The Voice - Match preview #20: Leyton Orient vs Bradford City Saturday 20th December 2025 3:00pm

Not taking it as a pop at me, and certainly not triggered. I just find it unusual the toy out of the pram situation that happens after a defeat. I’d be the same if we stank the place out and created nothing, but what puzzles me is when we do more than enough to win again and the same people who say how much performances matter go into meltdown when we do enough but don’t win. Especially when these things even out over a season, there have been times this season when we’ve taken more than we should have, so it’s no shock when the opposite happens.

 

That’s what annoys me more than anything.

We did more than enough to win yesterday but the chances weren’t taken.

We’ve stunk the place out more than enough over the last few seasons,so we all know what a terrible performance looks like.

Yesterday definitely wasn’t one of them.

 

Those four players you mention are the reason we see ourselves top three going into Christmas. We can't do without any of them for any game. The other players in the squad have to lift their game to the levels of these four, no use having a good game one in every three or four.

 

It's not the losing at Orient that gets my goat, it's the stupid way that we gave them the second goal.
I've said it before but I'll say it again - stop fannying around with the ball at dead ball kicks!
Hell, Walker taps it to a defender some three feet away, he passes to another defender at the edge of the box. He loses the ball and Orient are given a gift - thank you very much.
Even if the defender at the edge of the box had got the ball, he'd have hoofed it anyway - why the hell can't Walker do that in the first place????

 

We spoke to him after the game as they were getting on the bus (we'd been in the Orient Supporters Club) and he was absolutely gutted and agreed they should have been out of sight before Orient scored. The overwhelming thing was that he said 'sorry' a few times and apologised for letting the fans down!! Wished us a safe journey home. Seemed genuinely sorry to let the fans down.

 

Thats what you want in a captain i like the lad so folk having a go at a player who is willing to stand up willing to give bollockings out and gutted that we lost ..........top man .........hell of a lot to gain and nothing to lose now ..........worse case we drop into midtable but at least we look forward to more big games next season regardless of which league we stand in .............GA his staff and the players deserve huge credit for making the club enjoyable again rather than the doom and gloom place it was

 

Footballers are like sheep.
Everything filters down from the Premier League and lower league footballers just go baa.

 

We aren’t going to win every game. Orient score for fun so I expected them to get goals. We missed our chances. Two home games now before the new year a great chance to progress

 

Is anyone suggesting they should be ? Just watched the highlights (11 min) and without a doubt 4 at half time for us wouldn’t have been out of place . Metcalf was foiled by two pdg saves , Sarce will be rightly annoyed but when has he got us out of jail before? That’s football and we move on to Boxing Day . There’s 20 clubs who would give their arms and legs to be in our position…. Table, results , money coming in through the gate …..It’s bonkers to think otherwise for sure .

 

I’m with you on that. Is that the first goal we have conceded fannying about with the ball? It seems an occupational hazard for clubs we have faced so far….Our press is one reason we are where we are …to give a goal up like that yesterday wasn’t smart!

 

It's the same with kick-off's Kev. One player in the opponents half, kicks the ball backwards to either a central defender or goalkeeper, who then hoofs it forwards!
Previously everybody had to be behind the ball and in their own half. The ball from the kick-off had to be played forward and more importantly, you had 100% possession, moving forwards.
Due to the new stupid rules, when the ball is hoofed forwards by a defender, the possession is now 50% !!!!!!
Who the hell thinks up these backward, stupid rules???
(ps.....I'm just in one of those moods today )

 

I have to smile mate there have been some rule changes that haven't been better for game/spectator.
Maybe we should go back to the way we used to kick off hold the ball wide man steams down the line we hit it long if he controls it and gets a cross in or make the opposition defender tackle him it's a positive if the ball goes out for a throwing at least it's in the opposition final third.

 

Some of it i get but the trying to pass it out at the back to me is just daft ............how manyy does it really workand how many times doea it go wrong

 

Do players still have the option to do that Dave, or do they have to pass it back?
Much prefer the old way and as you say, move forward with wingers crossing the ball!

 

That's what I meant pass it back to Power or Metcalfe then it allows the wideman to get down the line, as I say your well into their final third if you lose the ball.

 

3 defeats in 20. 3rd in the league. Last years L2 champions and runners up 23rd and 24th.
Some semblance of context may be required?

 

We were largely poor after they scored the second. Can't really complain with where we are and it's a great season. Need to beat Wigan now and all will be forgotten!

 

Well this time last year we’d just been hammered 3-0 at Notts county and we were well adrift of the playoffs. Our fellow automatic promotion victors currently are 23rd and 24th in this league and play off winners Wimbledon are dropping like a stone. So I’m getting over this defeat at Orient and hope all our supporters have a great Christmas.

 

So very true, and most fans certainly those at the game on Saturday, whilst disappointed with the result fully acknowledge the great position we find ourselves in. I read a lot about there being nothing in it between league 1 and 2, however I would point to Port Vale and Donny and suggest otherwise. The reality is we have largely improved as a team with some quality additions and the hierarchy really does have big decisions to make, in January and the Summer, as to whether to invest and continue this upwards trajectory or look to become a staple league 1 club. For what it's worth I dont think we're going up this season but the excitement (and possible disappointment) of a 2 legged play off tie against the likes of Bolton, Barnsley etc would be something to look forward to.

 

I think we all do need to take a step back, take a deep breath and reflect on how far we have moved forward in 12 months
Promotion looked a long shot, this time last year
I think it’s the fact that a few games have gotten away from us and points lost and the fact we could have been in a stronger position, that makes us fans feel disappointed about results like Saturday
Two very winnable home matches coming up and let’s see what January brings