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Archived News from October 2005

SHIRTLIFF AND LING REACTION
1st October 2005 22:17



Thanks to Mike of http://www.yellows.co.uk for the transcription:

Speaking on Radio Mansfield after the game to Jason Harrison:

"I don't entirely blame the back four, I think it's a team thing, there's a problem in knowing what's required, physical presence I think we lack it, having said that at every opportunity Orient got the ball at the back of us which made it difficult, and fair play to them, they've got some pace and power up front and they made it difficult. The two centre halfs know they've been in a game playing against their two centre forwards. I thought the referee was a little bit leanient with their centre back with Richie Barker who I thought was being repeatedly fouled and could have got a bit more protection, having said that, they were playing balls up to him of no quality and at the end of the day if you concede three goals your going to lose the game.

When asked about the stick Kevin Pressman got from the away support, Shirtliff replied "I think he'll be dissapointed with the 2nd goal. We looked like we were going to get back in the game at 1-0, we had a great chance to make it 1-1 and we were having our best spell of the game, and all of a sudden they get another goal from a set piece which is another gift, what can you do?"

"The postive thing we do is that we create chances , we've only failed to score in one game, but we shoot ourslves in the foot by the way we concede goals. The third goal, we've got the ball on the edge of their box and the next thing the ball's at the back of us and they are through on goal with one punt up the pitch, it's not good enough". "We've got to be better than that, and if were not better than that we'll continue to lose."

"Things have to change quickly, and it's imperative that new faces come into the club quickly with some presence, but it's going to be difficult to get people to come"

Asked twice on himself being put in permanent charge as Manager and if he was going to be speaking with Chairman Keith Haslam this week about the job, Shirtliff replied with "no comment"

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Audio interview with Peter Shirtliff from BBC Radio Nottingham (RealPlayer needed)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/nottingham/realmedia/football/2006/stags_orient_away_shirtliff.ram

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leytonorient.com

MARTIN LING admitted Orient hadn't been at their best on their way to victory over Mansfield - but the O's boss won't be losing much sleep over that as his side climbed to second in League Two.

Having waited six weeks for a home win, the O's have now managed two in a week, and Ling was pleased that they had shown the character to beat the Stags despite never reaching top gear.

"Nine points in seven days is excellent but we were better in the other two games, he said. "We were still comfortable and did enough to win it even though it wasn't an A1 performance.

"I thought we could break through them at any given time but they had three or four one-on-ones and maybe could have added to their tally.

"I thought Efe might give us a bit of pace and it was a great finish - as a manager I'll take the credit for that substitution!

"It's nice to win when you're not at your best to prove your B game can get you through as well.

"Our second goal came against the run of play but it gave us a bit of leeway to be comfortable although we gave another sloppy goal away.

Ling also believes Orient will learn from last season when they were sitting pretty at a similar stage before tailing off through the winter.

"We're gaining in confidence here and lying second with 23 points from 12 games is pleasing, he added.

"The squad's stronger, we've got young players who played a nucleus of games last year who are playing youth team football again and that proves to me we've got more depth.

"Last year we knew that losing the strikers to injury cost us and as long as we don't get a glut on injuries in one position this year we'll be OK."


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leytonorient.com
WIDE-MAN Joe Keith has re-established his place on the Orient left during the side's recent run of good form, and cemented it further against Mansfield with the O's vital opening goal. He spoke to leytonorient.com after the game:

Joe, a good result, but how did you rate the performance?

"It wasn't the best we've played. We did well in the first half I thought, we took the game to them, although they still had a couple of chances.

"Then we came out for the second thinking we needed to up it a little bit, and we started off well, getting another goal, but then sat back and invited them onto us.

"But it's the sign of a good team, getting the result when you haven't played that well."

It's a famous old saying, but would that really be the feeling in the dressing room afterwards?

"Well, you can't play well every week - we've got another three points and we're second in the league, so we can't be doing too badly.

"At the start of the season, when we played at home, we weren't playing well and we were getting beaten, so there is a difference."

What do you put that down to?

"If I'm honest, I'd have to say the main difference has been Jabo. No disrespect to Lee Steele, as he's a great player, but it's obvious he was carrying an injury when he was in the side.

"We've got Jabo back now and he's given us another dimension, that extra bit of pace in behind their back four."

As for your own form, do you think you've established yourself in the side properly now?

"I'd like to think so, although I haven't quite reached the level that I was at in years gone by yet - I had some good years at Colchester, but hopefully that will come.

"It takes a little while when you move to a new club, there are a lot of new faces, although I can't really use that as an excuse as I've been here a while now."

The goal today will have helped - you were in the right place for that one.

"It dropped just where I wanted it. Shane Tudor put a lovely ball across, the defender got a slight touch on it but diverted it straight to me, and I just had to stick it in really. It was quite an easy one but it was important that we got the first goal."

You nearly nodded in a second near the end too - presumably you don't get too many headers?

"It's funny, a lot of people have said that to me but I've actually scored quite a few over the years, I must have done because I always hear the same thing afterwards!

"But the win was the important thing anyway. We'll go up to Stockport with a lot of confidence now."

Joe Keith was talking to Simon Hawkins

 

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