| WALTHAM FOREST | | | WANSTEAD/WOODFORD |  | | | EPPING FOREST | | | FEATURES | | | LEYTON ORIENT | | |
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Orient skipper casts envious eye at clubs’ big squads
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| Stephen Purches, who says Orient must not give up while there is still a play-off chance (c) |
LEYTON ORIENT
SKIPPER Stephen Purches has revealed his frustration at Orient's stuttering form which has allowed teams like rivals Southend to move into the play-off places at their expense.
The former Bournemouth defender, who grew up supporting the O's, is clearly hurting more than most with the east Londoners' inconsistent displays that appear likely to cost them their promotion dream.
Martin Ling's men amazingly remain just three points off sixth spot.
But that according to Purchase doesn't help lift the mood in the Brisbane Road camp.
He said: "We went into the weekend looking to build on the back-to-back wins over Swindon and Millwall.
"We knew another couple of good results would have put us right back in there.
"But for whatever reason it didn't happen for us and we came off after the game at Cheltenham on Monday hugely disappointed with how the weekend had
gone.
"It is hard to put your finger on why we've stuttered a bit in the second half of the season, and while you don't want to make excuses we have struggled to cope at times with the size of the squad.
"We've probably got the smallest squad in the league and while others were able to go out in January and freshen things up, we didn't really do that.
"You only have to look at what has happened with Southend, and that is very frustrating because they've gone above us in the table and I don't believe they are a better team than us by any means."
Purches isn't prepared to give up hope of guiding Orient to promotion and is looking for a positive response at relegation threatened Port Vale on Saturday.
He continued: "We've got to regroup and after another good chat about things after the weekend, we need to go to Port Vale and look to bounce back.
"We know there is an extra edge on the game because if they lose they could go down, but we need the result just as badly so hopefully we can go out there and make that happen now."
Is the Orient squad too small to challenge for a play-off place? Have your say below...
7:57am Thursday 27th March 2008
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CommentPosted by: Richard Masson on 9:30am Thu 27 Mar 08
There may be plenty of ambition among the players but it seems there is less than none from the board. The smallest squad in the league clearly demonstrates this.
There may be plenty of ambition among the players but it seems there is less than none from the board. The smallest squad in the league clearly demonstrates this.
Posted by: Edward Morgan, Dagenham on 11:08am Thu 27 Mar 08
The squad size has always been a problem and I believe it is one of the main reasons for hampering our play-off push this season. The squad size has always held us back- it's not just this season.
The squad size has always been a problem and I believe it is one of the main reasons for hampering our play-off push this season. The squad size has always held us back- it's not just this season.
Posted by: Darron, Chingford on 11:33am Thu 27 Mar 08
In the past, some other teams manage to get a good player, usually close to the end of their career, with Premiership experience, to help them in the final run to the end of the season.
Why can't Orient do this? Perhaps an "old" big named player could add a few extra bums on seats and the impetus to go further.
In the past, some other teams manage to get a good player, usually close to the end of their career, with Premiership experience, to help them in the final run to the end of the season.
Why can't Orient do this? Perhaps an "old" big named player could add a few extra bums on seats and the impetus to go further.
Posted by: mr Khalid, walthamstow on 5:15pm Thu 27 Mar 08
is not the sqad but no pas bal just kiking in sky and hopeded for to go in the gole and have no chanse to go premayer legs becose is no spended the mony from tim the machhroom take over club with the bary hern and he just want make the flat on corner and rent out concil
is not the sqad but no pas bal just kiking in sky and hopeded for to go in the gole and have no chanse to go premayer legs becose is no spended the mony from tim the machhroom take over club with the bary hern and he just want make the flat on corner and rent out concil
Posted by: clive shepherd, devon on 2:29pm Fri 28 Mar 08
This is so like the o,s,Barry boy wont let you get promoted untill he see's fit,money first!! football second, how long must we live to see them were they belong in the CHAMPIONSHIP! GOOD LUCK ORIENT HOPE YOU STILL MAKE IT!
This is so like the o,s,Barry boy wont let you get promoted untill he see's fit,money first!! football second, how long must we live to see them were they belong in the CHAMPIONSHIP! GOOD LUCK ORIENT HOPE YOU STILL MAKE IT!
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