Independent Leyton Orient Forum

I wonder if the people saying there’s nothing to worry about because we’ve still got 4/5 players to sign on 22nd June are the same ones who were saying we were right to issue Ebou with an ultimatum on 22nd May last season?

Obviously losing Justin has set things back but there’s no reason signings couldn’t have been underway in May. Even Josh Wright, that must have been a slam dunk of a negotiation seeing as we’d been through things with him back in January, was only completed two weeks ago.

The danger with doing things this way around is that clubs and agents know we have money - their demands will have increased because of that and because they know we’re desperate for strikers.

Millennial Snowflake wrote: ↑Sat Jun 22, 2019 9:11 pm

dOh Nut wrote: ↑Sat Jun 22, 2019 7:58 pm

Millennial Snowflake wrote: ↑Sat Jun 22, 2019 7:34 pm

How many squads are ever sorted when pre-season starts?

Pretty much sorted. Which means not completed but pretty much. Of course we enter the trialing period when further additions are possible. But we will pretty much know the core group.

Most squads are not pretty much complete when pre-season begins and many aren’t even complete by the first league game.

We already pretty much know the core group and even if we haven’t made all our signings we’ll have players training with us including those we’re speaking to but haven’t officially signed yet.

Again, there’s still six weeks until the season starts. Can we stop worrying and find something else to do with our time?

Jeez, I’ve said several times don’t panic. Ling made it absolutely clear that he had done his homework and has players in mind, no doubt having discussed with JE when compiling the list. We have 18 players already. Assuming the two for ever position we need four, that’s excluding the youth.

CreamofSumYungGai wrote: ↑Sat Jun 22, 2019 9:49 pm I wonder if the people saying there’s nothing to worry about because we’ve still got 4/5 players to sign on 22nd June are the same ones who were saying we were right to issue Ebou with an ultimatum on 22nd May last season?

No need to wonder about that. Expecting 4/5 players to sign and thinking we could have signed players earlier are not mutually exclusive views.

FWIW reckon 3 more transfers at most this summer. Budget will be left spare for the permanent manager to bring in a couple of mid season signings.

Smendrick Feaselberg wrote: ↑Sun Jun 23, 2019 1:24 am

CreamofSumYungGai wrote: ↑Sat Jun 22, 2019 9:49 pm I wonder if the people saying there’s nothing to worry about because we’ve still got 4/5 players to sign on 22nd June are the same ones who were saying we were right to issue Ebou with an ultimatum on 22nd May last season?

No need to wonder about that. Expecting 4/5 players to sign and thinking we could have signed players earlier are not mutually exclusive views.

FWIW reckon 3 more transfers at most this summer. Budget will be left spare for the permanent manager to bring in a couple of mid season signings.

Three is my guess. Wright, Wilks and Turley ( who was a short term contract player last season ) all signed 2 year deals. Alabi may well get a second chance too given our style of play may change and suit him better. Two strikers with Alabi and Harold in support of Wilkinson gives 5 up front. CM too. Don’t really see the need for more cover at the back or in goal.

The key for me is our defence, looks solid enough for L2. Ling/Judd. I’d go for the latter, I suspect the former to get the nod. I suspect Ling senior will have a bigger influence this season and the team selection by committee. Makes sense given respective experiences.

JMD looks capable, alongside Jobi and Brophy to be The creators. What’s happening with Dayton, have I missed something. Gorman may well prove why he was rated, he may well be better suited to L2 than the NL muscle bound hardnuts whose only skill is dishing it out.

I think our current squad is strong enough to provide a mid table season. A result most I’m sure would be happy with. I would.

Why dont we go for i.e nathan blissett. Jermaine hylton both lay for suilhull

dOh Nut wrote: ↑Sun Jun 23, 2019 9:58 am

Smendrick Feaselberg wrote: ↑Sun Jun 23, 2019 1:24 am

CreamofSumYungGai wrote: ↑Sat Jun 22, 2019 9:49 pm I wonder if the people saying there’s nothing to worry about because we’ve still got 4/5 players to sign on 22nd June are the same ones who were saying we were right to issue Ebou with an ultimatum on 22nd May last season?

