|
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gives an award to the paper that makes the daftest comment each
month - see the OSJAs roll of dishonour.
Lockwood saga: He was to go on tour to Germany with Millwall, but the games were cancelled... he'll probably leave for £250k + appearance-linked money (Gazette), £250k (Guardian), £350k (Recorder), £350k - £500k later this week (Advertiser)... Taylor says: "He will probably go... he wants to play at a higher level... we can't ask for £1m" (because his contract runs out in June 2002)... Player news: Watts gets 3 year contract and no. 9 shirt... "He's got quick feet and he is nice and strong," says Taylor, "...he can finish too..."... rejected trialists this week include Craig Winter (Cowdenbeath), Darren Davies (Morton), Terry McFlynn (QPR - again?)... Friendlies: O's 0 Spurs 2, in front of 6,635 - Castle testimonial (Advertiser forgets to mention this fact, which makes their quote from him look odd: "I am obviously very pleased with the turnout tonight. I'd like to thank the fans for their support" - an OSJA contender)... O's 1 Fisher 1, Gould scored... Gazette has competition to win tickets for O's v India, which could be watched live by 500,000,000 people (in India)... Other bits: Barnet will ground-share at Brisbane Road if they get promoted - reserve and some other games would then be at Underhill... new squad numbers out (see players page soon)... former player Stanley Barnes died aged 87 (but we've found out he never played a competitive match for O's).
Disgruntled players: Guardian has
interview with Griff - he says: "I was forced to leave towards the end"...
nearing 30, he says he needed an extension to his contract but "Tommy Taylor didn't
want me to stay... After I was sent off against Mansfield I think Tommy wanted me out.
He didn't play me after that game, slaughtered me in the press and I wasn't invited
to Cardiff for the play-off final"... Lockwood tells the Yellow Advertiser:
" I seem to be linked with different clubs every week but none of them ever seem to
make a bid for me"... he says he hasn't turned down a contract as Taylor claims:
"as yet no-one has said to me 'we'll give you X amount for X years' so I don't know
where these other reports have come from"... Smith denies seeking transfer... New
player?: Gazette suggests Taylor might still bring someone else in ( thinks
it's McCammon from Brentford, a striker)... Injuries update: Houghton
coming back this weekend... Christie training at Lilleshall, still aiming for September...
McLean fit... Friendlies: Maldon 0 O's 3 (abandoned 75 mins) included
Mark Cooper(!) on trial... Folkestone 0 O's 3 included Boniek Forbes... Millwall 2 O's
1included a penalty from trialist Scott Willis - he's not staying... Other bits:
Brkovic is apparently "on trial" at Stoke for an "indefinite period" (Recorder)...
Castle's testimonial v Spurs tonight... open day is on August 5th from 11am-4pm at Waltham
Forest track & pool, Chingford Rd, Walthamstow.
Player news: Griffiths goes to Luton for £65k just before he turns 30... Taylor says: "I expect the fans to be unhappy" (do you mean about Griff, Tommy, or just unhappy in general?), "... I would have been happy if he had stayed" and "I expected him to be here" for the start of the season, "...he wanted a better contract" - Taylor will make a decision later about whether to replace him... Brkovic has gone to Stoke... Taylor has praised Opara, Ibehre and Minton: "if we can keep him fit he will make a big impression this season"... Christie should be ready "by September", says Taylor... Other bits: Castle says "I was offered a new deal at Peterborough - but when Tommy [Taylor] came in for me there was no doubt who I should sign for" (he doesn't mention that the O's offered him more money than 'Boro!)... O's used 22 players in the 13-1 win at Buckfastleigh... almost 3,000 season-tickets sold... share issue raised about £659k (but it was mainly from Matchroom and the Matchroom pension fund)... Adrian Whitbread has gone to Reading.
Player news: Three new midfield signings: Jeff Minton, Scott Oakes and Phil Hadland, all on 2 year contracts... Minton, 27, "a play maker with great ability" (Gazette) was once at Brighton and played for Rotherham on loan last year, but was signed from Port Vale... Oakes, 29 next month, scored 3 goals for Luton v W*** H** in the FA Cup in 1994 and played in the Premier League for Sheffield Wednesday, though injuries there wrecked his chances, and he's come from (gulp) Cambridge - "he can play out wide, either right or left, and also in the centre... he is another creative player," says Taylor... Hadland, 20, winger, refused a new contract with Rochdale - "his main asset is definitely his pace," says Taylor... that could be it: "there will not be too much coming or going now," says Taylor, though O's are still looking at Terry McFlynn... Christie will be brought back "very gradually", says Taylor... he also denies stories linking Lockwood with Spurs: "I've not had a call about Matthew. I don't know where these stories come from"... Pre-season update: Pre-season training starts on Monday 9th... fixtures: 12th July: Folkestone (a); 14th: Braintree (a); 17th: Grays (a) & Maldon (a); 19th: Spurs (h - Castle testimonial); 21st: Fisher (a); 23rd: Saffron Walden (a); 25th: Chelsea (h); 26th: Crawley (a); 28th: Kings Lynn (a); 31st: India (h); 2nd August: Dartford (a); 4th: Hampton (a)...Other bits: Recorder has picture of squad training, revealing Tate's new blond look (!) and mistaking a youth player for McGhee... Fletcher is trying to find somewhere to live and to pass his driving test - Recorder has interview... Reserves start v Cambridge (h) Wednesday, August 15th, 2pm... O's 8-a-side disabled men's team are in final of One 2 One Ability Counts National Cup at Warwick University, 22nd July... women's Charity Shield, A****** v Doncaster Belles, is at Brisbane Road on 11th August.
Fixtures are out (in Guardian and Recorder)... away v Cheltenham, 10th August, home v Carlisle, 17th... Christmas looks like fun, with Bristol Rovers away on Boxing Day, Hartlepool away 3 days later, Southend at home on New Year's Day - for rest, see official site or O-net (on links page)... Player news: We're supposed to have signed someone, maybe "a well-known midfield man with Premiership experience" (Gazette), but no announcement until next week (for some reason) - it could well be some ageing Millwall reject... Lockwood still stalling on signing extension to contract... not much else, Taylor's away on holiday... Other bits: Hearn keeps his place on 3rd division board... club was broken into last week - some rooms were vandalised and fires started - CCTV is being installed... Recorder claims O's "came close to claiming some Premiership scalps in the cup competitions", but that's rubbish, so they win the OSJA for June, against weak opposition - the only other candidate is the Guardian's poorly produced fixtures page.
Player news: O’s miss out on Maher - he's staying at Southend… we're after Jeff Minton, 27-year-old creative midfielder, whose contract at Port Vale is up - Luton could be interested as well... Terry McFlynn, 20-year-old midfielder released by QPR, is coming on trial from July 2nd... O's "linked with" (Gazette) Rochdale winger Phil Hadland, 19... Other bits: O's draw Palace at home in the Worthington Cup (Tuesday, August 21st, 7.45pm), one leg only.
Player news: O’s sign striker Gary Fletcher, 20, from Northwich Victoria for £50k – he scored 16 in 24 games last season… Taylor wants to make "three major signings" (including Fletcher)… he wants one out of 2 midfielders available on frees, one of them is Southend’s Kevin Maher, 24… "we have another one in the bag," says Taylor (who? A winger, perhaps?)… Griffiths now likely to stay after all… McGhee has signed a new contract keeping him at Orient for 3 years… Scott Canham has been signed for 1 year… Lockwood has 1 year left but will be offered a new 3 year deal… Vasseur has gone… O’s don’t want Terry McFlynn of QPR… Christie should be fit for pre-season (hurray!)… Gazette and Guardian have interviews with Walschaerts: "I always said that I wanted to stay at the club… I have never been offered a new deal… the way I was released is disappointing… I had been told I was in the manager’s plans and that there would be a new contract – even after the Play-Off Final he said he wanted to keep me… I hope that another English club may be interested… if nothing happens I will obviously have to go back to Belgium… I’ve made lots of friends at Orient and I’ll definitely come back to see them play…" (sob!)… Other bits: Extra pre-season game, O’s v Chelsea, 25th July at 7.45pm… Watts has been seen out with fake-breasted, polyfilla-faced, parliamentary candidate Jordan.
