2023 and has 45 caps and scored six goals for the Socceroos. He has agreed to a one-year contract after completing a trial period with the Lions.
Langstaff's 'excellent' form pleases boss Neil on Saturday
Millwall boss Alex Neil was delighted to see Macaulay Langstaff continue his pre-season form into the start of the new Championship campaign as the striker's late goal earned them a 2-1 win at Norwich.
Langstaff was a prolific scorer for previous club Notts County but only found the net once in 36 appearances for the Lions last term. He replaced Josh Coburn in the 80th minute at Carrow Road with the score of 1-1 and only needed three minutes to slot Alfie Doughty’s ball home. Doughty joined Millwall from Luton Town this summer.
"Macca has been excellent for us in pre-season. He scored a very similar goal the other day. It was a great finish by him, and I'm really pleased," said Neil.
"It was a great way to start the season for us. There has been a lot of talk this week externally about our record here, I think we hadn't won since 1968, which is a hell of a long time.
"So, it's really nice to get that off our back and it's really nice to get the win. I thought we deserved the win, and I thought in the second half we were much improved."
The Millwall team that started the Championship match Sat 9 Aug 2025 is attached below. Coburn started as a number 10, before being replaced by Langstaff, who scored the winner in the 83rd minute. Camiel Neghli scored 51 minutes before Josh Surgent soon equalized for Norwich.
Carabao Cup Tuesday
Next Millwall were away to Newport County in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday. Millwall avoided a Carabao Cup upset after beating Newport County 1-0 at Rodney Parade thanks to Ryan Leonard's second-half strike.
Both managers made sweeping changes from their weekend wins, with Newport fielding three starters from the side that faced Crawley Town and Millwall just two from their game with Norwich. I won’t comment on the hapless defeat Boro suffered at home to Doncaster R(eserves) by 0-4.
My prediction for Millwall
I will predict a 1-1 draw from the match at The Den. Perhaps Conway might score his first of the season in there. We have 3 points now and my guess was to have 15 points from the first ten matches. Up the Boro!
Rav van den Berg has now signed for Köln, Cologne in English.
There is now a nice Bentley for sale in Middlesbrough as the steering weel is on the "wrong" side for Germany as well rest of the Europe. Rav is looking for a quick sale?
@werder What does "one" mean in the name of 1FC Köln?
Up the Boro!
It's actually 1. FC Köln - where a dot after a number one in Germany means 'First' - So the number simply means they were the first football club (FC) in Köln - though strictly speaking they were only the first to officially register as a football club in the city. Germans are a bit pedantic and quite a few clubs include numbers in their name - e.g FC Shalke 04 shows that they were formed in 1904 and Hannover 96 were founded in 1896.
Many thanks Jarkko for the in-depth preview of our Boro reject opponents - though most have done pretty well for themselves after heading off to East London. I suspect many are worried that Coburn will quite like to prove a point on Saturday or indeed three points.
Hard to assess what to expect after that Doncaster display but I'd be worried if we got a repeat performance - I'm expecting the players will be at it from the opening whistle as I'm sure they will have been told by the coaching team in no uncertain words that Tuesday was not acceptable.
Hopefully no more injuries as there are some tough games coming up - or maybe not given Norwich lost at home to Millwall and Sheff Utd have had a bad start.
Anyway, it will be my first chance to see Boro play under Edwards to will be interesting and see the change in style. I'm not expecting many goals and one could decide it.
Thanks Jarkko for your very nice Boro-related take on Millwall, backed up with impeccable research. A thoroughly enjoyable read.
Werder, I half agree with you about the game. I'm not expecting many goals either. But only from the Boro. After Tuesday's game I fear that the biggest risk to my forecast of a miserable string of binary results may be the Boro's failure to restrict our opponents' goals to a mere one per game.
@jarkko. Thank you for an excellent and informative opener on what is always a tough match.
I am not hopeful of the outcome and fear that this could be the start of some poor league results, which could add even more pressure on RE and the team.
Millwall 2-0 Boro. 🙁🙁😎
Great preview Jarkko well researched and informative. Many thanks it’s appreciated as I know you have a busy job to do as well.
i know a little bit about the VDB car. He took it on what is called a PCP contract and when the salesman said “you can reduce the monthly payments if you take it on a three year contract.” To which VDB calmly replied “ I won’t be with Middlesbrough that long!” And so it has come to pass…..
TRUE STORY!
Thanks again buddy for taking the time to research and write.
OFB
Thanks for a super opener, Jarkko, and very well done in a foreign language! Amazing!
I wish I could see anything other than a home win, but the only way I can see that happening is if what their scouts saw from the Doncaster game has led them into a false sense of security.
