Thankfully, that is the international break interruption out of the way, for us at least, and we can now go back to focusing on all things Orient. Until the next one in November that is! 

With only seven league matches in the books, it is probably a tad early to conduct any meaningful analysis of how Orient are shaping up in 2026/27. However, in the absence of very much else going on, let’s see what initial conclusions can be drawn from our three wins, three defeats, and a draw (isn’t that the very definition of middle of the road?), so far this term. 

Probably the first thing to acknowledge is that despite our results being a bit up and down this season, this is actually our equal best start to a season since we made our return to the third tier. Although the fact that we have scored more and conceded less giving us a positive goal difference, actually makes it the best opening of our four seasons in League 1:

	Pl	W	L	D	F	A	GD	Pts
2023/24	7	2	1	4	6	12	-6	7
2024/25	7	2	1	4	9	11	-2	7
2025/26	7	3	1	3	9	12	-3	10
2026/27	7	3	1	3	13	9	4	10

                   (Source: Tranfermarkt.com) 

Perhaps the concerning factor is that all three of our defeats came at home, whilst the wins at Wigan and most definitely Bromley have padded our goal difference a little bit.

As I seem to have written a lot, even at this early stage of this season (just like last season…and the season before that… and the season before that!), it is another new squad, with a total of 15 new players coming in, and as we know it will take time for it to settle. 

Having said that though, there were definite signs that things were beginning to gel in the win against Stevenage last time out. The switch to Richie Wellens’ preferred 4-3-3 system seemed to facilitate that, and we might just be starting to see the emergence of a first choice starting eleven. 

Frustratingly, as always seems to be the case with our squad, injuries have been a major issue and once again the gaffer has had to chop and change his line-up and formation according to which players are available each week. 

As I wrote last week (Orient Nerd Weekly Ramblings: At Last! Orient Win at Home!), the goalkeeping situation is something of a worry as if anything were to happen to Nathan Baxter, who lest we forget has already missed time due to injury this season, then we are left relying on the previously ostracised Killian Cahill, or an emergency loan, until Noah Phillips can return in the middle of December.  

In terms of the outfield personnel, if everyone is fit (stop laughing at the back!), I think it becomes fairly obvious what our first-choice defence and midfield are. Assuming we retain the back four system, the right back and centre backs pretty much pick themselves, and once Somto Boniface returns I fully anticipate that he will replace Big Phil, as good as the youngster has been, at left back. 

In the middle of the park, we have already seen that Idris El Mizouni and Isaac Hayden will start the vast majority of matches when they are available. Even though we have only seen a limited amount of time on the pitch for him, what Alex Gilbert has shown so far suggests that he will most likely join that pair, or alternatively be used to spell either of them if we go with a more number 10 style attacking midfielder in certain matches. 

It is the attacking midfield/ forward line that poses the biggest dilemma for me. With 4 league goals and 2 assists to his name already, Jaze Kabia seems to have settled in well. Especially considering the sizeable boots that he had to fill, along with the pressure of being our record signing. Dane Scarlett didn’t seem to have reached full fitness in his few appearances before the international break. However, when he does, it will be intriguing to see if there is a plan to use him alongside Kabia, or whether it will be a case of picking one starter from the pair?

Yusuf Akhamrich has been a revelation on the right flank and barring injury (please no!), I think we can probably anticipate he has largely made that role his own. The left wing is the one area where there is some uncertainty with: Demi Mitchell, Armando Dobra and Theo Archibald all being potential options. That is without even mentioning the hopefully-returning-soon Ollie O’Neill and Aaron Connolly, or indeed the utility qualities of Charlie Wellens. You could almost suggest it is an embarrassment of riches in those positions, although we know from bitter experience that the likelihood of all of those being fit and available at the same time is far from guaranteed. 

One of the key features of our recent successful campaigns has been that we went on good runs of form with a largely settled side from the autumn onwards. Whether we are able to do so again will undoubtedly determine how this season plays out. In our next four matches we face: Plymouth at home tomorrow afternoon, then Bradford away, then Blackpool at home, and then Reading away on a Wednesday night. All tough fixtures, but if we can put up a decent points return, then there is reason to be optimistic that this could be another positive season. If not, there could well be some more unwelcome autumn/ winter soul-searching in the Orient camp.

Last week we got an announcement of sorts on the new ground, when it was revealed that the club had signed a Development Performance Agreement (DPA) with the London Borough of Waltham Forest. While there wasn’t a lot of detail in what this actually means, other than continuing to look at and test potential sites, majority shareholder David Gandler was quoted in the Football League Paper as saying: “signing the Development Performance Agreement is a major step forward…there is a great deal of work to be done, but this agreement demonstrates genuine momentum and a serious commitment to the next phase of work.” 

He then went on to say: “The DPA provides a structured framework for examining, in detail, how a new home could support the club’s ambitions while delivering meaningful benefits beyond matchdays”. I guess for now it remains a case of watch this space for supporters. All we can do is hope that things continue develop in a positive way on the pitch in the meantime. 

Up the O’s!