Player news: Barnet turn down £125k for Currie - they want £200k (Gazette) or £300k (Recorder - they'll be lucky), Swindon's Alexander will probably go to Hull coz they'll pay him more, Hull also got Ryan Williams from Chesterfield & Garcia went back to W*** H**, so "Taylor has now missed out on the key men" he wanted (Gazette)... "Most of the players I want are on holiday" says Taylor... Walschaerts has been released and will probably go back to Belgium: "I couldn't see him getting any better," says Taylor... Harris has been given another 2 years, Beall & Barrett 1 year, with Barrett doing some coaching... Brkovic is talking to 3 clubs... Opinel was released because he "made silly mistakes and gave the ball away too much," says Taylor... no bids for Griff, but Taylor says "I honestly don't believe he wants to leave. We don't want him to go either..."... Danny Grimsdell, KK Opara, Billy Jones may be offered pro contracts... Tom Bray has gone back to college... Taylor wants to sort everything by the time he goes on holiday, the last week in June... Gazette makes Joseph Player of the Year, Guardian calculates that it should be Garcia... Gazette has views on every main player... Pre-season: 12th July: Folkestone (a) & Millwall (a); 14th: Braintree (a); 17th: tba; 19th: Spurs (h - Castle testimonial); 21st: Fisher (a); 24th: Charlton (h); 26th: Crawley (a); 28th: Kings Lynn (a); 31st: India (h); 2nd August: Dartford (a)... Other bits: Steve Castle was beaten to the Dover manager's job by Gary Bellamy... "cheap" season tickets now available until June 19th - some good deals, with most of the ground (except South Stand) available to u-16s for £30, u-18s for £50, full-time students for £70... Community Sports Programme are doing a lot of coaching etc. for kids over the summer, ring 020 8556 5973 for details... O's get £113,250 from Football Stadia Improvement Fund for new floodlights and "improved spectator facilities" (new toilets) in the South Stand.
Could be "four or five" (Hearn) new players... O's have bid £150k for 21-year-old Swindon striker Gary Alexander (he's good, you know)... there will be a "six figure bid" (Gazette) for Darren Currie, 26-year-old Barnet winger (he's good too)... Brko given a free, Opinel's gone back to France, Pinamonte's gone back to Brentford, Garcia's been offered a year at W*** H**, Griff is looking for a club, Walschaerts, Harris, Beall are out of contract, Barrett will stay, Gough and Parsons have been offered another year... Blackpool 4 O's 2: "There are no excuses from us," says Taylor... Guardian has most pictures, but wins the OSJA for May, against strong competition (see below), for making up stupid spoof captions imagining O's had played brilliantly and won... Guardian has interviews with fans... Taylor reckons Ibehre should have scored: "Had he hit it straight it might have gone in," he says - we're sure Jabo feels better for hearing that... Gazette makes Ibehre MOTM, Guardian makes Lockwood MOTM and says "that could have been his last appearance"... Matt "re" Porter in the Guardian nearly wins a special award for telling his sports editor that the "real fans, you could tell, were not the ones cheering and waving flags, but the ones sitting grimly and quietly, almost paralyzed by the fear of defeat" (sorry for waving flags, Matt, we're obviously not real fans)... Other bits: Castle says: "It would have been great for the testimonial if we had gone up" (showing where his priorities lie)... pre-season training starts July 2nd, could be short tour of Portugal or Spain and 12th July games against Folkestone and Millwall.
Play-off Final preview: Guardian
wins again, giving O's a wrap-around cover, lots of colour and several pages - they
promise 8 pages next week... Gazette has 2 pages and interviews with
Lockwood, Walschaerts, Joseph, Smith and McGhee as well as Taylor... "Charlton have
rung up and enquired about" Lockwood, says Taylor... all main papers agree on Ibehre
and Tate for the front line (we'll see)... "The prize is so great - if we win we go
up," says Walschaerts (not much gets past him, does it?)... "We have pace
throughout the team," says Taylor... Lockwood has lost 2 play-off finals (drop
him!)... Dave Pugh, who booked 7 players and sent off Watts in the home leg of the semi is
the ref... O's fans are in the south end of the stadium, as were Brentford (lost
DAFT Cup), Birmingham (lost Worthless Cup), Arsenal (lost FA Cup)... for Blackpool,
Ormerod and Murphy have scored 49 goals between them this season, but defender Shittu has
gone back to Charlton... London Live (94.9 FM) will cover the game live... Guardian says
of Harris: "...he has proved his strength and passing ability wherever he's
played" (a clear candidate for the OSJA,
since Harris can't pass to save his life)... O's 2 Hull 0: reports a week
late in Recorder and Gazette, which makes Smith MOTM...
"We were by far the better side," says Walschaerts... "The crowd
helped us win the game, there's no doubt about that," says Taylor... "you could
tell that they believed in us," says Smith... "I've no complaints about the
result," says Brian Little... Other bits: Suspended Watts could have
cartilage op this week... Joseph is Supporters' Club Player of the Year (again - but
misses out on the award)
and get the Captain's award, McGhee gets Merit award and Away Player of the year, Smith
gets Achievement award for 200 appearances... O's fan David Rogers now has 'LOFC' in red
tiles on his patio (nice).
WE'RE GOING TO CARDIFF IN THE PLAY-OFF FINAL... but Watts suspended after being sent-off... Hull 1 O's 0: Taylor not happy with the ref and wanted a penalty: "he was rubbish... their defender blocked a shot with both hands and then went down holding his face - and the referee fell for it"... Guardian has some great colour pictures, but makes 3 attempts for May's OSJA: 1. Downer is represented by a picture of Smith 2. The picture captioned "The Orient faithful in full cry" shows everyone standing around chatting 3. The picture of 'John Eyre's goal' clearly shows Matthews shooting at the other end of the ground! As an extra insult, they've got Houghton in his Southend kit... Guardian makes Smith MOTM... O's 2 Hull 0: Full marks to the Guardian, the only paper to hold back deadlines to print a report on the game: "The O's dominated throughout... a fantastic atmosphere", says Guardian (and we agree - the best night since '89 at Brisbane Road!)... Player contracts: 11 will be out of contract at end of season, Taylor waits to make decisions... Harris, Walschaerts, Brkovic, Beall, Barrett are the main ones, Opinel is on a month-by-month contract, Pinamonte's going, McElholm should get a new deal, Gough and Parsons are also out of contract... Pre-season: home v Spurs July 19th (Castle testimonial), home v Charlton July 24th.
LOFT (Leyton Orient Fans' Trust) buys 3,000 shares in the Club... Hull build-up: O's have 1,250 standing tickets for the game at Hull on Sunday (they could all be gone by the time you read this)... "We won't be going to shut up shop," says Taylor... Ibehre likely to play - he's just been given a pro contract: "He's got pace, he's a threat in the air and he's nice and relaxed," says Taylor... O's have everyone available bar Griff, Garcia and Christie... "We are younger and quicker" than Hull, says Taylor... all the other teams are 5/2 to win play-offs, O's are underdogs at 11/4... Guardian has a (pretty pathetic) cut-out car banner, 1st 12 cars seen displaying it on Sunday get £25... Macclesfield 0 O's 2: "a thoroughly professional display" (Gazette), though they add that Macc showed a "distinct lack of interest"... Joseph played in midfield as Lockwood returned... Guardian makes Joseph MOTM... Other bits: Chesterfield could be taken to court by some clubs... U-19s won the Merit League and so the double, they'll get the trophies before Wednesday's game v Hull....
