Independent Leyton Orient Forum

Reading various threads about our current squad and it’s capabilities (or lack of) with regard to performing in league 2, got me thinking about the last time we had a “successful” squad in league 2 and how it compares to our current squad. I don’t know how to post a screenshot of the 2005-2006 squad but 11-11 might be as follows...

Garner - Brill - 06
Lockwood - Widdowson -06
Mackie - Coulson - even
Zakuani - Happe/Ekpiteta - even
Tann/Miller - Judd - even
Keith - Brophy - 19
Easton - Wright - even
Simpson - clay - even
Tudor/Cordon - JMD/Dayton etc - 19
Steele - Angol - even
Alexander - Wilkinson - even

I don’t think it shapes up too badly overall but would be interested to know what others think?
Don’t think Alexander and Steele scored that many in that season either, goals were quite spread out amongst the team.

Interesting comparison Wookie. Thanks

COYOS

Not sure a comparison is that valid, because the aims of the teams were different. For 05/06 i am sure that was the ultimate 'season of no excuses' having finished strongly the year before.

For the lads this year I am sure if we are clear of relegation people will be content.

A few of the current set of players have no track record at League Two level, even considering this I would rate most of the 05/06 lot ahead. Wikinson equal to Alexander? GA had scored 20 goals for Exeter and Hull in the League previously, he is way ahead of Wilkinson at the same age.

I feel Zakuani was ahead of both Marv and Happe, although that could change this year.

Brophy v Keith isn't really much of a comparison, Keith had to be a defensive player to accommodate Lockwood. Even still, I ain't particularly sure why Brophy gets the nod. As a winger, his end product has been inconsistent.

Michael Simpson was a cracking little player, and we could do with one of him now IMO.

I feel a combined team might have 7 of the old boys in, depending on formation.

Our CMs were much better in 2006 and so were our strikers. Two, experienced, proven goalscorers at this level.

Fair comments Tbf. I was thinking more along the lines of the current squad not being as bad as some people think rather than as promotion contenders. I just remember us having some truly awful squads during our previous spell in league 2, none of which were bad enough to be relegated! Although some came very close.

I accept the comments about strikers though, the interesting thing is that GA only scored 15 goals that year. LS only 6 albeit from a handful of games. Even Jabo managed 8!!

Time will tell, but I think you're being a bit generous with the current teams midfield and strikers

Probably
In all honesty I didn’t intend to do a player v player comparison at first, just wanted to compare the overall squad but was being a numptie and couldn’t see how to post the attachment!
Not a lot of strength in depth in the 06 squad for me.

No we were lucky with injuries really. We did have decent depth upfront with jabo and Connor signing in march.

4-4-2 I'd go
Garner
Lockwood
Coulson
Zakuani
Judd
Keith
Easton
Simpson
Tudor
Steele
Alexander

3-5-2 I'd go
Garner
Lockwood
Coulson
Zakuani
Happe
Judd
Simpson
Easton
Maguire-Drew
Steele
Alexander

So 2 or 4 from this team depending on the formation. Angol and Wilkinson are total unknowns, so would be interesting to review this at Christmas

Be happy with that 11 for sure.

Agree with the other chap about Simpson too. I guess we don’t really have a comparable CM of that type at the moment. A Vincelot or a Dawson would be nice.

Actually I remember quite liking that 05/06 team, in that the squad members did a job... we also signed well in the winter, ie Connor/Tann/Corden, the latter two covering two positions.

Garner/Morris
Miller/Barnard, Zakuani/Saah, Mackie/Tann, Lockwood/Palmer
Tudor/Carlisle, Simpson, Easton/McMahon, Keith/Corden
Alexander/Connor, Steele/Ibehre

Only weakness was no cover for Simpson, but I don't think he missed a game.

It's a better squad than the one we have currently IMO, but then so it should be.

Dirtywookie79 wrote: ↑Thu Jul 18, 2019 11:42 am Reading various threads about our current squad and it’s capabilities (or lack of) with regard to performing in league 2, got me thinking about the last time we had a “successful” squad in league 2 and how it compares to our current squad. I don’t know how to post a screenshot of the 2005-2006 squad but 11-11 might be as follows...

Garner - Brill - 06
Lockwood - Widdowson -06
Mackie - Coulson - even
Zakuani - Happe/Ekpiteta - even
Tann/Miller - Judd - even
Keith - Brophy - 19
Easton - Wright - even
Simpson - clay - even
Tudor/Cordon - JMD/Dayton etc - 19
Steele - Angol - even
Alexander - Wilkinson - even

I don’t think it shapes up too badly overall but would be interested to know what others think?
Don’t think Alexander and Steele scored that many in that season either, goals were quite spread out amongst the team.

Really surprised that You didn't include Ibehre in this. Love him or hate him, you certainly can't forget him. By the way is he still playing in the League, or anywhere else?

I guess if I had to pick a first XI based on that it would be something like:

Garner
Lockwood
Mackie
Ekpiteta
Judd

Brophy
Easton
Simpson
JMD

Steele
Alexander

Unfair to compare because someone like Joe Keith is going to get penalised for being the ultimate team player. He was vital to that side but clearly didn't have the attacking instincts of Brophy. Keith was undoubtedly the more valuable to his side.

