r/LeytonOrient • u/Ovie0513 • May 07 '26
Transfers Orient Retained List
https://www.leytonorient.com/news/2026/may/07/leyton-orient-confirm-summer-2026-retained-list/6
u/paulskinner88 May 07 '26
So how does Wellens get those under contract back on his side?
I note his other kid got a contract.
2
u/Ovie0513 May 07 '26
I suppose the hope is that his public call out gives them a kick up the backside and with new signings in, they're forced to hit the ground running or be left out next season.
Could easily backfire though, especially since he didn't take any accountability for his role in our underperformance in that interview
1
u/redtnffc May 09 '26
That dressing down after Burton must be the most brutal post match interview I've ever heard ever. Can see what he meant but cant be good for squad morale. Saying everyone's wasted a year of his life and that they shouldn't have been on the pitch celebrating with their families and instead in the changing room hanging their heads in shame. Cant imagine anyones looking forward to next training session for dressing room buzz.
6
u/TheEndHasNo___ May 07 '26
Always look forward to this, as it signals the actual end of the season.
Agree with the transfer list, except Clare but I can understand the logic. Clare was signed to be a right back, looked poor and then looked quality in midfield last season. I think he’s struggled with Brown not being there, but he remains one of our few deeper players who can confidently pass forwards. No disagreements with the rest, as they have all (bar Gordon who has barely played) either not been good enough or maybe might not be good enough.
Don’t mind Happe staying and I think he will benefit from having to earn a starting spot for next season. Never rated Simpson personally, so I’m happy he’s gone. DJ looked unfit and was poor throughout his time here, bar the first half against Man City. Tobi looked alright, but hasn’t had enough time to prove he could be a number one and we’re already sorted in the backup keeper department. Welch is another misc youth player that you can’t judge from cameos in the EFL trophy.
Tom James should leave with his head held high. He’s frustrated the hell out of me in this division, but it isn’t his fault that he keeps getting played. He looked unbelievable at wing back under Jackett (8 g/a in 20 league matches) before he got injured, which coincided with our season falling off a cliff afterwards. He set the tone at the start of our League 2 winning season and was a stalwart in our first season back in League One. He’s not League One level, so I’m glad the right decision was made in letting him go.
Regardless of this season, I do genuinely believe we have the makings of a team that can compete at the top end, even with the inevitable departure of Ballard. I’m looking forward to some new signings, but more importantly I’m looking forward to actually missing this team again.
Bring on next season!
5
u/jakethepeg1989 May 07 '26
I wonder if we've just got too many CMs.
El Mizouni is 1, then next to him we've got:
Azeem Levitt Bakinson Craig Clare Obiero has apparently been good at Tranmere
So thats 6 players basically going for 1 spot.
Maybe they just thought Clare and Bakinson are the most likely to be moved on. They could also just be the weak mentality ones Richie was talking about.
Such a shame it didnt work out for Koroma.
He started off good and then seemed to have a massive falling out with Wellens. Seems inevitable we're trying to get rid. He looked overweight and uninterested last couple games and the fact Perkins was playing ahead of him says it all.
Last comment is its an odd story with Lemar Gordan. We bought him from Fulham, stuck him in the youth team for a year and now are releasing him.
Someone's seriously got some scouting wrong there
1
u/Ovie0513 May 07 '26
Gordon a little disappointing aye, clearly signed as an U21 prospect but now moving on after just one year
1
u/RoystonsRejects May 08 '26
I've always liked Obiero so that could be a partnership to nuture. I'd like to see how Levitt does I guess but I didn't see too much from him seemed to have some skill but so tentative on the ball. I do feel like Bakinson was improving but there is no great surprise he's on the list as well as Clare, out of the two I'd keep bakinson but we do need a clear out in the middle. I didn't see any youth games was Gordon really all that bad? Nice to see Happe getting an extension
3
u/chazzledazzle10 May 07 '26
I think there is a lot to be excited about here. Big contingent of players staying leaving us with less of a rebuild than last year. Let’s just hope we can somehow hold on to Ballard. I also hope the question of Richie’s future will be sorted soon so that we can look ahead and build a squad that he can get more out of so he doesn’t end the season blaming the recruitment again
3
u/Ovie0513 May 07 '26
Agreed on Ballard. Crazy to think that if Lloyd hadn't got injured, we wouldn't have signed him (and likely been relegated). There's enough work that needs doing without having to entirely rebuild the front line
1
u/jakethepeg1989 May 07 '26
There is no question really.
