It would probably be easier to write a book about what went wrong with Orient's season than to try to cover it in a single blog. The only difficulty with writing it would be that so much appears to have gone wrong behind the scenes that trying to piece it together from the outside with any degree of certainty is impossible.
The signs were there right from the end of the season. The fact that Jamie Jones tweeted his surprise at the release of Scott McGleish doesn't suggest there was open revolt, it is more a reflection on twitter and how players use it. But you got the impression that there were two leaders in the dressing room, McGleish and Stephen Dawson. No one would slack off with Dawson around and no one at the club was bigger than McGleish. Maybe Russell Slade felt that the latter wasn't conducive to team spirit but I believe it had the effect of keeping everyone elses egos in check and the players all seemed to respect McGleish. But there are stories like that at the end of every season and they're soon forgotten about as the new season starts.
I was far more concerned when the players went off to Las Vegas at the start of the season, a reward for getting a replay with Arsenal and a great team building opportunity. The fact two players stayed behind was a cause for concern - in the first instance because it may have been a precursor to them leaving shortly and then later because it seemed odd that they simply didn't want to go on the trip. Revell's performances last season were solid, Rotherham (hardly a club awash with money) were willing to pay a transfer fee for him and we didn't have a replacement for him, all of which suggest he didn't leave because of a lack of ability. As the end of the first transfer window came, the warning signs from the Vegas trip came to fruition as he departed to Yorkshire. It may have simply been because a transfer fee was offered (which it could have been if you look at the later departure of Dawson), because he wanted away for his own reasons, the manager didn't want him in the squad or a combination of two or all of those reasons. There isn't necessarily a salacious story behind it, maybe the chemistry that was there last season simply wasn't this and it suited all parties.
As the season went on (although for Orient it didn't start until October), we continued to be a victim of our own success. The loan players who did so well for us last year were retained by Tottenham to feature in their Europa League campaign and then later loaned to Championship clubs. Charlie Daniels was the next to be poached, at least doubling his wages at Bournemouth and earning the club a decent transfer fee. I'm all for having a go at Ashley Cole for not being able to manage on his 'paltry' wages at Arsenal but it is a bit different on the sort of wages he'd be on at this level. Daniels would be an idiot to turn down an offer to play at Margate if they offered him £3k more than he was on at Orient. Then our biggest diamond was plucked by Barnsley and suddenly not only had we lost all but one of our truly outstanding players from one year ago, we lost the driving force in the heart of the team and Russell Slade had to find someone new to take his bins out. If you thought it couldn't get any worse we also lost a decent right back, still now spending time at Her Majesty's displeasure and thanks to injuries we've had more keepers at Brisbane Road than they have at London Zoo.
If there has been criticism of Slade that has been particularly harsh this year it is his record with signings and I don't think it is the quality of individual players that has been the problem. Some unsuccessful moves stand out. Jamie Cureton just couldn't cut it and didn't look able to hit the target even if it was doubled in size. Tom Clarke was very ordinary and there are simply no words to describe Calvin Andrew or the emergency signing of Paul Rachubka. But he has also signed player of the year Scott Cuthbert, Lee Cook probably the most talented person to grace the shirt this season, Syam Ben Youssef who shows great potential, Tony Craig who did well enough to be recalled to Millwall, Adam Reed who belied his young age and showed he is a tidy player already, Adam Chicksen also good enough to be recalled by MK Dons, Leon McSweeney who has played well out of position and was willing to play through the pain barrier at the end of the season and Jamal Campbell-Ryce who was key to what attacking play we did manage in the run in. I don't think that is a bad ratio of good to bad and there are only so many good players that the manager can be expected to keep replacing!
There are plenty of others who did OK but who I think have simply not played to their full potential due to playing out of position (Mooney, Leacock) injuries (Taiwo), suspension (Dickson, Taiwo, Dickson again) or simply by not being given the games to hit their stride (Laird). Everyone will have their hate figures and their favourites but I didn't start this blog to slate players or managers. Our problem was that last season we had some consistency, some truly outstanding performers and a good squad of players around them to support them. In the latter half of this season we've had too many supporting actors but not enough leading lights. I do believe the worst decision of the season was allowing Dawson to go, especially if the sole reason was to pick up a transfer fee for someone who was due to be out of contract. He was such a vital part of the team and that money would have been swallowed up by the losses incurred by getting relegated. Once he had had gone I don't believe Slade could have done much better than getting players or Reed and Taiwo's standard in. It simply isn't possible to loan in a player anywhere near as good as Dawson.
Russell Slade will probably never get the credit for digging the team out of a huge mess after a terrible start. Can anyone honestly say that on the 30 September 2011 they ever thought we'd get out of the relegation zone at all? Unfortunately though when we went into a double dip it nearly had disastrous consequences. Even with a lack of star players there is no way this squad of players should have finished where we did in the table and so you have to look at how the team was lined up and asked to play. For one thing we simply ran out of full backs and then latterly lost our best centre back Scott Cuthbert. As a result we started to look very shaky at the back and Slade's response was to be very cautious with his tactics. You're on a hiding to nothing when you find yourself having to plug things up to simply avoid conceding goals. Go out offensively and you're leaving a weak defence exposed. Try to protect them and you are just inviting pressure on yourselves and something will give eventually. That is exactly what happened game after game, as the floodgates regularly gave way around the hour mark.
Finally at the end of a season that saw him deprived of players over and over again the gaffer simply had no idea what his best team was anymore. Trying to find what players work best in what system in pre-season is easy (ish!), especially when you've spent the last six months studying the new players strengths and weaknesses and brought them in at a time of your choose. Doing that in front of the fans against competitive teams is a different kettle of fish. He ended up choosing eleven players who mightn't light up a game but he felt they were the players who wouldn't let him down, even if it meant playing them out of position. But again you are on a slippery slope when you find yourself having to select a team with that sort of negative mindset. Players like Leacock, who I thought looked fine in defence, were asked to play in midfield, which didn't particularly strengthen the midfield and weakened the defence. Jimmy Smith, whose greatest strength is scoring goals from midfield was asked to play in the holding position in front of the back four. He was unsuited to it and found himself following the ball because that is his game further up the park but it exposed the centre backs in the process. I don't think there were any right answers to the hand that the season dealt us, only part of which was of our own doing. We basically ended up in a mess that nearly overwhelmed us as the injuries and suspensions stacked up. We're not a top 5 team who could throw money at problems or have a squad prepared for any eventuality - an Orient manager is always going to have to make do and mend.
Somehow we have got to the end of the season with our League One status intact. This may well have been the toughest season of Russell Slade's managerial career and he will be stronger for it - after a break! The fact that he held on until the end of the season suggests he has Barry Hearn's full support and will have been scouting and planning for next season in the knowledge he will still be here. Forget the fact he has a two year contract, there is no way in the world that doesn't contain release clauses that would allow a parting of the ways without paying up that full 2 years. It is funny how Barry gets accused of being too hard-nosed and then too generous with contracts almost in the same breath! Slade isn't infallible but I trust him when it comes to bringing players in, building a squad and getting them to play way above expectations. Last year didn't happen by luck. I also believe that whatever he got wrong and right there are other managers who wouldn't have coped with everything that was thrown at him and would have either walked away or turned on the players or fans. At all times Russell has behaved with dignity and composure, despite clearly hurting that nothing he tried seemed to work. The best thing about getting to the end of the season is that the slate gets wiped clean, bridges can be mended and everyone gets a chance to reflect on what could have been done better. Luckily the break is long enough to fit it all in.
