Independent Leyton Orient Forum

Brynn 7
Gailbraith 6
Sweeney 4
Beccles 7
Happe 7
Brown 6
El Miz 7
Sotiriou 5
Agyei 7
Archibald 7
Forde 7

Pratley 6
O Neil 6
James 7

A shame for Sweeney after playing so well last week and now might not get another game for months, like last time.

whittle76 wrote: ↑Sat Jan 27, 2024 6:30 pm A shame for Sweeney after playing so well last week and now might not get another game for months, like last time.

I agree that it seems to be the pattern. He just needs to be consistent. At this level you can’t play a blinder one week and then look like you’ve never played LB before. You could argue that he needs to learn that by playing.

Galbraith marked down? Must have been how it looked on TV....

Rich Tea Wellin wrote: ↑Sat Jan 27, 2024 6:41 pm

whittle76 wrote: ↑Sat Jan 27, 2024 6:30 pm A shame for Sweeney after playing so well last week and now might not get another game for months, like last time.

I agree that it seems to be the pattern. He just needs to be consistent. At this level you can’t play a blinder one week and then look like you’ve never played LB before. You could argue that he needs to learn that by playing.

He is making it easy for RW to drop him.

Thought Sweeney was ok, although didn’t do enough for their goal.

They overloaded down his side, nothing he can do when outnumbered.

Sweeney was getting absolutely roasted by their number 11.
Wellens did him a favour by hooking him at half time.

Thought Forde did well today. Works really hard and has a touch of skill about him. Has the ability to take 2 defenders out of the game with some quick footwork.

I have to commend Omar Beckles as well. At the start of the season I thought he was getting found out at league 1 level, but that is not the case at all.

Decent point in the end today. Reading have some decent players and aren’t a bad side despite all the nonsense going on off the field.

Agree. Forde was much better than Archibald who looked knackered and was taken off. They don’t deserve the same marks. Thought Gailbraith played well again.

Beradogs wrote: ↑Sat Jan 27, 2024 8:29 pm Agree. Forde was much better than Archibald who looked knackered and was taken off. They don’t deserve the same marks. Thought Gailbraith played well again.

I can see why Lincoln were willing to let Archibald join us in the first place. Just doesn’t really stand out at league 1 level.

The Reverend wrote: ↑Sat Jan 27, 2024 8:37 pm

Beradogs wrote: ↑Sat Jan 27, 2024 8:29 pm Agree. Forde was much better than Archibald who looked knackered and was taken off. They don’t deserve the same marks. Thought Gailbraith played well again.

I can see why Lincoln were willing to let Archibald join us in the first place. Just doesn’t really stand out at league 1 level.

So our most consistent player all season isn’t good enough for league one

The Reverend wrote: ↑Sat Jan 27, 2024 8:37 pm

Beradogs wrote: ↑Sat Jan 27, 2024 8:29 pm Agree. Forde was much better than Archibald who looked knackered and was taken off. They don’t deserve the same marks. Thought Gailbraith played well again.

I can see why Lincoln were willing to let Archibald join us in the first place. Just doesn’t really stand out at league 1 level.

Nah. Archibald is a good player but he does seem a little out of sorts. Maybe he’s not happy where he’s playing or doing what he’s been asked to do. I’d try him on the right - think he played there mostly in our promotion season,

BoniO wrote: ↑Sat Jan 27, 2024 9:49 pm

The Reverend wrote: ↑Sat Jan 27, 2024 8:37 pm

Beradogs wrote: ↑Sat Jan 27, 2024 8:29 pm Agree. Forde was much better than Archibald who looked knackered and was taken off. They don’t deserve the same marks. Thought Gailbraith played well again.

I can see why Lincoln were willing to let Archibald join us in the first place. Just doesn’t really stand out at league 1 level.

Nah. Archibald is a good player but he does seem a little out of sorts. Maybe he’s not happy where he’s playing or doing what he’s been asked to do. I’d try him on the right - think he played there mostly in our promotion season,

Don’t get me wrong, I think he is a decent player, but there were many moments last season (and the season before that) where you’d think “this geezer is a cut above this level”. Hasn’t happened as frequently this season. You could be on to something with it being something to do with where/how he’s being asked to play.

I know I’m in the minority and he was hooked at half time but I thought sweeney was ok first half. He was left exposed because of how we pressed.

Not feeling the negativity towards Theo either. He’s a solid L1 player all day long.

BoniO wrote: ↑Sat Jan 27, 2024 9:49 pm

The Reverend wrote: ↑Sat Jan 27, 2024 8:37 pm

Beradogs wrote: ↑Sat Jan 27, 2024 8:29 pm Agree. Forde was much better than Archibald who looked knackered and was taken off. They don’t deserve the same marks. Thought Gailbraith played well again.

