As part of the Everything Orient transfer window series 'Summer Wishlist', we look at a number of players that could or should end up in the iconic Orient colours and assess why they would be a hit in E10.
Since the end of the season, I have been reading a lot of fan’s views on who we should sign this summer, with names such as Akinde, Vincelot and Cox have been thrown around a lot. Also with the recent failed signing of Adams, I believe it’s not specific names we should be going after. Since Edinburgh has come into the building he has brought in his own players.
Apart from Ling, I had never heard of Ekpiteta, Adams or Holman. None of these were names we were expecting to sign in the January window. We now have an excellent scouting system with Head Scout Steve Foster being in charge and always on the lookout for a gem of a footballer.
So it is my opinion that with all the names that fans want, Edinburgh has a set mould of a player. I think we obviously need a player in midfield to replace Adams who played three of the last 5 months. A young, energetic, box to box midfielder that is hungry to play for us and will get the dirty work done in the midfield. This would allow the likes of Clay/Lee/Lawless to be able to move around the midfield and pick out the passes going forward.
It doesn’t look like any other players in our squad are going to be transfer listed at this time, so I assume Edinburgh will only be looking for one central midfielder. But with the three older players we do have there currently, I would like us to sign one permanent and one loan player for cover in the same mould as the three older players,z just in case of injuries again.
Edinburgh has already come and said he wants two more forwards this summer. With Holman not working out, Harrold injured and Mooney not scoring that much this season. It has been down to Bonne. So I would like us to sign a similar player like Bonne, an out-and-out goal scorer, a poacher that will work hard for the team. One that will run the channels and able to provide assists for other attacking players. If Bonne was to get injured/suspended we simply have nobody to replace him.
The second striker, needs to be a big lump, someone that is agile, can jump high and out muscle defenders with ease. Also able to score the goals and assist the team in their attacking set pieces. Also as we have seen this season, a lot of clubs have utilised a big lump up front and won games with this type of player. It would give us a 'plan b' and creates a new attacking dynamic.
Lastly I think we will use the loan market a bit more this season, I have already said a central midfielder should come in on loan. But I think we need a covering defender that can play across all four positions, a utility player. Especially as we can only name 5 subs in our league, so to have a utility player on the bench would be ideal. With Elokobi and Coulson getting on a bit we only have two young central defenders, we don’t want to be in the situation we was last season playing a different centre back every week.
With these kind of players, I feel we would have a strong squad to be contenders for promotion and can’t wait to see who our first unknown summer signing is going to be.
Really good point very well made Lee, I think you've hit the nail on the head!