2021 A YEAR IN THE LIFE OF A LEYTON ORIENT SUPPORTER as it happened Other years: 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 Leyton Orient Diary part 1 to 1925 Part 2 from 1950 Part 2a from 1965 from 1968 from 1968-1972 from 1972 from 2002 2009-2010 here. Next page We started the year in 10th place and the first game of 2021 was at home to sixth placed Salford. Honorary President Barry Hearn has been awarded an OBE for services to sport in the New Year’s Honours List. 2 January. Home to Salford. 1-0 (Johnson). Salford should have gone into an early lead as Akinola failed to stop across, Ling was jogging back from some New Year Shopping, Happe was ball watching leaving the opponent to sky the ball over from a yard out. No idea who Brophy was marking. Johnson got us all the points as he swivelled on a pass from Clay putting the ball in the bottom corner of the net. There was no change in the line up and Angol was still awful. We had plenty of opportunities to put the game beyond their reach in the second half but they all went begging. Johnson had two chances but opted to take a touch and a touch rather than take a first time shot. Angol gave no indication why he should be on the pitch and he sent a shot two yards wide, headed an excellent cross from Brophy down and to their keeper then crossed the ball so high it went for a throw on the opposite side of the pitch. His first touch was awful and passing just as bad. Salford had their chances but failed to capitalise on them though Vigouroux made a timely save with his legs. Salford looked ordinary as most teams in this division do. Team: Vigouroux, Ling, Akinola, Cissé, Brophy, Happe, Johnson, Clay, Angol, Wilkinson, McAnuff. Subs, Sargeant, Sotiriou(Johnson 90+1), Widdowson, Dayton, Coulson, Kyprianou, Maguire-Drew. 48% of the play 2/7 shots on target. Up to ninth, Salford down to eighth. Video highlights. BBC Report. Three games were off to a frozen pitch whilst the Forest Green match was abandoned due to the weather. One of the frozen pitches was Southend’s game at Newport. This allowed Carlisle to go top after beating Walsall in the Midlands. Our next match is in Carlisle. If you think I was harsh on Angol this is what the lofcforum had to say. I thought he was poor. Angol is so annoying. Stupid fouls. Stupid booking. Very little end product. He always looks like he could do so much better than he does. Terrible control; 4 touches where 1 would do; can't pass to a red shirt and giving away stupid, unnecessary fouls I couldn't see one positive contribution from him all match. Please, someone tell me what he offers over and above the subs that he's keeping out of the team because I'll be b****ed if I know. Angol was toilet and should be dropped but alas we will no doubt be unchanged again next week. Great result today but agreed, Angol was absolutely dire and has been since returning. Angol was awful but he's not a winger and its baffling that Embleton continues to play him out there when we have other much better options on the bench. Myles Judd on his Barnet début was sent off after 29’ for handball. Saved the goal though. But didn’t stop them losing at home to Boreham Wood. Leaves them bottom but one. Josh Wright left the club by mutual consent. You have to wonder if being the last signing by Edinbugh went against him by Embleton. Top scorer last season, he could tackle and head a ball. All abilities that Clay is short of. He joined Crawley. The match at Carlisle was called off after overnight (Thursday) temperatures were -6c. In a 2020 review Nigel Travis revealed the trip would cost £7000 as two coaches were required plus single room accommodation for all the staff. With Wright leaving Embleton admitted it felt like his team now. We signed 22 year-old 5’6” midfielder Dan Kemp from West Ham. His only league experience outside the Hammers U21 side is on loan to Blackpool and Stevenage where he amassed 13(8) games scoring three goals. He got a 2½ year contract. In 2017 he played twice for England U19 and three times for England U20. He was recalled from Blackpool by West Ham so he could sign for us. Is his height a problem? Alan Ball was the same height and Billy Bremner an inch shorter. 16 January. Home to Morecambe 2-0 (o/g, Angol). 77% of play in a boring first half. Too many poor passes from Happe, McAnuff, Brophy, but good games from Ling and Wilkinson. Anonymous games from Sotiriou, Clay and Angol. With 74% of the match and Morecambe having the more chances it looked like we were heading for a draw but on 88’ a left footed cross from Akinola took a deflection by their Knight-Percival into the net. Two minutes into added time McAnuff’s cross found Angol who powered the ball into the net on his first touch. Johnson was unfit and Sotiriou got his chance to stamp his mark on the game. He failed. Kemp made his début on 63’ replacing Sotiriou who had just been booked. Angol was booked for pushing, idiot. No place for Maguire-Drew on the bench, ominous. Team: Vigouroux, Ling, Akinola, Cissé, Brophy, Happe, Sotirou, Clay, Angol, Wilkinson, McAnuff. Subs, Sargeant, Widdowson, Dayton, Coulson, Kyprianou(Cissé 57), Dennis, Kemp(Sotiriou 63). Video highlights. BBC Report. Up to 7th three points from the top two clubs though they both have two games in hand of us. Next up is a home match with the Grass Munchers that are FGR. They have a midweek game, we don’t after the re-arranged match at Carlisle was postponed again this time through Covid. 18 January. We signed 25 year-old midfielder Nick Freeman from Wycombe on loan until the end of the season. Jordan Maguire-Drew went to Crawley on the same deal. Freeman started his career with Hemel before moving to Wycombe in July 2016. He has appeared 70 (56) for the Chairboys scoring seven goals. He has played eight matches this season but 34 last season to help them win promotion. His last appearance for them was 19 December. With Johnson out with ligament trouble I would has thought a forward would be the priority. Dayton, Angol, Dennis, and Sotiriou are not the answer. Or at least have proved to me that they are not. The death of Malcolm Slater aged 81 was announced. Malcolm died on the 20th January 2021, he suffered from Alzheimer's for a number of years. He made 111 League apps for us scoring four goals between 1966-1970. Above he is in the Lochussie team before he joined us and right the Benfleet team of 1973/74. 