Eh up!! McCall fails again SHOCK!!!

Therefore Stuart use Osbourne or play TJ on the wing as I have previously mentioned and Arny at RB just for this week to see how it goes and switch it around at HT if needed. If you don't try you will never know ! All ifs and buts and shoulda coulda woulda will be coming from the post match interview if not !!

As for you Shaun, just crawl under your rock again !!

In just over 5 weeks time ,Stuart McCall needs to be addressing the 'January Transfer Window'. Some players may be recalled, some may 'Move on'. Either way, I feel that our scouting network needs to be going into overdrive now.
With the strenuous Xmas period of matches to play, the injuries already incurred:the next couple of months could be crucial to our promotion push.
Pundits talk about a 'wobbly' period, during a Season. When Clubs get a series of poor results, at the wrong time: when going for promotion. If we are to achieve 'AUTOMATIC PROMOTION', then may I say to management "Forewarned is Forearmed".
More injuries will occur, to have no cover in certain positions, is more than risky. However,I wholly apreciate the financial demands needed today, to secure 'Automatic Promotion'. So I would task 'The Board', to raise more financial support, to enable Stuart McCall to strengthen the current squad. Other commentators do not agree with my assessment, of the current available squad, but we need 2 Strikers and 2 midfield/defensive players-urgently.

I do agree with you most of the time Freddy, but we DON'T need 2 strikers or 2 midfielders, now or in the transfer window.

We are sat nicely in the table and haven't really kicked into any serious form. We have a couple of loan players here for the season and a couple due to go back to their clubs in January, unless they agree to extend the loans. We also have a couple of short-term loanees, who may become longer.

I do like the thought of Mccall trying to bring in another natural winger, but it isn't a problem if he doesn't. We have young talented players in this club and they should be given a go before we 'break the bank again' to bring in new players.

As Lenny has said, play either Ossie or TJ on the right on Saturday with Law in central midfield. Either option is viable. Personally, I would like to see Ossie given another start.

In the next couple of weeks, we will have Furman & Bullock back from injury, Heckie, Arnison, Nix & Bower are already back and fighting for their places. In January, we will have two players almost like new signings in Colbeck and Brandon.

We are scoring goals for fun (given the right service), so why the need for more new players???

Security Words, 'hope-have'. Ironic??

Freddy says "but we need 2 Strikers and 2 midfield/defensive players-urgently."

Would you rather have a young but pacey striker or someone built like Conlon but with better ability ? I think looking for two will be difficult so I think there will need to be a choice.

I agree on the defensive players totally - this area of our play gives me the most concern !

I agree that our scouting needs to work overtime until Jan and we cannot rely on the hopeful sale of Delph from L***s to help us put money in the kitty for transfers as knowing our friends at Bellend Road they will leave it until the very last day before agreeing anything, thus we would have our hands tied due to lack of GUARANTEED funds !! Therefore Mr Lawn and Mr Rhodes need to be on a charm offensive to dig out some extra funding from somewhere - which will be very difficult at this time of year and in the current climate!!

in the days before loan deals a injured player usually meant a chance for an up and coming reserve or even junior club member to show his mettle. it must be disheartening for a young lad to be considered not good enough so "we will borrow another clubs cast offs". players must be given the chance from within or why have a reserve team at all. sec.=used-mine(ha! ha!)

audal wrote:
in the days before loan deals a injured player usually meant a chance for an up and coming reserve or even junior club member to show his mettle. it must be disheartening for a young lad to be considered not good enough so "we will borrow another clubs cast offs". players must be given the chance from within or why have a reserve team at all. sec.=used-mine(ha! ha!)

Exactly Audal. Once again you make a very valid point.

When we had players injured and a player cup-tied, McCall threw Osborne in against MK Dons. Apparently, he did this to accomodate Law in midfield due to lack of central players. However, don't we still have Sharry on the books? Is he another that McCall doesn't rate or did he believe in his convictions that Law, in centre, was a better option than Sharry? Did he think Ossie on the wing wouldn't weaken us as much as playing Sharry in the middle and Law on the right?

The point I am making is that for the MK Dons game, McCall was confident enough in Ossie's ability (against a League 1 side), yet didn't feel he had the ability to deliver against a League 2 side.

As macca1969 has already said, Wycombe aren't an attacking team but are hard to break down. Surely we should have gone with a more attacking formation last weekend in an attempt to break them down. Why play a defender in midfield when Wycombe rarely step foot in the opposition's half?

