With the O’s not playing last weekend and the end of the decade soon closing in, it gives us the chance to consider the best players that have donned the famous red shirt over the last 10 years.
Here’s Rising East’s Leyton Orient Team of the Decade…
Goalkeeper: Alex Cisak
A steady reliable ‘keeper, who had the capability to pull off some absolutely wondrous saves. Initially signed on loan from Burnley in 2015, the Aussie then made the move permanent the following summer.
Now playing back in his homeland for Sydney FC, Cisak is the only player on this list whose entire spell at the Club fell under the Becchetti era.
Right Back: Scott Cuthbert
Cuthbert made 133 appearances during his time at Orient and though a centre back by trade, arguably his most successful spell came when deployed as a full back in the 2013/14 season.
The solidity and consistency of his performances not only aided his defence in keeping 14 clean sheets during that season, but also allowed Moses Odubajo the freedom to flourish in front of him.
The big Scot continues to ply his trade in the Football League and is currently captain of Stevenage, where he picked up their player of the season award last season.
Centre Back: Nathan Clarke
After joining in 2012, the centre back soon garnered a reputation at Brisbane Road as a no-nonsense sort of defender who did the simple things well and hardly ever put a foot wrong.
His tenacity and fighting spirit was perhaps exemplified by the fact that he played on, and even scored a penalty in the shootout, despite suffering a serious injury in the infamous Wembley play-off final.
The 36-year-old is now seeing out the twilight of his career in the National League at his hometown club, Halifax Town.
Centre Back: Mathieu Baudry
A Rolls Royce of a centre back, Baudry was the definition of a ball-playing defender.
Comfortable with bringing it out from the back and driving into midfield, the Frenchman had the kind of quality on the ball rarely seen from a defender before or since in E10.
Although these forays forward could sometimes lead to mistakes, they were few and far between. Therefore, it’s no surprise to see Baudry go on to pick up two promotions with two different sides since leaving the O’s in 2016.
Left Back: Charlie Daniels
In the early part of the decade, the majority of Orient’s attacking threat revolved around the partnership between Daniels and Dean Cox.
Originally signed as a winger, the Waltham Forest native was quickly converted to a full back, where his overlapping runs perfectly complemented Cox’s ability to cut inside, as the two formed one of the most effective attacking partnerships in the division.
Daniels left the club in 2011 to join a Bournemouth side who at the time were situated lower in the League One table than the O’s. However, his decision has been vindicated by the Cherries’ rise to the Premier League, which the 33-year-old has been a key part of.
Right Midfield: Moses Odubajo
Arguably the most talented youth product to graduate from Orient’s academy since the late great Laurie Cunningham, Odubajo would regularly cause fans at Brisbane Road to advance to the edge of their seats whenever he picked up the ball.
Blessed with rapid pace and dazzling dribbling ability, the winger also chipped in with his fair share of goals and he bookended his O’s career with two stunning strikes. The first, a rasping strike on debut in a 2-1 win over Rochdale on the final day of 2011/12 season, the last, a thunderbolt of a half volley against Rotherham at Wembley.
Though blighted by injuries since his time in E10, he’s still only 26 and won’t have given up hope of making an appearance in the Premier League, something that has eluded him thus far in his career.
Centre Midfield: Romain Vincelot
Another of the key campaigners from the 2013/14 season, the Frenchman’s all action displays quickly made him a cult favourite in East London, with his drive and determination clear for all to see.
The abiding memory for a lot of O’s supporters following the play-off final defeat to Rotherham is seeing the midfielder aggressively beating the turf in frustration, though his domineering performances in the heart of midfield in that same season will live equally as long in the memory.
Now 34, Vincelot has had a host of clubs since leaving Orient, including Coventry, Bradford, Crawley and his current side, Shrewsbury.
Centre Midfield: Stephen Dawson
Perhaps Orient’s most impressive result of the decade was the 1-1 F.A Cup draw with Arsenal back in 2011. Jonathan Tehoue may have grabbed the headlines that day with a sensational 88th minute equaliser, however it was Dawson who took home the man of the match award.
The Irishman’s box-to-box performance against Arsenal was no one off and was typical of the player, who was appointed as Captain by Russell Slade immediately after signing from Bury in 2010. Dawson reunited with Slade after signing for National League North side, Hereford in September.
