Millwall lauded for Sunderland, Brighton agreements - 'difference-makers' claim dropped | OneFootball

Anthony Patterson and Tommy Watson have moved to The Den on loan

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Millwall FC have been praised for securing a double loan swoop for Anthony Patterson and Tommy Watson, with the duo linking up with the Lions from Sunderland and Brighton and Hove Albion respectively.

Millwall have been one of the most impressive sides in the Championship so far this season, with Alex Neil's side firmly in the conversation when it comes to potentially earning promotion to the Premier League.

The South London side have built their success so far this season off the back of a strong defensive record, which, in truth, has become synonymous with the club ever since they were promoted out of League One.

It has also been well-documented that the club have adopted a differing transfer strategy in recent times, largely down to the high-profile sales of Romain Esse and Japhet Tanganga to Crystal Palace and Sheffield United.

However, instead of splashing the bulk of the cash received from those deals, the former promotion winner with Norwich City has opted to pack out his squad with experience and quality, and that has certainly been the case when analysing the Lions' business throughout the now-closed January transfer window.

After completing the signing of former Sheffield Wednesday icon, Barry Bannan, Neil then dipped into the loan market to finally secure the services of his former Black Cats colleague, Patterson, amid heavy links both in the lead-up to and throughout the window, as well as adding further flair to his wide options with a temporary swoop for Watson, who will be forever remembered on Wearside for his play-off final heroics last May before joining Brighton and Hove Albion for £10m.

As such, these are two deals that have satisfied Football League World's Millwall FC fan pundit, Lucas Ball.

Millwall FC praised for double loan swoop involving Anthony Patterson and Tommy Watson

It was Neil who handed Patterson his major first-team breakthrough at the Stadium of Light during Sunderland's eventual League One play-off-winning season of 2021/22, with the 25-year-old subsequently becoming a mainstay in the Championship.

Despite accumulating 14 clean sheets in the Black Cats' promotion-winning season last term under Regis Le Bris, he has made just one competitive appearance this season after the arrival of Robin Roefs.

It has been well-documented that Millwall have struggled with availability on the goalkeeping front, with Lukas Jensen recently suffering a second injury in less than 12 months, whilst Steven Benda was also recalled by Fulham after sustaining a groin injury.

This has left Max Crocombe to keep goal for the time being, meaning Ball views the loan addition of Patterson as particularly shrewd business.

"Two really good deals for us, I think," he told FLW.

"I'd like to have seen George Evans probably go back out online to a League Two club maybe, given that we've now got Patterson in goal, and Evans was obviously recalled as cover when Benda went back to Fulham. I mean, hopefully he can still go out to a non-league club. I think the window is still open for them for a little bit. So, you know, at least get in some game time in the second-half of the season again," Ball added.

"But Patterson, obviously, won promotion last year, is a very good keeper at this level and has worked with Alex Neil before.

"I don't think Crocombe's been as bad as some of our fans have made out. I actually think he's done very well for someone playing his first season in the Championship and hasn't really made too many mistakes. But, you've got to be cutthroat at times when you're in the position we're in. It's probably the best chance we're going to have at making the top six or more and going on to win promotion," our fan pundit explained.

"So, it might sound harsh on Crocombe to an extent, but he was probably brought in as a 'number two' realistically. And that was then just terrible. So he came in as 'number one'. He's obviously done okay since, for the most part. It will feel slightly harsh, I'm sure, but when you've got the opportunity to bring these kinds of top performers in that know what it takes to win promotion from the Championship as recently as last season, I think if that's a deal that's within your capabilities to do, then I think it's a deal worth doing.

"Particularly when it's someone that knows the manager already, worked with him at Sunderland, of course. So I think there's lots to like about that one."

Ball also believes that Watson's ability will add strong competition behind Femi Azeez, who has accumulated nine goal contributions thus far, and became the subject of Deadline Day interest from Ipswich Town.

"Watson as well. Again, obviously part of the Sunderland team that went up last year, scored the winning goal in the play-off final. So, you know, lots to like there as well about, you know, hopefully what's coming up in our next few months," our fan pundit continued.

"But, again, he's got that know-how, that bit of experience of getting out of this league, which will be an important imprint on the squad, I think.

"Direct, lively winger. And I've been saying for a while that we probably need to add some more quality on the left to match what Femi Azeez is doing on the right-hand side for us to avoid not becoming entirely reliant on him.

"I think they're two really good signings and, hopefully, they can be difference-makers in ensuring that we stay in the top six now," Ball stated.

Anthony Patterson and Tommy Watson could be difference-makers in Millwall's promotion bid

As Ball alluded to, both Patterson and Watson have the ability to be difference-makers for the Lions for differing reasons.

Despite being prone to the occasional mishap, Patterson has proven to be an extremely high-level Championship shot-stopper, emphasised by the fact Millwall were able to fend off strong competition to strike a deal in the first place.

Watson is still very much a raw talent despite his play-off heroics, although he was able to showcase a fearlessness which will suit Millwall's current predicament.

Furthermore, a successful stint in SE16 will only increase his chances of sourcing regular minutes at the AMEX Stadium in the coming seasons.