Hello Everton, I'm a pessimistic Orient fan with grey hairs before my time following my crappy little football team.
Just a quick update on us, since the last time we played you in 2002 in the FA Cup 5th round at Goodison when Gazza ran riot, we took 6,000 fans and had a fantastic time despite losing 4-1. I was only 12 at the time, yet its still one of my favourite Orient games. Have a particular memory of a little squeaky 5 year old kid sitting on a fence outside one of the houses next to Goodison asking my dad who he supported as we walked to the ground. My dad as a joke said Liverpool, to which the kid said "well [Poor language removed] off then." We were in hysterics.
Anyway, back then we were languishing around the bottom of the entire football league. Then, in 2006, we got promoted to league 1 where we have stayed, having some relegation battles, some mid table obscurities, and the odd play off flirtation. This season, we will more than likely be in a relegation fight due to the dire tactical ineptness of our manager.
The manager is a fat, bald bloke called Russell Slade. He will be wearing a baseball cap. He presided over a wonderful season 2 years ago, when we drew with Arsenal in the cup and finished a point outside the playoffs. Yet those days are well and truly over, the man struggling to put out a side with any sort of coherent system. Caught between passing football and hoofball, we do both not very well. We have lost both league games this season to date, pretty dreadfully. Our game on Saturday was postponed due to the Hartlepool coach being stuck in traffic, so we haven't played for over a week. Which is good, I guess.
Our squad won't be familiar to most. Jamie Jones our keeper was with you for 13 years before signing for us 4 years ago now aged 19. He's a pretty good keeper, but who has had some bad long term injuries, making him the shadow of his former self. He is a lifelong Evertonian and is from Kirkby and is properly chuffed with this tie calling it "his dream." We also have Michael Symes, who I believe was prolific for your youth team alongside Mr Rooney. He's a big lump who is great in the air, but basically rubbish. Both will probably play. We also have Kevin Lisbie up front, who played many times against you for Charlton. He is well old these days but is still quality. Lee Cook is our new left winger, cost Fulham 2.5 million a few years back. We also have a pretty impressive French holding midfielder/centre back called Mathieu Baudry who played in the French premier league, and Dean Cox is a tiny little winger who is perennially courted by Championship clubs.
To be honest, this is a great tie for us. We are so crap in the league, it is nice to have a game against a big club to take our minds of our impending doom (while our manager is still at the club). Also, we might not even have a club in the near future if the dirty Shammers move into the Olympic Stadium (a mere 500 yards from Brisbane Road). We don't care if we lose, 2,500 or so Orient fans are just looking forward to a good trip up to Liverpool and a good laugh. I have a soft spot for you and hope you continue your fantastic start to the season.
Over and out.
