The M11 "Derby" - Cambridge vs Leyton Orient

[The Terminator]

It was a bit frustrating not to win, as I thought we had most of the ball and all the clear chances - Dunn kept Cambridge in the game first half. Cambridge worked hard but sat back once they scored. I cannot remember Cisak having a proper save to make.

Money had to change it at half time as we really should've scored in the first half.

We've got to score first it seems to make the opposition come out at us, two weeks in a row we've struggled to break a team down who takes the lead against us and sits in.

We had no width at all, rumour has it Cox wasn't injured but threw his toys out the pram in training which was why he didn't play. Annoying as we desperately missed him today.

Draw probably about right though, but we had enough chances I thought to sneak the win.

 

[The Terminator]

Orient fans who were slagging off Simpson, I hope you have seen how much he has improved and he consistently plays like that week in week out! Class technically and physically and would be one of the first names on my team sheet.

He was poor in League One, in a team which finished 3rd and scored for fun. I won't knock his effort but he was poor in front of goal for us, although as I said he never got a full pre season behind him that year.

 

[Tom_CUFC]

Good point for us, probably fair, but would've been easier to justify an Orient win than a Cambridge one, most important thing for us was that again I thought we looked improved on the previous week, but we've still got a long way to go. Orient clearly had the better chances first half but I thought we were the better team overall, our goal was absolutely fantastic and we had a half chance to make it 2 which might've been enough, but Orient came on strong and a bit of poor defending helped them get the goal, but there was only going to be one winner after that so very happy to get out with a draw.

Thought 5-3-2 worked really well, only issue is that it would hinder Dunk's return into the team, but you've got to do what's best overall rather than cater for one player, sadly I don't think Money sees it that way and we'll be back to 4-4-2 next week.

Dunn helped get us that point with some fantastic saves, but still his lack of communication is very worrying and he still hesitates in coming/not coming for the ball which leaves him half a step behind. Overall more good than bad today though for sure.

Defence all looked good apart from Coulson, who was at fault for the goal and got caught out a few times. Roberts' best game for us by an absolute country mile, Legge a little shakey, particularly with his aerial distribution, but solid enough overall, and Demetriou is just class.

Berry again did do anything outrageous like we're used to but I thought he influenced the game a bit more today and got stuck in, still a long way to get back to his best but an improvement on previous weeks. Newton solid, and I'm the first to admit I'm not Hughesy's biggest fan (particularly in midfield) but he was top drawer today.

Simpson brilliant, won all his headers in the first half and was getting the ball everywhere, sadly that meant he wasn't in the box to get on the end of any crosses but I don't think they'd have come his way if he hadn't been the one getting the ball out wide. Blyth in the right place to score but still only a bench option for me. Slew and Carr, absolutely atrocious.

Another "good numbers, no noise" away following in this league, shame, seems to be the norm with most though sadly.

Step in the right direction but only a small one, still a long way to go for us to be where we want to be.

 

[Laker]

Berry seems to be getting a ton of shit on our forum tonight but I thought he did alright. Not groundbreaking but he did have the chains on first half with no holding midfielder to allow him to break forward too often. He's getting better each game (he was better in the Luton game than previously too). He'll come good.

 

[E10rifle]

Orient fans who were slagging off Simpson, I hope you have seen how much he has improved and he consistently plays like that week in week out! Class technically and physically and would be one of the first names on my team sheet.

He was a useless weak link in an excellent side in the division above. He had glaring deficiencies at that level, which is where we watched him. Being one of the better players in a mid-table League Two side is about right for him.

As for today's game, Orient had enough chances to have been out of sight by half time, but we were dreadful for the first 15 minutes of the second half and that cost us. I know the U's had some key players missing, but they were extremely poor at keeping the ball, played a dreadful style of football and rely heavily on simply being very large at both ends of the pitch. Decent move for the goal, but Cisak had literally nothing to do all game. Can't fault Cambridge's application though, was first class.

Orient desperately missed Cox's creativity and ability to break the lines. Jay Simpson had the centre backs on toast on the deck, and Cox's guile would've been just the ticket to get him in more often. Thought McCallum had a poor game, but he wasn't helped by how poor our crossing was 90% of the time. Should have scored at the end of the first half, mind. Impressive debut from Payne - like Lloyd James, but actively good.

 

[Habbinalan]

It was a bit frustrating not to win, as I thought we had most of the ball and all the clear chances - Dunn kept Cambridge in the game first half. Cambridge worked hard but sat back once they scored. I cannot remember Cisak having a proper save to make.

Money had to change it at half time as we really should've scored in the first half.

We've got to score first it seems to make the opposition come out at us, two weeks in a row we've struggled to break a team down who takes the lead against us and sits in.

We had no width at all, rumour has it Cox wasn't injured but threw his toys out the pram in training which was why he didn't play. Annoying as we desperately missed him today.

Draw probably about right though, but we had enough chances I thought to sneak the win.

Broadly captures my view of the game.

I was surprised and pleased at how many dangerous crosses we got into the 6 yard box or near in the first half - Corr, or even Blyth, might have got on the end of a few of them. Is it to soon to say that the gambles with Slew and Carr are not going to pay off this season? - I think not.

I've rarely heard a relatively full Habbin and NRE be so quiet as the last 20 minutes - we were obviously too nervous to give any help to the classic Money Smother that gained us another point and puts next Saturday's trip into a more positive light.

