In his lastest fan blog, Pandamonium editor and O's supporter Mat Roper gives us his slant on all things Leyton Orient.
So, following on from my last blog, it is true that the O's dont know when to give up this season.
In true E10 style, we have suddenly awoken the campaign again, just when the final nail was about to go into the coffin that is the 2007-2008 season.
I really dont think we know how to do things easily. Bury 61/62, Oxford 05/06 are just two examples of how this club likes to ensure that none of its supporters have any fingernails left what so ever and want to do it all again this season.
With tenth place looming (some doom and gloom merchants mentioning below 12th), we win at home to Swindon, fight out a mammoth derby victory at Millwall and suddenly we are right back in there with a good shout.
What was really interesting about the weekend was that for the first time this season Martin Ling has now spoken more "positively" about our chances.
All year he has been
talking about improvement and that we are punching about our weight etc, but maybe, just maybe even now he believes that we are good enough to secure a place in the end of season lottery we call the play-offs.
The way I see it is this. Swansea unless they do something drastically wrong will end up as Champions, while Carlisle, Doncaster and Forest should finish top four finishes - although your guess is as good as mine as to the order!
Then it's two of us from the following for fifth and sixth place.
Leyton Orient, Southend, Leeds, Walsall, Oldham, Northampton, Tranmere and Brighton.
You could chuck in others with games in hand, but even if they win them all, they will only be in the shake-up' and not clear of this pack so I have narrowed it down to eight teams.
Simple mathematics then tells us that we obviously have a 25 per cent chance to start with for getting one of the two places.
After much work last night on possible results, points totals etc (and a few beers - which may have clouded my judgement a little) I believe we have a 50 per cent chance, so half, of making it.
Ling thinks 72 points is the ask and that's the figure I came up with five weeks ago. I have not changed my opinion about this points total, so it's 16 points from eight games - which comes down to five wins and a draw.
I would hope the wins can come from Port Vale, Cheltenham, Leeds, Bristol Rovers and one of Doncaster or Carlisle, with the point being won at the other home game and away to Oldham.
No doubt though that we'll lose the away game to Port Vale and Cheltenham yet beat Leeds, Doncaster and Swansea away - just as a 25,000 crowd down in South Wales is baying for the title with 180 minutes left on the regular season!
What I suppose is very encouraging is we have obviously picked the right time to get back-to-back wins (the fist since October!) and if we can maintain that form while others still stutter (like we had been doing) then we do seriously speaking have a good chance of turning this season around.
Not wanting to get too far ahead, but if we obviously need a great run to take us into the play-offs and if we do then what a run of form that would be to take into a competition' like that.
The performance at the New Den on Saturday was not exactly for the football purist, but we rolled our sleeves up, took our one real good chance.
Then we defended like demons - especially for the last ten minutes - to ensure we kept the season alive.
If we can replicate this type of 90 minutes for the next eight games then we will obviously be sitting pretty come the start of May, but it is still going to be, dont get me wrong, one hell of a hard battle until then.
Anyway, got to be off now. Putting the finishing touches to an article celebrating that momentous cup run 30 years ago for Panda, and have an interview booked' down at the training ground - that should be a happy place today and brimming with confidence I hope and trust!
Next up - The Cumbrians.
Not easy, but like most games this season - winnable if we get the effort and application right on the day.
Easter as well know sorts the men from the boys, and can you imagine what this blog will be saying at about this time next week if Carlisle and Cheltenham have handed over six points between them.
Until then, please make sure we make Brisbane Road just as noisy and exciting as it was a couple of years back in the famous 05-06 season and lets just keep on living that dream!
Up the O's!
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