The one plea I would make is that we don't go into next season talking about how long Slade has to get it right. That sort of pressure will only have a negative effect on everyone at the club. Enjoy your summer and genuine heartfelt thanks to everyone who has read these ramblings and said nice things about the blog. It really does mean a lot and makes the inordinate amount of time it takes to work out what the hell is wrong with Leyton Orient all worthwhile.
Monday, 7 May 2012
Sunday, 22 April 2012
They Thought It Was All Over
The deflating nature of Orient's collapse against a poor Yeovil side obscures the fact that the Os are in a better position than I predicted with two games of the season left. 3 games ago I looked at the fixtures of each of the teams and could easily see Orient in the bottom four after a defeat to Yeovil. Unfortunately my prediction that Orient would only pick up 1 point from the next three games was correct (against Yeovil rather than Exeter as it turned out) but on the plus side Wycombe have done the same despite having winnable games against Oldham and Chesterfield. No doubt right now Wycombe fans feel the same as Orient's- that their team is in a position it deserves to be in.
What appeared to be another negative Orient home team selection turned out to actually be quite positive - in a way. Although lining up with an apparent front pairing of Jamal Campbell-Ryce and Kevin Lisbie, the former either dropped deep or went wide looking for the ball. In effect Lisbie was still leading the line by himself but he was supported with Campbell-Ryce filling the gulf between him and the midfield and Matthew Spring getting forward as much as possible. Campbell-Ryce's role had the added bonus of also bringing Dean Cox into the game in the right positions as Cox overlapped with the Jamaican whenever he was on the ball. Sadly Orient's crossing wasn't all it could have been but when Cox did come up with the sort of delivery we expect it fell plum on Lisbie's head for the first goal.
There was so much more to the Orient performance than formations as they looked to fight their way out of danger. Matthew Spring deserves huge credit for the effort he put in and the team followed suit. Spring was provided cover for the back four when he was needed, played the simple short balls in the centre of the park when we needed a cool head and got up to support Lisbie when we attacked. It was a superb effort from the captain, leading by example when it was needed most. For the first time in months the rest of the team showed the same kind of energy and they deserved their half time lead. Despite Jamie Jones making two world class saves, Orient made most of the running and should have extended their lead before half time. Spirit and determination overcame the deficiencies that have plunged Orient into a relegation fight in a scrappy first half. It was obvious to everyone that we needed to continue playing at the same tempo in the second half if they were to enjoy similar success.
Of course we didn't and Yeovil looked surprised to be back in the game, spurning some early chances. From the start of the second half the signs were there that time wasting and slowing the game down wasn't the way to go. Orient ended up looking like England in an international tournament, abandoning the style of play that worked for them in favour of something that exposes their weaknesses. We started losing possession and making silly mistakes, seemingly losing their focus as soon as they took their foot off the pedal.
Ironically having weathered the early rally what should have been the high point of Orient's dismal season ended up being the worst thing that could have happened. When Lisbie applied the finish to the easiest goal he will ever score the relief around Brisbane Road was palpable. Wycome were losing, Orient were in front by two goals and Yeovil heads went down. What could go wrong now? Orient started enjoying some possession again and anyone who had never watched Orient before would have thought we were coasting. Unfortunately whilst Spring had lead by example early in the game, we still lack the Stephen Dawson character in the team who would have rollicked anyone losing concentration with the victory still to be sealed. When Yeovil scraped one goal back it was inevitable that before the final whistle went there would be a crucial moment that would settle the game one way or another. The rest exists only in snapshots in my mind, like the memories of a nightmare. Russell Slade making a needless substitution to eat up some time. The team losing organisation as a result. Conceding a corner as two defenders got in each others way. Every single Orient player back in the penalty area to defend it, despite Yeovil still having players back. Yeovil having free possession when the corner was cleared because every Orient player was in the penalty area but then every one of them watching as the ball was played back in and turned in for the equaliser.
The performance should give Orient fans more hope than at any time in the last few weeks because the team finally showed some fight and got themselves into a winning position. But they are mentally fragile, too scared of defeat to confidently chase the win we need to confirm League One status. There is no doubt they care, as evidenced by the frenetic Russell Slade in the technical area and the reaction at the final whistle. I think I'd have been more upset with the team aimlessly wandering around clapping fans than by them storming off the field having thrown away their lifeline. I'd rather have a four point gap than be sitting in the bottom four right now but there is a high probability that if we continue to rely on others results, we'll stumble and fall inches short of the finishing line. In the last 9 seasons 2 teams have survived with 48 points, the other 7 all required at least 50. No one has survived with less than 48 points since Oxford United in 2000. Being relegated with 47 points this year may require an unlikely sequence of results but history suggests that stranger things have happened.
What appeared to be another negative Orient home team selection turned out to actually be quite positive - in a way. Although lining up with an apparent front pairing of Jamal Campbell-Ryce and Kevin Lisbie, the former either dropped deep or went wide looking for the ball. In effect Lisbie was still leading the line by himself but he was supported with Campbell-Ryce filling the gulf between him and the midfield and Matthew Spring getting forward as much as possible. Campbell-Ryce's role had the added bonus of also bringing Dean Cox into the game in the right positions as Cox overlapped with the Jamaican whenever he was on the ball. Sadly Orient's crossing wasn't all it could have been but when Cox did come up with the sort of delivery we expect it fell plum on Lisbie's head for the first goal.
There was so much more to the Orient performance than formations as they looked to fight their way out of danger. Matthew Spring deserves huge credit for the effort he put in and the team followed suit. Spring was provided cover for the back four when he was needed, played the simple short balls in the centre of the park when we needed a cool head and got up to support Lisbie when we attacked. It was a superb effort from the captain, leading by example when it was needed most. For the first time in months the rest of the team showed the same kind of energy and they deserved their half time lead. Despite Jamie Jones making two world class saves, Orient made most of the running and should have extended their lead before half time. Spirit and determination overcame the deficiencies that have plunged Orient into a relegation fight in a scrappy first half. It was obvious to everyone that we needed to continue playing at the same tempo in the second half if they were to enjoy similar success.
Of course we didn't and Yeovil looked surprised to be back in the game, spurning some early chances. From the start of the second half the signs were there that time wasting and slowing the game down wasn't the way to go. Orient ended up looking like England in an international tournament, abandoning the style of play that worked for them in favour of something that exposes their weaknesses. We started losing possession and making silly mistakes, seemingly losing their focus as soon as they took their foot off the pedal.
Ironically having weathered the early rally what should have been the high point of Orient's dismal season ended up being the worst thing that could have happened. When Lisbie applied the finish to the easiest goal he will ever score the relief around Brisbane Road was palpable. Wycome were losing, Orient were in front by two goals and Yeovil heads went down. What could go wrong now? Orient started enjoying some possession again and anyone who had never watched Orient before would have thought we were coasting. Unfortunately whilst Spring had lead by example early in the game, we still lack the Stephen Dawson character in the team who would have rollicked anyone losing concentration with the victory still to be sealed. When Yeovil scraped one goal back it was inevitable that before the final whistle went there would be a crucial moment that would settle the game one way or another. The rest exists only in snapshots in my mind, like the memories of a nightmare. Russell Slade making a needless substitution to eat up some time. The team losing organisation as a result. Conceding a corner as two defenders got in each others way. Every single Orient player back in the penalty area to defend it, despite Yeovil still having players back. Yeovil having free possession when the corner was cleared because every Orient player was in the penalty area but then every one of them watching as the ball was played back in and turned in for the equaliser.
