I guess probably the best thing we can say about Orient’s win at Tamworth in the first round of the FA Cup, is that we (just about) got through it. Thankfully we didn’t fall victim to another giant-killing in the ilk of Maldon & Tiptree at home (yes I am still bitter, if not downright p**s*d off, about that particular disaster 6 years later!).

As we touched upon last week (Orient Nerd Weekly Ramblings: A Step in the Right Direction.), going into a cup match which had been moved to Monday evening, on a plastic pitch, against opposition from two divisions below, screamed banana skin. Crucially we managed to survive Tamworth’s aerial assault powered by Tom Tonks’ ridiculous long throws and a whole series of free kicks; and after having spent the majority of the match creating very little of substance from an attacking point of view, Kennedy Digie headed Sonny Perkins’ in-swinging cross into his own net with just 10 minutes to go. 

It was in no way completely convincing, nor a particularly entertaining spectacle, but sometimes, especially in knockout football, it is just about digging in and getting the job done. The most important thing is we are in the next round where we will face our old friends from the National League Salford. A tie I am sure a certain Richie Wellens will be relishing as another opportunity to put one over on his former employers, G-Nev most definitely included!

What was noticeable from the match at Tamworth was that we went into it with an unchanged lineup from our last league match at home to Lincoln. In the absence of very much to analyse about the match itself, I thought it might be useful to consider how close we are to establishing a recognised first choice eleven.

After a few costly and relatively high profile errors it seems very much the case that loanee Tommy Simkin has lost his place between the sticks to permanent signing Killian Cahill. It is difficult to argue with the young Irish stopper’s form as he has kept clean sheets in 2 of his 4 league appearances so far, and of course a further one in Monday’s FA Cup game. Presumably it would take a dip in form (fingers crossed, please no!) for him to lose his place in the immediate future.

With REG sadly suffering a long-term injury at home to Doncaster and jack Simpson seemingly not trusted as a first choice starter, at least in a 2 centre back system, it seems pretty much Hobson’s choice for centre backs with Dan Happe and Omar Beckles likely to start the majority of matches. Simpson provides a back-up option, and it now seems that big Phil Chinedu has been included in the first team squad after being recalled from his loan at Wealdstone. Although another injury or worse could see us trying to repurpose midfielders as cover.

In the full back positions it seems very much as if the Tayo Adaramola trial has come to an end at left wing-back, and now that we have reverted to a back four Tom James is very much the first choice, assuming he can stay fit.

On the subject of fitness, injury issues have restricted Michael Craig to just 5 league starts so far this campaign. Despite the fact that he has previously in his career been used more as a defensive midfielder and has at times looked a little bit vulnerable defensively, it seems very much as if he is the first choice right back. I am guessing here, but it seems as if Craig is very much valued for his ability to invert into midfield just as a certain Northern Irish international did so effectively last season. Especially if you consider that If you were to ask any Orient fan they would most likely agree that Sean Clare’s best position is in midfield not at right back.

After some chopping and changing in the midfield engine room, it now seems clear that Clare is emerging as the most effective complement to (almost) certain starter Idris El Mizouni, with him having started there and been effective against both Lincoln and Tamworth. Can we assume that this is going to be the go-to option going forward, at least in the short term? If so, what does that mean for the likes of Jack Moorhouse, Joe White, Tyreeq Bakinson and the recently returned to fitness Zech Obiero?

The biggest surprise, well to me at least, in the recent rejigging of the lineup, was the preference for Azeem Abduali at number 10 ahead of Charlie Wellens. I get that Richie wants to get minutes into the legs of all of the players at his disposal, and to an extent give Abdullai the opportunity to show what he can do, but for me Wellens Jr had done nothing at all to merit being dropped, unless of course there is an injury we are unaware of. At the same time I for one am not convinced that Abdullai’s performances against Lincoln and Tamworth merit further selection.

Up front it is completely obvious that Aaron Connolly and Dom Ballard are our most prolific and dangerous attacking players, but what is the best way to use them? So far we have seen Connolly used as a number 10 behind Ballard, the two being deployed as a pair of central strikers, and most recently Connolly operating from the left with Ballard as the central striker, albeit with some fluidity and rotation.

Solving that particular conundrum might be the key to us starting to carry more of a goal threat again but then raises the question of who would be the best option for the other wide position, assuming Connolly continues on the left. Before his untimely injury Ollie O’Neill was in pretty impressive form and may well be the first choice once back to fitness.

After a promising start to life back at Orient, Josh Koroma’s form seems to have declined drastically, Sonny Perkins and DJ still continue to flatter to deceive, while Demitri Mitchell seems to have been earmarked as a full back even though he has looked capable on the few occasions he has been played as a wide attacker. Lemar Gordon and Alfie Lloyd may well become options on the bench over the coming weeks and months, especially as the latter builds his fitness.

It will be interesting to see how we line up against Wycombe tomorrow lunchtime, will it be the same starting eleven or might we see a few tweaks and changes? If it were me, and assuming he is fit, I would like to see Charlie Wellens back in the number 10 spot. Other than that I presume it will be pretty much as you were, unless Mitchell is given a start or Ollie O’Neill is fit enough to return. What we really need though is to build on the momentum we are starting to generate with another good performance and decent result.

Up the O’s!