MATCHWATCH : Leyton Orient (a)

[WestYorksRoyal]

Must admit I'm shocked nobody higher up the pyramid has come after Wellens, he's doing a cracking job. If we had ambitious new owners in, I'd happily pursue him as the man to do the rebuild job (and before people dismiss the idea he'd join, we'd undoubtedly be one of the most appealing prospects in the division with a better owner).

[Stanmore Royal]

Hunty’s our manager and we have to stick by him. Yes, he’s no Ruben, but Ruben is history now.

Yesterday was awful, but for me the results are all immaterial until Dai oxf*rd off.

I know we have Kelvin E, but Smith is our only senior striker. When you compare our options to the likes of Brum, Hollywood etc. our squad depth is awful. I know nothing about Burton’s squad, but I bet they have more options upfront than we do.

A certain Jon Dadi who enjoyed himself for Bolton against us last year!,

[RoyalBlue]

I understand each manager/coach has their preferred style of play but we've gone from playing fast attractive flowing passing football with an amazing high press with a team of youngsters to which it suited these guys well. Now we have ditched the high press, the football is slow and lethargic and we now seem to be playing hoof ball hoping that Smith can get on the end of something!!!

Their keeper didn't have a save to make all game!! without Mbengue our defense is poor and we look like shipping goals on most attacks, so basically we have to have an attacking threat otherwise we will never win. It doesn't help that Wing our best creator is off form and being played as a CDM.
Finally our passing is terrible, twice, Campbell was on the attack, stopped, played a ball backwards which was intercepted resulting in a goal.

Watch our game away at Brum and then compare it to todays game.....our high press and running with our youngsters scared teams to death and i'm sure teams were surprised and envious of our youngsters, now look at us the difference is night and day and its purely down to tactics.

You've hit the nail right on the head. If it ain't broke,,,,,,, Did Noel really think he could improve on how we were doing? Maybe he thought he could fix something else but, in trying to do so, he seems to have brought the rest, which was functioning pretty well, tumbling down.

I wasn't there yesterday but, IMO, the only time we looked half-decent and as though we could compete against Stockport were on the too few occasions when we started to play 'The Ruben Way'.

[RoyalBlue]

Hunty’s our manager and we have to stick by him. Yes, he’s no Ruben, but Ruben is history now.

Yesterday was awful, but for me the results are all immaterial until Dai oxf*rd off.

I know we have Kelvin E, but Smith is our only senior striker. When you compare our options to the likes of Brum, Hollywood etc. our squad depth is awful. I know nothing about Burton’s squad, but I bet they have more options upfront than we do.

But surely that's the reason why we have to play with a style that served us well up until Ruben's departure and which provided the likes of Knibbs, Wing and Savage to chip in with goals.

[WestYorksRoyal]

Perhaps Selles' style needs meticulous planning and drilling into the players which is hard to replicate given he took his entire coaching staff with him too?

When you're up against things, it's very easy to default into more old school football and trying to become hard to beat. It's all very well saying we should keep on playing the same as we were, but what if we can't without him here to set the standards?

[URZZZZ]

I understand each manager/coach has their preferred style of play but we've gone from playing fast attractive flowing passing football with an amazing high press with a team of youngsters to which it suited these guys well. Now we have ditched the high press, the football is slow and lethargic and we now seem to be playing hoof ball hoping that Smith can get on the end of something!!!

Their keeper didn't have a save to make all game!! without Mbengue our defense is poor and we look like shipping goals on most attacks, so basically we have to have an attacking threat otherwise we will never win. It doesn't help that Wing our best creator is off form and being played as a CDM.
Finally our passing is terrible, twice, Campbell was on the attack, stopped, played a ball backwards which was intercepted resulting in a goal.

Watch our game away at Brum and then compare it to todays game.....our high press and running with our youngsters scared teams to death and i'm sure teams were surprised and envious of our youngsters, now look at us the difference is night and day and its purely down to tactics.

You've hit the nail right on the head. If it ain't broke,,,,,,, Did Noel really think he could improve on how we were doing? Maybe he thought he could fix something else but, in trying to do so, he seems to have brought the rest, which was functioning pretty well, tumbling down.

I wasn't there yesterday but, IMO, the only time we looked half-decent and as though we could compete against Stockport were on the too few occasions when we started to play 'The Ruben Way'.

The “Ruben way” that lost 4-1 to Stockport (abject performance) and 1-0 to Orient (abject performance) with a stronger squad? That Ruben?

You think we’d have learnt our lesson about writing off managers after Selles achieved just 11 points in his first 16 games!

