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back to page one 20 August. Away to Grimsby 1-2 Kelly, Palmer. Palmer scores against his old club. The two goals were gifted to us. First a mix up by goalie and defence to allow Kelly to score on 58. Palmer came on for Cox and was booked a minute later and scored four minutes after that. A long ball up field was badly missed by their Pearson for Palmer to nip in, race toward goal and slip past the advancing keeper. A wicked deflection gave Grimsby a consolation goal after four minutes of added time. No idea why Simpson was not playing nor why McCallum was absent. Team: 1 Cisak, 16 Hunt, 37 Erichot, 6 Parkes, 22 Semedo, 11 Massey, 15 Atangana, 8 Kelly, 21 Bowery, 7 Cox, 20 Cornick. Substitutes, 3 Kennedy, 25 Pollock, 24 Sargeant, 8 Weir, 28 Koroma, 9 Palmer(Cox 72). Only six subs? Make sense to let Moore and co. go? Home to Mansfield next. Should be more of a test as they are in seventh and we in fourth. Ex O’s at Gillingham were not doing so well as Nelson let two slip through his fingers whilst John Wright gave away a penalty in a 5-0 drubbing at Scunthorpe. Marquis scored for Doncaster. 27 August. Home to Mansfield 1-2 Kelly. Semedo is no full back. How many times do I have to say, “ Would you employ a carpenter to do a plumers job?” No so why have an inexperienced winger at full back? Why employ Cox in midfield when he is better on the wing? Midfield playing to close to the defence and too far away from the forwards an the Stags were given ample time to put 11 players between the ball and their goalie long befre we got into their half. Erichot gave away a penalty which Green, who rumour has it we are keen to sign, blasted the ball over the bar. Maybe not then. Poor marking by Semedo gave away the first goal but Kelly got us back on level terms on 73’ after a goalless and clueless first half. Cornick was having an off day and Palmer could not score against an old club for the second week in succession. They were replaced by Bowery and McCallum. Team: 1 Cisak, 16 Hunt, 37 Erichot, 6 Parkes, 22 Semedo, 11 Massey, 15 Atangana, 8 Kelly, 9 Palmer, 7 Cox, 20 Cornick. Substitutes, 3 Kennedy, 21 Bowery(Cornick), 25 Pollock, 24 Sargeant, 8 Weir, 10 McCallum(Palmer 62) 28 Koroma. We started the season in 20th, went to 10th then 4th but down to 10th again. With the transfer deadline looming Barnet accepted a £100,000 for Luke Gambin but he wanted to play at a higher level. We got Frenchman Teddy Mezague on a free transfer, subject to international clearance. The 26-year-old, who was a free agent after leaving Belgian team Royal Excel Mouscron, has signed a three-year contract with the O's. Unfortunately he had an achillies operation in May so is unfit. 30 August. Checkatrade Trophy home to Stevenage. 3-1 McCallum 2, Semedo. A mixture of first team and reserves turned out to put three Stevenage for the second time this season. They didn’t help their cause by getting a man sent off after 13 mins. On 34 minutes the ball fell to McCallum inside the area following Bowery’s chest down from Cornick’s ball in. On 54 the ball fell to Semedo around eight yards and he volleyed a shot goalwards and with the aid of a slight deflection it found a way past Jones to double Orient’s advantage. On 70 Cornick was at the heart of it once more, laying the ball across for McCallum who had the simple job of tapping home. 16-year-old striker Dalby made his debut for the club, replacing Bowery with 16 minutes remaining. Team:Sargeant, Hunt, Pollock, Parkes, Kennedy, Cornick (Koroma 78), Atangana (Kelly 45), Weir, Semedo, McCallum, Bowery (Dalby 74). SUBS: Cisak, Palmer, Moncur, Alzate. Only 876 fans attended. Simpson’s absence is due to a bad back. Deadline day 31 August Kashket was released from his contract and joined Wycombe. On deadline day we signed France under-20 forward Ulrich N'Nomo from Chateauroux, subject to international clearance. The forward has signed an initial one-year deal with an option of a further year. He joins having come through the academy at the French club and has featured at every