23 January. Home to Forest Green (0-1). Got what we deserved. Embleton got this all wrong. Knowing (I presume) Johnson would be out a further three matches he had signed two midfielders. Cadden scored on 23’ after Ling had misjudged a kick from their keeper but the ball found Cadden unmarked and he put it away. Angol again was awful and went off on 63’ with what looked like a hamstring. Happe was sent off a minute later for two bookable offences. Consensus seems to support a two game ban as he was sent off earlier in the season. Freeman and Kemp came on 63’ but achieved nothing as far as I could see. Problem is that the manager seems to insist he is right in playing Brophy at left back rather than on the wing. Sotiriou is not a winger so he needs to be in the centre to score goals ditto Wilkinson on the right wing. It would help if a directive was issued to instruct all players “hit the ball first time, do not take it on a touch and another touch.” There will be changes away to Bolton with Coulson replacing Happe and for me bring back Widdowson, put Brophy forward and Sotiriou in the centre. But that won’t happen. We were promised signings next week but we were promised that in the summer. Team: Vigouroux, Ling, Akinola, Cissé, Brophy, Happe, Sotirou, Clay, Angol, Wilkinson, McAnuff. Subs, Sargeant, Widdowson, Freeman(Cissé 63), Coulson(Clay 90+2), Kyprianou, Dennis(Sotiriou 84), Kemp(Angol 63). Video highlights. BBC Report. Down to 9th. Embleton in the Newham Recorder had this to say “We’ve added attackers and midfield players, so we’ll probably be looking more at the defensive area.” I’m not aware of added attackers. The club announced a partnership with American side Hartford Athletic supporting both clubs on and off the field. Jayden Stockley joined Charlton on loan from Preston. I’m sure I heard Martin Ling say the problem with signing out of contract players is they take so long to get fit yet we sign a former Rotherham centre half that has not played since 7 March 2020. Adam Thompson is 28 and signed an 18 month contract. Starting life as a trainee with Watford he played just nine(7) games scoring a single goal. He was loaned to Brentford twice and then to Wycombe, Barnet and finally Southend. He signed for Southend in January 2014 playing 106(3) scoring three goals before Bury stepped in and signed him for any undisclosed fee in June 2017. He was loaned out to Bradford until Rotherham signed him in August 2019. His career totals read 230(30) 8 goals. 30 January. Away to Bolton (2-0). Enforced changes meant Coulson came in for Happe whilst Kemp replaced Angol. Embleton preferred Kyprianou to Cissé. They should have gone ahead early on when a nothing challenge by Ling followed by some ball watching by the same player found the unmarked Nathan Delfouneso but his close-range effort saved by Lawrence Vigouroux. Goalless at half time we went a goal down on 67’ thanks to an own goal from Brophy and another two minutes later following a nothing challenge by Coulson. Replacing two strikers with a midfielder would do that. Widdowson had already replaced Kemp on 59’ then Kyprianou was replaced by Freeman on 76’ and Dayton replaced Clay four minutes later. Team: Vigouroux, Ling, Akinola, Coulson, Brophy, Sotirou, Clay, Kemp, Wilkinson, McAnuff, Kyprianou. Subs, Sargeant, Widdowson(Kemp 59), Freeman(Cissé 63), Dayton(Clay 80), Cissé, Turley, Sweeney. Video highlights. BBC Report. Down to 10th. 58% of the play with 1/10 shots on target. Two goals in three matches since Johnson got injured. Transfer window closes tomorrow. Or not as we re- signed Tristam Abrahams from Newport on loan. We loaned him from Norwich in Jan 2017 playing 4(5) games scoring two goals. He then went to the West Country joining first Exeter 8(15) scoring two goals and then Yeovil 11(4) 3 goals. He never did play for Norwich and they released him and Newport County signed him. For them 48(26) scoring 13 goals including two against Swansea, one against Watford and Newcastle in the EFL Cup. He last played on the 23rd of last month. A goal every 325 minutes or 0.28 goal a game. Not impressive. 2 February. Away to Crawley (0-0). Ten men grind a result. Three of the four new signings started, Thompson, Kemp and Freeman. After two minutes Clay gave away a penalty which they missed. Good job Wright did not take it. Thompson got his first booking for the club on 29’ and Kyprianou got sent off a minute later after his first touch let him down. Sotiriou hobbled off on 41’ and was replaced by Abrahams. Wilkinson got the ball in the net but the whistle went for an infringement. Team: Vigouroux, Ling, Akinola, Thompson, Brophy, Sotirou, Clay, Kemp, Wilkinson, Freeman, Kyprianou. Subs, Sargeant, Widdowson, Cissé, Turley, Abrahams(Sotiriou 41), McAnuff (Kemp 81). Video highlights. BBC Report. Still 10th. 38% of the play with 3/9 shots on target. Crawley had zero on target and although they fouled more they had only one player booked. We had four, Thompson, Brophy, Clay and Wilkinson. Home to Colchester next. Judd extended his loan at Barnet to the end of the season. 6 February. Home to Colchester (0-0). Two poor teams and I wish I had the power to issue zero points. A minutes applause celebrating the life of Simon Fellman whose death was announced yesterday was held before kick off. Simon was a stalwart of the Supporters Club for 30 years organising quizzes, acting as DJ and was found on match days in the Supporters Club announcing teams in a style, that left you smiling if the name was foreign. The U’s should have gone ahead instead they hit the bar, sloppy defending down our left. With Kyprianou suspended Cissé returned. Happe and Johnson returned to the bench to the exclusion of Turley. A hamstring problem for Sotiriou meant Abrahams started. Wilkinson had a shot saved then a header on target was easily saved as was one from Abrahams who saw little service. As the BBC put it “There was lots of first-half endeavour but little quality.” Four matches in the division were postponed from Southend to Mansfield, Scunthorpe and Salford all due to waterlogged pitches. 