Leyton Orient – They were utterly dreadful. They had no game plan, no effort, no skill, nothing. One of the worst sides I have seen at the Lane for a long time and we have played some bad uns since coming down the leagues (could say we have been one of them!) including quite a few non league teams. They were well and truly hammered and we moved them around so much they looked exhausted by the end and just wanted to go home.
The defence was awful. The keeper was leaden footed and the strikers looked slow and clueless. In midfield they had none of the ball and when they had it they gave it away. They never laid a glove on us all game and it became like a practice game. They were chasing shadows all game. They were not picking players up in open play or on set plays. They seemed to play a zonal marking system on corners/free kicks which meant we had men over at the far post all the time. They did not seem to know that the aim of football is to go the other team’s players who have the ball!
They started the game ok and were in the game for the first part and even had the best early chance when Palmer got in but after this they were ever in it. We scored 3 decent goals but all of them were avoidable but poor tracking and marking was a highlight of the first half. I thought even at 2-0 they were in the game in terms of the score but the third finished it off and it got rather embarrassing after this.
I thought they may improve after the break but they got worse. They did not even seem stuck between going forward or damage limitation. They got men behind the ball and tried to keep it down but simply were not good enough to stop chance after chance. It as total domination.
What would be worrying is aside from lack of good football, touch and passing, was the fact even when United were well clear they were still working far harder than Orient. They simply looked a well beaten side and struggled to keep up with us in terms of football or in terms of tracking/running and the basics.
They looked a side that is so low in confidence and you feel they may have a real struggle to stay in the football league this season on that evidence. You can see why they have done so badly this season. The manager Alberto Casavin has managed 16 clubs in Italy including Fiorentina and Sampdoria (mostly lower league Italian clubs though) but League Two seems a long way from these times. He is 60 which surprised me. They have Italian ownership of course but seem to change managers quite a lot and have had Andy Hessenthaler and then Ian Nolan in between some other foreign managers. They seemed a lot more settled when Barry Hearn was the chairman but he is not directly involved since selling up and they seem to be going nowhere fast. A few years ago, they were up with us in League One and made the playoffs and had some decent players. The squad now is unrecognisable and they seem to have a mixture of cast offs, young players and non-league signings.
Opponent man of the match : Sandra Semedo the lad who played on the left was the best of a shocking bunch. He at least tried to get on the ball and make things happen but got not no help at all. He at least showed he could control and pass a football and did try.
Opponent Weak link : Take your pick. In terms of worst players, all the defence were awful. The keeper looked slow (either fat or had about 4 tops on – mind you it was cold!). Parkes and Dunne were both guilty of shocking passes straight to our players but the lad Hunt who used to be at Bolton/Newcastle was as bad. Some of the players have been around a lot too such as Dunne/Hunt/Simpson so they were not all kids. The striker Bowery who came on went for a lot of money to Villa from Chesterfield but he looked dreadful. However the lad Weir in midfield was terrible. How he did not get booked or even sent off for so many cynical fouls/pull backs I do not know? In general play he gave it away constantly and was chasing shadows all game and kept moaning at the referee for no reason at all.
SUFC Player Ratings –
Ramsdale 7/10 – Good to see him make his debut. He kept a clean sheet on his debut so must be buzzing. As for the game he made one good save early on when they broke. He shovelled another one out (when it was then offside) that he may have held and also missed a cross right at the death but overall he had little to do and coped with the odd shot comfortably. He always looked to throw it out but when he did kick it, he got good distance. Really tall keeper and hope he can go on and develop the promise he has. We have said the same about Long, Willis and a few others so hopefully one young keeper will come off.
Freeman 7.5/10 – Excellent going forward. Bombed up and down and he had 2 or 3 chances. He had one dragged wide and another blocked and then scored. Always getting into the box and trying to be a threat. His control was brilliant from a number of super diagonal balls to his feet. Rarely did it come off him and then it allowed us to get into other good positions or shooting chances soon after. Defensively not quite as sure and the lad Semedo got past him once or twice but nothing that led to much of a threat.
Lafferty 7/10 – Steady game. He is not flashy but defends/attacks reasonably well. He is functional on the ball and has decent control/passing. Had two wild shots over the bar. Does cover a lot of ground and a decent athlete too. Like Wright we have not lost since they played. He is a 7/10 player most weeks at the moment with nothing brilliant but really solid.
Basham 7.5/10 – Thought he was very good today. He attacked the ball and came onto it. Won tackles and headers all game and was a rock at the back. Also he surged forward when he could. Used it quite well aside from one or two daft giveaways (one nearly led to them scoring when Wright got outpaced). He always looked to go forward when he had it and stepped out carrying it several yards. I fear that Ebanks Landell may be recalled in January and we will need him more at the back than midfield where Coutts, Fleck and Duffy seem to have nailed down places.
O’Connell 7.5/10 – Like Basham played well. He came onto the ball and was decisive in all defensive elements of his play. Was no nonsense in heading/clearing and tackling. He ended up wide left almost playing as a left back for spells with Lafferty more as a winger so withdrawn and defensive Orient were. He was a bit dithering when he did attack and overplayed a few times or run into trouble but also put a few decent crosses in too.
Wright 7/10 – Steady enough aside from one error that nearly cost us when after Basham’s poor ball, the lad Palmer sprinted away from him and almost scored. He did get back to half stop him but he got his shot away which Ramsdale saved. Another occasion he looked a bit slow too but aside from this he was sound again. He won the tackles he had to, read it well and played it sensibly when he had the ball. Been very solid since coming into the side and the 5 means often we can get away with his lack of pace.
