Time To Be Worried

Today's humiliating scoreline at Port Vale really should open your eyes to the desperate position of our club. If they aren't wide open already, then you have more problems than Millwall do.

From top to bottom, the whole thing reeks of incompetence. I'm not just talking about our 3-1 loss today, but in a way that result sums up all of our problems in one depressing nutshell.

John Berylson came out on record saying he would back the manager financially in the transfer market. Maybe we've been spending lots of money on wages, I don't know, but so far all of our signings have been free transfers.

From the second Kenny Jackett arrived, we should have been looking for a striker. I know it, you know it but for some reason they don't.

They've had plenty of time to prepare for this moment - deals for Hodge and Bignot should have been agreed way before the start of the transfer window. Now we find ourselves struggling to get them.

A goalscorer should have been lined up, fees should have been agreed and we should have enquired about all of our targets before January.

But it looks as if Jackett is only just doing this now. Today we had two shots on target - I can figure it out, you can figure it out, but for some reason, they can't.

It's not rocket science. You aren't going to get a prolific striker on a free transfer, so why try? If paying over the odds means success, do it.

Holding out for a rock bottom price will only work with certain players and certain clubs. To seemingly pull out of a deal for Bignot because the other team asked for a fee is ridiculous. He may be 33 and QPR may be loaded, but they aren't a charity.

If taking a gamble on Stuart Fleetwood is our only option, then spend the money, take the risk - at least the fans can have no complaints. I honestly do not expect Jackett to splash out on a prolific striker - that's what needs doing, but he won't do it. He is a shrewd operator and even if the money is there, he won't 'waste' it as he would probably say.

And it's not just up front that needs sorting out. All over the pitch we have big gaps. A goalkeeper would be second on my shopping list - by all accounts, Pidgeley's antics cost us yet again today.

Richard Shaw has proved again what a liability he is. His lack of pace is criminal and I would honestly rather have played Frampton.

Moving on to midfield, we have no width. Forbes sounds like a half decent player, but we are badly missing Hackett and Smith. Marc Laird didn't sound all that today either and Brammer is too inconsistent.

Gary Alexander seems to be the bright light at the moment. But there is nobody to partner him, and if that isn't changed then our relegation fears could soon be realised.

Jackett needs to stop worrying about budget management and start spending some money. To not buy a striker would be a disaster - and not just any striker, but a prolific one.

Kenny Jackett faces his first real challenge as Millwall manager. Failing it could see the Lions in League Two, and our season depends on the next 19 days.

We mucked up in the transfer window and were relegated from the Championship two years ago - we cannot afford to make the same mistakes again this time.

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