Where did it all go wrong?

[Frogger]

League two champions 22/23
Just missed out on play off places league 1 23/24
Struggling and not looking like getting out of the relegation spots 24/25

The squad looked great last season, we had a solid base, a decent back line, an exciting midfield and some promising strikers starting to hit some form. We are now with 2 loan keepers, both still very green and IMO average at best. A defence that looks as water tight as a colander. A midfield that for many games is devoid of players able to string 3 passes together, and as for attacking side of this team…the less said the better.

I really don’t hold out for much come January, let’s be serious what players will be available on a free?? Unless we are prepared to pay and pay a decent transfer, the best we are going to find is another loanee (which as we know with our recruitment a complete roll of the dice) injured players another Graham??
The board will need to dig deep if they want to keep this club up and avoid league 2, it will not be hard to sell but they will defo be losing a big chunk of cash on the sell price.

The best we can hope for is that the players we have some how regain some form, start earning their wage and climb this league table.

COYO!

[gshaw]

January 2024, having put together an excellent unbeaten run Richie asked the transfer committee for a striker as we were short in that area.

Despite letting Drinan go no-one was signed until last minutes of the window when two first time loan youths were brought in "them or nothing". Both made minimal impact and we fell away sharply at end of the season.

The momentum hasn't come back since and an even poorer summer window puts us further behind the curve.

[RedDwarf 1881]

League two champions 22/23
Just missed out on play off places league 1 23/24
Struggling and not looking like getting out of the relegation spots 24/25

The squad looked great last season, we had a solid base, a decent back line, an exciting midfield and some promising strikers starting to hit some form. We are now with 2 loan keepers, both still very green and IMO average at best. A defence that looks as water tight as a colander. A midfield that for many games is devoid of players able to string 3 passes together, and as for attacking side of this team…the less said the better.

I really don’t hold out for much come January, let’s be serious what players will be available on a free?? Unless we are prepared to pay and pay a decent transfer, the best we are going to find is another loanee (which as we know with our recruitment a complete roll of the dice) injured players another Graham??
The board will need to dig deep if they want to keep this club up and avoid league 2, it will not be hard to sell but they will defo be losing a big chunk of cash on the sell price.

The best we can hope for is that the players we have some how regain some form, start earning their wage and climb this league table.

COYO!

Losing EL-Miz in central midfield is a massive loss . Both first choice wingers out injured long term and losing our top goal scorer from last season along with Shaq Forde has made all the difference . Our Summer recruitment was pants and no better than last January ,With the amount of money being thrown about by other clubs during the Summer we knew this season would be tougher than last season so its not as if we have been caught by surprise . The squad is weaker than last season and to be honest I can't see us surviving in League One .

[OyinbO]

So basically when Kent Teague decided he'd had enough of doing his dough on Leyton Orient?

[RedDwarf 1881]

So basically when Kent Teague decided he'd had enough of doing his dough on Leyton Orient?

I'm not sure about that but we were unable to compete with other clubs for players during the Summer .

[Orient Punxx]

January 2024, having put together an excellent unbeaten run Richie asked the transfer committee for a striker as we were short in that area.

Despite letting Drinan go no-one was signed until last minutes of the window when two first time loan youths were brought in "them or nothing". Both made minimal impact and we fell away sharply at end of the season.

The momentum hasn't come back since and an even poorer summer window puts us further behind the curve.

To say the two January loanees made a minimal impact is an overstatement. They absolutely destroyed our season with their total lack of ability. Our mascots would have been more impactful.

[Qin]

Where did it all go wrong?
1> When Kent League decided to take a back seat. He was the main supplier of cash, that lack of cash has meant the club can't spend anywhere near what is needed

2> Every thing from now on is connected to point 1 above.
Shocking recruitment last summer. Clare, Curry & Keeley excepted, everyone else was simply awful

3> Unlucky with injuries (again)

4> Poor scouting imo

5> Too much bullshit from Nigel, promising things he knows he couldn't deliver (exciting signings.. Remember)

That's pretty much it

[Chelmsford Swimmer]

A defence that looks as water tight as a colander.

We are in the top half of the table regards goals conceded. I don't dispute that the defence is let down by those in front of them.

[The Reverend]

It’s not rocket science. The board didn’t fancy splashing cash any more so we’ve had to make do with a load of freebies and loans.

Doesn’t help having to use what I suspect is a significance chunk of the budget paying out wages for busted flushes (Moncur, Pigott etc.) and sicknotes (Theo, Graham etc.)

