Matchday (evening) and exiles thread vs Rotherham 04/03/25

[Max B Gold]

Sounds like we need a complete clear out.

Welllens out too.

And sack the board.

The Board launched the lifeboats weeks ago mate. Try and keep up.

[Hoover Attack]

Everyone laying into our reserve back up 2nd choice left back, who has done perfectly adequately for a reserve back up 2nd choice left back, can f*ck right off.

[RedDwarf 1881]

A brutal schedule and missing five first team defenders has proven too much an obstacle for us to overcome . A first choice Orient elven would still be in the play off spots but with other results going against us tonight I think our play off hopes are now all but over . I just can't see the top six slipping up even if we do go on another winning run .

[Max B Gold]

Not even if Bolton and Huddersfield have injury crises like ours just as some of our guys come back.

[PoundhillO]

Not a strong enough or large enough squad of quality players, nearly all fee free transfers and home grown players.
Too many sick notes , you pays your money or not as the case maybe and this is where we end up yet again.
Mortified with our recent drop in form due to the above.

[Bandy Legs]

3eading up to 8th.
TJ, Happes, Omar & Simpson injuries have fugged us

Being brutal I'd be looking to move the first two on next season, you can't rely on them to be fit for more than half a season at a time

Let's get rid of Agyei, Clare, O'Neill as well while we are at it then eh?

[Story of O]

Not a strong enough or large enough squad of quality players, nearly all fee free transfers and home grown players.
Too many sick notes , you pays your money or not as the case maybe and this is where we end up yet again.
Mortified with our recent drop in form due to the above.

I thought we did spend in January and also turned down money for Galbraith. You really need to go and support a team with a big budget

[Hoover Attack]

We did spend in January.

Problem was, it was too late. The squad was already run into the ground.

[Chief crazy horse]

I still can't stop thinking how Kelman couldn't even hit the target with that chance last night! Good challenge and lay off by DJ, by the way..
Sweeney makes me nervous at the back. Good in the air for a full back though, I'll give him that.
Who would have thought four defeats on the spin after such a good run we were on? Let's face it, there must be apprehension running through the camp for Saturdays game..

[Long slender neck]

We've missed our experienced defenders, but we couldnt hit a barn door last night.

[Hoover Attack]

We've missed our experienced defenders, but we couldnt hit a barn door last night.

It's almost as if Kelman is tired or something?

(How many chances did we have, by the way?)

[Long slender neck]

16 shots, 4 on target, apparently.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/li ... MatchStats

[RedDwarf 1881]

I still can't stop thinking how Kelman couldn't even hit the target with that chance last night! Good challenge and lay off by DJ, by the way..
Sweeney makes me nervous at the back. Good in the air for a full back though, I'll give him that.
Who would have thought four defeats on the spin after such a good run we were on? Let's face it, there must be apprehension running through the camp for Saturdays game..

We've had four defeats on the bounce simply because we've had five first team defenders missing . It would have been a different story if we had them all fit these past four games

[Mistadobalina]

We definitely needed another striker in January and tried to sign one, but there was no point bringing someone in on a permanent contract that'd likely run until at least the end of next season if they weren't a good fit.

We are gonna wrack up a big financial loss for this season given how much we've spent. Always wonder what level of financial recklessness some of our fans want to see given their inability to accept the limitations of supporting a club that gates wise is in the bottom third of the 92 clubs.

[PoundhillO]

Not a strong enough or large enough squad of quality players, nearly all fee free transfers and home grown players.
Too many sick notes , you pays your money or not as the case maybe and this is where we end up yet again.
Mortified with our recent drop in form due to the above.

I thought we did spend in January and also turned down money for Galbraith. You really need to go and support a team with a big budget

I will never support another team,I have supported the O’s for 68 years and that will never change.
After getting so near to the play offs last year I expected them as a minimum this year.
Whilst I am so grateful for Nigel Travis for saving us to me it was obvious for the long term future of the club that with the size of our stadium we needed to be looking at getting a massive new investment as soon as we realised promotion to League 1 was a certainty.For me the search for new massive investment is far to late and my worry is that the current possible investment will disappear if we fail to at least reach the play offs this year.
Up the O’s.

[Rich Tea Wellin]

It's just statement of fact they aren't good enough and whatever happens this season we need to move them on to progress if we have real ambition at this level. There's a big rebuild coming in summer and we'll lose players we'd rather keep but also need to shed some that might want to stay.

Serious question. Do you expect us to have a squad where every player is the full article, experienced, would start in every league one team?

