Independent Leyton Orient Forum

Sotiriou is an interesting situation.age 19 next month. In his second year as a pro. Is he not considered as first team material, even in front of Harrold and Alabi, especially as it is thought that the former can't do 90 minutes

POSHO wrote: ↑Tue Jul 09, 2019 11:09 am Sotiriou is an interesting situation.age 19 next month. In his second year as a pro. Is he not considered as first team material, even in front of Harrold and Alabi, especially as it is thought that the former can't do 90 minutes

Personally I think this is the year he will start to break through, maybe not hold down a place, but get game time and build up his experience. The rest is down to him then.

RedDwarf 1881 wrote: ↑Tue Jul 09, 2019 9:23 am

Thor wrote: ↑Tue Jul 09, 2019 5:48 am 1 winger and 1 holding midfielder are required, surprised that they e not yet been brought in. At present our squad is arguably weaker than the one that finished the season.

IMO, it is currently weaker. We still need another central midfielder, winger and striker

Arguably? I would be surprised to hear from anybody who feels our squad is stronger than the one ending last season. Or as good as for that matter. Can’t see it myself.

Player-wise we have gone backwards, OK not totally the clubs fault, but I haven’t seen too much to suggest any more than being satisfied with avoiding relegation. The squad looks good enough for that, but not too much more. We are in a holding situation, probably for a couple of seasons, whilst the finances are stabilised. But a frigging site better than NL. So no complaints from me.

Harrold might surprise us, but the evidence is against him. He will be 35 later this month and has started a League game only about 15 times in the last 3 seasons, and the results were not great in these games.

Sotiriou and Kyprianou look interesting, but this ain't a season to be gambling, I'd get them out on loan to see what they could do.

I can't see Jobi making more than half the games. He was on fire at the start of last season but I think a lot of people tired out by half-way.

In terms of numbers we are probably OK but I got the feeling there will be money to spend should things not go right. Perhaps as Nigel said, the people that got us up will be given a chance first.

Got to say I had a feeling Alabi may get a second chance. Was he ‘put’ on the transfer list by the club or did he ask in order to get first team football somewhere. Either way, with two key strikers gone and the newbies yet to prove themselves it give him an opportunity to show what he can do as a third striker.

Harold, always liked him, will get game time but not too much.

I've been thinking about it and I don't think its outside the realms of possibility that we won't sign anyone else.

We've got enough keepers, cover across all the defensive positions. We have four central midfielders, 4 players who can play on the wing (and we might not even play with wingers) and 5/6 strikers.

If we do bring someone in, I think it would be cover for the number 10 position/a wide player.

Again, I'm not saying this necessarily should be the case, but I don't think it is impossible.

Red_Army wrote: ↑Tue Jul 09, 2019 11:38 am I've been thinking about it and I don't think its outside the realms of possibility that we won't sign anyone else.

We've got enough keepers, cover across all the defensive positions. We have four central midfielders, 4 players who can play on the wing (and we might not even play with wingers) and 5/6 strikers.

If we do bring someone in, I think it would be cover for the number 10 position/a wide player.

Again, I'm not saying this necessarily should be the case, but I don't think it is impossible.

Number 10 we have JMD, Brophy, Jobi (may as well throw him in there as well), and possibly Dayton. We have as many options there as we do anywhere else, getting people to double up and play out of position.

Surely we will sign another striker? We had Koroma, Bonne and Simpson at the end of last season plus all the others who are still here.

We've only brought in two yet we've brought in around £700k. I'd understand if the owners wanted to use that to reduce our losses but I'd be surprised if we didn't sign anyone else.

eagwgw wrote: ↑Tue Jul 09, 2019 11:28 am

Sotiriou and Kyprianou look interesting, but this ain't a season to be gambling, I'd get them out on loan to see what they could do.

Dont think we can afford foe either to go out on loan.

And with 7 subs, they'll both be able to get plenty of time in and around matchday squads.

dOh Nut wrote: ↑Tue Jul 09, 2019 11:27 am

RedDwarf 1881 wrote: ↑Tue Jul 09, 2019 9:23 am

Thor wrote: ↑Tue Jul 09, 2019 5:48 am 1 winger and 1 holding midfielder are required, surprised that they e not yet been brought in. At present our squad is arguably weaker than the one that finished the season.

IMO, it is currently weaker. We still need another central midfielder, winger and striker

Arguably? I would be surprised to hear from anybody who feels our squad is stronger than the one ending last season. Or as good as for that matter. Can’t see it myself.

