Millwall have struck gold with £7.5k-a-week star – Brentford could regret this one | OneFootball

Millwall have struck gold with the signing of Tristan Crama, and it could be one that Brentford regret.

It has been a steady, and yet still frustrating to a point, start to the season for Millwall, thus far, but one man that is standing out as a shining star in their back-line is former Brentford man Tristan Crama.

Under the management of former Norwich City boss Alex Neil, Millwall will be expected to challenge for the top six and the play-off places this season, having missed out on a berth on the final day of last year due to a 3-1 loss to Burnley at Turf Moor on the final day of the campaign.

The Lions have started this season with a couple of victories on the road, against Norwich and then Sheffield United, but, surprisingly, to comfortable defeats at home.

They were beaten 3-0 by Rob Edwards’ Middlesbrough, who still have a 100% record intact, before a 2-0 loss at home to previously winless Wrexham at The Den ahead of the September international break.

The club have done some good business and given Neil a squad that, if he can playing the way they were in the second-half of last season, will certainly be a challenger for Premier League promotion.

Despite that business, one of their key stars this season so far, and someone who shone during that run-in, is defender Crama, who could be someone that Brentford regret letting go – and that is a rarity.

Tristan Crama shining for Millwall this season

France-born Tristan Crama came through the academy at Beziers before joining Brentford in 2020, but he didn’t make an appearances for the club with loan spells in League One with Bristol Rovers and Exeter City.

Mid-way through last season, having shone for the Grecians in the third-tier, Millwall took the gamble to give him a Championship move, and he has proved to be an excellent addition for the club.

His ability on the ball allows him to compliment the rough and determined, more physically aggressive defending of Millwall’s overall style of play, whilst also being able to mix it himself and handle himself against tougher strikers.

He has helped Millwall evolve their style under Neil, and they are one of the most upwardly mobile sides in the Championship, with a tactical and technical flexibility perhaps best shown by Crama and his versatility, equally adept at playing at either right-back or in the centre of defence.

Crama, who reportedly earns £7,500 per week according to Capology, averages 1.6 interceptions per game so far this season, with only Massimo Luongo managing more for Millwall this year, whilst also having 1.3 blocks per game; the most of any Millwall player.

According to FotMob, he has been Millwall’s second highest rated player in their opening four matches, with only Alfie Doughty being said to have performed better thus far.

Brentford could regret selling Tristan Crama

Over the summer, Brentford have sold Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa to Manchester United and Newcastle United respectively, whilst also allowing Christian Norgaard to leave for Arsenal and goalkeeper Mark Flekken to go to Bayer Leverkusen.

As well as that, the Bees lost manager Thomas Frank to Tottenham Hotspur, and he been replaced by their former set-piece coach Keith Andrews, who is taking charge of his first managerial role.

Combine all of that upheaval with their stellar owner Matthew Benham pulling back from the club, and it is reasonable for the neutral to conclude that the Bees are one of the favourites for relegation this season, and two defeats from their opening three matches in the Premier League would aid that argument.

It could well be that Brentford and Millwall are either set for a London derby in the Championship next season, or that they actually swap positions in English football’s hierarchy, and it would mightily sting them to see either Crama playing for Millwall in the top-flight, or potentially even cashed in on by Millwall if he continues on his trajectory.

Brentford have been the club perhaps most well renowned for excellent business and talent judgement and identification, but allowing Crama to Millwall could be one of their rare missteps.

Millwall’s recruitment has broadened and become remarkably impressive, perhaps the envy of a lot of other clubs of a similar stature in the second-tier, and they appear to have struck gold with the signing of Crama, who could either deliver them the riches of a hefty profit on his sale, or even play a major role in earning the riches of top-flight football.