national level from under-16 right through to under-20. Comfortable playing on either wing or up front, N'Nomo scored five goals in 23 games last season for the Championnat National side as they went on to finish fifth. Shambles? Clohessey was released from his contract. Before this Hessenthaler was reported as saying “It doesn’t make it any easier for us because we need a squad and at the moment we’re down to 18 and we’ll see what we can do before Wednesday,” So we let Gnanduillet and Moore go and he is complaining. He then lets Kashket and Clohessey go whilst signing Mezague who may not play this year or this season depending on his recovery from an achilles operation. He then signs N’Nomo who has no league experience. In a stranger twist Cox was also released from his contract on Thursday. He was nearly signed by Northampton but their manager Page said: “It is something you would have to talk to the player about and the agent, as that is their problem not ours.” Has Dean or his agent made a faux pax as the Northampton Chronicle said “The decision to cancel his contract does leave the player as a free agent as he is without a club but, due to the new EFL rules, he is now unable to sign for a Football League club until the January transfer window opens. Players are only allowed to sign for League clubs outside of the transfer window if they were out of contract prior to 11pm on transfer deadline day, and Cox was still registered as an Os player at that time. It seems Cox’s only option for immediate football is to sign for a non-League club, but if he does that he will not be able to join a League club in January either, as the rules state players can only play for two clubs in any one season.” Maybe Cox has other plans? So if I read this right Hessenthaler has complained he has only 18 players then cancels the contracts of three experienced players and signed one with none? Between the players released they made 1082 starts whereas N’Nomo and Mazague have only played 99 between them? You get the feeling he is not in control of signing and releasing players. Shambles? 3 September. Away to top of the table Morecambe. Kennedy starts. Finally the penny has dropped and we are playing a left back in the left back position. Semedo was on the bench along with youngsters N’Nomo, Sargeant, Pollock, Koroma and Judd with only Palmer with any league experience. Kelly put us in the lead on 27’ with a shot that skidded on a greasy surface went under the keeper only for Morecambe to equalise four minutes into the second half. Bowery scored on 55 to secure all three points when a shot deflected off a defender. Team: 1 Cisak, 16 Hunt, 37 Erichot, 6 Parkes, 3 Kennedy, 11 Massey, 8 Weir, 6 Kelly, 21 Bowery, 10 McCallum, 20 Cornick. Substitutes, 25 Pollock, 24 Sargeant, 9 Palmer, 29 Judd, 18 N’Nomo, 22 Semedo, 28 Koroma. The departure of Cox heralds the total dismantling of the team that played at Wembley. Where are they now? 01 Jones played for Stevenage against us earlier in the season, 05 Cuthbert playing for Luton, 02 Omosuzi joined Cambridge but only started 11 matches last season and none this, 15 Clarke started 22 games for Bradford last season but yet to start this season, 04 Vincelot left us for Coventry and left them for Bradford, 06 Baudry left during the summer for Doncaster but has yet to play for them, 11 Odubajo started 51 matches for Hull but yet to start this season under the new manager, 09, Lisbie left for Barnet but failed to start a single game, whereabouts unknown. 