Leyton Orient (A)

[Zico]

Just now, Kane57 said:

You could've written same after Blackpool and it would've been equally true 

Story of the season so far one way or another

[tomski]

Fully blame the keeper. Dont get it then don’t come out. Jury is out on him. We were better team but 1 shot 1 goal again for them. Still think we are well placed an we aren’t losing games. ACD goal was ace. Gale looks a handful. Dalby looked a real handful. No one is running away atm.

[Tonge moor green jacket]

Not sure he can stay though.

Has to move to some degree to cover the near post.

He may have believed initially that he would get there first, but realised he wouldn't. 

Could have carried on and risked a pen and a red.

He's still a young keeper, gaining experience, and will learn.

An argument that we should have got a more experienced keeper in of course, and maybe they looked, but I also think they wanted someone who was good at kicking/passing to initiate attacks quickly. 

[Zog1]

I don't know where to start. 

The final 3rd of the team isn't working right, there's something wrong. 

I don't think it's Randall as he's basically never fed the ball. The team seems set up to feed the balls into the wingers but 9/10 they only seem interested in shooting from 25 yards and that just isn't a reliable way to score goals. 

Burstow too because of this is dropping deep to try had have some sort of impact but that's basically leaving us with no attack outside the wingers and Randall stood in the middle wondering why nobody is passing to him.

I feel it only worked the last game because they had someone sent off which allowed us extra space, you don't normally get. 

Sheehan, McAtee and Morley all experienced the same thing when they tried to play in the 10 role this year, which is why i'm not blaming Randall. 

Feels like we're playing 422. 

Gale and ACD are clearly highly skilled but a wondergoal every few games isnt enough to win constantly, fustratingly everytime we do actually get it into the box via a cross we look super dangerous. 

I think the wondergoals are an Evatt style mirage, which hide some key failings in this team right now. 

[tomski]

After 8 games he’s 

4 minutes ago, Zog1 said:

I don't know where to start. 

The final 3rd of the team isn't working right, there's something wrong. 

I don't think it's Randall as he's basically never fed the ball. The team seems set up to feed the balls into the wingers but 9/10 they only seem interested in shooting from 25 yards and that just isn't a reliable way to score goals. 

Burstow too because of this is dropping deep to try had have some sort of impact but that's basically leaving us with no attack outside the wingers and Randall stood in the middle wondering why nobody is passing to him.

I feel it only worked the last game because they had someone sent off which allowed us extra space, you don't normally get. 

Sheehan, McAtee and Morley all experienced the same thing when they tried to play in the 10 role this year, which is why i'm not blaming Randall. 

Feels like we're playing 422. 

Gale and ACD are clearly highly skilled but a wondergoal every few games isnt enough to win constantly, fustratingly everytime we do actually get it into the box via a cross we look super dangerous. 

I think the wondergoals are an Evatt style mirage, which hide some key failings in this team right now. 

Good post but disagree on Randell. It’s not gonna work here. He should be the runner off those Burstow flick ons and it rarely happens. He just isn’t gonna do it here. I’d like to see 2 up top or at worst Sheehan or Morley (Dempsey for his 5 games a season) 

[Tombwfc]

The TSL criticism I think is just a sign that some people just have to have strong opinions about everything. And you can't say he's good because he hasn't made a save yet, therefore he must be shit.

I have no idea what to make of him really. That people think he's Pirlo on the ball doesn't really do anything for me. It's bizarre that we give up two shots a game and never keep a clean sheet. But equally, it doesn't look to me like he's chucking them in either.

No idea. This has been a weird season so far.

Edited September 13, 2025 by Tombwfc

[worthy10]

We've had several goes at acquiring a proper centre forward. One that can find space in the box and head toward goal. Big hairy arsed, bully type, and despite now having wingers, we still haven't got the right one.

[Big E]

35 minutes ago, tomski said:

Fully blame the keeper. Dont get it then don’t come out. Jury is out on him. We were better team but 1 shot 1 goal again for them. Still think we are well placed an we aren’t losing games. ACD goal was ace. Gale looks a handful. Dalby looked a real handful. No one is running away atm.

This is the exact reason this “we concede the least shots” is a load of bollocks. We concede soft goals too often 

[Zog1]

1 minute ago, tomski said:

After 8 games he’s 

Good post but disagree on Randell. It’s not gonna work here. He should be the runner off those Burstow flick ons and it rarely happens. He just isn’t gonna do it here. I’d like to see 2 up top or at worst Sheehan or Morley (Dempsey for his 5 games a season) 

I'd love to see 433, with a front 3 of Forss, Burstow/Dalby and ACD. With Forss and ACD switching wings a few times a game. 

[Arrested development]

1 minute ago, Big E said:

This is the exact reason this “we concede the least shots” is a load of bollocks. We concede soft goals too often 

It's not a load of bollocks though is it. If we conceded more shots , we'd concede more soft goals. 

[tomski]

27 minutes ago, Tombwfc said:

The TSL criticism I think is just a sign that some people just have to have strong opinions about everything. And you can't say he's good because he hasn't made a save yet, therefore he must be shit.

I have no idea what to make of him really. That people think he's Pirlo on the ball doesn't really do anything for me. It's bizarre that we give up two shots a game and never keep a clean sheet. But equally, it doesn't look to me like he's chucking them in either.

No idea. This has been a weird season so far.

The TSL criticism is completely fair as he hasn’t saved a shot. Not the strongest opinion in the world.

He should have made that block today. 

Edited September 13, 2025 by tomski

[gonzo]

1 hour ago, Kane57 said:

You could've written same after Blackpool and it would've been equally true 

Only had 899 then though.