Based on our two games up to now , without being over dramatic, Saturday was concerning,Tuesday was shocking, I know you can lose very badly on occasion, but after a preseason , getting your views across, instilling a system, my goodness are the players that bad, it was chaotic, all over the place undisciplined, gave up, is this the Edwards legacy, I can go back to Raich Carter , debacle, Strachan, then Monk, I'm hoping this is teething problems , but even the friendly games were scrappy,
I wasn't in favour of Edwards appointment,they were too many holes in his resume , dealing with players from a higher level is different to youth and academy ,from his past, I thought Viveash , would be the conduit, .
Nuff said ,Millwall, we'd better show up, otherwise not good
COB
On another matter, have you all read the thoughts of the Nijmegen football expert on Sontje Hansen? OMG! His mindset is sometimes wrong, he doesn’t track back, he often frustrates the fans. He might not fit into Edwards’ system, because it didn’t work out for him when their new manager tried something similar. I don’t want to prejudge him before he’s kicked a ball for us, but has anybody done due diligence on this guy? Are we sure he’s right for us?
Thanks for starting us off again after Tuesday's inept performance with a stellar performance in writing Jarkko. We have to hope that Tuesday was a blip and the team will turn up on Saturday with their 'lets get it out of the system' boots on. My concern is similar to others, in that it is difficult to see us scoring, well certainly from open play. I will be happier to see Sol Brynn back between the sticks. I think it is visible the difference in confidence the team has between the two. It will make a difference if Azaz gets a run out ...he at least is capable of playing an incisive through ball to some one well placed in the box.
I am trying very hard to convince myself that we cannot be so poor again..but this is going to be a really tough game. I can't see us winning and I won't be surprised if we lose, but on balance I think we just might nick a point in a dogged 1-1 draw.
That was a great Headliner Jarrko and even more so given the “Boro” connections past and present.
My one worry is that Josh Coburn will have a “stormer”, score a goal, and show us what we are missing up front. I think he will be more than a handful for our defensive players.
As KP said, they are usually hard games down there with the very vocal fans, although we will have a sold out allocation of 2000+, I believe.
So can our defence step up, can our midfield two control the middle, and especially, can Hackney really show his worth to a possible interested EPL Club.
Up top, will Conway continue his Covid type isolation or at long last, will Burgzorg and Whittaker finally show they are more than just ordinary Championship players, albeit expensive ones.
If we cannot get three ticks for those three elements, then it will be Millwall 3 Boro nil.
Well, it’s in the Gazette, so it MUST be true…….. 😉
Yet another gamble I suspect but I was particularly worried by the Gazette report saying he could take better care of his body and his time at Ajax has been dealing with minor injuries 🙈
Another report by an ESPN reporter suggests NEC technical director Carlos Aalbers deserves a statue at the club after selling Sontje Hansen to Middlesbrough for €3.5m - claiming he is a player who was never going to play another minute for the club this season!
We can only hope he's not a cross between the worst bits of Micah Hamilton, Riley McGree and Burgzorg - who knows a fresh start may focus his attention and if Silvera can prove the critics wrong then there's always a chance!
The Gazette reproduced a report almost identical to this about Burgzorg from a local Huddersfield reporter. Had skill, pace and could be brilliant on his day but lacked consistency, and prone to being selfish, reluctant to track back, thought he had too much talent to put in the hard yards, unpopular with both the fans and his team mates etc etc. Philip confirmed all of that on here at the time
In fact Burgzorg has been rather better than this and can't be faulted for lack of effort, but the report has been essentially true and the consensus amongst Boro fans is probably that he has been a disappointing signing. I've mentioned before that it seemed odd that we should scout the Huddersfield side and pick out Burgzorg rather than Sorba Thomas or Jack Rudoni who was picked up by Coventry and was instrumental in getting them into the play-offs
But the main mystery, as Clive says, is how we can sign players whose deficiencies seem to be common knowledge amongst the journalists and fans who have seen them play. Werder's point that they want to erect a statue to the man who managed offloaded Hansen to us for £3.5 million says it all. We are the mugs who are in thrall to statistics and video clips, and ignore what every man and his dog can see
This situation is getting like the 'Emperors' Suit Of Clothes', surely he's been checked and double checked not just watched on the screen over a coffee? I'm worried about Saturday. Very worried. Is Mr Edwards a hostage to fortune? If it goes right it's the scouting and if it goes wrong it's the manager. There's no doubt paranoia is setting in based on this summer's work.
Nurse!
UTB,
John
Yes you would expect that before several million is spent on a player and he’s given a 4 year contract a full risk assessment and analysis of the deal has been made by the club.
Of course such matters are ultimately subjective and I assume Hansen has been categorized as a potential moneyball deal.