The performance should give Orient fans more hope than at any time in the last few weeks because the team finally showed some fight and got themselves into a winning position. But they are mentally fragile, too scared of defeat to confidently chase the win we need to confirm League One status. There is no doubt they care, as evidenced by the frenetic Russell Slade in the technical area and the reaction at the final whistle. I think I'd have been more upset with the team aimlessly wandering around clapping fans than by them storming off the field having thrown away their lifeline. I'd rather have a four point gap than be sitting in the bottom four right now but there is a high probability that if we continue to rely on others results, we'll stumble and fall inches short of the finishing line. In the last 9 seasons 2 teams have survived with 48 points, the other 7 all required at least 50. No one has survived with less than 48 points since Oxford United in 2000. Being relegated with 47 points this year may require an unlikely sequence of results but history suggests that stranger things have happened.
Sunday, 15 April 2012
Russell Slade : The man under the cap
There is a cycle of emotions around every Orient game at the moment. It starts at the final whistle of each game when a tsunami of vilification pours forth. Before the players have even reached the dressing room they've been torn apart in the stands and on the internet. It lasts for a few days. Any comment on manager Russell Slade tends to finish with "...and he can take his cap with him". Any player who comes out on twitter and offers apologies is quickly back in favour (apart from a few who think they should do their talking on the pitch). CEO Matt Porter typically recieves a whole heap of abuse for not giving up on the team - until he responds to comments, when he is then praised for staying positive and holding things together. This tends to be the turning point of the week and slowly the players are being exhorted to give it their all because the fans are behind them and generally people want Slade to stick his cap on his head again and not anywhere else. There is the rare added bonus of an ex-player sticking his oar in and getting in a tete-a-tete (sans chapeau) with a current player about who cares the most about the club. I didn't see who the winner was but I guess it wasn't anyone who in twenty years time will still be paying to watch the team play, whatever division they are in. Sadly at the moment the cycle is completed when the Os concede three goals again and lose and it starts all over again.
Some of this is entirely understandable and justified. No one at the club is pretending that recent results even come close to being acceptable. Generally during games fans have resisted getting on the players backs but players and management have accepted that, in the aftermath of games at least, it is hard to remain positive in the face of repeated disappointment. People need to get it out of their system before they are ready to look forward to the next game.
What surprises me though is the vitriol that directed at players and management who were loved so recently for bringing us our best finish in nigh on 20 years. There isn't a single fan who isn't considering how they feel about Russell Slade right now. We are in a tailspin and everyone is fighting hard and trying everything to pull us round, when what we need are cool calm heads. At this stage of the season there is no time to step back and take a deep breath, big games are coming once or twice a week. I am not in that place yet but if I felt Slade needed to go to give us a chance to stay up it would be with a heavy heart and extreme reluctance.
For others it seems a lot easier and as the red mist descends all of the good things that Slade has done are obscured. Some people seem to out and out hate him and would kick him without a thought. Others seem to take a perverse pleasure in our forutnes (so long as it doesn't actually get as far as being relegated) because it gives them licence to vent their frustrations. It's often said that football fans enjoy complaining as much as they do celebrating. I stopped going to every away game after the promotion season because at the very end of that season people were still complaining as if we were at the other end of the table. I thought that if you couldn't enjoy the run in at the end of that season then what was the point? Maybe it shouldn't be a surprise. As I write this on a Saturday evening, I'm certain that if I turned on any terrestial TV station right now there will be a talent show on and another group of twnetysomethings (lets call them Christians) are being torn apart by internet Lions. Pardon me a Victor Meldrew moment, but it is what seems to pass for entertainment these days and as the Christians/Lions comment suggests, it is primative. People feel better about themselves when they are tearing someone apart more than they do from anything constructive or good.
If you want you can disregard how much pleasure and pride Slade gave us last season as we beat Arsenal 1-1 and put together an unbeaten run not many amongst the 4,000 faithful had seen in their lifetime. My impression of Russell Slade, who I've only met once after the Arsenal game, is one of a thoroughly decent intelligent man who speaks quietly but with authority. He has made tough decisions but doesn't appear to be the sort of person who would take any sort of pleasure from seeing a family man. In return he is faced with hundreds who would gladly see him put out of his job without a second thought for the longer term future of of him or the club. It is the default position of football fans to call for the managers head at the earliest opportunity and the callousness of it is deeply unpleasant.
When I was younger I was untroubled by such thoughts. Peter Eustace was our manager and we had gone from play off contenders to lower mid-table also rans. A set of barking mad programme notes about wagon trains from the Yorkshireman was followed by his postmatch quote following a defeat at Brighton, that if Eustace was in the trenches he wouldn't want his players standing behind him. I wanted Eustace to be shown the door and as far as I was concerned his cloth cap would come in handy for begging because he wasn't fit for a job in football. A few weeks later I came across Eustace during half time of another game we were on our way to losing. I was seething at another poor performance and here was the clown responsible. He looked up, smiled and said "wrap up lads, it's getting colder out there". Suddenly the cartoon Eustace evaporated and I saw a human being who despite having the troubles of the world on his shoulders had time for a kind and friendly word for a horrible teenager. When he finally left the club I felt relief (for him as much as us) but took no pleasure in his departure.
I felt the same with someone much more popular with me if not others, Tommy Taylor. I liked Tommy a lot, as a man and a manager (if not as a man manager!). It wasn't a feeling shared by many fans, who were ready to call for his head after a single defeat let alone the kind of run we are on at the moment. People who complain that managers these days say nothing in interviews used to lambast Tommy for his frank and forthright style rather than welcome the fact he'd talk openly with anyone. Despite liking him a lot as a person I did wonder if it was time for him to step down after the Millennium Stadium play off defeat and my reservations were realised when he was sacked in the middle of a slump the following season. Of course resigning from Leyton Orient isn't the same as being sacked by Manchester City and so of course he didn't resign from employment even if he did feel that his best chance to get us promoted had gone. I do know that Tommy was an Orient man and he'd have loved getting us promoted as much as any fan. I also know that in the last months of his reign it wasn't unusual to see him sitting on the stairs in the club, wracked with back pain - caused I am certain as much by stress as by an actual physical ailment. Unseen by the fans was a man as vulnerable as any other, regardless of his bravado. Throughout his time at the club he was forced to put a brave face on the fact he was so unpopular but I am sure it ate him up inside. Yet it didn't stop him coming back to enjoy the success of two of his former players finally getting us out of League Two. I can't imagine many managers coming back to the club in such circumstances and it said a lot for both him and Martin Ling for inviting him.