Left Midfield: Dean Cox
Cox was one of a number of players to follow Russell Slade from Brighton to Orient in 2010. Six years, 227 appearances, 46 goals and a staggering 72 assists later, the diminutive winger had secured his place as a true Orient legend.
The 32-year-old made himself a true fan favourite at Brisbane Road thanks to a number of spectacular goals and assists, as well as his personable attitude towards supporters off the field. If there was an award for Orient’s player of the decade, you’d be hard pressed not to give it to Cox.
No player came close to spending the whole decade with the O’s, but you do wonder what might have been had Francesco Becchetti not unceremoniously cancelled the midfielder’s contract back in September 2016.
Striker: Macauley Bonne
Signed from Colchester in the summer of 2017, the Zimbabwean’s pure instinct for goals quickly saw him become integral to the O’s during their two year stint in non-league.
Bonne was pivotal in ensuring it was just the two years that Orient spent in the National League, with his 23 league goals last season helping to fire them to promotion.
The 24-year-old departed for Charlton in the summer, leaving with an exact one in two league goal ratio, having netted 45 times in 90 appearances during his two seasons in E10.
Striker: Kevin Lisbie
Having left Ipswich over the summer, Lisbie asked then O’s manager Russell Slade if he could train with his local side in order to keep himself fit. After just one full day of training, Slade had seen enough to offer the experienced Jamaican a three-month contract.
Lisbie went onto make 111 appearances for the O’s, scoring 46 times. Though his sharp movement and link up play sometimes proved even more valuable than his goals.
At the age of 41, Lisbie retired in May following a run out at Wembley in the F.A Vase final for Cray Valley Paper Mills.
Head Coach: Justin Edinburgh
A win percentage of 54.9%, a first league title since 1970 and a Wembley Final. All things achieved by Justin Edinburgh in his 17-month spell as Leyton Orient Head Coach.
Quite simply, the O’s were at their lowest ever when the former Spurs defender took over in November 2017. Relegated out of the Football League and sinking down the National League table like a stone, the club were in desperate need of a stern, determined and talented manager to turn the situation around.
Almost exactly a year and a half later, Orient were celebrating a long-awaited league title and a return to the Football League.
At the time of writing the O’s find themselves sitting in the far from ideal spot of 19th in League Two. But if you take a look at the current National League table, specifically the demise of sides such as Chesterfield and Wrexham, you wonder where Orient might be right now had Edinburgh not taken charge just over two years ago.
Subs:
Eldin Jakupovic
Despite only making a total of 15 appearances for the O’s, the Bosnian certainly made an impression during his brief spell in E10.
Many feel that the 2013/14 season might have had a very different ending had Allan McGregor not been sent off for Hull against West Ham, forcing the Tigers to cut Jakupovic’s loan spell short.
Josh Coulson
A cult hero for his sizeable head, as well as his commanding performances at centre back, Coulson played a key part in Orient’s promotion last season. His no nonsense defending aided the O’s in keeping 20 league clean sheets, while his seven league goals proved invaluable.
Lloyd James
Much more of a playmaker than the two central midfielders who made the first eleven. The Welshman’s precise range of short and long passing kept play ticking over and was a key element to the Orient side that made the playoffs in 2014.
Jobi McAnuff
McAnuff’s first spell in E10 didn’t exactly go to plan and when he re-joined the club in 2017, many where left underwhelmed. However, the experienced Jamaican international proved the doubters wrong by playing an integral role in last season’s promotion campaign.
Josh Koroma
The second product of the Orient youth academy on this list, Koroma, much like Odubajo, is a player that keeps you on the edge of your seat.
Now at Huddersfield, the 21 year old is capable of moments of exceptional skill and unpredictability, something he showcased with a contender for Orient’s goal of the decade in the 3-1 win over Bromley last season.
David Mooney
Orient’s top scorer of the decade, Mooney might consider himself unlucky to miss out on a place in the starting eleven.
Although his goals often came in fits and spurts, on his day the Irishman was a superb forward, blessed with a deft touch and nerveless finishing ability. This is best exemplified by his chipped finish in the 3-1 victory away at Swindon in November 2013.
Jay Simpson
Simpson’s 25 goal haul in the 15/16 campaign was the most league goals scored by any O’s player in a single season during the decade.
The former Arsenal striker looked a class above League Two level during his 17-month spell playing in the division mid-way through the decade and was often a bright point during some dark times for the club.