63% of the play but not a clue what to do with it. Taking too long to get the ball forward is what the commentator said at half time. Time and again Brophy passed back and sideways presumably (as we can only see part of the screen when streamed) as there is no movement forward. Johnson came on for the last 13 minutes. Team: Vigouroux, Ling, Akinola, Thompson, Brophy, Cissé, Clay, Kemp, Wilkinson, Freeman, Abrahams. Subs, Sargeant, Widdowson, Dennis, Johnson(Kemp 77), McAnuff(Clay 58), Happe(Ling 60). Video highlights. BBC Report. Still 10th. 5/11 shots on target. Away to Carlisle then Harrogate Saturday. The London Football Scene had this to say: Moan of the Match 4-3-3 wasn’t working at any point in the match for Orient yet Ross Embleton didn’t change his side’s shape – they have to be more flexible when teams like Colchester sit back. 9 February. The rearranged match at Carlisle was postponed for a third time due to a frozen pitch and will now take place 23 March. Apparently they have so many rearranged matches that they will have to play a game every 3.8 days. 12 February. Tomorrows match at Harrogate was postponed due to a frozen pitch. We have two matches a week for the next three weeks 17 February. This has nothing to do with football. Today we said goodbye to our beloved rabbit Ollie. He had gone blind and was suffering with glaucoma which needed drops twice a day. He then got Conjunctivitis and the discharge went like wood glue overnight making it impossible to wash clean. Last week Ann spotted a cheese like substance which she removed from his ear. The vet drained the fluid but we were told it may require a injection twice a week. Despite antibiotics the swelling did not go down so we took the decision to stop his suffering. We will miss him bounding towards us to be fussed and poking us with his nose for attention. Before he went blind he used to come bounding up the stairs and open our bedroom door and then appeared to enjoy being chased down the stairs. Tomorrow will be the first day of the rest of our lives without him. To say we will miss him is an understatement. 18 February. Today was our first day with the void created by the death of a pet. This morning I came downstairs and looked into an empty living room and wished him good morning even though he wasn't there. I cleaned out his cage as I did every morning, for the last time. "Won't be long Ollie" was our message if we went out and did so today. I took the bag filled from the cage to the compost bin and passing asked him what I could fill it up with now. We buried him in the orchard. Ollie loved an apple twig or a raspberry, gooseberry, pear twig. No longer will we need to search Morrison’s for black kale, curly kale or spinach or share the carrots, cauliflower and broccoli with him. There will be an empty shelf in the fridge. And moments like this in the photo of the Andrex bunny. I know things will get better, just wish it was sooner. 19 February. Said goodnight to Ollie last night but in my head so Ann would not get upset. Apples and bananas no longer need to be shared. The living room looks tidy, wish it didn’t. No longer need to hoover every day, wish I did. 20 February - wish I did. Came down this morning, took out my tablets and Ann’s. Normally I would take Ollie’s eye drops and boil extra water for his eyes. Don’t need to do that any more. Ann prepared the veg for tomorrows lunch in tears as she normally gives Ollie fresh piece of each enquiring Where’s my baby? Don’t need to do that any more. Sundays he used to get a good cage clear out Don’t need to do that any more. Mondays we do the housework and I usually got the Dyson down and every piece of carpet was gone over six times in the living room. Don’t need to do that any more. It did not need empting. Always tell tale signs he was here. The hall still has missing wallpaper but he never touched the same paper on the landing. When I made the lid for his coffin I used a jigsaw. I noted the teeth marks on the manual. The board came from the bedroom where I had placed it at the end of the bed to stop him going under it. Not needed any more. No need to move my slippers from the floor for a blind bunny. Outdoors I spy a dandelion growing in a planter. I need to remove it now but we kept them for Ollie as he liked a dandelion. Also a Raspberry and blackberry growing amongst the flowers. Bunny liked them. I can remove them now. At 6.30pm Ann gave his some goodies and at eight sat on the floor waving some black kale at him asking “Do you want your greens” he would come bounding across the living room floor until consumed and remain for some petting. We said goodbye to his cage having offered it for free on Next Door Neighbourhood along with his Travel Lodge (pet carrier). When the toilet roll was exhausted we offered the cardboard roll to Ollie. 20 February. Home to Port Vale. We started the match without any recognised full backs. Ling injured, Clay as well(?) as he was not on the bench. Johnson returned to the exclusion of Abrahams who dropped to the bench. Matt Young a second year scholar was on the bench. No place for Dennis, Sweeney or Angol. Kyprianou still suspended(?). Goalless at half time though we should have been a goal down when Happe (who had a poor game) inexplicitly right footed the ball across the area straight to a Vale player. Vigouroux saved his blushes. We went a goal down on 47 after Brophy failed to clear the ball and pounced about eventually giving it away. Hello, you are a fourth level player and not that good. Kick the ball out of your area. Players who are not defenders, defending badly. Kemp, who looked a bit lightweight, got the equaliser after a ball from Brophy was controlled with his left and slotted home with his right. Team: Vigouroux, Akinola, Thompson, Brophy, Happe, Cissé, Kemp, Wilkinson, Freeman, Johnson, McAnuff. Subs, Sargeant, Widdowson, Turley, Young, Coulson, Abrahams(Kemp 80), Dayton. Video highlights. BBC Report. 65% of the play, 200 passes help, twice as many as the Vale. Down to 11th. 4/12 shots on target. In the form guide for the last last six games we are 18th. Second from top are Bradford who we play Tuesday. Third in the table are Tranmere who we play Saturday. From the last five games bottom but one. On the 16 January we were 7th on 36 points, three points from the leaders Carlisle on 39 having played two games more than them. 22 February. Away to Bradford (1-0). There was no change to the starting 11 or those on the bench. On 81’ Thompson gave away a penalty and all the points. Team: Vigouroux, Akinola, Thompson, Brophy, Happe, Cissé, Kemp, Wilkinson, Freeman, Johnson, McAnuff. Subs, Sargeant, Widdowson, Turley, Young, Coulson, Abrahams(Kemp 75), Dayton(Cissé 88). Video highlights. BBC Report. 41% of the play. 0/8 shots on target. Down to 12th. Bottom but one in the last six away games form chart. Home to Tranmere Saturday and they are joint top of the form chart. 