No need to wonder about that. Expecting 4/5 players to sign and thinking we could have signed players earlier are not mutually exclusive views.

FWIW reckon 3 more transfers at most this summer. Budget will be left spare for the permanent manager to bring in a couple of mid season signings.

Three is my guess. Wright, Wilks and Turley ( who was a short term contract player last season ) all signed 2 year deals. Alabi may well get a second chance too given our style of play may change and suit him better. Two strikers with Alabi and Harold in support of Wilkinson gives 5 up front. CM too. Don’t really see the need for more cover at the back or in goal.

The key for me is our defence, looks solid enough for L2. Ling/Judd. I’d go for the latter, I suspect the former to get the nod. I suspect Ling senior will have a bigger influence this season and the team selection by committee. Makes sense given respective experiences.

JMD looks capable, alongside Jobi and Brophy to be The creators. What’s happening with Dayton, have I missed something. Gorman may well prove why he was rated, he may well be better suited to L2 than the NL muscle bound hardnuts whose only skill is dishing it out.

I think our current squad is strong enough to provide a mid table season. A result most I’m sure would be happy with. I would.

We saw the evidence provided earlier this pre-season; the teams that won promotion to L2 and went on to have a successful season thereafter had made 4/5/6 changes to the first choice team that got them up in the first place. And they were improvements to the promotion winning side, not downgrades.

As things stand, we look like starting the season with the same side that finished the season but with Wright in for Jobi, Wilkinson in for Bonne and A N Other in for Koroma....... How many of the necessary 5 or so upgrades do you reckon that counts for?

You can understand why fans are getting twitchy.

B9th can be that costly to sign wiuld be worth it

Both cant be that costly to sign would be worth it

How or what makes you think Wright is in for Jobi? Completely different midfield player

Lucky7 wrote: ↑Sun Jun 23, 2019 12:30 pm How or what makes you think Wright is in for Jobi? Completely different midfield player

Different players for sure but both in there as the ball keeper. Jobi will be able to go back out to his natural position on the left and compete with Brophy, giving cover centrally when needed. I don't expect him to start anywhere near as many games this season.

Who do you reckon will be our midfield pairing then if not Clay and Wright?

CreamofSumYungGai wrote: ↑Sun Jun 23, 2019 12:55 pm

Lucky7 wrote: ↑Sun Jun 23, 2019 12:30 pm How or what makes you think Wright is in for Jobi? Completely different midfield player

Different players for sure but both in there as the ball keeper. Jobi will be able to go back out to his natural position on the left and compete with Brophy, giving cover centrally when needed. I don't expect him to start anywhere near as many games this season.

Who do you reckon will be our midfield pairing then if not Clay and Wright?

We'll have a better idea on that when we've completed all our Summer signings.

CreamofSumYungGai wrote: ↑Sun Jun 23, 2019 12:01 pm

dOh Nut wrote: ↑Sun Jun 23, 2019 9:58 am

Smendrick Feaselberg wrote: ↑Sun Jun 23, 2019 1:24 am

No need to wonder about that. Expecting 4/5 players to sign and thinking we could have signed players earlier are not mutually exclusive views.

FWIW reckon 3 more transfers at most this summer. Budget will be left spare for the permanent manager to bring in a couple of mid season signings.

Three is my guess. Wright, Wilks and Turley ( who was a short term contract player last season ) all signed 2 year deals. Alabi may well get a second chance too given our style of play may change and suit him better. Two strikers with Alabi and Harold in support of Wilkinson gives 5 up front. CM too. Don’t really see the need for more cover at the back or in goal.

The key for me is our defence, looks solid enough for L2. Ling/Judd. I’d go for the latter, I suspect the former to get the nod. I suspect Ling senior will have a bigger influence this season and the team selection by committee. Makes sense given respective experiences.

JMD looks capable, alongside Jobi and Brophy to be The creators. What’s happening with Dayton, have I missed something. Gorman may well prove why he was rated, he may well be better suited to L2 than the NL muscle bound hardnuts whose only skill is dishing it out.

I think our current squad is strong enough to provide a mid table season. A result most I’m sure would be happy with. I would.