Chesterfield penalty stays at 9 points, meaning
O's can't go up automatically... Taylor's not happy with the commission that stuck by
their decision: "I don't think those three will be doing many more jobs for the
League"... Orient "still need a point" (Guardian) to ensure a
play-off place (funny, that's what they said last week, and we got a
point - they win the OSJA for
April)... Recorder makes an early bid for the May OSJA with a stream of errors: "Win at Macclesfield a
must" for a play-off place (no it's not, we only need a draw!); "...really the
only threat comes from Rochdale..." (but if only Rochdale overtook us then we'd still
be in the play-offs!); "An O's point at Macclesfield should be sufficient to prevent
Blackpool from entering the play-off picture" (except that Blackpool would still be
able to finish 7th!); "The O's have a 3 point advantage over Rochdale" (no, it's
2 points!)... Gazette predicts 6th for O's... Lockwood could come back on
Saturday, as could Houghton, Jabo Ibhere is "likely to be involved" (Gazette),
Pinamonte "might be given a rare chance" (Recorder)... O's 0
Cheltenham 0: Recorder complains about O's "lack of effectiveness
around the penalty box"... Griffiths dropped (as predicted by )...
Taylor says that Cheltenham defenders were too big for Griff: "I don't think he would
have had any joy against them. It's not as if he's been charging around
lately", but praises Watts: "outstanding"... Guardian makes Smith
MOTM... Other bits: Lockwood in PFA 3rd division team again, joined by
Josh Low (Taylor's "country boy")... U-19s still unbeaten in their league,
reserves lost again... physio Tony Flynn get BSc in Sports Science.
Lockwood saga: He was to go on tour to Germany with Millwall, but the games were cancelled... he'll probably leave for £250k + appearance-linked money (Gazette), £250k (Guardian), £350k (Recorder), £350k - £500k later this week (Advertiser)... Taylor says: "He will probably go... he wants to play at a higher level... we can't ask for £1m" (because his contract runs out in June 2002)... Player news: Watts gets 3 year contract and no. 9 shirt... "He's got quick feet and he is nice and strong," says Taylor, "...he can finish too..."... rejected trialists this week include Craig Winter (Cowdenbeath), Darren Davies (Morton), Terry McFlynn (QPR - again?)... Friendlies: O's 0 Spurs 2, in front of 6,635 - Castle testimonial (Advertiser forgets to mention this fact, which makes their quote from him look odd: "I am obviously very pleased with the turnout tonight. I'd like to thank the fans for their support" - an OSJA contender)... O's 1 Fisher 1, Gould scored... Gazette has competition to win tickets for O's v India, which could be watched live by 500,000,000 people (in India)... Other bits: Barnet will ground-share at Brisbane Road if they get promoted - reserve and some other games would then be at Underhill... new squad numbers out (see players page soon)... former player Stanley Barnes died aged 87 (but we've found out he never played a competitive match for O's).
Disgruntled players: Guardian has
interview with Griff - he says: "I was forced to leave towards the end"...
nearing 30, he says he needed an extension to his contract but "Tommy Taylor didn't
want me to stay... After I was sent off against Mansfield I think Tommy wanted me out.
He didn't play me after that game, slaughtered me in the press and I wasn't invited
to Cardiff for the play-off final"... Lockwood tells the Yellow Advertiser:
" I seem to be linked with different clubs every week but none of them ever seem to
make a bid for me"... he says he hasn't turned down a contract as Taylor claims:
"as yet no-one has said to me 'we'll give you X amount for X years' so I don't know
where these other reports have come from"... Smith denies seeking transfer... New
player?: Gazette suggests Taylor might still bring someone else in ( thinks
it's McCammon from Brentford, a striker)... Injuries update: Houghton
coming back this weekend... Christie training at Lilleshall, still aiming for September...
McLean fit... Friendlies: Maldon 0 O's 3 (abandoned 75 mins) included
Mark Cooper(!) on trial... Folkestone 0 O's 3 included Boniek Forbes... Millwall 2 O's
1included a penalty from trialist Scott Willis - he's not staying... Other bits:
Brkovic is apparently "on trial" at Stoke for an "indefinite period" (Recorder)...
Castle's testimonial v Spurs tonight... open day is on August 5th from 11am-4pm at Waltham
Forest track & pool, Chingford Rd, Walthamstow.
Player news: Griffiths goes to Luton for £65k just before he turns 30... Taylor says: "I expect the fans to be unhappy" (do you mean about Griff, Tommy, or just unhappy in general?), "... I would have been happy if he had stayed" and "I expected him to be here" for the start of the season, "...he wanted a better contract" - Taylor will make a decision later about whether to replace him... Brkovic has gone to Stoke... Taylor has praised Opara, Ibehre and Minton: "if we can keep him fit he will make a big impression this season"... Christie should be ready "by September", says Taylor... Other bits: Castle says "I was offered a new deal at Peterborough - but when Tommy [Taylor] came in for me there was no doubt who I should sign for" (he doesn't mention that the O's offered him more money than 'Boro!)... O's used 22 players in the 13-1 win at Buckfastleigh... almost 3,000 season-tickets sold... share issue raised about £659k (but it was mainly from Matchroom and the Matchroom pension fund)... Adrian Whitbread has gone to Reading.
Player news: Three new midfield signings: Jeff Minton, Scott Oakes and Phil Hadland, all on 2 year contracts... Minton, 27, "a play maker with great ability" (Gazette) was once at Brighton and played for Rotherham on loan last year, but was signed from Port Vale... Oakes, 29 next month, scored 3 goals for Luton v W*** H** in the FA Cup in 1994 and played in the Premier League for Sheffield Wednesday, though injuries there wrecked his chances, and he's come from (gulp) Cambridge - "he can play out wide, either right or left, and also in the centre... he is another creative player," says Taylor... Hadland, 20, winger, refused a new contract with Rochdale - "his main asset is definitely his pace," says Taylor... that could be it: "there will not be too much coming or going now," says Taylor, though O's are still looking at Terry McFlynn... Christie will be brought back "very gradually", says Taylor... he also denies stories linking Lockwood with Spurs: "I've not had a call about Matthew. I don't know where these stories come from"... Pre-season update: Pre-season training starts on Monday 9th... fixtures: 12th July: Folkestone (a); 14th: Braintree (a); 17th: Grays (a) & Maldon (a); 19th: Spurs (h - Castle testimonial); 21st: Fisher (a); 23rd: Saffron Walden (a); 25th: Chelsea (h); 26th: Crawley (a); 28th: Kings Lynn (a); 31st: India (h); 2nd August: Dartford (a); 4th: Hampton (a)...Other bits: Recorder has picture of squad training, revealing Tate's new blond look (!) and mistaking a youth player for McGhee... Fletcher is trying to find somewhere to live and to pass his driving test - Recorder has interview... Reserves start v Cambridge (h) Wednesday, August 15th, 2pm... O's 8-a-side disabled men's team are in final of One 2 One Ability Counts National Cup at Warwick University, 22nd July... women's Charity Shield, A****** v Doncaster Belles, is at Brisbane Road on 11th August.
Fixtures are out (in Guardian and Recorder)... away v Cheltenham, 10th August, home v Carlisle, 17th... Christmas looks like fun, with Bristol Rovers away on Boxing Day, Hartlepool away 3 days later, Southend at home on New Year's Day - for rest, see official site or O-net (on links page)... Player news: We're supposed to have signed someone, maybe "a well-known midfield man with Premiership experience" (Gazette), but no announcement until next week (for some reason) - it could well be some ageing Millwall reject... Lockwood still stalling on signing extension to contract... not much else, Taylor's away on holiday... Other bits: Hearn keeps his place on 3rd division board... club was broken into last week - some rooms were vandalised and fires started - CCTV is being installed... Recorder claims O's "came close to claiming some Premiership scalps in the cup competitions", but that's rubbish, so they win the OSJA for June, against weak opposition - the only other candidate is the Guardian's poorly produced fixtures page.