27 February. Home to Tranmere (1-3 Turley). No change to the starting 11 but Embleton believed that by starting Wilkinson on the left and Kemp to right left would make a difference. It didn’t. We went a goal down on 24’ and another on 56’ and a third on 63’. Turley came on 67’ and scored with his first touch a minute later. That was not enough for the directors who gave Embleton his marching orders. Team: Vigouroux, Akinola, Thompson(Kyprianou 57), Brophy, Happe, Cissé, Kemp, Wilkinson, Freeman, Johnson, McAnuff. Subs, Sargeant, Widdowson, Turley(Kemp 67), Clay(Freeman 60, Abrahams(Cissé 60), Kyprianou(Thompson 67), Dayton. Video highlights. BBC Report. Down to 14th. 58% of the play with 4/13 shots on target. When we were managerless they had Derek Adams (Morecambe 5th) in the frame and I suggested Keith Hill (Tranmere 4th). Let us hope that they do not rely on Ling’s input as three managers out of four have been sacked. The Club expects to make an imminent announcement regarding a successor. I hope this does not mean an internal promotion but the appointment of an experienced manager. Paul Tisdale and the Cowley brothers have been mentioned though they may be expensive and have to drop two divisions. Adams at Forest Green and Parkes at Exeter were both sent off for bad late tackles. 28 February. McAnuff was given the job until the end of the season with an eye on the play- offs. Wonder if he will recall Judd and Maguire-Drew. If he does not get the job at the end of the season then any new manager will have only five players in contract and no way of knowing which to keep. The death was announced of Glenn Roeder at the age of 65 after suffering from a brain tumour. He made 123 appearances in two spells with us as well as playing for QPR, Newcastle and Watford. Roeder’s impressive career extended to football management. After a stint as an England Coach under Glenn Hoddle, Roeder went on to manage right at the very top of the game, enjoying spells at West Ham United, Norwich City and at the Magpies. 2 March. Away to Grimsby (0-1 Happe). McAnuff revealed that he would not be turning out as a player for us. Clay returned in his place, Widdowson returned to enabled Brophy to play on the wing to the exclusion of Wilkinson. Turley started replacing Happe. After two minutes Happe had to replace the injured Thompson who appeared to have a head injury but then limped off. On 20’ he scored after a Kemp cross met with a deflection. The modus operandi appeared to consist of pumping balls upfield. Only one problem was we had no one upfield who could win a ball up the air. Clay, for me had his normal hopeless game. Ineffectual challenges, poor heading and on one occasion he passed three balls on the bounce straight to a Grimsby player. Other than that he was perfect. The ploy of passing the ball up the touchline did not work as consistently there was never anyone there. There would have been had Wilkinson played. Brophy needs the learn that he should pass the ball a lot quicker. Also needs help with his shooting. One shot was two yards wide whereas Abrahams should shoot first time rather than taking it on a touch which enables a defender to block his shots. Kemp het the bar twice. Johnson missed a sitter though it was offside. Team: Vigouroux, Akinola, Thompson, Widdowson, Brophy, Turley, Cissé, Kemp, Freeman, Johnson, Clay. Subs, Sargeant, Ling, Happe(Thompson 2), Abrahams(Johnson 86), Wilkinson, Kyprianou(Clay 78), Dayton. Video highlights. BBC Report. Up to 13th. 47% of the play, 2/11 shots on target. Away to 9th placed Exeter next. Thompson has a fractured ankle. The London Football Scene asked “What went wrong for Ross Embleton at Leyton Orient?” For podcaster Paul Levy this: “To not have one shot on target against Bradford is not tolerable. “Then when we needed a goal against Colchester, he kept the same system and made the same predictable changes. He never really went for it.” For his podcaster colleague Steve Nussbaum this, “From what we understand about his relationship with Justin [Edinburgh], he would be the one suggesting tactical changes and Justin was able to take whatever Ross was thinking and implement it into a plan or not. For whatever reason, when he became manager in his own right, he could never implement those kinds of changes in a match.” 6 March. Away to Exeter (4-0). Happe replaced the injured Thompson whilst Sweeney got his spot on the bench. With two players on loan and three injured that was probalby why. We were missing Thompson as early as the 11th minute and again two minutes later and again on 42’. Vigouroix was deemed to be at fault for at least the second goal having let the first through his legs. Exeter chased every ball, controlled the ball first touch and found a player with the same coloured shirt with the second. None of which we were doing. We kept pumping the ball forward but there was nobody there who could win the ball in the air. Clay, Kemp and Freeman were anonymous. I counted five balls from our half going straight into touch. Wilkinson replaced Widdowson at half time. Akinola gave away a penalty on 50’ and that is how it stayed. Ling replaced him but failed to cut our three crosses out of three. Abrahams came on but failed yet again to make any impression. Nobody played well and if Clay is leading by example then it is a poor one. Team: Vigouroux, Akinola, Widdowson, Happe, Brophy, Turley, Cissé, Kemp, Freeman, Johnson, Clay. Subs, Sargeant, Ling(Akinola 55), Abrahams(Kemp 55), Wilkinson(Widdowson 45), Kyprianou, Sweeney, Dayton. Video highlights. BBC Report. Back to 14th. 51% of the play, 3/8 shots on target. Home to Stevenage on Tuesday and they are 7th in the form table. We are joint 18th. Then home to Scunthorpe. McAnuff was forthright in his comments on the post match video. Players who started the match needed to be aware were at risk. 9 March. Home to Stevenage (0-0). Woefull, clueless. Ling, Abrahams and Wilkinson started to the exclusion of Akinola, Widdowson and Johnson. The local Guardian wrote “The visitors created the better of few real first-half chances in a turgid 45 minutes, bringing two good saves from Lawrence Vigouroux.” Kemp hit the upright. No idea what Clay was doing. See the link to the video below and look at around 1.15mins and see Clay given the run around, no tackle and no pace to get near the opposition. Home to Scunthorpe (1-1 Cissé) Team: Vigouroux, Ling, Happe, Brophy, Turley, Cissé, Kemp, Freeman, Abrahams, Wilkinson, Clay. Subs, Sargeant, Akinola, Widdowson, Kyprianou, Sweeney, Johnson(Abrahams 79), Dayton(Freeman 76). Video highlights. BBC Report. Still 14th. 61% of the play, 0/6 shots on target, Stevenage had 8/16. Home to Scunthorpe on Saturday. 