So Orient lost this rather important football match. A solitary Trotta goal separated the two sides. Here’s my take on a game where I, for once, actually had a view from downstream.
If club crests ever where to start fights, the only way for Brentford to beat Orient would be if Wyverns turned out to be really allergic to bee stings. You know like some people are to nuts. Me I’m probably allergic to Alan McCormack. I find him really hard to swallow.
McCormack being one of two players on the pitch yesterday with ‘get out of jail free’ cards somewhere in their kit. The other one being Nathan Clarke. Perhaps Captain Fantastic plays like this every game. In that case I salute him for having powers of misdirection greater than many a professional illusionist. But what I usually hear is a lot different from what I saw. Walking off without a booking was lucky.
Lucky like Clayton Donaldson who seemed in a bad mood all game. Brentford fans have a point when they say Orient were favoured by the referee. But Donaldson could very well have been sent off when he stormed into that scuffle during the first half that saw him and Gary Sawyer receive yellow cards. As for who started it that’s easier - McCormack.
Speaking of things that are easy. The Orient front two was a case in point. Kevin Lisbie did a lot of running and tried to set up his team mates. Not complicating things but at the moment being let down by his goalscoring touch. David Mooney on the other hand has that touch but sometimes gives the impression that scoring simply isn’t enough. It has to be pretty as well. Frankly Moons we don’t care, just bang them in. Pretty can wait.
Romain Vincelot not only had a great game he has a pretty great beard as well. The only thing missing from his performance was a yellow card. The threat of that tenth yellow of the season hanging over the head of us supporters like the blade of a guillotine. Just pick it up already! Rip it off our worried minds like an old band-aid. Get those two games out of the way.
Marvin Bartley and Jamie Ness probably agree with me on the Vincelot suspension saga since that would mean more game time for the both of them. Orient have a strong bench at the moment. One that could cope with Vincelot sitting out two games. Looking at the names of substitutes this season compared to a few years back there really are names on there that can change games. Perhaps Robbie Simpson should have felt more at home sharing a bench with a selection of Geraint William’s players. He would have stood out like the obvious choice which is always a nice feeling.
As far as managers go my distinct feeling is that Brentford really need to finish in the top two. Warburton inherited a good team with tactics et.al. from Uwe Rösler. I don’t think he could guide a team successfully through the playoffs. Russell Slade could, I’m sure of that. But if I get a choice I’ll gladly let Warburton prove me wrong. When it comes to success for baldies my money is on Slade.
I do a lot of stupid things with my money. Gambling isn’t one of them. I do have an account on a large betting site though. With all of one hundred Swedish kronor on there. The only reason being that this gives access to reliable streams of football matches. Like Orient v Brentford. I still had Dave Victor on as commentator even though Orient World was a few seconds behind the TV images. As I understood it the Sky commentators were biased in Brentford’s favour. In those cases a sense of deja vu is preferable.
I would have preferred to win. But this loss most likely didn’t define our season. We don’t know yet what the 2013/14 season legacy will be. It may have been this game, or perhaps those three losses when Eldin Jakupovic went back to Hull. Losing Jamie Jones to injury. It may be a thing in the future. Vincelot’s tenth yellow card. Wolves at home. Promotion. A playoff final. Mooney scoring twenty league goals. There’s nine games left. History is yet to be written. Orient not ready to be written off even if Brentford and Wolves fans want that very much. It just isn’t true. It might even turn out to be false. Keep the faith you pessimistic bastards!
Showing posts with label Eldin Jakupovic. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Eldin Jakupovic. Show all posts
16 March 2014
23 February 2014
Travelling habits of a Jinx
After being home to the Penalty miss fairy during the lion’s share of the season, Orient finally saw the back of it on Saturday. It left, but not for parts unknown.
If there is one thing you need to know about Jinxes it is that they are inherently lazy creatures. On top of that they are extremely keen on continuity. But they do get bored. With Orient missing out on a few penalty shouts recently. The fact that the game against Stevenage was devoid of anything close to a penalty decision, much thanks to Trevor Kettle’s refereeing prowess, may have prompted the Jinx to leave.
