Just got back in

[Ronnie Hotdogs]

The only position in the starting 11 that Orient are desperate in, is right back. Ling isn’t good enough and Judd doesn’t get a steady run to prove himself, whether that’s through Ling being preferred or not being relied upon due to injuries. The rest of the team is more than good enough at this level.

The recruitment in the summer has left Orient short if there’s any injuries in most positions. Most of the starting 11 and some of the bench are more than good enough at this level but the squad as a whole is good enough to stay in this league comfortably.

Going forward over the next couple of years (if promotion is what they want), the midfield needs better players. Clay is going to be an important squad player long term, Wright is a stat padder and I like Gorman but it needs to click pretty soon otherwise he won’t fulfil his potential (but the signs are good). A replacement for Brill. A replacement for Coulson.

It’s not all doom and gloom, a good manager gets these players playing at their potential. Hopefully Fletcher is that man.

Pretty reasonable assessment. Agreed that the starting 11 is in the main good enough.

I still think that the main priorities are a new keeper and a holding/enforcer in midfield, both much more important than RB. With Marvin doing ok out there and Turley to come back, we're fine (ish).

I’ve said it’s a priority for over a year. Marv and Turley do alright there but they’re CBs. We need a good solid right back, not stop gaps. The opposition target that area every game because they know it’s our weak spot. Whoever is in midfield won’t have to drop into right back to cover for our right backs who don’t have positional sense.

Agreed that DM/GK are important but I think we still have enough to see us through this season in those positions

Yeah, you're probably right.

Guess I'm just hoping Judd is given the run he deserves and makes that position his own.

[Long slender neck]

well if he wasnt injured every five minutes he might

[RedDwarf 1881]

While I completely agree with you pshaw, I'm thinking that after spending two season's in the National League we probably didn't have much money left to invest back into the team

What?

Weren't we losing parachute payments from the EFL. ?

[Thor]

Kent Teague's plan is for us to be in league one in 3 to 4 years. In which case this squad will be very different when that time comes.
This squad has shown how good they can be and how bad they can be in just two games. I'm not surprised by that as the key difference between the levels of football is the consistency of the players.
I think we have 6 or 7 players that are not established at EFL level - and at times it really shows. Some may step up and some will not. I think this squad is good enough for a strong mid table finish. Anything more would be a bonus.

Fair assessment.

[Lucky7]

Oh we lost a game so bedwetters.com are straight on it we need this/that the other blah blah blah
Put a sock in it ffs

[Ronnie Hotdogs]

well if he wasnt injured every five minutes he might

Oh, how very convenient.

[o-no]

Oh we lost a game so bedwetters.com are straight on it we need this/that the other blah blah blah
Put a sock in it ffs

Would be a pretty boring place here if we just try and shut down every discussion about how good/bad the players/management/team/other boarders are.

I don't agree with pressing the panic button, but if we can't have a range of views to discuss, then why bother?

[BiggsyMalone]

Oh we lost a game so bedwetters.com are straight on it we need this/that the other blah blah blah
Put a sock in it ffs

To be fair, most people have had a consistent opinion about what the squad needs all season. Winning 3 in a row or losing 3 in a row doesn’t change the overall picture

[PKM]

Yes, just gets plain ridiculous when a reasoned view can’t be presented without being shouted down.
Nobody is saying it’s all doom and gloom, far from it, but clearly there are areas in the team where we are weak and they need to be addressed, either using the pool of players we have or making changes.
Brill would have struggled to have bent down to pick up his slippers last night, whether it’s injury, fitness or what I don’t know but perhaps he needs a rest.
Good news is CF will now be fully aware of what needs doing!

[O my gawd]

Pretty reasonable assessment. Agreed that the starting 11 is in the main good enough.

I still think that the main priorities are a new keeper and a holding/enforcer in midfield, both much more important than RB. With Marvin doing ok out there and Turley to come back, we're fine (ish).

I’ve said it’s a priority for over a year. Marv and Turley do alright there but they’re CBs. We need a good solid right back, not stop gaps. The opposition target that area every game because they know it’s our weak spot. Whoever is in midfield won’t have to drop into right back to cover for our right backs who don’t have positional sense.

Agreed that DM/GK are important but I think we still have enough to see us through this season in those positions

Yeah, you're probably right.

Guess I'm just hoping Judd is given the run he deserves and makes that position his own.

All very good points but I feel Judd could be your blind spot. He isn't as good as everyone thinks he is.

[Howling Mad Murdock]

Oh we lost a game so bedwetters.com are straight on it we need this/that the other blah blah blah
Put a sock in it ffs

I've missed you,hun.x

[BiggsyMalone]

I’ve said it’s a priority for over a year. Marv and Turley do alright there but they’re CBs. We need a good solid right back, not stop gaps. The opposition target that area every game because they know it’s our weak spot. Whoever is in midfield won’t have to drop into right back to cover for our right backs who don’t have positional sense.

Agreed that DM/GK are important but I think we still have enough to see us through this season in those positions

Yeah, you're probably right.

Guess I'm just hoping Judd is given the run he deserves and makes that position his own.

All very good points but I feel Judd could be your blind spot. He isn't as good as everyone thinks he is.

I feel like when both are fit, Judd offers more than Ling but hasn’t had the chance to make mistakes in games and keep his place. Whether that’s due to injury or not. Ling seems to have been treated a lot better, maybe it’s application in training or attitude, I don’t know. Like I said, it’s a huge problem position and would love to see Turley at CB instead of a makeshift RB.

[Disoriented]

Seems a bit harsh digging out Widdowson when he spent half of the game last night playing out of position at right back. Of course he's not going to get crosses in from there.

Who played on the left?

[gshaw]

Gerrard young man, you're right we need to strengthen in areas but chill just a tad. Poor result & performance but look on the bright side at least we're not Southend

I'm not so bothered about tonight but our recruitment for this season was poor. Chequebook out in January or questions need to be asked about our finances. Squad in its current form isn't strong enough, simple as that.

While I completely agree with you pshaw, I'm thinking that after spending two season's in the National League we probably didn't have much money left to invest back in to the team . I agree about January though, funds need to be made available for Carl to strengthen the squad .

What about the Bonne and Koroma funds? Doubt we spent that much getting out of NL.

While I completely agree with you pshaw, I'm thinking that after spending two season's in the National League we probably didn't have much money left to invest back into the team

What?

Weren't we losing parachute payments from the EFL. ?

Last season was 50% parachute money and why it was so vital to get out of NL when we did. Back to full funding now.

As for others above, we've been around 20th with relegation goals against for rest of the season, short memories? Alabi wonder goal, that's stretching it a bit and back to normal last night missing a sitter.

The same Marsh who keeps getting put back on the bench all the time? Seems to have been brought in as a bench filler than first teamer. Perhaps does the player a disservice given his pedigree but that's another debate entirely.

As for the favourite old chestnut "leave the professionals to it" how many of you said that about Davis and the youth goalkeepers situation

Hearing lots of big words from the owners but despite all the income being generated we've not got the strength in depth for this level. January will be very interesting, I just hope Fletcher gets a decent shot at this role with the backing to bring in his own players and shape the squad for this level.

[Howling Mad Murdock]

Seems a bit harsh digging out Widdowson when he spent half of the game last night playing out of position at right back. Of course he's not going to get crosses in from there.

Who played on the left?

No one.