13 March. Home to Scunthorpe (1-1 Cissé.) Same old rubbish. Still unable to get the ball quick enough to the forwards. When Ling, Brophy and Wilkinson get the ball on the wing there is never anyone down the line to pass to. They take too long on the ball and need to learn the art of the first time pass. Happe had a stinker when on 7’ both he and Vigouroux failed to take command of the situation and Scunthorpe scored. We equalised on 34’ when a Kemp free kick found Cissé ghosting into the six- yard box. After that the same rubbish. Far too many short balls that failed to find their man. Too many players not getting into a position the receive the ball and too many players failing to control the ball at the first attempt. Sign of a team short on confidence and basic skills. Line-ups and substitutes unchanged. After the mix-up between Happe and Vigouroux there was another with Vigouroux and Ling and who could easily have given away a penalty. Freeman and Brophy only use their right foot to stand on and cannot cut in and shoot from the left. Brophy’s booking means he gets a two match suspension after ten booking so far this season. Team: Vigouroux, Ling, Happe, Brophy, Turley, Cissé, Kemp, Freeman, Abrahams, Wilkinson, Clay. Subs, Sargeant, Akinola, Widdowson, Kyprianou(Cissé 56), Sweeney, Johnson(Abrahams 56), Dayton. Video higlights. BBC Report. Still 14th. 63% of the play, 1/8 shots on target. Away to fourth placed Newport next. So what do other supporters think? On the Lofc.com site they appeared to be with me. Here are some of the comments, marks out of ten. Vigouroux. 5. Distribution was poor. Yes, Happe was all over the place but it’s up to the goalie to start commanding the back four. He is very quiet. Ling - 5. Mainly okish but a clear pen somehow not given and so many aimless passes and touches Happe - 4. Dreadful in every department. Happe. 4. From a Rolls Royce to a Trabant in 18 months. Sad to see. Happe - 4 - looked ill at ease today, at fault for goal and caught on the ball second half. Turley. 5.5. Better than Happe. Brophy - 6 - still wasted at LB, decent first half, poor second half and lucky to only get a yellow for a poor challenge. Cisse. 4. 2 for the goal and 2 for putting his boots on. Clay - 4. God loves a trier but that's the only thing you can say for him. So many misplaced passes. Clay. 5. Obviously good in the dressing room as captain and seems well liked but touch of an elephant. Have a bad feeling he will be offered a new contract. Clay - 5 - poor. Kemp. 6.5. Some good deliveries and buzzed around. Not perfect and plenty of times he lost the ball but at least he adds some spark. Freeman - 4 - what does he actually do? Wilkinson. 5. Show pony. Abrahams. 5.5. Quiet as a quiet mouse from quietshire. Johnson - 4 - cuts a frustrated figure, think we've seen the best of him earlier in the season. Hector - 6. Revolutionised our game by keeping his head up when receiving the ball from defence and trying to play it forward. Surely starts next game ahead of Clay. McAnuff - 4 - continuing his Embleton impression very convincingly. Jobi. 5. No real idea of his style of play yet. To be fair, he has some really bad players to work with. Pitch - 3 - why water that mudheap at HT? Nearly cost us second half. Apart from this, we're great. I feel so sorry for Jobi. A Poisoned Chalice role if ever there was one. However, if he can't get this lot performing better he will need to make way for an incoming manager who is allowed to break up the cosy coterie and perform drastic surgery on the team and the current hierarchy. Note:Definition of coterie : an intimate and often exclusive group of persons with a unifying common interest or purpose. Defence Overall - a disaster waiting to happen. No confidence, no understanding between them, poor communications, need decisive surgery asap. Midfield Overall - weak and lacking a playmaker without Jobi on the pitch. Carrying slow players with no forward drive - no support to forwards. Forwards overall - no confidence and lacking in firepower. No real threat most of the time. Hector Kyprianou has been included in Cyprus’ u21 squad, ahead of their match against Greece on the 25th of March. The 19- year-old will link up with his countrymen on the 21st of March, making him unavailable for Orient’s games against Carlisle United and Oldham Athletic later this month. Hector has represented Cyprus eight times at u19 level but missed out on an earlier call-up to the u21’s last year because of a knee injury. Judd may be interested in returning now that the manager that got him, Tim Flowers, has been sacked. 20 March. Away to Newport County (0-1 Wilkinson). Widdowson replaced the suspended Brophy. McAnuff replaced the injured Freeman and Ling was dropped in favour of Akinola and Johnson played instead of Abrahams who could not play against his own club. No place for the returning Judd. McAnuff, Kemp, Wilkinson and Cissé were booked which is why (possibly) Cissé was replaced by Kyprianiou on 45’ by which time we had one off target shot. On 61’ Kemp’s low cross evaded the keeper maybe due to Johnson’s challenge and the ball ran across the goal to the unmarked Wilkinson to tap home. It stayed that way for the remaining 29+’. Team: Vigouroux, Akinola, Widdowson, Happe, Turley, Cissé, Kemp, McAnuff, Johnson, Wilkinson, Clay. Subs, Sargeant, Kyprianou(Cissé ), Sweeney, Coulson, Dennis, Ling, Dayton. Video highlights. The BBC Report had us up to 13th but we had kicked off at 1pm. Bradford got a point at home so back to 14th. 36% of the play, 2/6 shots on target. 23 March. Away to Carlisle (0-1 Wilkinson). The London Football Scene had this to say: Both sides lacked quality and intensity in a horrible game of football, but three points is three points and that’s all that matters to Leyton Orient. The only change was on the bench where Abrahams replaced Kyprianou. Goalless in the first half and throughout the match only Wilkinson appeared to be anywhere near scoring. A quick punt up-field from Vigouroux on 88’ saw their goalie come rushing out to clear but Wilkinson calmly lobbed the ball over him for the winner. Team: Vigouroux, Akinola, Widdowson, Happe, Turley, Cissé, Kemp, McAnuff, Johnson, Wilkinson, Clay. Subs, Sargeant, Abrahams, Sweeney, Coulson, Dennis, Ling, Dayton. Video highlights. BBC Report. Up to 11th. 43% of the play, 3/8 shots on target. Home to Oldham next. They are 17th and beat Exeter tonight 2-1. 