Not all deals will work out and it’s always a risk in acquiring potential - ok he’s young and still learning and finding his way so he will make mistakes - the question is whether he’s learnt from these mistakes and is ready to take the opportunity. He needs to be self aware and realise it’s his future at stake as much as the club’s.
However, it’s still a gamble and we won’t know if it’s a good or bad signing until we see him perform - still is it what the team needs right now? On balance probably not but money is tight and time is running out - though like many this is more a deal geared at a potential profit in the future more than an immediate improvement of the team.
A risky strategy for me.
Yes, some of the reports coming out about Sontje Hansen have been somewhat dubious, but I think like VDB, he wanted to leave and so this caused friction. He was only two years into a five year deal.
As for his stats and especially games played in those two seasons, he had 65 appearances out of 68 games in the league. They only play 34 a season.
However I do agree that, “is he the player we need right now” A target man who can score goals would have been a better choice.
Link to Wiki. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sontje_Hansen
A little word to Hayden Hackney, the crazy money being spent on unknown players with exotic names in Europe by the snobbish Premiership elites , bypassing your experience and abilities should push you to prove what they are missing out on, the good thing is, the Boro still have you , be at your best, and help this team ,they need you.
COB
Many thanks Jarkko. Great work.
I’m still not over getting battered by Doncaster reserves on Tuesday - though more the eight months of decisions that led to it than the game itself - so I better keep my thoughts on Saturday’s game to myself to be honest.
In other news, the reliable Fabrizio Romano has tweeted that we’re signing young Man City midfielder Sverre Nypan on loan.
Here’s some info: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sverre_Nypan
‘If Silvera can prove the critics wrong then there's always a chance!’
We won’t know how good Hansen may or not be until he’s played a reasonable number of games, of course. But I never thought Silvera was a real risk. I don’t think we paid much for him and it was obvious, given that he only came from the Aussie A-League, that we would have a lot of developmental work to do with him. Besides, I don’t think anybody’s ever questioned his motivation, his effort or his desire to do his best. And perhaps, after missed chances to make his mark elsewhere, he might have come back stronger for the experience. Let’s hope he maintains the genuine improvement he has made.
I think Hansen could be a different kettle of fish, if the reports are accurate. He sounds a risk, and it seems as if his character might not be as dependable as we would want it to be. We have paid a substantial fee for him, and he’s clearly seen by the recruitment team as someone who can boost Boro’s attacking options. The reports, however, clearly cast some doubt on the wisdom of this deal.
Having said all that, I sincerely hope I’m doing the lad a huge disservice and that he proves me and the doubters wrong. Let’s wish him well.
Those reports on Hansen all sound a bit bitter and petty to me. If you were genuinely happy about selling him, why say anything like that?
I know nothing about him but I’m oddly encouraged by NEC’s “not bothered” comments. He was good enough to play every week for them after all.
Interesting player Nypan - a central midfielder who scores goals, still only 18 but City paid £12.5m for him. Is he earmarked as Hackney's replacement I wonder?
NE also running with the story that MFC made a bid for Metz forward Cheikh Sabaly.
The offer was rejected and may end the interest.
Another right winger apparently - we seem to be well stocked in that department so can’t see Boro upping the price for that deal.
Boro's problem seems to be that we are continuing to collect base metal but have sacked the alchemist.
Tuesday's performance was proof that you cannot turn metal into gold by bawling at it,
Meanwhile Hackney's golden aura seems likely to become increasingly tarnished with every passing game
OK, Cheikh Sabaly is being labelled a striker though his position is quoted as right-wing - he did actually score 15 goals and made 3 assists last season for Metz in the French second tier so he certainly can score - though he scored 8 in the first 8 games and then went 10 without scoring. He's also only 5'6" so not the hold-up striker we need but his market value in transfermarkt is given as €4m - not sure what Boro offered though but it's usually 3 million in the local currency.
Hi all, thanks for the nice comments. Appreciated.
I am on board a ferry from Helsinki to Travemunde (near Lubeck, Germany). The ferry takes 32 hours and is mainly shipping cargo between the countries and some 400 passengers. There is no free internet - so I paid € 7 for one hour connection now.
We will fly back from Berlin on Wednesday. I hope to see the Milwall match on Saturday.
Re: Sontje Hansen tranfer
I think I read somewhere that he was followed for a year by our scouting. And Jones ( the head of scouting) and Scott have seen him play (most propably several times). So I think they know a lot of the player. He sounded a nice person in his first interview. And he is said to have pace - that sounds a good asset for our team.
I hope a suprise result of a 1-1 draw. Up the Boro!
32 hours is practically a cruise 😉 - I thought my 12 hour ferry from Rotterdam to Hull was a long journey but hopefully you won't need internet for the whole trip as you need to win the lottery for that!
Anyway enjoy the journey and you just reminded me that I haven't signed up for Boro Live yet!