Independent Leyton Orient Forum

If as expected we persevere with 3 central defenders ( who on earth could we bench) ,and 2 full backs that leaves just 5 outfield positions. We will almost certainly play 2 up front. Meaning that leaves 3 midfield/wide players. Clay is a must, then wright and I assume Dennis in a wide role. That leaves when fit mcnuff, Dayton, j.m.d, and biophy all attacking players out of favor. All of a sudden we will be spoilt for choice , or have to think again about playing 5 at the back.
If Marvin does go to Rotherham I expect we would ditch the 3 central defenders and revert to a back 4.

Not necessarily. Dennis, Angol and Wilkinson is good competition up front. Brophy could play LWB instead of Widdowson if we want to play a more attacking lineup and McAnuff won't play as much this season.

I'm not ready to say that we're spoilt for choice until we acquire another central midfielder at least. Ideally a quality mobile defensive midfielder.

If we keep Marvin and with a strong defensive midfielder joining, I believe we would have a good opportunity for a real push for promotion.

Agree entirely with the midfielder. Like Louis Dennis, he would provide some skills that we don't have at the moment.

If we had a first choice XI that picked itself, then competition for places isn't that high. Taking away all the youths (I think who should go on loan and not blooded until we are safe), there is space for a couple more squad fillers.

There may be a danger in getting too attached to people because of last season. IMO there will be some players who are seemingly undroppable at the moment who will end up being not good enough.

eagwgw wrote: ↑Fri Aug 02, 2019 11:31 am Agree entirely with the midfielder. Like Louis Dennis, he would provide some skills that we don't have at the moment.

If we had a first choice XI that picked itself, then competition for places isn't that high. Taking away all the youths (I think who should go on loan and not blooded until we are safe), there is space for a couple more squad fillers.

There may be a danger in getting too attached to people because of last season. IMO there will be some players who are seemingly undroppable at the moment who will end up being not good enough.

Widdowson is the one who I think won't contribute as much a step higher. I wouldn't have offered him more than a year. If you think how limited he was going forward last season then it's going to be even more limiting against better quality players.

Our strength is those 3 CBs so i think we need to build around that and play them all.

I do think a few players might get found out, or at least their starting places questioned. Clay, Widdowson, Brill and Ling stand out. I think it will be interesting to see how they tackle a step in in level, despite the first three having a very good season last year.

I'd expect this to be the XI on Saturday (if everyones fit).

Brill
Ling Marv Coulson Happe Widdowson
Clay Wright
JMD
Wilko Angol

I think within a month it will look more like this:
Brill
Judd Marv Coulson Happe Brophy
Gorman Wright
JMD/Dennis
Wilko/Dennis Angol

We shall see.

^ I'd left Ling out as his place is already being questioned. I think Brill will be ok but ideally we improve upon him in January if we are in with a chance of the playoffs.

No idea why we kept Dayton and I am not a fan of Brophy either so I expect both to see limited game time.

IMO this will be our strongest team when we settle down

Brill.
Judd. The 3 centre halves. Widdowson
Clay and macanuff (ideally a new centre mid) jmd and Dennis
Wilko or angol.

I think wright will end up as sub.

Lings place is always being questioned by the usual dweebles

Not expecting much impact on the playing side from MxAnuff or Dayton given their injuries and subsequent time taken to get fit.

A quality CM signing will allow us to return to a more attacking 4-4-2 in time but not sure who would play on the left as a starter as Brophy has struggled to impress over a full 90.

The 5-3-2 for me is a formation that keeps tight defensively but not one to provide much entertainment or attacking threat. Can't see us sticking with it all season somehow.

Injuries, suspensions, loss of form, illnesses etc usually sort out such questions and after a couple of months the team usually starts to pick itself. Get to around January time and then thoughts of getting in extra bodies to fill gaps by loans or new signings may even happen.

Damn I thought this thread was about players wanting to rent overpriced single rooms in my higher class part of Waltham Forest