Brisbane Road looked on with slack-jawed surprise as Lloyd James put away not one, but two spot kicks in the same game. The four corners of the stadium gasped with awe as there even was the briefest of struggle for the ball when the first penalty was given. Chris Dagnall was, as they say, keen to try his luck from eleven meters (sorry I do not do Imperial).
Fairies are mostly rather small and look harmless when you actually notice them. But they can cause you a world of harm if you cross them. This could explain why Dean Cox tried to coax today’s referee into awarding Orient, and James, a hat-trick of penalties. He, probably more than any other player in the squad, had it in him to feel the tiny changes of cosmic energies. Problem was that the referee totally lacked the sensitivity of Orient’s tricky winger. Instead of the expected three-times-the-charm all mr Ward produced was a yellow card. So much for listening to your inner fairy-detector.
The decision to leave is never taken lightly by a Jinx fairy. The road to travel mustn’t be arduous, and it’s new home should give it some sense of familiarity. If you know where, and what to look for, the travelling habits of a Jinx are pretty easy to track. This particular Penalty miss fairy made the passably short journey from East London to Wessex. The outskirts of Colchester to be more exact. There it lashed onto the pulsating aura of one former Leyton Orient striker. Nowadays wearing blue and white stripes. At about 4.30 pm GMT Jabo Ibehre stepped up to the penalty spot at the Weston Homes Community Stadium to put the U’s level. That the opponents, Preston North End, was the last team Orient played when a spot kick was awarded probably made the fairy even more keen to enjoy the moment. Jabo failed to convert and O’s fairy had found a new home!
Jinxes in residence usually leave a mark. A residual force that is sometimes noticed by more benevolent fairies. At times one of these beings may decide to stick around the Jinx’s old home to undo some of the bad things the previous fairy has caused. So if you look around Brisbane Road on your next visit. With an open mind of course. You just might catch a glimpse of the Clean Sheet fairy currently riding the ends of Eldin Jakupovic’s flowing locks of hair. But be careful, whatever you do - don’t spook it!
With Orient at the top of the League One table let me just close with a little something for the doom and gloomers. Next weekend Orient entertain Colchester at the Matchroom Stadium. Let us hope that the Jinx, when getting a fresh look at it’s old hunting grounds, doesn’t change it’s mind and decide to move back in. Pray that those sad slabs of concrete in an empty field in Essex feel more like home now than the busy streets of East London. You never know with fairies!
If there is one thing you need to know about Jinxes it is that they are inherently lazy creatures. On top of that they are extremely keen on continuity. But they do get bored. With Orient missing out on a few penalty shouts recently. The fact that the game against Stevenage was devoid of anything close to a penalty decision, much thanks to Trevor Kettle’s refereeing prowess, may have prompted the Jinx to leave.
Brisbane Road looked on with slack-jawed surprise as Lloyd James put away not one, but two spot kicks in the same game. The four corners of the stadium gasped with awe as there even was the briefest of struggle for the ball when the first penalty was given. Chris Dagnall was, as they say, keen to try his luck from eleven meters (sorry I do not do Imperial).
Fairies are mostly rather small and look harmless when you actually notice them. But they can cause you a world of harm if you cross them. This could explain why Dean Cox tried to coax today’s referee into awarding Orient, and James, a hat-trick of penalties. He, probably more than any other player in the squad, had it in him to feel the tiny changes of cosmic energies. Problem was that the referee totally lacked the sensitivity of Orient’s tricky winger. Instead of the expected three-times-the-charm all mr Ward produced was a yellow card. So much for listening to your inner fairy-detector.
The decision to leave is never taken lightly by a Jinx fairy. The road to travel mustn’t be arduous, and it’s new home should give it some sense of familiarity. If you know where, and what to look for, the travelling habits of a Jinx are pretty easy to track. This particular Penalty miss fairy made the passably short journey from East London to Wessex. The outskirts of Colchester to be more exact. There it lashed onto the pulsating aura of one former Leyton Orient striker. Nowadays wearing blue and white stripes. At about 4.30 pm GMT Jabo Ibehre stepped up to the penalty spot at the Weston Homes Community Stadium to put the U’s level. That the opponents, Preston North End, was the last team Orient played when a spot kick was awarded probably made the fairy even more keen to enjoy the moment. Jabo failed to convert and O’s fairy had found a new home!