10 Mooney scored nine goals for Southend last season, 08 James, now playing for Exeter. Substitutes: 12 Larkins joined Bishops Stortford last year, 23 Dagnall playing for Crewe after leaving Hibernian, 25 Simpson playing for Exeter after leaving Cambridge, 24 Lundstram left Everton on a free and joined Oxford, 14 Batt started eight games for Barnet last season and four sub appearances this season despite being released on a free, 21 Bartley plays for Hibernian and made 32 starts for them last season. I have to say that with his departure goes our chances of promotion as I don’t see Massey in the same class though I have yet to see N’Nomo play. Cornick goes back in January. I don’t see any skills that ANY Orient players has that Cox doies not. However I don’t see anyone with these skills in the team not even McAnuff could better Cox. 10 September. Away to Carlisle 2-2 McCallum, Cornick. McCallum put us in the lead just before half time but they equalised just after half time. An individual goal from Cornick gave us back the lead but with three minutes to go the ball struck Kelly in the penalty and they equalised. Team: 1 Cisak, 16 Hunt, 37 Erichot, 6 Parkes, 3 Kennedy, 11 Massey, 8 Weir, 6 Kelly, 21 Bowery, 10 McCallum, 20 Cornick. Substitutes, 25 Pollock, 24 Sargeant, 9 Palmer(Bwery 51), 29 Judd, 18 N’Nomo, 22 Semedo(McCallum 78), 32 Ochieng. Henry Ochieng is an U18 player. Home to second from bottom Yeovil next. Cox joined Crawley though he is unable to play for them until 2 January. He must have been desperate to get away. "I didn't really want to leave but, circumstances being what they were, I felt like I had no choice," he said according to the BBC. Doherty joined Altrincham on a months loan. Also on loan were youngsters Michael Clark – East Thurrock United. Sam Alderson – Cambridge City. Freddy Moncur – Wingate & Finchley and scored two goals. Sam Roach – Barkingside. 17 September. Home to Yeovil 0-1. Pointless, clueless and hopeless. Man of the match - nobody. Nobody reacted to a short corner 14’ from time and we never looked like scoring. Pollock replace Hunt at half time and became the worst player on the pitch. McCallum never won a ball n the air. Team: 1 Cisak, 16 Hunt, 37 Erichot, 6 Parkes, 3 Kennedy, 11 Massey, 8 Weir, 6 Kelly, 21 Bowery, 10 McCallum, 20 Cornick. Substitutes, 25 Pollock(Hunt 45), 24 Sargeant, 9 Palmer, 15 Atangana(Weir 63), 27 Simpson(Bowery 63), 18 N’Nomo, 22 Semedo. Down to tenth. Away to middle of the table Notts County next then home to top spot Plymouth. Elsewhere Gnanduillet was scoring his third goal for Blackpool to earn them a point against Carlisle. Dagnall missed a penalty fro Crewe but was still on the winning side. Mooney put Southend into the lead against Millwall. 19 September. We signed Slovian U21 central midfielder Zan Benedicic until January. His only experience in the UK was as sub, twice, for Leeds in 2014-15. According to this site he has only played in 55 matches playing 3.536'. The last time he played was back in March for Coppa Italia in Serie B and since then has not been in the squad or been on the bench. 20 September. Maybe the injury to Hunt was more serious or Pollock’s form was a cause of concern as we signed 30 year-old former Dutch U21 Jens Janse from Ternana Calcio though the last time he played for them in Serie B was back in May. A right back that can play in the midde or on the left. Too much information? For Eredivisie Squad: 198, Starting eleven: 142, Substituted in: 17, On the bench: 39, Suspended: 0, Injured: 2. For Beloften Eredivisie Squad: 1, Starting eleven: 1, Substituted in: 0, On the bench: 0, Suspended: 0, Injured: 0. For Umaglesi Liga Squad: 2, Starting eleven: 1, Substituted in: 0, On the bench: 1, Suspended: 0, Injured: 0. Georgian Cup Squad: 1, Starting eleven: 1, Substituted in: 0, On the bench: 0, Suspended: 0, Injured: 0. Umaglesi Liga Meisterschaftsrunde Squad: 3, Starting eleven: 2, Substituted in: 0, On the bench: 1, Suspended: 0, Injured: 0. Copa del Rey Squad: 0, Starting eleven: 0, Substituted in: 0, On the bench: 0, Suspended: 0, Injured: 0. Coppa Italia Squad: 0, Starting eleven: 0, Substituted in: 0, On the bench: 0, Suspended: 0, Injured: 0. KNVB Beker Squad: 13, Starting eleven: 9, Substituted in: 2, On the bench: 2, Suspended: 0, Injured: 0. Serie B Squad: 65, Starting eleven: 27, Substituted in: 14, On the bench: 24, Suspended: 2, Injured: 0. LaLiga2 Squad: 17, Starting eleven: 11, Substituted in: 0, On the bench: 6, Suspended: 0, Injured: 0. Play-Offs Promotie/Degradatie Squad: 0, Starting eleven: 0, Substituted in: 0, On the bench: 0, Suspended: 0, Injured: 0. Yes that’s what I thought. 