Fleck 8.5/10 – Superb today. Along with Coutts he ran the game. He won the tackles, interceptions and was able to get on the ball all game. He looked a class act. He played some superb crossefield balls all game but played it short and long. He ran with the ball, showed some lovely touches and dominated the football. His play for the first goal was exemplary as he drove at the defence and put a great cross over. He was involved in most good thing we did and seems to be getting better each week.
Coutts 8.5/10 – As above. He came off and picked up the ball off the defence all game and maybe had more touches of the football than any other player. He almost ran the game. They could not get near him with the way he brought it down and played in others before often getting it back and moving it on again. A proper ‘quarterback’ performance. His passing and touch all game was class. I have been one of his biggest critics in the past but he has been excellent most games this season and he seems leaner and fitter. He looks a player that could play the league above and we will need to get him a new contract sorted (never thought I would say that). Only slight negative was he should have scored with a one on one but hit it straight at the keeper. Made captain for the day which recognised his renaissance, his improvements and commitment to the cause
Duffy 7/10 -Not quite as influential as some of the others mentioned but he did ok and was involved in some decent chances early on. He had one low shot tipped wide and linked well with Lafferty and Chapman as we looked to play some nice, neat pockets of play. He is a player that is hard to pick up as he gets into those channels where you cannot always mark him as between defence and midfield. Brought off on the hour mark.
Chapman 8.5/10 – Was played as a central striker and his pace and running caused problems all game for a static defence. First half he tried to do too much a few times but he still had two good runs with one the keeper saving and showed some neat skills. He always tried to get it down and run at defenders and showed he is quite quick over a few yards. Got crowded out a few times but then he was able to make the third with a good run and cross. It was similar to the Fleck run for Basham and both scorers could not really miss. Second half he of course scored three goals. The first was excellent as he ran across the defence and took men before cleverly going back across the keeper. The second was more opportunistic and the third although a one on one was superbly taken and showed his confidence. He could have had more but unselfishly played in Coutts and Lavery twice second half. He will be hard to leave out after some of the skill, movement and finishing. I saw him in the u23’s the other week and saw some impressive skill and play and you could see why Wilder brought him here and will be a factor no doubt as the season goes on.
Scougall 7.5/10 – Really good again. He may not be a striker or a target type man but he actually plays that false 9 role quite well. He buzzed in and around the front of the side and never let defenders have a moment. His touch early on was off as a few balls came off him but he improved and was involved in some of the better stuff we did. He made a few lovely runs and nearly got in and was linking well with Chapman and Duffy. He does not stop running and was harrying and chasing all half. He scored another mis-hit shot (seems to make this his speciality) as he banged it into the ground and in. Came off at the break to give Lavery a run but may have got a slight knock. Will keep his place at Chesterfield I am sure. Wilder loves the likes of him and Done as they make the high press achievable due to their pressing and running. Teams will hate playing these type of players.
Subs
Lavery 5.5/10 – Given a full half. Have to say I was surprised he did not start especially with the players we had out up front. When he came on, he could have done more for me. Bit disappointing. Had one good run and pass and another decent piece of control and shot but he missed one good chance when well placed also. He seemed a bit slow to the ball at times and not as sharp as Scougall whom he had replaced. Hard as he needs games to get sharper but did not look alert/ready when he was on. Still showed he has pace and can have a decent touch/hold up too on a few occasions.
Brooks – Glad to see him get half an hour as been really impressed with him in the Academy/u23 games over the last year or so. Really good footballer who is not afraid to try things. He began right but then floated onto the left. Nearly scored with his first touch as his shot deflected wide when it looked goal bound. Got on the ball and got involved. One cross that nearly led to a goal and then another that was played into Chapman to score. He had a few nice flicks/step overs. Does look a real talent. Needs to fill out a bit and he may benefit from a few games at League Two level.
Whiteman – Brought on. Was neat and tidy and involved in some of the passing moves near the end. Lacks pace and aggression for me and not sure how he gets in front of the ones playing. Maybe could have a month on loan somewhere?
Manager – Wilder 8/10 – Changed the team, rested a few players (Moore, Sharp and Ebanks Landell (not allowed to play albeit) and gave a few youngsters some time. We won 6-0 and played great doing a professional job. No major injuries that I saw either, although Duffy came off gingerly and not sure on Scougall (slight knock). Only disappointment is that he may have wanted to see a bit more of Lavery.
Ref – Nigel Miller. Someone who has reffed down here before and been very mixed. Seen him have some good games but also seen him be very inconsistent and today proved to be the latter. He did not book anyone for ages despite some persistent fouling from Orient but then booked Massey for an innocuous challenge (guess it was just a culmination of fouls). Despite him not booking anyone which I actually did not mind, he still gave lots of nothing fouls and the game became far more stop start than it needed to be. A couple of fouls he gave the wrong way (for both teams). He just was more involved than he needed to be. He was obsessed with stealing yardage on throws and kept asking players to go back and then even gave us one when they moved it forward. He did give an obvious foul throw when the linesman did not bother. The other linesman was the complete opposite as he kept giving offsides even when it was not. They decided to play 2 minutes (despite 4 substitutions, 3 goals and the stretcher/physio being on) but that was probably just to take mercy on Orient!
Crowd – Only 6,000 there but that has been the way in the early rounds of the cup so cannot be too critical of the support. It was not that loud of course with the fans either side of the pitch in the two side stands (Kop was closed) but the fans were still appreciative of the efforts of the side who were professional and quite ruthless in the performance and result. I think they enjoyed the patient football and the way players kept going forward even when the game was won.
Fair play to the 2-300 Orient fans who came up. It was a cold day with rain/wind in the air but they came and got behind their team even with black humour to accompany the support. They cheered sarcastically when they had a rare shot in the second half. You sensed they were not happy at all but they turned it into sarcasm and did sing and make a bit of noise. The players did not even go to them at the end which was really poor as they just slumped off the field.
They were distinguished and distinctive.