[Snowflake Royal]

Hunty’s our manager and we have to stick by him. Yes, he’s no Ruben, but Ruben is history now.

Yesterday was awful, but for me the results are all immaterial until Dai oxf*rd off.

I know we have Kelvin E, but Smith is our only senior striker. When you compare our options to the likes of Brum, Hollywood etc. our squad depth is awful. I know nothing about Burton’s squad, but I bet they have more options upfront than we do.

But surely that's the reason why we have to play with a style that served us well up until Ruben's departure and which provided the likes of Knibbs, Wing and Savage to chip in with goals.

Hunt isn't Selles, he can't just be Selles and do exactly the same as him, or do nothing and expect the squad to continue as if Selles was still here.

He has to be himself and do things his way. Expecting anything else is doing him a diservice. He isn't Selles and he can't and shouldn't pretend to be.

It's two games. We had this overeaction last time Hunt lost some games. People are lionising Selles because he's gone. But these same performances and results happened under him too.

Orient and Bolton. Wrexham, Stockport, Rotherham...


Well Hunt's had Wycombe, Charlton, Cambridge, Mansfield and Northampton. We played pretty well in them.

[RG30]

3 shots on goal, 2 of which were on target. xG all afternoon of 0.16. Quite an abject performance and the drop off between Selles to Hunt ball has been alarming.

[hughsies no.1]

Let the result and performance sink in, for what was a complete waste of a Saturday visiting east London for such an abject performance.

One obvious frustration that I haven’t seen picked up is Campbell was at fault for BOTH goals.

He needlessly lost possession for the first by not playing the ball earlier - and rightly got a rollicking from Wing for it.

For the second, he lost the ball again which led to them advancing down the pitch and gaining a corner, he then was involved in an argument with Wing about losing the ball again pre corner and whilst this was happening he was too slow to go mark his man for the short corner which resulted in the quick cross and inevitable goal.

Hunt did say post match we didn’t set quick enough for the corner which led to the second goal.

Small details, which resulted in Campbell being hooked almost straight after second goal.

Don’t get me wrong, I don’t like a scapegoat and it’s not like the rest of the team stepped up in anyway - but it didn’t help!

[Snowflake Royal]

Let the result and performance sink in, for what was a complete waste of a Saturday visiting east London for such an abject performance.

One obvious frustration that I haven’t seen picked up is Campbell was at fault for BOTH goals.

He needlessly lost possession for the first by not playing the ball earlier - and rightly got a rollicking from Wing for it.

For the second, he lost the ball again which led to them advancing down the pitch and gaining a corner, he then was involved in an argument with Wing about losing the ball again pre corner and whilst this was happening he was too slow to go mark his man for the short corner which resulted in the quick cross and inevitable goal.

Hunt did say post match we didn’t set quick enough for the corner which led to the second goal.

Small details, which resulted in Campbell being hooked almost straight after second goal.

Don’t get me wrong, I don’t like a scapegoat and it’s not like the rest of the team stepped up in anyway - but it didn’t help!

Campbell was really poor throughout. Hadn't clocked the first was his fault, or didn't remember, but certainly got angry with him for the second.

[Greatwesternline]

Hunty’s our manager and we have to stick by him. Yes, he’s no Ruben, but Ruben is history now.

Yesterday was awful, but for me the results are all immaterial until Dai oxf*rd off.

I know we have Kelvin E, but Smith is our only senior striker. When you compare our options to the likes of Brum, Hollywood etc. our squad depth is awful. I know nothing about Burton’s squad, but I bet they have more options upfront than we do.

But surely that's the reason why we have to play with a style that served us well up until Ruben's departure and which provided the likes of Knibbs, Wing and Savage to chip in with goals.

Hunt isn't Selles, he can't just be Selles and do exactly the same as him, or do nothing and expect the squad to continue as if Selles was still here.

He has to be himself and do things his way. Expecting anything else is doing him a diservice. He isn't Selles and he can't and shouldn't pretend to be.

It's two games. We had this overeaction last time Hunt lost some games. People are lionising Selles because he's gone. But these same performances and results happened under him too.

Orient and Bolton. Wrexham, Stockport, Rotherham...


Well Hunt's had Wycombe, Charlton, Cambridge, Mansfield and Northampton. We played pretty well in them.

I'd have thought one of the advantages from appointing from within a club should be, the 1st team manager instructs all the junior sides to play in the same style as the head coach, with each junior coach following the head coach's instructions. Then academy players will be incorporated into the senior 11 far better.

And then when the head coach inevitably leaves, the successor can continue in the same playing style, minimising disruption.

