Independent Leyton Orient Forum

I only just noticed this news about ex Os striker Harry Smith. He has signed for Swindon and will be teaming up again with ex Os forward Aaron Drinan.
Quote below......"I'm coming back a much different person and a much-improved player."
I hope Harry does really well in the coming season !

''Former Sutton United forward and free agent Harry Smith has joined Swindon Town on a permanent deal.
Smith returns to the County Ground after previously playing there on loan from Millwall in 2017.
The 29-year-old made 42 appearances for Sutton United last term, scoring 14 goals across all competitions in the season they were relegated back to the National League. "I'm really happy," Smith told the club, external upon signing.
"As soon as I spoke to the manager [Mark Kennedy] I knew it was somewhere I wanted to be playing my football this season.
"I'm coming back a much different person and a much-improved player."
Swindon have not disclosed the length of Smith's contract''

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/ar ... x54x0kr1ro

I'm happy for him and I hope he makes the most of it at age 29.

14 goals for a relegated team is excellent.

Always thought he was decent.

He and Drinan were popping in goals like there was no tomorrow in the first few months of Jackett's reign, maybe the Swindon manager will have the same effect on them.

It was a very good partnership, alas, for only a short space of time.

Chief crazy horse wrote: ↑Sun Jul 07, 2024 10:01 am I'm happy for him and I hope he makes the most of it at age 29.

Note the last part of that news article ...''"I'm coming back a much different person and a much-improved player."
Well if the problems that Harry had are now sorted out, then Swindon might have a very good centre forward on their books now !
Also if Drinnan can keep fit, then the two of them could prove to be a very good pairing in the coming season !!

Why are our old fans obsessed with journeyman smith? Is he cos he reminds you of the clogging 60s and 70s?

We're not obsessed, we are merely discussing an ex Orient player who served us well for a short period of time and has also had his personal problems. That's all. Nothing out of the ordinary.

He played for us what 1.5 seasons? I get it for orient legends or long serving players. Smith gets a thread once a quarter. Couldn’t care less where he is or how he does. Just glad he isn’t with us anymore

Chief crazy horse wrote: ↑Sun Jul 07, 2024 2:12 pm We're not obsessed, we are merely discussing an ex Orient player who served us well for a short period of time and has also had his personal problems. That's all. Nothing out of the ordinary.

Agree. If he can truly sort out his ''personal problems'' get motivated and fit, he will be a really good target man striker.
Swindon may well get lucky by getting him onboard for no transfer fee paid.

Chief crazy horse wrote: ↑Sun Jul 07, 2024 11:28 am It was a very good partnership, alas, for only a short space of time.

Tbf it was probably as good a partnership for that brief interlude as anything we’ve had since Lisbie/ Mooney.

The olds love a target man

Rich Tea Wellin wrote: ↑Sun Jul 07, 2024 5:14 pm The olds love a target man

Or indeed anyone who can score with some degree of regularity!

redintheface wrote: ↑Sun Jul 07, 2024 5:19 pm

Rich Tea Wellin wrote: ↑Sun Jul 07, 2024 5:14 pm The olds love a target man

Or indeed anyone who can score with some degree of regularity!

And regardless of whatever system is played, good target men are still one of the most highly prized players on the football pitch with a good example being Erling Haaland of Manchester City.

Rich Tea Wellin wrote: ↑Sun Jul 07, 2024 5:14 pm The olds love a target man

Seems like you get a certain pleasure by regularly having a little dig at the elderly. One things for sure though:
You'll be there one day - and sooner than you think..

Chief crazy horse wrote: ↑Mon Jul 08, 2024 10:19 am

Rich Tea Wellin wrote: ↑Sun Jul 07, 2024 5:14 pm The olds love a target man

Seems like you get a certain pleasure by regularly having a little dig at the elderly. One things for sure though:
You'll be there one day - and sooner than you think..

I'm reminded of an old quote " To be old and wise you must first be young and stupid ".

Chief crazy horse wrote: ↑Mon Jul 08, 2024 10:19 am

Rich Tea Wellin wrote: ↑Sun Jul 07, 2024 5:14 pm The olds love a target man

Seems like you get a certain pleasure by regularly having a little dig at the elderly. One things for sure though:
You'll be there one day - and sooner than you think..

On this forum, some contributors seem to think anyone over the age of 50 can be classed as elderly !

We have some great ‘wide men’ or wingers in old money at Orient just now, with Archibald, O’Neill, Graham and maybe the new guy Jayesimi as well, who will be expecting to put in some great crosses this season, however we don’t have a ‘target man’ like Harry Smith in the squad.
Not saying we should have brought him back, but maybe a younger and more mobile version would be useful.
We don’t score many headed goals as I remember.

RedDwarf 1881 wrote: ↑Mon Jul 08, 2024 10:24 am

Chief crazy horse wrote: ↑Mon Jul 08, 2024 10:19 am

Rich Tea Wellin wrote: ↑Sun Jul 07, 2024 5:14 pm The olds love a target man

Seems like you get a certain pleasure by regularly having a little dig at the elderly. One things for sure though:
You'll be there one day - and sooner than you think..

I'm reminded of an old quote " To be old and wise you must first be young and stupid ".

Not sure the wise bit can be applied here. See the euros threads.

