Q1) Last season, avoiding the drop, a season of success?
Insofar as we didn't go straight back to L2 - yes. Too close for comfort though!!
Q2) How did the team cope with promotion to League One and what were the
main differences you noted between Leagues One and Two?
main differences you noted between Leagues One and Two?
The team did not cope very well at first. Started with virtually the L2 promotion squad but very soon discovered that a very good L2 side makes at best a very average L1 side. L1 is quicker and a skill class above L2 with very few poor teams (as opposed to L2)
Q3) It's been summer of change for your side. Are you happy with the ins
and outs?
Time will tell. Matt Lockwood to Forest and Gary Alexander to Millwall will be hard to replace, whilst some of the departees were not quite good enough for L1 so won't be missed .Having said that, on pre season form, some of the new signings look good particularly Sean Thornton in midfield and the new front pairing of Adam Boyd and Wayne Gray. Boyd scored against both West Ham and Spurs in pre-season.
Q4) With the transfer window remaining open till August 31st which positions
would you expect to try and strengthen?
Need one more midfield player
Q5) What are your hopes and aspirations for the 2007/8 season? Where would
you expect to finish?
This is Leyton Orient - what's an aspiration? Realistically looking at mid table. Ladbrokes have us as relegation favourites!!
Q6) Which players should we look out for in the game between our two sides?
See answer to Q3 + Adam Chambers
Q7) What are your opinions of Walsall and what sort of season do you think
lies ahead for us this season?
Like us, only time will tell! You have made several close season signings (and changed the name of your ground) so, unlike us the mistake of trying to play L1 with an L2 squad has been avoided. Sonko sounds interesting.
Q8) It'd be rude for us to talk about our two sides and not mention your
assistant manager Dean Smith. How's he doing and is he well received at
your club?
Rude indeed!! Deano is seen as an O's man through and through from being an excellent and committed player to Youth Team Manager to Assistant Manager. We have a respected management team under Martin Ling, and Deano is a key member.
Q9) We must also talk about your stadium. It's recently received a lot of
press for having flats built in all four sides of the ground. A good idea?
Are they all rented accommodation and would this affect your match-day
hospitality packages?
On balance yes, a good idea as they provided the bulk of the financing for two of the three new stands. They are not intrusive and do not detract from the atmosphere or look of the ground. The two blocks at the south end of the ground are privately owned
They do not detract at all from hospitality simply because before they financed the new main stand there was very little in the way of hospitality packages, so they were an enabler. The new main stand now has "The Olympic Suite" running the whole length of one floor of the stand providing Board Room, corporate and private hospitality (£80 per person per match if you are interested).
Q10) Who do you see as your main rivals this season?
Locally this has to be Sarfend and Millwall, particularly the former whom we play away on the opening day. No love lost between us and we have sold out our allocation of tickets. Looking at the teams in this league last year Forest will be the ones to catch. Leeds? - well who knows given that the Football League discovered their balls and stood up to Bates and handed out the points deduction. Shame the Premiership didn't do the same to East London's other club.
Q11) Finally, can we have a score prediction for the game?
1-1
Many thanks to Martin from Leyton Orient MAD for his time and views.
Many thanks to Martin from Leyton Orient MAD for his time and views.