24 September. Away to Notts County. 3-1 McCAllum. Can’t beat ten men. Goalless at half time but we let in two goals ten minutes from the start of the second half. No marking for the first and Payne beaten for pace for the second. They had a men sent off on 69’ for a second bookable offence and McCallum scored four minutes from time. A header from a cross by Bowery. Two minutes into added time County got a third. N’Nomo beaten for pace. All their goals were assisted by Tootle. Team: 1 Cisak, 16 Hunt, 37 Erichot, 6 Parkes, 3 Kennedy, 11 Massey, 8 Weir, 6 Kelly, 27 Simpson, 10 McCallum, 20 Cornick. Substitutes, 24 Sargeant, 9 Palmer, 15 Atangana, 21 Bowery(Simpson 73), 18 N’Nomo(Cornick 62), 46 Janse, 22 Semedo(Massey 72). Down to 14th. 26 September. Too much for Mr Spaghetti as he sacked Hessenthaler and put Edwards in charge in the interim. 27 September. Home to Plymouth. 0-2. Cue Elmer Bernstein’s masterpiece. The Magnificent Nine. I have been supporting the O’s since about 1963 but never witnessed anything like this. In the first minute, Charles Breakspear. remember this name, sent off Weir for a tackle he should not have made as it was made on the halfway line near the dugout so no danger. Thirteen minutes later the sent of Janse whose lack of fitness showed as he lunged at the attacker. By that time we were a goal down and Kelly had gone off with an injury. Supporter in front of me blamed Cisak calling him a coward. The BBC blame a static defence. The ref gave us nothing despite Simpson being heavily challenged on two occasions. Strange he ware a green shirt. After the start Atangana went off to be replace by Cornick. Argyle got another goal six minutes from time and the whole of the ground stood up in applauded the team. I don’t know what the record for an Orient player to be sent off is but Weir must be close. Neither do I know what the record of being sent off on debut is but again Janse must come near it. Team: 1 Cisak, 16 Hunt, 46 Janse, 6 Parkes, 3 Kennedy, 11 Massey, 8 Weir, 6 Kelly, 27 Simpson, 10 McCallum, 22 Semedo. Substitutes, 24 Sargeant, 9 Palmer, 15 Atangana(Kelly 13), 21 Bowery(McCallum 82), 25 Pollock, 18 N’Nomo, 20 Cornick(Atangana 47). Down to 16th. Comment : You do have to wonder how much control Hessenthaler has on who got sold or bought. How many people picked the team? 1 October. Away to Barnet 0-0. A shocker. Team: 1 Cisak, 16 Hunt, 37 Erichot, 6 Parkes, 3 Kennedy, 11 Massey, 20 Cornick, 6 Kelly, 27 Simpson, 10 McCallum, 22 Semedo. Substitutes, 24 Sargeant, 9 Palmer(Palmer 85), 21 Bowery(Cornick 50), 25 Pollock, 18 N’Nomo(Semedo 71), 32 Ochieng, 33 Benedicic. Three points from a relegation place. 2 October. Alberto Cavasin 60, former Sampdoria boss, named new O's manager on a two year deal. He has all the credentials, does not speak English, never worked outside Italy except for a brief spell with Swiss side Bellinzona and got his last club relegated when he last worked five years ago. Has promised to learn the language by getting lessons three hours a day five days a week. 4 October. Away to Southend 0-1. Checkatrade Trophy has some interesting rules. Division 1 and 2 teams have to play five players who either a) played in the last first team match (not sure if sub appearance esp just a few mins counts) b) play in the next first team match (again (not sure if sub appearance esp just a few mins counts) c) are one of the 5 players with most first appearances this season Bradford got round this by playing their regular first team goalkeeper Colin Doyle and substituting him after two or three minutes (depending on what paper you read) for the reserve goalkeeper they really wanted to play. Team: Sargeant, Hunt, Parkes (Dunne HT), Pollock, Kennedy, Massey (Janse HT), Weir (Simpson 87), Kelly, Nnomo, Bowery, Palmer. Subs: Cisak, Koroma, Alzate, Benedicic. Dean Cox will be turning out for Burgess Hill until he can play for Crawley. Crawley have won all of there last four games. 9 October. Home to Portsmouth. 