Player news: O’s miss out on Maher - he's staying at Southend… we're after Jeff Minton, 27-year-old creative midfielder, whose contract at Port Vale is up - Luton could be interested as well... Terry McFlynn, 20-year-old midfielder released by QPR, is coming on trial from July 2nd... O's "linked with" (Gazette) Rochdale winger Phil Hadland, 19... Other bits: O's draw Palace at home in the Worthington Cup (Tuesday, August 21st, 7.45pm), one leg only.
Player news: O’s sign striker Gary Fletcher, 20, from Northwich Victoria for £50k – he scored 16 in 24 games last season… Taylor wants to make "three major signings" (including Fletcher)… he wants one out of 2 midfielders available on frees, one of them is Southend’s Kevin Maher, 24… "we have another one in the bag," says Taylor (who? A winger, perhaps?)… Griffiths now likely to stay after all… McGhee has signed a new contract keeping him at Orient for 3 years… Scott Canham has been signed for 1 year… Lockwood has 1 year left but will be offered a new 3 year deal… Vasseur has gone… O’s don’t want Terry McFlynn of QPR… Christie should be fit for pre-season (hurray!)… Gazette and Guardian have interviews with Walschaerts: "I always said that I wanted to stay at the club… I have never been offered a new deal… the way I was released is disappointing… I had been told I was in the manager’s plans and that there would be a new contract – even after the Play-Off Final he said he wanted to keep me… I hope that another English club may be interested… if nothing happens I will obviously have to go back to Belgium… I’ve made lots of friends at Orient and I’ll definitely come back to see them play…" (sob!)… Other bits: Extra pre-season game, O’s v Chelsea, 25th July at 7.45pm… Watts has been seen out with fake-breasted, polyfilla-faced, parliamentary candidate Jordan.
Player news: Barnet turn down £125k for Currie - they want £200k (Gazette) or £300k (Recorder - they'll be lucky), Swindon's Alexander will probably go to Hull coz they'll pay him more, Hull also got Ryan Williams from Chesterfield & Garcia went back to W*** H**, so "Taylor has now missed out on the key men" he wanted (Gazette)... "Most of the players I want are on holiday" says Taylor... Walschaerts has been released and will probably go back to Belgium: "I couldn't see him getting any better," says Taylor... Harris has been given another 2 years, Beall & Barrett 1 year, with Barrett doing some coaching... Brkovic is talking to 3 clubs... Opinel was released because he "made silly mistakes and gave the ball away too much," says Taylor... no bids for Griff, but Taylor says "I honestly don't believe he wants to leave. We don't want him to go either..."... Danny Grimsdell, KK Opara, Billy Jones may be offered pro contracts... Tom Bray has gone back to college... Taylor wants to sort everything by the time he goes on holiday, the last week in June... Gazette makes Joseph Player of the Year, Guardian calculates that it should be Garcia... Gazette has views on every main player... Pre-season: 12th July: Folkestone (a) & Millwall (a); 14th: Braintree (a); 17th: tba; 19th: Spurs (h - Castle testimonial); 21st: Fisher (a); 24th: Charlton (h); 26th: Crawley (a); 28th: Kings Lynn (a); 31st: India (h); 2nd August: Dartford (a)... Other bits: Steve Castle was beaten to the Dover manager's job by Gary Bellamy... "cheap" season tickets now available until June 19th - some good deals, with most of the ground (except South Stand) available to u-16s for £30, u-18s for £50, full-time students for £70... Community Sports Programme are doing a lot of coaching etc. for kids over the summer, ring 020 8556 5973 for details... O's get £113,250 from Football Stadia Improvement Fund for new floodlights and "improved spectator facilities" (new toilets) in the South Stand.
Could be "four or five" (Hearn) new players... O's have bid £150k for 21-year-old Swindon striker Gary Alexander (he's good, you know)... there will be a "six figure bid" (Gazette) for Darren Currie, 26-year-old Barnet winger (he's good too)... Brko given a free, Opinel's gone back to France, Pinamonte's gone back to Brentford, Garcia's been offered a year at W*** H**, Griff is looking for a club, Walschaerts, Harris, Beall are out of contract, Barrett will stay, Gough and Parsons have been offered another year... Blackpool 4 O's 2: "There are no excuses from us," says Taylor... Guardian has most pictures, but wins the OSJA for May, against strong competition (see below), for making up stupid spoof captions imagining O's had played brilliantly and won... Guardian has interviews with fans... Taylor reckons Ibehre should have scored: "Had he hit it straight it might have gone in," he says - we're sure Jabo feels better for hearing that... Gazette makes Ibehre MOTM, Guardian makes Lockwood MOTM and says "that could have been his last appearance"... Matt "re" Porter in the Guardian nearly wins a special award for telling his sports editor that the "real fans, you could tell, were not the ones cheering and waving flags, but the ones sitting grimly and quietly, almost paralyzed by the fear of defeat" (sorry for waving flags, Matt, we're obviously not real fans)... Other bits: Castle says: "It would have been great for the testimonial if we had gone up" (showing where his priorities lie)... pre-season training starts July 2nd, could be short tour of Portugal or Spain and 12th July games against Folkestone and Millwall.
Play-off Final preview: Guardian
wins again, giving O's a wrap-around cover, lots of colour and several pages - they
promise 8 pages next week... Gazette has 2 pages and interviews with
Lockwood, Walschaerts, Joseph, Smith and McGhee as well as Taylor... "Charlton have
rung up and enquired about" Lockwood, says Taylor... all main papers agree on Ibehre
and Tate for the front line (we'll see)... "The prize is so great - if we win we go
up," says Walschaerts (not much gets past him, does it?)... "We have pace
throughout the team," says Taylor... Lockwood has lost 2 play-off finals (drop
him!)... Dave Pugh, who booked 7 players and sent off Watts in the home leg of the semi is
the ref... O's fans are in the south end of the stadium, as were Brentford (lost
DAFT Cup), Birmingham (lost Worthless Cup), Arsenal (lost FA Cup)... for Blackpool,
Ormerod and Murphy have scored 49 goals between them this season, but defender Shittu has
gone back to Charlton... London Live (94.9 FM) will cover the game live... Guardian says
of Harris: "...he has proved his strength and passing ability wherever he's
played" (a clear candidate for the OSJA,
since Harris can't pass to save his life)... O's 2 Hull 0: reports a week
late in Recorder and Gazette, which makes Smith MOTM...
"We were by far the better side," says Walschaerts... "The crowd
helped us win the game, there's no doubt about that," says Taylor... "you could
tell that they believed in us," says Smith... "I've no complaints about the
result," says Brian Little... Other bits: Suspended Watts could have
cartilage op this week... Joseph is Supporters' Club Player of the Year (again - but
misses out on the award)
and get the Captain's award, McGhee gets Merit award and Away Player of the year, Smith
gets Achievement award for 200 appearances... O's fan David Rogers now has 'LOFC' in red
tiles on his patio (nice).
WE'RE GOING TO CARDIFF IN THE PLAY-OFF FINAL... but Watts suspended after being sent-off... Hull 1 O's 0: Taylor not happy with the ref and wanted a penalty: "he was rubbish... their defender blocked a shot with both hands and then went down holding his face - and the referee fell for it"... Guardian has some great colour pictures, but makes 3 attempts for May's OSJA: 1. Downer is represented by a picture of Smith 2. The picture captioned "The Orient faithful in full cry" shows everyone standing around chatting 3. The picture of 'John Eyre's goal' clearly shows Matthews shooting at the other end of the ground! As an extra insult, they've got Houghton in his Southend kit... Guardian makes Smith MOTM... O's 2 Hull 0: Full marks to the Guardian, the only paper to hold back deadlines to print a report on the game: "The O's dominated throughout... a fantastic atmosphere", says Guardian (and we agree - the best night since '89 at Brisbane Road!)... Player contracts: 11 will be out of contract at end of season, Taylor waits to make decisions... Harris, Walschaerts, Brkovic, Beall, Barrett are the main ones, Opinel is on a month-by-month contract, Pinamonte's going, McElholm should get a new deal, Gough and Parsons are also out of contract... Pre-season: home v Spurs July 19th (Castle testimonial), home v Charlton July 24th.
