Orient in pre-season crisis (20th August)

Orient 2- 3 Charlton (pre-season)

Goddard, Arber, Downing, Harris, Hoadley, Walley, Bowyer, Brisley, Bullock, Queen, Fairbrother. Sub: Fisher

‘There are still too many passes going astray and we’re not going in hard enough. We must toughen up.’ - Orient manager George Petchey

With just days to go before Orient’s opening clash with Sunderland, things aren’t going well. Despite a morale boosting win over Division 1 QPR in a friendly the week earlier, Orient’s 9 day tour of Belgium and Holland revealed a mix bag of results. Now Orient have slipped to a dismal defeat in their final pre-season friendly to 3rd Division Charlton. Despite twice leading Orient allowed Charlton to come back into the game for a demoralising 3-2 defeat. Petchey exclaimed how he found manner of the defeat disturbing rather than the defeat itself. The Wanstead & Woodford Guardian’s sport correspondent tore into the defensive display, noting the ‘continual mishandling’ of Goddard in goal, and the inept performances of the back four of Arber, Downing, Harris and Hoadley in front of him. As well his criticism Orient’s toughness, Petchey slammed his players, claiming ‘ we showed a lack of professionalism which will be punished by Sunderland unless we iron out the faults quickly.’

However, there were glimmers of hope, with young 17 year old Bobby Fisher impressing and former striker Ian Bowyer seeming to enjoy a ‘new lease of life in midfield.’ However, with Bowyer locked in contract standoff with the club, rumours of his impending exit are rife, with speculation that former O’s manger Jimmy Bloomfield, now at Leicester, may be about to bid around £50,000 for him. Injuries are also mounting up for Orient ahead of the big kick off. Link man Ricky Hepolette is still out with foot injury, while club captain Bennet still has a groin injury- with rumours even abounding that this will force him into early retirement.

Orient appear to have been all but written off in the press, with the Wanstead and Woodford Guardian bemoaning the lack of an experienced defender signed, claiming Orient will be ‘hard pushed against clubs with the resources of Sheffield Wednesday, Aston Villa, Sunderland, Crystal Palace, Nottingham Forest, Middlesborough & West Brom’. Perhaps even more worryingly, the Sun newspaper has yet again predicted Orient as their favourites for relegation.