Russell Slade the football manager has put together one Orient squad that came close to reaching the play offs, in a division filled with teams with greater financial resources than us. A victim of his own success he lost two of his best players. Without them Dean Cox has been expected to work miracles by himself. On top of that the young goalkeeper who was also linked with move stayed but then has been out injured all season. Some of the players he has brought in haven't worked out, others aren't anywhere near as bad as they have been made out to be. If we can scrape ourselves out of this mess then he has as much chance as anyone else of putting together another squad that can fight its way up the table. He has done it once before after all. It is a much bigger gamble to go out and get yet another manager. Successful people learn from their mistakes and I'd much rather see him do that here than anywhere else, whilst a new manager joins us and starts from square one. Changing our line up game by game has got us into this mess. In the long term changing managers frequently will have the same sort of effect.
If Slade does go it'll be off the back of a set of results that are difficult to argue with because only a spell of good form mid-season has stopped this being a catastrophic season. But whatever happens to Slade the manager, Slade the man has been treated shabbily. Football is more than a sport to many of us and yet we treat the human beings involved in it as if it was just one big game.
Some of this is entirely understandable and justified. No one at the club is pretending that recent results even come close to being acceptable. Generally during games fans have resisted getting on the players backs but players and management have accepted that, in the aftermath of games at least, it is hard to remain positive in the face of repeated disappointment. People need to get it out of their system before they are ready to look forward to the next game.
What surprises me though is the vitriol that directed at players and management who were loved so recently for bringing us our best finish in nigh on 20 years. There isn't a single fan who isn't considering how they feel about Russell Slade right now. We are in a tailspin and everyone is fighting hard and trying everything to pull us round, when what we need are cool calm heads. At this stage of the season there is no time to step back and take a deep breath, big games are coming once or twice a week. I am not in that place yet but if I felt Slade needed to go to give us a chance to stay up it would be with a heavy heart and extreme reluctance.
For others it seems a lot easier and as the red mist descends all of the good things that Slade has done are obscured. Some people seem to out and out hate him and would kick him without a thought. Others seem to take a perverse pleasure in our forutnes (so long as it doesn't actually get as far as being relegated) because it gives them licence to vent their frustrations. It's often said that football fans enjoy complaining as much as they do celebrating. I stopped going to every away game after the promotion season because at the very end of that season people were still complaining as if we were at the other end of the table. I thought that if you couldn't enjoy the run in at the end of that season then what was the point? Maybe it shouldn't be a surprise. As I write this on a Saturday evening, I'm certain that if I turned on any terrestial TV station right now there will be a talent show on and another group of twnetysomethings (lets call them Christians) are being torn apart by internet Lions. Pardon me a Victor Meldrew moment, but it is what seems to pass for entertainment these days and as the Christians/Lions comment suggests, it is primative. People feel better about themselves when they are tearing someone apart more than they do from anything constructive or good.
If you want you can disregard how much pleasure and pride Slade gave us last season as we beat Arsenal 1-1 and put together an unbeaten run not many amongst the 4,000 faithful had seen in their lifetime. My impression of Russell Slade, who I've only met once after the Arsenal game, is one of a thoroughly decent intelligent man who speaks quietly but with authority. He has made tough decisions but doesn't appear to be the sort of person who would take any sort of pleasure from seeing a family man. In return he is faced with hundreds who would gladly see him put out of his job without a second thought for the longer term future of of him or the club. It is the default position of football fans to call for the managers head at the earliest opportunity and the callousness of it is deeply unpleasant.
When I was younger I was untroubled by such thoughts. Peter Eustace was our manager and we had gone from play off contenders to lower mid-table also rans. A set of barking mad programme notes about wagon trains from the Yorkshireman was followed by his postmatch quote following a defeat at Brighton, that if Eustace was in the trenches he wouldn't want his players standing behind him. I wanted Eustace to be shown the door and as far as I was concerned his cloth cap would come in handy for begging because he wasn't fit for a job in football. A few weeks later I came across Eustace during half time of another game we were on our way to losing. I was seething at another poor performance and here was the clown responsible. He looked up, smiled and said "wrap up lads, it's getting colder out there". Suddenly the cartoon Eustace evaporated and I saw a human being who despite having the troubles of the world on his shoulders had time for a kind and friendly word for a horrible teenager. When he finally left the club I felt relief (for him as much as us) but took no pleasure in his departure.
I felt the same with someone much more popular with me if not others, Tommy Taylor. I liked Tommy a lot, as a man and a manager (if not as a man manager!). It wasn't a feeling shared by many fans, who were ready to call for his head after a single defeat let alone the kind of run we are on at the moment. People who complain that managers these days say nothing in interviews used to lambast Tommy for his frank and forthright style rather than welcome the fact he'd talk openly with anyone. Despite liking him a lot as a person I did wonder if it was time for him to step down after the Millennium Stadium play off defeat and my reservations were realised when he was sacked in the middle of a slump the following season. Of course resigning from Leyton Orient isn't the same as being sacked by Manchester City and so of course he didn't resign from employment even if he did feel that his best chance to get us promoted had gone. I do know that Tommy was an Orient man and he'd have loved getting us promoted as much as any fan. I also know that in the last months of his reign it wasn't unusual to see him sitting on the stairs in the club, wracked with back pain - caused I am certain as much by stress as by an actual physical ailment. Unseen by the fans was a man as vulnerable as any other, regardless of his bravado. Throughout his time at the club he was forced to put a brave face on the fact he was so unpopular but I am sure it ate him up inside. Yet it didn't stop him coming back to enjoy the success of two of his former players finally getting us out of League Two. I can't imagine many managers coming back to the club in such circumstances and it said a lot for both him and Martin Ling for inviting him.
Russell Slade the football manager has put together one Orient squad that came close to reaching the play offs, in a division filled with teams with greater financial resources than us. A victim of his own success he lost two of his best players. Without them Dean Cox has been expected to work miracles by himself. On top of that the young goalkeeper who was also linked with move stayed but then has been out injured all season. Some of the players he has brought in haven't worked out, others aren't anywhere near as bad as they have been made out to be. If we can scrape ourselves out of this mess then he has as much chance as anyone else of putting together another squad that can fight its way up the table. He has done it once before after all. It is a much bigger gamble to go out and get yet another manager. Successful people learn from their mistakes and I'd much rather see him do that here than anywhere else, whilst a new manager joins us and starts from square one. Changing our line up game by game has got us into this mess. In the long term changing managers frequently will have the same sort of effect.
If Slade does go it'll be off the back of a set of results that are difficult to argue with because only a spell of good form mid-season has stopped this being a catastrophic season. But whatever happens to Slade the manager, Slade the man has been treated shabbily. Football is more than a sport to many of us and yet we treat the human beings involved in it as if it was just one big game.
Sunday, 8 April 2012
If....Orient are staying up
If the season was to end tomorrow not many Orient fans would be too sorry. Its the time of the season when teams with something to play for start looking at their opponents' remaining fixtures and current form, trying to work out how many points they are going to need and where they will come from. In the hope of not having to spend the next few weeks fretting about Orient's upcoming games I have done exactly that. And it's GOOD NEWS as I predict that despite a nervous month for Orient, Oldham and Bury fans the final table will look much like it does now. If...
