ORIENT boss Geraint Williams has said his side are raring to go ahead of the big kick-off on Saturday.
Speaking earlier this week at Brisbane Road, as the players posed for a team photograph, Williams declared: ”There’s great excitement with the new season about to get under way. We’ve been back for a month now and we’re ready to start the real stuff.”
Williams outlined his vision of how he wants his team to ply their trade during the campaign.
“We’re going to go out and play good, attacking football and try to win as many games as we can, and then see where that takes us,” he said.
That policy should deliver entertaining football to the fans in the stands.
Orient produced exactly such a display when Newcastle United came to town last month for a friendly match, and were thrashed 6-1 by a rampant O’s side.
And if it yields results on the pitch, maybe WIlliams’ way will bring more people in through the turnstiles during the season.
The Orient squad which will take on Bristol Rovers this Saturday is leaner than the one which ended last season.
Thirteen players left then and five have come in during the summer.
Williams is confident he has recruited well.
“Hopefully we’ve built on the solid foundations that were in place when I arrived here. I picked the players who’ve come in during the summer and the ones whom I wanted to keep, and I’m delighted with the squad I have. We’re looking forward to the start of the season.”
But he declined to predict how high his side will rise, simply stating: “We’ll finish where we deserve.”
And he expects to be tested at Bristol Rovers.
“We’re expecting a hard game, they’re a very organised side. They’ll be a threat from set pieces and of course they have Rickie Lambert, so they’ll be a threat up front. We’ll have to defend properly.”
Lambert hit 29 league goals last season. He could provide an early test for Orient’s new defensive duo of Tamika Mkandawire and Ben Chorley.
New signing Chorley was in light training earlier this week, as he tries to shake off a niggle which forced him to miss the match against Dagenham & Redbridge last weekend.
Williams said he was relishing the chance to play against ex-Premier League teams like Southampton and Charlton Athletic.
“They’re opportunities to test ourselves against these clubs, with their resources, and see that we can compete in, and win those games."
Meanwhile, it looks like there will be no return for Matt Lockwood to Brisbane Road for the start of the season.
The left-back has said he would love to come back, but Williams said he was unaware of any speculation about a possible deal.
Orient are also in action on Tuesday, when the O's travel to Williams' former club - Colchester United.
"I haven't even thought about Colchester yet," said Williams, who was just focusing on getting three points at the Memorial Stadium this Saturday.
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