LOFT (Leyton Orient Fans' Trust) buys 3,000 shares in the Club... Hull build-up: O's have 1,250 standing tickets for the game at Hull on Sunday (they could all be gone by the time you read this)... "We won't be going to shut up shop," says Taylor... Ibehre likely to play - he's just been given a pro contract: "He's got pace, he's a threat in the air and he's nice and relaxed," says Taylor... O's have everyone available bar Griff, Garcia and Christie... "We are younger and quicker" than Hull, says Taylor... all the other teams are 5/2 to win play-offs, O's are underdogs at 11/4... Guardian has a (pretty pathetic) cut-out car banner, 1st 12 cars seen displaying it on Sunday get £25... Macclesfield 0 O's 2: "a thoroughly professional display" (Gazette), though they add that Macc showed a "distinct lack of interest"... Joseph played in midfield as Lockwood returned... Guardian makes Joseph MOTM... Other bits: Chesterfield could be taken to court by some clubs... U-19s won the Merit League and so the double, they'll get the trophies before Wednesday's game v Hull....
Chesterfield penalty stays at 9 points, meaning
O's can't go up automatically... Taylor's not happy with the commission that stuck by
their decision: "I don't think those three will be doing many more jobs for the
League"... Orient "still need a point" (Guardian) to ensure a
play-off place (funny, that's what they said last week, and we got a
point - they win the OSJA for
April)... Recorder makes an early bid for the May OSJA with a stream of errors: "Win at Macclesfield a
must" for a play-off place (no it's not, we only need a draw!); "...really the
only threat comes from Rochdale..." (but if only Rochdale overtook us then we'd still
be in the play-offs!); "An O's point at Macclesfield should be sufficient to prevent
Blackpool from entering the play-off picture" (except that Blackpool would still be
able to finish 7th!); "The O's have a 3 point advantage over Rochdale" (no, it's
2 points!)... Gazette predicts 6th for O's... Lockwood could come back on
Saturday, as could Houghton, Jabo Ibhere is "likely to be involved" (Gazette),
Pinamonte "might be given a rare chance" (Recorder)... O's 0
Cheltenham 0: Recorder complains about O's "lack of effectiveness
around the penalty box"... Griffiths dropped (as predicted by )...
Taylor says that Cheltenham defenders were too big for Griff: "I don't think he would
have had any joy against them. It's not as if he's been charging around
lately", but praises Watts: "outstanding"... Guardian makes Smith
MOTM... Other bits: Lockwood in PFA 3rd division team again, joined by
Josh Low (Taylor's "country boy")... U-19s still unbeaten in their league,
reserves lost again... physio Tony Flynn get BSc in Sports Science.
Griffiths sending off at Mansfield has Taylor fuming: "...it does not help when people are not professional enough to stay on the field... he has let the team down big time... he will be punished big time"... Griff will be banned for 4 games after Cheltenham, missing the play-offs, and Gazette says he's unlikely to be picked for Saturday - Brkovic and Watts are likely strikers... Chesterfield points penalty could be increased, possibly letting 4th placed team go up automatically... O's need 1 (Guardian) or 2 (Gazette) points to guarantee play-off place... Mansfield 2 O's 0: Gazette says Downer seemed to handle in the area and Tate was lucky not to be sent off, no-one argues about Griff going... Taylor praises Smith and Brkovic, but complains that Downer "started feeling sorry for himself" after conceding a free-kick that led to a goal... Guardian makes Smith MOTM: "almost a one man team for most of the first half", Recorder criticises his and Downer's distribution... Orient win the cup: U-19s 1 Bradford 0 at Millennium Stadium in Youth Alliance Cup, Guardian has best picture and back page headline of 'CHAMPIONS'... Other bits: Garcia back in training with W*** H**... Recorder shows Chesterfield promoted "pending appeal"(!?) and Brighton promoted, but forgets about Cardiff (a late bid for the OSJA for April?).
Alec Stock died on Easter Monday aged 84 after a long illness... Taylor unhappy with recommendation of 9 point deduction for Chesterfield - he says the panel "bottled it"... Taylor says he might let Martin and Houghton play "a game and a bit each" during the 3 remaining matches... Guardian claims O's showed promotion-winning abilities over Easter: "resilience, determination... adaptability... flair, power... ruthlessness in attack" (blimey! We're brilliant!)... Gazette lists remaining fixtures for all promotion contenders, predicts O's to finish 4th... Barnet 1 O's 2: Barrett pulled out at last minute due to illness... Tate scored 2, 1 with an overhead kick, Recorder has nice picture of him showing O's fans how many goals he got (or is he...?)... O's fans chanted "You don't know what you're doing" at Taylor when he took off Watts for Tate. Gazette tries for April's OSJA with "...the O's boss refused to take a swipe at the fans afterwards...", following it up with 2 quotes from Taylor: 1. "I suppose some of the fans will be moaning because he [Tate] was the one that scored" 2. "We're 7 games unbeaten now - but it's nothing to do with me. I don't know what I'm doing" (okay, not "a swipe", but 2 swipes at the fans!)... Guardian makes Downer MOTM... O's 3 Hartlepool 1: Gazette says there was "a surreal atmosphere" as O's went 3 up in 17 minutes, Hearn calls it "the best 20 minutes of football since I've been here"... Guardian makes Smith MOTM... Other bits: Reserves still bottom of the league... Guardian giving away 2 tickets for Cheltenham game.
Taylor says the next 2 games are "massive" (but he says that about every game) and thinks "we need to win another 4 games" to get 4th place, but "if we have to be involved in the play-offs then we are ready for it"... Injuries update: McGhee had ankle injury, Wim had concussion, both should be fit for Saturday - Castle and Houghton could also return... Lockwood could play in play-offs... O's 2 Chesterfield 0: Gazette says O's "played some neat football" and "John Martin enjoyed perhaps his best game in an Orient shirt", Guardian makes Martin MOTM... Recorder says O's "produced just about their most accomplished performance of the season"... Guardian tries to win OSJA for April with these comments about Harris: "Dropped back to right back where he has a lot of experience and fitted in well. He didn't give his opponents space and hardly lost a tackle..." (Sounds great, except that when winger Ryan Williams came on, he beat Harris so easily that Joseph was immediately switched to right back!)... O's 1 Argyle 1: Gazette says "too many of the side were below their best", Guardian makes Watts MOTM... Taylor calls goal conceded "sloppy... silly... ridiculous", but calls O's goal "excellent" Other bits: U-19s in final of Youth Alliance Cup, KO about 6.15pm, 22nd April at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff... Supporters' Club wins CaMRA's 'Club of the Year' in East London and City again... Ricky Otto signs for Halesowen Town
Gazette wins OSJA for March (see the OSJAs roll of dishonour)... Taylor won't give senior players new contracts until promotion issue is decided... Downer's new contract takes him to end of 2003/04... Recorder greets McLean's contract deal with the headline: "A contract for unlucky young striker Aaron" (never mind, mate, you won't be at Orient for ever)... Injuries update: Castle (who scored for reserves), Houghton, Lockwood still out, Griff could come back after "injury" (hem-hem - see Tommy Taylor's tailor told me...)... Darlo 1 O's 1: McGhee played up front... "Orient's mini-revival continued on Saturday", says Gazette, aiming for April's OSJA, as they also point out that O's have "only picked up 7 points from their last eight matches"... "...the referee decided to give them a nice penalty", moans Taylor... Taylor praises "magnificent" Joseph and "excellent" Smith & Downer... Guardian makes Smith MOTM... Other bits: U-19s play at Walsall (not at the stadium) on Friday in Cup semi-final - they beat Colchester 3-0 in the league on Saturday... O's are inviting applications for trials via official website only (see Links to other sites)... Steve Jenkins is looking for relatives of Richard McFadden, William Jonas, George Scott and T Gibson, who all played for O's and died in WWI - write to Supporters' Club at the ground if you can help... Guardian has competition to win tickets for Hartlepool match... Frank Clark will help decide Chesterfield's fate on April 10th at Hillsborough.