As things currently stand every team from 16th place Preston downwards are currently embroiled in the relegation battle. I am sure that Preston and Oldham would like to think they are safe as they are currently 6 points clear of danger and need 4 points from 5 games in order to be safe. However, Preston have only managed 1 win in their last 12 games and would be sliding down the slippery slope even quicker if not for their ability to regularly hold teams to draws. Similarly Oldham have managed 2 wins and 8 defeats over their last ten games as they've edged closer and closer to the relegation zone. The two teams face each other in a huge game on 21 April, the winner of which will probably be safe before the end of the month. I suspect it'll be Preston, who have struggled so much due to playing teams at the top and they have been able to win against the lower sides. That will throw Oldham into a the fight and they'll be forced to battle right up to the end of the season. I think they will struggle in their next three against Sheffield Wednesday, Wycombe and Preston, before picking up the points they need against Bury and Carlisle.
Obviously the other team completely out of sorts are Orient. I am sure there is a Wycombe fan somewhere sitting looking at our record and thinking that we pick up the odd away win and should be able to do so against either Exeter or Hartlepool. It is a different kettle of fish when you've been following our fortunes week in and out and are now wondering where our next win will come from. We're always pessimistic about our own team but trying to be rational about it I don't expect us to lose every game any more than I expect Charlton and Sheffield United to breeze through and win all of theirs. I still think we'll be stumbling right through to the end though. Despite the improved performance against Notts County it is hard to see us getting anything at home, which makes the away games against Exeter and Hartlepool crucial. I fancy the Exeter game to be a stalemate because both sides have been unable to find the net and the Grecians will put up one last fight even though they are all but relegated. The vital points will come against Hartlepool who have had a rotten time since having little to play for in mid-table obscurity. Anything against Sheffield United would be a bonus and Yeovil are capable of winning away and will capitalise on our home woes. I would expect Orient to reach the last day of the season on 50 points - in theory enough but still too close to comfort. A final home draw against Rochdale (who like Exeter seem beyond help now) should be enough with Wycombe suffering from having the most difficult of run ins.
Wycombe are the team I expect to move the most as they face two games against struggling teams before playing stronger teams in their final three games. On Monday they face Chesterfield, practically relegated already and on a roll of three straight defeats since their Wembley appearance in the JPT Final. A win will enable Wycombe to cruise up to the Os, before going past us with a home win against Oldham. From there I think it gets just a bit too hard from them. They face trips to Charlton and Sheffield Wednesday, the latter winning regularly at home, the former stuttering but managing to beat teams in the bottom half of the table. That leaves a home fixture against Notts County who we have seen get results despite not looking very good away from home. Wycombe may get a point against the Magpies but it won't be enough and their fate will be sealed at Hillsborough on the last day.
That is if Bury pick up the four points they need to scramble to safety. Bury have had a difficult time on their travels of late and will be grateful that they are the only side in the relegation battle with 3 home games in their last 5. They should get the points they need from their next two home games, against Colchester (who have been drawing a lot of away games but losing to teams who still have something to play for) and against Bournemouth who are in freefall and losing for fun on their travels. They also face Stevenage on the last day of the season, another draw specialist team, who will probably have their eyes on the holiday's more than most after a tumultuous season.
It will be interesting to see what happens with Dean Smith at Walsall this summer, especially if the Orient board take a long hard look at Russell Slade's position, regardless of where we end up. For two seasons now he has shown he can motivate teams at the sharp end of the season to fight their way out of trouble. The WalsallWalsall are on a terrific run, beating the teams they need to (and even taking 4 points from the Sheffield clubs), regularly winning at home and drawing away. On Friday they showed the sort of determination we'd expect from a team managed by our old skipper, coming from behind to beat Chesterfield. On paper they have a difficult run in, that includes Charlton, Huddersfield and MK Dons. However, they've shown enough lately to make you believe that they can pick up a point at the Valley and follow it up with a win against struggling Tranmere next Saturday. Draws away at Exeter and Huddersfield, who have drawn most of their recent away games, will see them effectively safe before the last day. Even if they're not MK Dons have struggled to win at home and I wouldn't put it past the Saddlers to get the result they need to if it comes to it.
Unfortunately (in the circumstances) football isn't as predictable as we'd like i to be but it does show just how little we need to do to secure our safety. The opportunities are there for the Os and if we can't take the points we need from the games we have with the players we have at our disposal then sadly we don't deserve to stay up. Come on you Os!
Projected final table
16. Walsall 55
17. Preston 54
18. Oldham 52
19. Bury 51
20. Leyton Orient 51
--------------------------
21. Wycombe 49
22. Rochdale 41
23. Exeter 39
24. Chesterfield 36
As things currently stand every team from 16th place Preston downwards are currently embroiled in the relegation battle. I am sure that Preston and Oldham would like to think they are safe as they are currently 6 points clear of danger and need 4 points from 5 games in order to be safe. However, Preston have only managed 1 win in their last 12 games and would be sliding down the slippery slope even quicker if not for their ability to regularly hold teams to draws. Similarly Oldham have managed 2 wins and 8 defeats over their last ten games as they've edged closer and closer to the relegation zone. The two teams face each other in a huge game on 21 April, the winner of which will probably be safe before the end of the month. I suspect it'll be Preston, who have struggled so much due to playing teams at the top and they have been able to win against the lower sides. That will throw Oldham into a the fight and they'll be forced to battle right up to the end of the season. I think they will struggle in their next three against Sheffield Wednesday, Wycombe and Preston, before picking up the points they need against Bury and Carlisle.
Obviously the other team completely out of sorts are Orient. I am sure there is a Wycombe fan somewhere sitting looking at our record and thinking that we pick up the odd away win and should be able to do so against either Exeter or Hartlepool. It is a different kettle of fish when you've been following our fortunes week in and out and are now wondering where our next win will come from. We're always pessimistic about our own team but trying to be rational about it I don't expect us to lose every game any more than I expect Charlton and Sheffield United to breeze through and win all of theirs. I still think we'll be stumbling right through to the end though. Despite the improved performance against Notts County it is hard to see us getting anything at home, which makes the away games against Exeter and Hartlepool crucial. I fancy the Exeter game to be a stalemate because both sides have been unable to find the net and the Grecians will put up one last fight even though they are all but relegated. The vital points will come against Hartlepool who have had a rotten time since having little to play for in mid-table obscurity. Anything against Sheffield United would be a bonus and Yeovil are capable of winning away and will capitalise on our home woes. I would expect Orient to reach the last day of the season on 50 points - in theory enough but still too close to comfort. A final home draw against Rochdale (who like Exeter seem beyond help now) should be enough with Wycombe suffering from having the most difficult of run ins.
Wycombe are the team I expect to move the most as they face two games against struggling teams before playing stronger teams in their final three games. On Monday they face Chesterfield, practically relegated already and on a roll of three straight defeats since their Wembley appearance in the JPT Final. A win will enable Wycombe to cruise up to the Os, before going past us with a home win against Oldham. From there I think it gets just a bit too hard from them. They face trips to Charlton and Sheffield Wednesday, the latter winning regularly at home, the former stuttering but managing to beat teams in the bottom half of the table. That leaves a home fixture against Notts County who we have seen get results despite not looking very good away from home. Wycombe may get a point against the Magpies but it won't be enough and their fate will be sealed at Hillsborough on the last day.
