Is it fair to judge RE and Ling with the current players?

[Long slender neck]

I think considering the events of the summer where that transfer window was disrupted to say the least, they deserve this January window to recruit and stabilise the club further. Most of us realise that many of the current squad are not up to the task of League two football.

[Fanny]

But who will be doing the recruiting?

This is where not having a proper manager will be a massive disadvantage.

What player wants to come and join a club which is currently being lead by an “interim head coach”? It’s such a big risk. Just imagine you’re a player and Ross wants to sign you. What guarantee is there that somebody else will be in charge in two weeks time and they don’t fancy you as a player? You’re in the sh*t then.

I realise that this is a risk for any player joining a new club (manager gets sacked) but the danger of it happening with the current setup at Orient makes it a very realistic risk.

[ContrifibulatoryFred]

They, between them, decided that Alabi should come off the transfer list - presumably they thought playing in a higher league would uncover the genius lurking beneath a lumbering oaf.

For that crime alone I’d say ‘Off with their heads’

[gshaw]

Yes I think it is. Even with the players we have there are certain personnel such as Clay who seem undroppable even though we have other options in the squad.

On top of that Embleton's game management is poor and just makes the issues worse e.g. leaving Angol on the other day despite him showing no interest in the game at all.

As per above Ling & Embleton chose to bring Alabi back into the fold so they can't now cry about lack of striker options over the Xmas period. In similar vein they chose to start the season at a higher league with no cover LB. Supposedly the scout has 10 players identified for every position so if that's not all hot air it becomes a strategic choice not to recruit.

[Long slender neck]

They, between them, decided that Alabi should come off the transfer list - presumably they thought playing in a higher league would uncover the genius lurking beneath a lumbering oaf.

For that crime alone I’d say ‘Off with their heads’

Perhaps also there were no takers for him?

[gshaw]

They, between them, decided that Alabi should come off the transfer list - presumably they thought playing in a higher league would uncover the genius lurking beneath a lumbering oaf.

For that crime alone I’d say ‘Off with their heads’

Perhaps also there were no takers for him?

I have never seen him play live - but I liked very much his goal sprinting from the half way line after beating two players to make the chance - with two chasing him and them just running they could not chatch him even though he was dribbling the ball.

Maybe the idea was that all parties knew he was going subject to a Buyer and by him playing it gave a better chance of that occurring

All very well in theory but where was his replacement? Seems like there was never another striker coming in, which as we learnt last year outside the main pairing we had no viable options. Been shown up even more this year with Angol / Wilkinson not delivering.

[bobo66]

If players that were good last season are now playing like they have no idea, then it has to be down to the manager.

The only game plan appears to be "kick the ball forwards and it might go somewhere near an Orient player". It usually doesn't. The players weren't doing this last year. I know the quality of opposition is better, but not that much. A footballer, however bad, can surely pass a ball to one of his teammates.

[Long slender neck]

If players that were good last season are now playing like they have no idea, then it has to be down to the manager.

Or they're simply not good enough for this level. It seems to me like a fair few boarders have not made the step up either.

[Disoriented]

If players that were good last season are now playing like they have no idea, then it has to be down to the manager.

Or they're simply not good enough for this level. It seems to me like a fair few boarders have not made the step up either.

Don’t fret son.Some of us were 45 mins away from being championship boarders. This League 2 boarding is a piece of cake.

[Redcard]

The difference between the national league and league 2 is marginal at the most. Just look at recently promoted teams like Luton and tranmere, they didn’t have a problem. Very few teams promoted from the national league struggle, while mighty league teams like Wrexham, and chesterfield dont walk the ‘inferior’ national league.
Sorry but the answer lies elsewhere , it’s all about team structure, coaching, and most importantly motivation.
My view for what it’s worth is that we are lacking all three. The whole world and their aunt can see that we are powder puff and apart from the back four there is nobody who can physically impose themselves on the game, what’s more I don’t trust the current set ups ability to source the players we need. For a starter we should have swallowed our pride and signed Adams when he was available for free.