Eat The Rich wrote: ↑Thu Jul 18, 2019 1:35 pm Unfair to compare because someone like Joe Keith is going to get penalised for being the ultimate team player. He was vital to that side but clearly didn't have the attacking instincts of Brophy. Keith was undoubtedly the more valuable to his side.

Classic example of picking a player to improve your team and thereby the team being greater than the sum of its parts.

I'm confused as to how two players (Angol and Wilkinson) can be defined as the equal of Steele and Alexander, when they haven't played one competitive match yet for Orient?

Yeah, probably didn’t put enough thought into that. Guess it was more wishful thinking than anything else!

Fingers crossed you're correct mate

if they can bag 11 goals each they will beat GA and LS from that season. Just need to find the rest of the goals that were spread amongst the others. Lockwood, jabo, Mackie bagged 23 between them.

Dirtywookie79 wrote: ↑Thu Jul 18, 2019 11:42 am Reading various threads about our current squad and it’s capabilities (or lack of) with regard to performing in league 2, got me thinking about the last time we had a “successful” squad in league 2 and how it compares to our current squad. I don’t know how to post a screenshot of the 2005-2006 squad but 11-11 might be as follows...

Garner - Brill - 06
Lockwood - Widdowson -06
Mackie - Coulson - even
Zakuani - Happe/Ekpiteta - even
Tann/Miller - Judd - even
Keith - Brophy - 19
Easton - Wright - even
Simpson - clay - even
Tudor/Cordon - JMD/Dayton etc - 19
Steele - Angol - even
Alexander - Wilkinson - even

I don’t think it shapes up too badly overall but would be interested to know what others think?
Don’t think Alexander and Steele scored that many in that season either, goals were quite spread out amongst the team.

Great idea for a post but your assessment is way out!

The only one from 2019 I could see getting into that team is JMD.

bobo66 wrote: ↑Thu Jul 18, 2019 1:16 pm
Really surprised that You didn't include Ibehre in this. Love him or hate him, you certainly can't forget him. By the way is he still playing in the League, or anywhere else?

He's only gone for the starting 11, and Steele and Alexander were our first choice. But Jabo was a really important 3rd striker to have. You knew if he started alongside Alexander or Steele, that was still a proper pair of strikers.

We haven't got that this season.

If the current squad finishes 22nd or above then it’s job done.

I think they will.

Rebuilding is a slow process. Can’t expect to charge up the leagues year on year.

Buckingham wrote: ↑Thu Jul 18, 2019 4:57 pm If the current squad finishes 22nd or above then it’s job done.

I think they will.

Rebuilding is a slow process. Can’t expect to charge up the leagues year on year.

Rebuilding what exactly? Why shouldn't we be aiming for promotion this season?

CreamofSumYungGai wrote: ↑Thu Jul 18, 2019 5:17 pm

Buckingham wrote: ↑Thu Jul 18, 2019 4:57 pm If the current squad finishes 22nd or above then it’s job done.

I think they will.

Rebuilding is a slow process. Can’t expect to charge up the leagues year on year.

Rebuilding what exactly? Why shouldn't we be aiming for promotion this season?

Rebuilding the club from the rock bottom it was at 2 years ago.

There’s no reason not to aim for promotion this season, but perspective makes me think that as long as we avoid relegation I won’t be too disappointed.

Ask me the same question a year from now and it’s highly likely I’ll give you a very different answer.

I’m also not convinced that the current squad has the quality to push for promotion. Of course, I’m happy to be proven wrong.

Fair enough assessment BUT,you can’t really compare Angol to Steelo at the moment! Steelo was good you know,really good.And we haven’t seen Angol in league action as yet
Same goes for another couple of the comparisons

CreamofSumYungGai wrote: ↑Thu Jul 18, 2019 4:52 pm

Dirtywookie79 wrote: ↑Thu Jul 18, 2019 11:42 am Reading various threads about our current squad and it’s capabilities (or lack of) with regard to performing in league 2, got me thinking about the last time we had a “successful” squad in league 2 and how it compares to our current squad. I don’t know how to post a screenshot of the 2005-2006 squad but 11-11 might be as follows...

Garner - Brill - 06
Lockwood - Widdowson -06
Mackie - Coulson - even
Zakuani - Happe/Ekpiteta - even
Tann/Miller - Judd - even
Keith - Brophy - 19
Easton - Wright - even
Simpson - clay - even
Tudor/Cordon - JMD/Dayton etc - 19
Steele - Angol - even
Alexander - Wilkinson - even

I don’t think it shapes up too badly overall but would be interested to know what others think?
Don’t think Alexander and Steele scored that many in that season either, goals were quite spread out amongst the team.

Great idea for a post but your assessment is way out!

The only one from 2019 I could see getting into that team is JMD.

Thanks. Judging by the rest of the replies I think most people agree with you Tbf. Perhaps I’m giving some of the current squad a bit too much credit or maybe not enough credit to the old squad.