Smith recently signed new contract, McLean given
1 year, Opinel and Barrett may have been offered something, Downer has new 3-year deal... Gazette
says 4 wins from 8 would "virtually guarantee" a play-off place and prints the
run-ins for all teams involved... Clark says "we are starting to see the signs"
of what Tate can do... Guardian makes a strong late bid for the OSJA (
Services to Journalism Award) for March, saying that Downer "recently spent a week on
trial at Newcastle United where he impressed greatly" (yeah, so greatly they sent him
straight back!), and also giving York keeper Alan Fettis the title of "SHREWSBURY
STAR MAN" (the jury's out - find out the OSJA winner next week)... Injury
update: Matt Lockwood may be out for the season after a nasty head injury -
"It was almost as though he had another mouth in the middle of his forehead,"
says Taylor... McLean broke leg playing for U-19s... Smith and Castle should be ok for
Saturday... O's 1 York 1: Chris Brass caught 3 O's players in the
face, including Lockwood... "A dour affair", says Recorder... Guardian
makes Beall MOTM again... Other bits: U-19s in semi-final of Youth
Alliance League Cup after 3-0 win over Mansfield... Simba joins Barnet on non-contract
basis... Guardian has competition to win tickets for Chesterfield match.
McGhee played at the back because Smith was out
with "flu" (but see Tommy Taylor's tailor
told me...)... Taylor tried to sign Tony Cottee on non-contract, but failed... no
transfers expected... Lee back at Gillingham... York is a "massive" match, says
Taylor (he says that about every game)... the match kicks-off at 3pm, clashing with an
international... York unbeaten in 7... Recorder makes a weak bid for March's OSJA
(
Services to Journalism Award), claiming that "When the O's played at Bootham Crescent
last October it was a 1-1 draw, as it had been the season before..." (it was 2-1 to
York last season)... Injury update: Watts back in training, Christie in
light training (hurrah! - but he won't be back this season), Castle, Brkovic, Vasseur,
Smith could be fit for York, Houghton out for 3 weeks with a groin injury,
Pinamonte has abdominal injury... Shrews 1 O's 1: Guardian makes
Opinel MOTM... "a poor match," says Gazette... Brush says there's
"a lot more to come" from McLean... O's 1 Blackpool 0: "If
we play like we did against Blackpool for the rest of the season, then I will be
happy," says Taylor... "We treated the game like a cup-tie," says
Paul Brush... Guardian makes Beall MOTM... Other bits: U-19s
play at Brisbane Road v Mansfield in Cup quarter-final on Monday at 7pm... Glen Cockerill
has been sacked by Crystal Palace
David McGhee will play as a striker once his
suspension's up (Tuesday v Blackpool), Taylor's lost faith in Lee, going back to Gills
soon, and Pinamonte, who'll probably go at end of season - Tate "has not yet hit it
off" (Gazette)... "At least Dave will give us a bit of passion,"
says Taylor... Nicholas Forgé will not be staying... Taylor denies interest in Howard
Forinton, Peterborough striker... Injury update: Houghton - groin injury,
could be out for a month; Watts - had cartilage op, out for a few weeks; Castle - pulled
muscle during warm-up on Tuesday, out for Saturday; Brkovic - groin injury, might miss
Saturday; Opinel - recovered from neck injury; Vasseur - slightly hurt in car accident,
recovered now... Gazette tries for the 2nd week running for March's
Services to Journalism Award (OSJA): "One huge problem for the O's boss at the moment
is trying to field a side for Saturday" (yeah, he's only got about 30 players
available)... Torquay aftermath: O's defenders stood still for Gulls' 2nd
because scorer Aggrey shouted "keeper's ball"... "their most inept display
of the season" says Gazette, "an abject display" says Recorder,
"we were useless," agrees Taylor, adding, "We have been in this division
for a few years now and Division 2 is the target and I thought I had the team to do
it"... Barrett played in goal and will continue, Martin played in midfield as "a
fresh pair of legs"... Guardian makes Brkovic MOTM... Carlisle
aftermath: Griff came back... "It's not the result we wanted," says
Taylor (never, Tommy!)... Guardian makes Joseph MOTM and points out, "Orient
took on the league's 2 worst sides... but failed to score a goal or take a point"... other
bits: Griff says, "If an offer came in for me and meant a move to somewhere
like Port Vale as I made before, then I'd say no"... ex-O Kevin Nugent wants to move
into the media... Guardian giving away 2 tickets for York match in a quiz
competition...
Aaron Mclean played against Cardiff (for his
pace), as did new players (quelle surprise!) Nicolas Forgé, 29, French defender who
helped Valance get relegated from the French 2nd division and has same agent as Opinel
(he's not staying long), Christian Lee, striker, 22, on-loan from Gills, probably here for
the season if Watts is still injured beyond deadline day... Steve Castle started his
first game... Guardian makes Smith MOTM... Wim out with a toe injury
(apparently), back on Saturday... Downer back from Geordieland, "I've not heard
anything from Newcastle," says Taylor... Griffiths going to Rotherham?
"Laughable," says Taylor... no-one else coming in says Taylor (again), "I
have my eye on a striker, but I can't see anything happening because of the money
involved"... Simba has no club and watched Brighton game... Gazette tries
for March's
Services to Journalism Award (OSJA) with this gem: "Orient's gate for Saturday's game
at Brighton was revised upwards to 8,172" (funny, we all thought we were in
Leyton)... "Brighton looked the side more capable of clinching promotion," says Gazette,
they "went on to outplay a deflated Orient," says Guardian, they
"easily completed a league double " over O's, says Recorder, while
Taylor believes "We had 5 good chances and Brighton only had 3 but they took 2 of
theirs and that was the difference" (he's bloody mad, that bloke)... 8 Vasseur fans
came from France to watch him play against B&HA - he didn't... Opinel says he wants to
stay and that "the Scottish 1st Division is rubbish... a Conference team could play
[in it]... if Orient were there they could be in the Premier League"... it's 50 years
on Saturday since O's beat Torquay 5-1.
Gazette wins Services to Journalism Award (OSJA) for February (see 1st February entry for details)... Downer had a trial at
Newcastle during the week, back home now, "it was all supposed to be hush-hush,"
says Taylor, while Gazette says Simon could leave in the summer... O's tried to
sign Gillingham striker Andy Thompson for £25k last week, but no go... "I've not got
any money left in the budget," says Taylor, though he might get loan cover for
McGhee... Griffiths suspended for Brighton match, Lockwood, Joseph, Watts, Castle
(played last 6 minutes v Lincoln) & Vasseur should be ok... Pinamonte played for
Brighton on loan last season, scoring 2 in 8, before going to Brentford... Dutchmen
Taoufik Ameziane and Jouad Ahannach played for reserves v Gillingham... Jay Murray back
from Chelmsford... Dave Parsons has gone away to Malta for 10 days, could go on loan at
Floriana... Carlisle away match (Tuesday 13th March) is being shown in South Stand bar,
£10... U-19s play Cambridge in Youth Alliance Cup on Monday night, admission free...