Player-wise we have gone backwards, OK not totally the clubs fault, but I haven’t seen too much to suggest any more than being satisfied with avoiding relegation. The squad looks good enough for that, but not too much more. We are in a holding situation, probably for a couple of seasons, whilst the finances are stabilised. But a frigging site better than NL. So no complaints from me.

I wont be proven right until we see how they deal with the chances created for them but I can see Wilko and Angel being as good a pairing as Boone and Koroma.

Don't normally diss our players but Alabi has been woeful apart from one 30 minute spell against Barnet. He played in the cup game against Beaconsfield and looked as if he'd struggle to get into their side let alone ours. I can't see the step up in leagues making him a more useful player. I wouldn't be surprised if he's on reasonable wages here and that's why we're struggling to move him on.

RicketyCricket wrote: ↑Tue Jul 09, 2019 11:57 am Surely we will sign another striker? We had Koroma, Bonne and Simpson at the end of last season plus all the others who are still here.

We've only brought in two yet we've brought in around £700k. I'd understand if the owners wanted to use that to reduce our losses but I'd be surprised if we didn't sign anyone else.

I dont necessarily think that we have to replace all three, because three went and three must come in. Its good to be in a position we were last season where you can keep the wages down and have a smaller squad in the first few months where injuries and fatigue is less of a problem, and then have the budget to be flexible enough to bring players in.

My problem though is with quality. I'd be happy with 4 strikers if we had the strength in depth to be able to bring someone off the bench to score a vital goal, or cover an injury. As it stands it's probably Angol and Wilkinson as first choice. Say we are 1-0 down in the first home game with 10 to go. Currently we have Harrold (not really a goalscorer), Alabi (not really anything) and Sotiriou (unproven). It puts too much pressure on the first choice players and we can never swap things up.

I'd be happy bringing in one proven goalscorer at this level (because we haven't got any atm) and getting rid of alabi.

I agree, we have 26 players including Dayton and the six young pros. It will depend whether Dayton signs and trust is placed in the young players. Management may keep money for January or a new manager

Strikers are not the issue, Angol and Wilkinson will get a bagful between them, I think more then the Bonne and Koroma partnership. Angol already has a fairly decent league record. I don't think we would be clamouring for a first choice striker if we had retained Bonne and Koroma.

The issue is central midfield and width, and I'm not sure we will bring in another central midfielder which worries me.

Apple Wumble wrote: ↑Tue Jul 09, 2019 12:17 pm

RicketyCricket wrote: ↑Tue Jul 09, 2019 11:57 am Surely we will sign another striker? We had Koroma, Bonne and Simpson at the end of last season plus all the others who are still here.

We've only brought in two yet we've brought in around £700k. I'd understand if the owners wanted to use that to reduce our losses but I'd be surprised if we didn't sign anyone else.

My problem though is with quality. I'd be happy with 4 strikers if we had the strength in depth to be able to bring someone off the bench to score a vital goal, or cover an injury. As it stands it's probably Angol and Wilkinson as first choice. Say we are 1-0 down in the first home game with 10 to go. Currently we have Harrold (not really a goalscorer), Alabi (not really anything) and Sotiriou (unproven). It puts too much pressure on the first choice players and we can never swap things up.

I'd be happy bringing in one proven goalscorer at this level (because we haven't got any atm) and getting rid of alabi.

Agreed. I think Wilkinson and Angol will do well but we currently have zero competition for them in the squad, and if they have to miss games we will suddenly be relying on Harrold/Alabi which just doesn't cut it.

Midfield less of an issue as we have four central midfielders all capable of starting (I still think Gorman will come good). Think it will be 3-5-2 as well so wingers not a priority.

I think if we were to sign another striker, they would most likely be a young player who can also play out wide who won't mind not having a huge amount of game time (an Alabi replacement essentially). Our 'proven' players, are Wilkinson and Angol, who I believe are good signings at this level.

CreamofSumYungGai wrote: ↑Tue Jul 09, 2019 7:13 am

Kitch’s Magic Toes wrote: ↑Tue Jul 09, 2019 1:43 am

CreamofSumYungGai wrote: ↑Mon Jul 08, 2019 11:20 pm

Fair enough.

Need another winger then, don’t we.

Maguire-Drew, Brophy, McAnuff, probably Dayton. Doubt we’ll be bringing one in, considering we’ll almost certainly be playing 5-3-2. Can’t see more than a versatile forward player coming in unless Happe goes. Perhaps a combative centre mid.

Jobi is great but he can’t play CM and on the wing at the same time.

Funny stuff.