If Hunt is going to come along and say, the style of play that was working this season isn't to my liking, and i want you to stop doing a high press and go back to long ball up to Smith, then it really has to work for Hunt, because he's making an active decision to stop doing what Selles did.

Surely Hunt should have been learning from Selles, not harbouring his own tactics of something more akin to hoofball.

Sure Selles had off days to and the sample size is too early to tell, sort of, but Hunt should have to earn the right to change the playing style, not change it for change's sake.

[Mid Sussex Royal]

But surely that's the reason why we have to play with a style that served us well up until Ruben's departure and which provided the likes of Knibbs, Wing and Savage to chip in with goals.

Hunt isn't Selles, he can't just be Selles and do exactly the same as him, or do nothing and expect the squad to continue as if Selles was still here.

He has to be himself and do things his way. Expecting anything else is doing him a diservice. He isn't Selles and he can't and shouldn't pretend to be.

It's two games. We had this overeaction last time Hunt lost some games. People are lionising Selles because he's gone. But these same performances and results happened under him too.

Orient and Bolton. Wrexham, Stockport, Rotherham...


Well Hunt's had Wycombe, Charlton, Cambridge, Mansfield and Northampton. We played pretty well in them.

I'd have thought one of the advantages from appointing from within a club should be, the 1st team manager instructs all the junior sides to play in the same style as the head coach, with each junior coach following the head coach's instructions. Then academy players will be incorporated into the senior 11 far better.

And then when the head coach inevitably leaves, the successor can continue in the same playing style, minimising disruption.

If Hunt is going to come along and say, the style of play that was working this season isn't to my liking, and i want you to stop doing a high press and go back to long ball up to Smith, then it really has to work for Hunt, because he's making an active decision to stop doing what Selles did.

Surely Hunt should have been learning from Selles, not harbouring his own tactics of something more akin to hoofball.

Sure Selles had off days to and the sample size is too early to tell, sort of, but Hunt should have to earn the right to change the playing style, not change it for change's sake.

Didn't see Saturday's game but interesting the comments from those who went that we are far more direct. We had nearly 50% possession on Saturday against a decent possession based team, with hardly any of it in their half and no shots at goal at all after they went 2-0 up....suggests they sat back let us play around at the back.

[Royals and Racers]

Let the result and performance sink in, for what was a complete waste of a Saturday visiting east London for such an abject performance.

One obvious frustration that I haven’t seen picked up is Campbell was at fault for BOTH goals.

He needlessly lost possession for the first by not playing the ball earlier - and rightly got a rollicking from Wing for it.

For the second, he lost the ball again which led to them advancing down the pitch and gaining a corner, he then was involved in an argument with Wing about losing the ball again pre corner and whilst this was happening he was too slow to go mark his man for the short corner which resulted in the quick cross and inevitable goal.

Hunt did say post match we didn’t set quick enough for the corner which led to the second goal.

Small details, which resulted in Campbell being hooked almost straight after second goal.

Don’t get me wrong, I don’t like a scapegoat and it’s not like the rest of the team stepped up in anyway - but it didn’t help!

Best part of the day for me was a nice pint in the Orient Supporters club( £1 to get in) they were a friendly bunch which was followed by a very tasty Pie, mash and liquor in the away end. £6.20 i thought was decent value.

[Hound]

Selles was never about tippy tappy football was he? It was get the ball forward quickly, press hard and pick up the loose pieces.

I’m sure we still played it plenty long to Smith but you had Knibbs/Savage/Elliot sweeping up the loose ball high up the pitch and Kelv/Akande/Campbell pressing hard to win the ball back

Something seems to have got a bit lost along the way, without watching too much of Hunt I’m thinking he’s asking Knibbs and co to not press as far forward which is leaving Smith isolated, but potentially leaving is more solid if the opposition win good possession

It’s a difficult balance to get right, certainly didn’t always under Selles as been pointed out - Stockport away etc

[Tinpot Royal]

Let the result and performance sink in, for what was a complete waste of a Saturday visiting east London for such an abject performance.

One obvious frustration that I haven’t seen picked up is Campbell was at fault for BOTH goals.

He needlessly lost possession for the first by not playing the ball earlier - and rightly got a rollicking from Wing for it.

For the second, he lost the ball again which led to them advancing down the pitch and gaining a corner, he then was involved in an argument with Wing about losing the ball again pre corner and whilst this was happening he was too slow to go mark his man for the short corner which resulted in the quick cross and inevitable goal.

Hunt did say post match we didn’t set quick enough for the corner which led to the second goal.

Small details, which resulted in Campbell being hooked almost straight after second goal.

Don’t get me wrong, I don’t like a scapegoat and it’s not like the rest of the team stepped up in anyway - but it didn’t help!