From all accounts, Ossie did a decent job against MK Dons and deserves his chance to fill the void left by Colbeck. If he fails to deliver, then it is right to look elsewhere, but not before he has been given his chance!

At the risk of setting myself up for a kick in the proverbials, I reckon it might just be a good time to be playing Rotherham. Back to back defeats, conceeding seven without reply, injury problems of their own, the prospect of a trip to the Don Valley Stadium doesn't look quite as daunting as it did a couple of weeks ago.

Ive got to say i sometimes dont agree with mcall. Luke sharry played a lot of pre season friendlies and the ones i saw (park avenue)(burnley) and (Oldham) he played exceptionaly well. on saturday mcall played tom clarke in centre midfeild when it was clear its not his possition. give some of the younger players a chance because in my view we have a good set of young player. take luke obrian for example he has played exceptional for the first team this season which has been great to see. MCALL GIVE OSBOURNE OR SHARRY A CHANCE OR WHATS THE POINT IN HAVE THEM

I see the T&A are still reporting on our past players instead of events happening at City. We have been waiting for news on the ticket price for City in the FA Cup. The news broke yesterday morning, but still nothing here about it....!

After Leyton Orient disputed our request for cheaper ticket prices in our forthcoming FA Cup tie, we asked the FA to intervene. They have agreed that we can charge a slightly reduced price for the cup tie.

Adults can get in for £15 (but can only sit in the lower sections of the Sunwin and Carlsberg Stands). Senior Citizens are £10 and juveniles £5. The away fans will be seated in the TL Dallas stand.

WHY???? Have we not learnt this season that the best atmosphere in the ground can be obtained from that side of the ground? We should be in there, with away fans getting block(s) A (and B if needed) in the Sunwin stand.

I am happy with the ticket prices, however and I hope as many of us will go to the game as possible. Orient didn't want us to get cheap tickets to dry to din some of the atmosphere. Let's give em it with both barrels on the pitch and in the stands!

spleen ventor wrote:
At the risk of setting myself up for a kick in the proverbials, I reckon it might just be a good time to be playing Rotherham. Back to back defeats, conceeding seven without reply, injury problems of their own, the prospect of a trip to the Don Valley Stadium doesn't look quite as daunting as it did a couple of weeks ago.

Especially as they've not got a proper keeper! Failed to bring in a loanee and their only other option is a 20 year old who has never played in the league and let in 3 in the cup last week. Should be fun for our strikers! I might go to show support for a team who is struggling - especially as it's quite near.

without appearing too pedantic (again) could anyone explain what Stuart Mcall may or may not be doing nowadays if the loan system had been in place at valley parade whilst he was knocking on heavens door?(sorry bob.)Roy Mcfarland played him at full back/right wing until trevor cherry spotted his niche in the team,the rest as they say is history and also i'm reminding you all of my hatred of loan deals.PS. can i borrow someone's wife for a week?

Waynus the club website says away fans in the Midland Road stand, which suggests T L Dallas will be closed.
If it's given to Orient supporters, it will be an own goal because a scattered small home support will create no noise.

Waynus wrote:
I do agree with you most of the time Freddy, but we DON'T need 2 strikers or 2 midfielders, now or in the transfer window. We are sat nicely in the table and haven't really kicked into any serious form. We have a couple of loan players here for the season and a couple due to go back to their clubs in January, unless they agree to extend the loans. We also have a couple of short-term loanees, who may become longer. I do like the thought of Mccall trying to bring in another natural winger, but it isn't a problem if he doesn't. We have young talented players in this club and they should be given a go before we 'break the bank again' to bring in new players. As Lenny has said, play either Ossie or TJ on the right on Saturday with Law in central midfield. Either option is viable. Personally, I would like to see Ossie given another start. In the next couple of weeks, we will have Furman & Bullock back from injury, Heckie, Arnison, Nix & Bower are already back and fighting for their places. In January, we will have two players almost like new signings in Colbeck and Brandon. We are scoring goals for fun (given the right service), so why the need for more new players??? Security Words, 'hope-have'. Ironic??

Waynus,
The fact that we havent even looked like hitting any sort of form is the worrying thing and we wont be sat that nicely if we loose again on sat and other results go against
us.
We do need new players, in midfield and up front, Conlon and Boulding will struggle to hit double figures, if we persist in hitting the high ball we need somoene who can cause problems for the defence rather than them just winning every header and coming straight back on the attack.