We saw the evidence provided earlier this pre-season; the teams that won promotion to L2 and went on to have a successful season thereafter had made 4/5/6 changes to the first choice team that got them up in the first place. And they were improvements to the promotion winning side, not downgrades.

As things stand, we look like starting the season with the same side that finished the season but with Wright in for Jobi, Wilkinson in for Bonne and A N Other in for Koroma....... How many of the necessary 5 or so upgrades do you reckon that counts for?

You can understand why fans are getting twitchy.

Yup exactly this. Our CM was weak last season and so far it's only got one signing, who although decent isn't solving the problem of not having an enforcer.

I see Wright as a replacement for Lawless, a ball player but not a midfield general. That's where the Lee replacement comes in and he needs to be a quality signing in that Vincelot / Dawson mould we talked about.

Clay / new
Gorman / Wright
Jobi (half wing half CM duty as required)

That's a decent strength CM setup provides Gorman ups his game as we hope he will.

Upfront last season we relied heavily on the fitness of Bonne and Koroma given our other options barely even got into double figures between them. If we only replace 2 then we're no better off, which doesn't bode well at all.

Had we retained all our assets and just improved on those released there wasn't much reason for concern. Now it's half a squad rebuild and the temptation to cheap out in true Orient fashion is that nagging doubt.

It does also assume no other departures. Not guaranteed given we know Happe has been scouted.

RedDwarf 1881 wrote: ↑Sun Jun 23, 2019 1:34 pm

CreamofSumYungGai wrote: ↑Sun Jun 23, 2019 12:55 pm

Lucky7 wrote: ↑Sun Jun 23, 2019 12:30 pm How or what makes you think Wright is in for Jobi? Completely different midfield player

Different players for sure but both in there as the ball keeper. Jobi will be able to go back out to his natural position on the left and compete with Brophy, giving cover centrally when needed. I don't expect him to start anywhere near as many games this season.

Who do you reckon will be our midfield pairing then if not Clay and Wright?

We'll have a better idea on that when we've completed all our Summer signings.

Fair enough. I hope Wright and Clay aren't our midfield pairing on the opening day too, but I can't see it changing.

I can actually see Josh Wright being made captain here seeing as he filled that role for Justin previously.

Can see Jobi mainly coming off the bench this season.

Ben Pringle CDAJ

Josh Wright is fine. Clay is fine, Gorman I’m sure will up his game. Jobi is fine. Lee replacement, then sorted. Two new up front. Squad done until January.

Average season beckons, ok by me

3.5.2 like last season and jobi can carry on playing jorden behined the 2 forwards

I think panic is setting in. The core of the squad remain. Wright and CW decent recruits. Turley new deal. I’m sure more players to come. Good enough to consolidate our L2 place.

So have we got back up for Widdowson should he get injured etc

dOh Nut wrote: ↑Sun Jun 23, 2019 3:32 pm I think panic is setting in. The core of the squad remain. Wright and CW decent recruits. Turley new deal. I’m sure more players to come. Good enough to consolidate our L2 place.

Bear in mind we're stepping up a level, some of the games we got away with against weak part-time opposition last season we'll be punished for this.

Remember how badly we struggled when our first choice players were out, need much greater depth in L2 and right now we're a few steps back squad wise let alone getting stronger.

Still time to sort it for sure but I feel we'll see a lot about the plans for the club based on what kind of numbers and quality come in.

Lucky7 wrote: ↑Sun Jun 23, 2019 3:09 pmBen Pringle CDAJ

How old is he now? Was quality in 2014 but that's a long time ago now.

Lucky7 wrote: ↑Sun Jun 23, 2019 3:35 pm So have we got back up for Widdowson should he get injured etc

Judd/Ling can both play left back, plus we have 2 very promising kids coming through in that position.

gshaw wrote: ↑Sun Jun 23, 2019 4:51 pm

Lucky7 wrote: ↑Sun Jun 23, 2019 3:09 pmBen Pringle CDAJ

How old is he now? Was quality in 2014 but that's a long time ago now.

31 next birthday didn’t realise he’s at Tranmere

Younger the better please