27 March. Home to Oldham (2-1 Wilkinson, Kemp). Dire in the first ten minutes with Akinola failing to stop any crosses. A bad back pass after eight minutes found the lurking Wilkinson and he fired home into the top netting from an acute angle. Oldham then struck the upright, The ball travelled across the face of the goal into touch. Two minutes from half time former loanee Nicky Adams passed across the face of the goal area straight to Kemp and his curling shot went to the right of the goalie and into the net. We failed to capitalise and Oldham got one back from a shot just outside the goal area and past Vigouroux. Akinola was slow to the danger. There was a noticeable increase in crosses from Brophy and even one from Wilkinson. Brophy returned from suspension and McAnuff dropped himself. Dennis returned for thirty minutes but failed to proved he should start a match any time soon. Team: Vigouroux, Akinola, Widdowson, Happe, Turley, Cissé, Kemp, Brophy, Johnson, Wilkinson, Clay. Subs, Sargeant, Abrahams(Johnson 84), McAnuff(Cissé 60), Coulson, Dennis(Wilkinson 60), Ling, Dayton. Video highlights. BBC Report. Up to 9th. 44% of the play, 6/15 shots on target. Away on Good Friday to Mansfield. During the week we said goodbye to former England players Colin Bell and Frank Worthington. Those who didn’t know Frank, this is what he had to offer. 3 April. Away to Mansfield (0-2 Johnson 2). I don’t know who was masquerading in Johnson’s shirt but the real Johnson was back after three minutes when his shot was put behind for a corner, which was headed on by Ling into Johnson’s path and into the net. Thirteen minutes from time another bad backpass found it’s way into his path and he rounded the advancing keeper and into the the vacant net. Injuries to Happe and Wilkinson meant a start for Ling with Ankinola moving into Happe’s place and McAnuff replacing Wilkinson. Judd and Young were on the bench. Team: Vigouroux, Ling, Akinola, Widdowson, Turley, Cissé, Kemp, Brophy, Johnson, McAnuff, Clay. Subs, Sargeant, Abrahams, Judd, Dennis, Young, Kyprianou(McAnuff 67}, Dayton. Video highlights. BBC Report. Still ninth. 36% of the play ⅜ shots on target. 5 April. Home to Walsall (0-0). The BBC described this match as turgid. Only four shots all match and none on target. The Saddlers were not much better with 1/7 on target. Wilkinson returned from injury replacing McAnuff. There was nothing to report from the match other than every time Ling or Brophy got the ball on the wing there was nobody upfield for them to pass to. Long high balls to Johnson were a waste of time as he is not a target man. Turley played well and the opposition played the one touch game well. Team: Vigouroux, Ling, Akinola, Widdowson, Turley, Cissé, Kemp, Brophy, Johnson, Wilkinson, Clay. Subs, Sargeant, Abrahams, Judd, Dennis(Widdowson 63), Young, Kyprianou(Cissé 45}, McAnuff(Clay 72), Dayton. Video highlights. BBC Report. Still ninth. 58% of the play. Billericay Town have announced that forward Rowan Liburd has committed to the club for next season. He played for us eight times in 2017 without scoring after signing on loan from Stevenage. He then signed for Hemel Hempstead Town (loan), Guiseley (loan) before signing for them permanently then for Hereford, Dartford on loan and finally Welling. 10 April. Away to Cheltenham (1-0). No shots of any sort in the first half and Vigouroux gave away a penalty on 31’ and with it went all the points. Event the pundits on EFL on Quest agreed Vigouroux did not need to come out. Happe returned from injury and Akinola occupied a position on the bench with the returning Freeman from injury though what from is unknown. The inured Cissé was replaced by Kyprianou. Team: Vigouroux, Ling, Happe, Widdowson, Turley, Kyprianou, Kemp, Brophy, Johnson, Wilkinson, Clay. Subs, Sargeant, Abrahams(Widdowson 56), Akinola, Dennis, McAnuff, Freeman(Clay 80). Video highlights. BBC Report. Down to 12th. 58% of the play. If anyone thought Cissé was the problem of getting the ball forward quickly then this game would prove them wrong. Clay of course is a different matter. As one fan said on the forum “Clay is consistently slow, ponderous and can't pass to save his life. If you rate him then fair enough but I think he's generally a waste of space.” Charlie Daniels scored a goal playing for Portsmouth whilst Ollie Parmer scored two for Wimbledon. 13 April. Away to Harrogate (2-2 Wilkinson, Johnson). A goal up on 46’ we gave away a goal 2’ later, drawing back in front on 63’ through Johnson via a bad backpass but Happe gave away a penalty on 11’ later after Brophy had made a bad pass only for it to be saved. Bad defending from Clay and Ling let them take a point. Probably a mistake to rest Turley? Team: Vigouroux, Ling, Akinola, Happe, Kyprianou, Kemp, McAnuff, Brophy, Johnson, Wilkinson, Clay. Subs, Sargeant, Abrahams(Kyprianou 87), Dennis(Wilkinson 77), Turley, Widdowson, Coulson, Freeman(McAnuff 71). Video highlights. BBC Report. Up to 11th. 51% of the play. 4/11 shots on target. 17 Aptil. Home to Barrow (2-0 Happe, Kemp). A 12.30 pm kick of for all clubs for the Duke of Edinburg’s funeral who died the previous Friday (9th) aged 99. Two second half goals kept us a point behind a play off place. Turley’s headed across goal from Kemp’s pass found Happe in the six yard box to put us in the lead while 11’ later Kemp’s shot found the corner of the net to put the points beyond doubt after a shot from Wilkinson was well saved. Team: Vigouroux, Akinola, Happe, Turley, Kyprianou, Kemp, Brophy, Dennis, Johnson, Wilkinson, Clay. Subs, Sargeant, Abrahams(Johnson 89), Widdowson, Coulson, Cissé(Kemp 78), McAnuff(Clay 64), Freeman(Dennis 64). Video highlights. BBC Report. Up to 9th. 59% of the play. 3/10 shots on target. Home to top of the table Cambridge on Tuesday. Charlie Daniels gave away a penalty and all three points to MK Dons whilst a clever back heel from Ollie Palmer helped Wimbledon to another win. Twelve clubs decided to join a breakaway European Super League (ESL). Amongst them were Arsenal, Spurs, Liverpool, Liverpool, Chelsea and the two Manchester teams. Playing midweek there would be no relegation and consist of 20 teams including three from Italy and Spain. There was condemnation from everywhere including all the various leagues, other clubs and even Boris Johnson. Within a day it had flopped after first Chelsea then Manchester City pulled out followed by the other English teams after the various leagues threatened to oust them from home competitions and cups and ban players from appearing for their national team. 20 April. Home to Cambridge (2-4 Kemp, O/G). The difference in class was appareent and they went ahead after 19’ due to poor defending failing to mark Iredale and Happe and Brophy who allowed Ironside to punt home despite being between them. Kemp got one back in stoppage time after a cross from Dennis was not dealt with in added time. Within 24’ of the restart the U’s were 1-3 ahead. An own goal got us closer to them but Turley had a rush to the head and his throw in found Ironside to get his second. The ref had a nightmare awarding a penalty against Turley and booking a number of our players but not when the opposition committed the same offence. Wilkinson