The Rise of Millwal

Chapter 104: The Trash Team

West Ham United vs. Millwall—this is a derby that draws the attention of East Londoners of all ages. Bars on both sides of the Thames in East London are packed, with fans holding beers and staring intently at the overhead TVs, anxiously awaiting the start of the match.

On the bustling streets, taxi drivers tune their radios to listen to live commentary, while even white-collar workers stuck in the office over the weekend don headphones to catch the game.

In some remote dumps, small stadiums, or back alleys, hundreds of hardcore fans from both teams are already engaged in fierce brawls.

Relying on nothing but their fists, they embody the tradition of football hooligans—no weapons, just bare-knuckle fights. Carrying knives would mean they intend to kill. Only the cowardly would bring a fruit knife or pocket knife for self-defense, but in the heat of the moment, who's to say they wouldn't pull it out and stab some unknown rival? When lives are lost, both sets of fans momentarily stop the violence, for these hooligans aren't out to kill—they're simply venting frustrations. If they all brought knives, the fatality rate would exceed that of an AK-47 shooting spree.

Upton Park is deafening; it's impossible to hear what the stands are shouting. The scattered words that can be made out are nothing but foul language. Football isn't a gentleman's game; don't expect them to dress sharply and behave like they're attending a ballet.

As the players enter the field, Aldrich stands by the sideline, chest out, gaze unwavering, completely unfazed by the electrifying atmosphere.

In stark contrast, the coaching staff and substitutes behind him seem jittery, barely settled when a metal lighter comes crashing down on Babou's head. He's immediately whisked away by the team's medical staff for a check-up. The police quickly identify the hooligan responsible in the stands and take him away, warning the crowd that if such behavior continues, they would clear the five rows closest to the away bench. This fear tactic finally manages to settle down the Iron Hammers fans for the moment.

The commentators from Sky Sports are also taken aback by the atmosphere.

"It's been a long while since we've witnessed an East London derby. Millwall has spent the last few years in lower leagues with very few encounters in cup competitions, so it seemed like this derby was fading from our memories. But it's clear the fans haven't forgotten. The tension today is even more palpable than before!"

"Martin, without a doubt, if you ask the West Ham players who they want to beat most, they won't name Manchester United, Arsenal, or Liverpool—they will only say Millwall. The same sentiment exists for Millwall. This season, as newcomers, they're riding high, contending with Manchester United, Liverpool, and Newcastle for top spots, while West Ham languishes in mid-table. That chafes at West Ham, who for years have dominated Millwall. It's no wonder the atmosphere is so charged when the Lions come to battle with the Hammer's crew today."

"Andy, since July, West Ham has been referring to Millwall using words like 'thief,' 'robber,' and 'shameless'—especially their manager Redknapp. This is a result of Millwall taking away West Ham's shining star last summer. Even the family bond between Redknapp and Lampard seems to have frayed. For months, Aldrich-Hall has remained silent, but in yesterday's press conference, he finally addressed it. When asked about the situation, he said: 'Top players choose ambitious clubs. Many can secure contracts at West Ham, but they won't attain anything significant there. Millwall is a different story. Everyone here, top to bottom, works hard and is grounded. We have targets, we are ambitious, and we push towards greater goals every single day. I am confident that Millwall is on a glorious path. As for West Ham? Ha! They are merely drifting along, just like the attitude of their fans. The Lions' fans will always support the team, unwavering and devoted. If others don't like us, we don't care; we love Millwall. And what about West Ham? Their fans will cheer when the team defeats Manchester United but will berate them when they lose to weaker rivals.

For them, West Ham is just a thrill-seeking venture; when the team excels, they go wild, but when it falters, they turn on them.'"

Martin Taylor echoes

Aldrich's words from the pre-match press conference without altering a single word.

His observation captures the essence of the fan cultures shaped by the changing times of these two East London clubs.

This encapsulates the characteristics of the fans shaped by the evolution of these two East London teams over time—West Ham United supporters are optimistic and enthusiastic, often lost in dreams, with no excessively high expectations for their team; their affection for West Ham largely stems from this sense of excitement, as you can never predict how the team will perform in the next game, whether it's defeating formidable opponents like Liverpool or Arsenal or losing to less powerful teams like Bolton or Sheffield Wednesday.