0-1. Game plan? If there was one it was not evident. Atangana and Cornick were both missing through injury. And Weir? An injury to Kelly after nine minutes did not help. McCallum still did not win a ball in the air. Team: 1 Cisak, 16 Hunt, 37 Erichot, 6 Parkes, 3 Kennedy, 46 Janse, 18 N’Nomo, 11 Massey, 6 Kelly, 27 Simpson, 10 McCallum. Substitutes, 24 Sargeant, 9 Palmer(N’Nomo 82), 21 Bowery, 25 Pollock, 5 Dunne(McCallum 45), 22 Semedo(Kelly 9), 33 Benedicic. We need to hope that there are two other clubs worst than we are, currently there are four. Can’t see any points from the next home game against Luton, may be a bit luckier against Hartlepool who do not have a good home record. 16 October. Home to Luton 1-2 (Palmer). Goals on the half hour and 74’ gave the points to the Hatters. Palmer got a goal 11’ from time. Weir was not injured but suspended after his red card against Plymouth so missed this one as well. Kelly was also missing and would be for some time as he has a torn hamstring. Atangana made a welcome return. Team: 1 Cisak, 16 Hunt, 37 Erichot, 6 Parkes, 3 Kennedy, 46 Janse, 11 Massey, 15Atangana, 27 Simpson, 9 Palmer, 22 Semedo. Substitutes, 24 Sargeant, 21 Bowery, 25 Pollock, 5 Dunne(Atangana 73), McCallum Simpson 68),18 N’Nomo, 33 Benedicic. 22 October. Away to Hartlepool 1-3 (Palmer 2, Semedo). A goal down just before half time it took a debut goal from Semedo to get us level and Palmer’s right foot to give us the points. Bowery and Semedo went off injured, lets hope they get better before next week. Team: 1 Cisak, 16 Hunt, 22 Semedo, 6 Parkes, 3 Kennedy, 46 Janse, 11 Massey, 15 Atangana, 8 Weir, 21 Bowery, 9 Palmer . Substitutes, 24 Sargeant, 5 Dunne(Bowery 76), 18 N’Nomo(Semedo 80), 33 Benedicic(Weir 81), 26 Adeboyejo, 28 Koroma, 30 Dalby. This one win took us from second from bottom to 19th. Three teams above us on 16 points and two on 17. Home to Crewe next. They are 12th with four points more that us. Alberto will not be happy with their goal from a corner as there was no marking from the resulting header nor the goalscorer. Benedicic made his debut from the bench and took two minutes to get a yellow card. Jay Simpson, Paul McCallum, Aron Pollock and Yvan Erichot all missed out due to slight injuries according to the local Guardian. If Semedo and Bowery’s are serious we could have problem. Cornick and the bloke yet to play are out. Four U18’s on the bench. Even so the U18’s side won their match, about a dozen they have won on the bounce. With Kelly on the long term injury list Alberto decided to get former Huddersfield and Scunthorpe midfielder Michael Collins on a three month contract. The 30 year-old has also played for Oxford and on loan to York and AFC Wimbledon. He left Indian I-League side Bengaluru earlier this year. 28 October. Home to Crewe 0-2. Men of the match Turton and Davis, but they play for Crewe. Only Cisak, Palmer and Atangana came out with any credit with Weir having his worse game. He reminded me of Payne last season, arms like windmills as wll as Nolan with the inability to pick up anyone to mark. Whether by accident or design Semedo, instead of getting the ball to the by line and crossing away from the goalie he opted to cross from 25 yards out into the arms of the keeper or they bounced harmlessly into touch. We started with five defenders, two midfielders, two wingers and two strikers but at half time Alberto decided we needed three in midfield and a lone striker as he replaced Bowery with Collins but by this time we were two nil down. Later he replaced Massey with N’Nomo but he only lasted 16 minutes before being stretchered off. Simpson replaced Atangana. Weir produced no defence splitting passes but to be fair nobody was running into positions warranting a pass. Again it took too long for the ball to reach the oppositions half and the defence, Parkes in particular need to learn we are entering a relegation battle and defence consists of hoofing the ball into touch not trying to play your way out of trouble. Kennedy was thought to be the answer for corners and free kicks but he is hopeless. Team: 1 Cisak, 16 Hunt, 22 Semedo, 6 Parkes, 3 Kennedy, 46 Janse, 11 Massey, 15 Atangana, 8 Weir, 21 Bowery, 9 Palmer. Substitutes, 24 Sargeant, 5 Dunne, 18 N’Nomo(Massey 72), 33 Benedicic, 26 Adeboyejo, 7 Collins(Bowery 45), 27 Simpson. Only Newport between us and the bottom of the division. With injuries to N’Nomo, Cornick, Kelly, Enrichot, McCallum and the bloke we bought with an injury we may need to ferry in more players. Respite from the relegation battle next Sunday with the FA Cup match away to Sheffield United and the following Tuesday away to Brighton in the EFL Trophy. Could do no better than putting out the youth team as they beat Luton 5-3 last Saturday. 