‘You have to play to strengths of your players’ – Millwall assistant head coach David Livermore on tactical approach to winning matches

David Livermore has talked about the importance of Millwall playing to their strengths as they look to secure Championship safety.

The Lions have taken seven points from a possible nine since they appointed Neil Harris as head coach.

Millwall’s average possession has been 28 per cent over those fixtures – relying heavily on being organised and tough to break down.

Harris’ predecessor Joe Edwards had tried to make the Lions more composed on the ball but lasted just 19 matches – losing six of the last seven.

Former Forest, Liverpool and Aston Villa striker Stan Collymore posted on social media platform X this week criticising the approach of Burnley and Sheffield United in the top flight.

Collymore wrote: “Part of it, and Burnley are main culprits, is the notion that because teams near the summit can play high, dangerous, and “be brave”, everyone can. You can’t. If you have a modest budget, you draw out the qualities you can from players (workrate, organisation, character, etc etc) to mask the ones you don’t (technical ability).”

Millwall’s squad is also arguably made up of players that were not suited to Edwards’ desired approach.

“I’m a true believer in that there isn’t a right or wrong way (to play),” said Livermore, who returned as assistant head coach under Harris, when asked about Collymore’s comments. “Don’t get me wrong – everyone wants to play like the Barcelona of old under Pep Guardiola, Manchester City or Liverpool. But I also believe you play to the strengths of your players.

“There is that quote when Jose Mourinho was asked what his playing philosophy is and he answered: “Well, what players have I got?”. It’s true. What players have we got in the building and what is the best way to achieve the objective which, for us at the minute, is to move away from the bottom three or four places in the league?

“Medium to long-term I get it, you want to be at the right end of the table and playing entertaining free-flowing football but that isn’t always the reality, is it?

“Our job is to get these players winning football matches.

“We are coming up against some really good teams and the first two we faced were ex-Premier League clubs that have fantastic budgets. They play a really good brand of football but we found a way to win – that is ultimately what the game is about, scoring one more goal than the opponent.

“I do think sometimes we’re getting a little bit in modern football that you have to win and win well. Well no – first you have got to win. That is what we’ll be looking to do. Then you look to be winning well.”