That is if Bury pick up the four points they need to scramble to safety. Bury have had a difficult time on their travels of late and will be grateful that they are the only side in the relegation battle with 3 home games in their last 5. They should get the points they need from their next two home games, against Colchester (who have been drawing a lot of away games but losing to teams who still have something to play for) and against Bournemouth who are in freefall and losing for fun on their travels. They also face Stevenage on the last day of the season, another draw specialist team, who will probably have their eyes on the holiday's more than most after a tumultuous season.
It will be interesting to see what happens with Dean Smith at Walsall this summer, especially if the Orient board take a long hard look at Russell Slade's position, regardless of where we end up. For two seasons now he has shown he can motivate teams at the sharp end of the season to fight their way out of trouble. The WalsallWalsall are on a terrific run, beating the teams they need to (and even taking 4 points from the Sheffield clubs), regularly winning at home and drawing away. On Friday they showed the sort of determination we'd expect from a team managed by our old skipper, coming from behind to beat Chesterfield. On paper they have a difficult run in, that includes Charlton, Huddersfield and MK Dons. However, they've shown enough lately to make you believe that they can pick up a point at the Valley and follow it up with a win against struggling Tranmere next Saturday. Draws away at Exeter and Huddersfield, who have drawn most of their recent away games, will see them effectively safe before the last day. Even if they're not MK Dons have struggled to win at home and I wouldn't put it past the Saddlers to get the result they need to if it comes to it.
Unfortunately (in the circumstances) football isn't as predictable as we'd like i to be but it does show just how little we need to do to secure our safety. The opportunities are there for the Os and if we can't take the points we need from the games we have with the players we have at our disposal then sadly we don't deserve to stay up. Come on you Os!
Projected final table
16. Walsall 55
17. Preston 54
18. Oldham 52
19. Bury 51
20. Leyton Orient 51
--------------------------
21. Wycombe 49
22. Rochdale 41
23. Exeter 39
24. Chesterfield 36
Sunday, 1 April 2012
Why Russell Slade's got no hair
The past week has shown why football managers all end up grey, bald, crazy or bitter (or a combination of all of the above). If there is one particular rod that has been used to beat Russell Slade with this season it is George Porter. Fans want to see exciting players and there is nothing more exciting than someone who can run and beat players at pace. When it results in chances being created and goals being scored it is enough for fans and they want to see their name on the teamsheet each week. After a decent run in the team at the start of the season many have been dismayed that since November Porter's appearances became as rare as Jonathan Tehoue visiting the salad bar (welcome back Jon, we love you really) .
That was until Tuesday night at Oldham, when the latest new Orient line up featured Porter from the start. By all accounts he had an excellent game, culminating in being the provider of the winning goal and a precious three points in the battle to stay out of the relegation fight. Of course this was all the evidence that was required to prove that Russell has been wrong to leave him out all season. This is the way fans always think, they'd never countenance the idea that players having to bide their time, be patient and prove they are a team player contributes to the way they perform when they do get in the team.
In handling young, precocious talents managers face an almost impossible task, safe in the knowledge that 99% of the time they'll be proved wrong in hindsight. If the player does well the manager was too cautious, if he fails to develop it is because he was held back. I prefer to think that the young players who never really made it at Orient but have gone on to do well at a higher level have done so because of the road they travelled. They might never have become the players they have without being spurred on by disappointments early in their career. Maybe if we indulge Porter and act like he is already the bees knees he'll be a Jabo Ibehre and bounce around the benches of League One teams. If things are a bit harder for him and he has the maturity to learn some hard lessons early on he might go on to a higher standard, without having to rebuild his career at a lower level. Slade's handling of him could mean that Orient is the springboard for that career, rather than a Conference team.
Yesterday was a tough afternoon for the kid and despite working hard he didn't see enough of the ball. Unfortunately he showed one flash on inexperience when a quickly taken free kick caught Porter napping and even with his electric pace he was unable to chase back and Charlton almost literally walked the ball into the back of the net. To his credit he didn't seek to blame anyone else, he just turned and walked head up ready for the re-start, simply hoping to make up for his mistake rather than deflect blame. Another lesson learned and an error I'd bet he won't repeat for a while. It did remind me of a couple of things told to me by Paul Clark, Tommy Taylor's assistant, that showed how being an armchair manager is easy but the real thing is just a series of headaches.
The first was the simple stat that in one season Orient had conceded nine goals from set pieces as a result of Jabo losing his man. You can bet your life that everyone will remember a run that he made or spectacular goal he scored in that season but will be oblivious to the fact that his net value to the team was negative. The other was a story about Iyseden Christie, a player I loved for his unpredictability at one end because defences didn't know how to handle him. It was less of an asset at the other. In one game as he prepared to come on as substitute Clark sat with him and went through who he was to mark at set pieces. As he stood on the touchline they did it again and as he ran on they stood and pointed where he was to go as the Os prepared to defend a corner. The corner was taken and the opposition scored as a result of Iyseden not picking up his marker!
Only the manager and coaches would even be aware of that because they see the whole picture and try to balance their teams as a result. Slade still doesn't seem to be able to get that balance right with the players currently at his disposal and we look ineffective going forward. That doesn't mean that there is a simple answer in the shape of George Porter. We've been hammered enough times this year to see that getting it wrong defensively can have disastrous consequences but somehow Slade has to find a way to set a time up that isn't vulnerable at the back but is capable of threatening at the other end.
That was until Tuesday night at Oldham, when the latest new Orient line up featured Porter from the start. By all accounts he had an excellent game, culminating in being the provider of the winning goal and a precious three points in the battle to stay out of the relegation fight. Of course this was all the evidence that was required to prove that Russell has been wrong to leave him out all season. This is the way fans always think, they'd never countenance the idea that players having to bide their time, be patient and prove they are a team player contributes to the way they perform when they do get in the team.
In handling young, precocious talents managers face an almost impossible task, safe in the knowledge that 99% of the time they'll be proved wrong in hindsight. If the player does well the manager was too cautious, if he fails to develop it is because he was held back. I prefer to think that the young players who never really made it at Orient but have gone on to do well at a higher level have done so because of the road they travelled. They might never have become the players they have without being spurred on by disappointments early in their career. Maybe if we indulge Porter and act like he is already the bees knees he'll be a Jabo Ibehre and bounce around the benches of League One teams. If things are a bit harder for him and he has the maturity to learn some hard lessons early on he might go on to a higher standard, without having to rebuild his career at a lower level. Slade's handling of him could mean that Orient is the springboard for that career, rather than a Conference team.
Yesterday was a tough afternoon for the kid and despite working hard he didn't see enough of the ball. Unfortunately he showed one flash on inexperience when a quickly taken free kick caught Porter napping and even with his electric pace he was unable to chase back and Charlton almost literally walked the ball into the back of the net. To his credit he didn't seek to blame anyone else, he just turned and walked head up ready for the re-start, simply hoping to make up for his mistake rather than deflect blame. Another lesson learned and an error I'd bet he won't repeat for a while. It did remind me of a couple of things told to me by Paul Clark, Tommy Taylor's assistant, that showed how being an armchair manager is easy but the real thing is just a series of headaches.