Jinxes in residence usually leave a mark. A residual force that is sometimes noticed by more benevolent fairies. At times one of these beings may decide to stick around the Jinx’s old home to undo some of the bad things the previous fairy has caused. So if you look around Brisbane Road on your next visit. With an open mind of course. You just might catch a glimpse of the Clean Sheet fairy currently riding the ends of Eldin Jakupovic’s flowing locks of hair. But be careful, whatever you do - don’t spook it!
With Orient at the top of the League One table let me just close with a little something for the doom and gloomers. Next weekend Orient entertain Colchester at the Matchroom Stadium. Let us hope that the Jinx, when getting a fresh look at it’s old hunting grounds, doesn’t change it’s mind and decide to move back in. Pray that those sad slabs of concrete in an empty field in Essex feel more like home now than the busy streets of East London. You never know with fairies!
12 February 2014
Feeling Biblical
If someone made me a God today. I would be an Old Testament kind of God. Vengeful, all fire and brimstone. My target audience numbering one. The Scapegoat!
Orient up against a team with one away win all season. Elliot Omozusi injured, Gary Sawyer in at left back. Lloyd James benched, Marvin Bartley starting in the center of midfield. Up front Kevin Lisbie and Chris Dagnall. Not really match fit David Mooney on the bench.
But this text isn't about any of those players. Possibly Sawyer who didn't impress right before Bristol City's first goal after three minutes. Perhaps Bartley who didn't show why he should be picked before James as a normal course of events. No, this rant has another target in mind.
A goalkeeper should possess many abilities. Few excel at everything. Most have at least one embarrassing trait up their sleeve. Good shot-stopper, saves a lot of penalties, dodgy kicking, being weak in the air. There is one thing though, that is essential to any goalkeeper. You have got to inspire confidence in your fellow defenders. When you shout for the ball you have to do your thing. Pluck it out of the air, punch it away, kick it! Whatever - do it. End of discussion.
Shwan Jalal, you are Orient's fifth goalkeeper this season. You are not a Jamie Jones, definitely worse than Eldin Jakupovic, hardly outshine Ben Alnwick, and Jake Larkins is a giant in the area compared to you.
Against Peterborough, in your Orient debut, you were responsible for one of the goals. Today, after the Bristol City game your collected goal debt is 3.5. It was that bad. Perhaps the rest of the Orient team should share some of the blame for being 0-2 down with less than fifteen minutes played. But we're talking Old Testament here. No collective debt. It's all your fault. Having a first name that mean shepherd doesn't help things. Herding goats might be the job for you. You are as a matter of fact the ultimate scapegoat. Two games in Orient colours. No more dear God (Jesus, I'm talking to myself here).
It didn't help that Orient reduced the deficit to one goal when Lisbie pounced just before half time. Orient dominating the initial stages of the second half really counted for nothing. All those corners and half chances. Jalal you made sure the opponents had that comfortable two goal cushion back by going for a ball and completely miss it - again.
If the Devil is any sort of friend he must act now. For the prize of a Russell Slade soul we should at least get Jakupovic on loan for the rest of the season and Jamie Jones' back miraculously healed.
It ended 3-1 to Bristol City. It was all your fault Shwan. The scapegoat! And I said this in the nicest way possible.
Swedish original (at least the text I started with)
Orient up against a team with one away win all season. Elliot Omozusi injured, Gary Sawyer in at left back. Lloyd James benched, Marvin Bartley starting in the center of midfield. Up front Kevin Lisbie and Chris Dagnall. Not really match fit David Mooney on the bench.
But this text isn't about any of those players. Possibly Sawyer who didn't impress right before Bristol City's first goal after three minutes. Perhaps Bartley who didn't show why he should be picked before James as a normal course of events. No, this rant has another target in mind.