The central midfield also have chip in with goals as well but i cant see any of ours hitting 5 goals all season.

Out of the players you mentioned coming back from injury i can only see Furman getting in the 1st team.

As for scoring goals for fun, maybe so but we'r conceding them for fun also.

Halifax Bantam wrote:

Waynus wrote:
I do agree with you most of the time Freddy, but we DON'T need 2 strikers or 2 midfielders, now or in the transfer window. We are sat nicely in the table and haven't really kicked into any serious form. We have a couple of loan players here for the season and a couple due to go back to their clubs in January, unless they agree to extend the loans. We also have a couple of short-term loanees, who may become longer. I do like the thought of Mccall trying to bring in another natural winger, but it isn't a problem if he doesn't. We have young talented players in this club and they should be given a go before we 'break the bank again' to bring in new players. As Lenny has said, play either Ossie or TJ on the right on Saturday with Law in central midfield. Either option is viable. Personally, I would like to see Ossie given another start. In the next couple of weeks, we will have Furman & Bullock back from injury, Heckie, Arnison, Nix & Bower are already back and fighting for their places. In January, we will have two players almost like new signings in Colbeck and Brandon. We are scoring goals for fun (given the right service), so why the need for more new players??? Security Words, 'hope-have'. Ironic??

Waynus,
The fact that we havent even looked like hitting any sort of form is the worrying thing and we wont be sat that nicely if we loose again on sat and other results go against
us.
We do need new players, in midfield and up front, Conlon and Boulding will struggle to hit double figures, if we persist in hitting the high ball we need somoene who can cause problems for the defence rather than them just winning every header and coming straight back on the attack.

The central midfield also have chip in with goals as well but i cant see any of ours hitting 5 goals all season.

Out of the players you mentioned coming back from injury i can only see Furman getting in the 1st team.

As for scoring goals for fun, maybe so but we'r conceding them for fun also.

You just don't get it do you.

"Conlon and Boulding will struggle to hit double figures, if we persist in hitting the high ball". SOLUTION - Don't play the high ball then, keep it simple and on the deck! Don't need to sign new strikers to resolve that problem!

"As for scoring goals for fun, maybe so but we're conceding them for fun also". Again, you agree the strikers are doing the business. However, how does bringing in new strikers to replace Conlon & Boulding help us concede less goals (which we do agree on is one area of the pitch we do need to improve)?

Finally of the players to come back, you feel only Furman will get back in. I can't agree. Colbeck would be a starter and possibly Brandon. However, Bully is THE most missed player of the injured guys.

I think you need to stop going to the Shay as it is blighting your understanding of the beautiful game. LOL

Edinburgh -bantam wrote:
Waynus the club website says away fans in the Midland Road stand, which suggests T L Dallas will be closed.
If it's given to Orient supporters, it will be an own goal because a scattered small home support will create no noise.

Cheers Edinburgh.

Last night when I read the story, it clearly said, "For this tie, visitors will be accommodated in the T L Dallas Stand". They have obviously changed it today as the story is dated 20 November, but the article was posted last night.

Why else would they say, "for this tie...", when away supporters are housed in the Midland Road for all away matches?

Thanks for the update.

Freddy

I ikow you posted some time ago but I do not agree with your assessment. I guess we have enough strikers at present (unless 1 or 2 were to leave) and appear to be able to keep scoring. I guess I will bang the drum about a more refined midfielder. Too often we are unable to keep possession and then make a telling pass.
With Bower, Heckingbottom, Arnison and which ever Clarke does not play as a full reserve defence, all fit or about to be. The lack of a midfield 'general' is the big gap in my mind. If Nix is fit and/or Osbourne as a right winger we have strength in that position. Colbeck and Brandon to return in the next few weeks. Personally I do not think Furman is the right sort of midfielder, a lot of effort but not much panache once he has the ball. Cant fault his commitment, just my view that he has not got the right attributes for a team with two 'out and out' wingers.

No Waynus, its you that doesnt get it, you wear rose tinted glasses and dont see what is blidingly obvious, we havent got the players who are good enough to play it on the deck, if we had we wouldnt keep lumping it like we have all season.

How do strikers prevent us from conceding goals, are you relly that naive in the way football works?? Defence begins with the attack, if strikers hold the ball up and not give it straight to the opposition they cant then go on the counter attack and score, just like when attackers chase the ball and close down the defenders so they havent got all day to pick a pass, all this contributes to conceding less goals, quite basic really.

