Independent Leyton Orient Forum

The Os have been blessed to have back to back seasons with potent strikers leading the goal charts.

I was a big fan of Kelman and (to much derision on this MB) predicted he would score over 20 goals in that season.
Last summer I thought Charlie had a good chance of pressing for a place in the US World Cup team. But his failure to do so is down to joining a cloggers club like Charlton - managed by Nathan Jones a proponent of the Ugly Game.
Kelman success at Orient was enabled by the lovely creativity that ran through last seasons squad.

Coming to Ballard it’s a different story. He’s had to toil hard in a pretty awful Os team which has pretty much fielded a non existent midfield. I can’t imagine how fertile Dom would have been with the likes of Donley and Galbraith behind him. He’s a class act to be sure.

I hope both players have successful careers and most of all that they reach their potential. If and when Ballard goes it must be to a footballing side - and not repeat the idiocy of Kelman’s move to Charlton

Unfortunately Charlie had already proven that he struggled at Championship level, so whilst fans love the fact he puts the effort in, was no surprise that he only got a handful of goals last season.

I believe he was looking for a move to the US originally but that fell through, obviously Charlton offered him and QPR the best deal.

As for Dom, there is more about than Charlie, for starters he can head a ball. Whether he could cut it in the Championship is obviously to be seen.

From what I've seen, I think Dom will have a better career.

Ballard would have scored 40 goals in last seasons team.

Kelmans lack of success this season has nothing to do with Charltons style of football. He's perfectly adapt at running the channels for them and pressing hard. It's just the level they play at. He was never a £3 / 4 million pound player and was always going to find it difficult at Championship level.

Kelman is a good league one striker and a passable one in the championship. Charlton got fleeced. He seems to have a habit of making bad decisions and seems thin skinned. Ballard is a class a part in basically every aspect of his game.

Doms ceiling is premier league. He might not make it but has a chance. Charlie has reached his ceiling already.

Dom is clearly better as scored his goals in a rubbish team. Charlie was great last season but, from memory, missed a lot more chances.

One thing both have in common is they had zero competition. A lot of players thrive on being constantly pushed for a starting place but it seems the opposite for these two. They like the comfort of being the first name on the team sheet

Rich Tea Wellin wrote: Fri May 29, 2026 9:46 am Kelman is a good league one striker and a passable one in the championship. Charlton got fleeced. He seems to have a habit of making bad decisions and seems thin skinned. Ballard is a class a part in basically every aspect of his game.

Doms ceiling is premier league. He might not make it but has a chance. Charlie has reached his ceiling already.

It's not like Charlie's been a total disaster. It's his first season at that level, if he continues working hard and improving, he'll be a consistent 10 goals a season squad type player at that level. That's better than anything we've produced in a long time.

What are all these bad decisions he's made?

Token wrote: Fri May 29, 2026 9:56 am
One thing both have in common is they had zero competition. A lot of players thrive on being constantly pushed for a starting place but it seems the opposite for these two. They like the comfort of being the first name on the team sheet

How the heck have you drawn that conclusion?

Hoover Attack wrote: Fri May 29, 2026 10:06 am

Token wrote: Fri May 29, 2026 9:56 am
One thing both have in common is they had zero competition. A lot of players thrive on being constantly pushed for a starting place but it seems the opposite for these two. They like the comfort of being the first name on the team sheet

How the heck have you drawn that conclusion?

I’d draw that conclusion for Charlie. The only time he’s had a good season was when he had no competition. Time will tell if Dom is the same

Hoover Attack wrote: Fri May 29, 2026 9:34 am Ballard would have scored 40 goals in last seasons team.

Kelmans lack of success this season has nothing to do with Charltons style of football. He's perfectly adapt at running the channels for them and pressing hard. It's just the level they play at. He was never a £3 / 4 million pound player and was always going to find it difficult at Championship level.

Disagree. Charlie would've had a better return with a team that played a different style of football and/or different formation.

In a better set-up, think his ceiling is a 10-15 goal-a-season Championship striker - so roughly double what he scored this season.

Whether that is worth £3-4m to the right team is another question.

Agree re: Ballard in last year's team. He's also a few years younger than Charlie.

Are People genuinely daft about Kelman ?

Kelmans Chance to goal ratio was Shocking.
He'd miss so many chances before scoring a goal
Could get as high as 20 over 2 -3 games
Then hed score.
Charlie wasnt an Instinctive finisher.
If He stays at Charlton he'll rarely get above 10
Even Macauley Bonne got 11 for the Addicks
In the Championship in his first season

E10quence wrote: Fri May 29, 2026 11:11 am

Hoover Attack wrote: Fri May 29, 2026 9:34 am Ballard would have scored 40 goals in last seasons team.

Kelmans lack of success this season has nothing to do with Charltons style of football. He's perfectly adapt at running the channels for them and pressing hard. It's just the level they play at. He was never a £3 / 4 million pound player and was always going to find it difficult at Championship level.

Disagree. Charlie would've had a better return with a team that played a different style of football and/or different formation.

In what way? Charlton are still playing 3-5-2 aren't they? I struggle to see him leading the line alone in the Championship.

Token wrote: Fri May 29, 2026 9:56 am Dom is clearly better as scored his goals in a rubbish team. Charlie was great last season but, from memory, missed a lot more chances.

One thing both have in common is they had zero competition. A lot of players thrive on being constantly pushed for a starting place but it seems the opposite for these two. They like the comfort of being the first name on the team sheet

Absurdly unfair on Ballard.

Hoover Attack wrote: Fri May 29, 2026 10:05 am

Rich Tea Wellin wrote: Fri May 29, 2026 9:46 am Kelman is a good league one striker and a passable one in the championship. Charlton got fleeced. He seems to have a habit of making bad decisions and seems thin skinned. Ballard is a class a part in basically every aspect of his game.

Doms ceiling is premier league. He might not make it but has a chance. Charlie has reached his ceiling already.

It's not like Charlie's been a total disaster. It's his first season at that level, if he continues working hard and improving, he'll be a consistent 10 goals a season squad type player at that level. That's better than anything we've produced in a long time.

What are all these bad decisions he's made?

Didn’t say he’s been a disaster. As I say Charlie has probably reached his ceiling as a 10 goal a season championship striker which is nothing to be sniffed at.

Could argue going Charlton wasn’t the best decision but I was referring more to joining Wigan and not us in that transfer window cos he was upset a few fans didn’t want him. Apparently.

Rich Tea Wellin wrote: Fri May 29, 2026 3:09 pm
Could argue going Charlton wasn’t the best decision but I was referring more to joining Wigan and not us in that transfer window cos he was upset a few fans didn’t want him. Apparently.

Clearly didn't work out at Wigan but I don't think choosing them over us at the time was a bad call. Bigger club and stadium, established L1 side, away from home so chance to grow etc.

I thought the thing about the fans was when he joined second time around, Richie was bitching he would only sign on loan and not transfer because of the moans (which sounds like a load of old nonsense to me).

Charlton is about as big a club as he could hope to join. And as much as I despise watching their brand of football, it suits Charlies game.

I'm old enough to remember when Macauley Bonne was bedding in well in the Championship. All the Bonne derision is with the benefit of hindsight. Kelman and Ballard are both still young strikers and there are many twists and turns to come in both careers.