A goalkeeper should possess many abilities. Few excel at everything. Most have at least one embarrassing trait up their sleeve. Good shot-stopper, saves a lot of penalties, dodgy kicking, being weak in the air. There is one thing though, that is essential to any goalkeeper. You have got to inspire confidence in your fellow defenders. When you shout for the ball you have to do your thing. Pluck it out of the air, punch it away, kick it! Whatever - do it. End of discussion.
Shwan Jalal, you are Orient's fifth goalkeeper this season. You are not a Jamie Jones, definitely worse than Eldin Jakupovic, hardly outshine Ben Alnwick, and Jake Larkins is a giant in the area compared to you.
Against Peterborough, in your Orient debut, you were responsible for one of the goals. Today, after the Bristol City game your collected goal debt is 3.5. It was that bad. Perhaps the rest of the Orient team should share some of the blame for being 0-2 down with less than fifteen minutes played. But we're talking Old Testament here. No collective debt. It's all your fault. Having a first name that mean shepherd doesn't help things. Herding goats might be the job for you. You are as a matter of fact the ultimate scapegoat. Two games in Orient colours. No more dear God (Jesus, I'm talking to myself here).
It didn't help that Orient reduced the deficit to one goal when Lisbie pounced just before half time. Orient dominating the initial stages of the second half really counted for nothing. All those corners and half chances. Jalal you made sure the opponents had that comfortable two goal cushion back by going for a ball and completely miss it - again.
If the Devil is any sort of friend he must act now. For the prize of a Russell Slade soul we should at least get Jakupovic on loan for the rest of the season and Jamie Jones' back miraculously healed.
It ended 3-1 to Bristol City. It was all your fault Shwan. The scapegoat! And I said this in the nicest way possible.
Swedish original (at least the text I started with)
9 February 2014
Mooooo..nej
A heading which makes sense in Swedish only, nej meaning no. This being almost like the surname of that surprisingly prolific striker of ours.
Whatever, this is the place where articles from the Leyton Orient section of Svenska Fans (click this link to visit that beautiful part of the web) go to die. Where I shine and polish those nuggets of Swedish Oriental wisdom into my version of the English language. This then is the thing I wrote following defeat to Peterborough.
This wasn't great from Orient. Peterborough knew they were up against a team with goals in it. So to counter that they played a 5-3-2. Worked brilliantly. Especially in the second half when the guests without a doubt were the better team.
Considering the amount of postponed games in League One having a playable surface was quite an achievement by Orient. But it wasn't perfect, especially bits along the West Stand was dodgy. The wind, just like at Rotherham, played a part as well. Both teams avoided the soggy part of the pitch which was unfortunate for Orient since this kept Moses Odubajo out of the game in the first half. This being the part of the 90 minutes when the home side at least showed glimpses of what they are capable of.
David Mooney's headed goal from a Lloyd James free-kick came against the run of play. But teams at the top often seem to ride their luck and snatch wins even when they're not playing that great. Even though Peterborough had been searching for a goal since the restart, it felt like Orient were riding their luck.
When Britt Assombalonga far to easily headed in the equalizer the feeling still was one of; OK one point still mean we'll be in the top two. That's fine!
Up until the Rotherham game Orient had barely conceded a single goal in the last ten minutes of games. Now they've dropped points in two consecutive games by not counting the clock down and closing the game out. This time around it was Romain Vincelot that tried to dribble an opponent to start an Orient attack instead of just taking an easy pass. He lost the ball that eventually found its way to Tommy Rowe. Who from the edge of the penalty area hit a shot that Shwan Jalal pushed into his own net.
Jalal, the second debutant goalkeeper in two matches for Orient, had a decent game otherwise. But the second goal falls on his, and Vincelot's, shoulders. Maybe harsh but that was the general feeling afterwards. The pessimists among the Orient fans quickly pointed out that this was the first time all season that Orient have lost two games in a row. I am not one of those guys but I had a really sinking feeling when that Rowe finish hit the back of the net. Because there are problems.
