✍️BLOG POST⚽️ Missed opportunities in the transfer window

[LeytonLaureate]

Leyton Orient enter the final 10 games season within shouting distance of the League One playoffs, but will they rue the January transfer window that could have provided much needed depth?

https://leytonlaureate.wordpress.com/20 ... e-were-in/

Thanks, as always, for reading!

[gshaw]

But the squad was already thin, the upcoming fixture congestion was known,

Nailed it right there. It's why I find Richie's initial outcry of the club wanting to bank the saving of releasing Thompson / Drinan / Turns more believable than NT saying "we're going for it". In the board room content with the planned mid-table consolidation rather than RW's ambitious shot at the playoffs.

The summer window will come round sooner than we think and there's some critical positions to be filled. It needs to be done Richie's way and get him the players he wants, he's the biggest asset this club has and it needs to match his drive for success.

[RedDwarf 1881]

But the squad was already thin, the upcoming fixture congestion was known,

Nailed it right there. It's why I find Richie's initial outcry of the club wanting to bank the saving of releasing Thompson / Drinan / Turns more believable than NT saying "we're going for it". In the board room content with the planned mid-table consolidation rather than RW's ambitious shot at the playoffs.

The summer window will come round sooner than we think and there's some critical positions to be filled. It needs to be done Richie's way and get him the players he wants, he's the biggest asset this club has and it needs to match his drive for success.

100% this .

[PKM]

If the ‘senior striker’ was Kelman, would that have made that much difference to our performances?
My own view is I think it would have certainly helped.

[Rich Tea Wellin]

If the ‘senior striker’ was Kelman, would that have made that much difference to our performances?
My own view is I think it would have certainly helped.

It would have helped in so much as its another capable body that can come off the bench and affect games/act as cover for our front line. But I still fail to see how getting Kelman in would shuttle us to the playoffs. Purely based on last season and the fact he couldn't break through at QPR, I would have expected more than 2-3 goals from him between Feb and May and that's not really going to have too much impact on a playoff push imo.

[OyinbO]

If the ‘senior striker’ was Kelman, would that have made that much difference to our performances?
My own view is I think it would have certainly helped.

It would have helped in so much as its another capable body that can come off the bench and affect games/act as cover for our front line. But I still fail to see how getting Kelman in would shuttle us to the playoffs. Purely based on last season and the fact he couldn't break through at QPR, I would have expected more than 2-3 goals from him between Feb and May and that's not really going to have too much impact on a playoff push imo.

He's already got more for Wigan than Adu-Adjei and Edwards have between them for us

[Proposition Joe]

Obviously Richie is a successful football manager and knows what he's doing but also fairly astonished that he or anyone else at the club thinks Kelman would have been the answer to any current problems we have up front. Forde's already scored more in L1 than he managed all last campaign in the division below.

[DuvB]

Its a 'maybe' from me

[Hoover Attack]

I don't rate Kelman but still think he's miles and miles ahead of Edwards and Dan Ajyei Mk2.

Yes, he would have made a difference to how the tail end of this season panned out.

[Hoover Attack]

Obviously Richie is a successful football manager and knows what he's doing but also fairly astonished that he or anyone else at the club thinks Kelman would have been the answer to any current problems we have up front. Forde's already scored more in L1 than he managed all last campaign in the division below.

Forde is a far better player already but presumably he's not a realistic permanent signing?

[Hoover Attack]

I would have expected more than 2-3 goals from him between Feb and May and that's not really going to have too much impact on a playoff push imo.

It's not just goals. It's all round play - with Edwards, we may as well have 10 men out there.

[OyinbO]

As has already been alluded to - Kelman is still very young himself, only 22 months older than Edwards. But he does have much more experience, and at that age 22 months is a long time.

Richie obviously rates him very highly, and tbh I'm inclined to agree. I think he'll be a proper player in a year or two. How would he have done at Orient this season though? Of course we'll never really know.

[Hoover Attack]

Someone at QPR also thinks there's something there as well else wouldn't have given him a shot this season.

[essexfootball]

If kelman is the answer god knows what the question is

[Hoover Attack]

If kelman is the answer god knows what the question is

Is it 'Name a much better striker than Edwards?'

[essexfootball]

If kelman is the answer god knows what the question is

Is it 'Name a much better striker than Edwards?'

I don't rate Edwards but I think it's a bit early for that,

Kelman

0 in 23 Championship appearances
9 in 55 in League One
7 in 36 in League Two

Kelman was never an answer to anything, he is a League Two player, as shown by he has already been dropped by Wigan after two games