Darren Purse scored 1 real and 1 shoot-out pen in Worthington Cup final... Guardian
has competition to win tickets for Torquay match, entries by March 6th... Mantilla
(covers band) play at Brissie on Saturday, £5 adults, kids free, doors 8pm, Dragon
play on 24th March... Lincoln aftermath: Taylor praises
"Slasher" Opinel: "no-one went past him"... no bookings: we've got a
few players on 4 who now have to reach 10 to be suspended... Guardian makes
Brkovic MOTM... 547 O's fans at Lincoln... Phil Stant (Lincoln manager) & George
Foster (coach) now gone.
Griffiths starts 3 match ban v Brighton, McGhee starts 4 match ban v Cardiff (TT might get a centre-half on loan to cover), Harris suspended for Cardiff match... Griff "deserved" to be sent off, says TT, "He had made three bad tackles and he was late on the guy"... Castle and Vasseur played for reserves... Opinel will stay until end of season: he's played for Cannes in the past, but got 14 cards in 25 games in last 2 seasons, including 2 reds and he "doesn't mind a tackle", says TT... Pinamonte remains on loan: "that's how things will stay until he shows me what he can do," says TT... Pina & Griff were dropped to the bench v Scuns for a "kick up the bum," says TT... "Ahmet Brkovic frightened me with how much work he did" in the Scuns game, says TT... Guardian makes Joseph MOTM v Scuns, Harris MOTM v Kidds... TT & Clark moaning about Broughton's elbow against Opinel... Guardian reckon Kidds could have won with "better forwards", Gazette says "O's were absolutely awful in the 1st half"... Beall on a month's loan at Dover... Opara is on "work experience" at Daggers, but might stay... Des Thomas (defender from Stansted) played trial last week and was asked back, his manager describes him as "very similar to Kevin Austin"... Boniek Forbes scored again for u-17s... Guardian has competition to win 2 tickets for Brighton game.
Nicky Shorey’s sold to Reading for £25k plus up to another £75k for appearances, "We also have a percent of any future sell on, so it’s a good deal for us…" says Taylor (er – Tom, they’re abolishing transfer fees soon, mate)… Reading wanted Lockwood but couldn’t afford him… Opara might spend more than a month at Dagenham & Redbridge… "That’s it. I can’t see any more movement in or out," says Taylor (no more transfers? Watch this space)… O’s want to sign Pinamonte permanently, have to do it within 1st month of loan spell… Independent has "a rumour" that Benicio will be offered a contract... Tate & Vasseur should be fit for Saturday, Lockwood might be, Ian Bogie might play for Kidderminster… Castle played for reserves on Wednesday, as did Boniek Forbes (22 goals for youth team so far)… Vasseur "does not speak any English at all at the moment," says Wim… Leyton Orient Community Sports Programme want new board members – contact Neil Watson. Rochdale aftermath: "a mediocre match," says Recorder… lots of moaning about a possible penalty for a foul on Walschaerts… Taylor blames Downer for the goal, saying, "Simon’s let us down", but praises John Martin (Guardian MOTM): "he’s working hard to stay in the squad".
O's to issue over 500,000 shares in Club, Matchroom underwriting offer... 21-year-old Stansted centre-back Des Thomas to meet Taylor next week... John Sitton says: "I learned at Orient that you have to look at personalities as well as talent when you buy players" (obviously Paul Hague's personality was the problem, then)... Opara on loan at Dagenham & Redbridge, Murray at Chelmsford... Shorey on trial at Reading: "If Nicky gets a chance to join Reading there is no way we would stand in his way," says Taylor... Vasseur doesn't speak much English, Walschaerts is interpreting... Caue Castro M Benicio, 22, from Santiago, is still around, Fin Juho Rathala and French forward Oli van Derwoode are gone... Paul Clark has faith in Pinamonte: "I wouldn't trust him as far as I could throw him"... Gazette has interview with Watts... Christie could be back before the end of the season... Hull are in serious financial trouble... Halifax aftermath: Taylor praises Pinamonte ("real quality and a lovely left foot"), Brkovic ("...played a good game, keeping things simple"), Watts ("a superstar coming off the bench") and McGhee ("magnificent"), but knocks Downer ("got a bit sloppy... could have been a bit more professional")... Guardian has terrific colour close-up of Pinamonte, Griff & Brko celebrating the Italian's goal, they make Brkovic MOTM and say of Harris: "His best game... since his haircut"... Lockwood was injured but should be back on Saturday.
O's sign mystery loan striker (Italian Lorenzo
Pinamonte, 22, from Brentford) in time for next match, could become permanent... Christian
Lee from Gillingham, also a striker, trained with club this week, we can't afford him
without losing someone... Finnish midfielder Juho Rahtala also on trial, "big,
strong... can play in midfield or centre half" (says Taylor)... Lockwood & McGhee
to go? "I've not had a phone call about either of them" (Taylor)...
Vasseur could be cleared for Saturday... Benicio: "I don't think we will be taking
things much further" (Taylor)... Eddie Newton "won't be signing for us"
(Taylor)... Tate spent 4 months at Halifax in 99, scoring 5 goals in 22, Gazette
says, "Tate has been in hot competition with Steve Watts for the right to partner
Carl Griffiths in attack" (priceless - the first contender for the Services to Journalism Award (OSJA) for Feb)... you can get 66/1 on O's to win 5-0... Halifax improving since Paul
Bracewell took over... Simba now playing for St Albans City (Ryman League)... Danny
Hatcher scored for U17s... Rochdale aftermath: players kept in for an
hour after the match... no injuries, though Taylor says, "I wanted to knock them
about but that's all"... Guardian make Smith g... Rochdale have never won at
Brisbane Road, but have won more away games than anyone this season... Griff, Watts, Tate
and Opara should be available for Saturday... the bloke who ran on to the pitch v Darlo
has been charged and granted bail until 9th Jan on condition he doesn't go to
football(!)... none of the papers held back printing to cover the Northwich match.
David Elleray made two pitch inspections before allowing Southend game on, Guardian made Watts MOTM (proving that running around a lot can get you something)... O's gave trials to (with Taylor's comments in brackets): former Cup final goalscorer Eddie Newton ("I don't know how far we will be taking things"), Trevor Fitzpatrick, French striker Mobuete Serge ("to be honest he was useless"), plus Brazilian Caue Castro M Benicio, who scored for reserves and has a Portuguese passport ("we could sign him on a non-contract basis")... Taylor wants a midfielder and a striker, he's "waiting for a few calls", but "there is not a lot of money to spend", though one deal fell through and "something might happen in the next few days"... Calais stalling, so still no Vasseur: "if we have to physically send someone to France to get them to sign the forms there and then, we'll do it" (Clark)... Jae Murray is on loan at Chelmsford (Gary Bellamy's club)... attempt to send players to Malta fell through... Steve Castle is "training in the gym at the moment" (TT)... Christie is looking to be back in "August or September" (there's an interview in the Guardian)... Brkovic says he's "scoring lots of goals in training" (that's nice for him)... O's are 100/1 to beat Rochdale 4-1 again... Chad Mansley having trials with Swindon... U-17s beat Portsmouth, Boniek Forbes hit his 20th of the season... a cheerful final comment from the Recorder: "Os have played 3 home games in the 21st century and lost the lot without scoring a goal."