Goalkeeping problems. I think that among the fans one solution is obvious. Bring back Eldin Jakupovic. The suspension for the Hull number one is served. Bring Eldin back. Being asked about Ben Alnwick after the game Russell Slade had nothing new to add. He is out - for how long no one knows. Asked about Jakupovic Slade didn't respond with an outright NO! Enough for some to interpret that he could return. Jalal had a good game according to Slade. But as a manager that often speak about the group, the importance of team spirit and getting the right characters in the squad. Having a goalkeeper that's trusted by the players, one that minimizes his own mistakes, should be high on the list. Jakupovic proved in January that he is that kind of player. Alnwick and Jalal still have that do to. The question is if Slade feel he has time to wait for that proof.
Russell finished with an interesting comment. Orient's next goal is 75 points which guarantee a play-off spot. After that they'll see how many games there are left to shoot for a spot in the top two. On Tuesday that postponed game from New Year's Day against Bristol City is to be played. A win means three points off that 15 point playoff place goal. A win means putting pressure on Brentford and Wolves. It will be interesting to see who wears the keeper jersey for Orient.
Whatever, this is the place where articles from the Leyton Orient section of Svenska Fans (click this link to visit that beautiful part of the web) go to die. Where I shine and polish those nuggets of Swedish Oriental wisdom into my version of the English language. This then is the thing I wrote following defeat to Peterborough.
This wasn't great from Orient. Peterborough knew they were up against a team with goals in it. So to counter that they played a 5-3-2. Worked brilliantly. Especially in the second half when the guests without a doubt were the better team.
Considering the amount of postponed games in League One having a playable surface was quite an achievement by Orient. But it wasn't perfect, especially bits along the West Stand was dodgy. The wind, just like at Rotherham, played a part as well. Both teams avoided the soggy part of the pitch which was unfortunate for Orient since this kept Moses Odubajo out of the game in the first half. This being the part of the 90 minutes when the home side at least showed glimpses of what they are capable of.
David Mooney's headed goal from a Lloyd James free-kick came against the run of play. But teams at the top often seem to ride their luck and snatch wins even when they're not playing that great. Even though Peterborough had been searching for a goal since the restart, it felt like Orient were riding their luck.
When Britt Assombalonga far to easily headed in the equalizer the feeling still was one of; OK one point still mean we'll be in the top two. That's fine!
Up until the Rotherham game Orient had barely conceded a single goal in the last ten minutes of games. Now they've dropped points in two consecutive games by not counting the clock down and closing the game out. This time around it was Romain Vincelot that tried to dribble an opponent to start an Orient attack instead of just taking an easy pass. He lost the ball that eventually found its way to Tommy Rowe. Who from the edge of the penalty area hit a shot that Shwan Jalal pushed into his own net.
Jalal, the second debutant goalkeeper in two matches for Orient, had a decent game otherwise. But the second goal falls on his, and Vincelot's, shoulders. Maybe harsh but that was the general feeling afterwards. The pessimists among the Orient fans quickly pointed out that this was the first time all season that Orient have lost two games in a row. I am not one of those guys but I had a really sinking feeling when that Rowe finish hit the back of the net. Because there are problems.
Goalkeeping problems. I think that among the fans one solution is obvious. Bring back Eldin Jakupovic. The suspension for the Hull number one is served. Bring Eldin back. Being asked about Ben Alnwick after the game Russell Slade had nothing new to add. He is out - for how long no one knows. Asked about Jakupovic Slade didn't respond with an outright NO! Enough for some to interpret that he could return. Jalal had a good game according to Slade. But as a manager that often speak about the group, the importance of team spirit and getting the right characters in the squad. Having a goalkeeper that's trusted by the players, one that minimizes his own mistakes, should be high on the list. Jakupovic proved in January that he is that kind of player. Alnwick and Jalal still have that do to. The question is if Slade feel he has time to wait for that proof.
Russell finished with an interesting comment. Orient's next goal is 75 points which guarantee a play-off spot. After that they'll see how many games there are left to shoot for a spot in the top two. On Tuesday that postponed game from New Year's Day against Bristol City is to be played. A win means three points off that 15 point playoff place goal. A win means putting pressure on Brentford and Wolves. It will be interesting to see who wears the keeper jersey for Orient.
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