Category: Football

It was a pretty poor performance with virtually nobody wanting to take a shot at goal from anywhere. Plenty of passing around midfield, and plenty of running around in circles, but the Shrewsbury keeper only had to make two saves despite numerous chances in and around the area.

The result is a little unfair as the penalty decision seemed somewhat harsh, and Shrewsbury actually looked worse than Orient. This makes it all the more disappointing, however, as not being able to get a goal against such a poor side is not a good sign for the rest of the season.

There were a few bright spots at least. Efe played with as much energy as ever and seemed to be the only one willing to have a go on goal. Tudor ran well but the final ball was usually lacking. Simpson seemed to play well enough, the first time I’ve really thought that this year, and Keith looked to be fitting into the side well. Steele was very solid holding the ball up but there weren’t any plays that came off. Miller probably had the best performance in defence.

They’ve got to do better than this to have any kind of a chance at promotion.

BBC SPORT | Football | League Two | Leyton Orient v Shrewsbury

Read Cobra’s full match report

After two weeks and only 2 matches (for most Premiership teams) I’m only in the middle of our super league with 70 points. This isn’t too bad as the first place only has 85 at the moment. So far I can’t believe how unlucky I’ve already been with injuries with Wayne Bridge, Freddie Ljungberg, James Beattie and Wayne Routledge all out, so I guess getting 70 points with only a 2/3 strength squad isn’t too bad.

I’ve made some transfers today ahead of this evenings premiership fixtures but I’ve stuck with Ljungberg and Beattie as there’s a chance both of them could be back for Saturday’s matches.

For anyone who can’t find it elsewhere, the Telegraph Fantasy Football password for this week (August 24th) is OPEN.

Telegraph Fantasy Football

Orient played particularly well for three quarters of the match last night but some seriously dodgy decisions knocked any real chance we had of even drawing against a side two leagues higher on the head. Luton missed a couple of chances early on, although not before Leyton had a goal disallowed for (I guess) offside, and despite the obvious pace of Luton on the break we were keeping good posession, passing the ball around well and more than holding our own. When the first two of their one-on-one chances went wide it was almost looking like we might be lucky, but all that changed when the first goal for Luton followed what looked to be an obvious handball. This was just inside injury time at the end of the first half and came from a free kick which was another dubious ruling.

The O’s kept their heads up and carried on playing a close passing game and although there weren’t many chances Efe had a serious run on goal stopped by an appalling refereeing decision. The officials were swallowing every line the Luton players fed them, and that continued for the rest of the match. The first nail in the coffin came from a bad goal kick which went straight to the big (and fast) Luton strikers, and the final nail was an own goal by Alexander (harshly, the striker’s first of the season). There was a consolation goal for Orient towards the end but once it went to 2-0 the heart had gone from the team and Luton grew in confidence and started to look like the side two divisions higher.

Orient didn’t really do enough to win the game, but they played well and certainly made it hard for Luton to get off the ground. The one-touch control of the Luton players, plus the pace and strength (especially versus the Leyton Midgets) just tipped the balance, but I think the O’s really did enough for a draw last night and, it may be a footballing cliche, but in the end ‘it woz the referee wot won it’.

BBC SPORT | Football | League Cup | Leyton Orient 1-3 Luton

I’ve just come back from the second Friends Of The Orient meeting. Friends of the Orient is set up to enable businesses connected with Leyton Orient Football Club to network, swap contacts and generate leads, and ultimately to drive revenue into the club through being associated with successful businesses.

The meeting consists of a breakfast approximately every two months which is sponsored by one of the member companies followed by a short presentation by that company. Membership is £300 a year to join, or for the first year is free to gallery members and club advertisers. The first two meetings have been quite successful and have generated some useful leads already. They’re held in the new West Stand at the Orient ground on Brisbane Road.

Members of the club are also listed in the Friends of the Orient directory.

The Friends Of The Orient site

Exponetic’s listing on the site

It was a good start to the season with 3 wins out of 3, but now reality has hit and we’re only on 3 wins out of 4 having lost 4-1 to Rochdale. 9 points from 4 games still isn’t bad at this level where the whole league is more-or-less on the same level. The disappointing thing from this match, though, is that the O’s played pretty well and certainly didn’t deserve the goal difference. Rochdale, however, were just much more incisive when it came to goal action, a lot of this coming from the size and strength of most of their team. Man for man they had a good two inches on every Orient player. Steele played solidly, but Tudor’s runs from midfield and Mackie’s defensive duties were definitely high points in the side.

So some disappointment that the dream run didn’t continue, but there’s encouragement to be had from the way the team played and I’m sure most Orient fans would have settled for 2nd after 4 games had they been asked at the start of the season.

There is some consolation from the weekend,though, in that Spurs are now top of the Premiership! (If only on goal difference…)

BBC SPORT | Football | League Two | Leyton Orient v Rochdale

BBC SPORT | Football | Premiership | Tottenham 2-0 Middlesbrough

Spurs seem to have quite a bit of money to spend this season, with apparently interested in Dirk Kuyt for in the region of £12m and possibly Jermaine Jenas for £13m. I can’t believe that Sir Alan Sugar was paid enough for The Apprentice that he can afford to compete with Roman Abramovich in the buying stakes. Still, Spurs are one place above Chelsea at the moment (okay, first game of the season, and only on goals scored so it won’t last).

With Defoe, Keane, Mido and one other good striker Spurs really look like they’re trying to break into the top few this season, though. There isn’t much room between Chelsea, Man Utd and Arsenal and that only leaves one other Champions League place which is going to be fiercely contested (with Liverpool probably being the main contender). It’s early days but Spurs must be hoping for a UEFA cup place this year after coming so close last season.

BBC SPORT | Football | My Club | Tottenham Hotspur | Tottenham admit interest in Kuyt
BBC SPORT | Football | My Club | Newcastle United | Spurs quiet on Jenas speculation

The O’s only have to keep it up for another 43 games.

BBC SPORT | Football | League Two | Darlington 0-1 Leyton Orient


Ling is thrilled to top the table

Since Orient are the only side in Division Two to have won both of the first two games of the season we’re now top. Two games into the new season is certainly too early to tell anything, since football is ‘a funny old game’, but it’s a good start. Enjoy it while it lasts!

BBC SPORT | Football | My Club | Leyton Orient | Ling sings praises of his players
BBC SPORT | Football | League Two | Bury 1-2 Leyton Orient
Match report for Bury 1 – 2 Leyton

The first match of the season, and the first match to watch from the new West Stand. The building is pretty much complete, give or take some ‘finishing touches’, and the new central block of padded seats are a great place to watch the game from.

Leyton started well, scoring in the second minute, and looked to be playing a lot better than last season. There was some good passing going on (and any passing at all in this league is pretty good) and decent build-up play. The finish was still lacking and so it was still 1-0 at half-time.

The second half reverted to the more familiar hoofing style with Macclesfield threatening to score a few times (including hitting the crossbar) before they finally equalised. A few more chances came and went for Orient but eventually the substitute Echanomi scored in extra time having intercepted a wayward backpass, sidestepping the keeper and holding the ball on the line for show. As we found out, his main motivation for scoring appeared to be to demonstrate his backflipping abilities.

Although not convincing in terms of goals scored, Leyton played pretty well and there’s some reason to be optimistic about the rest of the season. It also leaves us in third place which is the best for some time…

Brief match report of Leyton Orient vs Macclesfield on BBC Sport