[Sid Bishop]

The difference between the national league and league 2 is marginal at the most. Just look at recently promoted teams like Luton and tranmere, they didn’t have a problem. Very few teams promoted from the national league struggle, while mighty league teams like Wrexham, and chesterfield dont walk the ‘inferior’ national league.
Sorry but the answer lies elsewhere , it’s all about team structure, coaching, and most importantly motivation.
My view for what it’s worth is that we are lacking all three. The whole world and their aunt can see that we are powder puff and apart from the back four there is nobody who can physically impose themselves on the game, what’s more I don’t trust the current set ups ability to source the players we need. For a starter we should have swallowed our pride and signed Adams when he was available for free.

''For a starter we should have swallowed our pride and signed Adams when he was available for free.''
I wonder if Ling had not imposed a time deadline on Adams to sign for us, then maybe we would have had a far better chance of signing him first time around.
As to all this about the players not being good enough, well much the same was said when we were near the bottom of the National League, Davis left, Ross in charge for a few games and no better. Justin came in and the same players rose to the challenge, climbed up the league, then won the National League the following season.

[PoundhillO]

Yes on both counts !

[Disoriented]

Ling got these players in!

[Adz]

It's more the 2 year contracts that we dished out in the close season than the lack of signings that get me.

[Smendrick Feaselberg]

It's more the 2 year contracts that we dished out in the close season than the lack of signings that get me.

Yep. Three albatross contracts given to Brill, Coulson and Clay will limit flexibility moving forward (though hopefully we can move Clay on next summer). Widdowson's deal was a year too long for my liking too.

[gshaw]

It's more the 2 year contracts that we dished out in the close season than the lack of signings that get me.

Yep. Three albatross contracts given to Brill, Coulson and Clay will limit flexibility moving forward (though hopefully we can move Clay on next summer). Widdowson's deal was a year too long for my liking too.

Widdowson as one of two LBs is still a good option. Not much going forward but pretty solid defensively. The other 3 are problems though.

[Thor]

Yes it is 100%

[Smendrick Feaselberg]

It's more the 2 year contracts that we dished out in the close season than the lack of signings that get me.

Yep. Three albatross contracts given to Brill, Coulson and Clay will limit flexibility moving forward (though hopefully we can move Clay on next summer). Widdowson's deal was a year too long for my liking too.

Widdowson as one of two LBs is still a good option. Not much going forward but pretty solid defensively. The other 3 are problems though.

I dunno. I see some players being out of contract as an opportunity to improve. Keeping him for a year would have meant we could have established ourselves in this division and then made it easier to improve at left back for next season.

[gshaw]

Yep. Three albatross contracts given to Brill, Coulson and Clay will limit flexibility moving forward (though hopefully we can move Clay on next summer). Widdowson's deal was a year too long for my liking too.

Widdowson as one of two LBs is still a good option. Not much going forward but pretty solid defensively. The other 3 are problems though.

I dunno. I see some players being out of contract as an opportunity to improve. Keeping him for a year would have meant we could have established ourselves in this division and then made it easier to improve at left back for next season.

To give Widdowson his dues he is one of the few with previous L2 experience from Dagenham.

[Ronnie Hotdogs]

It's more the 2 year contracts that we dished out in the close season than the lack of signings that get me.

Yep. Three albatross contracts given to Brill, Coulson and Clay will limit flexibility moving forward (though hopefully we can move Clay on next summer). Widdowson's deal was a year too long for my liking too.

You left out Ling.

[Thor]

It's more the 2 year contracts that we dished out in the close season than the lack of signings that get me.

Yep. Three albatross contracts given to Brill, Coulson and Clay will limit flexibility moving forward (though hopefully we can move Clay on next summer). Widdowson's deal was a year too long for my liking too.

You left out Ling.

The most controversial one of the lot.

[Smendrick Feaselberg]

Yep. Three albatross contracts given to Brill, Coulson and Clay will limit flexibility moving forward (though hopefully we can move Clay on next summer). Widdowson's deal was a year too long for my liking too.

You left out Ling.

The most controversial one of the lot.

Adz mentioned the summer re-signings, which is why I didn't mention Ling. At age 24-25 we will hopefully not have as much trouble shifting him, if the current management were motivated to.

[ContrifibulatoryFred]

In the matter of the MB versus RE and Ling.

Having consulted our legal expert Spandex665 I must advise that we cannot judge RE and Ling with the current players because everyone knows that a jury needs 12 good men - and we are about 9 short amongst the current team.

[BiggsyMalone]

Is it fair to judge the man who recruited all of those players and judge the man who was assistant manager to Justin and seen as a continuity candidate to see the club through? No, can't see why it would be fair at all