The first was the simple stat that in one season Orient had conceded nine goals from set pieces as a result of Jabo losing his man. You can bet your life that everyone will remember a run that he made or spectacular goal he scored in that season but will be oblivious to the fact that his net value to the team was negative. The other was a story about Iyseden Christie, a player I loved for his unpredictability at one end because defences didn't know how to handle him. It was less of an asset at the other. In one game as he prepared to come on as substitute Clark sat with him and went through who he was to mark at set pieces. As he stood on the touchline they did it again and as he ran on they stood and pointed where he was to go as the Os prepared to defend a corner. The corner was taken and the opposition scored as a result of Iyseden not picking up his marker!
Only the manager and coaches would even be aware of that because they see the whole picture and try to balance their teams as a result. Slade still doesn't seem to be able to get that balance right with the players currently at his disposal and we look ineffective going forward. That doesn't mean that there is a simple answer in the shape of George Porter. We've been hammered enough times this year to see that getting it wrong defensively can have disastrous consequences but somehow Slade has to find a way to set a time up that isn't vulnerable at the back but is capable of threatening at the other end.
Sunday, 25 March 2012
More cool heads, less squeaky bums
On the one hand a narrow 0-1 defeat to Sheffield Wednesday flattered Orient yesterday and yet on the other Wednesday probably didn't deserve much more than their solitary goal. In the grand scheme of things it is probably fair to say that, neither set of fans left the ground particularly satisfied albeit the visitors had the comfort of three points in the bag. Only those in the dressing room really know whether the manager has sent out a negative team or whether the players haven't carried out his instructions but yesterday's post-match comments indicate that Russell Slade sent the team out with very modest ambitions. It seems that Slade hoped to keep it at 0-0 or even 0-1 for as long as possible and hope that we would be able to do a smash and grab at the other end.
After leaking bucketfuls of goals in recent games Slade's caution is understandable but there are ways to improve your resiliency without reducing your attacking options to practically nothing. Orient defended heroically but had to do so because the tactics invited Wednesday to attack at will in the belief that that we could absorb the pressure heaped upon us. With the only 'out ball' being a long punt up to Lisbie who had four towering defenders around him at all times, the Os had little hope of retaining possession and creating anything themselves. It has been rare for Orient to have as many attacking players in the team as they did yesterday and yet the likes of Cox, Campbell-Ryce and Jimmy Smith were barely able (or allowed) to get out of their own half, their defensive duties paramount.
None of which says very much for Sheffield Wednesday, who will be happy with the win but not the performance and a better team might have hammered us. Wednesday were everything you'd expect of a team constructed by Gary Megson - almost to a man, tall, strong and quick and Orient were simply unable to compete with them physically. Skipper Rob Jones gave the most dominating defensive display I've seen at Brisbane Road since Brian Kilcline visited with Darlington at the end of his career. At times it seemed that he was the only person to touch the ball in the Wednesday half. But for all that they created very few clear cut chances. You can defend with as many players as you like but everyone to work hard and stick to their tasks, which every single one of the Orient players did. Cuthbert and Chorley were immense and whilst his pace was exposed on a couple of occasions, Terrell Forbes stuck to it and almost completely nullified the threat of Michail Antonio. Paul Rachubka was rarely fully extended and most of the saves he made were comfortable, although he made them look anything but with a few more spills that put hearts in mouths. Unfortunately his best save, from a point blank header by Reda Johnson resulted in the same player turning in the rebound for the only goal.
This final stretch at the end of a disappointing season is going to require more cool heads and fewer squeaky bums. The Os have an unenviable run in and still have to face 3 of the current top 6 over the next 6 games, with Notts County thrown in for good measure. From the outside a degree of desperation seems to have crept into the decision making of the management. The last two games have seen highly questionable substitutions, with Campbell-Ryce and George Porter employed as centre-forwards - whilst centre forward David Mooney played in Campbell-Ryce's position on the wing at MK Dons! Even less understandably all of the tactical changes yesterday seemed designed to allow Jimmy Smith to stay on the pitch, despite him having little impact on the game. I think Smith attracts a lot of unfair stick but it wasn't his day and the team set up wasn't suited to his game. Aside from the goalkeeping problem I think we have a squad that shouldn't be getting dragged into a relegation battle, although the sooner that Ryan Dickson is fit again the better. But we've seen the team shuffled game after game, as if at this crucial stage of the season Slade is still trying to find out what his best team is. This isn't pre-season and we haven't got the time to find our best eleven. With the late introduction of a number of loanees to cover for injuries, suspensions and departures I think Slade has been drawn into constant firefighting and the bigger picture has become obscured. He and the players need to regroup and focus on what is going to be required to get the points required to stay out of trouble, plus a few more for the sake of comfort.
The same applies to fans. After the game a large minority ran out of patience with Slade and decide that for them, it was time for a change. Slade was appointed manager at a similar stage of the season in 2010 and some believe that is required again if the Os are to scrape out of trouble. For one thing I can't see see him leaving unless Orient's freefalling form completely nose dives. With the games that are coming up it is entirely possible for that to happen. It might be difficult but the fans may have to swallow a couple more days like yesterday and avoid pouring oil on the fire. The games against Yeovil and especially Rochdale and Exeter
After leaking bucketfuls of goals in recent games Slade's caution is understandable but there are ways to improve your resiliency without reducing your attacking options to practically nothing. Orient defended heroically but had to do so because the tactics invited Wednesday to attack at will in the belief that that we could absorb the pressure heaped upon us. With the only 'out ball' being a long punt up to Lisbie who had four towering defenders around him at all times, the Os had little hope of retaining possession and creating anything themselves. It has been rare for Orient to have as many attacking players in the team as they did yesterday and yet the likes of Cox, Campbell-Ryce and Jimmy Smith were barely able (or allowed) to get out of their own half, their defensive duties paramount.
None of which says very much for Sheffield Wednesday, who will be happy with the win but not the performance and a better team might have hammered us. Wednesday were everything you'd expect of a team constructed by Gary Megson - almost to a man, tall, strong and quick and Orient were simply unable to compete with them physically. Skipper Rob Jones gave the most dominating defensive display I've seen at Brisbane Road since Brian Kilcline visited with Darlington at the end of his career. At times it seemed that he was the only person to touch the ball in the Wednesday half. But for all that they created very few clear cut chances. You can defend with as many players as you like but everyone to work hard and stick to their tasks, which every single one of the Orient players did. Cuthbert and Chorley were immense and whilst his pace was exposed on a couple of occasions, Terrell Forbes stuck to it and almost completely nullified the threat of Michail Antonio. Paul Rachubka was rarely fully extended and most of the saves he made were comfortable, although he made them look anything but with a few more spills that put hearts in mouths. Unfortunately his best save, from a point blank header by Reda Johnson resulted in the same player turning in the rebound for the only goal.
This final stretch at the end of a disappointing season is going to require more cool heads and fewer squeaky bums. The Os have an unenviable run in and still have to face 3 of the current top 6 over the next 6 games, with Notts County thrown in for good measure. From the outside a degree of desperation seems to have crept into the decision making of the management. The last two games have seen highly questionable substitutions, with Campbell-Ryce and George Porter employed as centre-forwards - whilst centre forward David Mooney played in Campbell-Ryce's position on the wing at MK Dons! Even less understandably all of the tactical changes yesterday seemed designed to allow Jimmy Smith to stay on the pitch, despite him having little impact on the game. I think Smith attracts a lot of unfair stick but it wasn't his day and the team set up wasn't suited to his game. Aside from the goalkeeping problem I think we have a squad that shouldn't be getting dragged into a relegation battle, although the sooner that Ryan Dickson is fit again the better. But we've seen the team shuffled game after game, as if at this crucial stage of the season Slade is still trying to find out what his best team is. This isn't pre-season and we haven't got the time to find our best eleven. With the late introduction of a number of loanees to cover for injuries, suspensions and departures I think Slade has been drawn into constant firefighting and the bigger picture has become obscured. He and the players need to regroup and focus on what is going to be required to get the points required to stay out of trouble, plus a few more for the sake of comfort.