I can see why Lincoln were willing to let Archibald join us in the first place. Just doesn’t really stand out at league 1 level.

Nah. Archibald is a good player but he does seem a little out of sorts. Maybe he’s not happy where he’s playing or doing what he’s been asked to do. I’d try him on the right - think he played there mostly in our promotion season,

I think Theo has been playing well. Reading players were seemingly under orders to leave their feet in on him and gave him some treatment. He didn’t like it. The referee didn’t give him anything. It didn’t help his game and I expect other teams might now do the same.

Let’s not talk about the ref and his assistants…

Hoover Attack wrote: ↑Sat Jan 27, 2024 11:22 pm I know I’m in the minority and he was hooked at half time but I thought sweeney was ok first half. He was left exposed because of how we pressed.

Not feeling the negativity towards Theo either. He’s a solid L1 player all day long.

Sweeney was good last week. I think against Reading he was caught out of position too often. To get in front of Tom James he has to be either a better defender, attacker, or be better on the ball. Unfortunately for him at this time he’s nowhere near his level and I can’t see any significant attributes to make him a top player. Hunt also a better option.

I would like Sweeney to do well but he has always looked to me a League 2 player.

I don’t think he was caught out of position.

I think he was left exposed because of how we - badly - pressed and allowed them out down their right all first half.

The fact that he got hauled at half time suggests Wellens wouldn't agree with you. He was obviously really poor yesterday. He's got a horrible tendency to come for the ball at the wrong time and leave the team exposed.

Promising cameo from O'Neil. His style was exactly what I expected him to be, technical player who likes to cut inside. It's good to have a wide option we can bring on to freshen things up, we've more or less run Archibald into the ground this year.

Hoover Attack wrote: ↑Sat Jan 27, 2024 11:38 pm I don’t think he was caught out of position.

I think he was left exposed because of how we - badly - pressed and allowed them out down their right all first half.

Counted at least twice when he rushed out, got nowhere near a tackle and they spun the ball in behind. One where their player was through but took it too close to Brynn. Could argue he was coming out because Theo wasn’t there but you can’t leave a whole side of defence open. Would be interested to see Happes heat map in the first half as he covered for sweeney constantly

Rich Tea Wellin wrote: ↑Sun Jan 28, 2024 8:33 am

Hoover Attack wrote: ↑Sat Jan 27, 2024 11:38 pm I don’t think he was caught out of position.

I think he was left exposed because of how we - badly - pressed and allowed them out down their right all first half.

Counted at least twice when he rushed out, got nowhere near a tackle and they spun the ball in behind. One where their player was through but took it too close to Brynn. Could argue he was coming out because Theo wasn’t there but you can’t leave a whole side of defence open. Would be interested to see Happes heat map in the first half as he covered for sweeney constantly

I agree. If the defender is going to commit and go for the ball then he has to get it. Too many times yesterday he went and didn’t get it leaving a bloody great hole behind him. To be fair he looked targeted and the Reading winger was decent but it stopped when Tom James came on. Tom has looked very good for many weeks now. Sweeney deserved to keep his place after last week but he’s rightly lost it again in my mind.

Rich Tea Wellin wrote: ↑Sun Jan 28, 2024 8:33 am

Hoover Attack wrote: ↑Sat Jan 27, 2024 11:38 pm I don’t think he was caught out of position.

I think he was left exposed because of how we - badly - pressed and allowed them out down their right all first half.

Counted at least twice when he rushed out, got nowhere near a tackle and they spun the ball in behind. One where their player was through but took it too close to Brynn. Could argue he was coming out because Theo wasn’t there but you can’t leave a whole side of defence open. Would be interested to see Happes heat map in the first half as he covered for sweeney constantly

The one that Brynn saved was down to Happe, he got done for pace with a simple ball into the channel. You could tell from Happes reaction after he blamed himself.

Thought James was solid when he came on but I’d like to see Sweeney start again next week.

Can I ask why? Surely you wouldn’t play him in preference to Tom James?

Planning for next season. We know what James can do. We’re now safe so let’s give Sweeney a few games at this level to see whether he can do it or not. And better at home than away, especially against a struggling Carisle.

Although wouldn’t mind if we rested Theo and gave O’Neill a start instead, in which case I’d play James.

Hoover Attack wrote: ↑Sun Jan 28, 2024 10:08 am Although wouldn’t mind if we rested Theo and gave O’Neill a start instead, in which case I’d play James.

I still think RW has hopes of a late run for the playoffs. I don’t think he’ll start doing that until we are mathematically out of it.