Advertiser points out
that Exeter have won 1 in 19... The club lost
£811,239 last year (ending 30th June 2000)… £1.6m went on wages for 49 players and
54 others (38 matchday only).. lease was £350,785, transfers £140,390.. should be about
the same PROFIT for next year due to big games etc…. game v Blackpool now March 20th,
Plymouth April 24th, away v Rochdale is noon kick off on Sunday 28th January… O's got
more points in 2000 (78) than any other 3rd division team… Harris thinks he'll score
soon: "hopefully it's just a matter of time," he says… Lockwood
agrees with that
Harris will "never score"… Lockwood points out that Southend have done us
favours against Brighton, Chesterfield and Cardiff (and us): "I bet that's left their
fans spewing" (eeurrgh!) he says… Leo Roget is suspended for the Sewagers…
Lockwood complains that Griff has "stopped diving", so we don't get penalties
anymore… Vasseur could be a sub if he's cleared in time… Bayes is 7/4 to keep a
clean sheet… Lockwood, Harris, Houghton, Martin Ling, Paul Clark, Paul Brush (and
Kirstine Nicholson!) were all formerly at Southend… Chad Mansley has gone… O's
had Eddie Newton on trial on Wednesday… Guardian makes Matt Joseph MOTM v
Exeter… O's are making links with Floriana in Malta, including young player
exchanges... O's (and everyone else) got £10,417 for community projectsthrough
Nationwide's Season of Promise initiative... so far money has gone to set up scheme to
sell season tickets through local schools - £20, with £10 going to the school... Orient
wrote to 300 schools, have sold "a few hundred" season tickets... next phase
involves allowing season ticket holders to bring two friends to a game (later in the
season)... Steve Dawson says O's have "targeted youngsters" and tried "to
get different types of people interested, for example girls and ethnic minorities, who
have traditionally not been to football matches".
O's are signing attacking midfielder Emmanuel Vasseur, 22, from Calais... he's part of team that beat Bordeaux and got to final of French Cup... he's out of contract, so free, and being given an 18 month contract subject to "international clearance"... Calais "have got the hump big time" (Taylor) and wanted £10k... Vasseur has trained with O's... he can say "morning gaffer" in English (Taylor)... Jason Brissett's contract cancelled, "we have given him a couple of bob" (Taylor)... Exeter match injuries: Smith, Griff, Tate, Harris should be ok, McGhee doubtful, so's Inglethorpe (for Exeter, though Ampadu should play), Watts is ok but can't be risked 3 times a week (says Taylor)... Martin Ling has been playing for Purfleet in his spare time to keep him match fit in case he's needed... Watts is 16/1 to get hat-trick at Exeter (160/1 would be more realistic). Spurs match: attendance 12,336... all agree that Spurs "stole a victory they had done little to earn" (Recorder), but that "Os did even less in attack" than Spurs (Recorder)... "I thought we defended well" said Stephen Clemence... Griff could have made a difference, he's "a sniffer" (said Watts)... all paid for papers have pictures, Guardian has 2 page centre spread including pics of fans... Gazette Spurs section mentions Ledley King's "starring performance" (was he the tall bloke who kept getting caught in possession?)... Guardian makes McGhee MOTM (Joseph, surely?). Wycombe match: Danny Hatcher came on as sub... attendance 946: "Orient's controversial policy of charging full league prices... backfired spectacularly" (Recorder), "the ones who stayed at home got it right" (Gazette), a "turgid encounter" (Recorder). Carlisle away is now on March 13th.
Advertiser says:
"The next O's game will be at home to Blackpool on Saturday". They win the
coveted Services to Journalism Award (OSJA) for January.
Tottenham game: O's will get £50-60k in gate receipts plus £18.5k from BBC... - could have got about £250k by playing at Spurs... no money will be spent on new players now, could happen in 1-2 months if needed... Sky Sports are showing extended highlights on Saturday evening... Coral give 12-1 against Spurs to win FA Cup, 1500-1 against Os... David Pleat signed Houghton twice, released him once, and Houghton helped Spurs youths to win cup in 1990... Houghton's lost 10 lbs since joining Os... he says, "...as long as we don't get a hiding, that's the main thing" and "...We've got to be careful not to try too hard...", but Taylor says, "We need to get at them early and not let them play"... Houghton says "the ground will be rocking" and complains: "nobody's really been pestering me for tickets... I suppose a few people have forgotten who I am"... Taylor says Kevin Godfrey is too old to play against Spurs and he thinks Christie and Garcia would have worried the Premier leaguers... Dean Smith missed a penalty in 1996 when Hereford drew 1-1 with Spurs - they lost 5-1 in the replay... Taylor's been spying on Spurs and has spotted some mystery weakness which gives Os "half a chance"... Guardian has a £1 bet voucher from Stanley Racing - can be used to bet only on a goalscorer / correct score double for the Spurs game... tickets were sold out by 2pm on New Year's Day... Guardian has a pair of tickets to give away - buy a copy at Tesco in Leytonstone on Friday between 10am & 5pm, or (much easier) ring 020 8498 3471 (this is definitely the number printed) and leave your name, address and daytime phone no. - draw is at 5.30pm on Friday, so be quick... their predicted line-ups: Os (4-4-2): Bayes; Joseph, Smith, McGhee, Lockwood; Brkovic, Harris, Walschaerts, Houghton; Watts, Griffiths. Totts (3-5-2): Sullivan; Doherty, Campbell, Perry; Anderton, Leonhardsen, Sherwood, King, Clemence; Ferdinand, Rebrov.
Other stuff: Castle awaiting results of blood test, will see specialist on Monday, could start training on Tuesday... Taylor could make changes for Tuesday's LDV Vans Trophy game v Wycombe (never!)... Plymouth fans raised £1,000 on the internet for NYD @ LOFC, but (as we know) game was called off... Hearn says he would rather see Os "go out of business" than become a nursery club, but Taylor isn't against the idea "in principle" - the FA don't allow it, but a spokesman says, "It's not something we could rule out for ever more".
They all say Griff scored v Southend
(even though he never touched the ball at all)... TT says you need 2 points per game to go
up... TT says Chesterfield can be "pegged back"... Smith back for Saturday, no
other (new) injuries... TT says Watts didn't start because he "overslept" twice
in a row and looked "a wee bit tired"... TT copies and calls Watts "super sub"... Guardian
has month by month review of 2000...
News on West Side development (from Gazette): club given £1 million (from Football Foundation?)... John Goldsmith (JG) says current stand could be closed by Council, so plans must be in place... shop, offices, changing facilities will probably go in West Stand, plus Supporters Club (but see Tommy Taylor's tailor told me...)... could be an underground car park, 2000 square metres for "commercial entitities", local education facilities, disabled area... 2600 seats plus 400 for "corporate clients"... "dry moat" design, like South Stand, so seats can open before other facilities... overall cost £3-4 million... work should start at end of season, archeological dig permitting... could open in early 2002... North Terrace development(?): JG says it needs a roof and "more comfort"... current capacity is 4270... can't be higher than the South Stand roof... will not happen for a long time.
Opara is "nowhere near fit yet", says Clark... Niam Uka is still at Crewe... Orient have won 20, drawn 14 and lost 10 in 2000... club to decide whether to cut prices for Wycombe match (9th Jan, LDV Vans Trophy)... Os still considering Trevor Fitzpatrick - depends on injuries... Guardian has colour pic of Houghton's goal v Darlo... Taylor's comment on lack of entertainment in that game: "I couldn't give two f****"... U-17s went a goal down against Southend, but recovered to win 10-1, with Boniek Forbes getting 5... Mandley/Mansley debate continues: 'Mansley' in Guardian, Gazette, 'Mandley' in Recorder - Advertiser doesn't mention him at all... players in for training at 9 on Christmas morning... Rochdale have never won at Brisbane Road, but have won more away games than anyone this season... Griff, Watts, Tate and Opara should be available for Saturday... the bloke who ran on to the pitch v Darlo has been charged and granted bail until 9th Jan on condition he doesn't go to football(!)... none of the papers held back printing to cover the Northwich match.
Griffiths injured, Tate suspended, Watts doubtful for Darlo match... Kelechi Opara scored for youth team and will be in the squad... Garcia's gone back to Oz for Christmas... Christie due to see specialist to check knee op this week... Northwich replay switched to Wednesday 20th December (live on Sky)... Taylor's been talking to Southend striker Trevor Fitzpatrick - nothing will happen yet... Castle to have (another) exploratory operation... Niam Uka is on trial at Crewe... Under-19s beat Southend 4-1 in League Cup... Five Os fans who left the Chesterfield game early were attacked outside.