The same applies to fans. After the game a large minority ran out of patience with Slade and decide that for them, it was time for a change. Slade was appointed manager at a similar stage of the season in 2010 and some believe that is required again if the Os are to scrape out of trouble. For one thing I can't see see him leaving unless Orient's freefalling form completely nose dives. With the games that are coming up it is entirely possible for that to happen. It might be difficult but the fans may have to swallow a couple more days like yesterday and avoid pouring oil on the fire. The games against Yeovil and especially Rochdale and Exeter
Sunday, 18 March 2012
The old Orient and the new Tommy Carroll emerge
It didn't really matter how Orient played yesterday, we were just desperate for a win, the first in over a month and the first at home in 2012. A good performance but no three points wasn't enough after our recent run and we badly needed a victory before playing each of the top six in the next 8 games. Exceeding a lot of expectations Orient managed both, a deserved win resulting from a confident performance.
For the first time in weeks (or even months) the Os provided a constant attacking threat, with the midfield and attack looking as balanced as it has been in any game this season. Spurred by some fine individual performances Orient scored two home goals for only the third time in 19 league games at Brisbane Road this season. Kevin Lisbie played as the sole striker instead of Calvin Andrew and rewarded Russell Slade's faith by scoring only his second home goal from open play for Orient. He was supported by a fluid attacking midfield line up, with Dean Cox and Jamal Campbell-Ryce lining up on the left and right wings respectively but with the pair often swapping over or supporting each other on the same side. Brentford's defence and midfield were unable to pick up the runners coming from different places and when they did manage to, it left space for Jimmy Smith coming from behind them.
Jimmy Smith benefitted most from the confusion it caused and thought he had scored early on when he turned in the rebound when Dean Cox's shot hit the post, only to be flagged offside. He got his goal just before half time, the Brentford defence standing and watching as Cox's cross was laid off by Chorley for Smith to pass into the net with ease. For the first time this term the Os looked something like the side from last season, with Matt Spring and Adam Reed (the new Tommy Carroll) pulling the strings behind the attacking midfielders and orchestrating the attacks with their pinpoint passing. Orient not only found out how to win again but how to do it with a little bit of style.
Before the game there were particular concerns about the defence and mainly the keeper. Those fears were almost realised when Paul Rachubka dropped a simple catch but Saido Berahino missed the open goal presented to him. A few minutes later Rachubka made a comfortable save down to his left, eliciting sarcastic cheers from both Brentford and Orient supporters and all the ingredients were there for a nervy afternoon for both keeper and fans. But Rachubka went on to make a smart save from Niall McGinn and despite a preference for punching rather than catching he looked confident in everything he did after that. After weathering something of a rally from the Bees at the start of the second half Orient looked totally in control, the ability to keep possession the perfect recipe for holding onto a rare two goal lead without inviting pressure.
The defence bears watching though. There was a lack of understanding between keeper and defence yesterday and it needs addressing. In the first half Leon McSweeney made a clearance from under Rachubka's nose and when the keeper claimed he called for it he was ignored, Ben Chorley slapping McSweeney on the back. No problem with a defender taking responsibility and clearing the ball but the lack of acknowledgement for the keeper was concerning. Just before half time Chorley conceded a corner kick from right over by the corner flag and yet turned around and strangely berated Rachubka for not coming out for the ball. Even at the end of the game Chorley and Rachubka were in animated discussion.
Matt Spring is the temporary custodian of the captains armband and Russell Slade will decide in the summer whether he or someone else gets it permanently. He could do worse than Scott Cuthbert. Recognising the division in the ranks Cuthbert attepted to pull things back together, making a point of shaking hands with both Chorley and Rachubka at half time and full time to recognise a job well done by the team, in which they had all played a part. A player with that sort of attitude could go a long way to filling the void that Stephen Dawson's departure has left behind.
For the first time in weeks (or even months) the Os provided a constant attacking threat, with the midfield and attack looking as balanced as it has been in any game this season. Spurred by some fine individual performances Orient scored two home goals for only the third time in 19 league games at Brisbane Road this season. Kevin Lisbie played as the sole striker instead of Calvin Andrew and rewarded Russell Slade's faith by scoring only his second home goal from open play for Orient. He was supported by a fluid attacking midfield line up, with Dean Cox and Jamal Campbell-Ryce lining up on the left and right wings respectively but with the pair often swapping over or supporting each other on the same side. Brentford's defence and midfield were unable to pick up the runners coming from different places and when they did manage to, it left space for Jimmy Smith coming from behind them.
Jimmy Smith benefitted most from the confusion it caused and thought he had scored early on when he turned in the rebound when Dean Cox's shot hit the post, only to be flagged offside. He got his goal just before half time, the Brentford defence standing and watching as Cox's cross was laid off by Chorley for Smith to pass into the net with ease. For the first time this term the Os looked something like the side from last season, with Matt Spring and Adam Reed (the new Tommy Carroll) pulling the strings behind the attacking midfielders and orchestrating the attacks with their pinpoint passing. Orient not only found out how to win again but how to do it with a little bit of style.
Before the game there were particular concerns about the defence and mainly the keeper. Those fears were almost realised when Paul Rachubka dropped a simple catch but Saido Berahino missed the open goal presented to him. A few minutes later Rachubka made a comfortable save down to his left, eliciting sarcastic cheers from both Brentford and Orient supporters and all the ingredients were there for a nervy afternoon for both keeper and fans. But Rachubka went on to make a smart save from Niall McGinn and despite a preference for punching rather than catching he looked confident in everything he did after that. After weathering something of a rally from the Bees at the start of the second half Orient looked totally in control, the ability to keep possession the perfect recipe for holding onto a rare two goal lead without inviting pressure.
The defence bears watching though. There was a lack of understanding between keeper and defence yesterday and it needs addressing. In the first half Leon McSweeney made a clearance from under Rachubka's nose and when the keeper claimed he called for it he was ignored, Ben Chorley slapping McSweeney on the back. No problem with a defender taking responsibility and clearing the ball but the lack of acknowledgement for the keeper was concerning. Just before half time Chorley conceded a corner kick from right over by the corner flag and yet turned around and strangely berated Rachubka for not coming out for the ball. Even at the end of the game Chorley and Rachubka were in animated discussion.
Matt Spring is the temporary custodian of the captains armband and Russell Slade will decide in the summer whether he or someone else gets it permanently. He could do worse than Scott Cuthbert. Recognising the division in the ranks Cuthbert attepted to pull things back together, making a point of shaking hands with both Chorley and Rachubka at half time and full time to recognise a job well done by the team, in which they had all played a part. A player with that sort of attitude could go a long way to filling the void that Stephen Dawson's departure has left behind.
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