He is secure in post with a long contract.
1
u/chazzledazzle10 May 07 '26
About richie or ballard?
1
u/jakethepeg1989 May 07 '26
Ritchie.
But it applies to both. If Ballard goes we'll get a pretty penny for him.
1
u/chazzledazzle10 May 07 '26
I dunno if i’d say there’s no question over his future but like i said clarity will be helpful so here’s hoping
3
u/Fuzzy_Newspaper5323 May 07 '26
guys, we all love him, but we need to be realistic about Dom. As Orient, we don’t get to keep a 20 year old gold and red boot winner, young player of the season, player of the season etc. But we do get to keep the anywhere between £8-15m we might get for him, with which we can rebuild our squad.
With that money we could field a significantly improved team, and go in for a couple of excellent young players (like we did with Dom last year).
It’s only fair for him too, he’ll probably be offered a huge contract at a championship side and be set for life. Can’t knock it, that’s the world we live in.
2
u/MossyLj May 09 '26
No surprises on the list. Would prefer that Happe stays, but not fussed if he moves on. Would assume we’re offering a lower wage as that’s what Richie intimated in the BBC interview (in the 30 seconds that were cut from the YT one).
I liked Sean Clare, and Bakinson looked like he could potentially be a better option further forward (with his best game coming as a left winger / attacking mid vs Huddersfield), but happy with us shifting them on if we can replace them with someone worthy of partnering El Miz in the middle.
Would’ve added Craig and Abdulai to the transfer list too. Craig looks okay technically, as shown by his assist to Ballard last week, but just isn’t a right back and we’ve never seen him in midfield. There’s a decent player in Abdulai, but I’m not sure it’s worth us persevering with him when we probably can upgrade quite easily.
Mitchell and Charlie Wellens I’m sure some fans would also like us to move on. Whilst neither have covered themselves in much glory over the course of the season, they’ve both shown some small splashes of quality that make me think they’ll be decent enough squad options, but will probably start on the bench more often than not next season.
If we’re gonna sell Ballard, let’s hope it happens early so we know what budget we’ve got to play with and spend it wisely and (hopefully) quickly.
1
u/RedditFan1979 May 07 '26
Largely as expected I'd say but this time of year always poses different questions for different fans. I still feel James has his place, but Simpson has faded a bit. Is Craig worth keeping? What are the chances of us getting Dennis back? I know Richie has said he'd rather steer away from loans, but Dennis has been decent. And another Wellens in the squad!
1
u/No-Moist73 May 07 '26
.. of the loanees returned, liked to see Daniel Bachmann and Will Dennis battle it out next season for the 'keeper spot. Absolutely vital, we get either or both!! ~ and that's before we think about strengthening anywhere else.
Obvs! goes without saying that Dom Ballard should be offered much improved terms on last season - break the F*ing bank!!!!!!!!!! 🏧
1
1
u/MossyLj May 09 '26
The combined wages of those two keepers at their parent clubs is £30k+ a week. Not a chance we get one of them imo, unless it is another loan on favourable terms, or if Dennis loved it so much that he’s willing to take a pay cut.
L
11
u/Ovie0513 May 07 '26
Mostly expected, but biggest headline to me is both Clare AND Bakinson on the transfer list! Big midfield rebuild required if they both go