Orient v Notts (A right ding dong of a game)

[LongEatonPie]

Let's get this started nice and early shall we.

Two of the sides that have fell to the bottom due to incompetence of the board.
Notts seemingly are now turning that corner but whether we have turned the terrible form corner remains to be seen.
Added spice that its Nolan returning to Orient and the fact that they pulled a defeat into a win Tuesday night.

 

[william death]

Will be watching the outcome of the Liam Kelly/ballboy saga carefully... Probably more 'must not lose' than 'must win' for us, I'd take a draw now to be honest.

 

[jacobncfc]

With the way we've been playing under Nolan and Orient seemed to approach Plymouth this is probably not going to be for the purist.

 

[Pieyedfry]

unfortunately not going, but don't think my heart could take it. Must not lose game, if we play like we did last two games we should come out with a point, but I worry about notts, could be a very tough game, they'll be up for it.

 

[Youpies]

Really looking forward to this game, reckon the only way I'll stand it is if I'm thoroughly boozed so central line pub crawl it is...

 

[The Terminator]

Our youth team have been playing well, but are still naive.

On Tuesday night 10 of our 18 man squad were from our youth team

 

[E10rifle]

Really looking forward to this game, reckon the only way I'll stand it is if I'm thoroughly boozed so central line pub crawl it is...

The beer in Leyton is so decent these days that you can genuinely have a good quality crawl all within 20 minutes of the ground.

 

[NolansOrient]

This is the definition of a relegation 6 pointer. Although County's 'player' manager Nolan insists they are not in a relegation battle - clearly he's back on the sauce.

Having lived in Nottingham for nearly 7 years I see County very much as my 2nd club, and I wish them all the best after Saturday.

Two clubs in turmoil, though I dare say Orient are in a far deeper trench than County. Both came down from League 1 together, both had disappointing finishes last season, and both are facing the conference this time around.

Onto the game; it's practically impossible to call. Both sides have improved under new management, picking up 4 points from the last 2 games, but at the end of the day both sides are rubbish - so it's a really tough one to call.

For me, the crucial factor is home/away form. Both Orient and County seem to perform better on the road, especially Orient as their home form is absolutely abysmal.

Orient captain, referee against Plymouth, and inflictor of grievous bodily harm on Plymouth ball boys, Liam Kelly should start - unless the pilgrims get him banned for 100 years for touching the 6 foot 8 ball 'boy'.

Striker Paul McCallum is a perennial doubt, which is a shame as he's the only real striker we have - the other two are 18 and 17. Nolan's mate and experienced defender Nicky Hunt is out after picking up his 10th booking of the season, bringing the average age of the Orient starting 11 down from 25 to 16, and leaving a lanky, balding hole in the Orient 'defence'.

County have picked up under Nolan - who will no doubt be fired up for his return to Orient - but a win over Cheltenham and scraping a late draw at home to 9-man Exeter do little to paper over the cracks. Same for the Orient, late goals against Yeovil and 2 against Plymouth are satisfying, but we just aren't that good over 90 minutes.

In sum, I have absolutely no idea how this game will turn out - but it would be bloody typical of Orient to beat 2nd place Plymouth 2-3 away on a Tuesday night, only to capitulate and lose 0-1 at home to County (Nolan pen).

Obviously no one is too big to go down, but here's hoping both of these historic clubs avoid the drop, at the expense of Newport and Cheltenham.

 

[Youpies]

Nolan won't play. No chance. Only undermines his authority.

 

[jacobncfc]

He's not even put himself on the bench yet and we're fairly well stocked in central midfield anyway. Suspect he'll only play in an emergency.

Our away form is no longer any good btw, it was early in the season but we've lost every away game since winning at Portsmouth in mid October.

Think Nolan's comments about not being in a relegation battle have been twisted a bit too, he just said that he thinks it's still too early in the season to know for sure. I don't agree with him, mind.