As none of my posse are travelling, I have to decide on whether to make a lone pilgrimage to the shrine to Bingham which is Victoria Park these days. Chance of a visit to the Rat Race is swinging it at the moment.

 

[Look Out There Are Llamas]

On a side note, what the fuck is happening with McAnuff. Given his Gold Cup exploits, surely he'd have been perfect to fill in for Cox.

 

[Lee Watkins]

He was a useless weak link in an excellent side in the division above. He had glaring deficiencies at that level, which is where we watched him. Being one of the better players in a mid-table League Two side is about right for him.

As for today's game, Orient had enough chances to have been out of sight by half time, but we were dreadful for the first 15 minutes of the second half and that cost us. I know the U's had some key players missing, but they were extremely poor at keeping the ball, played a dreadful style of football and rely heavily on simply being very large at both ends of the pitch. Decent move for the goal, but Cisak had literally nothing to do all game. Can't fault Cambridge's application though, was first class.

Orient desperately missed Cox's creativity and ability to break the lines. Jay Simpson had the centre backs on toast on the deck, and Cox's guile would've been just the ticket to get him in more often. Thought McCallum had a poor game, but he wasn't helped by how poor our crossing was 90% of the time. Should have scored at the end of the first half, mind. Impressive debut from Payne - like Lloyd James, but actively good.

Dreadful style of play, you kept smashing it over the top for Simpson to try and get on to. Not exactly attractive. And no exaggeration - our best 2 players in the team(Corr and dunk) were unavailable along with Keith Keane who is essential, Donaldson who will change a game on his day. With Corr on the pitch I think we score where Simpson drives it across 6 yard box and slew lets it run, and he would have scored that. Massive set back. I think we had some great spells Of switching play and keeping the ball - a good example would be our goal , hughesy switched play a couple times, played through the middle got it back, and played a defence splitting pass! Great move! Don't really think Orient were anything great. Should have scored where cisak flapped at the ball and missed it and we put it wide. But both had chances. I think I t was fairly even up to the goal and then as always, we sat back and let u keep possession and play a ball over he top that our defender was flat footed for and you scored from. We need a win against hartlepool and need to go on a winning/ unbeaten streak of we want to reach playoffs

 

[E10rifle]

Not entirely sure what match you were watching tbh, Lee. The move for the goal was excellent - but it was the only time you kept the ball on the deck all game.

I've already mentioned that you were missing key players, but even Dickie Dosh managed to admit that you were poor and second best in his post-match interview. We had more possession, more shots, more shots on target, more corners and more territory and your keeper was your MotM.

I've seen worse than Cambridge this season, but I guess I'm just used to a better standard of football than what the League Two stalwarts class as good.

 

[Laker]

League 2 stalwarts? That's generous towards us in our second season!

I thought we were average yesterday but competed well and made it difficult for Orient while having to rely on our keeper at times. We weren't very creative (as discussed, missing 3 of our better attacking players) and we hit the ball long a lot with only Simpson looking like winning anything in the air.

Orient looked decent but seemed to be very slow in the build up, lots of passing around the half way line then generally a ball over the top which was a good ploy given the total lack of communication between our keeper and our defenders. Ultimately that's how the goal came and it wasn't surprising. But Orient look a decent outfit, especially if they sped up their build up play a bit.

We're miles from where we should be and I think we should be happier with a draw than Orient. We're improving though which is a positive. There's a decent side in there somewhere.

 

[Lee Watkins]

Your goal was excellent? It was a ball over the top of our defence and way too easy. As person above pointed out u were a threat, but it wasn't like you were coming attack after attack. We won quite a lot of corners, and should have scored from one when cisak was caught in no mans land. You were the better team, especially after we scored, but we did have spells of good possession (as dickie dosh said also) but gave possssion away cheaply and lacked confidence. He said it wasn't good enough but we still got a point against top of the table out of it. We will have so much more to offer and should be getting some form soon

 

[E10rifle]

Your goal was excellent? It was a ball over the top of our defence and way too easy.

We won quite a lot of corners, and should have scored from one when cisak was caught in no mans land.

You were the better team, especially after we scored.

1) Sigh. Try reading my post again - it was your goal I described as excellent.

2) We had 10 corners to your four. Not sure what the chance had to do with the discussion - everyone knows you're a threat from set pieces as you're a huge side. Got nothing to with your aimless general play, from which you created virtually zilch except the goal.

3) We were the better side all game, the 15 minutes after half time aside, hence why I'm disappointed with the result and being all bitter and twisted.

 

[E10rifle]

Orient looked decent but seemed to be very slow in the build up, lots of passing around the half way line then generally a ball over the top which was a good ploy given the total lack of communication between our keeper and our defenders. Ultimately that's how the goal came and it wasn't surprising. But Orient look a decent outfit, especially if they sped up their build up play a bit.

Two words as to why we weren't as fluid as usual: Dean Cox.

I've not seen Harrison Dunk play, but I understand he's a good player, and obviously Barry Corr is an experienced head and a vital component of the way you play. But Cox is the best player in the division. We're chock-full of talented technical players (Payne, Pritchard, Simpson, James) which is why we keep the ball so much better than most sides in League Two, but Cox is the game-changer. He breaks the lines, moves the defence around and his crossing is unparalleled in the bottom two divisions. We're only about 60% of the side without him (especially with McAnuff still AWOL).