In contrast, Millwall fans exude resilience and tenacity, indifferent to the judgment of outsiders. Regardless of the team's performance, they staunchly support their club. They hold no lofty expectations, instead treating Millwall as their beloved child—encouraging good performances while gently scolding the bad.

The fan attitudes of both teams are inseparable from their history. They are the forgotten children of London. The ravages of World War II left East London in ruins while West London and North London slowly prospered. The West Ham fans blow bubbles, comforting themselves with dreams of a better future, while Millwall stands resolute, unshakeable in the face of societal disdain.

Aldrich doesn't glance towards Redknapp, who stands in club colors not far away. Instead, Aldrich dons a casual coat against the crisp weather. Both know this is a match they cannot afford to lose.

The league table?

Who the hell cares!

This match's outcome is about the dignity of the fans.

"Millwall's starting lineup today is quite surprising; it seems they've rolled out a new formation. Let's see—the starting goalkeeper: Keller. Defenders: Thuram, Stam, Southgate, Neill. Midfielders: Makelele, Vieira, Nedved, Ballack. Forwards: Trezeguet, Larsson. It looks like they might be employing a diamond shape in midfield, perhaps a 4-4-2 or a 4-3-1-2. We'll have a clearer view of Aldrich 's tactical intent once the match starts."

"West Ham's setup is the traditional 4-4-2. Goalkeeper: Milhocks. Defenders: Brik, Bilic, Riper, Dicks. Midfielders: Rolando, Williams, Bisharp, Hughes. Forwards: Dumitrescu, Doi. Compared to Millwall's surprising lineup, West Ham's strategy is pretty straightforward. It's unclear whether Redknapp will throw in any tactical surprises at home."

Aldrich observes West Ham's starting players, noticing one thing they have in common with Millwall: reliance on foreign players.

During the inaugural season of the Premier League in 1992, there were merely 12 foreign players in the starting lineups of all 22 teams, including players from Ireland and Wales, who, in the eyes of the English, were not considered part of English football; from the beginning, West Ham United already had a number of foreign players in their ranks, and as the Premier League progressed, English clubs started to recover from the financial constraints following their ban from European competitions and the expenses related to building or renovating stadiums, resulting in all teams intensifying their recruitment of foreign players.

Just by looking at the names of the current players on West Ham United, it is clear that there are quite a few foreign players involved, including Milokas, a countryman of Nedved, Rieper from Denmark, and Dumitrescu from Romania. One defender caught Aldrich's attention—a Croatian named Slaven Bilic, who is now only 27 years old, seemingly floundering without ambition at this age in West Ham United, indicating that he is unlikely to create any significant achievements in his career. However, this Bilic is no ordinary character, as he later delved into rock music and took up coaching, and nearly twelve years later, he led Croatia to knock England out of the Euro Championship qualifying round.

"Garbage team."

Even Aldrich isn't immune to the influence of his surroundings. Growing up with these sentiments and now immersed in this atmosphere, he naturally harbors animosity toward West Ham.

He can't help but grumble, a small act of defiance against the raucous stadium, even if it's dipped in a strong dose of self-deprecation.

West Ham has also been nicknamed the "World Team" due to their numerous foreign players, but fans who disdain the Iron Hammers affectionately refer to them as the "World Garbage Team."

Millwall, in turn, is also derided by traditional English fans as a "world team." But no one dares to say Millwall's players are garbage; that highlights the disparity in the quality of foreign talent.

Garbage stadium, garbage players, garbage methods...

Aldrich silently curses West Ham, wishing their players suffer on this poor ground, hoping they all sprain their ankles and have to leave the pitch!

His tactical setup today is quite simple: brawn in the midfield, no frills in attack—no dribbling or breakthroughs. This terrible pitch can't hold a proper game. Players instinctively protect themselves, watching their feet while avoiding potholes before dashing. How can you play football like that?

Makelele is tasked solely with defending, while Vieira and Nedved control the midfield. Ballack balances the line between attack and defense in the middle ground. When it's time to push forward, the midfield is like tanks rolling in, using raw power to crush the opposition!

Let's see if the flesh and blood of the raging lion can withstand the hammer's blows!

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