It might sound harsh but football clubs aren’t a charity. If players are not up to it (either through injury off just not being good enough) they need to be shifted off the wage book asap.

Look at someone like Graham. He must be on a decent wage and what have got in return from it? In total it’ll be less than 25 appearances over 2 years. It’s not his fault, but it’s a cold hard fact that we cannot afford it. Same for Theo, we will have been paying him a full salary despite not seeing him play a single minute for a full season.

I know it’s easier said than done in that you can’t just bin off players who have long term injuries, but it is playing a significant role in why we are struggling.

[Proposition Joe]

January 2024, having put together an excellent unbeaten run Richie asked the transfer committee for a striker as we were short in that area.

Despite letting Drinan go no-one was signed until last minutes of the window when two first time loan youths were brought in "them or nothing". Both made minimal impact and we fell away sharply at end of the season.

The momentum hasn't come back since and an even poorer summer window puts us further behind the curve.

To say the two January loanees made a minimal impact is an overstatement. They absolutely destroyed our season with their total lack of ability. Our mascots would have been more impactful.

Harsh on the Bournemouth lad but Khayon Edwards made Calvin Andrew look like an Orient great.

[Hoover Attack]

It’s not rocket science. The board didn’t fancy splashing cash any more so we’ve had to make do with a load of freebies and loans.

Doesn’t help having to use what I suspect is a significance chunk of the budget paying out wages for busted flushes (Moncur, Pigott etc.) and sicknotes (Theo, Graham etc.)

It might sound harsh but football clubs aren’t a charity. If players are not up to it (either through injury off just not being good enough) they need to be shifted off the wage book asap.

Look at someone like Graham. He must be on a decent wage and what have got in return from it? In total it’ll be less than 25 appearances over 2 years. It’s not his fault, but it’s a cold hard fact that we cannot afford it. Same for Theo, we will have been paying him a full salary despite not seeing him play a single minute for a full season.

I know it’s easier said than done in that you can’t just bin off players who have long term injuries, but it is playing a significant role in why we are struggling.

We need to reconsider our approach to bringing in players with a history of injuries, pay to play contracts perhaps?

Theo - if the owners want to do the right thing and stand by him, that shouldn't come out of the playing budget.

[Orient Punxx]

January 2024, having put together an excellent unbeaten run Richie asked the transfer committee for a striker as we were short in that area.

Despite letting Drinan go no-one was signed until last minutes of the window when two first time loan youths were brought in "them or nothing". Both made minimal impact and we fell away sharply at end of the season.

The momentum hasn't come back since and an even poorer summer window puts us further behind the curve.

To say the two January loanees made a minimal impact is an overstatement. They absolutely destroyed our season with their total lack of ability. Our mascots would have been more impactful.

Harsh on the Bournemouth lad but Khayon Edwards made Calvin Andrew look like an Orient great.

Actually, I thought I was being over kind on Edwards.

[OyinbO]

It’s not rocket science. The board didn’t fancy splashing cash any more so we’ve had to make do with a load of freebies and loans.

Doesn’t help having to use what I suspect is a significance chunk of the budget paying out wages for busted flushes (Moncur, Pigott etc.) and sicknotes (Theo, Graham etc.)

It might sound harsh but football clubs aren’t a charity. If players are not up to it (either through injury off just not being good enough) they need to be shifted off the wage book asap.

Look at someone like Graham. He must be on a decent wage and what have got in return from it? In total it’ll be less than 25 appearances over 2 years. It’s not his fault, but it’s a cold hard fact that we cannot afford it. Same for Theo, we will have been paying him a full salary despite not seeing him play a single minute for a full season.

I know it’s easier said than done in that you can’t just bin off players who have long term injuries, but it is playing a significant role in why we are struggling.

Great to see the Christian ethos is still going strong

[Chicken Dhansak]

Don't football clubs take out insurance against long term injury for players?

[Pugwash]

It’s not rocket science. The board didn’t fancy splashing cash any more so we’ve had to make do with a load of freebies and loans.

Doesn’t help having to use what I suspect is a significance chunk of the budget paying out wages for busted flushes (Moncur, Pigott etc.) and sicknotes (Theo, Graham etc.)

It might sound harsh but football clubs aren’t a charity. If players are not up to it (either through injury off just not being good enough) they need to be shifted off the wage book asap.