was blatantly bought down for a penalty which was not given. The incensed McAnuff made no attempt to shake his hand. Kyprianou had a bad game failing to controlling the ball then fouling the player with it. Not sure what Clay added to the mix at that stage in the game. Team: Vigouroux, Akinola, Cissé, Happe, Turley, Kyprianou, Kemp, Brophy, Dennis, Johnson, Wilkinson. Subs, Sargeant, Widdowson, Coulson, McAnuff(Cissé 81), Sotiriou(Dennis 81), Clay(Kyprianou 62), Freeman. Video highlights. BBC Report. Down to 10th. 60% of the play. 3/8 shots on target. Now four points from a playoff place and we may relegate Southend at Roots Hall on Saturday. The contract rumour is rife. Apparently Coulson dropped that he would not be with us next season. Opinions are divided about most of the other players. Widdowson is thought to be below League 2 standard whilst some believe Ling nether reached it. Some want to see Brophy stay but others, like me, think he is all whizz and no bang having scored only ten goals in as many seasons, and his assists this season not worth mentioning. Some,again like me think he is not much good as a left winger or left back. Akinola will return to West Ham, Abrahams to Newport and Freeman to Wycombe and only Akinola will be missed. There was even someone who thought Clay should be given another contract! Another said compared to Kemp’s goals and assists he should not. Turley was solid and most would like to see him and Happe, Vigouroux, Wilkinson and Johnson stay and most for Dennis, Angol and Dayton leave. Jury out on Judd though most prefer him to Ling. Maguire-Drew was thought worth another year. Sweeney and Shabani had not been seen enough of to warrant an opinion. That left McAnuff. 24 April. Away to Southend 2-1 Dennis). Out went Turley and Cissé and back came Ling and Freeman. After 23’ we had not a single shot at goal compared to Southend’s four. On 42’ Southend went into the lead. We, on the other hand had not a single shot on target. Kyprianou went off just before half time because of a head injury and was replaced by Cissé. Three minutes into added time our first shot on target was an equaliser from Dennis from a set piece cross from Brophy and a nod down from Cissé. Clay replaced Freeman at the break. On 69’ Sotiriou replaced Johnson and McAnuff Dennis. Up to eight shots but only the one on target. Southend got the winner on 76’. Five minutes from time Abrahams replaced Akinola who, apparently, was having a bad game. Team: Vigouroux, Akinola, Cissé, Happe, Ling, Kyprianou, Kemp, Brophy, Freeman, Dennis, Johnson, Wilkinson. Subs, Sargeant, Widdowson, Turley, McAnuff(Dennis 69), Sotiriou(Johnson 69), Clay(Freeman 45), Abrahams(Akinola 85). Video highlights. BBC Report. Down to 11th. 61% of the play. 1/11 shots on target. Now five points from a playoff place and the season over with only two games to go and these are home to Carlisle and away to Salford. A Leyton Orient sandwich with one just above us and the other just below us. Sam Dalby joined Bromley on loan. He has played 32 games outside the youth/U23’s team, 17 with us, 8 with working scoring one goal for them. That is the only goal of substance since his goal for us in 2016/2017. Former manager Danny Webb has joined Chesterfield as first team coach. 25 April. Early this morning good friend, lifetime O’s supporter and founder member of the Tight Gits Corner. Larry Drinkwater died of cancer. I cannot think that anyone who met him won’t miss him. He has had many health problems over the years but never let it bother him. Left is a birthday card I sent him (he is behind Wel) based on the sign we put up and right is a Jolly Boy trip we took taking in parts of Huddersfield. Anyone who knows his beer and good pubs will recognise the Sair at Linthwaithe. The Tight Gits Corner was in the old clubroom to the left of the bar where the notice board was displayed but those amongst us who thought the cost of a local paper for news of the club was too much to spend thought nothing of elbowing the rest of us out of the way to save 30p. Larry enjoyed elbowing them back. Romain Vincelot announced his retirement. After leaving us he played for Coventry City, Bradford City, Crawley Town and Shrewsbury Town. Who do I think should get another contract? Not seen enough/anything of Sweeney and Shabani but as Embleton got two defenders on loan with less experience than Sweeney I suspect he will be on his way. Akinola, Freeman and Abrahams should not return. Clay, Angol, Dennis, Ling, Widdowson and Brophy can go. That means Wilkinson, Johnson, Vigouroux, Maguire-Drew, Happe and Turley should be offered new contracts and unlike some who believe otherwise, so should Coulson and Judd. Can’t say I am impressed with McAnuff’s management style as I can’t tell the different between his and Embleton’s. 1 May. Home to Carlisle (2-3 Wilkinson, Kemp). A game of three penalties of which only one was scored. Wikinson scored as early as the third minute. Kemp gave away a penalty on 19’ but Vigouroux saved it. Three minutes before half time they equalised. Five minutes later their keeper gave us a penalty after bringing Wilinson down. Kemp missed the penaltty. Three minutes into added time Kemp put us back in the lead. McAnuff gave away another penalty for Carlisle to level. A minute into added time Clay filed to tackle or take the man out and Carlisle scored the winner. Team: Vigouroux, Akinola, Widdowson, Turley, McAnuff, Cissé, Happe, Kemp, Brophy, Dennis, Wilkinson. Subs, Sargeant, Sotiriou, Ling(Turley 45), Clay(McAnuff 63), Johnson, Freeman, Abrahams. Video highlights. BBC Report. Still to 11th. 53% of the play. 5/9 shots on target. 8 May. Away to play-off chasing Salford (3-0). Predictable. Back came Ling and Kyprianou to the exclusion of Turley and McAnuff. We held out until the 42’ despite Happe giving away a penaly on 14’ which Vigouroux saved. Thomas-Asante got one on 50’ and another 16‘ later and that was season over. You need to watch their last goal on video to see how poor the defending was and their second to see the lack of marking. Cameo roles were given to Young and Sweeney. Team: Vigouroux, Akinola, Widdowson, Ling, Kyprianou, Cissé, Happe, Kemp, Brophy, Dennis, Wilkinson. Subs, Sargeant, Sotiriou(Widdowson 55), Sweeney(Wilkinson 85), Clay(Cissé 64), Johnson(Dennis 54), Freeman, Young(Kyprianou 84). Video highlights. BBC Report. 