Back To Back Promotions Or Straight Back Down?
Where now? It's been 11 long seasons in the basement of English football's professional ranks, and the thought of coming straight back down again would be unthinkable. But according to the majority of teams who come up from Division Four, life in the 3rd flight shouldn't be feared for Martin Ling's men this season. Last season, Swansea, Yeovil were either in or fighting for a place in the play-offs at the season's finale, whilst Scunthorpe enjoyed mid table consolidation. And of course we all know what happened to Southend, who only got up through the play-offs.
Back to back promotions are more common than teams going up and then coming straight back down again, both Brighton and Bury have gone up a division, and then won that division without wholesale changes. A winning habit and a successful team are far more effective than spending money on a glut of new players unless you are prepared to spend a fortune.
For the first time since, I would say, 1993 we have a really solid and decent foundation for this club being moderately successful again. Back then, Frank Clark's work was inherited by Peter "Useless" Eustace, who promptly spent 2 years to take the club back about 5 years, albeit with the help of a certain civil war of course. With the stadium looking sadly smaller than years gone by, yet newer and still growing as the rebuilding work continues, we seem to be attracting the right kind of playing personel, and this is due in no small part to Martin Ling, who I believe is the most valuable man at the club.
For someone who enjoys getting his man "in the building" so he can show them what he's trying to achieve, his tactics seem to be working more effectively than the previous 6 managers before him at least. The signings he makes are fantastic additions to the squad 90% of the time, and are executing the kind of free flowing football that makes it difficult for any team to remain as low as we have been for so long. I am sure that whatever new challenges the coming season brings, Martin Ling has the talent to deal with them, and if he hasn't got the players, then he's the best man to find them and to bring them in.
A second successive promotion might be asking a little too much, but then you never know what could happen. I certainly think that come April, Orient will be closer to the top end of the table than the bottom, and that we should be looking for a top 10 finish if we don't get riddled with injuries. In the meantime, if we don't look set for promotion, then I'm sure that Mr Ling and co will have their sights firmly set on achieving that next season as the team continues to progress upwards and onwards to better things.
Up The Os!
Popey
This Is An Unofficial Website And The Views Here Are The Responsibility Of The Authors And Not Of Leyton Orient Football Club Or Any Of It's Employees. Copyright On All Pictures And Articles: James Pope 1999 - 2006 Unless Otherwise Stated. All Rights Reserved. Up The Os...
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