Leyton orient reflections

[DerekMiller]

Cracking result and a solid performance from the team, things are starting to gel. What we were doing well in small patches earlier in the season are starting to become more consistent through games and it's seeing confidence improve. The net result of that has shown with some decent results, very much needed as I was worried being dragged into the bottom four would be a difficult swamp to wade out of.

We have some very good young players who will only get better, I look forward to seeing more of their development. I think MH is doing a good job and is moving things in the right direction. After almost a decade of boom and bust seasons I think we are due a few rebuild/ slower paced seasons and this is definitely one of those.

[Grumpy King of the West]

I thought we ground out a good result today. No player was bad, but in my opinion the following poinrs are worthy of particular note:

Dawson was a lot more solid. Both in terms of his kicking and the command of his area (bar just one minor flap). Good to see.

Jules was back to his last season form. My motm.

Rafferty is a good solid pro. Still not a CB.

Gore is like a pufferfish. He thinks he's ten times the size he actually is. I love him.

Martha is brilliant. He'll frustrate the life out of us at times, but please don't try to coach the maverick out of him.

I know he's not everybody's favourite player but it was good to see Ragget come on today. We were being bombarded with balls into our box and he got his head onto most of them. He not only got his head onto them but got those headers away from the danger area. Hope he stays fit.

Finally, a moan. ..... we never, ever, prevent crosses coming into our box. Given that our achelyes heal is conceding from high balls into our area, that is a major problem. Perhaps its because we don't play with full backs? If we're to persist with wings backs then extra coaching is needed in order to address this issue.

[NorthWestCorner]

We won yesterday, great stuff, however certain posters wish we hadn't, then they could tell us how stupid we are and how sh*t the manager is.
Shame that.

At it again and that despite being called out for bull****ting last week.

It seems unacceptable to have an alternative opinion on this forum. A win means the MH fan club have to double down on anyone who actually points out facts. But there you go, it won’t deter me.

The stadium atmosphere and attendance tells me all I need to know about how things are going. Yes, there has been a few green shoots i don’t deny but yesterday we were fortunate to take 3 points.

[Jocksgloves1]

Of course it's ok to have a different view. I respect you for it. But when abuse is mixed in with your replies, your points lose some of their impact.
Fans emotions go up and down with the team's results. I was thrilled with the win yesterday, but have just learned of the death of an old friend and lifetime Miller, so obviously it's replaced the euphoria of victory. It's only a bloody game.
Yes, we were fortunate to win in the end.

[Derbymiller]

I thought we were very good yesterday, we looked like a team and we looked like we cared, that was not there at the beginning of the season, in my opinion. I thought everyone did well and a big well done to two lads playing out of position who didn't put a foot wrong, McWilliams and Powell. We have a very good midfield group. Not a Hugill fan but he put a shift in whilst being ill, well done son. Martha is a class player and nombe is a different class. We are on a nice little run get a point next week, beat the city kids and that will be a great 6 game run

[Brin]

'We were fortunate to win' ????

Fortunate was coming out of the bombardment of a plethora of Orient corners with no goals conceded in the last 15 minutes, that was fortunate at it's worst. Thing is, as a team we stopped them from scoring so, was it fortunate or a gutsy back to the wall team defending show?

We WON the game taking all 3 points by grafting, working as a unit, never stopping, playing to the final whistle even trying for a second goal on more than one occasion. Yes the first half wasn't anything to even type about other than two good chances wasted by Martha and Hugill. Both sides just nullified each other other out making it very average to boring.

As for the goal, a beautifully floated ball from Rafferrty which was then delicately headed down from Baptiste for Nombe to slide home was pure teamwork, nothing 'fortunate' about it at all. The second half was akin to the Northampton game......we came alive more in the second half and produced another never say die attitude. Subs showed again game changers and that we can win games.

Going forward, yes we have to start more games far more attacking in the first half and not try to play catch up in the second half. With Nombe now looking almost up to full speed, maybe with him starting, that may show a a vast improvement.

I feel patience is still required while it all becomes a full squad with more players to choose from. Thing is, can our fans show/allow the patience?

[RU66]

Was there yesterday at the end Dawson Jules went a long way to keeping us the 3pts. Baptist didn't see him do much wrong either. Need to improve from midfield out wide through to up front at Barnsley.