11th. 55% of the play. 3/6 shots on target. To put that into perspective Salford had 7/20. After the match the club announced that McAnuff would not be given the manager’s job but they would “focus on candidates with experience in management at both League 2 and League 1 level”. I think we heard that before. They were seeking a manager not a head coach. “Martin Ling has had contact with a number of potential candidates”. With only six players in contract, sooner than later would be good. The lofcforum.com forum thought one of Ling’s mates Calderwood would be in the frame whilst Richie Wellens (ex Swindon), Mark Cooper (ex Forest Green), Neil Ardley (ex Notts County) and Paul Tisdale (ex Bristol Rovers) were candidates. Opinions were divided as to who was wanted to stay though some seemed united on Sam Ling. From one supporter “If anyone looks carefully at Ling’s slow jog back for Salford’s third , its nothing short of a disgrace. How could anyone offer a player a contract after seeing this. Its embarrassing to the club, to supporters and sadly for himself. Admittedly, the others didn't put a tackle in but this slow jog, hiding behind the play was a simply appalling and finally puts an end to the Ling debate”. From another “Couldn’t agree more, he is an embarrassment to himself, the club, the fans and football in general . In my opinion no self respecting team would take on this wage thief unless they were shameless and desperate. I still believe that his place in the team is down purely and simply to nepotism and am sure that if it wasn’t for being Son Of DOF he would never had his last contract renewed”. Southend and Grimsby were relegated, Cheltenham, Cambridge and Bolton promoted with Morecambe, Newport, Forest Green and Tranmere in the play-offs. Coming up would be Torquay. Or should have had not the National League decided there would be no promotion or relegation this season. The club finally announce their retained list. Still under contract are Cissé, Kemp, Thompson, Sergeant, Sotiriou, Kyprianou, Ogie. Offered new deals, Brophy, Clay, Johnson, Wilkinson, Sweeney, Vigouroux. Which means we say goodbye to Turley, Coulson, Widdowson, Ling, Angol, Dayton, Dennis, Judd, Maguire-Drewe, Shabani and McAnuff who retired from playing. Academy players offered professional terms were Byrne, Young and Papadopoulos. The anti Clay brigade were hopeful he would only be offered a year and then only a bit player except for this unhappy supporter who had this to say “If Newport don’t get promoted we should make a bid for Josh Sheehan although having just offered another contract to Craig fcking Clay I guess we don’t want a midfield player who can pass it, dribble, assists, shoot straight and score. It’s ok, Craig runs round like a headless Chuck. That’ll do.” Mangers to lose their jobs end of season were Brian Dutton leaving Walsall after 83 days. Bradford’s Conor Sellars and Mark Trueman after 148 days. Keith Hill after 171 days at Tranmere despite reaching the League Two play-offs and the EFL Trophy final although they won only two of their last 11 games. Next page Previous page. Ade Azeez was released by Dover, one of 15 including Marvel Expiteta, Marvin’s brother. Ade played one game for us without scoring in 2012/13. Dover were issued a &40,000 fine after refusing to play the rest of their matches. The owner refused to go into debt by taking a loan. Championship retained list. Every player released by League Two clubs. League-one-free- agents. 21 May. After a week of speculation the club announced that Kenny Jackett had been appointed on a rolling contract. He tis by far the most promoted manager we have ever employed with three under his belt. He became a regular member of the Watford side that won promotion to the First Division and finished runners-up in the league in the season 1982/1983 under manager Graham Taylor. Played 31 times for Wales. In 2004 he became Swansea manager and in his first full season in charge, the team were promoted from League Two, finishing in third place,[13] and also lifted the FAW Premier Cup in their last game at the Vetch Field. He surprised his chairman by resigning on 15 February 2007, stating that he felt he "no longer has the 100 per cent support of everybody connected with the club from the fans, the media, the players and the board alike" and so departed by "mutual agreement". At Millwall after a 17th-place finish in the 2007–08 season, Jackett led the team to the play-offs in his first full campaign with the Lions. After defeating Leeds United in the semi-finals to reach their first-ever play-off final, they lost 2–3 against Scunthorpe United. Jackett once again led Millwall to Wembley in the 2012–13 season, when the team reached the semi-finals of the FA Cup where they lost to eventual winners Wigan Athletic.[29] Although the team had occupied a play-off place around Christmas, they suffered a late season slump and only confirmed their Championship status on the final day of the season, ending in 20th place. Three days after the season concluded he resigned, saying he felt "the time is right for a new challenge, and also for a new manager to come into Millwall with fresh ideas". On 31 May 2013 Jackett was announced as the new head coach of Wolverhampton Wanderers. Under his command, Wolves gained promotion back to the Championship at the first attempt as League One champions and set a new divisional points record of 103. Jackett was announced as Rotherham United manager on 21 October 2016, following the sacking of Alan Stubbs. He signed a three-year contract with the bottom-placed Championship club. Jackett resigned as manager on 28 November after 39 days and five games in charge. Warnock steered them clear of relegation but didn’t take them up on a job offer. Since Friday 2 June 2017 he has been at Portsmouth. On 31 March 2019, Jackett led Portsmouth to the EFL Trophy final, winning the tournament against Sunderland 5–4 on penalties. The delayed 2019-20 EFL Trophy Final was finally played behind closed doors at Wembley Stadium on 13 March 2021, with Portsmouth losing 4-2 on penalties to Salford City after ending 0-0 after extra time. After multiple consecutive losses and with only one win in seven games, Jackett was sacked on 14 March 2021 A week ago Jackett was in poll position but then it appeared to be down to three candidates when Blackpool coach Colin Calderwood joined the betting with Paul Tisdale which the Newham Recorder reported on Tue, 18 May. A day later their headline was Leyton Orient set to appoint Paul Tisdale to dismiss Jackett rumours. The Swindon fans wanted Jackett as their manager. Craig Clay was the first to sign a new (two-year) contract as did youngsters Byrne, Young and Papadopoulos who accepted a year’s contract with a year’s option. 19 year-old left back Jayden Sweeney also signed a two year contract. Previous page. Next page.