Yes i can see Colbeck and Brandon getting into the side, i should have made it more clear that i meant out of the players returning in the next couple of weeks that only Furman will be in the first team.Bully will be on the bench because Mccall will not drop Mclaren and you know it.

I guess i must be on downer with City cos i certanly havent seen the beautiful game being played there for some time!

Freddy wrote:
In just over 5 weeks time ,Stuart McCall needs to be addressing the 'January Transfer Window'. Some players may be recalled, some may 'Move on'. Either way, I feel that our scouting network needs to be going into overdrive now. With the strenuous Xmas period of matches to play, the injuries already incurred:the next couple of months could be crucial to our promotion push. Pundits talk about a 'wobbly' period, during a Season. When Clubs get a series of poor results, at the wrong time: when going for promotion. If we are to achieve 'AUTOMATIC PROMOTION', then may I say to management "Forewarned is Forearmed". More injuries will occur, to have no cover in certain positions, is more than risky. However,I wholly apreciate the financial demands needed today, to secure 'Automatic Promotion'. So I would task 'The Board', to raise more financial support, to enable Stuart McCall to strengthen the current squad. Other commentators do not agree with my assessment, of the current available squad, but we need 2 Strikers and 2 midfield/defensive players-urgently.

Freddy, I always read your posts with a smile, as they sound like an election manifesto, but I don't agree with you that we need 2 forwards.

Thorne and Boulding are 2 of the best strikers in the division, although I admit that the latter has only shown glimpses of what he can do.

Conlon for all his critics is a good option off the bench, as he provides us with a physical threat, and should be given a contract until the end of the season, which I'm sure he will be.

You've also got Topp, who like many on this site I rate, as he provides us with something different. There is also Rory Boulding and Osborne who we've hardly seen, and don't forget that Daley can also play up front, so we've more than enough options in that area.

I'm sure every manager would ideally like to bring in a couple more players, but I don't really think it's about new personnel. We just need to eliminate the silly mistakes that have plagued our season. If we had defended correctly then we would be top of the table.

Halifax Bantam wrote:
No Waynus, its you that doesnt get it, you wear rose tinted glasses and dont see what is blidingly obvious, we havent got the players who are good enough to play it on the deck, if we had we wouldnt keep lumping it like we have all season.

How do strikers prevent us from conceding goals, are you relly that naive in the way football works?? Defence begins with the attack, if strikers hold the ball up and not give it straight to the opposition they cant then go on the counter attack and score, just like when attackers chase the ball and close down the defenders so they havent got all day to pick a pass, all this contributes to conceding less goals, quite basic really.

Yes i can see Colbeck and Brandon getting into the side, i should have made it more clear that i meant out of the players returning in the next couple of weeks that only Furman will be in the first team.Bully will be on the bench because Mccall will not drop Mclaren and you know it.

I guess i must be on downer with City cos i certanly havent seen the beautiful game being played there for some time!

A fair argument HB, but one that we just won't agree on.

Firstly, "we wouldnt keep lumping it like we have all season". I beg to differ. At the start of the season, up until the Bournemouth game, we played good, fast attacking football and looked dangerous whenwe had the ball. That is why Thorne got to10 goals so quickly. I really can't answer what changed and why we resorted to lumping it. Can't blame Conlon cos he wasn't in the side at that time.

As for your comments on the defensive side of the game, whilst I agree with what you are saying, I don't agree that we don't 'chase the ball and close down the defenders'. Our problem is when the ball is in the middle of the park. It is our midfielders that haven't chased and harassed the ball enough.

If you are going to ship out Conlon and Boulding for not 'holding the ball up and closing down defenders', does that mean you would also get rid of Thorne? He is a goal scorer but doesn't like to get his hands dirty (and why should he with his strike rate).

Rose tinted glasses? Hardly. However, I see the problem differently to you. We miss Bully, McLaren hasn't been good enough, no pace on the right since Colbeck lost form/then got injured and not dominant enough at the back. I am happy with our attacking play, just wish we would be stronger defensively. That doesn't mean I look through rose tinted glasses.

We won't agree so let's move on.

Halifax Bantam you are right in all your observations.

Waynus, never anythng personal fella and i must admit i do like our little debates and it would be boring if we all had the same point of view!
I can not agree that we didnt lump it in the early part of the season though, the only time we have played it well on the ground was a 20 minute spell against Exeter which should have been a blue print for the season.
Like you said though, lets move on though and lets see what we can find to disagree on about tomorrows performance!!