6 November. FA Cup away to Sheffield United 6-0. Thumped. United were three up at half time. Chapman completed his hat trick with a goal typical of the poor defending we have got used to. Instead of hoofing the ball they tried to play themselves out of trouble and paid the price. We only had 40% of the play and had ten shots on goal compared with 32 from the Blades. Team: 1 Cisak, 16 Hunt, 5 Dunne, 6 Parkes, 3 Kennedy, 11 Massey, 22 Semedo, 15 Atangana, 8 Weir, 27 Simpson, 9 Palmer. Substitutes, 24 Sargeant, 33 Benedicic, 46 Janse(Parkes 81), 10 McCallum(Simpson 70), 25 Pollock, 7 Collins, 21 Bowery(Palmer 35). 8 November. EEL Trophy (Checkatrade) away to Brighton U23. 1-0. Out of another cup. Alberto not doing wel. lost three and won one in the league and lost three cup matches without scoring. Put out a young team though and Alberto said he would consider playing some in the next match away to Colchester. Cisak, Janse (Judd 52) , Dunne, Pollock, Kennedy, Koroma, Collins, Benedicic (Ochieng 81), Semedo, McCallum, Simpson (Adeboyejo HT) Subs: Grainger, Dalby, Alzate, Clark. Gary Taylor-Fletcher joined Accrington. Whilst with us he was loaned to Grays and twice to Dagenham before being signed by Lincoln. he left them for Huddersfield then joined Blackpool, Leicester, Sheff Wednesday, Millwall and Tranmere Rovers. Charlie MacDonald and Bradley Pritchard are playing with Gary Alexander at Greenwich Borough. Jamal Loza signed for Maidstone. After leaving us on loan he was loaned to Southend (twice0 Yeovil and Stevenage. Sean Clohessey played for Braintree in their FA Cup 7-0 win over Eastbourne. Braintree's manager is Hakan Hayrettin who was a youth player for us. East Thurrock United have signed Frazer Shaw. Accrington Stanley recently agreed to cancel Shaw`s contract by mutual consent, with the youngster seeking to move back down south. Eastleigh have signed Jamie Cureton. Woking have signed former Queens Park Rangers midfielder Frankie Sutherland. Terrell Forbes has left Farnborough FC and joined Grays Athletic. 12 November. Away to Colchester. 0-3 (Simpson 2, Hunt). We had to find another team worst than us to keep out of relegation. After this match there were five. Simpson started the rout on 11’ after poor defending from the U’s but Palmer was at his annoying best. Hunt went on a run of his own down the right before cutting in and planting the ball in the back of the net a minute after half time. On 66’ Simpson got his secned from the edge of the area giving the goalie no chance. Team: 1 Cisak, 16 Hunt, 6 Parkes, 37 Enrichot, 3 Kennedy, 11 Massey, 15 Atangana, 8 Weir, 7 Collins, 27 Simpson, 9 Palmer. Substitutes, 24 Sargeant, 5 Dunne, 10 McCallum(Simpson 84), 22 Semedo(Massey 79), 25 Pollock, 26 Adeboyejo(Palmer 89), 32 Ochieng. Up the 19th. Home to ninth placed Blackpool next. Charlton sacked Slade and put Nugent in short term charge. 19 November. Home to Blackpool 1-2 (McCallum). Poor. I missed this one but my brother informs me they only started playing once we got a goal back and apparently Dunne was hopeless. Team: 1 Cisak, 16 Hunt, 6 Parkes, 37 Enrichot, 3 Kennedy, 11 Massey, 15 Atangana, 8 Weir, 7 Collins, 27 Simpson, 9 Palmer. Substitutes, 24 Sargeant, 5 Dunne(Enrichot 52), 10 McCallum(Palmer 75), 22 Semedo(Collins 66), 25 Pollock, 26 Adeboyejo, 32 Ochieng. Down to 20th. 19 November. Home to bottom club Exeter. 