For the moment, I'm in Germany's version of east London - i.e. Berlin - so in my absence Orient fan and blogger Andy Brown (of WAGU and The Two Unfortunates fame) has kindly stepped in to give his view of the game against Shrewsbury...
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| Eldin Jakupovic |
A game in which...
Orient never got out of second gear, but didn’t need to against a Shrewsbury
team whose striking accuracy resembled Stevie Wonder trying to hit a bulls eye
at the PDC. Meanwhile Eldin Jakupovic, our new keeper on loan from Hull, also seemed to intimidate them - nothing to do
with his size and resemblance to Vincent Vega from Pulp Fiction.
Orient didn’t really connect with their passing in the first
half, often giving the ball away, but improved massively in the second-half.
Nevertheless the Os looked sharp going forward all game and had that extra
class up front. It was a real treat for the 144 hardy souls, many of whom had
witnessed an unpleasant 4-0 FA Cup mauling at the hands of the Tractor Boys
down in Yeovil.
Moment of magic... Jamar Loza, a 19-year-old youth-loan arrival from
Norwich City (who didn't arrive in time to make the back of Shrewsbury's programme) weaved between
several players to slot through a lovely ball for January Os calendar poster
boy Moses Odubajo to take it round the keeper and slot home Orient’s first
from a tight angle.
Moment of madness...
Former Os favourite Tamika Mkandawire,
who headed firmly into his own net after a corner from Dean Cox. All the
plaudits went to Scott Cuthbert, but it was clearly Tam who got the connection.
Cheers for that, old chap! Scott Cuthbert had a dodgy second half, giving the
ball away a few times and proving he’s about as comfortable at right back as
jumping on a bike missing a saddle.
Top gun... A few
candidates but Dean Cox and Moses Odubajo both looked a class
apart, tormenting the full backs all night and creating plenty of chances. Lloyd
James and Marvin Bartley were also excellent in preventing Shrewsbury’s
midfield creating any real chances, as Jakupovic didn’t have one serious save to make.
Little donkey(s)...
Tom Eaves and Aaron Wildig - aka Shrewsbury’s MIA strike-force - who despite being
ably supported by the very talented Jon Taylor still couldn’t hit a cow’s arse
with a banjo, even on the rare occasion that Captain Clarke was out-muscled. Easily
the worst frontline the Os will face this season.
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| Russ wins the World Cup |
In the dug out...
Russell Slade got it dead right on the pitch again, bringing in Bartley and
leaving Ness on the bench and the Os looked hard to breakdown throughout the
game. The gaffer also came right up to the fans at the end punching the air
like we’d won the World Cup, rather than away at Shrewsbury on a Tuesday night.
High-fives all round and real togetherness in the club right now. Can you feel
the love?
View from the
opposition... A pretty quiet bunch all in all, despite piping up with “same
old cockneys, always cheating” after various two-footed lunges on Dean Cox and
Lloyd James that that should have resulted in dismissals. Also confusing was
the number of fans wearing Man Utd gear in the Pro-Sport bar before the
game - maybe they missed the coach to Sunderland? However, they are decent bunch
who are really struggling for home form right now, which Os fans will hope
changes when Brentford visit them in a few weeks!
Tweet of the week....
Our good friends in claret and blue up the road and their salad-dodging manager. They are the gift that won’t stop giving. After losing 5-0 at the weekend to
Forest and getting annihilated 6-0 by Man City, Big Sam now has his own board game
according to Tim Bolton.