Our tactics under Nolan are pretty standard. We'll sefend high up the pitch and press because we can't defend crosses and have no pace up front to counte. We'll hammer long balls towards Ameobi and look for Stead, Grant and Yeates to get the knock downs. It's basic but pretty much all we can do with such a limited squad and it's working alright so far.

 

[william death]

Liam Kelly charged with violent conduct and given until 6pm Friday to respond...

 

[The Terminator]

Webb has got us playing an attacking passing style of football, as long as we keep playing like this I'll be happy, we'll go down with a fight.

Our squad is very young and will be without Liam Kelly and Nicky Hunt Saturday, which brings the age down yet again - Michael Collins will probably end up as captain!

Will Becchetti give Webb permission to play Teddy Mezeague after he was unfairly dropped I wonder? As long as its not the useless Erichot.

We'll be down to the bear, bear bones for this one. But then again, we have been since the first week in January.

 

[shoddycollins]

Nothing to play for end of season dead-rubber, with both teams already declared safe by their managers.

 

[Optipez]

Last week felt like a big one and this feels equally important. Win and we put some distance between us and Orient, lose and depending on results we go second bottom.
I'd take a point but despite Orients woes I'm not at all sure we'll get anything out of this one.
Smith shouldn't even be on the bench, Ameobi can hopefully last an hour and Audels groin won't keep him out.
I'd like to see Orient stay up, but by crikey we need something tomorrow and suspect Nolan will be desperate to stick it to Bechetti.A

 

[Look Out There Are Llamas]

Liam Kelly charged with violent conduct and given until 6pm Friday to respond...

6 games, which seems a bit/ lot OTT.

 

[Youpies]

To be fair as an adult pushing as minor is pretty low. He's a professional footballer

 

[NolansOrient]

To be fair as an adult pushing as minor is pretty low. He's a professional footballer

If you've seen the footage, the ball boy is more of a miner than a minor, but you're right

 

[RavenBish]

no way that defence is stopping McCallum & Massey

 

[Look Out There Are Llamas]

To be fair as an adult pushing as minor is pretty low. He's a professional footballer

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/fo...at-Swansea-City-ball-boy-after-FA-ruling.html

 

[RavenBish]

everyone down the bottom winning.

 

[Look Out There Are Llamas]

everyone down the bottom winning.

Not quite...

 

[E10rifle]

Same old, same old. County are absolute, unutterable dogshit. A morass of paceless, lump-it mediocrity, fouling and lack of invention. And we're losing. Same old, same old.

 

[Vanni]

Don't worry lads, Newport aren't getting three points today. You just concentrate on your job and we'll do ours.

 

[RavenBish]

the state of this side, can't even look competent when 2-0 up

 

[Look Out There Are Llamas]

Don't worry lads, Newport aren't getting three points today. You just concentrate on your job and we'll do ours.

FFS Vanni.

 

[RavenBish]

crikey, just seen Parkes has a suspected broken pelvis - when your luck's out.

in other news, this Notts team still deserves to be relegated.

 

[Look Out There Are Llamas]

FFS Vanni.

*Great reverse psychology.

 

[Look Out There Are Llamas]

*Great reverse psychology.

*Great reverse reverse psychology.

 

[RavenBish]

i've always loved Jon Stead

 

[The Terminator]

We never got to grips with our makeshift backline, to lose Tom Parkes to what looks a serious injury is a huge blow and it cost us today. Ameobi and Stead caused problems all game and we never really handled them well enough I thought.

We was worthy of a draw I thought, but our inexperience cost us again - Particularly with the 3rd goal we let in.

Overall performance was good though and some of the football we played was again exciting and decent, but again a lack of nouce in terms of our decision making and subs at our disposal cost us the game. Our team I thought were knackered by the end.

Notts County weren't pretty, but they had far more experience than us which won them the game.

We again had ten youth teamers in our squad - five of which started.