[UlleyMiller]

I thought we ground out a good result today. No player was bad, but in my opinion the following poinrs are worthy of particular note:

Dawson was a lot more solid. Both in terms of his kicking and the command of his area (bar just one minor flap). Good to see.

Jules was back to his last season form. My motm.

Rafferty is a good solid pro. Still not a CB.

Gore is like a pufferfish. He thinks he's ten times the size he actually is. I love him.

Martha is brilliant. He'll frustrate the life out of us at times, but please don't try to coach the maverick out of him.

I know he's not everybody's favourite player but it was good to see Ragget come on today. We were being bombarded with balls into our box and he got his head onto most of them. He not only got his head onto them but got those headers away from the danger area. Hope he stays fit.

Finally, a moan. ..... we never, ever, prevent crosses coming into our box. Given that our achelyes heal is conceding from high balls into our area, that is a major problem. Perhaps its because we don't play with full backs? If we're to persist with wings backs then extra coaching is needed in order to address this issue.

Agree with most of this. Gore and Martha will be playing in (at least) a division above before long. Gore is everything we used to see in Rathbone and a fair more talent and potential. Martha will annoy some fans, but I can't remember a more skilled ball player at close quarters to turn out for us. On his day he'll be capable of winning games from absolutely nothing.

Last point is fair, and I think much of it is down to the system we're playing and who we have to fit into it. Rafferty in particular seems to be trying to do too much and to cover too much ground. Big fan of his, and not a criticism of him, but we either need to polish up the system or hope that once injuries start to drop off we have the right players for it. Pick a system for what you have, don't try converting players into what they're not.

As an outspoken critic of Hugill, I'd openly admit he's put a couple of solid shifts during his time in the last two games, and I'm glad I was able to attend both to see it. He has holes, and I'll never be a fan of his for various reasons, but he gutted it out and chased where he had to. Now we're seemingly able to score from a few positions and have a bit more variety up top, him continuing to put in some effort like that will matter when he's on.

Quick shout out to the referee also, we seem to get some poor ones, but he was a joke. Lost control completely at stages in the first half, and was visibly reacting to whichever player shouted the loudest on anything he was unsure of. Scrappy, hard-fought game which required a strong character in the middle and he wasn't that.

[RU66]

Not sold at all on Kaleta. Martha looks lightweight too me yet to see much end product from him. We've seen it from Benson Hamshaw says it was tactical why he was taken off Saturday but wasn't his type of game.

[Townerslovechild]

Not sold at all on Kaleta. Martha looks lightweight too me yet to see much end product from him. We've seen it from Benson Hamshaw says it was tactical why he was taken off Saturday but wasn't his type of game.

Martha is lightweight, he can probably bulk up a bit,but i suspect not much.
But if you watch him he doesn't shirk a challenge, and his slight frame is obviously an advantage when it comes to balance and speed, and the last few games he's looked a real threat.
It's good to see players like Martha and Benson, who some would call "luxury ", in our team, as long as you've got players like Gore, Spencer and McW doing the less glamorous stuff.
Looking like a strong midfield at the minute with decent options.

[RU66]

Martha is lightweight, he can probably bulk up a bit,but i suspect not much.
But if you watch him he doesn't shirk a challenge, and his slight frame is obviously an advantage when it comes to balance and speed, and the last few games he's looked a real threat.
It's good to see players like Martha and Benson, who some would call "luxury ", in our team, as long as you've got players like Gore, Spencer and McW doing the less glamorous stuff.
Looking like a strong midfield at the minute with decent options.

At Barnsley can afford one them be Benson behind lone forward. 3 the back Hall Baptist Jules. Rafferty Gore Spence Powell James across the middle.

[Scum-Triumphant]

At Barnsley can afford one them be Benson behind lone forward. 3 the back Hall Baptist Jules. Rafferty Gore Spence Powell James across the middle.

You?ve changed your tune on Gore. Earlier in this post I said how well he played on Saturday and you said that anyone can run and it?s what they can do with the ball the matters.
Now he?s in your side.

You talk that much bollox you forget who you rate.

[RU66]

You?ve changed your tune on Gore. Earlier in this post I said how well he played on Saturday and you said that anyone can run and it?s what they can do with the ball the matters.
Now he?s in your side.

You talk that much bollox you forget who you rate.

Was Gore or Mcwilliams latter showed less of the 2 Saturday.