Cheshunto wrote: ↑Mon Jul 08, 2024 10:38 am We have some great ‘wide men’ or wingers in old money at Orient just now, with Archibald, O’Neill, Graham and maybe the new guy Jayesimi as well, who will be expecting to put in some great crosses this season, however we don’t have a ‘target man’ like Harry Smith in the squad.
Not saying we should have brought him back, but maybe a younger and more mobile version would be useful.
We don’t score many headed goals as I remember.

The type of good younger and mobile ''Target man'' you speak of are very much in demand and cost a lot of money to bring in.

redintheface wrote: ↑Sun Jul 07, 2024 4:49 pm

Chief crazy horse wrote: ↑Sun Jul 07, 2024 11:28 am It was a very good partnership, alas, for only a short space of time.

Tbf it was probably as good a partnership for that brief interlude as anything we’ve had since Lisbie/ Mooney.

Josh Koroma and Macauley Bonne called and asked for their trophy back.

Sid Bishop wrote: ↑Mon Jul 08, 2024 12:45 pm

Cheshunto wrote: ↑Mon Jul 08, 2024 10:38 am We have some great ‘wide men’ or wingers in old money at Orient just now, with Archibald, O’Neill, Graham and maybe the new guy Jayesimi as well, who will be expecting to put in some great crosses this season, however we don’t have a ‘target man’ like Harry Smith in the squad.
Not saying we should have brought him back, but maybe a younger and more mobile version would be useful.
We don’t score many headed goals as I remember.

The type of good younger and mobile ''Target man'' you speak of are very much in demand and cost a lot of money to bring in.

Yes, agreed Sid, but it seems pointless having good wingers putting in good crosses and not having the height and physicality to be a threat.
Anyway, I guess, or at least hope we are working hard, as a higher priority, to replace EL Mizouni who seems is not returning to us.

Cheshunto wrote: ↑Mon Jul 08, 2024 6:08 pm

Sid Bishop wrote: ↑Mon Jul 08, 2024 12:45 pm

Cheshunto wrote: ↑Mon Jul 08, 2024 10:38 am We have some great ‘wide men’ or wingers in old money at Orient just now, with Archibald, O’Neill, Graham and maybe the new guy Jayesimi as well, who will be expecting to put in some great crosses this season, however we don’t have a ‘target man’ like Harry Smith in the squad.
Not saying we should have brought him back, but maybe a younger and more mobile version would be useful.
We don’t score many headed goals as I remember.

The type of good younger and mobile ''Target man'' you speak of are very much in demand and cost a lot of money to bring in.

Yes, agreed Sid, but it seems pointless having good wingers putting in good crosses and not having the height and physicality to be a threat.
Anyway, I guess, or at least hope we are working hard, as a higher priority, to replace EL Mizouni who seems is not returning to us.

Yet to see what sort of forward Sonny Perkins is, he is 5' 10'' tall and has played at centre forward before so we may see if he can get his head onto some of the crosses that may come into the box ?

Sid Bishop wrote: ↑Mon Jul 08, 2024 7:55 pm

Cheshunto wrote: ↑Mon Jul 08, 2024 6:08 pm

Sid Bishop wrote: ↑Mon Jul 08, 2024 12:45 pm

The type of good younger and mobile ''Target man'' you speak of are very much in demand and cost a lot of money to bring in.

Yes, agreed Sid, but it seems pointless having good wingers putting in good crosses and not having the height and physicality to be a threat.
Anyway, I guess, or at least hope we are working hard, as a higher priority, to replace EL Mizouni who seems is not returning to us.

Yet to see what sort of forward Sonny Perkins is, he is 5' 10'' tall and has played at centre forward before so we may see if he can get his head onto some of the crosses that may come into the box ?

Yes, agreed Sid……….written off by some on here, but like the other new signings / loans, they need to be given chances to impress. Ritchie though tends to favour smaller strikers who are tricky around the box and are better with the ball at their feet.
Whatever happens Sid I think League One is gonna be a tougher place this season.

Cheshunto wrote: ↑Mon Jul 08, 2024 9:25 pm

Sid Bishop wrote: ↑Mon Jul 08, 2024 7:55 pm

Cheshunto wrote: ↑Mon Jul 08, 2024 6:08 pm

Yes, agreed Sid, but it seems pointless having good wingers putting in good crosses and not having the height and physicality to be a threat.
Anyway, I guess, or at least hope we are working hard, as a higher priority, to replace EL Mizouni who seems is not returning to us.

Yet to see what sort of forward Sonny Perkins is, he is 5' 10'' tall and has played at centre forward before so we may see if he can get his head onto some of the crosses that may come into the box ?

Yes, agreed Sid……….written off by some on here, but like the other new signings / loans, they need to be given chances to impress. Ritchie though tends to favour smaller strikers who are tricky around the box and are better with the ball at their feet.
Whatever happens Sid I think League One is gonna be a tougher place this season.

Yes agree, so basically it would seem that the chances are that we wont be seeing a big target man type of striker playing for the Os this season.
Also agree with you that '' I think League One is gonna be a lot tougher place this season''
Hope we are both wrong and that Os come up with some good surprise results, players stay fairly injury free and that the Os finish well clear of the relegation zone !!