Look at someone like Graham. He must be on a decent wage and what have got in return from it? In total it’ll be less than 25 appearances over 2 years. It’s not his fault, but it’s a cold hard fact that we cannot afford it. Same for Theo, we will have been paying him a full salary despite not seeing him play a single minute for a full season.

I know it’s easier said than done in that you can’t just bin off players who have long term injuries, but it is playing a significant role in why we are struggling.

Great to see the Christian ethos is still going strong

Bah Humbug.

[Pugwash]

Don't football clubs take out insurance against long term injury for players?

No, Insurance pays for operations & rehab, not wages.

[FilipinO]

Sometimes we get an injury prone player and it works out, more often it doesn't.

I'm thinking someone like Smyth had an awful injury record. Then we got a full season out of him and he was the best player in the division.

Theo didn't have a great injury record, but we got a couple of brilliant years out of him before he got really unlucky with his current injuries.

But it's a chance worth taking when it can give us the gems it has done!

[Hoover Attack]

We paid Smythy for two seasons, during which Wellens got one (and a bit) season out of him.

Did Theo have an injury history? First I'd heard of that.

There have been others in recent times. It's a big gamble when you put a large chunk of your budget into one such player.

[OyinbO]

Don't football clubs take out insurance against long term injury for players?

Those policies are available. Whether or not Orient have taken one out, we cannot say.

[The Reverend]

Sometimes we get an injury prone player and it works out, more often it doesn't.

I'm thinking someone like Smyth had an awful injury record. Then we got a full season out of him and he was the best player in the division.

Theo didn't have a great injury record, but we got a couple of brilliant years out of him before he got really unlucky with his current injuries.

But it's a chance worth taking when it can give us the gems it has done!

I disagree that it’s a chance worth taking unless:

1. You’re only doing it with 1 player in the squad
2. You’re doing it with a luxury player who is a nice to have

Doing it with a number of first team squad players is just stupid. You end up in the situation we are currently in with large chunks of salary budget being p*ssed away and completely inadequate cover.

[Reflecto]

When you can't simply compete for good league 1 players or Championship players willing to drop down - there is another route which is to pick up strong / and reasonably experienced player from L2 and the NL. These guys have a point to prove and will have greater resale value if it works out. This is such a critical area - that you would think the board would want the process and the people involved scrutinised. With all the players available in the market (and only a budget for a smaller squad) we should just avoid anyone with a injury history. Finally - it would be good to sign some "wow" players - e.g. a guy that has scored 15 - 20 goals in the NL.

[Bandy Legs]

28th of November 2023
Leyton Orient 16th place
19 5 7 7 -6 22

29th of Jovember 2024
Leyton Orient 21st place

16 4 3 9 -6 15

Looks like 3 league wins will put us 2 points higher than last season on the same amount of games.
Has ut really gone wrong?

[Hoover Attack]

Sometimes we get an injury prone player and it works out, more often it doesn't.

I'm thinking someone like Smyth had an awful injury record. Then we got a full season out of him and he was the best player in the division.

Theo didn't have a great injury record, but we got a couple of brilliant years out of him before he got really unlucky with his current injuries.

But it's a chance worth taking when it can give us the gems it has done!

I disagree that it’s a chance worth taking unless:

1. You’re only doing it with 1 player in the squad
2. You’re doing it with a luxury player who is a nice to have

Doing it with a number of first team squad players is just stupid. You end up in the situation we are currently in with large chunks of salary budget being p*ssed away and completely inadequate cover.

How many players in our squad have a history of injury proneness?

[Orient_Man_And_Boy]

28th of November 2023
Leyton Orient 16th place
19 5 7 7 -6 22

29th of Jovember 2024
Leyton Orient 21st place

16 4 3 9 -6 15

Looks like 3 league wins will put us 2 points higher than last season on the same amount of games.
Has ut really gone wrong?

Sorry but the necessary goals will come from ….?

[The Reverend]

Sometimes we get an injury prone player and it works out, more often it doesn't.

I'm thinking someone like Smyth had an awful injury record. Then we got a full season out of him and he was the best player in the division.

Theo didn't have a great injury record, but we got a couple of brilliant years out of him before he got really unlucky with his current injuries.

But it's a chance worth taking when it can give us the gems it has done!

I disagree that it’s a chance worth taking unless:

1. You’re only doing it with 1 player in the squad
2. You’re doing it with a luxury player who is a nice to have

Doing it with a number of first team squad players is just stupid. You end up in the situation we are currently in with large chunks of salary budget being p*ssed away and completely inadequate cover.

How many players in our squad have a history of injury proneness?

More than 1