Campbell was really poor throughout. Hadn't clocked the first was his fault, or didn't remember, but certainly got angry with him for the second.

Campbell was made the first mistake for both goals.

Goal 1 he just took the ball straight into an area with 5 Orient players & no Reading ones, lost it, they then broke & scored

Goal 2, he lost it again through (I think) a bad pass when he turned attack into defence, from which they won a corner & he was doing busy arguing about him losing the ball that he didnt get into position to stop the cross.

He seems to have morphed back into the player who started the season badly.

[Dirk Gently]

Let the result and performance sink in, for what was a complete waste of a Saturday visiting east London for such an abject performance.

One obvious frustration that I haven’t seen picked up is Campbell was at fault for BOTH goals.

He needlessly lost possession for the first by not playing the ball earlier - and rightly got a rollicking from Wing for it.

For the second, he lost the ball again which led to them advancing down the pitch and gaining a corner, he then was involved in an argument with Wing about losing the ball again pre corner and whilst this was happening he was too slow to go mark his man for the short corner which resulted in the quick cross and inevitable goal.

Hunt did say post match we didn’t set quick enough for the corner which led to the second goal.

Small details, which resulted in Campbell being hooked almost straight after second goal.

Don’t get me wrong, I don’t like a scapegoat and it’s not like the rest of the team stepped up in anyway - but it didn’t help!

Campbell was really poor throughout. Hadn't clocked the first was his fault, or didn't remember, but certainly got angry with him for the second.

Campbell was made the first mistake for both goals.

Goal 1 he just took the ball straight into an area with 5 Orient players & no Reading ones, lost it, they then broke & scored

Goal 2, he lost it again through (I think) a bad pass when he turned attack into defence, from which they won a corner & he was doing busy arguing about him losing the ball that he didnt get into position to stop the cross.

He seems to have morphed back into the player who started the season badly.

Perhaps he was playing well to get himself back into contention a PL outing or two at Wolves (even on the bench), but now they've condemned him to L1 for another half a season his motivation has dropped?

It's never a conscious thing, but little changes to a player's mental state can make all the difference in perfromance.

[stealthpapes]

I can see a similar argument across the board for January - this is going to be the most uncertain month of the year in terms of comings and goings.

[Snowflake Royal]

But surely that's the reason why we have to play with a style that served us well up until Ruben's departure and which provided the likes of Knibbs, Wing and Savage to chip in with goals.

Hunt isn't Selles, he can't just be Selles and do exactly the same as him, or do nothing and expect the squad to continue as if Selles was still here.

He has to be himself and do things his way. Expecting anything else is doing him a diservice. He isn't Selles and he can't and shouldn't pretend to be.

It's two games. We had this overeaction last time Hunt lost some games. People are lionising Selles because he's gone. But these same performances and results happened under him too.

Orient and Bolton. Wrexham, Stockport, Rotherham...


Well Hunt's had Wycombe, Charlton, Cambridge, Mansfield and Northampton. We played pretty well in them.

I'd have thought one of the advantages from appointing from within a club should be, the 1st team manager instructs all the junior sides to play in the same style as the head coach, with each junior coach following the head coach's instructions. Then academy players will be incorporated into the senior 11 far better.

And then when the head coach inevitably leaves, the successor can continue in the same playing style, minimising disruption.

If Hunt is going to come along and say, the style of play that was working this season isn't to my liking, and i want you to stop doing a high press and go back to long ball up to Smith, then it really has to work for Hunt, because he's making an active decision to stop doing what Selles did.

Surely Hunt should have been learning from Selles, not harbouring his own tactics of something more akin to hoofball.

Sure Selles had off days to and the sample size is too early to tell, sort of, but Hunt should have to earn the right to change the playing style, not change it for change's sake.

It's not about saying the style isn’t to his liking, or playing completely different set ups at youth level. It's about recognising they're different people, with different strengths, who may have a different emphasis, see different problems, have different solutions.

Elliott is missing and makes a big difference on our midfield ability to keep the ball and play out of trouble. Garcia gives us zero attacking threat down the left.

A high press is actually harmful if the opposition are just playing over the top.

People are over simplifying a much more complex scenario, and just looking at defeats and poor performances.

Funnily enough, when you play badly, you often don't play in the same way as when you're successful. It doesn’t have to be through choice.

[Zammo]

Best part of the day for me was a nice pint in the Orient Supporters club( £1 to get in) they were a friendly bunch which was followed by a very tasty Pie, mash and liquor in the away end. £6.20 i thought was decent value.

Went in there after the game. Some nice ales on. Very welcoming set of supporters (although three points always helps lol).