0-1. Very poor. Man of the match Judd, left backfirst half right back second. Very poor were Weir, Collins and Kennedy. Whilst Atangana, Massey and McCallum were not much better. Stragery appeared to be to pump it up to McCallum to head over his shoulder to the lone Simpson. We had ten shots but only one on target. Down to 22nd. Team: 1 Cisak, 16 Hunt, 6 Parkes, 29 Judd, 3 Kennedy, 11 Massey, 15 Atangana, 8 Weir, 7 Collins, 27 Simpson, 10 McCallum. Substitutes, 24 Sargeant, 9 Palmer, 5 Dunne(Kennedy 45), 22 Semedo(Weir 45), 25 Pollock, 30 Dalby, 32 Ochieng. 23 November. Too much for Beccheti and Casavin was sacked along with Head of Fitness Alfredo Vergori and Matteo Festa. Club statement also added Andy Edwards will now take charge of the team on a permanent basis until the end of the season with Danny Webb stepping up to the assistant manager role. According to the BBC website After losing 1-0 to Exeter on Tuesday, the east London side became just the second club in Football League history to lose nine of their first 10 home league games in a season, matching Newport's run in 1970-71. Orient managers under Becchetti Andy Edwards is the ninth different manager to take charge of Leyton Orient since Becchetti took over the club: Russell Slade: April 2010-September 2014 Kevin Nugent: September 2014-October 2014 Mauro Milanese: October 2014-December 2014 Fabio Liverani: December 2014-May 2015 Ian Hendon: July 2015-January 2016 Kevin Nolan (player-manager): January 2016-April 2016 Andy Hessenthaler: April 2016-September 2016 Alberto Cavasin: September 2016-November 2016 Andy Edwards: November 2016-present 26 November. Away to Doncaster 3-1 (Kennedy). This was about right for one team in third place and the other three from bottom. After months of poor corners and free kicks Kennedy finally found the net. He is no Cox. So things were looking food after 19 minutes. But just before half time Semedo failed to clear his lines and Rovers were level. Of course things did not get any better as first Koroma and then Parkes gave away penalties. Team: 1 Cisak, 26 Pollock, Parkes, 29 Judd, 3 Kennedy, 22 Semedo, 15 Atangana, 8 Weir, 7 Collins, 27 Simpson, 9 Palmer. Substitutes, 5 Dunne, 10 McCallum (Palmer 65), 24 Sargeant, 21 Bowery, 30 Dalby, 28 Koroma (Semedo 59), 46 Janse. Massey was suspended for this match. No match next Saturday as we are out of the cup. Kashket scored a hat trick in the cup and was immediatly offered and took a two year contract. 10 December. Home to Accrington Stanley 1-0 (Simpson). Stanley are just above us in the table and took a blow after their McConville was sent off on 24’after pulling down Massey, a decision that the ref and linesman took some time to agree on though the video clearly shows him grabbing Massey’s arm. On 65 Massey played the ball to Judd whose cross found McCallum to head down for Simpson to scored despite there being a suspicion on hand ball on his part. . Team: 1 Cisak, 3 Kennedy, 6 Parkes, 29 Judd, 16 Hunt, 22 Semedo, 11 Massey, 15 Atangana, 8 Weir, 21 Bowery, 27 Simpson, Substitutes, 9 Palmer, 10 McCallum (Bowery 58), 18 N’Nomo, 24 Sargeant, 30 Dalby, 19 Mezague(Judd 79), 7 Collins(Semedo 86). Stanley fans had a fight amongst themselves. Taylor-Fletcher was on the bench for them. The death was announced of Peter Brabrook who played for three years from 1968 playing in 81 times scoring six goals. He was 79 and had battled cancer. The club said “An exciting winger, Peter combined brilliantly with the forward line and most notably helped the club clinch the Third Division title in 1970, contributing with a handful of assists throughout the 1969-70 campaign. Prior to joining the O’s, he spent time with fellow London sides Chelsea and West Ham, amassing 486 appearances across the league, cup and Europe for the pair as well as scoring a combined total of 100 goals.” We went out of the FA Youth Cup 3-1 at Leicester. First year scholar Sam Dalby has signed a three-year professional contract having impressed greatly in the O’s under-18 squad this season, netting 11 goals in their 19-game unbeaten run. In addition to Dalby - Josh Koroma, Steven Alzate, Tristan Abrahams, Myles Judd and Henry Ochieng have also signed pro deals with the club, while the likes of Aron Pollock, Sam Sargeant, Freddy Moncur and Sandro Semedo have also graduated through the club’s academy. 