[Eddie]

25 minutes ago, Tombwfc said:

The TSL criticism I think is just a sign that some people just have to have strong opinions about everything. And you can't say he's good because he hasn't made a save yet, therefore he must be shit.

I have no idea what to make of him really. That people think he's Pirlo on the ball doesn't really do anything for me. It's bizarre that we give up two shots a game and never keep a clean sheet. But equally, it doesn't look to me like he's chucking them in either.

No idea. This has been a weird season so far.

I think that’s the best way to sum it up. Just 8 games of contradiction.

With 5 draws you’ll always get wide ranging views and theories because it’s neither one thing or the other. I just hope there’s a definitive positive answer next weekend because it feels like it could be the proper kick start to a “solid if unspectacular” season so far.

[Leyther_Matt]

Just got back via a pint up Leigh thanks to Mr Grey’s Mrs for the lift and @Steejay’s crew for the craic on the train back

Not seen anything back yet but first thoughts on their goal are that Teddy did a Jussi and virtually jumped over the ball, but also concerns that the cross came in to begin with and that the two centre halves haven’t dealt with it once it’s gone past the keeper

Equaliser was an absolutely beauty, but we seem to be getting a little too reliant on individual pieces of quality rather than actually being able to dig ourselves out of a hole

5 subs coming on and not making a jot of difference is a concern

Good to see @BOWTUN BAKED, @Biggish Dave, @gonzoand @jules_darby amongst others

Just get a win next week ffs

Edited September 13, 2025 by Leyther_Matt

[only1swanny]

I do feel that we are using wingers well to much..

At times it made sense to run into the middle and it went out wide, almost as if it doesn't count if a winger doesn't touch it. 

Burstow is trying his best to get into the Game, 

I'd be tempted to just try Dalby or Forss with Burstow

Randall has come on leaps and bounds, just needs his shooting confidence

[Johnnyrotten]

2 hours ago, tomski said:

Fully blame the keeper. Dont get it then don’t come out. Jury is out on him. We were better team but 1 shot 1 goal again for them. Still think we are well placed an we aren’t losing games. ACD goal was ace. Gale looks a handful. Dalby looked a real handful. No one is running away atm.

We'd be complaining if he'd stayed rooted to his line. Defence going awol was the main problem. 

[Domcarey1]

If he can stay injury free, can’t help but think that Dempsey is the missing piece in this jigsaw……

[Johnnyrotten]

1 hour ago, Tombwfc said:

The TSL criticism I think is just a sign that some people just have to have strong opinions about everything. And you can't say he's good because he hasn't made a save yet, therefore he must be shit.

I have no idea what to make of him really. That people think he's Pirlo on the ball doesn't really do anything for me. It's bizarre that we give up two shots a game and never keep a clean sheet. But equally, it doesn't look to me like he's chucking them in either.

No idea. This has been a weird season so far.

I posted similar after 3 or 4 games and folk on here took it as criticism. Nothing of the sort, if a player isn't involved we can't judge them. It was the same with Trafford, often a bystander. When Baxter signed he made loads of saves and looked great, because he needed to. No opinion is as valid as strong opinions if there's not a lot to base it on.

[Zico]

Way I see it

In and around the box we're either trying to score the perfect goal or not brave enough to just try and get a shot in 

Today too many pull backs and and not making the right choices on the ball in the box

This is something SS identified as an issue last season and something we've not got sorted yet

[Rival Son]

7 hours ago, tomski said:

Dempsey for his 5 games a season

2022/23 39/46 appearances *

2023/24 41/46

2024/25 8/46

*Court case issues.

A knee injury for one season! Next thing you’ll be joining the pile on of George Johnston, for leading the meanest defence in the league: just 13 attempts on target conceded in 8 games, while excusing the only keeper in the league to save less than 50% of such attempts.

Edited September 14, 2025 by Rival Son

[bolton va va]

Just back & it was same old, same old. We were much the better team but not clinical enough, our wingers caused them all sorts of trouble but weren't accurate enough with the final ball/shot .......until the end !!

Coming away I felt quite happy, as always with a late equalizer but in the cold light of day, it's probably 2 points dropped.

( & i had the keeper down as a bit dodgy for their goal, i thought he should have prevented it getting crossed)

[Big E]

10 hours ago, Arrested development said:

It's not a load of bollocks though is it. If we conceded more shots , we'd concede more soft goals. 

Be nice to concede a goal and think. Yeah we’ve been done there. 

[boltonboris]

I was disappointed with TSL on the goal. If he’s positioned correctly he blocks it. 
 

The ball went goal side of him without going into the net. It was weird and showed how he got his angles all wrong. 
 

Shame really as we were in charge of that game. A point is ok, but these performances have to start manifesting into regular 3 points. Individuals errors in both boxes have cost us points too often this season already. 
 

Randall really presses well from the front   He doesn’t knick the ball often but does cover passing lanes and forces errors. But when he gets the ball, his decision making is poor and the reason he didn’t score yesterday is because he saw the keeper charging out of the corner of his eye and didn’t fancy contact 

[boltonboris]

Above being said. We ARE playing well and when it comes together which I hope is sooner rather than later, I think we’ll be pretty formidable. 
 

We had way more control of the game yesterday than I thought we would, which is encouraging

[Lostock Whites]

Randall is just not it I'm afraid. There's nothing really about him, I think he thinks that he's a better player than he actually is.

Cogley and Johnston are both so poor in possession. Johnston particularly has frustrated me for years with the ball at his feet and his lack of composure. He's got passion and puts effort in, but I'd really be tempted to give big R Taylor a chance now at LCB.