Would you prefer we didn’t sign Abdulai and Williams but had a better 2nd choice left back and 8th choice winger?

A squad is a squad. Sweeney and Obeiro will be on peanuts and in their allotted roles I.e. depth and cover, with mainly the odd cameo they are absolutely fine and still developing.

Yes having players that can compete in key positions not just filler. Means being ruthless with the squad in summer, not just the obvious ones like releasing Archibald and Graham but also fan favourite players who spend half the season injured. Been carrying too many this season, it's even been mentioned in manager interviews that the budget has taken up too much in that way.

Sweeney imo should've been gone in summer or at very least loaned out to League 2. We were all quite happy to slate Hemming but when it's an Orient academy player they get extra slack because of the "one of our own" sentimentality. If Sweeney was any good we wouldn't have needed to bring Currie in after the season started.

Hopefully something that will change with extra investors and a further injection of funds.

Deluded tbh.

With our current budget it’s completely unrealistic to expect we have 2 players in every position that are fully ready and competing.

You’re one of the first to moan when we don’t invest, or that we have lob players that will leave. But executing your plan would mean more loanees and less budget for Jan

[Chief crazy horse]

I don’t think Kelmans glaring miss is anything to do with tiredness, it's to do with composure.

[Jeremy Bentham]

I think Charlie is much improved from last time he was here, his hold up play is good, he runs the channels well for an out ball and his finishing has generally improved.

However, we can't afford him to miss any more glaring opportunities as the one he had on a plate last night.

Win on Saturday and things will look different.

[Hoover Attack]

https://www.mancity.com/citytv/mens/ext ... e-63876505

7 mins 50 secs

Even the best around miss 'glaring opportunities'.

[Crisby]

Well... I don't know what can be done about it but conceding goals from corners is a bit of an issue.
Scoring from a corner is another.
Orient's midfield play and passing is very good but all the hard work is undone by poor finishing.
Against Rotherham Agei was brilliant but nobody could turn in one of his great crosses. He must be a bit pissed off.

[Chief crazy horse]

https://www.mancity.com/citytv/mens/ext ... e-63876505

7 mins 50 secs

Even the best around miss 'glaring opportunities'.

Well yes, but that is the usual excuse to trot out when making a defence of a striker. Charles has been good for us this season putting defenders on high alert with his pace and of course his goals contribution. But that sort of miss highlighted his limitations as a striker. No excuses, that was a terrible strike on goal.

[gshaw]

With our current budget it’s completely unrealistic to expect we have 2 players in every position that are fully ready and competing.

You’re one of the first to moan when we don’t invest, or that we have lob players that will leave. But executing your plan would mean more loanees and less budget for Jan

With the current budget perhaps, hence to get to "the next level" which is top 2 and then Championship it will need bigger funding. Sounds like we're well on the way to that happening which then comes with different expectations and a more ruthless approach.

Can't complain about the January activity, the board got the extra attacking firepower in. Richie as mentioned in his post-match is regretting not using some of those players from the start last night (Abdulai mentioned in particular)

As for the LB / RB backup we could do with a Hunt-esque utility player who could cover those. James would be the one but alongside Happe seems to have regular injury issues.

Only thing is the ongoing struggle for strikers which we need to do better with in summer as it's quite possible we won't have any left after Kelman's loan ends and Agyei goes (still not signed that contract offer so doesn't look promising)

[Jeremy Bentham]

https://www.mancity.com/citytv/mens/ext ... e-63876505

7 mins 50 secs

Even the best around miss 'glaring opportunities'.

I know that but the Haaland effort was from a pacy, bouncing ball on the half volley from an angle, Charlie had the ball rolling gently towards him from DJ, practically in front of the goal. When it is setup so beautifully, missing the target is criminal.

[Scuba Diver]

Sounds like we need a complete clear out.

Two weeks ago, some were saying we could make the Top-2 with this squad, but a decimated Orient team (almost a reserve side) has not won in 4 games, so yeah, get them All out, and get them out fast.

Also question Ling/The Board/The budget etc etc ad nauseum.
It's the fanbase's way.

[Qin]

I've found it very frustrating in the last 2 games that we have been bullied, particularly the Charlton game, but also last night.
Both teams forwards particularly, were strong and we couldn't shake them off the ball, whereas most of our players were weak and we're easily knocked off the ball.
Agyei was the outstanding exception. He wasn't knocked off the ball, and has the strength to brush off bullying attempts.
Maybe our players need to build up their strength in the gym.
We will need many new players in the summer, with all the contacts ending, & the loanees going back, & bigger tougher players should be sought imo.