17 December. Away to Wycombe lost 1-0. Kashket scored their goal following two botched attempts to clear the ball from the edge of the area. I read one of the players reporting going back to basics. Hoofing the ball out of danger is a basic for struggling teams. It was Kashket’s 11th of the season. Team: 1 Cisak, 3 Kennedy, 6 Parkes, 29 Judd, 16 Hunt, 11 Massey, 15 Atangana, 8 Weir, 21 Bowery, 27 Simpson, 10 McCallum. Substitutes, 18 N’Nomo, 24 Sargeant, 30 Dalby(Weir 82), 22 Semedo(Bowery 73), 19 Mezague(Kennedy 62), 7 Collins, 37 Erichot. Three teams below us. I suspect come the end of January will see the departure of Janse, Benedicic and Collins given that two out of the three do not even make the bench. Russell Slade took the vacant mangers job at Coventry. They are bottom but one in League One. 26 December. Home to Crawley. 3-2 (Dalby, McCallum 2). Best strikers debut for a youth team striker since Barrie Fairbrother in 1969(?). At home to Mansfield as I recall. Scored the only and winning goal. Edwards seems to be working out what is his best team and decided to drop Simson to the bench and replace him with 17 year-old Sam Dalby. He took only four minutes to make contact with an Attanga cross to put us in the lead. Thirteen minutes later McCallum did the same from a cross from Massey to make it 2-0 then converted a penalty to put us 3-0 up before half time. Things did not go so well after the break when Mezague deflected the ball into his own net nine minutes after the restart. Things got worse when our Aussie keeper went walkabout and the result was in doubt at 3-2. My brothers grandson is a goalkeeper and once asked for advice. “When your defender is marking the opposition, do nothing” is what I told him. Back to basics? It made no difference and we cot three points to tak us up two places in the tabel thanks to the three immediately below us all losing. Home to Cambridge next. Team: 1 Cisak, 19 Mezague, 6 Parkes, 29 Judd, 16 Hunt, 11 Massey, 7 Collins, 15 Atangana, 22 Semedo, 30 Dalby, 10 McCallum. Substitutes, 27 Simpson, 8 Weir, 21 Bowery(Dalby 58), 9 Palmer, 24 Sargeant, 28 Korma, 7 Erichot. 31 December. Home to Cambridge. 1-1 (Palmer). Injuries. First one was to Mezague on 33’ replaced by Erichot and both effectively shackled the big lump that was their 26 Ikpeazu. Dalby limped off on 53’ to be replaced by Palmer and 14’ later Semedo was replaced by Koroma. Simpson played no part in the match as he had asked for a transfer. A shambles gave the U’s a 21’ minute lead as Collins failed to mark anyone and Atangana’s attempted clearance played the ball into the area where two forwards had a stab before the unmarked Dunk scored. Judd had left him to follow the ball. Palmer made an immediate impact running at their defence and making it hard for them. Four minutes into stoppage time McCallum headed the ball back to Palmer to give us a point. Team: 1 Cisak, 19 Mezague, 6 Parkes, 29 Judd, 16 Hunt, 11 Massey, 7 Collins, 15 Atangana, 22 Semedo, 30 Dalby, 10 McCallum. Substitutes, 3 Kennedy, 8 Weir, 21 Bowery, 9 Palmer(Dalby 53), 24 Sargeant, 28 Korma(Semedo 67), 7 Erichot(Mezague33). This result that left us in 20th place with Accrington, Notts County , Cheltenham and Newport below us. Nobody was man of the match as nearly everyone failed to control the ball though the Cambridge players did not seem to have any problem. Almost as if the ball filled with more air as it approached a red shirt. Collins was awful as far as I was concerned. He lacks pace and by the time he makes up his mind to pass the ball the opposition defence has sussed out where it is to go and marks our player. Rumour has it he is in negotiations for a contract. I hope not. All three wingers failed to get into the game but maybe that was down to two good defenders rather than poor performances from us. Players out of contract in the summer include the transfer listed Simpson, Cisak, Hunt, the unplayed Doherty and McCallum. 2017